only in new york

Early in the semester, when we still had time and money to spend long evenings cavorting around at our favourite roof-top eaterie, The Heights Bar and Grill, my two close friends - Nate and Preston - and I began to discuss the name and nature of a 'New York Moment'. We routinely repeat this glib phrase whenever we think that at that moment, the thing we are experiencing could only happen in New York. Now obviously, never say never, and never say 'only' - but you get the idea. Anyway, here are three New York moments I had this week, in chronological order.


First, I went to a restaurant on Friday that often has a jazz quartet playing in the corner. When I got back, a friend told me that Wynton Marsalis played there the previous week! On the walk home, we noticed a guy standing at the entrance to a side street and speaking into a walkie talkie. The huge spotlights gave the game away - he was part of the film crew filming a new tv pilot. We got to talking and it turns out he worked on the set of Flight of the Conchords. We chatted, swapped character anecdotes about Jermaine, made inside 'FOTC' jokes (as they call it in the business) and lamented the fact that they will only do two seasons. Then he walked us through the small set.

Secondly, the church I go to meets in a theatre auditorium in the business end of the city - near Columbus Circle for those in the know. It is part of a building shared by a very fancy hotel, and on Sunday a 35 yr old client of the hotel wandered down to the theatre to see what was happening. After the meeting we both happened to be leaving at the same time, and got to talking as we left the building. He was staying in the swish digs on a visit from Hong Kong where he is a banker. We briefly talked about the service, and agreed to continue the conversation over lunch, where we talked about the relation of Christianity and Buddhism, our life goals, and green tea. So, I had lunch with a Chinese banker who gave me his email address so I can let him know what I'm up to. Mum and Dad will be proud that I paid the bill.

Finally, tonight, while walking back from the Butler Library, I heard a rumbling in the trash can as I passed. I stopped, looked in, and saw what appeared to be a squirrel that had become trapped inside, leaping up continually trying to escape. Nate and I laughed for a while, then stoped laughing when we realised it was a giant rat.