pre-convention visitors

[ellen_datlow]

An influx of visitors from Australia and the UK are starting to arrive in NYC in advance of the WFC in Saratoga. Last night I had dinner with Kaaron Warren and her family at Miracle Grill.
Kaaron describes her experience--we discussed "meat" at dinner--you can read her point of view
here

I too, had two delicious blood orange margharitas but mine were frozen. If I'd had another I would have staggered home and gotten even less work done than I did last night.

Jack Dann's coming to town for a few days but because both our schedules are so tight we're not going to be able to see each other before the convention (except at the Australian Embassy Party Tuesday evening).

Comments

[lagilman]

and I'm coming to town this weekend too, but not because of WFC....

any good flea markets this weekend I should hit?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

The best regular one is still The Garage 112 West 25th Street --indoors. The others that used to be outside in that neighborhood are mostly gone. However, there's an outside one on 25th street, between 6th and 5th and the Hells Kitchen one at 39th street bet 9th and 10th avenues....

[sclerotic-rings.livejournal.com]

Have fun in Saratoga Springs. I used to live there thirty years ago, and if you want to have some real fun, go out to St. Clements Catholic Church on the east side of town, pop in to the school next door, and mention my name. If you aren't immediately sprayed down with holy water after half of the penguins die of heart attacks, I wasn't trying hard enough while I was there. (Absolute truth: I'd go out there to WFC just to see the old neighborhood, but I know it's changed beyond recognition. I've spent the last 28 years desperately craving the pizza from the unimaginatively titled "Saratoga Pizza House" on Broadway, mostly because this place produced such incredible pizza that one could get a contact buzz from the oregano when opening the takeout wrapper. Sadly, it hasn't existed since the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid tore through the area, and that place is one of the reasons why I want to steal a time machine for just two hours.)

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever been there, even though I attended SUNY at Albany many years ago. I made it to Lake George once, but not Saratoga Springs.

I certainly understand cravings of foods/drinks gone by. I still miss my dad's incredible malteds that he made in his luncheonette for my lunches as a child. I've been searching for one that matches those ever since.

Not sure I want to be responsible for holy heart attacks :-)

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

Your Dad had a luncheonette??

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Yup, so I was brought up totally unhealthily with the regular snacking on pretzel rods (don't know what you call them--those long salted pretzels? ), ice cream with whipped cream, and other lovely things. And I read every comic book that existed (but only while in his store).

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

Wow, you must have been the envy of every kid in school. I envy you the comic books. Did he have those horror story ones? Or mostly Archie and that kind of thing?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Archie, superheroes, Little Lulu, Tales from the Crypt....everything. I don't remember anyone ever noticing....but I was only 8 when we moved away from the Bronx and to Yonkers (he still worked there several years).

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

I could have had one more, I think! We were feeling very warm-cheeked, weren't we?

That was such a fun evening. The kids found the open bookshop so they were very happy.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

They were perfect to warm us up before going outside. I assume you made the train.

I was just sorry the kids didn't like the iced tea :-(

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

We made the train, it was express, and my brother in law picked us up at the other end, so it all went very well!

The kids say they did like your iced tea! Maybe they were so enthralled by all your treasures they forgot to drink it all. We went to the toyshop today and saw some horribly ugly baby dolls. N said, "Ellen would like those!"

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I'll bet I would--tell her I'm pleased that she already "gets" my taste ;-)

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

I'll tell her. She'll be spotting Ellen dolls for a while yet.

[zhai.livejournal.com]

Blood orange margaritas? Holy crap those sound good.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

uh huh! Yes they were--I highly recommend them--but I adore blood orange anything! ;-)

[zhai.livejournal.com]

I'm a sucker for anything blood orange or honey tangerine, too. Would you mind divulging the name of this mysterious restaurant? :) I might be down in the city in a couple of weeks, if I can get ahold of this tattoo artist down there...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Sure. It's Miracle Grill and it's at the end of Bleecker Street (right off 8th avenue). They've got very good hamburgers and home made potato chips (you have to ask for the chips with the hamburger, otherwise you get boring french fries).
If you get tired of the liquor drinks they have grapefruit soda which is also very good.

And their fried calamari appetizer with chipotle sauce is terrific too. We shared it last night.

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

That calamari was about the best I've had. If we'd had longer there, I would have been eating and drinking for hours.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

You'll just have to come back! So has anyone claimed to know if "loose meat" is a real expression?

[zhai.livejournal.com]

Very cool, thanks very much. I'm originally from San Diego, and living on the east coast it's maddening trying to find good Mexican food. I will drag pantlessjohnny down there next time I am in the city.

I have to say, despite its frightening name, pulled pork is very delicious.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

It's not exactly Mexican and certainly not traditional Mexican but more southwestern. You can find the menu here:
http://tinyurl.com/2d9kwt

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll be brave enough to try it next time. Is it slow-cooked pork?

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

They were perfect, especially at happy hour prices!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've never had them that cheap...but I'd be really surprised if that was they were a regular happy hour special...

[kaaronwarren.livejournal.com]

If we send enough people in asking for them, maybe they will make them regular. It was a bit dangerous dining with you there; the fact you nearly set fire to yourself twice is a bit of a worry!