Lemongrass Leisure

Last week, I found myself craving panang curry. In fact, my craving was so strong that it led me to brave the wind, the rain, and the cold—all with a severely dysfunctional umbrella, no less. That is the power of panang. Well, that and dinner plans I had made with my friend Kathy, whom I had planned to meet at Lemongrass Thai Grill on 2nd Ave. between 81st and 82nd Streets.

I had never been to Lemongrass before, but it had always looked like a cozy and casual spot to grab a quick yet quality pad thai or massaman curry. In that respect, it lived up to its expectations; yet, in others, it was a bit of a disappointment.

Since the restaurant was nearly empty when we arrived (understandably, considering the weather), Kathy and I were seated right away. Lemongrass has ample space, with small tables scattered throughout, a row of bench seating along the far wall, plus two fair-sized bars—one for drinks, the other for sushi. The ambience was a bit different than I had expected, though, with warm lighting and rich wood paneling to create an inviting feel, yet industrial tables and wall mirrors that evoke a diner-style element, and several flat-screen TVs to add a dash of sports bar. Despite the somewhat incongruous atmosphere, Lemongrass was warm and dry, and, after coming in from such stormy weather, we were happy.

We shook off our wet coats and umbrellas and ordered glasses of Shiraz from a drink menu that featured a variety of reds and whites, plus a number of specialty drinks and quite a few kinds of sake. Our server arrived right away, ready to take our food order—he was so quick, in fact, that we had to ask him for a few more minutes to look over the menu.

Lemongrass features a wide selection of standard Thai fare like pad see yu, pineapple fried rice, pad thai, a variety of curries, plus meat and seafood dishes, as well as a few teriyaki selections; and there is also a full sushi bar boasting sushi, sashimi, and specialty rolls. Kathy and I decided to share an order of steamed dumplings stuffed with ground pork and shrimp. For an entrée, she chose a beef teriyaki dish, while I chose—no surprise here—the panang curry.

Ready to order, however, our previously prompt waiter was nowhere to be found. After a few minutes of craning our necks as we attempted to locate him in the nearly empty restaurant, we finally managed to flag him down from across the room. He took our order, delivered it shortly thereafter, and that was the last we saw of him until much later in the evening.

Our food was delicious, the dumplings plump and piping hot, the panang the ideal balance of spicy and sweet, and the beef teriyaki tender and juicy. The portions were the perfect size—filling yet not too large—and we were more than satisfied with all that we had ordered, which was a good thing, as we were not given the opportunity to order anything more. Our waiter never returned to check on us, to bring us new drinks, or even to ask if we were interested in dessert.

Caught up in conversation, Kathy and I realized after at least an hour and a half had gone by that our empty plates were still sitting in front of us, and our waiter was nowhere to be found. We didn’t mind too much, as were having such a lovely discussion, though it would have been nice if he had made at least one reappearance.

When we finally began to grow tired (and a bit chilly, as there was a draft coming from the front door), Kathy managed to hunt down our waiter on her way to the restroom, a difficult task considering she no longer remembered what he looked like. Her mission was a success, however, and our long-absent waiter soon reappeared with our check—which, at just over $30 per person for a drink, an appetizer, and an entrée, was very reasonable.

Our time at Lemongrass provided us with the two most important elements of any dining experience: good food and good conversation. And it certainly satisfied my craving for panang.

If you’re in a hurry, however, you may want to order take-out.

Babar...and a Beer

Now on display at the Morgan Library is an exhibit of elephantine proportions. No, the building that once served as the private library of financier Pierpont Morgan is not undergoing an expansion, nor has it agreed to house wildlife. But it is home to one very special elephant—an elephant who walks upright, wears a trademark green suit, and goes by the name of Babar.

Created in 1931 when French painter Jean de Brunhoff first illustrated the baby elephant regularly featured in bedtime stories his wife had been telling their two sons, Babar became the starring character in a series of picture books that are now unquestionably children’s classics. Both written and illustrated by Jean de Brunhoff, the first seven Babar books were instantly popular. Jean, however, passed away at the age of 37, at which point his son Laurent picked up where he left off, seamlessly continuing the Babar series from 1946 to the present day.

The de Brunhoff legacy is now on display at the Morgan in Drawing Babar: Early Drafts and Watercolors, which gives visitors the opportunity to view the entire collection of sketches, working drafts, and final watercolors for Histoire de Babar, le petit elephant, Jean’s first Babar book, and Babar et ce coquin d’Arthur, the first Babar book by Laurent. This past Saturday, I hopped on the 6 train and explored the exhibit with my friend Ruth, immersing ourselves in the magical world of Babar for the afternoon.

Taking over three ample rooms at the Morgan, Drawing Babar begins with the display of first edition copies of several of the earliest Babar books, including Histoire de Babar (1931), Le Roi Babar (1933), and L’ABC de Babar (1934). Featuring anecdotes on each work, this first room provides visitors with a good introduction to Babar and the de Brunhoffs. The remaining two rooms, however, are really the heart of the exhibit.

The first is devoted to Histoire de Babar, displaying Jean’s notes, sketches, and early drafts side-by-side with the finished watercolors for each page in the book. Every spread is set up storyboard-style, with the French and English text featured below, so that viewers can see how the story developed as Jean worked on it, while also reading the final story themselves. The second room is set up the same way and features Laurent’s sketches, notes, and final watercolors for Babar et ce coquin d’Arthur.

Ruth and I spent over an hour taking in the exhibit, moving from spread to spread and observing the sometimes subtle and sometimes major changes to Babar’s story as the text and art were developed. Also quite evident—and very impressive—is the similarity between Jean and Laurent’s style of illustration and of working, which allowed for a near seamless transition from Jean to Laurent after Jean’s death. This is clearly a case in which the phrase “like father, like son” holds true—and thankfully so.

After we had had our fill of Babar, Ruth and I went around the corner for drinks at The Ginger Man, a quaint and cozy beer bar on 36th Street between Fifth and Madison. Featuring seventy beers on tap, over 160 bottled beers, plus wine, various other spirits, and a pub-like food menu, there is certainly something for everyone. With pints of Anchor Christmas Ale and Elysian Bifrost Winter Ale to get us in the holiday spirit, plus a plate of assorted cheeses, The Ginger Man proved to be the perfect place to warm up on a chilly December day—and discuss Babar, of course.

Hurry on over to the Morgan Library to catch Drawing Babar before it closes on January 4. The Morgan is on 36th and Madison (accessible via the 4, 5, or 6 train to Grand Central) and is open every day of the week except Monday. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children, seniors, and students; but, if you visit on a Friday between 7 and 9 p.m., admission is free.

And, once you’ve spent some time with Babar, stop by The Ginger Man for a post-museum drink.

Skating Season

The weather outside is, well, cold; little white lights and snowflakes are twinkling along Fifth Avenue; and the tree in Rockefeller Center has been lit. What does all of this mean? That the holidays are just a few weeks away, of course, and that the city is abuzz with the shoppers, sightseers, and show-goers who flock into town to experience the magic that is Manhattan during Christmastime. And while it may not be the best time of year for finding a non-metered parking spot on the street, it is the perfect time for an activity that, for many of us, is associated with fond childhood memories; for some of us, is considered impossibly frightening; and, for all of us, is a sure sign of winter. That activity is none other than ice skating.

As a child, I owned a pair of white ice skates that I eagerly anticipated lacing up as soon as the pond in my town froze over, prompting the “No Skating” sign to be flipped to its “Yes” side and summoning swarms of local kids who couldn’t wait to slide, glide, and practice the occasional (and unsuccessful) triple lutz. While tricks involving jumping or excessive spinning weren’t exactly my style, I was quite proud of my ability to skate backwards, and I gladly stayed on the ice until my fingers began to feel frostbitten or my mom said it was time to go, whichever came first.

Though it has been quite a while since I’ve last owned a pair of skates, I do get the urge to skate—forwards and backwards—right around this time every year; and, this year, I’m determined to do so once again. Whether you’re feeling the same way, or you’ve resolved to finally overcome your fear of hovering over a frozen body of water on a pair of sharp metal blades, there are a number of spots where you can don a pair of skates and hit the ice here in the city.

Rockefeller Center: This is definitely the go-to spot for skaters—and tourists—during the holiday season. While the crowds and the cost can be quite a deterrent, nothing compares to skating beneath the towering Rockefeller tree. Just be prepared for long lines and high prices. The rink is open daily through January 9, with 90-minute sessions available from 8:30 a.m. to midnight. Each session is $19 for adults, $12.50 for seniors and children under the age of eleven, and skate rentals are $9 per session.

The Pond at Bryant Park: A fun, festive, and, most importantly, free alternative to Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park features skating daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays) now through January 25. While admission to the rink is free, there is a $12 charge for skate rentals, as well as a fee to use the lockers that are provided. And when you’re done skating, you can browse the holiday shops or warm up over a drink at Celsius, the elevated restaurant and lounge that overlooks the pond, the park, and the holiday tree.

The Polar Rink at the Museum of Natural History: For the first time ever, the Museum of Natural History has opened an outdoor skating rink on its Arthur Ross Terrace. Replete with a café and a seventeen-foot-tall polar bear, the rink is open from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and holidays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays now through February 28. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children, and $9 for students and seniors and include skate rentals, with discounts for members. Just a warning, however, that the rink’s recyclable synthetic surface may not feel quite like the ice you’re used to.

Wollman Rink: Located in Central Park near the 59th Street and 6th Avenue entrance, Wollman Rink provides a more spacious, outdoorsy skating spot on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Prices (for a full-day of access) are $10 for adults, $5.25 for children, $4.75 for seniors, and $6 for skate rental Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday, the prices go up to $14 for adults, $5.50 for children, and $8.25 for seniors. There are lockers available for rental. Oh, and spectators beware, as Wollman Rink charges a spectator fee.

Lasker Rink: The more ice-hockey-friendly alternative to Wollman Rink is located near the 110th Street and Lenox Avenue entrance to Central Park. Though hours are limited (see the website for details), prices are only $6 for adults, $3.50 for children, $2.25 for seniors, and $5.25 for skate rental.

Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers: For the cold-weather-averse, Chelsea Piers’ indoor skating facility provides a warmer alternative to the outdoor rinks. Rates are $12.50 for adults, $10 for children, and $7 for skate rental. Click here for the extended holiday session schedule.

Seaport Ice: Located on South Street Seaport’s Pier 17, the brand-new Seaport Ice Rink opens to the public this month and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. General admission is only $5, with a $7 skate rental fee, and the rink promises free lockers, live music, and a snack shop.

Happy skating!