I figured I write to you all about something different. Not dating, not men, not all of the disappointments I’ve suffered since my last post.

I’m sitting at a fabulous relatively new restaurant called Cecchi’s in Greenwich Village, the former Hells Bells and then Cafe Loup (which I knew personally). The bartender Ryan is not only pleasing to the eye but charming as hell. We’re chatting about the history of the place as I order Grey Goose and club soda, no fruit. The woman and her date sitting next to me are entertainment enough for a week. Ryan amuses them the best he can as he slings drinks to the wanna be trendy patrons. Martinis, Bourbons and Beers are all around me. Mindless chatter, meaningful chatter, reunions, weekly dinner meetings, you name it are going on all around me. The city is alive, it’s the Holiday Season and NYC is at its best.

I catch the eye of a handsome man across the bar. I’m now curious.

I finish a lovely shrimp cocktail and decide to observe further. The woman next to me becomes more and more intoxicated and obnoxious by the minute. Noise, energy, people pulsing the mood of this place. I want the handsome stranger across the bar to make a move, but we know how that goes. Men = Mystery so we’ll see right? I’m writing this in real time so I can’t help but go back to the woman next to me who will surely be escorted out by her date momentarily. He’s mortified. Ha! The restaurant continues to fill with excited people of what the night may bring. A women with a warm fuzzy faux fur white coat sits next to me now. Drinking dirty vodka martinis and observing the room herself. I compliment her coat, she says thank you politely but a little dismissively. Glued to her cell phone of course as what humans actually interact with each other these days in these settings?

She asks Ryan the bartender “is it like this all the time now?” He replies “it was like this from the start”. New Yorkers are always hungry for a new spot and when it has history it’s a winner, winner chicken dinner.

Turns out our handsome stranger across the bar is gay of course. Ryan advised. A handsome date joined him at the bar. Oh well lucky date.

I hear a mezcal Negroni being ordered by the lovely lady in the white faux fur coat (Suzanna) and I’m inspired. Ryan makes me another grey goose and club no fruit.

Then….my date arrives….

Yes I actually have a date, met him the night before at Scarpetta. I now sit next to him at the bar here at Cecchi’s. Thankfully he’s lovely and everything I remember. Has the same name as my nephew which gives him a gateway to my heart and is handsome, well mannered and funny to boot. To be continued…