Creating my own France

Here's an example of my date last Saturday with NY.  Although it was a beautiful day, I wasn't planning on doing anything in particular.  (This is my first summer not working and at times I've spent days just being a bum - and loving it - I digress).  But, I saw an open casting call which I decided to go to because you know what?  You just never know.  So, I took the book that I was reading at the time, This is a Soul (great read by the way), got on the train and headed towards Manhattan.  I get to the casting call, ugg, something just did not feel right, so I left my headshot and resume and left.  Then I realized it was 5pm and beautiful outside and I didn't want to go home just yet.  I was near one of my favorite places in NY - Bryant Park www.bryantpark.org so I decided to head there, knowing that I intended to do what I usually do there, create my own France.

Quick piece of background info about me; I studied abroad junior year of college in Cannes, France.  Ever since, I have loved French culture, food, language, etc. and visit France often.  I actually think I used to be French or West African in another lifetime.  So, every now and then I like to remind myself of the wonderful times I've spent in France.

I first go to Pret a Manger to grab a pan au chocolat, and a ham and cheese sandwich, with some kind of healthy drink.  I get to the Petanque www.petanque.org/ section of the park, where the old men are throwing their Petanque boules and judging with a tape measure to see who REALLY got the closest.  I find a bench that gives me a good enough view to watch this competitive, yet calm activity, but also allows my to read my book in peace.  So there I am enjoying my pan au chocolat, eating my jambon and fromage sandwich - watching the men play Petanque and enjoying My France.  Later, I hear noises and singing at the other end of the park.  I finish up my chapter and go see what's going on.  Oh, it's free theater in the park!! I grab a seat amongst the other New Yorkers and tourists and watch these amazingly wonderful actors perform to our delight.  Once the show was over, I made sure I donated money to continue to have free theater in the park, and was off to find dinner (I told you I was a foodie).  I was really in the mood for Cod fish so my search began in Union Square.

After looking at several menus in the area and viewing their bar situation (number of people, no crazy drunk people, cute guys to flirt with, atmosphere, etc) I ended up choosing Punch punchrestaurant.com/.  Punch ended being a great restaurant (located at Broadway btw 20th and 21st), with a great bar and a more fabulous bartender.  I realize another rule that I should add - rule number 5) Find a good seat at the bar.  We talked about speech and language, acting, where we grew up, relationships (I know I can be a cliche - but, I mean he IS a bartender, lol!).   After my roasted cod fish dinner, I had another glass of wine, he poured a little extra for me, told the bartender I'd be back another day and went home satisfied with my date with NY.

Free theater in Bryant Park