New York Lines

Riding the Beast (Sunday)

So I asked E if she wanted to ride the Beast, warned her that her adrenalin would be pumping, that she might be a little scared and that she would definitely get wet. There was no tone of apology or inadequacy in my voice when I explained it would only last half an hour or so: it would be a bumpy ride and provide an incredible view. All in all a good deal… and I was happy to pay.

Energy was provided by a typically late Mimosa and Bellini-fuelled brunch with M+K. As E and I staggered to Pier 83 afterwards we debated the market for a true brunch place in London, in Wimbledon itself perhaps.

Dining in London is so formalised: if you do lunch it only lasts between 12 and 2 and it’s going to be of this cuisine and this size and the appropriate beverage is x or y. If New York socialising has shown me one thing, it’s the potential in more organic groups, bringing in a few degrees of separation. Maybe it’s just me, due in the past to a fear that different groups of friends would talk and find out things from each other about me that I’d managed to keep separate: mistakes I may have repeated…

But a place where the gathering can start and last from morning til evening, can incorporate a snack or a smorgasbord, can offer a coffee or a cocktail, where I can invite you and you then invite others and it doesn’t matter if each layer takes an hour to get there as there’s no deadline, no rush, no rules.

One casualty of no deadline was no row-boating on the Central Park lake but, given our condition, it probably wouldn’t have been a good idea. Besides, we had bigger thrills ahead. Maybe without the mimosas and bellinis this speedboat ride down the Hudson replete with water bombs and supersoakers for those who managed somehow to avoid the spray wouldn’t have been as fun. As it was we were buzzing: I’ve got to get me one of these… the speedboat, that is.

posted by Paul Campy @ 10:11 AM