The Most Perfect Day!

This weekend has been such a blur. I once again tried to cram way to much in but I wouldn't change anything. 

First, J and I went to see New York City Ballet's "The Nutcracker." It's funny because my experience or the Nutcracker was always Pacific Northwest Ballet's and I assumed it would almost all be the same but as it turns out, the NYCB choreography is much truer to the original choreography. The dancing was just on another level. Even J murmured "how is that possible" at one point during the sugar plum fairy's dance with her cavalier. 

The only draw back was all of the kid noise. Haha. It sounds like such a snobby thing, and I really love kids. Plus, I know when I have kids I'll bring thing to theater and ballet, but it's just a strange thing when you pay a lot for a ticket to go to the ballet and hear kids rustling candy wrappers the whole time. Actually my biggest problem wasn't the kids, it was the adults who somehow thought that since it was a kid friendly performance it meant they could behave as kids. The woman beside me literally stood for the beginning of the second act, and we had good seats. It's not that she couldn't see. (End rant. It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to bring my kids and be the mean mom that won't let them rustle candy wrappers). 

After the ballet we headed to Brooklyn to this neighborhood called Dyker Heights. It was featured on one of those, "Extreme Christmas Lights" specials, and for a good reason. More lights than you can imagine. J was such a good sport and I laughed good-naturedly about my pure joy and enthusiasm despite the freezing weather. 

(More lights below)

On the way home he surprised me by stopping at my favorite restaurant in my old neighborhood, Lot 2. He won serious points with that move and then was rewarded by them having his favorite cocktail featured as the drink of the night (Veiux Carre...recipe at very bottom. It's the perfect winter warm you up cocktail. It was a shame I don't live a few blocks away and we couldn't stumble home because we both would have gladly imbibed more.)

Then we were going to have "Christmas" because I'm heading to the west coast for Christmas with my fam tomorrow but we decided to watch an episode of Breaking Bad instead...priorities. Christmas tonight though!

I'll miss you (a)Lot 2

As I get ready to leave the neighborhood I've made my home for the past year and a half I'm starting to feel a little sad about the places I won't be able to walk down the block to. Last night J came over and we were trying to decide which of our spots to go to since, as he put it, my "Brooklyn days are numbered." We ended up at Lot 2 which I'm so sad I only discovered early this summer. They have the most delicious menu. The menu is tiny, and usually that worries me. What if there isn't anything I like, but I've never disliked anything there. I always have a hard time deciding what to get, mostly because the one staple on the menu is their burger and I think it is the best burger I've ever tasted. Served with whole grain mustard, ketchup, and mayo on the side (I'm a mustard only girl) and picked onions with bread and butter pickles, it is always cooked perfectly. J's big pet peeve is when you order a burger medium and it comes out medium well or worse (gasp), well done but these guys are pros. It's not unusual to go there and see a family sitting at the large corner table all eating burgers...they're that good.

So last night I had one last Lot 2 burger, and my favorite cocktail there, the father-in-law...kind of like a Manhattan, but I honestly don't know what's in it, it's just so delicious I can't bring myself to branch out. J had an apple and cider stew with carrots, caramelized Brussels Sprouts, and other deliciousness I can't remember. I wish I had taken pictures but we were too busy eating. The whole place is lit with candles and just perfect and glowy for a date night. Then on the way home we stopped at the bakery down the block and got a tiny cheesecake. I'm going to miss this neighborhood.