Wonderful stories....small acts of kindness...really lovely to read. Each story is such a study in contrast to the ugliness and vulgarity displayed by our President. What a relief to read about good hearted people who do kind things. Thank you -- this is exactly what I needed today.
59
The Cherry Blossom Special by Wendy Katkin made me cry. Thank you for sharing.
27
I just love these little vignettes. They always make me smile...
53
These wonderful vignettes of life in the big city bring the magic of the Big Apple across the miles to California and beyond ... delightful.
26
Some newcomers to the Times, I see in comments. I'm a native turning 65 next month. Feel like I've been reading Met Diary my whole life. We were a big newspaper family, at least 4 a day!
20
I'm 62; I live and ride the subway (Red Line) in Boston. About 5 years ago, I started walking with a cane. And that's when I really experienced just how nice and helpful our subway riders can be.
Almost every time I get on the subway, people offer me a seat right away. Some apologize that they didn't notice me faster. I've even had people _gently_ disagree with each other as to whose seat I should take.
It makes me feel warm about my fellow riders, my fellow Bostonians and the rest of humankind.
56
Stumbled on Metropolitan Diary this morning. I'll be looking for it from now on. Put's the short in delightful short stories, five out of five uplifting winners. Thanks to NYT and to those who shared.
33
Like many people who knew NYC only from movies of the 1960s/70s I had preconceptions - crowded, rude, dangerous, etc. But when I came for a business conference in 2005 I learned just how wrong that was. Busy sure, but also gracious and willing to help out. Since then my wife and I have visited three times and have loved our time there. During our most recent trip we were having a slow, relaxing Sunday following a busy week of playing tourist. After lunch we were window shopping on Broadway around 83rd when we heard five or six tourists talking about how much fun they were having. We stopped and I offered to take their photo. They looked shocked for a moment and then bunched together, handed their iPhone to a stranger and and smiled. Afterwards they told me how shocked they were because we were nothing like the stereotype New Yorkers. My wife and I grinned and then told them that’s because were were Californians there as tourists too. We talked about small world, etc. and we wished each other a good time as we went our separate ways. We have experienced many courtesies from New Yorkers and just wanted to pass it on. Reading Metropolitan Diary each Monday reminds us of how gracious your people can be. Thank you for sharing your city with tourists like us.
34
Upon retrieving my Monday edition of the New York Times from my front walk plus The Philadelphia Inquirer, I immediately read The Metropolitan Diary. I never resided in New York but feel a close connection because both of my parents were born and raised New Yorkers and shared many memories of their youth. They often returned for Broadway shows and I often train it to do the same. The MD stories make my day.
18
I once went to a party in the village with my girl friend and a guy friend of ours. He kept telling us "Al Pacino's going to be there. Al Pacino's going to be there". He knew the host and hostess who were just finishing up a play with Pacino.
The evening was enjoyable, the food was tasty, the drinks were chilled and refreshing, but no Al Pacino. After a while I assumed he was elsewhere. Our friend was happily seated in a heavy leather chair flirting with two young actresses.
About an hour before we left, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed some latecomers. One was Pacino. He had a drink, played the bongos and chit chatted with the hostess and then was off like a flash. He couldn't have been there more than five minutes.
A few minutes later our pal came by and said "I still think he's coming"
"Well Ted, Al Pacino done come and gone, but thanks for bringing us along. The food and drinks were great."
He smiled and said "Too bad he missed seeing me"
29
I really enjoy how these stories highlight the beauty hidden in everyday life. We can all have meaningful experiences living casual lives.
27
I once met Fran Lebowitz at a private party at Studio 54 and she had on that bored done it all face much like my life. ... to be continued ...
6
After all the gory news of warmongers, these small stories renew one's hope that we are human and humans are good.
51
Sometimes I write in the Comments stories that I totally made up. They are a scandalous success! I thought isn't that literature, I mean isn't what I write. ... to be continued ....
5
@Margaret Laurence
And you are one of my very favorite writers!
5
What wonderful vignettes.
Thanks
16
I laud the on line edition editors for flagging the Metropolitan Diary...I had never noticed it before....and just loved reading today's entries and so especially, all the heart warming comments.
As a Canadian I have only made it to NYC a few times, usually after a meeting at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. These stories brought tears to my eyes. In this current political era, it is so wonderful to find such a calming place, a refuge to escape the daily onslaught of the stories that dominate the NYT reporting. Thanks.
48
@Jim
Absolutely agree, this is my favorite part of the paper precisely because the stories are so heart warming and remind us of the need to stay connected to everyone through simple little interactions as we go about our daily lives.
22
Thank you for these lovely little slices of life with an uplifting feel. Just what I needed to start the morning!
23
What a beautiful section-I almost moved past this but I am happy I stopped to check it out. Warm real stories by real people with depth. I grew up in the City and miss it in many ways and these entries just make me feel good and motivatye me to plan more visits, Thank you
10
Loved them all. Thanks.
13
I'm so glad I have lovely memories of Manhattan, my friend and I would shop at Zabars and get a fresh sliced bagel next door and then eat our brunch on the bench admiring the tulips at the crosswalk with our cups of fresh hot coffee. It was a wonderful place to be a young person, cheap seats on the stage.
16
In 1976 I left my native New York, 25 years old.
My personal life was in shambles and New York’s fiscal health made it such that my professional prospects were poor.
I’ve been in DC since then and although personally happy now and retired from a very rewarding career hardly a day goes by I don’t dream of the day I might return, a resident.
These stories bring a tear to my eyes.
29
Dear Richard B,
There are many of us who know well your dreams about and feelings of longing for the city that will always be home.
I think you would find the following two books interesting reading if you have not already come across them: Avery Corman’s 1980 novel “The Old Neighborhood” and the anthology of writings about and reminiscences of the city entitled “Leaving New York: Writers Look Back,” edited by Kathleen Norris and published by Hungry Mind Press of St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1995.
I hope to see more of your comments to Metropolitan Diary entries Richard. Both the entries and the comments are a weekly treat which many of us who love the city dearly look forward to every Monday.
Stay well,
Allen
21
@Allen J. Share Even though I now live (for 3 years) in the small town near where I was born, I spent 25 years living in NYC. I love reading the MD, it resonates with the NYer that I have always been and will always be. No matter where I live.
8
@Allen J. Share My grandmother and my uncle owned a rooming house on East 31 Street off Second Avenue during the 1970s and '80s. It served mostly single men. One of them was "Benson, the King of the Hoboes." He traveled throughout the country by rail and kept his room for many years. After I outgrew my bar mitzvah suit, I gave it to him. There was also an unknown, struggling writer who lived in a basement apartment of the rooming house. He became friendly with my grandmother. His name was Avery Corman.
8
My parents honeymooned in NYC in 1945. My father had just returned from three years in Europe as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was in his uniform. They always remember the kindness (and free meals) provided to them throughout their stay. They returned for their 50th anniversary and stayed in the same hotel - thoroughly enjoying every minute of their second honeymoon in the magic that is New York City.
36
For heaven's sake, please write more of these unbelievably charming stories. They just made my day.
79
Far and away the best collection I’ve read in years. Each story alone was wonderful and together they are simply perfect.
One of my favorite places to run when I lived on 90th and Columbus in the early 1990’s was the bridal path at that perfect time when cherry blossom petals were both still on the trees and blanketed the ground.
38
Each one beautiful. My heart is warmed.
40
All really good diary entries this week, and some equally good comments.
30
Lovely stories!
16
Why don't we decide on a time and place and swap stories over dinner?
19
To Allen J Share and anne,
Now I'm curious as to what your Metropolitan Diary entry would be that would clue all of us in to your happy memories of your dinner together in Rome!
Please, do share!
9
Dear Helen,
To try to answer your question, there are a number of people who regularly comment on Metropolitan Diary entries. The ability to reply to particular comments allows exchanges to take place so that, over time, one gets to know a bit as well as care about those commenters.
When I knew I would be in Rome on a tour, I
naturally thought of Anne, and wrote in a comment about a month before my trip that I would drink a toast to her while there.
Anne replied that it would be nice if we could somehow meet while I was in Rome. An exchange of notes over the next few weeks led me to tell Anne when I would be arriving and the name of my hotel. We settled on a day that worked for both of us to meet and enjoy dinner.
Anne’s son Claudio was the designated driver and the three of us dined at a splendid restaurant Anne had chosen. We spent several lovely hours getting to know one another and of course talking about the Diary, other regular
commenters, and the reasons we loved New York and the Metropolitan Diary.
So now when I read a comment from Anne from Rome, Italy, I can put a face and a voice together with that comment. But more important, on that evening in the Eternal City a virtual connection became a genuine one and a friendship began. I think I can safely speak for both of us that we are delighted to have met one another.
The number of regular commenters is small enough that a lovely and special sense of community now exists.
Stay well Helen,
Allen
31
@Helen
Dear Helen,
Thank you so much for your interest, very touching! The regular commentators in Metropolitan Diary seem to be rather small so I guess I stand out a bit,given that I live in Italy.When Allen mentioned he would be in Rome,I immediately thought of getting together for a dinner.But I did not know the NYTimes policies on privacy!So I sent a rather cryptic comment referring to a famous NYC basketball player in the 1970's who shares my last name,hoping Allen might find me on Facebook!That did not work,but then Allen mentioned the name of the hotel where he would be staying and we were able to organize a dinner together at Trattoria Monti,two blocks away from where I first lived in Rome for eleven years.
Yes,my 29 year old son,Claudio,was designated driver and he,like Allen and I,thought that our way of being able to get together was something that could probably only happen in the Internet age and was also definitely cool.We spoke about our lives and what has led us from there to here.Allen had moved away from NYC around the same time that I moved away from the USA. Roots can be strong,but other roots can grow even stronger. We also agreed that our favorite Metropolitan Diary stories are those about people helping people in little and big ways.
It was a pleasure to have met Allen and made a friend.All roads lead to Rome,seemingly a trivial comment,but the roads the Ancient Romans built could circumnavigate the World ten times.
Lots of love from Italy, Anne
20
@anne You sound like such a wonderful person, as is Allen!
6
I moved from NY to Oregon in 1975. I come back every year to visit family and absorb as much New Yorkerness as possible. I subscribe to the NYT. I just read these stories while waiting to see my psychologist (I am coping with a diagnosis of Non Hodgens Lymphoma). Honestly, I cried so darn much over these NY tales, I don’t even feel like I need to go my session! Thanks NY.
72
@Roz Cohen
Roz, good wishes for your treatment. I hope these stories keep you laughing.
31
Dear Ms. Cohen,
Permit me to echo Constance’s wishes for your complete recovery and your good health. I’ve long enjoyed the Metropolitan Diary for the joy the entries bring and the equanimity that comes with reading about New Yorkers who go out of their way to be kind, thoughtful, helpful, and considerate to others.
Be well Roz.
Allen
43
@Roz Cohen
Zai gezunt, Roz.
9
Cherry Blossom Special is the best story I have read in this column to-date. Thank you for sharing these.
25
@Erica That story is the gift of love.
12
Alas, I'm not on Twitter.
Might there be another way to follow the Diary?
I love it so.
Regardless, thank you, Times. These stories are magnificent in their humility.
20
@Valerie. I once had a run in with humility.
3
Even with the state of the world, New York City remains the most magical place.
40
One school morning, our three children were standing in front of our house waiting for their respective busses. The oldest, aged 14, was the reason we married two years before we intended. Our second child was obviously physically handicapped and my wife, a nurse in the neo-natal intensive care unit of Children's Hospital, asked me to "come to work with her to meet somebody." Our third child, of partial African descent that left him with beautiful healthy skin, was our foster son whom we adopted.
As the first bus driver was situating our second son in his seat with a full torso seat belt jacket clipped to the seat at four corners, he asked me, "Is this a group home?"
28
@Edward-When my son graduated from college the six of us all celebrating were asked "who are your parents"and my son replied "they all are". Families are complicated and wonderful
20
@Edward--Your post suggests a relationship between healthy skin and ancestry. Was there some magical African quality that improved the skin? Or are you saying that the child was "left with" healthy skin despite the African genes? Or was the stock somehow invigorated by the hybrid breeding? And should we assume that everybody else was pure-blooded Caucasians because that is the default and we only mention race if it is other than white?
As a person of "partial African descent" myself, this comment makes my skin crawl, though I'm sure you mean well.
10
@Kevin Lawson
I do mean well. I was thinking of the golden glow of his skin, as the sweet glow of health.
26
Although I've moved across the bridge, I look forward to the Metro Diary every week. Never stop running this feature.
36
This is always my favourite column. Sometimes even reminds me of similar things that have happened to me. Mellow.
25
I bought a used book from ebay a couple of years ago and found a $10, $5 and $1 bill in it, all from the 1930s and 40s (although this book was less than 10 years old.) I still have them out on display, on my TV console.
38
Wonderful stories. Made me run through my mind all my fascinating NY stories from my life. I once asked a man for directions to my subway and because it was raining and he had an umbrella, he walked me all the way to the stairs. Or the time I went from my uptown dorm to see the NYC Ballet. As I got to the theater, a big black limo pulled up and out stepped Governor Rockefeller in a tux. At my seat, I was surrounded by tuxedos and evening gowns and I couldn’t take my coat off so no one would see I was wearing jeans and a raggy shirt. It was Lincoln Center grand opening. How did I know?
60
@lester ostroy
I found five $5 bills with red ink stamps instead of green which adds to the value of the bills.
I was getting some change back on a purchase. The person dropped a quarter and it sounded like a ringing bell. I snatched it up quickly in case the clerk noticed it and it was what I suspected, an old coin made with silver.
21
These are the perfect antidote to the daily news...
64
The most poignant moment in my life occurred about 50 years ago when my wife and I were strong, healthy 20-somethings. We were just entering Macy’s. I held the surprisingly heavy door open for my wife and, as she passed through, a tiny, wrinkled old woman came shuffling toward the door. I backed up a foot or two and re-opened the door. As the old woman passed through she briefly looked up into my face and whispered to me: “A thousand thank yous.” I almost broke down in tears.
127
We attended a performance of King Lear at the Cort which runs 3 and a half hours. At intermission, with the rain belting down, R came back from the washroom only to say there was a long line. I said, pointing across the street, "What about Chipotle?" To be continued...
10
@Margaret Laurence
Dear Margaret and All,
When my husband and I saw Glenda Jackson play Lear last month on my birthday, we were all suddenly hustled to our seats from the lounge and small bar areas of the theater and the lights dimmed promptly at starting time--but only partially.
Suddenly there was a buzz from the rear orchestra, and everybody was on his/her feet applauding wildly. We were in front mezzanine seats, so couldn't see at first who was being welcomed so enthusiastically. I even thought this might be part of the performance.
But then a group of about 15 appeared with a blond in the center--it was Hillary Clinton.
And I must say the standing ovation she received at the Cort Theater that night was as long as the one Ms. Jackson, who gave a superlative performance (2nd that day because of Saturday matinee), received at play's end -- about 5 minutes. Then the lights dimmed completely, we were transported to Lear's royal court, and the play began.
Elissa
45
I miss reading these sometimes wonderful tales of life in New York. I miss it. Sometimes.
18
Sweet stories.
20
Absolutely charming stories this week.
37
I'm going into insulin shock from reading this.
16
These stories make me happy.
38
Wonderful stories, keep up the good work.
27
How comforting on a truly gray Monday of unrelenting downpours that we have five examples of hope and kindnesses extended by people in nyc.
Just thinking of the trees of Central Park in bloom and the city coming alive again with hope in Spring is such a lovely treat on such a bleak day.
Thank you, NYers.
Elissa
55
The most outstanding diary entries this week. Since a long time. Personal, touching, real New York. Thank you.
56
All wonderful and warm diary stories this week! Once again highlighting that entries such as these are what make NYC such a magical place.
37
Five marvelous stories this week. Pure joy.
How many pairs of tickets have been passed along due to breakups? Or singles, due to stand-ups? Any ticket will do. Thank you very much.
Every story rings beautiful and true. When I like a story, I send it to my friends and family. Tonight they’re getting the whole column.
81
@Paul Klenk
Your comment sparked a memory. I was a student at Manhattan School of Music, and I often studied in the quiet lounges of Lincoln Center. I was studying one evening when a couple walked into the lounge and said they had to leave the performance, would I like a ticket? I accepted and enjoyed the most marvelous performance at the Met.
I was born, grew up, and studied in NYC, read The NY Times regularly, but never read the Metropolitan diaries. I agree, they are completely delightful. I'm sorry for what I've missed and plan to stay tuned....
14
These are wonderful! I look forward to reading future editions.
34
I just love these stories.
My dad was an nyc guy through and through.
He often displayed the kindness to strangers retold in these reflections.
58
@Brad
I am a country girl. We are kind too!
2
My one-and-only New York story involves an off-off Broadway play not seen that was a pivotal moment in my life. I had just finished the required two years of isolation and contemplation in a Catholic novitiate on my way to becoming a nun. The pastor of the parish in Pennsylvania where I was then assigned to teach dropped the keys to his car in the convent mailbox with a note that we were to enjoy a long weekend in NYC on his dime. There were four of us, and each was assigned to find suitable entertainment for one of the evenings. I pored over every inch of the Times and found that Uncle Vanya was playing, starring George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst--that was my choice. I was promptly over-ruled by Mother Superior who said she had found a different performance that would be a really nice surprise for me. As I sat amid a sea of rowdy boy scouts at Radio City Music Hall, watching a Disney film, I began to suspect that my life would take another road.
180
Dear Nancy,
Wow - from Chekhov with two of the greatest actors of our time to “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” I can readily see why you might have begun looking for the off ramp.
I hope the road you ended up choosing has taken you to some great places.
Thanks for a terrific story.
Allen
130
@nancy
I love it! NYC has a way of helping us find out who we are.
62
@Allen J. Share
Thank you, Allen. I enjoy reading your reliably kind replies each week. I do have to make a correction to my post, however. I should have done due diligence before hitting the submit button, given that the tale was from forty-six years ago! Having checked the Times' archive, it appears that it was Julie Christie, not Colleen Dewhurst (alas) in the play.
73
The first story sounds completely fabricated.
8
@Tom
You prompted me to call my sister to thank her for being the one person who knows that all of my unbelievable stories are true.
61
@Tom
Clearly you have not lived in NYC where the most unpredictable things happen regularly. Walking on the West Side one afternoon in the mid-70s (1970s) we ran into the best man at our wedding two years earlier. The wedding had taken place in the Midwest and we had no idea he was even on the East Coast, let alone NYC, let alone on the Upper West Side on a sunny weekend.
61
@Tom Why?
28
I think I’ve found a new way to pay it forward...put small bills in used books! Especially ones I put in Little Free Libraries, as they’re more likely to be “adopted.”
135
@J, that is a great idea! I often drop off a few books at a time at a “Free Book” shelf at a little grocery store in a nearby town. I often see people selecting books from there. Mostly older folks.
One thing seemed off in that book story, though. Have you ever purchased a used book without flipping through the pages first? I haven’t.
19
@J when my brother died, his former partner told me he had a habit of putting twenty dollar bills in books. Well, my brother was an historian and had about a thousand books in his house. I boxed them up, without mentioning the twenties, and asked his university department to put them in the hallway for students to take. Hopefully, a lot of them stumbled on unexpected riches.
87
Dear John,
Such a beautiful and generous gesture. As an historian, and long ago somewhat threadbare history student, I know your thoughtfulness brought many a smile to the students who took home and read your brother’s books.
Thank you for adding your own lovely story this week.
Be well,
Allen
53
“The Saint” reminds me of the time when college roommates and I moved off campus into a house. The woman who owned the home had recently died and her son was renting the house for the first time. He gave us the first month rent free if we would clean the place. I remember walking the corner of a carpet up with one roommate when the roommates behind us gasped. There was $120 under the carpet. When we attempted to return it to the woman’s son, he said, “Finders Keepers!” We had a great restaurant meal that night with enough left over to pay that month’s utilities.
130
Thank you, Wendy Katrina, for your beautiful story and images. I’m having a difficult day. Your words have lifted me.
73
Why the faeries in my iPad changed Katkin to Katrina I will never know. So, once again, thank you, Wendy Katkin.
25
Dear Passion for Peaches,
Weird things happen to our words along the way to getting printed. The New Yorker has long run small items at the bottom of the page which feature corrections and/or explanations for editorial flubs. One quite some years ago featured an apology for an announcement of an event to benefit winos. The reporter had originally written about an event to benefit minorities but along the way minorities got changed to minos which then got changed to winos.
I hope the rest of the days this week are happier for you Passion for Peaches.
Best wishes,
Allen
55
@Passion for Peaches
And pray may tomorrow definitely be better than today for you.
5
Those were the days! Being able to walk from Times Square up to Central Park then back to 39th and Lexington to my and my wife's favorite, now long gone restaurant, La Maison Japonaise. I wish my feet could still take me that far now. And I still yearn for their delicate sauces and great desserts. (Definitely sitting upstairs was much more relaxing). BTW, never made to A Chorus Line as musicals were not my thing then and still not now
28
@NY Skeptik
I can close my eyes and still savor the aroma and the velvet-soft texture of the heavenly Brandy Alexander chiffon pie at La Maison Japonaise.
We had recently returned to nyc from Washington (strictly, Bethesda) where my husband was at NAMRI. Really, until about 1980, Washington was in many ways a small, amazingly "stuffy" and provincial town with two appallingly bad Chinese restaurants, a bunch of steak houses, and the wonderful Bish Thompsons for seafood.
How wonderful and liberating it felt to be back in New York, to go to jazz clubs, hear Bob Dylan live downtown, go to the theater and eat in romantic French, Italian, Greek restaurants all over town.
Certain restaurants seem to cast a romantic spell over us at special times in our lives. For us, the Shanghai Cafe in student days, La Maison Japonaise, Indochine, as well as my friend's Cafe Une, Deux, Trois, and Montien in Boston are some. Perhaps these places are special to us because they truly provide us with what the word "restaurant" promises--they "restore" us and nurture our souls.
Elissa
25
@NY Skeptik In the 1990s I worked at 260 Madison, and La Maison Japanoise (luckily, just around the corner) was the inevitable go-to restaurant when out-of-town friends and I met for lunch. And it's telling that LMJ's lovely food and ambience still pop into my mind all these years later.
9
@els
Dear els, I grew up in Bethesda, MD and I know, all the DC area was amazingly provincial. I moved to NYC in 1973 after university and I finally felt free. While growing up I remember only three "foreign" restaurants: The North China in Bethesda: dreadful; Chez Pierre in DC: expensive; and The Roma whose publicity was: "Two Places to Eat: Homa and the Roma." I kid you not!
10
I'm a Trump agenda guy. And, I loved these stories. Maybe, we're all a little more alike than we care to admit...?
29
@tbs. There is no reason whatsoever to think kindness, empathy and respect for fellow human beings are partisan traits.
96
@tbs Unfortunately, I have the greatest difficulty believing that. Thinking of Trump placing kids in cages, lying mercilessly, arbitrarily and pettily banning all citizens of certain Muslim countries from entering the US while letting Saudis in, obstructing justice, making up nicknames for his adversaries, brings to my mind the opposite of the kindness and human decency these stories convey.
78
@tbs
I'm gonna hold on to that in the months going up to the election - thank you!
4
A great doorman who, you can be sure, will let the corolla’s owners know who their benefactors were!
(from an ex-NYer)
51
@Carol C. Doormen know everything.
6
What a great bunch of stories! The Chorus Line story gave me a thrill of goosebumps at the end.
38
Oh my goodness! I adored every story this week. Thank you to the authors!
58
A most excellent Diary, stories and letters. Even my coffee seemed better...
50
Great stories today!
When my husband and I were first together, we lived on a modest street, directly across from several small houses lived in by sweet little old widow ladies. One day, while I was visiting one of the ladies, she showed me that she hid paper money all over her house: 5 and 10 dollar bills, tucked in books, under doilies, and behind knick-knacks. I wondered how she would ever remember where they all were.
Maybe the Leslie Charteris mysteries with the $10 bills were previously owned by a similarly inclined old lady.
72
To Madeleine;
I would rather believe that it was planned in appreciation of the buyer of the 5 cent book.
31
In the fall of 1978 a friend and I took a trip to Virginia Beach for the weekend, too bad it poured every day we were there. Diving back home on Monday we picked up a local Washington DC newspaper hoping to find something to do and salvage the trip. Sure enough Monday October 2nd, The Capitol Centre, Jethro Tull live in concert. We scored 14th row center seats the day of the concert for $8.80 each tax included that help save a rain soaked weekend. I still have the ticket stub to prove it.
69
Dear Ms. Katkin,
When I read your lovely Diary entry about a perfect afternoon in Central Park I thought of the many such beautiful occasions when I have similarly loved being in the park and savoring its many pleasures. Of those experiences, as well as reading Metropolitan Diary entries such as yours as well as the four others this week, I think: “This is what makes me happy!”
Thank you and enjoy the many beauties of spring.
Allen
126
Dear Mr. Gold,
When I read that you and your wife were seated in a restaurant very near a man dining with a much younger woman, that they were having an argument, and that the woman was furious, I thought immediately about one of my all-time favorite New York City movies, “Moonstruck.” I’m glad that man did not have a glass of water hurled in his face but instead broke the tension by inviting you and your wife to join them. Obviously you and your wife enjoyed the rest of the evening by, amazingly, getting to take in the very play you had wanted to see, but I find myself wondering about your dinner companions and how they spent the remainder of their evening.
Thank you for a great Diary entry and enjoy a good week.
Allen
90
@Allen J. Share
Dear Allen, I thought about "Moonstruck", too and I love it too and it does have an Italian connection, too. At least it was water thrown and not wine!
When my son, Claudio, was younger, we watched Spike Lee's wonderful film "Crooklyn" at least five times together. So many great films about NYC. Special thanks to Spike Lee, Nora Ephron and Martin Scorsese!
lots of love from Italy, Anne
54
Dear Anne,
I was thinking about you as I was reading the Metropolitan Diary entries and hoping you were enjoying reading them too. Yes, a wonderful Italian connection in “Moonstruck,” and many gorgeous shots of some of the city’s most romantic vistas, night and day. And yes, there are so many great movies which feature the city as a vital element in the story line. As indeed there are of Rome as well.
Enjoy a lovely week Anne and happy memories of our dinner together in your historic and amazing city.
Cordiali saluti e tanto amore,
Allen
41
@Allen J. Share
Dear Allen,
I wondered the same thing. And not only did I wonder how they spent the rest of their evening; I also wondered how they spent the rest of their lives!
Warm regards,
Dean from CT
48
Re Mr. Gold's story - Wasn't that show in 1976 as hard to get as ""Hamilton" when it opened? There's no intermission at "A Chorus Line." They wouldn't even need to talk to each other, and maybe they'd make up during "What I Did for Love.." But how great for you, being in the right place at the right time.
tune of "I Hope I Get It". (Chorus Line opening number)
God, how did they get them
I How did they get them?
How did they get such perfect seats
(How did they get close center seats?).
God I just don't get it,
I just don't get it.
Why not just fight after the show
(For now, make up and see it?).
Were they famous people?
Connected people?
How could they give up perfect seats?
Perhaps they'd calm down at the show?
Or pick up fighting later!
I wonder who they know
How did they get sixth row?
For Broadway's hottest show!
52
Hi Freddie,
I thought of you immediately while reading this entry. Wishing you many more “singular sensations” and “thrilling combinations” at the theater.
Allen
21
Dinner and a show! That once happened to us only it was opening night at the Met. We were sitting by the fountain at Lincoln Center and at intermission, a couple walked up to us and handed us 2 ticket stubs, asked if we would like them. We saw "Tales of Hoffman" with Placido Domingo, 4th row center, wearing blue jeans and sweatshirts among those in formal attire!
110
Another happy tears start to my Monday. I really needed this today. Thank you, Diary contributors, for your wonderful memories. Thank you!
55
Thank you Ms. Katkin for sharing in a fine way such a wonderful story.
31
I happy start to my day. True or not, these short pieces make me smile. And remember and appreciate the small stuff.
29
Five great entries in the Metropolitan Diary this Monday morning.
I was trying to come up with a “whodunit conclusion” for “The Saint” to explain why there were five $10 bills tucked inside the paperback. Was the previous owner of “The Saint” being blackmailed and didn’t want his wife (or her husband?) to know? Was the previous owner saving money for future birthday gifts? Did the previous owner not believe in banks? Was the previous owner a hoarder with memory loss?
When Carol Robinson said that the five $10 bills covered her first week’s hotel bill, I thought of a similar (but not identical) experience. My wife and I stayed at a suite in a hotel near Carnegie Hall in the 1990s. We were there for several days. We had a kitchenette, a bedroom, and a living room. The cost was $109 per night. “Them days is gone,” as my old Uncle Fred used to say.
38
@Dean Or like my late mother-in-law not trust banks. We found money stashed all around her NYC apartment when we packed it up after her death. Who knows if we found it all or if lucky souls like Carol Robinson got a happy surprise.
33
@Dean
Perhaps it was a generational thing. When my mother-in-law died ten years ago we found money stored in odd receptacles all over the house - and she did have several bank accounts. Still a mystery to us.
14
@Salix My dad enjoyed swap meets and auctions in SoCal and he had rather large stashes of cash in jackets just in case he found something he needed. After he died and Mom was donating his clothes, we went through all the pockets. Just in case.
4
Some good ones today! Only in NYC!
38
Simon Templar was (is?) a Robin Hood like figure. So it's only right that someone in need finds money in a used Saint book.
62
'A heart-warming collection, mostly about helping out random strangers, even unseen'.
77