Cafe Zest & A

[in progress]

Cafe Zest & My Boys

[in progress]

Japan and Back in 1 Hour

My hair had gotten to the point where I couldn't run my fingers to it. My hand would get stuck a couple of inches from the ends and I'd have to yank it through. The change in weather had also dried it (and my skin out). I needed help and with our schedule, wouldn't get a chance to see my normal hair stylist until 11/7. Plus, I wanted to look nice for our trip this weekend to Orlando to see M's grandmother, mom and brother.

Back when I had super short hair, I used to have 2 really great Japanese hair stylists - both in the Lower East Side. I remembered there was a Japanese salon half a block from my office called Hisako Salon (47th between Lex and Third). I made a lunchtime appointment for a cut and conditioning treatment. You could get your hair cut by a stylist, top stylist, or senior stylist with prices increasing accordingly. Since I had never gone there before, I let them pick one for me. Having a cut at lunch today was more important than with whom. Plus, I figured I had a high chance of getting someone good.

One thing this salon is known for is a shiatsu massage during your haircut. It was so nice. I nearly fell asleep and could get used to getting a little head massage at lunch. My stylist, Ikuko, was great. She had been at the salon for 8 years - 8 YEARS! Man, 8 years should get you to be a top stylist at least. She was very sweet, we chatted a bit and she did everything I asked for perfectly.

She was conscious of the time and had me out before the hour was up so that I could run to Cafe Zest next door and get a vegetarian bento box: brown rice with carrots and hijiki, edamame, eggplant, tomato, broccoli, shitake and bamboo shoot tempura, tofu veggie patty, hijiki salad, asparagus with sesame ginger sauce. Amazing.

*Cafe Zest with D & J

Cafe Zaiya opened its sister eatery Cafe Zest just down the street from my building so I thought it would be a perfect place to have a little PRIDE lunch. People can pick through the various delicious offerings downstairs and we can all meet upstairs and catch up. No need to hassle with splitting the bill, reservations, people arriving at different times. I had an amazing vegetarian bento box - it was so good and exactly what I wanted.

As to be expected, J and D, our fearless co-chairs were my only attendees. We have been having really bad turnout for our smaller PRIDE events - not exactly sure why. Our larger events have attracted 400-600 attendees! But, trust me, if anyone says that there aren't enough events in our annual survey, I will send them our calendar of events and maybe have J say something to them. One gets a lot of really ignorant, uninformed and whiny comments as the social co-chair and if I'm too irate, I send J to take care of things.

I love my boys. They shared a lot of really great ideas over lunch and I'm always impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm. The really fun part and great reward of being on the Pride Steering Committee is getting to know and spending time with people like them.

*Cafe Zest w/ C

C came all the way from the Financial District to have lunch with me! I met her and her partner at an NYU LGBT graduate students event and it's been amazing to see these women kick butt. I'm happy to say that C is part of the JP family and will be starting a new fantastic assignment on 9/8. She's so excited about this job that she is foregoing a week off to attend meetings! She is such a superstar. B is starting a new fantastic business. And they are tying the knot in a couple of months and are in the midst of planning and getting paperwork done in Massachusetts. It was so great to catch up.

I picked Cafe Zest for out little lunch date. At my previous firm, I used to go to its parent Cafe Zaiya for terrific packaged Japanese yummies and...Beard Papa! My co-worker E told me that they were opening a place right on our office block and I've been dying to go. It is bright, clean and airy (if not a bit narrow). There is a terrific choice of salads (soba salad, udon salad), sandwiches (I had a nice fried fish sandwich), bento boxes, sushi, onigiri and yummy pastries (I can't eat them but you should)! D must be sooooo jealous because I know she'd be eating here every day (there's Calpico!). There's a great little dining area in the back with sky lights. I get to have actual rays of the sun helping me make vitamins! A fabulous addition to the multitude of Japanese food in the area: SEO, Menchanko Tei, Sushi Express, Haru, Katsu-Hama, Sakagura...