Crepes and German beer!

Brief not-NYC bit to the entry:

I was home for a week, which was great. I hadn't had relaxing time at my parent's house since spring break (I'd been home for the 4th, but it was a busy weekend!)...so it was long overdue! It was my mini-summer break, since I didn't take any time between graduation and my internship. Anyway, the part that I want to write about is a show we went to see at the Clark museum in Williamstown.

Called "Picasso looks at Degas" it was just what it sounds like...Picasso and Degas paintings paired together where D influenced P. Picasso was 50 years younger than Degas, and although both lived in Paris in the same neighborhood, never actually met. Picasso was familiar with Degas' work, however, and the influence was striking. Both Picasso's earlier, less typical Picasso-esque work and the later weirdness he developed showed many similarities...some strong, others more subtle. The plaques all did a great job explaining the history and relationships. The show's only open until September 12, so I'm glad I found out about it at the last minute! It's hard to write about it more without being able to see examples, so I'll wrap it up here. But if you by any chance can go, DO.

And now I'm back in NYC. Orientation is on Thursday, then classes start on Tuesday (after Labor Day). I'm taking the week to get a few things done and spend my last few days relaxing before gearing up for a full semester.

Today I went into the city to meet Potter after work, because we had plans to attend a The Moth show. It's a public radio show where people tell un-scripted stories on a variety of topics...so it varies a lot. He and I often listen to the podcasts and decided to go check out a live show. Too bad the line was atrocious! Before getting in line, I was hungry so we went off in search of a quick bite to eat that I could bring back in line while we waited.

We went to the Creperie...apparently this hole-in-the-wall joint is well known...they were even on Bobby Flay's "Throwdown" show on the Food Network. It was so much fun watching the friendly crepe-ist spread the batter and flip the nearly paper-thin pancake with a long, thin knife. Potter got ham & cheese, while I opted for the more decadent brie, pear, and walnut...TO DIE FOR. I've never had a savory crepe before, only sweet, and this was phenomenal! We got back into the The Moth line a few blocks away and started playing the waiting game. I figured if nothing else, we'd be outside, eating crepes, enjoying each other's company... As it turns out, though, the bar hit capacity just as our part of the line was rounding the corner...bummer! Oh well, it would have been crowded. Now we know to get there early and get a good seat (the shows are almost weekly). Next time!

We then wandered off in search of a good place to grab a beer or two and stumbled upon The Half Pint....which is my new favorite bar (for now at least). We sat at the bar and had a friendly Irish accented bar tender. They had 24 beers on tap! And an even larger selection in bottles, all displayed in their wood trimmed-glass doored fridges...I thought they were sitting warm in cabinets until I looked closely. The best part was that they also have my favorite beer (Weihenstephaner Hefe-Weiss) on tap, which I haven't been able to enjoy for a while now...I forgot how good it smelled! The menu described it as the best wheat beer on Earth and I simply have to agree. We will definitely be coming back here. They also have a traditional English beer, served warm and hand-pumped up from the basement. The bartender said it took about 5 minutes of pumping to fill a glass! I've always been curious about those types of beers and may have to try that one next.

Well, that's all for now. Tomorrow I'm going to join Potter for lunch and finally try bahn mi, Vietnamese sandwiches! Om nom nom...