And A Good Weekend Was Had By All

, originally uploaded by La Pauline.

I love a busy weekend. Whether it's busy because of clients or due to social obligations, I'd rather be out and about than in the house.

This weekend was overbooked with karaoke with a friend's mother who was in town as well as birthday brunch on Clinton Street on the Lower East Side. I remember when Clinton Street was sketchy -- now there are tourists down there. The Lower East Side is so sanitized. I constantly seek out people who remember it in 2001, 2003 -- long before there were fancy hotels or even legitimate ATMs. And when I do, we all nod in agreement, as if we're part of some pre-gentrification club. We went to to the Luna Lounge. We remember when there was a parking lot where the Ludlow apartment complex now stands. We want it back.

The photo above was taken at Tapeo 29, a really wonderful tapas restaurant. It's won awards for actually serving real Spanish food. In a neighborhood that has become riddled with poseurs, it's nice to find something that's real, at least according to Zagats.