heart of darkness

Last night's play was a powerhouse of emotions and thoughts-

In 2019 it is hard to believe that someone as brilliant a thinker as Arendt could be so duped by someone as evil as Heidegger (and to some degree his controlling super Nazi wife) but when she became an apologist for Heidegger after the war she managed to call into question all of her own work. The play was severely uncomfortable for many reasons. Martin's speech about the intense joy he got from the rally of thousands in support of the Nazi philosophy brought to mind current events and not in a positive way.  His treatment of his mentor (a Jewish professor) should have been enough to keep Arendt from supporting him but when she confronts him about it - he falls back on the "I was just a cog in a machine" excuse that not only doesn't ring true (even to her) but undercuts his supposedly brilliant and incisive mind.  Overall I left the theater angry that a woman who so clearly had an astute mind would basically side with the penis over the brain- seriously how good could he have been in bed to have her- a Jew- dismiss his complicity in the death of millions of Jews?

So while I would say it was a well scripted play with outstanding performances - a worthwhile evening of theater, I came away from it disgruntled. Too bad she was already dead or I might have had a "strong letter to follow" LOL

Next up on our theater season here - next week -

the following week

and the week after that-

as well as a number of dinners with friends - we manage to keep busy! LOL

another week (or half one)

So we started on Sunday with lunch at mfk. Jenny & Eric joined us and we had an abundance of wonderful dishes! Starting with the crudo -

mussels

anchovies (a long time favorite)

jamon and manchego

boquerones! another long time favorite

crunchy prawn heads

the aguachile with gambas

a terrific cauliflower dish!

scallop special

fideos! a Phil fave!

albondigas!

and the BEST basque cake in the city -

a yum meal still after eating there a few dozen times - a favorite place for lunch!

Then Monday night brought us to the Chaine dinner for May- at pacific standard time PST

every course was good but the budino and the strawberry salad were worth a return trip! We were seated with buddies Lee & Nick so we won on the table-mate lottery!

Tonight we tried a new place in the hood- called Le Sud.... imagine our surprise when we were approached at the table by none other than our favorite waiter for years - Mark (from Socca)

It was great to catch up with him and catch him up with all the folks from that era (Socca closed in 2013) We did see him briefly at The Blanchard but then lost track of him again... So this was fun to meet up after many moons (as we say in non-specific time)....

So the meal there was worth returning to but had some things that could use attention... the steak of steak frites was excellent but the frites were oily and not well prepared

 
Phil had praise for the duck

We both liked the octopus

despite the look of this plate the bone marrow was good but Phil found the topping a bit heavy on the pickled flavors (I liked it but would have liked a better balance between the pickled onions and parsley which I find a perfect accompaniment to the unctuous marrow)

the chocolate mousse was worthy but the basque cake was a tad over baked - still flavorful and if I hadn't had mfk's perfect rendition just tow days ago I am sure I would have been more impressed -

Lucy was thrilled we finally had a warm day and she spent most of it on her "princess" cushion on the deck!

Tomorrow night we are planning to go by El to Belmont and grab a Blaze pizza before seeing Hannah & Martin at the Theater WIT... then Friday Mike & Leslie are coming over (carryout sushi!)

Then the holiday weekend arrives and we swing into the last week in May with another play, a concert, a magic show in a suite at the Palmer House and dinner at Georges Trois with Ron & Mary.  Thank god we don't have jobs we have to go to in the mornings....LOL