Easter, the cops and a couple of great Italian reds

Saw some great grafitti on the walls of soho Saturday as I was walking around looking for Piper. So many people on the streets for spring break, it was unreal. I was lost as she went to a denim clothing sample sale and got harrassed by one of the punk guy sale attendants, he made her cry. She's tough, so you know he had to be a real jerk. After meeting up with her and regrouping over a libation (sorry didn't take notes) we went to Precinct #1 to file a harassment complaint. It was so classic, like we were in a movie. Best regards to the men and women in blue at #1, you're well #1. Let's get this sucker.

My recommendation for a post-harassment-complaint-filing wine at the 1st, is a stop off at Poetessa (East Post?) at 92 2nd Ave. near 5th. I had a beautiful glass of the 2000 Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo. Forget pairing this with food, after what she went through it was like a velvet blanket of plum, next to a warm fire with a large field outside.

Subway notes: You got to look like you know where you are going and what you're doing at all times on the streets of New York b/c you'll get eaten up or run over. Even though I'm screaming and crying on the inside, I'm trying to look like I belong. It's cold, so my toes are frozen in the pointy boots I'm wearing and trying not to get the freaking heel stuck in the street grate. I'm bundled up but hiking, then in the subway I'm crammed and then sweaty. It's going to take a while before I look cute and savvy. Warm weather should be here soon. Looking forward to tasting the whites in the afternoon... The subways are sometimes scary and cold. I thought I could be scared before, but times that by ten and add two boogie men.

Side note: My apartment has a huge video library, so I borrowed a couple like phantom menace, 21 grams and outlaw sluts. No pairing recommendation here.

Easter note: What do you bring to to your gay cousin and his Mormon lover for Easter dinner in Jersey City? If I had some class I would have chosen the Livia Fontana Barolo Villero 1996. I'm new to this, so my only reason for the pick is that I need to drink more non-California wine. The choice of Barolo makes me feel confident, so I'll let you know later what would be the best pick for ham. I hear that we should wait to drink this wine, but I'm on the fast track for learning. How will I know why we should wait?

I told my cousin and the Mormon lover that they looked so handsom and well groomed. "We're gay and live in New York. There's a lot of pressure... "

"Not in New Jersey though," the Mormon added.

Apartment search paired with Chianti

Landed in Harlem after a great send off from the beautiful people of the 916. I miss you. After a quick nap from the red eye, I went looking for a room to rent. First, tiny place in the e. village. Bathroom requires brushing your teeth in the shower and careful timing of b movements. Next place, sharing space with a sweaty Picasso. I thought it might be interesting to live with this artist guy, but soon felt doubt after one of his dogs took a shit on the floor in front of me after rolling around on the bed I would have been sleeping on. Third place was a dungeon, but really nice people. I think this calls for a 2001 Peppoli Chianti Classico, but if I did end up living with Picasso I would be drinking a tumbler of Korbel brandy and water with a vodka chaser. I'd have ended up at Betty Ford b/c I would have felt bad insulting my host. The Chianti was my choice b/c of its tendency to make your mouth water and get your appetite going. I'm ready to get settled into my new city and take it all in.

Looked at 2 other places the next day, upper west side with a Chinese cellist and lower Manhattan at the "Real Word" apartment. I chose the latter and thought a pint of Guiness would go best with that. The rest of my first week felt like a blur but I do remember some fantastic lasagna in the e. village, getting pushed on the street and a photo shoot with 2 of the most talented, creative women in the country.

Finally the voices in my head have stopped asking me what the hell am I doing. Start spreading the news...