The Adventure Continues
Barb here, your intrepid reporter posting from Manhattan.

So, Michael arrived from St.Louis, Goomba and her friend arrived from
the south, and we all met, with Saint Marcel, at Vivolo on East 74th
for an early dinner. Margaret and I (mostly Margaret) have prepared
most of the foods for tomorrow's brunch feast -- She only has ten
pounds of meat and seafood for the 15-20 people who are expected. I'm
not sure it's going to be enough . . . .HEH!

So we arrived at Vivolo and Michael and Marcel were already there.
Michael is a cutie. Goomba and SueEllen showed up right behind us, I
think. We all hit it off right away. I've got pictures of Margaret
with yet another bottle of red wine (Nu? What's new?) The unfortunate
part of this is that I don't have any software available to me here to
compact the pictures suitable for web view on my webpage. When I get
home.

We all ordered from the Prizze Fizzi menu -- Piatto Uno, Piatto Duo,
and Desserto. Margaret had polenta, veal scaloppine, and chocolate
mousse mit schlag. Michael had the chicken breast stuffed with
mozzarella, spinach salad, and cheesecake that he didn't want but I
did. Marcel had the spinach salad, the sole (I think) and I don't
know what for dessert. SueEllen had the veal, the lemon cake, and
maybe the spinach salad (?). Goomba (the one and only Goomba, BTW)
had the prosciutto, roasted pepper, and mozz; the veal scaloppine, and
the cannoli. I had the baked clams, the trout with tomato and
stuff, and the chocolate mousse mit the schlag. If you put the mousse
into your coffee with some of the schlag, it was mighty fine. Did I
mention the two bottles of red wine and the two Manhattans? I didn't?
Oh.

Marcello, our waiter, was very nice -- he listened to me about ny
Manhattans instead of Margaret. Mr. Angelo Vivolo hisself came over
to introduce himself and thank us for coming. I told him about my jam
-- he gave me his card. We'll talk.

There was another couple in the room with us. They had to endure our
raucous laughter and multi-directional conversation. The Nice Lady
was from Ireland and in her departure stopped to tell us she heard
someone speak about our election and offered up that she was very
pleased at the outcome. I told her her mother was calling her.
Michael left before he got nasty. Goomba was pleased to hear it.

When we were leaving there were a couple fellows standing outside the
door. I'm thinking they're Vivolo employees, right? Opening the door
and all. Handsomely attired in navy wool single-breasted coats with
little pins on their collars. Who KNOWS how we started chatting. A
little into the conversation I inquired as to what they were listening
to via their clear plastic earpieces that were barely noticeable. The
cute short guy said they were listening to the Knicks. I mentioned
the Timberwolves and Lattrell Sprewell and his whining. We're having
a nice chat and Goomba inquired about the pins. "They're from the
company we work for." Whatever. OK, long story short is that they're
security cops, packing, for the mayor. He was within having a nice
dinner. Margaret had some "conversation" with them about New York
politics. I'm thinking I'll research who they are and send them some
jam when I get home. It's the least I can do.

And here I thought Angelo came to see US. Pffftt.