Whose Birthday Is It, Again?

And so it was that I found myself contemplating my birthday-dinner destination. Original thought had us (wife, teenage daughter, teenage son) going to Aquagrill, even if that outrageously good salmon BLT isn't available at dinner; TD doesn't eat things that swim, but then again, what does she eat? chicken was available; it's just a first-class joint w/out first-class prices.

But something was wrong. There just wasn't any...momentum. Maybe it was the gray overhanging weather. Maybe it was New York in November. Maybe it was time for someplace new. Maybe I just wanted to take a long walk and eat dinner at the end of it; Aquagrill is a medium-length subway ride away.

I say to W, what think maybe we don't go to Aquagrill. Ok, she replies, a bit too readily. First warning sign. I'm thinking maybe we walk and then eat. Ok, she replies, second warning sign. Go to Astoria? I say. Sure thing! It's the most life I've seen in her all day. We look at each other. We live at one end of 36th Ave. It's about a 30-minute hop (note to self: try the Palace fried chicken) up to the strip by the yellow-line trains. The Cuban is solid, the Brazilian stuff-yourself place entices, arepas, crepes, no shortage of options. Then, bing, light bulb: Philoxenia. I mention it. W's eyes light up like Christmas trees. We just happen to have a review of it right here, she says, and opens the folder where she collects all the interesting food things I find, cut out and then forget about. Philoxenia clearly had momentum. And chicken should be available (try to find a menu online...).

Off we go. W doesn't even complain about the weather. TS -- how does he do it -- listens to his I-Pod and carries on a conversation all the way there. Should he go to college or straight to the major leagues? :) I wish I had such problems. TD is a Chatty Cathy. I'm just happy they're happy. And this is what makes it a happy birthday.