A night at Chez Josephine, New York City!
I’m sure Joan will want to say something about our evening (to celebrate our 21st anniversary together) at the local French restaurant, Chez Josephine. It’s quite high class, beautiful decor, with French speaking waiters. The bonus for us – a big one – was that it’s named after Josephine Baker, the black American dancer of the 1930s and 1940s who settled in Paris from the US. She pushed the boundaries of popular entertainment with an overt sexuality in her movements but also parody of it. She was a staunch anti-fascist during the Vichy regime period in France during World War Two. I’m posting some photos for now. Barry
Tags: Chez Josephine, French restaurants, Josephine Baker, New York, Travel
canberrians
Happy Anniversary!! What a beautiful restaurant, chandeliers and paintings. Lovely memories.
Jack leaves in 3 weeks today. Hes getting excited now.
Love Lesley Jack and Rosiexxx
Hi Lesley,
Is Jack thinking about setting up a blog? It’s a good way of keeping in touch with everyone at once and easy to do so on this site.
Lesley, over the last nights I’ve been trying to ring dad but haven’t been able to get through – can’t understand why. Barry’s got on to his father and I’m using the same codes and then his number. A bit of a mystery though I will try again when possible. Would you please tell him I’ve been trying.
Something that happened yesterday. I went with Joey and Hannah to the Bronx Zoo and as always with travelling it took a while to get to the right location for the bus etc. and of course, we just missed one. Then when the right bus came they wouldn’t take notes, only coins $5 each, or a metro card (which we didn’t have). So we had to get off again and go and find a station to buy the card. I decided to cut my loses and leave the kids at a lunch place eating some sandwiches while I went off and on the way to the station a black car (with dark windows) passed me on a corner. In the car up against the window was a white sheet of paper with the name – Nancy Berry – written on it – a message from mum? A nice surprise anyhow like she is with us or would approve.
On the restaurant – when I worked at the Australian Record Club near Oxford Street in the early 1970s there were a couple of French Restaurants nearby and I got a taste for traditional French crusine. A couple of times since we’ve tried French restaurants and even this one (as Barry said beautifully decorated) wasn’t up to the same standard (from my point of view anyhow). Maybe an example of trying to go back to the past – but as they say, the only certainty is that things change, and I think this might be the case here as well.
We have to leave early this morning to catch the ferry to go to Ellis Island (past the Statue of Liberty). There is a museum there to commemorate the millions of immigrants that passed through there on their way to America so relevant to Barry’s work and should be interesting. Some time ago we saw a classic movie called America America by Elia Kazan that tells the story of the many Europeans that came to America in the early 1900s before world war one. A good intro to the day I think.
take care and best, Joannie
Thats amazing Joan!! You must have been very surprised. You know I love that kind of thing. Mum is working on you trying to convert you to my way of thinking!!! Anyway we always mum would be in her elelent in limousine, she had probobly just caught a braodway show!! Dad says hes pleased your having a good time. I read him some of your blog
Love Lesleyxxx
Dad asked “if you have made your speeches yet”