Entre Les Murs

This Old School Tie is Silk

Janet was invited to a reunion this weekend - to be held at the United Nations headquarters.  Her old law firm rented the Delegates Dining Room for their annual get-the-ol'-gang-back-together-(and-shmooze-them-for-business) bash.  And we're too new in town to turn our noses up at a chance to network in swish surroundings.

The dining room can't be as exclusive as it sounds since it has a Zagat rating.  In fact it's open to the public - or any public who's willing to take off their belts and go through a metal detector to reach their meal.  It does have a very nice view of the East River.  We watched seaplanes landing from the terrace.  Janet was certain she wouldn't know a soul, since it has been over ten years since she was a member of the firm.  I counted five people she knew, only one of whom was a wild coincidence.


Janet, lady and adroit business person that she is, knows how to handle a cocktail party like this.  Get a drink, select a few of the best hors d'ouevres, talk to the interesting people, then get out.  I on the other hand clearly have yet to shake off the dust of the prairies, because when I'm let loose near a top-notch buffet like this, I can't see the point of leaving until after (the second) dessert.  It just about killed me to leave the petit fours, and the table piled high with marons glacés in three colours.  We left the free grub with time to make our nearby restaurant reservation - though where the logic is in that I couldn't tell you.

posted 19.5.08