September 2019 - Page 2 of 2

Ordering wine has become one of the most fraught moments in the entire spectrum of this thing we call “going out to eat.” No one is ever prepared and unknowns start popping up, each one their own quavering tuning fork of anxiety. What color? How much? Will this go with my food? Will my date like it? Am I getting ripped off? Am I going to look like some kind of wine idiot?!?

Fortunately, there a few simple ways to avoid the furtive glances and silent awkwardness that a wine list brings to the table. Ordering wine should be fun! It should be an opportunity for deliciousness, conviviality and eventual tipsiness. Here’s how to make that happen – no research or Googling required.

By: Nick Williams

Look around you…

Your surroundings can help narrow your choices when it comes to wine, especially when the cuisine happens to come from a wine producing country. Neighborhood Italian joint? Maybe it’s just me, but I’d go with something Italian. Cozy French bistro? I hear the French do wine very well. Croatian farm-to-table molecular tapas? You get the idea.

If you don’t have a convenient ethnicity/nationality to work with, think about the general vibe. A noisy neighborhood hole-in-the-wall with fogged up windows and a rowdy clientele will take nicely to a Beaujolais, Cava and Prosecco, and simple Italian whites, while the fancy burger place probably has some fabulous Cotes du Rhone on the menu.

On the other hand, some rarefied Temple Of Gastronomy where you can hear people’s forks hitting their plates and the waiters speak in reverent whispers of what “chef” has created tonight – picking a wine in that situation is going to require a bit more thought. We’ll get to that in a second, but for now…

What’s on the menu?

Pairing wine with food is it’s own vast and ever-expanding universe of possibility, and the perfect combination can help elevate a simple meal into something sublime. No matter what you have probably heard, however, there aren’t really any hard and fast rules to this game. You’re not going to accidentally hit upon some profoundly gross food/wine combo, but there are a few simple guidelines that should help you take your meal to the next level.

Light fare – salads, seafood, etc. – tend to go great with crisp whites like Muscadet, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdicchio, or Chenin Blanc.

Heavy, hearty dishes – especially those with a red meat component – want big, brawny reds like Priorat, Bordeaux, Ribera del Duero, or anything from California.

In-between foods like in-between wines. Fried chicken? Try a Bourgogne Blanc or even an oaky Chardonnay. BBQ? Pinot Noir is perfect. Sushi? Drink a beer, seriously.

Here’s a pro tip. If the evening’s cuisine is spicy Asian food – Sichuan, Northern Thai, Cantonese, Indian, Malaysian – order off-dry Riesling. That hint of sweetness in the wine and the fiery heat of the food is a marriage for the ages and will perform an elegant first dance all over your tongue. That is a lovely image if I do say so myself.

But but but! What do you do if you’re out with six people and everybody is ordering wildly different dishes? Friends, the simple answer to this conundrum – and indeed many of life’s problems – is rose! Pink wine is renowned for its versatility, and its lively acidity is a natural appetite stimulant second only to weed. Speaking of weed, you should definitely try drinking ice cold rose while high – there is nothing better.

Ok, let’s talk about money…There is a pithy old adage that goes something like “always order the second cheapest bottle on the menu.” This is amateur thinking for cheap, grumpy dads who would rather be drinking Corona. The truth is, most restaurants in New York City – especially the fun, casual ones – have significantly upped their wine game in recent years.

So, if you’re watching your budget, go ahead and order the cheapest bottle! It’s unlikely to be gross, and it will definitely have alcohol in it unless you have fallen victim to some kind of 1920’s temperance scam in which case damn, where are you?

If you’ve got a bit more wallet flexibility, just take another look at what kind of digs you find yourself in. Remember that noisy little hole-in-the-wall from a few paragraphs ago? You’ll probably find something delicious for under $50, but definitely, don’t spend more than $75. Save those hundos for a special occasion.

Shouldn’t I just ask my server for a rec?

The answer is…maybe. If you find yourself at a restaurant you know and love, and you trust the staff to steer you right, by all means, get a professional opinion. Some places are great at educating and tasting their staff on the wine list, and you’ll subsequently get good results, especially if you are regular and they know your tastes.

Much of the time, however, your server is only going to be familiar with a few individual bottles, not really enough to offer consistent wine advice. Also, they might have been trained to use some wine buzzwords or make comparisons that can confuse things even more, especially if they haven’t actually tasted through the list. This is not to rag on servers, who work extremely hard and process vast amounts of complex information while being friendly as hell. But when it comes to wine, your guess is often as good as theirs.

Rather than ask your server to recommend a pairing or make them try to guess what you would like to drink, ask them if they have a favorite wine on the list. If their eyes light up and they start to rhapsodize about a certain item, then it’s probably going to be mighty tasty, no matter what food is coming out of the kitchen.

There is, however, a situation in which you absolutely should ask the staff for a recommendation, and that is when you take a look around and say to yourself…

Fuck, this place is fancy…

It’s getting easier to find good wines in casual restaurants where the list is often small and well-curated. But when you find yourself at one of the aforementioned Food Valhalla’s and you are about drop some serious scratch, the situation becomes a bit more complicated.

The wine list at your average Michelin Star Coat-and-Tie place is usually mind-bendingly vast and nearly impossible to dig through, even for (alleged) professionals like myself. Also, these lavish wine lists contain a surprising amount of straight-up bullshit wines that are in no way worth the hundred-plus dollars you are about to spend on them.

Fortunately, these places usually come with a sommelier or another member of staff whose sole job it is to know every single detail about every single wine on the list. Usually, they will ask a few questions about your food choices and your budget and then make a clear and concise recommendation. Go with it – you’ll probably be more than happy, and if not, well, you should never go to that restaurant again. It should be the goal of every sommelier to provide even the most rookie wine drinker with a transcendent experience, not to unload some $300 farce on unsuspecting diners.

Ok! I’m ready for some wine…

And that brings us to the most important thing, the true secret to stress-free wine ordering. You just have to love wine. Fire off an order and be excited! Be adventurous! Order something from a country you have always wanted to visit. Order a grape you’ve never heard of. Order the one with the most unpronounceable name. Order the least expensive bottle. Fuck it, order the most expensive bottle!

An unfamiliar wine list is like a book of spells, each selection an incantation that can lead to something beautiful. You will inevitably make mistakes and conjure up some vinous abominations, but eventually, you’ll master this strange magic and wind up with a lovely drop without any thought at all. And you’ll get pretty drunk along the way.

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It’s early afternoon on a Saturday.

Your friends just bailed on your plans for the night. You’ve had two bad Bumble dates already this week, and can’t bear to stomach a third. It’s a beautiful sunny day in New York that’s too nice to be wasted cooped up inside your apartment all day, so, what do you do? You do what a lot of people would never think to do. You spend a day alone in New York (or as I prefer to say, you spend a day alone with New York).

Spending a day alone in New York might sound crazy to some people. “What the hell am I going to do alone in New York for a whole day?” “Won’t people stare at me and think I’m crazy?” “I’ll feel so lonely and isolated.” These thoughts may all be running through your head right now. Tell those thoughts to shut the F up, because I’ve found that there is a way that all of these fears and insecurities about spending time alone can be shut down (at least for the day).

Be selfish. This day is about YOU.

A few months ago, I decided to wander around New York on a Saturday and before I left my apartment I told myself, “This day is about you. Today, you are taking yourself out on a self-care date.” That completely changed my whole perspective on the day. I was going through a particularly low patch where I was feeling really disconnected from myself and others. So having a day where I put myself first, and knew it, was key for me. Personally, spending time alone allows me the chance to reconnect with myself. In this wild and wonderful city, we often get caught up doing a million different things, with a million different people, in a million different places. When you consciously decide to slow down and spend a few hours on your own, you really get back to the basics of what you need, what you enjoy, what you love, and what you deserve.

Whatever your intention is for this day, set it before you even leave your apartment. This will help you with any decisions, or non-decisions, you make throughout the day, and it will help you to avoid those insecure and shame-inducing thoughts about being alone. Ain’t nobody got time for that kind of negativity in their life.

Lizzo, queen of self-love, says it best, “Cuz I’m my own soulmate, I know how to love me, I know that I’m always gonna hold me down”. This song can serve as your bible and hype music for the day.

Don’t be picky, just pick a place!

Maybe it’s a street fair that you could swing by. Maybe it’s an art exhibit that you’ve been wanting to check out. Maybe it’s a certain neighborhood, park or restaurant that you’ve been dying to go to. Whatever it is, have it be somewhere or something that you don’t need to be in a rush to get to. This gives you plenty of time to meander your way through the streets, and stop at anything that piques your interest. And believe me, this will happen! As soon as you give yourself the freedom to do whatever you want, you will do exactly that. My favorite destination on these kinds of days is Washington Square Park. There is always so much happening in, and around, the park, and to me, it really feels like the heart of the city, which is exactly what I’m looking for when I’m spending a day alone in (with) New York.

Ditch your Metrocard!

Let’s not kid ourselves, no one who wants to go to Central Park and lives in Crown Heights is going to walk there. However, you can get off the subway a few stops early and walk the rest of the way! Why walk? One, you’ll get some steps in, which will help you burn off the indulgence that will likely come throughout the day (more on that later). I’ve walked almost twenty-five thousand steps, on occasion, while wandering the streets of New York. Just make sure you’re wearing comfy shoes. Second, when you’re walking, you’re more likely and more open to stop at people, places, things, events, puppies, and/or spectacles that you might come across. Also, let’s face it, do any of us really want to spend any more time on the subway than absolutely necessary?

If stopping and petting every single dog you see will make you happy, do it!

These kinds of things will be wildly different for each and every person because we all find joy and fulfillment in a variety of ways. As silly as it may seem, before you leave your apartment, or while you’re walking, or waiting in line at your favorite cafe to start this day off right, ask yourself: What will make me happy today? And then…DO THOSE THINGS. If stopping and petting every single dog you see will make you happy, do it. If Instagramming every part of this day will make you happy, do it. You might not even realize some of the things that make you happy until they are happening. Anything that brings a smile to your face, makes you laugh giddily to yourself and makes you feel all warm and tingly inside. These are the kinds of things that will make your day alone be a fantastic day! My happy things include viewing (and sometimes buying) New York inspired local art, stumbling upon live music, wandering around with no direction, people watching, and ice cream.

A major key for a day alone: TREAT YO’SELF!

Any way that you view treating yourself, do it! You deserve it! You’re spending the day alone, which can be hard for some, and you’re killing it! So, reward yourself for this. Again, the ways in which we treat ourselves vary person to person. Treating yourself may be going on a shopping spree, or to a show, or a $22 Instagram worthy cocktail, or a dollar slice. However you choose to treat yourself, do it with no shame, guilt or regrets. Don’t be afraid to splurge on yourself, so long as your bank account will live to see another day. Choose the treats that will make you happy! For me, it’s always ice cream and any food or drink that reminds me of places I’ve traveled. (Anyone who’s looking for delicious and authentic Peruvian ceviche should RUN, not walk, to Mission Ceviche in Gansevoort Market).

This day WILL get you in your feelings (whether Keke loves you or not)

This happened to me on my self-care date when I was sitting outside at an Italian restaurant in the West Village, sipping on my Aperol spritz and feasting on burrata. As I mentioned before, I was going through a slump where I was feeling disconnected from myself and everyone around me. I was feeling really unhappy about being single, and not having any faith that things would get better for me. But, while I was sitting there by myself, I was overcome with this feeling that I knew I would be okay. I knew right then and there that I would find happiness with someone at some point, and now, for the first time in a long time, I trusted that. This affirmation brought tears to my eyes in a way that was both surprising and empowering. This day spent alone had brought me peace in a way that I never expected.

Being alone with your thoughts and feelings can be scary, believe me, I know that. It can also bring about realizations about yourself that you never would have known otherwise. Be open to this! Use this day to connect with yourself and show yourself some love. If at any point it becomes too overwhelming, there’s no shame in going back home and cuddling up with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and Netflix, but at least you’ll know you tried.

Pics or it didn’t happen

You don’t actually have to take any pictures, but find a way to commemorate this day. That may sound like a lot, but this is a big deal! It may not seem like it, but there are plenty of twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty-somethings who have never spent more than an hour anywhere by themselves, and they certainly didn’t enjoy it. “What, you want me to get a tattoo just to show that I spent a few hours on my own?” If you want, sure! Let’s start smaller first. Document this day in some way, if for no other reason than to prove to yourself that you did it. This may be a journal entry, an Instagram post, a chalk drawing, a note in your phone, whatever you want. However, if you happen to be in Washington Square Park (or are willing to walk there), stop by The Strangers Project . Usually set up around the fountain (weather permitting), you can read stories written by strangers (anonymously) from all over the country, and write your own! Write about your day spent alone, write about an epiphany you had today, write about how much your feet hurt from all of the walking, write about how you’re going to be broke after treating yourself a little too much, draw a picture of the cute puppy you saw three hours ago, draw a map of where you went, write ANYTHING! You’ll be sharing your story with everyone, and no one, all at once.

End your day on a High

Whatever time it is when you decide that your day spent alone is coming to an end, find a way to end it on a high. That might mean getting some delicious scoops from Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream (seriously, can you tell I’m obsessed with ice cream?). Or stopping for a cocktail at a rooftop bar. Or picking up a bottle of wine and having a dance party back at your apartment. Or keep the day going a little bit longer, and your high might just find you.

I had just finished writing my story for The Strangers Project and was watching a group of toddlers playing instruments along with a band. I was just about to walk through the arch and out of the park when something made me turn back and circle around the fountain one last time. On the exact opposite side of the park from where I had been standing, I stumbled upon Robert Leslie, a Brooklyn-based musician from the UK, playing his guitar and singing in front of a microphone with a vintage suitcase lined with fairy lights set up next to him advertising his next gig. I ended up staying and listening to him for almost two hours, first drawn in by his enchanting presence and voice and staying in the hopes of more Bob Dylan covers. As I stood watching and listening, I couldn’t contain the smile that kept spreading over my face. Even when I didn’t know a single lyric to a song, the magic of watching someone perform live is thrilling to me and always leaves me in the best mood. When I finally left the park that night, I was on cloud nine. I had spent almost ten hours on my own that day and had never felt better. I felt inspired and reinvigorated by New York, but also by myself. I had done it. I had spent a day alone in, and with, New York and felt fantastic doing it.

What are you waiting for?!

The next time you find yourself with no plans or ditch your plans to spend time by yourself because of SELF-CARE, remember it all starts with that first step. Set your intention for the day, treat yourself, and do whatever feels right. Follow your gut, follow the wind, follow the ice cream truck, follow the crosswalk lights (highly recommend), follow the puppies. As long as it makes you happy, that’s all that matters. See you guys out there. I’ll be the one in the white Converse giggling to herself while falling in love with musicians playing in the park.

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Christine Flores is a celebrated, multi-dimensional dancer who has made waves from the stages of London’s Barbican to Hozier’s music video this year. This month, she’s performing at HI ARTIST, a pop-up contemporary dance experience right here in NYC. Founder of Hi Artist, Elizabeth Cooke spoke with her to talk about the world of dance and what made New York City the place to be for that.

It was early evening at Madison Square Park in June of 2017.

The weather was New York City summer at its prime, before the claustrophobia-inducing humidity of August set in.That evening, two choreographers I admired were rehearsing outdoors through Prismatic Park, a residency program that provided multiple dance artists with free, outdoor rehearsal space in Madison Square Park throughout the summer.

I made my way over to two engaged onlookers seated at a bench on the west side of the park. After eavesdropping on their conversation for a minute or so, I concluded that they, like myself, were dancers.

Fast-forward two years to present day. The woman who was seated on that bench is Xenia, my business partner. What was a seedling of an idea then is now Hi Artist, a business our fans refer to as the “Sofar Sounds of dance”. We produce pop-up contemporary dance experiences that are half intimate performance and half lively gathering, where guests get the opportunity to hear the stories behind the dance pieces and meet and mingle with the performers after the show.

Generally speaking, you can place dancers like us in one of two bigger buckets: concert dance or competition dance. A good example of concert dance is Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of our country’s most beloved dance companies (who also call New York City home). Competition dance involves competitions (bet you didn’t see that one coming) and usually possesses more acrobatic turns and tricks a la reality TV shows like “Dance Moms” and “So You Think You Can Dance”. Contemporary dance–a style that blends classical and modern movement ideas–appears in both concert dance and competition dance. Are you still with me?

Social dance’s roots go back to primitive cultures dancing to celebrate events like the harvest, birth, and death, among other things. Another good example of concert dance is ballet, which can be traced back to Italy in the 1500s. But things get even more complicated when you start questioning the idea of dance as an art form. If two people are swing dancing for fun, is that less artful than watching a ballerina glide across the stage in pointe shoes, or a hip-hop dancer popping and locking in a music video? And if so, who calls the shots?

“If two people are swing dancing for fun, is that less artful than watching a ballerina glide across the stage in pointe shoes, or a hip-hop dancer popping and locking in a music video? And if so, who calls the shots?”

Xenia and I both specialized in concert dance but were concerned about the future of the form.

It seemed as though fellow dancers were the main people attending dance performances, creating a dangerous insular cycle. At the time we met, I was attending business school at New York University, and couldn’t help but notice that while my classmates were interested in arts & culture, very few of them had heard of the theaters I frequented or the dance companies I adored. So we set out to build a contemporary dance offering designed for New York City’s busy millennial, one that would welcome them into our world of dance with open arms and a drink of choice.

When thinking about why we as humans dance, it often begins with an emotion, like happiness, romance, joy, or sadness. We move to feel, and when we feel, we move. This nearly inexplicable, visceral feeling is at the top of Xenia and my minds when selecting the dance artists to showcase in Hi Artist.

One of these incredible dancers is Christine Flores, who we are beyond excited to have on the program for our next event on September 10th. I had the chance to sit down with her a few weeks back to chat about life and dance, including her starring role in Hozier’s “Almost (Sweet Music)” Official Music Video and what she and her partner have been working on for our next event. Here are the highlights from our conversation.

Christine Flores and Michael Chua (both performing at the upcoming Hi-Artist Show on Sept 10th)

When did you start dancing?

I began dancing at age 7 at Sean Boutilier Academy of Dance in my hometown of Toronto, the capital of Ontario, Canada. I started with ballet and jazz but by the end of grade twelve, I was training in contemporary, tap, hip hop, lyrical, acro, musical theater, and pointe. We went to four or five competitions a year, mainly in Canada but a couple in the States too. When I was graduating high school I thought I would be a backup dancer because I only knew the commercial dance industry–I thought hip-hop was all there was. I came to the U.S. when I attended college at The New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida. My audition to get into the school was the first time I took a modern class. It was [Martha] Graham technique and I remember feeling like I was a chicken running around with my head cut off. But then I got in and I discovered this whole world that really opened up the possibilities for me. It was a culture shock going to New World, but I think it has shaped what I am now because I know about both sides. I know about both commercial dance and concert dance, and that’s why I love both.

What brought you to New York City, and how long have you been here?

I moved here in September 2015. Upon graduating from New World, I was like “okay, I’m moving to New York City to be a full-time concert dancer.” To be honest, it was just the obvious thing you did after college. It seemed like New York was the place to be in the action and I was in my prime after college so I knew it was where I had to be. Especially being from Canada, I felt I had to continue the path of staying in the States to make it worthwhile.

What has been the biggest challenge of being new to the NYC dance market?

After college, it was difficult because I was on this visa where I could only get dance-related jobs, so it was tough to support myself financially. I lucked out having support from my family in that first year, but it was hard because everyone was like “why don’t you just get a side job?” and I was like “I can’t, because that’s illegal!” The visa I’m currently on is an 01 Visa, for which you need to prove your extraordinary artistic ability.

But I would say the government values concert dance and commercial dance differently. They accept concert dance but they don’t understand it, because they’re like “What is that company? I’ve never heard of it.” They don’t see it as something reputable because it seems so foreign to them. However, if they see that you were a backup dancer on the VMA’s or in a music video they’re like “okay, great, you’re excellent!” and they see it as the top-notch in your field.

They also care about how much money you make. And I do, too, but as a dancer you’re never doing a gig for the money.

So it is hard being a concert dancer. When I was applying for my 01 the first time, I had this sinking feeling that the jobs I was taking weren’t the right jobs, like I needed something a little flashier. They also care about how much money you make. And I do, too, but as a dancer you’re never doing a gig for the money. I’m doing it for the love and the art of it. So for visa purposes you ask yourself, what do I take? The job that pays more but kind of sucks, or the job that fulfills you but that doesn’t pay? It’s a different calculus. Trying to balance that has definitely been one of the challenges.

How do you maintain your sense of curiosity and not let it turn into cynicism?

It’s hard, but for me, it has a lot to do with the people I surround myself with. Talking with fellow Canadians has helped. I went to teach in Ottawa a few weeks ago and speaking with people who are in the same boat was really nice. It helped to remind me that I’m actually doing it, that I’m here in New York City dancing. It’s easy to get buried in the hustle of the City and to continually tell yourself that you have to keep going and going and going. So it’s helpful to look back and take stock of what you’ve done and how far you’ve come. Honestly, another big thing that I think has helped me is to surround myself with non-dancers. It really helps to keep me level-headed and not get so absorbed by dance. It’s a great outlet to be able to go and come back to groups of friends—it’s like living in Brooklyn and going to Manhattan.

Do you have any advice for artists trying to make it in New York?

In addition to maintaining a diverse friend group and ties to multiple communities, having a strong support system is really important. I realized that when I was home in Canada recently. Without my family, I really don’t know what I’d do because if you have no foundation and no base support it just crumbles so easily. When you hear a “no” from an audition, it’s easy to get really negative. It just takes that much more time to recover and keep going. But when you have people that are positive and support you constantly, it’s way easier and you’re able to ride the wave more smoothly. It’s still rocky, but it’s easier with them.

What was it like being in Hozier’s “Almost (Sweet Music)” music video?

The whole process for me was an amazing experience. It was my first music video and Cameron Boyce was super sweet. Prior to the shoot there was just one day that worked with our schedules to rehearse, so we only had a few hours to figure it out and create choreography. We did it the day before in his tiny apartment gym because we couldn’t get studio space on such short notice. Cameron’s charisma and energy throughout the whole thing were just so inspiring. At the time I didn’t know how young he was because he acted so professional. He’d say hi to everyone as he knew them, but he’d only met them five minutes before I did.

Andrew Hozier was a great guy too, really incredible. He is freakishly tall! Like a giant. But the best part was definitely working with Cam. After the shoot, we obviously wanted to keep in touch and I figured we would hopefully work on another project together. And then something so out of the blue happened and when he passed away it really impacted me. The only word that I can say is that it’s bittersweet. It just seems so unfair and it honestly feels like a void. It doesn’t feel real. He was so young. Whenever I see the billboard sign in Times Square where the video played, I think of him. I only worked with him once but creating choreography with someone is such an intimate process. I think when you create anything with anyone, you put your heart into it. What we created was very genuine. He was great and I’m really thankful I got that opportunity. He radiated pure joy.

Why were you compelled to work with Hi Artist and what will you be performing on September 10th?

I think what Hi Artist is doing is really cool because they’re actively trying to reach a new audience and different community. I’m excited to be performing a mix of contemporary and hip-hop dance styles. This is the first time my boyfriend Michael Chua and I will be performing together. It’s a feel-good piece because I’ll be dancing with someone I love, and I think that dancing with someone you love is a common experience that will be relatable to anyone who is there. I’m also really excited to play with the space at 61 Local because it’s not totally frontal in the way that most traditional concert, stage settings are. In hip-hop it’s easy to get stuck facing one direction spatially, so we are challenging ourselves to push through that. We didn’t want the piece to be about anything too serious because that’s the state that I’m in right now. When I make work, it is very reflective of the personal state I’m in at the time of creation. So for this one we just wanted to have fun. I think it’s going to be really good and we are super excited!

Follow Hi Artist and Christine on Instagram.

Hi Artist’s website: www.hi-artist.net

Ticket link: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/586183

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