Well Preserved

We live downtown on one of the busier streets in the city.  We`re  not in the core of the action of our city so it`s not a constant barrage of people. traffic is always steady and so is the 24-hour streetcar.  We are spoiled by our apartment and by the patio we share with a cafe that makes escaping any background noise very easy.

We had a wonderful dinner party last night (we were guests not cooks) that a friend (and chef) hosted as part of his supperclub series.  The heat of the summer has driven Massimo out of his cozy winter studio and into garden patio where these dinners started with him about a year ago (I’ve probably been to 8 in that time).

It was a lovely evening – sounds of soft music, loud conversation and the joyous clinking of plates and glasses filled the night air.  Old friends (and new) gathered at a communal table as we ate under the stars for 3-4 hours.

The ambient temperature had a seat at the table.  It started fairly warm and thick and, as the evening progressed, began to share a slight chill with our dinner party; not enough to get cold but enough to notice that things had changed.

Our conversation didn’t bounce off walls as is so oft to happen in a city.  It floated away from the table like a helium balloon and I could picture our words falling back to earth in some far away forest like a balloon past it’s prime.  I really believe the environment had an impact on conversations and encouraged strangers to interact with one another.

It can be easy to forget to enjoy dinner outside in the city (other than a restaurant patio which, while outside, is distinctly different from your back yard).  I simply must remember to do it more often.