Thursday, May 6, 2010

Dating myself

Last night I took myself out on a solo date. Living in this neon jungle I always look forward to nights out with friends but I also kind of revel in my own loneliness some nights. This is not a throat-clenching loneliness that comes from a long day at the Kaisha, nor the startling feeling of desperation upon discovering there are no close lady friends to talk to. This loneliness is a little exciting - discovering that I am on my own time, with no agenda, I walk down the street both anonymously and conspicuously. And no one knows where I am. The sad alone times I can do without, but this is an exhilarating feeling to know that I can move through the city completely alone and decide to rejoin civilization when I feel ready again. I guess camping does this for some people.

One of my favourite solo date nights is to visit the used English bookstore in Takadanobaba to pick up a few books before heading across the street to Malabar, home of the lushest nan bread in Tokyo that when dipped in curry rivals chocolate for me. I sit there thumbing through my new-used books and dipping bread and when I'm done I'll wander the neighbourhood before having tea time at
St. Marc Cafe, where it is absolutely impossible not to order one of their Choco Cro ("choko kuro"), or chocolate croissant. The chocolate starts to slip out the end of the heavy pastry as you work on it and is really something to behold. You can't run away from the choko kuro, I have tried. I would be hard pressed to choose between a nan & curry and a choko kuro, so I don't - it's date night.

9 comments:

j. said...

during study abroad, my friends and i used to rush to malabar after our morning classes for their lunch set - curry, a little salad and all you can eat nan! it's a small piece of heaven for around 700yen.

Natalie said...

Have you been to YAMATUKI curry in Takadanobaba!? It's absolutely delicious!!! Not Indian curry - but seriously.. I go there 2-3 times a week.

selena said...

Jen. B told me that Choco Cro has a point card, and I SO need to get up on that tip.

SomedaysSarah said...

mmmm Malabar! I love Malabar's nan!!

Elaine said...

Try the Burmese restaurant just up the street from the Blue Parrot -- "Mingalaba". The food is great and the people who run it very kind...

Green-Eyed Geisha said...

j.: I used to do the same thing after classes at Waseda!

Natalie: I haven't but looked it up and it looks tasty! I may have to take myself out again soon :) Thanks for the suggestion!

selena: Um, I definitely need to get up on that too. Pronto. It's probably the only point card apart from my Soup Stock Tokyo one that I have a chance of ever filling up!

Sarah: I know! I haven't found better in Tokyo yet.

Elaine: Thanks for the suggestion. I think there is another Burmese restaurant in the basement of a building across from the JR station that I went to many years ago.

Apryl in Wonderland said...

Wow! I just went to Malabar last night with a friend-boy. It was great!

J said...

I just came back from a date with selena telling her how much I love my alone time, which closely ressembles yours (bookshops, coffee, eating delicious crap), including props to Choco Cro croissants. It's nice to know we're all floating around on a similar wavelength

Green-Eyed Geisha said...

Jen: Isn't it just? :) In addition to alone time, I think couples who sit at cafes together reading on their own looks like a pretty blissful way to pass the time too!