A chance meeting at Morandi

The other night, I went to dinner with a few friends at Morandi. This is a fun Italian trattoria located on Waverly Place in the West Village in New York City. Morandi is a creation of Keith McNally, the restaurateur who also owns Pastis, Balthazar, and Schiller's Liquor Bar. One of the things I just love about New York is that you never know who you will bump into or who will be passing by. What started out as a dinner for four quickly turned into a lively gathering of six. Come and take a look. 

Thom Browne in his signature shorts and unironed white shirt. Really, this is how Thom walks around New York City. He is, of course, the very famous menswear designer who has a very successful line of clothing for men and women at Brooks Brothers. By chance, he was walking by and joined us for drinks at Morandi.

Kevin Sharkey is Thom's friend and he was also just walking by, but not with Thom. He gladly joined us, too. On the right is our chairman's son, Brian Koppelman -- he is a famous Hollywood screenwriter ("Rounders," "Ocean's Thirteen," "Runaway Jury," etc.), producer ("The Lucky Ones," "The Illusionist," "Tilt"), actor ("Michael Clayton," "Knockaround Guys"), and director ("Tilt", "Knockaround Guys"). His new movie is coming out very soon. Brian wasn't walking by, but was actually invited to dinner by his father, Charles Koppelman.

The gang as assembled and photographed by an accommodating diner sitting outside at Morandi: Robin Marino, our co-CEO; Kevin; me; Brian; Thom; and Charles.

The charcuterie is really tasty at Morandi. It comes on a French bread board on top of butchers' paper -- cheeses, prosciutto, salami, and olives. Obviously, I wasn't fast enough with the camera!

Charles looking happy -- he loves a good dinner, especially if it's Italian.

Robin in her designer garb. Actually she fooled a lot of us by admitting it was a rather inexpensive jacket from J.Crew. Mickey Drexler, the CEO, is doing a phenomenal job at J. Crew.

Comments

[michael anthamatten]

Tom Brown looks very interesting. Also very handsome.

[sybil]

I beat Jan 'The Stalker' Erickson!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, Wow, what a great time all six of you look like you were having in NYC! How fun to be joined by more friends. Morandi sure looks like a great reataurant and I'll bet the food was fantastic. If I ever came to New York, I wonder who I might bump into......hum. If I had my druthers, I would love to bump into you and join your group for a fun evening. Thanks for brightening my day. Jan

[Leah from Toronto]

That Tom looks like a Von Trapp child in those shorts! Your night out looks like a gas Martha, good pics. Love your little stories- and the blog. Thanks!

[Kathy]

Hi, Martha,
Sounds like a fun evening!
Kathy

[Nan Ashby]

I'm like Jan; if I'm anywhere in this country or any other country I wish my chance bumper would be you. I'm fixing to see you on the Today Show this morning. Give them all your most. Nan

[Pam]

Looks like a fun night. It is good to see Charles out and smiling. I remember moons ago when wool shorts were so cool to wear to Friday night football games. The short suit is rather cute on Tom. I too had a lovely evening as it was my mother's 79th birthday and the family all gathered and celebrated with a three layer german chocolate cake and lots of fun presents. Martha I saw your show yesterday on the Cincinnati station and it was a rerun about Papaw's death. It was so precious as I had missed it when it originally aired. Have you made a decision yet about the puppies?

[Andrew Ritchie]

I love the short-pant suit look! It's very 'giddy-little-school-boy' but all grown up. Did Kevin lighten his hair? It looks good!

-Andrew

PS: It's nice to see Charles smiling again.

[Sarah]

So if I'm walking by in NYC and see you at a restaurant, may I join? PLEASE?

Sarah

http://sarahheartsdesign.blogspot.com/

[Trish]

What did you all eat besides the contents of the bread board? I love Italian food! Kevin's blond hair looks nice and I like your jacket. I saw you on the Today show this morning; the first time all summer and those were some great quick meals you whipped up. Tom is a good looking guy but I'm not so sure about those shorts. He must get some stares or maybe New Yorkers don't care? Ciao, Trish

[Patricia]

Thom has great legs..why not show them off!

[Cindy Bricker]

(Hey, go easy [this is meant kindly!] on Jan, fellow-blogger...she is obviously just an avid fan of Martha's, like most of us, who happens to be up late to get an early slot in which to post. I rather enjoy reading the "regulars" remarks and feel a sense of camaraderie as I get to know them. Hopefully, they feel the same too if they read my remarks).

Chance meetings, like this one, can be some of the funnest and memorable times! Mr. Koppelman indeed does look good, as does everyone else, and I did have to chuckle when I d-i-d-n'-t see the olives on the bread plate as I was scrolling down - the caption to the picture pretty much summed it up!

It's good, Martha, that you're enjoying some down-time...September 15th IS coming soon! Can'twaitcan'twait!!

(...From your undying/avid/admiring fan in Western Maryland. [I can't help it!] )

=^..^=

[Margie]

Sounds like good old college days when everyone knew everyone and the party just kept going; old faces leave, new faces sit down. Of course there was that thing called the ticket.........

[The Bitter Foodie]

Thom's legs, charcuterie, and Martha - oh my!

I love it when you do posts like this - so totally awesome!!

Thanks Martha!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, I hope it is OK to add another comment....this time to answer a couple of other posters. First of all, to Sybil: Would you please define "The Stalker"? I live here in the Seattle area and find it easier to post a comment around 9PM {midnight on the east coast} because there are fewer interruptions. Next to Cindy Bricker: Thank you for your nice comments. I AM an avid fan and I love reading everyone elses comments. Yours are always great. Hope you had a great day, Martha. I loved you on the "Today Show". Thanks, Jan Erickson

[lil]

is Thom's suitlet a spoof on the stodgy stuff at Brooks' Brothers? the fitted jacket & short fitted pants are just too funny and ironic juxtaposed with the conservative/prep my family relies upon Brooks' to provide. got to love it.

[Toni Reece]

Do you really write the blog yourself?

[Shawn]

My girl Martha going hard! :-)

I see you baby girl. Rock on with ya bad self. By the way, I'm down with MSNBC's The Today show as an affiliate too..(smile)

www.Drewryonline.net

www.myspace.com/sophisticatedndetermined

[Nan Ashby]

Jan, I don't think of you as being a
'Stalker" for this or other blogs for Martha Stewart. I was glad you responded. Sybil needs to read carefully your comments because they are always very well stated and so related to Martha's interests and her unselfish share of her life which we all admire. Sybil just putted her foot in her mouth. Nan

[Cindy Bricker]

(...this is a follow-up for fellow-blogger Jan Erickson...

Thanks too for your kind words, Jan! In a most recent post, you mentioned you were in Seattle, and I put two-n-two together - you weren't "stalking" Martha at the midnight hour - you were just checking her blog at a normal time of the evening, like, nine-ish in the evening (west coast time). It was unclear in gauging the tone in the previous blogger's "stalker" comment...we'll trust that no maliciousness was meant!

I always look for your comments, and, as I said, enjoy reading the regular post-ers.

Okay, let's see what you have to say on today's post about the Today Show... Here I go...)

=^..^=

[Celestia]

Oh good lord, some of you have absolutely no sense of humor! The mention of a stalker a few mere minutes before she appears with yet another gem:

"If I had my druthers, I would love to bump into you and join your group for a fun evening."

Priceless!

[Lisa]

I forget what this mornings blog was pertaining to ... honestly I did! I am too entertained by the whole 'stalking' business.

*laughing*

thanks for all the entertainment!

Lisa in California

[jw]

Sybil and Celestia, your comments did wonders for this sycophantic snooze. Thanks.

[debbie]

Thom looks like a member of AC/DC with his english school boy ensemble. Hey, he's got the legs, why not flaunt them?! Sounds like a fun, delicious evening. I'd be interested to hear what Alexis thinks of Kevin's new hair color.

[margaret haynes]

You are one of my most admired and inspirational
hero. Thank you for your pursuit of excellance and creativity.

It is fun for me to see you enjoying "your time off" from TV taping.

The gifts you have given us throughout the years keep on changing all of our lives; certainly mine and I am the better person because of it.

Your new homes are sensational and all I can say is horray for you.