Tonight I grilled some corn and poblano peppers, mixed them with tomatoes and cheese, and had taken just two bites when my phone rang. It was Eric, and he asked me two questions: Are you home? Have you eaten dinner? These were the happiest two questions he could have asked me, because I knew he was supposed to be having dinner with his group at the Athenaeum. Sure enough, they had some empty seats, and he was calling to ask me to come and join them. I love the Ath, and I had never been there for dinner, so I put my dinner in the fridge, scraped the rest of the peach sorbet out of the ice cream maker and into the freezer, and headed over. The food was, as it always is, sumptuous, but what was even better was that the dinner was in library. The library. It was just stunning.
I am sure I have written about the Ath before, but it’s the club that Caltech built so that Einstein and his colleagues could have a nice place to eat and discuss their work. Eric is a member, so I get to go with him sometimes, and it’s just wonderful. The food is spectacular, the building is full of grandeur, and it’s marvelous to feel close to scientific history (which is always still unfolding at all the tables around you).
Eric’s colleagues are wonderful people, and there is always lots of laughter at these dinners. I’m so grateful that I was able to go, and the fact that it was a surprise made it all the more sweet. This definitely qualifies as everyday magic.
Looks like a gorgeous place; don’t even let me get started on the pleasure of eating surrounded by all those books in such cozy lighting!
How lucky was Einstein (could you imagine anything like that ever happening to a Slavist? ha!)?
And thank you soooooooooooo much for the coffee link. You have truly made my day!
x
Oh, you’re so welcome! And, yes, I know, I have that thought all the time–science is definitely a different world!
Sounds like you had fun, if you like the Ath you should come to the Caltech Women’s Club welcome meetings. They are at the Ath either al fresco or in the rathskeller. Free beer & nachos
I really want to come to one! We will be in Istanbul during the next one, but maybe the one after that.
Definitely magic. Certainly not an “illusion”.
Hahaha!
I hope you wore that purple anniversary dress! I am on record that the dress needs to be at the Ath! My heart melts at the library shots. Magical indeed!
Thank you! I hope we can go again for dinner sometime, and I can wear my dress!