This is not a post about food.

It’s a post about good friends.

Great friends, actually, who refuse to let you wallow and who force you to penthouse parties with West African musical superstars. The bar was cash, but the love was free.

Laura and Melanie, thank you for the smokes, the shoulders, and the shared käsespätzle. You’re the best.

And for all of you in NYC: the incomparable, the amazing, the joyful Amadou and Mariam will be performing for free every Sunday of this month in the penthouse of the Cooper Hotel. If you want to rsvp, please do send me an email and I’ll forward along the information.