Jason's Birthday Bash

Dave Barry once said something close to this: “There’s an age you should stop making a big deal out of your birthday.  That age is 10.”  Jason and I both very much agree with Dave; however, there’s nothing wrong with using your birthday as an excuse to go out, right?  This year I wanted to try and plan an evening and keep it a surprise from Jason.  I knew it would invlove going out to eat (this is France, DUH). But then also, since Jason has lamented several times since we moved here how much he misses going to movies, I knew I had to figure out how to squeeze a movie into the evening as well.

Dinner and a movie should be no biggie--except in FRANCE. Here's why: when you go to dinner in France, you have to expect that it will take 3 hours (at least).  Plus, you can’t plan to go to dinner at 5:00 or 6:00 to beat the dinner rush since most restaurants here aren't even open for dinner at that time. In fact, it's pretty much impossible to get a reservation ANYWHERE before 7:00, and even then, it’s not likely.  Most French people don’t even think of dinner until about 8:00 or later.  Also, here’s a huge difference between French and American dining: when you make a reservation somewhere, the table isn’t going to turn over.  You have rented that space FOR THE EVENING.  Restaurants in France don’t have the mentality of a Chili's or an Applebees: to get you seated and eating as soon as possible, then get you out and give your table to someone else as soon as possible to maximize tips and profits.  Your server in any restaurant in France wouldn’t dream of bringing you the bill until you ask for it.  When Lumiere says “Be our Guest” in the movie "Beauty and the Beast," he really, really means it.  In French dining you are treated as a special guest, and you can stay as long as you like.  I have learned to love this about dining out in France, and it will be hard to go back to being treated like “you need to hurry—there are people waiting for your table.”   But sometimes, I wouldn’t mind being pushed out the door.  I just want to eat in an hour or so and then get on with my evening.

So I decided to opt for a restaurant that wasn’t technically French.  Not even close.  I picked a sushi place in Nice called Kamogawa, and then figured we had a shot at making good time to see a movie afterwards.  Sushi is another one of those things Jason said he has missed in France, so I figured my plan of “dinner and a movie” was pretty failsafe.  I made a reservation the earliest allowed, at 7:00, and our plan was to hit a movie at 10:10.  There weren’t a lot of choices for movies in English (they call them "La Version Originale" or "VO").  So I picked “Midnight in Paris,” which had just shown at the Cannes Film Festival.  Neither Jason nor I love Woody Allen films, but I was still hopeful.  After all, it got fairly good reviews.  I also invited some friends to come along with us.  Two of the three American couples I invited could make it, but I actually told Jason that no one I invited wanted to come.  He said, “Should I take that personally?”  I just told him people are busy—don’t worry about it.

With all my carefully crafted planning—we even had a babysitter lined up who agreed to spend the night so we didn’t have to take her home at 1:00 in the morning—we were still late for our dinner reservation.  Jason went golfing for the first time since we have lived here, and although he left at 9:30 in the morning, he didn’t get back until 6:30!  He still needed time to shower and get ready.  Anyone reading this post who knows me will be so impressed...because I didn’t get mad!  (I hate being late.)  I sincerely just hoped he had had a nice time.  He rarely takes time like that for himself, and I was so glad he was able to.  Our friends ended up waiting for us for a half hour at the restaurant, but they were all very nice about it.  Jason was so surprised and pleased to see them, and big deal, we missed the appetizers. 

Left to Right: Me, Alisa and Jason Yokum from Arizona, Mark and Anne Baird from Washington DC, and Jason

Our friends Mark and Anne Baird with Jason.  (I love the "lean in.")  I had to include the photo not just because everyone looks good, but Jason looks espeically handsome in one of the new shirts I got him for his birthday.

The sushi ended up being very good—pretty, well presented, and tasty.  Japanese food is always so lovely to look at.  Two of the four people who joined us had never even tried sushi before, so I was impressed they were willing to be daring—there was quite a lot of sashimi (raw fish) topping all the pieces of sushi.  That can be a little much for your first time ever trying sushi rolls, but our friends were great sports. Jason and I loved it.  

This shrimp tempura roll was a hit 

It's so pretty to look at!!  And so delicious.

The movie theater ended up being within walking distance from the restaurant (what luck!!), and though we enjoyed the movie, it was certainly nothing like seeing a movie in Dolby surround sound in a modern American theater.  First of all, there were no concessions.  Can you believe that?  There was a vending machine with few beverages, and that was it!!!!  Also, there was no air conditioning in the theater.  I am so used to being cold while watching a movie, but this time, it was quite warm, even borderline stuffy.  Despite not having the fancy sound system and large screen, etc. we are used to, we loved seeing an American-made movie, especially one that takes place on the streets of beautiful Paris. 

This is a cute movie, and we all liked it

So, overall, it was a really fun night.  I hope Jason enjoyed it as much as I did.  We now get to be the same age for two whole weeks until I turn older on June 5.