Quirky Stories and Photos While in Search of the American Dream

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What Does a Quirky New York City Moment Look Like?

By Norma Jaeger Hopcraft

If you wanted to boil New York City down to its essence (of course, you can't, but if you wanted to try), this may be the quintessential moment: Dinner. At a top restaurant. At the Museum of Modern Art. Overlooking the famous courtyard with its sculpture garden.

I got to do this recently as part of my job. Whoever said the best things in life are free was so very correct!

As part of a professional networking dinner, we were served by Chef Abram Bissell's kitchen in MoMA. Our tables overlooked the sculpture garden, where twilight was giving everything that lovely blue glow.

In a quirk of fate, I sat next to someone who, in her private life, manages the business side of her husband's writing and publishing. We talked non-stop as the wait-staff did great work whisking plates away and bringing delicious food.

We talked about book marketing, how time consuming and involved it is. She recommended Lisa DeSpain, whom I immediately contacted. After doing due diligence, I officially hired her yesterday! We're going to launch my romantic suspense novel, Why Spy? She'll teach me how to do the digital marketing so that I can do it for the two prequels to the novel I've already written. 

So not only did I get a delicious dinner and professional networking time that night, I also enjoyed a serendipitous meeting of the minds. I got help for the way my digital skills were overwhelmed by the labyrinth of techie things that needed to be done -- and all the techie things I don't even know need to be done. 

So I enjoyed a New York City evening in a great location, with great food, great company, and a great solution to an impossible challenge. 

Free. 

Thank you, HP!

The courtyard at MoMA. The vivid blue rectangles at the top are the twilight sky. I love the quirky black sculpture. Looked up the artist's name but couldn't find it.

Our table.

Dinner. It was delicious!

A peek into Chef Bissell's kitchen.

Another glimpse of the sculpture garden. How about you? What free (or extremely inexpensive) things do you enjoy? A cup of coffee at home, for example? A walk in the park? Comment below!