A Sunday Night That Got Away From Me (In the Best Way)
There are those nights you don’t plan — or wish you hadn’t scheduled on a school night — that end up being so memorable, fun, and just a little bit bad. For me, that night was this past Sunday.
It started innocently enough: a lovely, low-key brunch with Barbara at Sonsie, followed by a casual text to Marcella about maybe doing an early dinner. My plan? Meet around 6 p.m., be home by 8:30, in bed by 9:30, and up early for a Monday morning workout. I was so confident. Oh, how very wrong I was.
In the spirit of balance, I decided to walk to the Seaport in my “Easytones” — a little pre-dinner exercise and, ideally, some bottom toning. Don’t worry, my cute shoes were tucked safely in my bag.
Marcella and I kicked things off with a pre-dinner glass of wine at Temazcal. Our bartender poured me a very generous glass of Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc (a favorite I’d just had on Friday). Marcella went for a fun cocktail. One glass in, and I was already a bit tiddly. Food was clearly in order.
We wandered next door to try the new Legal Harborside. Now, I’ll admit — I usually save Legal’s for out-of-town guests. It leans touristy. But this new spot? Definitely worth the hype. Sleek, stylish, and sprawling. The main level was massive, with a large central bar wrapping around an open kitchen, plus a gorgeous waterfront view thanks to glass doors that open fully onto the boardwalk.
We grabbed seats at a raised round bar area and ordered a bottle of Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc — light, a little sweet, and perfect with oysters (which, naturally, was my next move).
The oyster list was impressive, including several I hadn’t tried. We sampled:
- Wellfleet – briny and classic
- Naked Cowboy – meaty and fresh
- Kunimoto – sweet, a little fishy, and my favorite
- French Kiss – buttery and creamy, almost mussel-like
Delicious, but obviously not enough food for the wine I was drinking (especially after Eggs Benedict earlier). I tried to be good and ordered the Big Bowl Salad with Grilled Shrimp — crisp greens, chickpeas, tomatoes, olives, croutons, and pecorino. Light, fresh, and tasty… but not enough ballast for all the wine.
Meanwhile, Marcella made the better call: the ½ Pound Niman Ranch Burger. She devoured it and looked very pleased with herself.
Naturally, we had another glass of wine. And then, in a questionable but well-meaning moment, we asked the bartender if we could share a final glass. He smiled sweetly and poured us both another full glass. I mean… that’s just math I wasn’t prepared for.
Eventually, we headed out — but not before taking some silly photos on the boardwalk. And no, it was not 8:30 p.m. by then. I did not make it to the gym the next morning, and I paid dearly for my Sunday choices all day long. Because, unfortunately, I’m no longer 20.
But oh, what a night. Spontaneous, slightly irresponsible, and ridiculously fun. Great people-watching, friendly staff, and delicious food. Thumbs up for Legal Harborside and for Seaport’s growing charm. I absolutely love this area — even if it derails my gym plans now and then.
