Memories of Reza's by auntietk

Writers • Urban/Cityscape • posted on Oct 27, 2009

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Description

Memories of Reza's In Chicago Five friends Meet at a hotel Deciding on dinner None of us cared What we ate What mattered Was the company But it was our First time together And dinner should be special Persian food Sounded just right Reza's Is only twenty blocks From the hotel Not too far to walk In that flat Chicago landscape The conversation As we walked through town Flowed back and forth Around and around Two of us would walk And talk together The other three Somewhere up ahead Then at a light We'd stand and wait All of us together Crossing the street The groups would re-form Everyone getting to spend time With everyone else At one intersection There was a stair To the subway I had never seen a subway And told Chip We HAD to go down there To satisfy my curiosity So down we went Through a tunnel And back up again Crossing under the street The others followed Not knowing why But not really caring When I explained I just wanted to see a Subway Mark looked as though He'd been hit by a board Jaw on the floor Corey tipped his head Looked at me As if I were A science experiment With an unusual result Marilyn, excited, Had never been in a subway Either So they all looked at her, too They shook their heads We all smiled at each other Enjoying one another's reactions Almost there Marilyn and Chip Took photographs Of neon signs Irresistible in the dark I just stared at everything Tried to keep from Tripping over curbs Reza's Is in an old building With a long bar And a beautiful piano Tall doorways Open to the street The atmosphere is a balm For the senses And the soul Dark wood everywhere Enticing smells Friendly people They were going to Close a pair of doors So we wouldn't be too cold But after that long walk We asked them to leave those doors Wide open to the warm night air They asked us Where we were from And were enchanted to hear I was from Seattle And had come all this way To eat in their restaurant (I think they thought We were all from Seattle) Conversation floated Back and forth No particular pattern Everyone engaged Good friends Around the table Thick hummus Parsley-rich tabouli Talk of architecture Favorite buildings And Corey's first job At the paper Moist falafal with tahini Steaming nan Green beans and tomato Books and authors Prague and absent friends How the magic of the internet Brought us all together Green salad with Cucumber tomato olives Excitement at being there All of us together Looking forward to Saturday When our group would expand Chicken In pomegranate-walnut sauce With dill rice Stopped the conversation In its tracks That dish will be remembered For years to come It became its own Topic of discussion Other diners seemed Oblivious But the staff watched Smiled Nodded Happy with the energy Gracing their establishment After-dinner talk Nobody in a hurry Chip ordered Turkish coffee Even though he said It would keep him awake Until November Being together Was like a magic trick Better than imagination Had ever provided Walking home through That warm night Still so much to say Music blaring from nightclubs Young people Dressed in high fashion (The others assured me It was high fashion And that Chicago Really isn't full of Hookers It's just cool to look that way) I shook my head Feeling old Women much younger than I In impossible shoes Caught their heels in gratings Or uneven pavement Stumbled Fell At a rate of One every block or two Chicago is a city of Awnings and doormen Of corners under construction And pedestrians Crossing against the light Subways below Elevated trains above And flat flat flat As a pancake Or a piece of warm nan Eaten at Reza's Talking and laughing Happy and comfortable Cameras snapping Planning for tomorrow Late-night stroll Back to the hotel Five friends In Chicago .......... This is for Chip, Corey, Marilyn and Mark, in memory of two of the finest dinners I've ever had (we went back again the next night); for Dave, Cheri and Juanita who couldn't be there that night, but were eagerly welcomed on Saturday; and for Bill, who would have loved it, but was home recovering from major surgery. If you ever get a chance to meet up with good friends from Renderosity ... do it! Make sure you include some good food in your plans. :)

Comments (24)

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beachzz

1:42AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

Oh, Tara, this almost brings tears to my eyes. I can feel that night, hear the talk, smell the food; it's that real. What an incredibly magic time that was, all those new sights, but most of all, those people---and how we just WERE. As though we'd known each other forever. I can feel the energy of those streets, remember those young women and their shoes--every bit of this brings it all back. thank you.

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wysiwig

1:52AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

I am so jealous. This brings back memories of similar nights long ago. You paint such a wonderful word picture.

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lizzibell

2:00AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

very nice...

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cfulton

2:31AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

A wonderful vibe and mood you have given - you have spoken more with your words than the picture ever could! Thanks and well done! Green Clive

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helanker

4:00AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

WOOOW Tar! That trip to Chicago has fascinated me from the beginning, but this really made me feel what you felt there. It is almost as if I was there with you all myself. Thank you for sharing this with us. And I so agree with cfulton.

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bmac62

5:03AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

Not a wasted word in the bunch. Thanks for recreating the atmosphere of this wonderful and friendly adventure. Makes me wonder if this is a, "you can't go home again" event. If you were to go again, do you think the same magic could be generated? This was a happening. Sounds like most of your plans went out the window but the random results of fellowship were all the better for it:)

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Meisiekind

5:27AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

I wasn't even there and I want to cry! But then I cried when Bruce took pics of the first snowfall last night and shared it with me! Excellent piece Tara and all the more special because I "know" the characters! Well done indeed! :)

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emmecielle

6:05AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

Fascinating memories of a great meeting! :)

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trentsteff

8:22AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

Outstanding.

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durleybeachbum

8:28AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

MARVELLOUS!

lucindawind

8:47AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

wonderful words lovely shot of memories

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barbdennist

9:35AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

This is so touching, and I wasn't even there. I feel as though I joined you that night through your gift of words.

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Faemike55

9:42AM | Tue, 27 October 2009

Fantastic words I could almost taste the food. Even at 20 minutes to eight in the morning, I want some food from Reza

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orig_buggy

4:53PM | Tue, 27 October 2009

wow....you not only have a gift for photography but one with words as well!

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npauling

8:24PM | Tue, 27 October 2009

What a wonderful night out you had and what great company. Makes me want to come to Chicago too. Excellent writing.

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hipps13

10:21PM | Tue, 27 October 2009

wonderful work, Tara May Memories sure will have warm hugs and love, Linda Kaye

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Chipka

1:21AM | Wed, 28 October 2009

What a night! I remember it as if it happened barely five minutes ago...not even five minutes. The image and the words are utterly perfect, utterly magical. I can still smell the place: those spices, all of that meticulously polished wood, the warmth of steam from the food, and of course that sauce! WOW! Pomegrante/Walnut! What a combination...strangely familiar, almost atavistic. I'm not Persian, but if I were, I'd probably say that the sauce was as good as my grandmother makes, back in Tehran, in that cramped kitchen with those rude, worn and chipped tiles with flowers on them, and an antiquated radio playing her favorite love song...you know the one; it's by that singer with those eyebrows. He was big in the '40s, but they still play his stuff now, mostly because little old ladies like to listen to him while preparing an extravagant dinner, while the daughter of the house makes sure that the pillows on the eating rug are all meticulously arranged. This is incredible photography and writing, and a magical mood that has become a part of the life I live now and will live in the decades to come! WOW. Amazing!

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myrrhluz

3:43AM | Wed, 28 October 2009

Wonderful! Your words really bring across the newly met, old friends atmosphere of that night. I love the fact that y'all spontaneously switched walking partners when stopped at lights. I also love that the food, which had been an interesting aside to the main tale, pushed its way to the front when a really excellent dish was served. I felt like the fly on the wall to your terrific experience. Very well done!

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elfin14doaks

6:02PM | Wed, 28 October 2009

It sounded incredible ..... next time we plan it better. I am sure it will be better times and we all go.

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Merrylee

12:58PM | Thu, 29 October 2009

Good to have friends...and a good time with them...hope you get to do it again

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danapommet

12:27AM | Sun, 01 November 2009

Reading this was such a warm experience - as if we were all there together. Great writing and great share. Truly wonderful. Dana

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brittsteff

6:31PM | Sun, 08 November 2009

"isn't she good" -dad "YES!"- brittany

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CoreyBlack

7:20PM | Sun, 22 November 2009

I'm STILL thinking about Reza's. That was a night to remember! I've known Chip for a decade, but meeting the other Renderosity people felt like I was meeting friends I made long ago and hadn't seen in a while! We should talk Reza's into opening a franchise in Seattle. And I wonder if we go back there, will the manager remember and still think that we're all from out of state?

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