The Roaring 20s

One of my all time favorite books, even in spite of teaching it every year to high school students who often hate it, is Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.  I romanticize the 1920s, though I am aware of the flagrant presence of human rights issues that flooded the decade and also the historical economic catastrophe for which it laid the groundwork.  From the flappers to the cars, the prohibition cocktails to the music, the authors and the artists, there is something that is magical for me about the era. Woody Allen clearly shares my obsession as evidenced by his love story to the 1920s in Paris: Midnight in Paris.  I loved this film.  The premise is that Owen Wilson, who plays a man searching for his story--on many levels, as a writer, as a person--is transported each night via magical, surreal 1920s taxicab back to the era he is obsessed with-Paris of the 1920s.  A melange of minds convene at Paris in this time: writers, artists, academics and Owen Wilson is changed wholly from his visits to this bygone time--each night uncovering his story and ultimately his sense of self. This brilliant story, all told through beautiful, soulful shots of the city of lights is fantastic.

Coincidentally, this weekend turned out to be a very 20s weekend for me...after seeing and loving Midnight in Paris on Saturday night, I experienced my own sort of time travel back to New York City in the 1920s via the Governor's Island ferry.  It just so happened that this weekend was New York City's  "Jazz Age Lawn Party." Amazing. Everyone dresses in garb of the 20s, there is music and dancing, vintage cars and games, picnicking and cocktails...ahh yes...I can certainly see why it is dubbed New York City's "Best Party!" Unlike Owen Wilson's character at the end of Midnight in Paris, who realizes that there is always nostalgia for a better, simpler age, this weekend has only solidified for me that the 1920s was just, well, better! Oh, let me romanticize... 

And the icing on the 1920s cake?? The entire event was sponsored by St. Germain. I will always have a soft spot for this elderflower liqueur as I was introduced to it at exactly this time last year when I had one of my favorite New York City days with two of my favorite friends.  St. Germain and champagne cocktails now always remind me of perfect end-of-the-summer days...I guess this weekend has continued that trend! 

Happy Reading, Old Sports!