OK I'm jumping the gun by one day but that's because I'm really looking forward to tonight's private Robert Burns supper at the recently opened Mary Queen of Scots restaurant (112 Allen Street, NYC). I've wanted to experience a Burns supper for some time now; Jim Austin, a former colleague of mine, hosts one every year but for one reason or another, I was never able to attend. Tonight we're going to meet the Balvenie Brand whisky ambassador Andrew Weir, enjoy a four-course meal with whisky pairings, hear music by Local Hero, and listen to some fine poetry. I'll post a full report tomorrow. Find out more about Robert Burns here.
Trivia: Did you know that Bob Dylan cites Burns as an important influence?
The aforementioned former colleague recommends Burns' The Henpecked Husband:
Curs'd be the man, the poorest wretch in life,
The crouching vassal to a tyrant wife!
Who has no will but by her high permission,
Who has not sixpence but in her possession,
Who must to her his dear friend's secrets tell,
Who dreads a curtain lecture worse than hell.
Were such the wife had fallen to my part,
I'd break her spirit or I'd break her heart;
I'd charm her with the magic of a switch,
I'd kiss her maids, and kick the perverse bitch.
-- Robert Burns
What's your favorite Burns poem or lyric?
-- sdh
