Bastille Day ( 7.15.2007 )

Bored on a Sunday, we decided to take a walk around the Bastille day fair that was being thrown in mid-town by the French Language group fi:af. They closed off all of 60th street on the east side between Park ave. to Fifth ave. and set up all sorts of french street vendors along with some people dancing (the can-can). The food was really good, lots of crepes and french fries, and a few chocolatiers who had amazing eclairs for sale. All in all it was really not all that exciting, and it was extremely hot which made eating really sugary food all that more difficult. We decided to take off and find some nice air-conditioning.

We scoped out the Boarders bookstore where Molly would be purchasing her Harry Potter book the next week, then we got on the subway and headed up to go and see a movie. I believe it was Harry Potter. It was nice and cool in the theater, and a much needed break from the painful heat.

People waiting in line for crepes and lemonade. Did the french invent lemonade?

French Fries! They were really good.

More people, and very little room to move around on a very hot, stagnant, humid day. I was only able to take so much. The cool movie theater was calling to us.

Aaahh the movie theater. Now I look happy.

The New Toy!

For the past few weeks Molly and I have been playing catch up, trying to get everything done that was swept aside at the beginning of the month. While we still have been doing our Sundays, they have definitely been shortened from the full blown, day long events, to just afternoons or mornings. Oh and we had that whole Harry Potter weekend thrown in there.

Most of the time has been spent paying bills, working, cleaning up the house, and the never ending job of laundry (for those of you that have machines in your house, be thankful). Somewhere in the mix though, I got my new toy. A sweet new 35mm Digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera. Ever since we moved to the city I've been kind of looking for some sort of creative outlet. In the city I've learned that you really have to work to get out and use the most of your free time. The term "weekend warrior" isn't strong enough. To go for a simple bike ride here is not as easy as just walking out your door and being in the woods, you have to find the woods, and then battle traffic to get there. So as I said, I've been looking for some way to get out and use the left brain a little, and attempting to photograph the NYC that I see is my new project.

Now I never took a photography class in college or high school (although I did grade a lot of tests when I was an art assistant), so the general workings of a camera are pretty much a mystery to me. But I've been reading the book and playing with all the settings. I have over one hundred pictures of my plants (not all that exciting), but I'm developing an idea of how things work. On my first trip out, I decided Central Park would be a great place to start. These are the best pictures. Molly helped pick them out.

These first two are in the fancy Conservatory Gardens. They have lots of flowers.

I liked the little bee flying around, but he was a little camera shy and would not turn around, so I took a picture of his bum.

This is looking across a lake up towards Harlem.

The green plant building that I walk by every once in a while when we walk from our house north on Fifth Ave.

Introducing Sean and Gabby ( 7.7.2007 )

The big day had come for Gabby and Sean, roommates and friends of Molly. It was the first wedding of her friends from college so everyone turned out for the event. The wedding was on Saturday up at Fordham, so I worked a half day then ran home to get all dressed up. A high Catholic mass was the plan for the day so we were suit and tie in the 90 degree heat. Of course I looked good, and Molly wasn't too bad either.

Our friends, Carol and Matt, who were down from Vermont for the wedding decided that driving would be the best way to go. So we piled into the Subaru and headed to the Bronx. Matt drove us to Fordham, but Molly was the D.D. for the drive home. Which was very nice because Matt and I had a good time at the reception.

At Fordham we did the church thing, then headed out to the Bronx streets for some pre-party pizza. It was good, University Pizza, but as Molly pointed out, many times, it was no Pugsley's. She was of course right, tasty, but not Delicious. The crew headed back to the car for the hour drive upstate. Not sure what town we went to, but I know we got lost at least twice. Then it was time for the food and dancing. And man did the two family's dance!

From the very start, dinner and food was a very distant second to dancing. Gabby's father, and grandfather for that matter, put everyone to shame, it was the most amazing thing I've ever seen at a wedding. Maybe it's an East Coast thing, but it was dance party U.S.A. Oh and when the food came around, it was a great! Five course Italian meal with some good red wine (Los Voscos Cab).

For the record, yes, I didn't dance, but I wanted too, twice. One time my thunder was stolen by Matt when they played "Wonderful Tonight" and the second time when they had the mother/son dance. Sorry Molly, next time I will get out there and go crazy.

Matt looks happy, but Carol thinks I'm a little strange.

The happy couple, Sean and Gabby R.

Molly, Michele, and Carol!

Michele and me.

We all had a great time during the week leading up to the wedding, with the Bachelorette party the weekend before, then the Fourth of July, and finally the wedding. We would like to thank Sean and Gabby and their families for inviting us to the party because it was a lot of fun, and we hope to see everyone again, soon.

Fourth of July ( 7.3.07 - 7.4.2007 )

Ahh, the Fourth of July. The second greatest holiday of the year (the first is of course St. Patrick's Day, and for reference, Winter Carnival is third). How can you not enjoy, friends, food, and explosions?

We went to Reif's, a sweet bar that allows you to bring in your own food to grill, as long as you buy beer from them. Molly and I prepared enough food to feed twenty, little did we know that there were going to be twenty people at our little pre-fourth of July party (it took place on the 3rd to avoid the crowds at the bar on the 4th). Lots of chicken, corn, meat, peppers, beer, dogs and everything else that can be cooked outside. Good fun, and lots of pictures. Enjoy!

Tim, Molly and I. Ahhh food, we did have forks, but they were not used, at least by me.

Hot dogs and beer, Tim is one of my friends from work.

Amber and I, having a good ol' time.

Michele was down from Boston, and she brought some of her NYC crew with her.

Ahhh Fordham people. Brian and Pete (Pete is the one who deserves the props for finding this bar), Molly, Michele, and Amber.

What is a Fourth of July without some 'Big Buck Hunter'? Molly was a good shot, but Tim was a little too into the game. We spent about 10 dollars in quarters hunting. It was a lot of fun.

Ooh Brian and Michele, what else can we say?

It was a late night party that was a lot of fun. Good friends, really good food, and cheap beer. We will be looking forward to doing this again soon.

Gabby's Bachelorette Party ( 6.30.2007 )

(Molly Post)

Gabby's bachelorette's party...my first bach party. Gabby was a week away from getting married and she, along with about 11 girls, came to the city for the night. She picked a unique idea for her party - the Awesome 80's Prom - an off-broadway show/interactive event. Most of the girls rented a room for the night near the "prom" location. So prior to the event, we all met there to hang out and have dinner.

It was a lot of fun to have all the girls from college back together again (minus Jamie...we miss you!). It was the first time we were all in the same room since graduation day. Above is a picture of Michelle, me, and Amber at the apartment before we left for the prom. It was a hot afternoon, which explains why we were all crammed in front of the A/C unit!

The actual event was a little strange, I won't lie. There were "cast members", aka actors, playing the stereotypical roles of characters at an 80's prom, and the crowd was encouraged to dress in 80's Prom Attire. But Gabby had a great time, which is all that's important! The "Prom Committee" gave her a shash that said "Most likely to get married", which she loved. Despite my misgivings, the prom seemed to be a popular idea, as there were probably 4 different bachelorette parties at the prom.

Carol also came down from VT for the party. It was good to have her around, since she always brings fun to a party! Overall, it was a great night.

Bad part of the night = hurting my foot...



http://www.awesome80sprom.com/