Return to Nobu: This Time to Celebrate the Return of WADE!!!

Nobu has become the go-to restaurant location for special events and bestie dinners.
This week it was beyond a joy to gather in celebration of the return of Wade from his 6 month stint on a cruise ship.
These people make me so happy! Combine this group with yellowtail jalapeno sashimi and lobster tacos and I am in heaven.





Joey and Paul

Seth showing Joey and I a little too much love

Wade and Joey

Patrick and Seth playing

Me and Patrick

A Weekend in the Country

I have decided that I feel the same way about country/vacation houses as I do about babies... I don't need one of my own, I just need friends that have them. Last weekend Carlos, Joe, and I had the delightful privilege of spending the weekend at the country house of our friends Jason and Yoav (along with their beautiful one year old daughter Emma). The weather could not have been more perfect.

Some of the highlights include:

A stunning hike through the fall leaves with Jason, Carlos, and new friends Michael and Stephen. Jason's amazing home cooking and nightly extravagant dinner preparations Chopping Wood and not hacking off my hand/foot/head/etc... Sitting in the sun reading with my good friend Kathy Griffin Spending time with friends and babies
Relaxing in the living room with nightly piano parties

Autumn in New York

I live in the middle of Manhattan, yet this picture was shot from a four minute walk from my front door. Seriously.

Stilettos in the Kitchen

My darling friend Ashleigh had a theme birthday party this year- Stilettos in the Kitchen. It was all about personal empowerment, future planning, and owning your own success. Now, I don't know if "Stilettos in the Kitchen" is the right catch phrase for my future success, but I appreciate that it is feminine and powerful.
The night included describing our ideal futures and creating vision boards.
Oh Ashleigh, I wish I could bottle your energy and enthusiasm! I love you girl!




(Yes, I own some heels... that is me on the left).

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge- One of my fav NY things

After our Brooklyn adventure seeing The Tiger Lillies (now I know why I seldom leave Manhattan),Seth and I decided to enjoy the crisp fall air by walking home across the Brooklyn Bridge. The night was perfect- a little chilly, but mostly refreshing.













I decided I wanted to climb up on the bridge scaffolding- hoping it would provide an even better background of the city. Seth was screaming at me to get down, and in retrospect (given my tendencies towards falling, slipping, and tripping), it may not have been such a great idea.



















We warmed up with one of my favorites... hot apple cider.














Even the downtown subway stations are more interesting/creepy than the uptown trains I am used to.

Tiger Lillies- The Freakshow arrives in Brooklyn

The night after seeing MIKA (still giddy about how amazing that concert was), Seth and I decided to take advantage of being New Yorkers and headed out to Brooklyn for some avant-garde theater.
I was not familiar with the group Tiger Lillies prior to seeing the show. I knew they were clownish accordion playing theater type musicians. Sounded great to me!
I was not prepared for the show I was about to see! Known as the worlds most foremost oompah death band, I should have had my reservations. We left at intermission, but here are some of the uplifting lyrics to give you a taste of the show (don't forget, all songs were accompanied by an accordion).


(yodeling)

I thought I'd try suicide, I thought it might be a laugh.
I stuck my head in an oven but the oven wasn't gas.

(yodeling)

So then I thought I'll take some pills, I bought the wrong ones,
All i got was diarrhea and it ran and it ran and it ran.

Suicide, suicide, that's the one for me,
I want to be a legend so suicides for me.

(Yodeling)

MIKA: My Current Favorite Music Maker (sorry Indigo Girls, you are still a close second)

Not too long ago I went to what is almost certainly the most amazing, captivating, enjoyable, unbelievable, and spectacular concert of my life. MIKA (the Beirut born, Paris raised, British pop sensation) performed at an old church/converted concert space in Washington Heights.
I have loved MIKA for a couple of years now, but I was unprepared for the caliber of live performance charisma and talent he delivers. Seriously, the man did not leave the stage, performed every song on both his albums, and danced and sang HIS FACE OFF!
If you ever get a chance to see/hear MIKA live, TAKE IT!
Thanks to Alicia and Pedro for the fabulous company and for making it all happen!

LOVE IT!!! www.storybookforlife.com

First of all, let me say that I love digital cameras. Seriously, that instant gratification after taking a shot, the ability to shoot the same picture over and over and then pick your favorite, the 'delete' option if you look too cross-eyed/fat/pathetic, etc...
HOWEVER, I do miss that joy that comes from the anticipation of waiting to get pictures back. Remember dropping off film and then not being able to wait the one hour to rip open the envelope and see what you captured months earlier?
Ladies and gentlemen, I have found a product that combines the technology of digital, with the joy of holding your pictures in your hand and showing them off.
www.storybookforlife.com
Go here. Check it out. You can make these super amazing hard bound self-designed books of your very own.
I just got my book back from my recent cruise to the Baltics. I have not put it down in the past 24 hours (with the exception of when I made my roommate, coworkers, neighbors, etc.. .all look through it with me).

Cut and paste this link to check out my Baltics books...

http://www.heritagemakers.com/projectBrowserStandAlone.cfm?projectId=1041017&productId=9&projectSponsor=152741

The American Idol Experience

Okay, if you have been to Disney World since February 2009, you may have noticed the new American Idol attraction at Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM park). Each day 'American Idol' style auditions are held and anyone can audition with a 30 second acapella piece. During several rounds of auditions, producers narrow the participants down to a final few who go on to perform a live show that evening in a new 1000 seat theater. So there we are in the park and the four of us (Joe, Carlos, Annette, and I) decide that we really cannot pass this up. As Carlos and Joe both have professional theater experience, it was decided they would audition and Annette and I would accompany them backstage (each auditioner can bring one 'superfan' with them). However, once we got inside, Carlos bailed and physically FORCED me to audition. I (angrily and hesitantly) agreed, thinking I would sing my 30 seconds and then we would move on to the Animal Kingdom. Turns out, both Joe and I were then kept through several rounds of auditions and were chosen to return later that afternoon for hair, make-up, a vocal coaching, technical run-through, and full performance "American Idol Style" in front of a full audience. Fun, thrilling, terrifying... I cannot describe it. Sure, I was scared to death, forgot to walk to the front of the stage, and cracked on the money note- but that's not the point. It turned out to be one of the funnest ways to spend the day!!! This story will go down as one of the highlight friend events - right up there with the wedding in Costa Rica, Christmas slumber parties, and the night bus to Italy.





Here is a little video recap that was played before the audience voting (I'm SO glad that they showed the clip of my cracking on the big note). :) Sadly, neither Joe or I won, but who cares?!?!? What a blast!!!

The Happiest Place on Earth just got Happier

So, last weekend Carlos, Joe, Paul and I headed down to Orlando, Florida for a weekend of Disney fun. We were joined by the lovely Annette who was a wonderful addition to our annual Florida trip... but it was still not the same without our sister Wade. Day one in the park was spent at EPCOT where we took advantage of the food and wine festival. Where else can you enjoy a meal of crepes, coconut soup, sushi, and enchiladas in the same sitting?












Here is a little video clip of how we spent our time in "China."

Watch the next post for the most SPECTACULAR part of our trip!!!

Big Girls Don't Cry

First of all, let me say... I think crying is a good thing. It's an emotional release, it shows you care about something, and it feels like you are giving your eyeballs a good shower. However, I HATE crying in public. Furthermore, I have been cursed with a condition (yet to be diagnosed) at crying at totally innappropriate moments.
I don't usually cry when I am sad. I don't usually cry when I am hurt. The two things that will inevitable move me to tears are (in order):
1) Anger
2) Extreme kindness (either towards myself, or just hearing about someone else).

This week I had two cries (no, I am not a mess, it was just one of those weeks).

The first was work related and I have a strict rule about keeping work talk to a minimun in cyberland (but trust me... it gets ugly).

The second was in reaction to an extremely generous offer by my cousin Jared- one of the most remarkable men I have ever known.

Now all I need is a poorly written hallmark movie of the week (which I admit is the third thing guaranteed to make me bawl).

Goodbye City Life... Hello Astoria!

When you live in Manhattan, the land of transient work and insane rent prices, you get suckered into helping friends move all the time. Some friends in our circle are always (conveniently) out of town for these moves. I happen to enjoy hauling boxes and seeing how much crap we can squeeze into the back of a moving van. It's like going to the gym, but then whoever is moving is deeply indebted to you (and one day I am going to need help moving out of my 5th floor walk-up). Last weekend Carlos and Joe moved out of their tiny, but ultra convenient midtown apartment. They bought a GORGEOUS three level house in Astoria Queens (right across the river and still pretty convenient). I am already looking forward to Christmas sleepover and dinner parties in the new home. Congrats to the new home owners! Of course, Carlos parked the van too close to a parked car and couldn't open the door. Good thing he is so flexible!

The besties after the move... sweaty and sore, but still smiling.