Memorial Day Weekend is for Rooftops

Friday night Sabrina had a bunch of people over to her mom's apartment on the east side for home made lasagna. It felt so good to eat a huge plate of lasagna at the end of the workweek. Lasagna is something I haven't had a lot of while in New York. It demands time, care, and kitchen space--scarce things around here sometimes. After we ate our lasagna we went up to the roof for dessert. Everyone flipped over the view and the sunset.

(Blog housekeeping item of note: beginning with this post, I figured out how to get my photo captions on top of the pictures, which is the way I like it because you can read the description as you see the picture, not after it. Posts before this have captions beneath the picture, but those days are behind us.)

Sabrina, our host.

Becky and Liz, fellow rooftop early adopters.

I want to know about this penthouse. It must be like living in a cathedral in there.

Alexis.

Beau.

Hi neighbor!

Tali, Shan, Terra.

Brook and Nicole.

Brandon, Julie, Bryan. Everyone trying to get the sweetest sunset pic.

Maria and Kristi.

Terra and Bryan.

Dave, Hillary, Kristi.

Becky.

Terra, Chad, Kristi.

Then I headed downtown and met up with Natalie for a minute. She really likes her new glasses (not pictured).

And then snapped pictures all the way home.

Saturday I had lunch at Ssam Bar, watched Frozen at Andy's, checked out the line for free cones at Morgenstern's, and saw this Mexico City movie called Gueros with Broek. But I've only got two pictures to show for it.

These are the "Breakfast Rice Cakes" with tomato, Chinese sausage, and fried egg.

The above-mentioned happenings at Morgenstern's.

On Sunday the Jason formerly known as Elder Hinds showed up at church, I hadn't seen him since he was a missionary her in the city in 2006. I could not believe it had been that long, he could have told me he served here in 2010 and I would have believed him. 

Then I ran down from church to Claire and Evan's rooftop barbecue, which at that point had been going on for nearly two hours because I GO TO CHURCH SUPER LATE.

Step out on the roof and the first person I see? Emily. Who does NOT live in New York. But what a small world Claire and Evan's roof can be!

Ben has a cool new haircut.

Renee.

Jeff and Dakota's annual Good Shepherd portrait.

Sheen and Broek.

Ty and Sara. As it usually goes with Claire and Evan's roof, I forgot to get any pictures of our hosts.

On Monday I worked and then I went to a little gathering at Angelique's, but it wasn't on a roof. So no pictures. But it is worth noting that Lauren is in town, as illustrated in this lunchtime photograph:

Upgraded

New blog, new camera, it seems. Saturday morning I picked up a new Leica M just in time to take pictures at the Singles' Symposium at Lincoln Center and at Alpha and Zack's engagement party. I tried the camera out last year and knew I'd be getting one. It just took a minute to make it happen.

There's the new camera right there. Went black this time.

First picture with the new camera, Marcus actually had an old film Leica with him so I tried out its vintage 9cm f/4 lens for this shot. All these indoor pictures were taken at ISO 3200, something my M8, as noble and lovable as it is, can't do.

Jenica and Deb, in town from DC and deciding where to eat in the East Village while everyone else heads to Grimaldi's.

Just testing out my focus. At this point I was back to my 50mm f/2 lens, fyi.

Cesar!

As you can see, I could use an education on white balance.

Kim. Resting from the rigors of moderating.

Allison.

Brook.

Meredith and I were in the same London study abroad group just some short 15 years ago.

And now, a few hours later, everyone gathers for Alpha and Zack's engagement party. There was some confusion among some attenders over whether it was a wedding reception or an engagement celebration. To the confused I say "Read the email!" and "If this is a reception, where are the parents?" (read that like Darth Vader saying "If this is a consular ship than where is the ambassador?")

X.

Been a good while since I'd seen Allison.

Cyrus in silhouette.

Jeff and Chaunte and a new present.

Ty and Emily and the grin of the newly engaged.

Suzy and her dude.

Suzy's dude and Suzy.
(Big apologies right now for blanking on Dude's name. We've even hugged!)

Jeff and one of the previously mentioned presents.

Emily.

Pearl, Broek, Chaunte.

Kerlyn and child.

Larson and others.

Leanna.

Jeff and me explaining how to focus.

The Weinbergs.

Ashley and Leanna.

Council of the Engaged.

Broek and Jeff.

Pearl.

Out the window.

And out on the street.

Walking home down Canal Street.

More to come.

Winners Are Losers, 2015

On Friday, April 24th I had the good fortune of attending Lucky Peach's annual Winners are Losers James Beard Media Awards afterparty. It was held at the Milk Studios in Chelsea and featured an exciting line up of food and entertainment.

This is a view of what was across the street from the party. But you know what might have been a good photo to take, Brigham? Maybe one of the space where the party was?

It was a rather lively gathering. Lots of elbows to rub.

Upon arrival I headed straight for the Superiority Burger table. Superiority Burger is the veggie-burger creation of one Brooks Headley (shown here in the white apron), the award-winning pastry chef at Del Posto.

I don't know anything about veggie burgers but these things are so good! I would buy so many of these, given the option. I'd be eating non-meat burgers, if they were these, around the clock, if I could.

Oddfellows were in the house dishing out key lime pie ice cream.

Vegan chicharron from El Rey

Cookie bush

Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem DJ'd

On the left, Lucky Peach Editor-in-Chief Chris Ying. On the right, luckypeach.com boss Brette Warshaw.

Now here's the big thing about the party: my friend Lucas, from High School (and Junior High and Swim Team) had flown into town from LA because he had been nominated for a James Beard award himself. And not only was Lucas there, but he brought his mom! I hadn't seen her in about ten years. As we also went to school with Lucky Peach's Peter Meehan, his wife Hannah, and brother Jim (in town from Portland to mix drinks at the party), the event was a serious OPRF reunion. (And much preferable than our upcoming 20th Anniversary, I'd imagine)

Go Huskies