July 2021

Preface: SO I wrote this post about 3 weeks ago and now I am remembering to post it…the “good” news is I’ve got an August post ready to publish, too. So probably that will be up soon.

At last! My July blog post! (Not counting the parts where Cory, Blake and Rachel came or when Mom and Dad came). Let’s get down to business!

JULY 4: Watched my neighborhood boil over with independent community fireworks shows.

JULY 9: Brother Greg was in town and we went wild at Atla. Only one representative dish shown here.

JULY 13: This was one of those nice days where I go walk around and enjoy Chelsea art galleries.

JULY 16: Garrett organized a gathering of brethren to enjoy tacos and donuts in Times Square.

JULY 19: Came down to the Center Gallery for a donor event. I’m not a donor! But I go to events.

JULY 23: Ran down to Philadelphia for an afternoon to attend Matt and Ana’s wedding reception at the Union League. What a building! What a party! What a late night ride back to the city!

August 2021: The Family Reunion

Well, eventually I’ll post a July overview, but for now: Let me show you the Barnes (nuclear) family reunion from the second week of August. Having mostly been separated for most of the pandemic, and most of us having not seen any of young Hayden since February 2020, it was good to all gather in Deer Valley for a look at each other, meals, walks, nature, etc.

AUGUST 6: And this is the day we arrive at the cabin. Or house? Some family’s ski retreat rented out in the summer, that’s what it was. We settled in, unpacked, oriented ourselves, and ate dinner #1, and then headed over to the Deer Valley Amphitheater to see the Mike Love Beach Boys. It was a great show, even greater when they played the hits.

AUGUST 7: Today we headed off into the Uintahs. We stopped at a waterfall, which we looked at, and then we stopped at a lake, which we walked around. All this while smoke from California kept rolling in.

Then, back at the house, we held Family Book Club 2021 with Grandma Zooming in from San Marino. After that I took a bit of a walk with Mom.

AUGUST 8: Sunday morning, off to an easy start, when suddenly I see a giant moose out my bedroom window and begin to shout “Giant Moose! Giant Moose!” until the family all sees that there is a GIANT moose outside!

After family mountain church it’s time for: Family Pictures! So many more than these were taken of course. And after Family Pictures? Arts and Crafts!

And then, after lunch, a Birthday Party for Dad, including readings of his poems by all the members of the family and a pinata wacking

And a little bit after that: family walk around the neighborhood followed by birthday cake!

AUGUST 9: A big day for adventure! We take a couple ski lifts over to a mighty hike through all types of terrain.

And, after lunch, we return to the mountains for a ride on the Alpine Coaster, which was awesome! And then the Brother Team was in charge of dinner and we cooked up a chicken adobo feast that was also awesome.

AUGUST 10: And with seconds left on the clock before we’ve got to head out, I get in some vital bonding with nephew Hayden!

What a great reunion! A big thank you to all the parties involved in its planning, organizing and execution!

July 2021: Return of Mom and Dad Returning

Before I write my post about most of July, why don’t I write this important post about Mom and Dad’s first visit to New York since November 2019? (Can you believe it’s been 21 months since my last post where I ate around the city with Mom and Dad?)

JULY 30: In the late morning, Mom and Dad show up in my courtyard courtesy of the MTA.

We had a little lunch at Taqueria Emilio…

Then we went down and saw new train station, visited the lemon grove, walked the Highline, visited Little Island, and walked through Chelsea Market before hiking down to…

Carbone! I certainly am fortunate that my folks are always glad to have a Carbone dinner. We love giant menus!

Then we walked through Washington Square Park, dipped into the Strand for the last 2 minutes before it closed that night (anyone want a copy of Ulysses?), and then headed back to my apartment after checking on the little folks inside the 8th Avenue subway stop.

JULY 31: Got up and went to Choc for some Saturday morning pastries, then Mom and Dad went to the Met for 3+ hours while I attended my Arno Schmidt class and rode my bike and stuff. Then we went down to the Financial district for dinner at Crown Shy and had a bit of a Financial District walkaround, paying particular attention to the heroes of the Canyon of Heroes.

Visiting the exit and entrance of Castle Clinton where (among so many others) our ancestor Susannah Stone probably made her US arrival.

AUGUST 1: SUNDAY! Begin with a train ride to the Upper West Side Daily Provisions (that there will soon be 4 Daily Provisions in Manhattan is wonderful news for my folks) where they ate breakfast sandwiches while I enjoyed a roast beef. Then we went down to the Center gallery where Mom noticed her hometown neighbors were major donors. Then visited the lawn at Lincoln Center before heading to Union Square church.

Now, Surprise! The reason Mom and Dad had come to town was my ward’s bishopric was being reorganized and I was going to be the new second counselor. Here I am with the irreplaceable outgoing Bangs, who will be dearly missed. After church we visited a certain rooftop that shall not be named and went up to the new Dominique Ansel to pick up breakfast for Monday and sat around Madison Square Park a little bit.

Then we went down to Emily’s for Brussels sprouts, a hot katsu sandwich, and pizzas.

AUGUST 2nd: Monday went from “what are we going to do?” to “wow, we did a lot'“ real fast. Started the day by walking up broadway to Van Cortland Park.

Goats!

Then we took a nice long subway ride down to Thai Diner for a wonderful lunch.

Then, over the course of 3 or 4 hours, we did a lot of thing between Soho and Koreatown, but apparently I only have a picture of some of the pen shopping we did?

And for our final meal? Finally! Dinner at Her Name is Han. Super excellent Korean home cooking. Then we made our way over to Penn Station and back on up to Inwood.

AUGUST 3: And Wow, the visit ends when Mom and Dad grab a 3:45am Uber outside my apartment! It’s a jarring thing to witness, but even more jarring when I realize I’ll be doing it myself in just a couple of days. But maybe I’ll be lazy and take a 4 o clock car? Thanks for coming back, Mom & Dad!