Wedding, eating, drinking, and more....

We had a busy weekend in New York. Mark and I flew up on Friday, dropped off our stuff at Val & Tony's and hit the streets of the Slope, eating pizza, of course, shopping, relaxing in Ozzie's, a third place for many in Park Slope. Then we got dressed up, took the train into the city, and wandered Tribeca a bit in the rain until we found the right building. While a wet crowd gathered in the lobby, waiters circulated with champagne, people began to chat, and a good time began. We went up to the top floor, alas, no view in the pouring rain and heavy fog, but it was pretty none the less. After a brief and sweet ceremony, our niece Beth and her Rondell were married. Great food, drink, plenty of dancing and so much fun followed.
Saturday Jesse & Thom picked us up -- lots more rain. We headed into Chinatown for a post wedding lunch, and then spent some shopping time getting drenched on the streets of the Lower East Side. Soon we gave it up, headed back to Brooklyn to Jesse & Thom's house, to get dry and to play with their new Wii. After recovering from a hard game of tennis we were dry and ready to go out for the evening -- first stop, a new and wonderful place in the Slope -- Beer Table. Owners Justin and Tricia welcomed Jesse and Thom back and were happy to meet Mark and me. They settled us at a table where two young men were sitting and we ordered our first beers. And began talking to the guys, Shane and Ian. When we found out that they had actually crafted the beer I was drinking, Righteous Rye, and that they are the guys behind Sixpoint, a great beer (and dog) conversation followed, and before we knew it, Shane was heading out to their brewery and bringing back some beers they are working on for a fabulous private tasting. By the time Shane got back we had more people at our table, every one friendly and interesting. It made us wish we could move to the city now.
Soon Thom's friend John showed up too, and in a while our little party was ready to move on to food so we headed right across the street for Italian home cooking, more good pizza. It was a magical evening, the kind that makes you say "only in New York."
Sunday Mark and I headed back into the city with my mother, Helen, for a great organic brunch at Josie's on the upper West Side. Then we met Jesse and Thom and saw a matinee of a new musical based on an old play, Spring Awakening.
In spite of a way too long journey home due to repeated flight delays, it was a wonderful weekend in the city.
See for yourself.

Off to the city!

Very early tomorrow Mark and I will take off for NY. We are going to see, and party at, the wedding of our niece, Beth. She is marrying her longtime partner, Rondell, at the Tribeca Rooftop, how romantic! We are very excited.
We'll be staying in Park Slope at Val & Tony's apartment again (thanks V&T!) and if we have the energy we may get the chance to spend some time in the Slope tomorrow afternoon. And eat pizza.
After that it's going to be nonstop busy -- wedding, wedding luncheon, doing a whole bunch of stuff the rest of Saturday with Jesse and Thom, we are really looking forward to spending time with them, Sunday brunch in the city with Helen followed by a matinee of Spring Awakening which Jesse and Thom will meet us for.
I hope to really learn my new camera this weekend.
I hope to read the manual on the plane.
We will not get home until about 2 am Monday morning so we will both take the day off to recover, hang with our animals who we will miss so much, go to yoga, and maybe blog.

Jack and Hill

I love Jack.
I like Hillary.
I have hope (whether it's Hillary or Barack...or both)!

Be Sensible by Martin Scorsese

One of the reasons we don't go to the movies very often is the people who do. Maybe this will help. Wonderful commercial, thanks Jesse.

We don't go there for the pizza

Although the pizza at Mellow Mushroom is tasty, it has little in common with real NY pizza. But the beer, well that's another story. They have an excellent selection of unusual beers and there are always some interesting local ones. You can do a tasting, too, if you aren't sure what you want. That's what Mark and I both did last week. My favorite was a coffee beer from Dunedin Brewery, no kidding, it had a strong coffee flavor and it was delicious.

Mark looks cool

After much urging from me, and from Jesse via me, Mark went shopping in a real clothing store! And bought clothes that fit and have some style! Really I should say that I went shopping, put myself in the very capable hands of a Nordstrom's salesperson (they do know about customer service in that store) and Mark went along, allowing us to use him as a model. Not only will Mark look good at the upcoming weddings and associated events, but he looks pretty good just hanging in the driveway, or going to the Ringling Museum in Sarasota with Jen and Leigh.

I write in Brooklyn, get over it.

This essay by Colson Whitehead was in today's NY Times Book Review.

I won't be writing in Brooklyn, oh, maybe a little blogging, but no books.

But I will be reading in Brooklyn, a lot, like I used to, one of these years.