Jackie's Dinner Party

Jackie's (moms) apartment
Upper East Side
3/24/07

Jackie finally had her dinner party. It was a great weekend to do so too, because Colleen, Erika, and Nina all came to NYC this weekend. We had a great time! Mad props to Jackie for hosting and the good food!










































FLICKR FOR THE REST.

ChikaLicious

I took Colleen and Modge to ChikaLicious last night. The stuff we got was 10 times better than when Ashley and I went two weeks ago (and that was great too!). Colleen had the cheesecake as her main course. I had a taste of it and it was heaven in my mouth. You don't even know. It didn't even look like cheesecake, It looked like a ball of ice cream. It was the softest, lightest cheesecake EVER.



Modge had some sort of cheese with espresso stuff. I really can't remember the names of the stuff we ordered. I didn't get it because I thought "I don't want to eat cheese" but all paradigms I had of what cheese could look and taste like was thrown out the fucking window when I tried it.



I had this thing above, which was almond ice cream (I think) on a thin layer of like caramilized almond thing with some other stuff below it. I really can't remember the names of the stuff in this, but it was AMAZING. I am taking everyone that comes to NY from now on to this place. It will blow and change your perceptions of what "dessert" is capable of.

Almost As Bad as TINA

liz: whats with this eliza business?
liz: thats not my name yo
otheradam: you dont like it??
liz: no

This is almost as bad as the Tina/Justine thing. Not really. Fine I'll call you LIZ.

Weekend Update 3/17/07

It was really warm on Wednesday/Thursday. Warm enough for Eliza and I to get Mr Frosty and eat it at Union Square Park. Then it snowed on Friday. And then my dad made me shovel around our house. You don't understand, we live on a corner lot. That means I have an entire side of the street to fricken shovel. Not the 10 feet front side like everyone else.

I got quite a workout from it, now it's Monday and I'm still sore. That's what happens when you sit at a desk all day and don't work out much. I lost my abs. Yeah, I had them at one point. I think I'll start working out again.

Oh yeah, last Tuesday, I beat Paul at pool for my first legitimate win against him. Ever. And it wasn't hyped or high pressure. I think that's why it happened. I've come close a few times before but couldn't sink the eight.

So back to this weekend, I had a wonderful dinner with my girls ELiza, Ashley and Jackie at a Italian place called Soto Cinque on the Upper East Side. It was St Patricks day, and seeing the streets filled with Bros and the skanks who love them all over the Upper East Side really caught me off guard. I was walking to Ashley's apartment and it was like I was back in college. The stench of cheap beers like KEYSTONE LITE filled the air all around. It was the most disgusting thing ever. I honestly don't know how I dealt with all that shit in college. I guess I just blocked it all out and was with good company, even on a Thursday night at Alex's. I think back now and can't for the life of me know why I was there so much on Thursday nights at one point. I never even drank that shit beer they had for mug night. I always got a railbender or something.

I'm not even a beer snob, I just don't drink cheap shitty beer like those calorie conscious bros. Anyway, we had dinner at that Italian place, which was mediocre, but the wine was good. Then we went to the Royal Oak in Williamsburg.

It you didn't know better, St Patrick's day was nonexistent in Williamsburg. Because today, instead of BLUE striped button shirts, all the bros were wearing GREEN striped button shirts. Ahhhhhh. None of that shit at the Royal oak. Everyone was dressed like always- hipster. You know, sometimes the hipsters are alright. Too cool for that shit. No green beer either, which no one one seemed to mind, care about or ask for.

I was wearing my LRG jacket (why?) and my keys fell out of my jacket pocket at Royal Oak.
Those keys were attached to a purple Alfred University lanyard that has a lot of sentimental value to me. It was Colleen's. I'll probably call them to see if they have it soon. Otherwise, Colleen will have to buy a new one and use it till she comes this week so it will be "broken into" and not new. I didn't realize I lost them till I was at Union Square, because I had my arm around Jackie the entire time we walked to the L train. Ugg, is that ironic?

Was supposed to meet up with David, but he didn't even get to Williamsburg till 3AM. Maybe next week.

FM2n

Yay, got my FM2n in the mail from ebay. It was kinda dirty but I cleaned it up.

New Cameras On The Way

I gotta stop looking on ebay because now I have a Nikon N80 and FM2n on the way. At least film cameras are (relatively) cheap now.

Going into the DSLR world suddenly REALLY made me realize just how dead film is. I didn't notice it in Alfred because, A. Alfred is a bubble in it's own dimension and B. Alfred doesn't move as fast with technology in the photography front as fast as say...RIT (which is a good thing in my opinion). From what I understand, the photo department in Alfred is real poor right now anyway. But right before I graduated expanded media bought a slew of Rebel XT or XTi's so....

Nikon had already announced early last year that they were going to stop all film camera production except for the F100 or F6 (can't remember which model) and FM10. I give it 1-2 more years before they stop producing film cameras completely. For all intent and purposes, film cameras are dead in the consumer and professional market. The only people that are still using it are artist.

I'm already imagining 10 years from now when film cameras will be ancient history and developing and printing will cost and arm and a leg and become a specialized, niche art form. I'll be holding onto my film cameras forever. The classics will retain or go up in value, the others, not so much.

My Favourite Photos Vol 2

Another great image from Italy. This one was taken in Sienna, Italy. It was the first time that it has snowed there in a really long time and people didn't know how to deal with it. Our group was going to see some churches and I got ahead of everyone on the steps leading up and snapped this shot of Peter and Corey.

A Quote From Bryan

Here's a great quote from tortured artist, my friend Bryan-

"Just like people romanticize the 1920's, or the civil war, or other countrys, we can also do it to people, and then our vision of them is screwed"

More unfinished thoughts and bits of wittings from my unsent outbox. Probably more to come soon.

Emoface

A unsent draft in my inbox dated 11/05/06-

"I hate what is going on in my life right now. There are two people who I've recently felt like I've lost as friends and it saddens me. But I know they no longer care for me or what I have to say, and that hurts me the most. It's not up to me to make it clear to them of this fact if they don't care to hear it anymore.

I no longer want to linger on the past like this. Value the times spent with friends the way the are. If they change, there is nothing I can do about it, only they can change themselves for their own reasons. The past month has really matured my interaction, relationships, and perspective on human interactions and why we are they way we are, and the way we act. I really, really appreciate and value the few people I know that truly care about me, and like me for who I am.

What I've learned in the private conversations with people who trusted me enough to share with me is that everyone has problems, and a lot more people are in therapy than one would think. Our public faces are never the true ones. It always surprised me when they told me this, because I don't see them needing therapy. Well, now I think I need therapy. Isn't that ironic? I can't deal with this shit on my own anymore. It didn't work before"

Still feel the same way for the most part, other than the therapy for me part.

Dessert Dessert

On Saturday night, Ashley and I went to a dessert bar called ChikaLicious in the East Village. This is how I described the place to my friend Paul-

"$12 pre-fix per person. You get an appetizer dessert, a main course dessert and a dessert dessert"

For an additional 7 dollars, you can get a dessert wine that is paired for the main dessert that you choose. This place is serious.

We're going next weekend, Colleen.

Revisting Coney Island Part II

Went to Coney Island again, now with more people!












My new wallpaper:

This is a crop a of larger photo. It was not digitally manipulated in any way.

The bokeh on the Tamron 17-50mm gets real weird and painterly. It looks really nice blown up.

My Favourite Photos Vol 1

Welcome to a new column where I examine an "old" photo of mine that has some sort of higher value to me (sentimental, compositional, colour, etc).

This week's photo


Why it's so great:
This photo was taken at one of the girl's apartment in Florence, Italy when I was abroad there Spring 2005. I set this up with my digital point and shoot Canon on a tripod and fired it off a few times. I like how the expressions on everyone's faces are so modest. It really does capture a certain "family feel". Everyone looks like they are sharing the same insider secret and I dare to say, genuinely happy to be there at that point in time. Too bad PETER was late to the it and missed out on this shot.

It's Been Too Long...

...Since we've had a dinner party of any sorts. Goddamn. The photos speak for themselves.



Most of these are with the Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens. Because I love it so much.

Fun with Photography & Lighting

Ashley and I had a photo shoot at my house! What does that mean? New profile pics!


I love my Nikkor 50mm 1.4

Revisiting Coney Island (now in color)

Ashley and I went to Coney Island yesterday to take pictures. She needed to do the act of photography and I wanted to play with my D80 and see how the place would look in color. It's so different to me. My senior show was shot in black and white and medium format. Now I'm going back to shot in color and 35mm.



It was weird adjusting to the wider frame. I tried to take some photos the exact same way I did it with my Yashica (like the two above).




Ashley with her Hasselblad



They took out the broken phone post that was in near this wall. I noticed a lot of little differences when I was there. Like the sand level being higher on one of the lamp post I took a shot of last year. The also tore down some of the amusement areas since the buyout of some of the space there. The mini golf, go-kart and baseball cage were all tore down. It's going to be really different in Coney Island this summer.


Ashley says "bye!"

Friday Night Shanagians

This was one of those Friday that started nicely and ended really nicely. The weather was really warm today. I made plans with Jackie, Peter and Heather to meet up at KENKAS at 6:30PM on Saint Marks Pl for dinner. Evil Paul was eating dinner at Metro Marche at 6PM and I have discount cards so I went over there to give it to him.

Last Thursday, Paul and I were shooting pool, he wanted to make a bet on the game we were playing. The bet was the loser had to buy the winner a drink (at the pool hall). I didn't really want a drink but whatever. So we played, and I actually beat him! LOL. It was a mix of luck on my part and him missing shots he really shouldn't have missed. There is a sign with a saying at the pool hall we go to "pool constantly tests your skill against your opponent's luck" which is oh-so-true, as I will tell you about in a bit. So he owed me a drink.

Sometime in the afternoon yesterday I had the AWESOME idea of going over to Marche, getting a drink and putting it on his tab. So I did. He was on a date, and I had decided I was sooo going to butt in on that shit and be the most obnoxious thing ever. I thought it was really funny. So I got to Marche and ordered a Jimmy Bean and coke and I go over to his table and sit my ass down. He introduced me to his date and already it was obvious she was VERY uncomfortable with me butting in. I started being really obnoxious and asking them questions and shit. Then it got really awkward because she didn't say anything and looked like she really wanted me to leave. Paul looked at me and motioned his head like "get the fuck out!". I said "alright, nice meeting you, but the way Paul, this drink is on your tab". He laughed. He couldn't have done anything else anyway.

I wasn't at Marche with anyone. Ashley was working till 8 and was busy. Couldn't really talk to her. So I SLAMMED my drink in like 5 minutes, and they made it pretty strong too, because I work there and all. Before I even got out of Marche, I was already feeling it. All the lights and sounds of Time Square didn't help (or did it?). So I'm walking to the subway, and I'm already tipsy and smiling, and laughing to myself about what I just did and it was the best thing ever.

Got out at Astor Place and met up with Jackie in front of Kenkas. Peter was late (of course). I told Jackie I was already drunk, she laughed. We sat down and ordered a round.



The pitchers were like 8 bucks or something. Kenka's is a relatively cheap place to have a late night snack and drinks. I've taken almost anyone who's been to NY there.

Heather got out of work and met up with us also





After Kenkas we went to the bar Hi-Fi, where the Hold Steady sometimes bartend, to meet up with the rest of the crew- Liz, Justine, Ashley. Justine's friends Susannah and Hesper also came. Hi-Fi has a pool table so I called next. I ended up playing with these kids that goes to Cooper Union. They didn't know how to play pool, they didn't know what the fuck they were doing really. They wanted to play partners, I didn't mind. So one of them is my partner (I thought I get to pick my friend as a partner? Ok...). He asked me what school I went to, I said I graduated already and asked him the same. He said Cooper Union. I asked him for art or engineering, he said engineering and that was it. They pretty much prejudged me instantly anyway. They looked like boring, typical people anyway. You know, the kind that wears striped blue and white button down shirts.

So I let his other friends break, and it was a terrible break. Paul always say smaller tables are harder to play on because all the balls are clumped together. I thought it was actually easier, but I guess not. Through sheer luck, the other two beat me and the guy I was partners with. I was so upset, because I know I'm better then them. They got lucky at first, leaving me without a shot. Then they hit a ball in, get lucky and hit another. At one point they had no shot and tried to reach one of there balls. The cue ball goes around the table and doesn't hit any balls. So I started to pick it up because it's ball-in-hand for me and one of them stops me. "The cue ball hit three rails, you can't pick it up!". Um, NO. That's a stupid non-rule stupid people like you who don't know the rules made up. But there was obviously no point in arguing, so I was just like "oh really, OK", acting all dumb and shit.

So we have one ball left and they have one ball left. The girl on the other team goes, hits the ball in and is now on the 8. The only shot she has is to hit the 8 ball off the rail into the side pocket. I'm thinking there's no way she's making this. And what do you know, she gets lucky and pops that shit in! I lost! Ugggg. I'm not being obnoxious here, they won through pure luck. That's all there is. So Justine puts our names on the list to get next. The 2 I play gives up the fricken table because they didn't want to play anymore. So some new people are playing, not really playing. They are socializing more than they are playing.

I'm sitting with everyone and talking to Justine. You know what, I really miss her. But what can you do. We never got to play. We left to go to Midway, where the Isles were going to play at 1:30AM. Yeah, late-ass set. I don't know why Susannah decided it was a good idea to get on the bus. It was like 7 blocks away, but we got on anyway.


Hesper and Susannah on the bus. And Ashley's big ass yellow bag. Never saw that before.

We got to Midway at like 12:30AM, the opening band was supposed to go on then, but of course they didn't and was still setting up, because it's always cool to not play your set on time. I called Paul to see where he was at. He was driving his date to Queens to pick up her car. I asked him to come get me because I didn't want to take the train home later at 2AM. What a guy he is, he agreed and came to pick me up! "You're lucky you're on the way home" he said. Weee! I ended up missing the Isle's set because I pretty much bounced around 12.45AM. Paul has no interest in staying in a club packed with hipsters that wouldn't give him/me? the time of day so I didn't even bother trying to convince him to stay. Even though I said he HAD to come and watch how some of these people are the most superficial people you'll ever see. It's really wild seeing how these people are. Sometimes I can't even believe there are people like this, really.

And I most certainly drank too much.

It's WARM this weekend

I just went down to Joe to get a mocha and it is WARM outside today! It's 56 degrees in the city right now, and it looks to be the same tomorrow. People are sitting on the steps again, that makes me happy. Hipsters are out in full force, chubby NYU students are going out for runs, and some people are even just out in t-shirts thinking their sooo cool cuz it's March and all they have on are t-shirts. I love NYC.

This mocha I got has way too much chocolate. Only the cute girl who draws hearts on mine make them the best.