NCAA- ACC Semifinals in Brooklyn 2018

UVa buddies Lukas, Nick, Brady, Briggs, and Kevin went to the ACC Tournament semifinals in Barclays Center in Brooklyn. They sawy the UVa-Clemson game and the UNC-Duke game. UVa is going into the NCAA as #1.

(Lukas, sort of), Nick, Brady, Kevin, and Briggs

Nick and Lukas

ACC Tournament: Pittsburgh v. Virginia 2017

On Wednesday, Kevin, Nick, and Briggs went to the UVA game against Pittsburgh at the Barclay Center last night. It went late- almost to midnight!- but UVA was victorious!

ACC Tournament

Basket!

Sadly, UVA lost the next night to Notre Dame, ending their tournament in NYC.

Our 5.5 Wedding Anniversary 2015

Our five-year wedding anniversary was in June of last year, but Miranda was only six weeks old and I was nursing so we really weren't going anywhere to celebrate. At first, we were at peace with this, but 5 years is kind of fun, and when Miranda started sleeping through the night (!) we started looking at some options. Of course, none of this would have been possible without Grandma- thank you, thank you, Grandma.

"Before" picture by Grandma

Kevin found a new Argentinian restaurant he wanted to try in the city, and had the smart idea to book us at a fancy hotel for the night so we wouldn't have to come back to Long Island for the night and listen to the children scream. We set out for our "Anniversitine" or our anniversary celebrated closer to Valentine's than to our actual anniversary.

Since our dinner reservation was in the Lower East Side, we found a random bar to get pre-dinner drinks. We wandered into El Sombrero and it was pretty awesome. The music was straight out of my grandparent's living room, and the drink I got was great: tequila, cointreau, lime juice, passion & guava puree.

Tequila drink at The Sobrero

For dinner we went to Balvanera, an Argentinian (steak) restaurant and wine bar. We had the most amazing appetizer- Empanadas Caseras filled with hand cut roast beef. YUM! Kevin got the strip rare, and I got the skirt steak (entraña) medium. I know my choice sounds kind of gross to American ears, but trust me, it wasn't. Hispanic people pound flank steak into sweet submission. They were a little heavy on the steak but delicious. Both steaks came with thin fries. We washed it down with A Lisa Malbec from Patagonia.

After dinner picture

After dinner we weighed going back to the hotel, getting a drink near the hotel, or getting a drink near where we were on the Lower East Side. Kevin suggested The Magician, so we popped in for "one drink." Right away we spotted Briggs at the bar, who promptly told us that Nick and Emily were also coincidently there with another group of people. All of Kevin's friends like that bar, so it wasn't the craziest thing that's ever happened but it was kind of weird. Especially the part where Kevin and I were out together. We had a lot of fun running into everyone. We also ran into Kevin's college ballroom dance partner (there with Nick and Emily). I didn't even know he'd taken a dance class ever!

Nick, Kevin, me, Emily, Briggs at The Magician on Saturday night

We headed back to the hotel, but we were remiss to give up the good times so quickly so we stopped at bar near the hotel we'd never been to before, Session House, rumored to have a really good Guinness pour, which Kevin confirmed. They had a musician who just happened to play Miranda's early favorite song, You're So Vain (though now it's Itsy Bitsy Spider).

In the lobby of the Waldorf on Sunday morning

To top it all off, we stayed at the Waldorf Astoria over night so we didn't have to drive or take the train back at night, or take care of kids in the morning. The hotel itself is gorgeous, and I want to come back for the super luxurious Sunday brunch sometime. Our room was a bit more sedate, but it was in a corner away from any potential source of noise, and our window framed a view of the Chrysler building which Kevin loved. He loved sleeping even more, and though he assured me he didn't even know how to sleep past 8 am anymore, I'm pretty sure he would have slept through the check out time if I hadn't woken him up a bit before. I did wake up a bit earlier so I luxuriated in bed and finished my super long book. We grabbed some New York bagels for everyone and headed home. Great anniversary. Anniversitine. Whatever.

• The actual day of our 5th wedding anniversary at home in Long Island 2014
• Our 4th wedding anniversary on Cape Cod (Summer Shanty) 2013
• Our 3rd wedding anniversary in Martha's Vineyard 2012
• Our 2nd wedding anniversary at home in Long Island 2011 (because again, new baby)
• Our 1st wedding anniversary in Niagara Falls  (but also in Brooklyn) 2010

WWFTC Reading at BookCourt 2014

On Wednesday, Kevin read from his short story collection, We Were Flying to Chicago, at Brooklyn BookCourt as part of the The Sackett Street Writers’ Series along with Julia Fierro, Cristina Henriquez, and Bret Anthony Johnston.

Reading "I Know Who You Are" from the collection

Brooklyn BookCourt

We couldn't get a babysitter for a Wednesday so we bravely/foolishly brought both kids. Luckily Michele and Allison were in town from Virginia and Maine, respectively, and they helped me the entire time. I was glad to hear Kevin read in New York, and it was actually really cute to see James watch his father read. He clapped for him and everything.

The four Clous at the reading!

Michele meeting Miri

Jon and Briggs chilling before the reading

Allison meeting Miri

Thank you guys for being super awesome! Kevin's next reading is at Epoch on Cape Cod.

Because I LOVE group shots!

Kevin's biggest fans!

WWFTC Reading at KGB Bar 2014

On Thursday, Kevin read at the KGB Bar in Manhattan, which is a New York literary institution. The event was called "Drunken Careening Writers," a name which Black Balloon encouraged all too much by buying Kevin drinks after his reading. Kevin read first, followed by the host of the event, novelist & performer Honor Molloy, then playwright/performer Staci Swedeen, and then writer Kevin Holohan. I couldn't go because I'm feeding Miranda and babies and bars don't mix (well, at night anyway). But Rachel, Tim, Nick, Emily, Briggs, and Jon were there, and so I got some pictures.

Kevin read the title story, "We Were Flying to Chicago," and Rachel said the story was even better when Kevin read it out loud.

Kevin reading the title story, "We Were Flying to Chicago"

KGB Bar & Lit Mag

Kevin, Staci Swedeen, and Kevin Holohan

Here's some other stuff that happened recently regarding Kevin's collection:

The Book Notes Playlist at LARGEHEARTED BOY posted a list of the music that Kevin associated with his stories. http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2014/05/book_notes_kevi_19.html

The Bookslinger App Consortium Books published one of Kevin's stories, "Isabelle and Colleen" on their (free!) Bookslinger App: http://thebookslinger.com/

"On the Highway Near Fairfield, Connecticut" THE AIRSHIP posted a story from Kevin's collection (with art!): http://airshipdaily.com/we-were-flying-to-chicago-by-kevin-clouther/

Neutral Milk Hotel Concert 2014

We were so excited to get tickets to Neutral Milk Hotel's reunion tour. Even though they broke up in 1999, I didn't really know about them until Kevin put "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" on an old-school mixed tape (CD) he made me in 2006. (Aww.)

Anyway, we had a double-date with Nick and Emily. We started with dinner at Deniz, a Fort Greene Turkish restaurant. I was super excited when the waiter took one look at me and offered to make me a mocktail. After we met up with Briggs at Frank's Cocktail Lounge and head over to the concert all together.

Kevin and me at Deniz restuarant

Emily and Nick at Deniz

This was my first time at BAM, even though I've been wanting to go forever. The Opera House was gorgeous, and the concert was great. Actual quote from Kevin last night talking about band member Julian Koster: "He has three saws to play." He played that saw like magic. And Scott Spillane was awesome. Good times!

BAM

Me, Kevin, Briggs, Emily, and Nick

BAM Cafe

• Jeff Mangum concert, December 2011
• Our last real concert: Bon Iver, December 2012
• Last time we were in Fort Greene, October 2011

Football Cookout- September 2013

We had these guys over for a cookout and some football. Briggs came a little later for the football. I put Kevin in charge of taking a photo (because I spent a lot of the visit actually doing work on my computer). This is what happened. Notice that while Kevin did not manage to actually get Sarah in the picture he did manage to get his Fantasy Football Trophy from last year in the shots. Poor Pooh Bear was chopped off.

Over here, Sarah!

Lukas being helpful by trying to rest his leg on Sarah's shoulder

Brooklyn Night- October 2012

A night out! Have you ever had a medium-rare burger at Prime Meats? If not, you have not lived. Drop everything and go now. Also their mixed drinks will not disappoint at all.

Sarah and Lukas at Prime Meats in Carroll Gardens

Michele, Ericka, and Kevin

Cheers to our new buddy Amanda and Mike

The captions below have no relationship to what was happening but sort of fit with the pictures?

"When life hand hand you lemonade... make lemons..."

"... life will be all like 'Whaaa?'" - Modern Family

I haven't been to the Brooklyn Inn for ages. It really brought back memories from the last time I went for Kevin's 30th birthday. With a lot of these same friends actually.

Everyone at Brooklyn Inn

Becky and Jon's Baby Shower 2012

Jon and Becky had their baby shower at one of my favorite bars in Brooklyn, Local 61. It was the perfect bar for a shower because there were lots of other babies and kids there. Take note, Brooklyn parents. It was a nice turn out. Lots of their friends came in addition to Jon and Becky's parents, their brothers and sisters, and two adorable nieces.

Parents-to-be Jon and Becky

Friends Jolie and Gio

Jon's parents chatting with guests

We enjoyed beers, snacks, and good conversation. We filled out a little baby guestbook/journal, played a little madlibs about the baby, and decorated some blocks for the baby. Good times!

Kevin, Briggs, and Jon

Lukas and Sarah

Kevin and me out at the same time!

I can't tell you how excited I am for their baby! I already have babysitting loosely penciled on their calendar, depending on when Becky does her big trip with her NYU MBA program. Oh that's right, mom-to-be Becky goes to work, is getting her MBA, and is about to start mothering on top of all that. She can do it. She's run the NYC marathon. She's got this. Besides, she's got Jon, and he's going to be a wonderful father too.

Jon, Mike, and Amanda

Adam and Amelia, Jon and Becky's niece

Jason and Nova, Jon and Becky's niece (I think that's an Aunt in the background)

Friends Jake and Tammy

Sisters, Jennifer and Becky

Bon Iver Show 2012

Kevin, Briggs, Michele, and I went to see Bon Iver at Radio City Hall. Jon and James W. were there too, but they had much better seats that night so I didn't get to see them. I heard they did get to hang out with Kevin and Briggs though.

Michele and I went to the city early and got dinner at Iroha, my new favorite place to eat in Midtown Manhattan (they said there weren't any decent places to eat in Midtown-- I found one!). 

Thanks to Sarah T., who babysat James for the evening I was able to sit next to Kevin at a midweek concert for a whole hour or so. Kevin got there late, and I had to had back early to minimize the time that Sarah T. was held hostage on Long Island. Sadly, I had to leave about an hour before the concert ended to run to the train.

Anyway, the part of the concert I saw was awesome. Though if I were Bon Iver, I would focus more on the awesome music and less on the douchey talk. Or maybe he should hire someone to coach him to sound less douchey.

Nana Visits- July 2012

I think this photo captures the type of close relationship James and my mom have. What a lucky boy!

James and his Nana

This gave me and Kevin the opportunity to go out for date night. I really wanted to go to S'Mac a place in the East Village that just serves mac and cheese. We tried 3 different types:  Favorites: 4 Cheese, Manchego, and Parisienne. I liked the Parisienne and 4 Cheese the best, but I wouldn't get the Manchego again because it didn't actually taste like Manchego cheese and was a little flavorless. I definitely want to keep going back until I've tasted all of them. Afterwards we went to Tile Bar and met up with Briggs. So sort of less date-like but still really fun. Thanks for date night, Nana!

On the train into Manhattan 

Three skillets of mac n' cheese!

With Briggs at Tile Bar