Michele Visits- June 2015

Michele came to visit again! This because 1) she can't stay away from NYC, 2) she loves me too much, 3) Nina made her, because she's getting married.

Michele! In a beautiful dress!

We had a Monday to go adventuring. Sadly it turns out New York does sleep- all freaking Monday. Everything was closed, particularly the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. So we decided to go for a short walk in Prospect Park. We actually walked over to Prospect Park, then got lost, checked a map and chose a "short cut" back which turned out to be longer than the long way around, and long story long, we ended up going on about a 10-mile walk. The walk will surely grow longer every time I tell this story.

Selfie in the park...

Starting to lose it.

We've lived in this park for so long now, we know other people that can take our picture

We got out!!!

Praying to the gods of hydration.

Finally, finally, finally, we ate lunch at Koto, reviving our old tradition of eating sushi every time we saw each other. We also had the best mochi ever- so good it actually converted Michele into liking mochi. Then, just to up the torture quotient a little we jogged to the train (but really so I didn't miss it).

I miss you already Michele!

Concert in Park Slope 2012

I know it's kind of overkill that I document most of the things that I do, but the Celebrate Brooklyn! concerts in Prospect Park are pretty cool. Actually, both times I went (last time was 3 years ago!) I sat outside the concert, but you can hear the music, spread out a blanket, and picnic. Michele and I grabbed some Vietnamese sandwiches near the park and met up with her friend Yianice and her friend Christina, and we listened and danced to Calle 13. Brooklyn is awesome.

Night picnic in the park

BBQ, Blueprint, and Beauty Bar in Brooklyn 2012

Apparently we were in a "B" mood! After my recent BBQ tour, Kevin suggested that what we needed was more BBQ. We're planning on going this weekend, but since Michele can't make it this weekend, she suggested a BBQ place she likes.  So yes, I made plans to have BBQ for two weekends in a row in New York. No, I am never going to lose the baby weight. But I digress.

Anyway, our plans soon swelled to include Jaime, who decided to visit last minute, and Allison who's plane was diverted to New York, and Michele's friend Yianice, who was around and wanted BBQ. We started at Fort Reno in Park Slope, where the drinks were strong and the big star of the show was the "Hot Mess," a BBQ parfait.  If you're wondering what on earth that means, it's corn bread, pulled pork, mac and cheese, beans, hot peppers layered in a glass jar.  I didn't get it but in retrospect, it's definitely what you should get.  I liked my dish enough that I ruined my dress with BBQ stains. Sad.

Jaime, me, Yianice, Michele, and Allison

Then we moved on to Blueprint, a vaguely snooty-hipstery bar with a cute patio.  For some reason I thought I was woman enough to order an old-fashioned.  I drank it, but I think that might be my last one for a while. Sadly, Allison had to leave to catch her flight, but at least I get to see her in Maine in a few weeks so my sadness was somewhat contained. Then we went to my favorite place on the impromptu bar crawl, Beauty Bar. For $10 you get a yummy cocktail and a manicure. There are so many reasons I loved this place.

Me and Jaime showing off our manicures.

First, when Michele described the place, I thought it would just be women in the bar. This was not so. It's a real bar and it was full of men and women.  Second, the drinks were the best of the three places we went. Third, the servers and the woman who did the manicure were all extremely nice and attentive. Don't forget, this is New York! That never happens. Finally, they had a huge projector playing a movie with the subtitles on and decent music playing.  It just so happened to be Jaime's favorite movie from the 90's or 00's. She was pretty psyched.

Michele's halo is visible in this shot

Jaime, me, Michele, Yianice at Beauty Bar

I am not going to talk about how Jaime and I missed our stop on the train back to Long Island. Nope. That didn't happen. Yay, girls' night!

Kevin's 29th Birthday 2009

We had a fun weekend celebrating Kevin's birthday. Brady was visiting for the weekend from Philly so Saturday we showed him around our part of Brooklyn and had a delicious lunch at F. Martinella Deli.

 

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Brooklyn Heights Promenade- We are both 29

 

James meets us at our apartment

Saturday evening, James W met up with us, and the four of us had dinner at a Peruvian restaurant in our Cobble Hill neighborhood and then had drinks at Kevin's favorite Brooklyn bar, the Brooklyn Inn. 

James and Brady at Coco Loco a Peruvian restaurant in our hood

Brady, James W., and Kevin at the Brooklyn Inn

Sunday was Kevin's real birthday, so we went for a walk around Park Slope and Prospect Park. I also made him Cuban ropa vieja for dinner. A favorite!

Park Slope


Failed self-portrait in Prospect Park


Prospect Park


Cuban ropa vieja- shredded flank steak with veggies