Concerts And Other Tales…

After much delay, I think this will get us back to the present. We begin with a nice poker game at Sean’s house.

I tried to give Bomba’s girl a few tips.

But should have saved them for myself, seeing as I played way too loose and lost fifteen dollars.

That Friday, Jenna and I had a special concert treat. After not
performing for about 15 years, the incredible Os Mutantes came to town,
and we had tickets.

We saw Nicole’s boyfriend Doug there randomly, the city being as small as it is.

The female lead singer of the group has regrettably passed away, but
the show went on with a new lady at the mike. And it was plain old
fuckin awesome. No joke, hearing Nina Menhina live goes down as a
milestone.

I mean, look at how psyched we are.

And yes, I’m becoming that guy that buys the shirt at every concert, don’t judge too harshly.

I thought my already excellent night would end there, but there was
more to come. A late Friday night poker session was just beginning at
Aaron’s brand new apartment.

And what a fucking place to OWN. Large living room with a nice kitchen, and a huge bedroom.

Even althea was jealous.

I played the calling station and the bluffer and lost early, than
worked it back, but missed out on a huge rutkoff bluff to come out a
bit down. But at that apartment, how could you ever end the night sad?

Less than 18 hours later, we had yet another concert, can you believe?
The Eagles Of Death Metal, a testosterone fueled man’s man rock
extravaganza that with plenty of “Let me hear it for the Ladies.”

We let them hear it. Who doesn’t give it up for the ladies?

They were the original reason for coming, but we were so very
pleasantly surprised to know that they were just the openers for the
one and only “Peaches.”

And she put on a fucking show, let me tell you. Climbing on to the
second level and siging from the VIP area. Slowly undressing piece by
bedazzled piece until she ran around in her jewled skivvies. Throwing
in a brief interludes of bike riding, and inflatable penises. She even
had a uniformed back up band replete with awe inspiring hot chic
drummer, keytar player that didn’t suck, and well heeled roadie that
would catch and move her instruments in perfect unison.

The night went on with a revisit to Fat Baby to meet up with Jenna’s friends for a birthday celebration.

The wild and crazy girls.

And me.

Birthday girl showing the tude.

We soon discovered that the clubbing scene might not be our thing. Don’t we just look super pleased?

It was a passionate ride home.

I had been working really hard on a set of Dell commercials, and the
cool account person acknowledged it by taking jenna and me out to a
nice dinner.

We finally checked out Batali’s Babo, and were highly pleased.
Unpictured, the greatest salad I have ever ingested. I kid you not, I
still think about it. The freshest, best blended Caprese in history.

Thanks, Elizabeth.

The dinner was also Jenna’s last night. She was off to LA to assist JJ on an NFL job. Thus I began a stag week.

Which included getting invited to the Soho house Ping Pong tournament.    

Where I got a tough seed on the first round…

And left totally ashamed by a tragic loss. Jason, my coworker, went all the way to the top.

An impromptu small Thursday game at upper west, would end up being the last one in that great apartment.

So long glorious courtyard.

Walking along 3rd Ave, I saw a blast from the past. How many Americans know the wonders of Gansito?

That Saturday, I hit McCarren pool for the first time.

To get a load of some delicious Bloc Party.

And even saw Jason there (not randomly), and Jenn from On The Road With Judas (totally randomly).

I love the Pool as a venue. This huge rusting space used for good. But if you don’t hurry up and leave.

You can get stuck in the terrible bottleneck. So look out for that.

Aaaaah. Jenna finally returns. Welcome back babe.

Why don’t we celebrate?  Sure. Let’s hit up some Craft Steak.

Where the wine selection goes through the roof.

And the candles feel romantic.

The soufflé is highly recommended. Also check out the 250 day aged porterhouse.

At work, the short lived runner Emily quit, as always more on that at the PS Blog.

But you will never find me with a bra on my head there.

Which brings us to some of the best news ever: I got two more Voice
Over gigs! Oh. Fucking. Yeah. Scrilla dilla. I’ll post them later.

Randomly walking down the street, on my way to poker, who do I bump
into but Bomba’s girlfriend? She was working just down the street.

Regrettably, because I’ve been failing at blogging so hard, I don’t
even really remember what happened at this sesh. I think I was doing
well until I got a terrible beat from Bomba on a huge hand. He spiked
his two-outer, and I fought back for even. Wait, I guess I do remember.

Saturday Jenna and I filmed this little number.

And then went to check out the Chihuly’s at the Botanical Garden.

Which you’ll just have to wait and see cause im tired.

Hey remember me? I used to post here.

Well, let’s get to it shall we? The Monday right after I got back from Mexico, I got a fantastic visitor from the West Coast, Mr Daniel Baum.

We played some pool.

Then went down to the club Avalon to check out The Liars. I hadn’t really heard their stuff before, but they played a good set. Just noisy at times, but they had canny double drumming thing going that made us enjoy they show.

Nick filmed them, and made this very cool dissolve concert video.

And I caught the money shot of the night.

Back at Nick’s place, I met his girl Belangere, who’s visiting him from belle Paris.

We chilled, catching up with Baum.

And screened the concert footage.

Baum ended the night a bit scared.

But a Ronan-Nagle-created floor pick brought him back.

On Baum’s last night, we took him out for a little Indian.

This delicious place Robert had been too.

We met up with his ex, and went to a bar. then i wished him adieau, back to the west coast.

Daniel, a man among men.

The next day, Charlotte invited me to a reading of her new script.

Caught with some peeps I hadn’t seen in many a moon. Like songstress/tech wizard Digitelle.

School creating Rebecca.

Colliegate sports channel producing Dave.

And this other fellow Wes alum, who’s name I forget, but who has already appeared on this blog as the man making  out on New Years.

Charlotte started the reading.

And because some scheduled actors did not make it, I got to read a few extras’ parts.

It was  a great reading.

People really dug the moustache.

I woke up the next morning watching my cousin Brett, an columnist for the Wall Steet Journal, on TV opining about the Israel situation.

On July 1st, Jenna and I hit up the Salsa at Lincoln Center.

Where they had a delicious array of sculpture boats.

The night continued at Rosa Mexicano.

Which has the coolest sculpture I’ve seen since those boats. A whole series of arching divers, mimicking the cliff divers of Acapulco.

The foods good too, by the way, especially the guacamole they prepare fresh in front of you.

Right cutie?

Five days later, I hit the band shell at prospect park for little Broken Social Scene.

With john and annie.

And nick and berangere.

Planes kept flying over.

And it was a damn fine showing by a very cool canuck band.

The subway back was packed.

With fellow concert goers.

But I sported the shirt the best.

The next day my dad showed up.

Look at the generations united.

On the weekend I had to work, but I still fit in some time with Cate alum Shane.

He brought a friend from college, visiting the college, and went of to Israel fully paid for by the government.

At night I met up with the newly arrived fam for some Saigon Grill.

Then walked down the block to Lalo’s, the place with the great desserts.

And awesome lights.

A strange session of hamming it up for the cam followed, including Dad.

Phoebe.

Cailtin.

Phoebe.

Dad.

I think everyone enjoyed it.

Sunday came around, which brought the World Cup final. And one to remember, with the most memorable exit for a retiring star.

Monday, I finally made it to this Ad business poker tourney, which is very well set up.

And ended up winning the 300 first prize! Dope!

But before I went home, I visited the fam to say goodbye.

Monday I walked right by some angels.

And said good bye to my dad, who left one day later than everybody else.

Sometimes you just get this feeling like everything in the world makes sense.

Then someone beats the shit out of you with a whip to shape you into ship.

Thursdays in the summer mean Nice Shoes BBQs in my industry.

These massively packed rooftop affairs.

Blasts from PS’s past made an appearance. Like old runner Joe.

And old Ass. Pro. Lauren.

Friday, t thought that Indian place had been so good, that I took Jenna.

Delicious.

She then bugged out.

Saturday, we made it back to MOMA for the DADA exhibit.

No pictures allowed, but I sneaked some in, like this glorious vagina dentate.

Duchamp’s infamous urinal.

And tools.

I love the new tall gallery.

There were too many paintings I loved that I couldn’t shoot, so I just cheated and shot the book.

Just awesome.

Awesome.

Awesome.

Awesome.

We finished the visit with a sit in the sculpture garden.

Right next to the fountain.

A great place to do the crossword on a Sunday afternoon.

But the fun continued. Jenna.

Hailed a train down.

On our way to the sumptuous Labratorio del Gelato.

Only the tastiest ice cream in New York.

Wednesday, byran from work said good bye to go cut at some other place.

So we had a raucous dinner for him.

Even fellow PS retiree Patrick made it out.

As did the arm wrestling.

Jenna took everybody on.

While bryan’s girlfriend looked on incredulous.

Phew! Quite a party, and quite a catch up. And this wasn’t even half of what has happened.