Brooklyn Birthday Dinner for L. c/o Bar Tabac

The season of November birthdays arrived in, well, the month of November if you can believe it. A great number of my dearest and nearest enjoy birthdays of the Scorpio and Sagittarius persuasion, and that includes one Mrs. L. I made my way to Brooklyn for L.'s b-day much as I had the year before, and enjoyed a few hours of silliness time in Fatty and L.'s apartment before the real festivities began. This time may have been spent lolling about, telling stories about this and that, putting a belt around my head in the style of a fascinator and generally just cutting loose.

But that was just a precursor to the real events of the evening: dinner and dancing. L. had a dinner with about 14 of her favorite folks at Bar Tabac. We had a nice spot in the back at a long table far away from the craziness of the first room and constantly in motion front door. Bread was served. Delicious. Delightful.

M., who was seated to my right, ordered the paté as a starter, it came with the tomatoes on its surface, but we added one of the cornichons to truly let its face shine. It was the good hearty version of paté that has a lot of texture to it and a nice earthy heartiness. Eaten with a smile of course.

I went with their friseé salad with poached egg, lardons, a few stray potatoes and a nice balsamic reduction. This salad may look simple, but once the yolk got involved its overall taste profile was off the charts as far as tastiness goes.

Fat T. loves his wife.

I went with the duck confit for my main course and boy howdy did it deliver. So rich and fallllllllll offf the bone tender! I believe this plate may have had a few lingering fries and lettuce at the end of my consuming its contents, but as far as duck was concerned only bones remained.

L. is notoriously not that interested in sweets, so when our server asked us what she might like as a birthday treat it was quickly decided that cheese, not cake, would most certainly please her. I believe that this was a very sound decision.

M. and me, holding the far corner down.

We then went to the Bell House, where I took copious photographs of shenanigans, hijinks and dancing...but share only the photograph I took in the bathroom, which makes it seem like I was all alone. Of course the reality was that there were about a million ladies all in line but the angle of the mirrors and their bodies made it seem like a ghost bathroom. Point, me.

A very lovely evening celebrating a dear friend, full of good company, great food, and music with a 'Party Like It's 1999' theme. Which is a great theme for those of us who graduated from high school in that year. Though I didn't actually do much partying then. But I can pretend that I did and then relive those days that never were at events 10+ years later and it almost becomes fact. Almost.

Scenes From C. and R.'s Wedding

The weekend before last found me and LW driving up to West Orange (I think?) for CP and R's nuptials. It was touch and go about our actually getting there in time for the ceremony. Between my thinking that avoiding the NJ turnpike and taking Route 1 to the Garden State Parkway, and horrific traffic on all those roads, the two hour cushion we had built into the drive, which would allow for proper prep and dressing, was whittled down considerably. Add to that drama a considerably confusing shuttle ride, and we were one of about 20 folks who most certainly arrived later than intended. Thankfully, they didn't start without us. And here we go!

I totally cried during the wedding. A good amount just for how truly happy the two of them seem with one another, and how much their families love them both. Another helping just because I really value the friendship I have CP and, by proxy, R. They're great folks to spend an evening with. Truly. After the wedding, which was beautiful and so uniquely them, there came the reception. Behold!

It rained off and on throughout the evening, but it did not damper the spirits of any attendee...I don't think. J. came down from NYC and MP brought her bf.

LW had lagers on lock down. To be clear, those are not all her beers.

There was dancing.

And sleepy children.

And dancing.

I just. So many different expressions going on.

J. was a serious mover and shaker. She did this shimmy while leaning back that I really wanted to capture. But I failed.

What an Indian feast we enjoyed! This is almost literally a tiny bit of each possible course. Including butter chicken, saag paneer and oh so many other treats.

CP was a busy bride, but we managed to get a photograph. So glad for her.

So many children busted a move, with and without the assistance of adults with strong shoulders.

I really don't know if that's dancing or what. But you will note the man jumping on the other's back.

Sisters and father.

An exhortation for a dance.

A dance.

Yup. Dancing.

It was a lovely evening of good food, great music, enthusiastic wedding guests and a bride and groom who deserved it.

Film, Drinks and Food c/o New Jersey

So, Mr. Ass and his friend M. made a film together based on one of Mr. Ass' paintings. This short film, along with a few more of M.'s and the work of another guy too (who may be slightly more known but whom I found a little, erm, nevermind if you don't have anything nice to say then only hint at it but don't say it outright), was shown at this place on that night. It is one part former grocery store, one part town council/courtroom and one part screening/arty space. Way to be diverse. I believe this is all in Lambertville, NJ.
After the screenings and talks there was a little reception at a nearby gallery. It was tiny and crowded and only had two bottles of wine.
Once Mr. Ass had made the rounds of hellos and how do you dos, we went to another place (the name of which I forget) and had a little dinner and drinks. I had the Caesar salad, which was fine. I also had a gin gimlet, which has now become my go-to drink. Well, my 'I don't feel like beer so I'm going to order one cocktail' drink, at the very least.
Then I asked a drunk rich woman (but a nice one) to take our photograph, but the settings were weird, so we all look slightly dim and blue.
This was the 'let's all make funny faces' shot, except I don't think J. (bottom right) is making a funny face, at least not in comparison to Mr. Ass and K. seeming very excited about something that clearly is making me miserable.

Breakfast Before Tubing

So, Mr. Ass and I went tubing last year and whenever we met up or communicated over the summer we both agreed that it would have to be done again. To me it made perfect sense to combine my visit to M.'s with this tubing venture, and so Monday morning started with pancakes, eggs and bacon and then proceeded to tubing.
Though I am an idiot in a lot of ways, I knew better than to bring my camera with me, so proof of our three hour journey down the Delware only exists in the form of the photographs I took upon our return to the parking lot. You can't even see the gross food we ate at the 'Hot Dog Man Stand' halfway through the journey.
I'm rather proud of my use of sunscreen, as I did not experience any burning. Though my knees are definitely more freckled.
After this we all headed our separate ways. It's always sad to say gooodbyeeeeeee.
I think next year we may try to forgo paying anyone for the privilege of tubing and simply invest in tubes and drive two cars.

On Sunday we put ourselves together and drove a pretty drive to Frenchtown to try the food at Lovin Oven. Seriously pretty drive. Like, I want to live there, all of there, forever. When we got to the establishment there was a considerable wait before we could actually sit and eat, so we went to the nearby Two Buttons and looked at all the stuff that place had on display. Some of their furniture was kind of appealing, made from old fishing boats. Eventually it was time to eat. I ordered the salmon mousse and avocado sandwich type thing with eggs (I can't find it on the menu to be more specific).
I also drank waaaaaaaaay more coffee than I should ever drink and went into some weird coffee fugue state. Minus the fugue.

Lunch Before Departure

After the pool time lunch was made for the kids, and J.'s mother made a wonderful caprese salad for grown up lunch.
J.'s mother had a big bowl of tomatoes. Just lovely red tomatoes, some from her garden, some not. Mmm.