New Year's Eve Oysters, Salad and Champagne c/o McCrossen's

For the last two years I very much enjoyed spending New Year's Eve with M&A and members of their respective families, but this year that was not to be.  I toyed with the idea of doing as I did when I first moved to Philly: pretend that the holiday was not taking place and stay safely at home, acoiding the crowds, the cold, the lack of person to kiss at midnight, and the terrible difficulty of finding a cab. No fanfare. This is an appealing approach in part because the next day is, for me, just another day at work. In other words, New Year's Day isn't a holiday, so one can't enjoy themselves too heartily if they are required to wake up at a decent hour and use their brain in any meaningful way.  While staying in certainly had its merits, I ultimately decided that I'm not getting any younger, and that I'll have plenty of years later in life to enjoy the curmudgeonly and shut-in like tendencies I've described above. So, instead, I joined up with LW and Ak for a different plan. A plan that involved leaving my house and getting a bit dressed up. But it was also a plan that allowed us to skirt some of my least favorite aspects of the holiday. It was in the neighborhood, so no worries about cabs. And we had a reservation, so no worries about finding a place to sit. You probably won't be too terribly surprised to learn that we ended up at McCrossen's. For eating, I chose to try two of their specials: the fried oysters and the salad lyonnaise. The oysters were definitely crispy, but not quite as daintily fried as the oyster that came in the chowder I enjoyed in December.

 I'm a true lover of a good Salad Lyonnais, and this one's egg to frisee ratio was pretty good. I would have actually enjoyed just a smidge more dressing.

 The one thing I'll need to do a bit more research on, is just what champagnes we enjoyed, and the order in which we enjoyed them. Over the course of our evening we consumed three bottles. All of which were good, though the first two were particularly delightful.

 I dressed myself up a bit. That bow is from a gift box. Classy.

 This was ringing in the New Year proper midnight style. You'll note that T. has both the champagne of beers and a glass of champagne. Or wait, is Miller High Life the champagne of beers? So perhaps Coors Light could be, like, the Prosecco of beers?

 Now this is a funny photograph because it seems very much like AK is trying to tell me something, and I am far more intent on a photograph.

Well it was definitely a more boisterous evening than the NYEs I've enjoyed of late. But it was a balance on the whole, or at least in many a way. In other words, I was able to function at work.

Block Party and Chickens

A few weekends back, my block had its annual block party. Though I've lived on the same street, in the same apartment, for going on four plus years I never joined in the block party festivities. I think one year S. and I had a separate barbeque. It is definitely a family oriented neighborhood and party. Plenty of kids riding scooters and 40+ year old parents. In any case, I decided this was going to be the year that I gathered myself together and check the scene out on a street level. There were lots of dishes on display. I tried a bit of skewered chicken (good), a bit overcooked and cold sausage (less so), a deviled egg (something was weird with the yolk) and cheese. Nothing blew me away but I did strike up conversations with neighbors I'd never even noticed before and tried to catch up on the gossip of the block (there isn't really any gossip).

The definite highlight of my time at the block party was finally meeting the chickens I knew lived on the block. Months back I noticed two chickens in the alley, calmly pecking at the weeds growing out of the cracked sidewalk/pavement. They didn't seem terribly worried or confused, and since I had no idea where they came from, I simply observed for a while before going on with my day. Now I know from where those chickens escaped, and the chickens' names. This lady is Scarlet. She has an all white friend named Blanche, but Blanche wouldn't stay still enough for photographs.

I got to feed them grapes, which if you hold just a bit above their heads they will jump to get. So. Much. Fun.

Out and About in Center City

So a weekend or two back was chock full of activity. There was weekend work, lunch with my aunt, and then a party! MP and her bf hosted a housewarming party for themselves, and I braved going to it without a wing person. While MP and I are friends, we don't really socialize out of work very much, so hers was a party of mainly strangers. Strangers who brought jalapeno, hot dog corn muffins, which we eventually declared 'pigs in the muff.'

Their apartment is on the fourth floor of a walk up building, so you definitely get your exercise going up the stairs. But the apartment itself is really cute and has a really great roof. I spent the majority of my time at the party holding it down in a normal sized chair while MP brought up an itty bitty chair for herself.

Ah me. My face these days, a little fat.

But a party was not the only evening activity on my social agenda. I was also scheduled to meet up with S. and C. for drinks. They were in town from NYC so that C. could run a marathon with her aunt...but then she injured herself doubly, so they ended up being there just to support the aunt. We met up at the Bards. In addition to C. and S. was LS and her 'pen pal.' So it was a veritable mini-high school meet up. We played some darts against one another and strangers.

And, as I always do, I insisted on photographic proof of our time together.

S. knows how to rock Philly gear.

LS's pen pal has some role in the pop up gardens that have been around the city this summer, and we were privileged enough to get to frolic around one such space for a bit after darts. Again, photographs had to be taken. LS is doing a very good job of looking almost exactly the same in both of these photographs.

Good times. It was a long and varied day and evening, full of faces I enjoy seeing. Great seeing you all!

Pizza and Scenes from Rehoboth

Soon others began rolling into town in order to partake in the celebration of LB's bachelorette-hood. BC was there very soon after my arrival, if not before it, but holed up in one of the two hotel rooms LX had reserved for us. They were nice rooms and both faced out on to Rehoboth Avenue.

Rehoboth really is quite packed during a Friday night. Plenty of folks walking the main drag or along the boardwalk. Traffic looked a right nightmare.

We ordered four pizzas from Grotto Pizza, which they were willing to deliver directly to our rooms. This was the mushroom and pepperoni. There was also a veggie variety, a plain ol' cheese, and some kind of Mediterreanean option.

After drinks and pizza in the room, we gathered ourselves and went exploring in the larger world. I had no idea how extensive the boardwalk really is, or that it had actual rides. This information was collected at roughly the same time the rides were shutting down. We stopped for poses with these rides but were told to cease and desist because the elephant and Thomas were antiques.

After a bit of a walk we went to the Purple Parrot for further drinks and karaoke.

A lovely first evening. It went on a bit later, complete with outfit changes and a first row seat to a drunk driver getting arrested before even moving his car an inch. Compelling stuff and lovely company.

Watermelon Party

The rest of our day was spent mainly lying down, listening/playing music, sitting in grass and watching people play kick ball (including my new fake boyfriend whose name I don't know/with whom I did not in any way actually interact), and having a nice dinner at L. and T.'s. The dinner was quinoa and mahi mahi in a pineapple pepper sauce. I was a jerk and totally forgot to photograph it, so busy was I consuming it. After all those activities we piled into L. and T.'s friend's car an drove to S.'s party, where there a number of cheeses and nice cured salami to much on. Not to mention vodka soaked watermelon.

I spent the majority of the party on their back deck talking to an ever-rotating set of folks, some known, some unknown. For example, I knew E. already. So we talked about things and had our photo taken.

And then we got L. in on the photo action and I made this face. Sad thing is someone hit the back of my head as this photograph was taken, so now my face looks like that all the time. Question: would you be my friend if I looked like that all the time? Because I do.

The birthday boy and the watermelon eater.

It was a good party. I enjoyed meeting one half of the couple who now lives above L. and T. I also commended L. on her choice of bridesmaids, especially the above E., whom I didn't know before the bachelorette weekend and wedding, but whom I now enjoy seeing at events ranging from those featuring  pigoatoysters to surreal parties in Manhattan. That sentence was terribly constructed, the point is that it's always nice to see E. So good times all around. Another late evening, but a fun one.

Barbeque Summer Fun Time

On the first weekend of June I threw a barbeque. The first in quite some time, as I somehow missed throwing one for the entirety of the summer of 2011. I invited pretty much everyone in the world, or at least everyone in the world of my social network. As is usually the case, I did very little prepping before the day of the barbeque. This prepping began at around 7 AM when I drove to north Philly to buy kielbasa from Czerw's Kielbasy. This was my first time at this meat establishment, and I had expected lines of Polish ladies, but I guess even the old ladies like to sleep in on Saturdays, so it was just me. Then I did any number of additional errands and grocery runs before returning home and getting down to the business of making an epic amount of coleslaw and dips, as well as making the deck a little more presentable. Here is a iPhone photo of the chipotle, lime, cilantro hummus/dip I created.

Here is a photo of the large amount of slaw I created. It was sort of Asian inspired, or at least had sesame oil and rice vinegar in it.

I perhaps slightly underestimated the amount of time it takes to make three dips, prep a bunch of veggie skewers and do other tasks, like showering and doing my hair. So it was good that my childhood friend arrived earlier than the barbeque's start time. She got to see me running around without my head, and generally talking nonsense and making a mess. I think she was entertained. She also helped by chopping veggies. 

The early set up. So pristine. Olives. Chips. Dip. As the day progressed into evening the table's aesthetic suffered.

Another view of the hummus, which wasn't quite as popular as....

This dip I made up is pretty much just amazing. And I am bragging, because it is that tasty. Tomato basil creamy goodness.

AS was kind enough to make that green bean salad I was so taken with at the lake and guacamole. This is in addition to the extra chairs that were desperately needed and willingly lent by AS.

CP was another great help in as far as lending me so many things (tables, chairs, stereo systems, buns!). And on top of all that she also said that she had all the ingredients for Sangria, and would whip up a batch. Here she is doing just that. I had a glass and a half. Tasty, sweet magical sangria. I abstained from further dipping into that particular beverage because I knew it packed a larger alcoholic punch than you might first think.

So the meat was a mix of an Omaha Steak Package I purchased at a discount (four pork chops, 2 filet mignons, 2 other steaks, four burgers, potato croquettes, cheesecakes). So on this plate is one of each steak, all four burgers and one of the pork chops.

AS and K. were in attendance.

A series of me with childhood friend.

She kept saying she was going to leave, but we kept hugging her.

And making her laugh.

See? More hugs.

And photos.

At some point L. and BM went to Wawa and returned with 44 ounce beverages. Well, L. did. Do it while you still can!

Childhood Friend brought delicious cupcakes. I was smart to hide one early on in the evening, which I was then able to enjoy the next day. These things went like hot cakes...or should I say they went like hot cup cakes? Moving on.

CP and R. really were great suppliers for the bbq. Three chairs, an extra table I was in dire need of procuring, the sound system. Oh man. And then later Brutus too!

MMc made his way to the bbq from Jersey. We are friends on Facebook, and I invited most all of them, but I didn't really expect anyone to come very far, so it was a pleasant surprise when he actually showed up (he said he was going to, but I didn't really believe it). And with him he brought Brooklyn Lager, here I am after not making a proper spectacle of popping the cork.

Brutus! CP! Look at all the heads and body parts! I worried that no one would come, but plenty of people came. I was pretty pleased.

This is me looking pretty pleased. LW was the event photographer. At some point I handed her the camera and she pretty much documented the entire evening. I am so thankful to her.

The high school contingent was strong at the bbq: Mr. Ass, AS, Childhood Friend, BC, BM, MMc, LB and LS all made appearances, and maybe that's it? Am I forgetting someone?

One of the two coolers of booze.

LW and me.

Again, after we instructed MC to focus less on the wall behind us and more on our actual faces.

I guess LW needed  a refill.

Again, quite pleased with myself and all the people.

I was glad that B. was able to come from Jersey.

The kielsbasa, some of the skewers (which I marinated in a mix of soy sauce, rice vinegar and a touch of sugar and lemon juice). I went with the fresh kielbasa and the 'jalepeno poppers'...which were brats/kielbasa stuffed with jalepeno and cheddar cheese. I also made additional burgers, which of course included green olives.

Mr. Ass came bearing chopsticks.

I also made a bastardized chimmichurri sauce, which was heavy heavy heavy on the garlic. The potato croquettes weren't a huge hit, perhaps because I didn't advertise them enough. They were kind of like huge tater tots. Or a tater tot/mashed potato hybrid. Which I guess is the definition of a croquette.

TDoc took pity on me after I noted that I had made a whole heck of a lot of skewers, and that no one was eating them.

The night, it comes.

MMc and CP look into the secret deck door and are amused by what they find.

Then MMc punched LS in the face. Not really.

I'm not sure why or how this happened, but I was amused.

Just for the fun of comparison. This is MMc and me at my junior prom. Neither of us remember my asking him to come with me, but we both remember that I wouldn't dance. 

And now.

The evening went wonderfully late. As the crowd thinned, those of who remained played some Apples to Apples until 1 or 2 in the AM. I didn't get any nasty letters in the mail from neighbors, so I'm hoping that we weren't too unruly or noisy. Though this is the first time we could be anything close to unruly or noisy since S. moved out (he threw some loud and noisy parties and had a tendency of bringing people home and out on the deck at all kinds of crazy hours). Look at what a great photo LW took. The card has left my hand, but hasn't quite hit the pile. I forget who won...but it wasn't me.

And that concludes my documentation of the bbq. I'm so glad that so many people were able to make it and all seemed to enjoy themselves. I felt a really warm feeling in my heart. Sometimes I worry that my social circles are too limited, or that somehow I don't have enough friends in Philly. And maybe sometimes that is true, but on this particular night I felt really glad about the different folks I know and how they can come together and overlap. A great thanks goes out to all who brought anything (I'm still working on finishing all the leftover beer) and helped out. It really made me think about having another one. Maybe in September. Ha.