There's not much going on this week, so today I'll give you some random sunset photos. I know it's corny, but I'm a sucker for a striking sunset. I never thought any would compare to an Arizona one, with its vast landscapes and dust-filled air, but New York sure can throw down with the best of 'em. There's something so stunning about the light at dusk hitting the sides of dozens of buildings (or thousands, if you're watching from Hoboken and can see the whole skyline). The light is so sharp, throwing shards of color against metal and brick. Instead of seeing the sunset by how it affects the sky, you see how it affects the scores of walls surrounding you.
Here in New York (and everywhere east of Mountain Standard Time states), between October and March the sun goes down at about 4 or 4:30. It's really depressing. You feel ready to leave the office at 5pm (which, now that I write that, seems like something everybody but me does). Anyway, it puts a real damper on productivity. However, there are some amazing sunsets during the bright parts of winter, the reasons for which I don't understand. The point is, because of this phenomenon I usually watch the sun set from my office.
I snapped this one on the way to a sound mixing session last week; it's an apartment building across the street from the Flatiron.
And this one, so moody and ominous, is from the PS260 girls' bathroom.
Oh m'God, guys, have I told you about my new coat?? Cheap, warm, stylish. Perfect.
Ah. In other news.... Normally Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. When I was growing up, it was kind of just another time to get together with the extended family, and I usually ended up eating about six pieces of pie between both sides of the family and one bite of everything else. But since I moved to the city, each Thanksgiving seems so depressing here - the city is empty except for tourists, it's cold and usually raining, and although four days off from work is nice, I get so bored because none of my friends are in town (though this year they aren't anyway) and I can't afford to go anywhere outside of the city. I just watch the parade in my bathrobe and miss my mom, usually.
However, this year was good. I really needed the time off from work, and I got to relax. Dustin's parents were in town, and actually just moved into a rental apartment while their new one a few floors above is being built, so they had us over for dinner.
When we got there, Mr. Stephens was already hard at work in the kitchen.
The salami was a very good appetizer.
Younger sis Caitlin had arrived from Boston and came bearing flowers.
... which Karen happily arranged.
We got to see a peek of the raw space the Stephenses are trying to purchase on the 10th floor. It's huge, empty and ready for some stylin'.
They're going to keep it as a loft, no separating walls, and just have "bedroom cubicles." Cool idea.
With, of course, studio spaces for the artists in Mr. and Mrs. Stephens.
Back at the temporary homestead, Tommy joined us and we got to the grueling labor known as meal preparation.
Mmm fixin's
Just look at that perfectly browned bird!
Louis quickly set to the task of carving.
While the rest of us looked on and conversed, drooling over the aromas.
I love sweet potatoes. I never had them before college, then in the school cafeteria, of all places, I discovered the joy of salty and sweet in perfect harmony.
Cin cin! È mangia!
I've had a few Thanksgivings away from AZ, and this one came closest to tasting like home, right down to the cranberry sauce (which I only eat once a year, because after three bites I'm like, "ewwww, what is this stuff made of?!").
Post-dinner, Caitlin made herself an impromptu couch...
... while D. and I took over the regular couch for some food-coma resting...
... and the 'rents broke out some pomegranates and concord grapes. Yum.
Then it was finally time for us to play the game I gave the Stephens family for Christmas last year - a favorite of my family's, Cranium. I have scarcely laughed so hard as when I've played this game with my fam, so I wanted to spread the joy. And this time was no different. Tommy and Caitlin were on a team.
... and so were the 'rents...
... which leaves Dustin and I, of course, as a team. Midway through, we halted for pie.
Delicious, but not comparable to Grandma's Banana Cream Pie. Anyway, the game continued...
But Dustin and I won by a mile. We're just good like that.
Wahhh-wahhh. ("Debbie Downer" theme)
By the way, Mom, Karen got the "Billie Jean" hum-along question. She, like you, dissolved into uncontrollable giggle-singing. I nearly fell off my chair.
And last but not least, the next morning I met up with my mom's longtime friend Denise Griffin, who was in town for the holiday, and her travel mate Connie for some brunch and coffee at my favorite coffee shop near Union Square. It was great to see Denise and catch up, and meet Connie.
Other than that, I didn't do a whole lot over the weekend - and that's just fine. I got some laundry done, played some online Boggle, wrote my recap for TVGasm, and redeemed my birthday massage gift certificate as a reward for successfully finishing two hellish jobs in one week. Ahhh. It's nice to start a new week and a new project, fresh and rarin' to go. And accompanied by Christmas music.
Post-publishing note: I've noticed that there has been a spike in my page viewings for this page in the last few days, but I don't know what site is linking to me. Anybody care to leave a comment and let me know? Thanks.
Now onto business. Not last Friday (yesterday) but the Friday before that, Dustin acquired tickets to The Polyphonic Spree concert, because his cousin Louie is keyboardist for Rooney, the opening band. They were playing at the new NYC concert venue Terminal 5. I excitedly told him I would attend, but lo! Work calls loudly for my attention at all hours of all days. I agreed to meet him as soon as I got out. I unfortunately missed the glory of Rooney.
Don't worry. He entertained himself by making good use of the dramatic lighting in the VIP section.
I did miss the opening of the P. Spree, confetti and all.
Cute girly backup dancer/singers.
Luckily, I got there about five minutes after the main event began, and even got my own V.I.P. sticker. All-Access, baby!!
Though my cellie was dead, when I arrived I thought, "Okay. If I were Dustin and I had all-access, where would I be?" I looked up to above the left of the stage, and sure enough, there he was, rockin' out. I joined him, feelin' all schmancy with my sticker, and wondered if we'd get to go backstage (we didn't).
The cute girls were still a-rockin'.
The lead singer climbed down to the pit and began carousing among the revelers, to their great delight.
Though the concert's energy was rather reminiscent of the Flaming Lips, the singer reminds me of Jack White in a way (but less cute).
So I want to be a cute girl backup singer/dancer, so what?
There was even a glorious harpist.
This is what I love about The Polyphonic Spree. Unlike some bands, whose recorded material sounds vast and epic with tons of elaborately used instruments, then they get to the stage and it's a coupla guys with guitars and one girl with a synthesizer, this band brings the whole party on the road. Trumpeters, French horn players, flutists, guitarists, two drummers, and cute backup girls.
Usually I'm not into checking out people's reactions to bands (unless it's for character research) because people (especially when drunk) look so corny that it's even embarrassing for me to look at. I know that sounds snotty, but I admit that I too am guilty of it. I just feel so corny seeing it happen. However, at this show, the sound was so epic and full that everyone, bathed in the disco lights and confetti remnants, swayed and sang along earnestly to each song. Everyone looked like they were having beautiful experiences, and that was beautiful to watch (especially from our vantage point). Men and women wrapped their arms around each other, dancing sweetly, closing their eyes. I spotted a surprising number of people (men, even), swaying back and forth with their hands over their hearts and singing along.
At one point, two of the horn players jumped into the sea of music enthusiasts.
More confetti abounded as the Spree played a completely amazing rendition of Nirvana's "Lithium." I tells ya, there's nothing that unites an audience like a song that is a part of everyone's youth and recent-but-not-very-recent past.
We were lucky to see them on their second-to-last show of the tour. They all seemed so happy to be together, a big touring family.
Afterwards, Dustin tried to get me into the good lighting, but I don't think it worked out as well with me as it did him.
So we spent some time in the V.I.P. blue bathrooms and both took pictures of ourselves in them.
I'm really in a looking-down phase. After that glorious experience, we headed downtown for Dustin's friend Althea's birthday party at Kettle Of Fish. We spent a bit of time wittily bantering with these two hilarious genius hipsters, Chris and Olivia. They're much more lighthearted than they look here.
Then there was some business with this chick (on the left) who met Dustin many moons ago but knew him as Ricardo.
They had Pac-Man arcade games.
It was good to see Matt, Althea's boyfriend, with whom she just purchased an apartment in fair Brooklyn.
Fellow Boggle fanatic Carolyn showed up with some Canadian pals.
D. got all excited over these old-school desks.
There's the woman of the night herself, with her cute glasses, flanked by Carolina and Howard.
Scorpios unite!
A successful Friday night. That's all for today, kiddies. I'll blog Thanksgiving later on this week. Until then, adieu!
