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Party
So after the Yankees game last week, we met up with our friend Jeff at the Beauty Bar which is walking distance from Union Square, but not exactly Union Square. Little did Jeff know that before he jets off to India in a week or so, he would get a chance to take part in a photo shoot with us. I finally received the scans before they get published in [confidential] Magazine next month. Check them out.
Thanks Jeff for being my number one most vocal fan and proselytizer of my humble blog!
Girl says, "If more girls lived here this [rooftop] would have more plants," then points to the inflated Santa decoration and says "Instead, guys have this."
Checking my blog this morning, I TOTALLY forgot that I posted the previous entry when I stumbled home with my roommate Chris, who I think was rambling about how awesome John Mayer is on the way home, last night. Haha. Recap of the first stop of the night...will be up on my favorite social blog Guest of a Guest in a bit. Nnamdi texting with some gal having a party uptown shows me a text from her that says "We have a table. You guys should come." We hopped in a gypsy car to meet her at the W in...don't judge me...Times Square. Don't judge. Along the way there, our car got pulled over by the wonderful officers of the NYPD.
As he pulls over, the driver turns to us and says "I don't have my registration. Can you guys just say we're all friends."
We mumble a non-reply and check our cell phones. Cops walk over and the driver hands over his license and registration. The other cop taps my window. I roll down the window and he asks us if we noticed how the driver was driving. I'm no snitch, especially with something as asinine as this and replied "Nah man, we were just talking about the guy's music."
Nnamdi mutters "These guys are delaying my partying..." Further delays arose as the cabbie had given the cops an expired license.
After all this law and order business was resolved our driver drives away and decides to take out his anger on us by BLASTING Ricky Martin. We ask him to turn it down. What does he do? He turns UP the speakers behind us. And we got to the hotel with Ricky Martin blasting. Not cool.
At the W, we proceed to try to find the party. Head downstairs. Nope. Head to upstairs lounge. Nope. Street level bar. Nope. Finally, we walked up the stairs to the restaurant on the second floor. When I hear someone "has a table," I assume a table with bottles at a bar or club. Apparently it can also mean a nice, classy dinner taking place at a table in a restaurant. Yea, we crashed a dinner. Awesome. Thankfully, the girl--the definition of a "hot mess"--started just pouring us wine to compliment our respective drinks (vodka with splash of soda for me). Funny things were uttered. Sometimes it's a lot of fun to hang out with people you've NEVER MET or will NEVER SEE AGAIN.
On the way out, someone decided they were hungry and grabbed a bread from the bread basket at a nearby table...that a nice and decent couple were dining at. WHAT AN ASSHOLE. Someone else then explained and apologized on his behalf to the shocked couple:
I'm sorry....that's just how we "roll."
What a random and absurd night.
I received the following party invite this morning from a friend. I'm not going, and neither is my roommate, who would probably go if it was a party for John Mayer. What is wrong with us?
...This Thursday is Ice T's birthday, and he's throwing a party/ performing at The Plumm.His wife Cocco is also in playboy this month, and apparently that's also a reason for celebrating as well.
It's this Thursday with an open bar 10-11pm (invite attached)
Anyhoo, I just got a VIP (ew...) invite from the owners o' Plumm as a thanks for throwing down on Friday.
Dancers- I'm going to head down from rehearsal so if you want, you ARE ON!
Hit me up b/c I'm going to submit my vip list sooooon.
luv
x
And for the complete picture of this undoubtedly classy affair, here's the party flyer:
After hanging out with my friend Rachel this afternoon on the gilded area of Fifth Avenue in Midtown, I came home. On my way to McDonalds to get coffee (don't mock: the coffee there is great, at least at this location), I noticed that a cafe that was being built appeared to be open. People were inside mingling and employees stationed behind the counter. I walked in and something seemed off. I must have looked very confused. A woman behind the counter said nicely to me, "Hi. We're having a private party." Apparently friends and family were celebrating the soon-to-open cafe and the three co-owners. She, one of the owners, offered me a glass of wine, I nibbled on some of the food, and was thoroughly impressed with the cafe. Also, she pointed out that they also had Clover coffee machine, a $11,000 coffee maker, that the New York Times recently featured. Anyway, if you live in Park Slope, check out 3B (I think that's how it's spelled) in a week or two on 4th Avenue and Carroll Street.
Friday night was a combination of something new and something old, which both equaled fun in the end. And that's all that matters. Despite the torrential rain storm, Chris and I still rallied and headed over to the Knitting Factory for some live music and endless bottles of free Bass Ale. While waiting in the short line to confirm our RSVP and go inside, I ran into an old college buddy of mine who I haven't seen since then. He had just finished performing and was on his way out. He's an amazing musician who is making the permanent move to NYC from Providence soon so I'm looking forward to catching some of his shows in the future. The first act was terrible, but the second band was amazing. Not my cup of tea, but they just put on a rockin' good show. Afterwards, we met up with some of Chris's friends at some terrible hookah place near NYU. Nonetheless I still had a great time there. Eventually came home and passed out.
Saturday night was an A+ night, right up until I came home and needed to do a prayer while kneeling in front of the toilet. Allegedly. These few photos below were taken by my friend there at the party. I did chuckle when I got to the club, a place I had never been to previously. I laughed because I used to live about five buildings away from this club, or rather this location back in 2003, and always saw the most D list crowds outside of whatever club opened in this space. I think it went through four different clubs before its current iteration. If I had to do word association for it, the first thing that'd pop into my head is, "Miami Vice."
Nnamdi, Chris, and John keeping it real, and by real I mean "not smiling."
Unlike the photo previous to this one, it's all about the smiles. (Jeff, Nnamdi, and Lauren)
I call this photo that Nnamdi took, "Juxtaposition." The thing that cracks me up about the pictures from this night is how serious Chris looks in all the photos, when he was actually just so happy all night. Guess the camera adds 10 pounds for some and seriousness for others.
Just raising the glass for the birthday girl. Look at the guy on the right in the black shirt just hatin'. Just hatin'!
Jeff and Lucy the birthday girl (If you ever randomly read this: Thanks for such a rockin' party Lucy!).
Take one. "Matt, you are blocking what people really want to see" says the male and sapphic customers of mrod.wordpress.com
Take two. Better? Sheesh. Lauren and Lucy looking like the h07ne55.
My twin brother showed up and made fool of himself. I don't condone such behavior because I usually like to just sip scotch and discuss the feasibility of the supposed power sharing that is suppose to take place in Russia in the post-Putin era, but theoretically I can see why attractive women dancing on tables is a good thing.
Put your hands up in the air, put your hands up in the air.
Like I said, put your hands up in the air, put your hands up in the air.
"Sometimes you just gotta cool your self by alternating between a very FULL glass of black label and a bottle of Fiji water."
"Yea thanks to all the hustlers, and most important to YOU, the customer."
Then we went to Ktown, got too much food, and Jeff gave the leftovers to a nearby table of drunk kids eating who thanked him for the food without a second thought.
I haven't been to a party held above 14th Street in...months. Tonight: Nikki - Midtown. Prediction: Really awesome or really terrible.
Post party update:
So hungover this a.m. Why?
Explanation: 3 bottles of Goose, 3 bottles of champagne, 1 bottle of Petron, and 1 bottle of Jack. And Koreatown post-drinking food isn't the best idea after all the above.
Me: Yo, are you going to that party? B: Blackbook interns! They'll be there.
Me: That makes me indescribably happy.
This is from a pretty fun night a couple weekends ago, and all photos below are stolen from Chris, you know, the John Mayer fan.
Because Chris and I were running late and walked into our subway stop just as the train was pulling away, we hailed a cab. What we flagged down was essentially the 7 series of New York cabs: a brand new SUV cab fitted for handicapped people, which meant for us awesome leg room. And a couple blocks before it dropped us off at our bar, another cabbie notified ours that he had his emergency lights on, which basically made us feel like minor VIPs what with our luxurious legroom and emergency lights.
Also, I'm really glad more and more cabs take credit/debit cards now. It's about time. And while I know a lot of cab drivers are against it (who doesn't prefer upfront cash?), they need to embrace it as it's an inevitable part of our technological progress. And also, maybe it's me, but I've found myself now tipping a bit more as well in part to offset the delay the drivers see in contrast to cold hard cash tips.
We met up with Chris's friends at Shebeen where a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme party was going on...and we were both in agreement that it was pretty awesome. Then we walked to the Merc Bar. Here I'm uh, pretending to reach for my pretend fruity drink instead of my uh, whiskey. This fruity drink, "the Clementine" is hypothetically quite delicious.
Mike and his girlfriend and birthday girl Tori. Happy birthday Tori!!!
Mike and Chris deep in conversation.
Haha. Tori is stoked about turning 20 something.
This picture is titled "Life is beautiful." I love it. Haha. Anyway: Tori's sister Sandra, Tori, and Mike!
Mike and the girls left and Chris and I elected to chill out at the bar for a bit longer. Funny stuff happened and then we left.
Chris and I walk into the subway platform just as the train pulls up. Sweet!!! When this happens late at night it is the equivalent of winning a $50 scratch off lotto ticket. Chris swipes his metrocard, and then I follow. Bam! I try to walk through, except the turnstile refuses to budge. I look at the display and see this:
Doh! Story of my life!! My monthly metrocard expired that night! Waiting another 30 minutes for the next train versus taking a cab, pay $15 bucks and be home in 20 minutes. "Fuck it. Lets take a cab. I got it."
Ms. Allison aka total babe blogger extraordinaire (she's the one who was recently on the cover of NY Time Out) posted one of my favorite all time party photographs ever. Throwaway joke warning: It's the breast best. My future bachelor pad will probably have it hanging on the wall framed in a rococo era frame next to my shelf of colognes.
As a semi-veteran of party photography, this snapshot below to me is the apex or pinnacle of what all party pictures should aspire towards because it's so dynamic. There's an entire story that grows from a second of time, which is quite remarkable I think.
The worst party photos in my opinion are the ones that come from the Patrick McMullan school of photography. I really despise that held posed look--it's a party, not a gawd damn studio. I mean, yea I know PM is a legend, but for a man who's been doing this for so long and been to so many great parties, I think it's telling he doesn't have that definitive inimitable image yet. Heck, if the Sartorialist shifts from the streets to the parties, he'll end up running circles around Patrick McMullan. It's not about the pose people, but the moment.
And this one is the most interesting red carpet photo I've ever seen:
Tangent: We all know Justin Timberlake is dating this woman, Jessica Biel. If there was a Harvard Business School for PR then JT would be a required case study for students. Who would have thought that during the heyday of N'Sync that the blond pube haired Justin Timberlake, who wasn't the most masculine of fellas back then, would be able to escape the boy band and pop music black hole and become a completely legit artist and A-list lady slayer? I mean, I don't truly know what's going on behind the scenes, but based on my best guesstimate other dudes in the music and entertainment game respeck him and his talents. And we all know the ladies love him.
But I wonder if dating Jessica Biel has pushed him now into a whole new stratosphere even among the top dogs. Like Diddy now texts JT to see what's good for that night and when Diddy is having a party, to ensure the right and the nicest girls show up he tells them that JT will be there as well. And Usher...Usher used to be JT level or rather JT was moving up to Usher level, but now Ush is tied down legally in the eyes of the law to a baby momma who...I don't know...a word that sounds like "train" with a "y" after it comes to mind. But you know who I think is the secret dark horse playa of this whole bunch? John Mayer. Yup, John Mayer.
Update
Trust me, I'm not seeking these photos out but in my Internet peregrinations I've been very randomly coming across similar images as the ones above:
1. 9pm ish: Botanica 2. 10:30ish: Cake Shop
3. Drop Off Service?
4. ??
5. Pizza.
6. More pizza.
7. Kimchi hot dog man (....Stop. Act your age. You people disgust me).
8. Cabbie wakes me up in front of my apartment OR I wake up on the last stop on the N train in Coney Island. Both equal possibilities.
Now that I no longer have a digital camera I have to rely on others so I can steal their photos. Actually I had a weird experience awhile ago of looking at a friend's photo album online of "artsy" photos and thinking "I feel like I've seen these photos before." Then I realized, "Wait a minute! Hold on a sec! Snag that nano! I took these photos." Anyway, these are some photos that friends took over this past long President's Day weekend.
Friday: Brazil Carnivale night at Sullivan Room. Pleasantly a great time. Tried to go to Merc Bar for nightcap drink but they had closed already. Went to deli near my apartment with Cy and we ate our breakfast sandwiches while standing near the deli doorway. Then I passed the f out, as the kids say nowadays.
Saturday: We went to club Prime. The photos below are courtesy of N.
J, Cyrus, and Gemma
Everyone's got their party faces on. I know I do: notice that glass of cranberry and tasty.
J pouring some of that tasty. Don't drink and drive, kids for those of you that don't live in NYC.
N and me looking stoic...or something.
Dancin.
"No. You're awesome."
Haha. J loves that bottle.
Scoping out the scene for a girl with a nice personality to talk to about exportation of pollution to developing countries.
This one.
Sunday: Faluka.
Woa.
The Jack is too hot to handle.
N and couple of his friends (forgot your names, sorry!)
Haha.
Midriff girl. Awesome. Love it. Very fashionable and chic.
Location: Banana Republic (Don't mock me--I had a $50 dollar gift card I've been holding forever that I needed to use up). Overheard:
I need a new belt, because I can't wear my regular big belt buckle when I go out because the buckle is uncomfortable for the girl when she's dancing on me.
I think this guy is really thoughtful and considerate.
Wow. This entry I wrote on Saturday afternoon ended up becoming quite an omen for what was to occur later that night. Allegedly.
Celebrate the true president on President's Day, Monday February 18. This date also corresponds with Dr. Dre's birthday. El presidente. Word. The president of hip hop...and rumor has it that Dre is also the one truly responsible for creating Huckabee. The peeps at LVHRD are having a party in his (Dre's that is, not Huckabee) honor along with free 40s from 10 pm to 4 am.
I'm too busy to blog the past couple days but I know some of you readers are greedy bastards and want an update every hour, so all I can say is go check out this link: http://usversusthem.wordpress.com. Its got good entertainacrastination material on it. They're my latest addition to my blogroll. (Thanks Robb!)
And for some hilarious photos from a recent party he had, check out my friend Clay's latest entry here.
I took a few much needed days off work. I didn't go anywhere particularly exciting, other than getting to enjoy New York during the day time like those people I see having a nice leisurely coffee at 11 am in Soho. (A lot of the photos during Kaizar's visit was taken by him with his camera.)
Kaizar and I randomly dropped into a bike shop near my apartment. I love these bike hats. I'm demonstrating my immaculate bicycling pose.
The white hat version.
So Munira threw a welcome back party for Kaizar at the Delancey. Here's Pooja, Munira and her friend Harmit.
"Yo, do I have something in between my teeth?"
ARRRGHHHH!!
Munira and Harmit!
It's Peter!
A rare moment of peace for Kaizar. It looked like he was holding office hour like a professor with all his friends lined up like students waiting for their turn to talk.
It looks like me and Omar (Kaizar's roommate out in San Francisco) just had a quarrel.
Omar and his friend (I forgot your name! Sorry!)
After the Delancey Kaizar, Peter and I went to our favorite watering hole, Botanica for the usual can of PBR.
"HE-LLO!" Sigh. I love Botanica so much.
Me, Kaizar and Erin went to some random tiki bar on Smith Street in Brooklyn and before leaving we asked some random guy to snap a photo of us. This was the result. Brilliance in timing. If you don't get it, look at the photo again, especially the bar's TV in the background. Disturbing, but kinda hilarious too.
Long time readers of my blog here and my old blog on Xanga will recognize this blast from the past.
KAIZAR! (Now a ninja in San Francisco.) He's visiting the East Coast here for awhile which is fannnntastic.
His Blackberry pearl...isn't so pearly anymore.
We went to...shoot, I forget the name of the bar in Union Square.
Me, Lauren and Pooja!
I really don't enjoy shots at all... at all... Kaizar on the other hand is a big fan.
Yuck.
Kaizar's cousin Hussain (and his friend).
And then we headed over to the Meatpacking District thanks to the driving talents of this super cool and laid back cabbie I chatted with.
What a great way to get all close like with a girl in a cab. "Lets share a seat belt...you know, for safety...purposes."
Pooja putting on make up in the cab. Classy.
After the club, we went to Pop Burger. I'm not sure what's up with my recent drunken tendency to open my mouth full of food when the camera comes out.
Sometimes a burger is so fuckin' delicious. Am I right or am I right?
Pop burger! Haha.
