Fall began with Sim and me flying to Iowa for Simon (Sim's grandson) and Emily's wedding. It was lovely spending time with Lee and family. In mid-October, I made a quick 2-night trip to NYC. I stayed with Sim's friends Mickey and Bobbie above Lincoln Center. I got to see Courtney and Catharine. I also attended 2 shows and a concert:
My Fair Lady,
Bernhardt/Hamlet, and Joshua Bell with the NY Philharmonic accompanying
The Red Violin. I also went to RH in the meat-packing district to see all the work ML did getting ready for the grand opening of that gallery. I dropped by V & T's restaurant up at 110th Street for a calzone and visited St. John the Divine where I used to spend my Sunday evenings when I lived at Columbia University (~1973-4). I had wonderful food while in the City but I did experience a horrible thing in the subway. I saw a man lying on the tracks as the train was coming. It ran right over the man! I thought it was a prank but it was real.
Most of October involved my getting ready for a big Day of the Dead party on November 2. I had decorations to make, food to prepare, and people to invite. I hadn't made anything with papier mache in over 55 years. About 35 folks came including the live band. Below are some pics.
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| Coutney, Jimmie, and me at Dim Sum |
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| My lunch at Sakura on 43rd St. |
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| party prep with skull cookies |
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| Pan de Muertos |
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| the ofrenda with pics of everyone's loved ones |
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| Sim and me with part of the Mebanesville band |
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| Halloween party in CA |
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| John-Mac and family |
There was lots of food and drink at the party: apple cider, both red and white sangria, beer, water; make your own tacos al pastor and/or sweet potato, bean, and corn with lots of fixins; three salsas and chips, fruit platter, corn salad, cold shrimp served on a salt block, lumpia, 7-layer bean dip, and guacamole; assorted skeleton, skull, and Mexican Wedding cookies, and iced chocolate cherry brownies (GF). It was very yummy! The next morning, I hosted a coffee for 35 women (with help from Sim) where all the leftover cookies and brownies as well as the pan de muertos, were devoured.
