Best Another Great Saturday

Well, I had another great Saturday. Again.

Started off by shopping for vintage dresses with Mackenzie and Amanda.


This dress (the one on the left, if there was any confusion) reminded me of what I remember all my aunts (except for Afton...so I guess that would just be Diane and Teresa) wearing when I was a little kid. This is totally an 80's young aunt dress. Maybe my cousins remember my mom wearing something like it?


Then I saw this great Alfa Romeo. I guess Saturday started off very femininely, but don't worry, it's going to get very masculine.


And then I did something really great, I had Momofuku for the second time that week! What a masculine thing to do! I took Collin to initiate him and Kirsten and Lexia came, too. So I guess I could have said that I took Collin, Kirsten, and Lexia to Momofuku. That's another way of looking at it.


Collin was very wise and ordered the pork bowl. A magnificent initiation.


I had their banh mi for the first time. It is described as being a three terrine banh mi. I decided to not think too much about what sorts of terrine were being used in my sandwich and to just enjoy it. It was delicious! Now I don't care what sort of terrine it might have been.


Eaters.




Sometimes I wear the sunglasses that Andrew gave to me. And shorts. Sometimes I wear shorts.


One more.


Oh, if you were wondering how hot it was on Saturday, the answer is: "Very." But not nearly as hot as it eventually got on Monday or Tuesday. Those days I remember as being the hottest.

After lunch I did something rather intelligent, I respectfully passed on an invitation to see the Adam Sandler Zohan movie and instead went to the Transit Museum in Brooklyn to learn about bridges, tunnels, buses, and trains. It's in an old subway station! How excellent is that?


This was one of the first signs in the exhibit. It is an interesting story about a tunnel mishap, you should click on it and read it.


And you know who met us at the museum? Jared and Rebecca, who's in town visiting (still!)!


Rebecca had never met Collin before so their introduction had to be special.

Yes, "Blammo!"

Amber, look! It's one of those measurers like you have!


Their was a simulator where you could learn what it was like to have a wheelbarrow of rocks you were in charge of pushing. The rocks weren't bolted down and could be taken from the wheelbarrows. And returned to them, as well!


Always making new friends.


Experiencing the life of a tunnel digger.


It took some coaxing, but I eventually got Edith to go to the Peach Tree Dance with me.


Of course the one thing at the museum that absolutely screamed "Touch Me!" was off limits for touching.


Hmmm, maybe we can trace the MTA's constant budget woes back to the fact that they use totally fake money?


We then descended to the Museum's second best area, the lower level where they had every kind of subway car ever used! (What was the best area? I didn't take pictures of it, but they had all the different turnstiles they've used for the Subway and you could try them all out. Very fun.)


Basically we totally disrespected all the old train cars. But don't worry, we eventually got in trouble and our acrobatic rampage came to an end.

For the moving version of this picture, you've got to head over to Rebecca's new blog.


The full force of this photo is also featured on Rebecca's new blog, better click that link from a few pictures up.



This is what it looks like inside the money train. It looks like school.




Wish it weren't 1 AM so I could think of a good fake caption for this picture, probably something about the guy saying "What? What? You want another one, punk?"


Kids and their danger shoes these days.


Keepin' it totally skullset after the museum.


Collin before and after the joke I made.



SPECIAL BONUS CONTENT! Since it took me so long to get Saturday blogged, I'm throwing Monday Night in for free.

Monday Night was a Special Night because we held a Taco Home Evening at La Casa!


Raaaarr!


Chomp Chomp Chomp!


At Taco Home Evening we had so many La Casa first-timers, here Dave helps explain the trough to Mike. We were so proud of Mike for not putting the wrong salsa on his taco al pastor!


End of the table: Nothing but happy, taco (or torta)-gobblin' noobs!


And now we can all go to bed.

Best Recommended Reading III

This is the big one:

"Araby" by James Joyce

By "big one" I mean this is the story that launched a thousand pages.
Ten years later and the Joyce fascination still burns within me and this story still stirs me all up.
Some would say A&P is an Araby story itself. I accept that.

When you think about how much this story accomplishes in so little length, it's stunning. And then to begin to run your brain through the heaps and layers of symbolism and whatnot. A brief masterpiece. Nothing less than.

Previously:

Recommended Reading I: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Recommended Reading II: A&P

Really, around here "recommended" is just a nice word for "required."

Best T-Shirt I Saw This Weekend

Spotted at the Turntable Lab store:


If you know your R Kelly then the answer is "Yes, on the back."z

Best this Was Last Weekend

...not the one that's happening as we speak, okay?

What a weekend it was! Friday I made that sandwich that I blogged about and just thought about it all night. But Saturday and Sunday, they were busy days, busy days full of joy.

Saturday afternoon we ate at La Casa. Collin explained something brilliant to Kim.


I thought brilliant thoughts.


And Ali thought her Mexican breakfast was brilliant, right?


These were my tacos and my tostada.


The sight of Collin's torta put him in a squealing fit.


As we waited out the rainstorms I sent Ali to find out what song was playing on the jukebox. It sounded like Mexican Iron Maiden.


Saturday evening Emily threw a great barbecue. I grabbed the bull by the horns and went out and got the grill lit because it wasn't going to light itself. Then I grilled up a flank steak I had been marinating all day while Ali and Collin crafted our guacamole. Do you want to see pictures of our tacos and our guacamole? Then please go to Ali's Blog. Do it!

I think we're all used to fellows sitting, playing video games with their eyes glazed over and jaws slack. At Emily's party, it was the girls' turn. Go MarioKart!



Jessica & Abby.


Walking up the street after the party Collin found a log in the gutter. Not his usual stick, but a total log. It put him in a rampaging mood.



Whaaaaaa...


...aaaaaaaam!


Sunday was Jared's party and we had a party for him. Even though he was the guest, he couldn't help but put his catering experience to work and serve all those around him.


Collin was a little uncouth with the ladies.


Jeff was, I don't know, sort of the Scarlett O'Hara of the party? You know, like Scarlett with all her suitors sitting around her? You know? Come on, work with me here.


Abby & Jared.


Collin loves birthdays cuz Collin loves making his buddies cakes. This was a cake worthy of Mordor.


The presentation...


Right before Jared devoured the candle. Really.


One thing we learned that weekend was what a great worker and team-player Ali is.


Hey-there, Hi-there, Ho-there, Chaunte's happy as can be!


I guess word got out on the party because we had some real UWS superstars show up (Holly, Tracy, Cassie).


If you think Jared's birthday balloons look a lot like Tracy's birthday balloons then I think you're a crackhead.


Awwww...


Travis and Ellie give Reghan their full attention, Reghan gives Brooke her full tension.


Kelly and Angelique take a guess at Jared's age. He told them he was real old, so they guessed 27.


What this picture does not convey at all is that Jared and Mike put on the greatest Guitar Hero performance show that 15B has ever seen.


Robert Palmer girls?


Genevieve, Mike and Rebecca.


Over on that side of the room they were talking about hamburgers. Always with the hamburgers!


And that was the weekend that happened before this one. I've done a lot today, I wrote this during the special chill-time that separates Saturday day activities from Saturday night activities.

Ok, bye.

Best Family Reunion

You know, we more or less took a break from food photos for most of May, but now it's June and food photos are back in style. Sorry, Anonymouses.

So, yes, tonight my fiery brother-in-law Cory was in town for one night only with a little big business to take care of. But when family is in town you've got to celebrate, and when I celebrate I have to eat and eat seriously, so I took Cory over to the Momofuku Ssam bar for some dinner.


The Ssam bar is an entirely different beast by night, a beast that requires a little more daring from its diners, but the rewards are sweet. No. Savory. And also sweet. Sometimes at the same time.

Come, pictures!

Jonah Crab Claws with Yuzu mayonnaise. Ladies and gentlemen, I am SO down with yuzu mayonnaise.


Get this: Kampachi with Wild Arugula, Arugula Flowers, Capers, and Pickled Strawberries (Yes, pickled.)


A fine plate of super-delicious Meecham County Ham from Kentucky. Aged for months, smoked for weeks...or was it aged for weeks, smoked for months? They did something and they did it right.


The mighty, mighty Momofuku Steamed Pork Belly Buns. It might just look like fat in a funny bun to you but, please, believe me, these things alone are a seriously persuasive argument against a variety of religious dietary laws.


Sichuan Beef Tendon. Victory!


And our entree, the Marinated Hanger Steak Ssäm with Ginger Scallion sauce, Kimchi, and Bibb lettuce.


This is when you make a dinner out of it. The steak was unbelievably tender. I practically couldn't believe how tender it was.


Finally, dessert: Rhubarb Shortcake with Kendall Farm's Creme Fraiche. Had I ever had rhubarb before in my life? Honestly, I don't know. But if this was the first time it was definitely a magnificent introduction.


When I look at these pictures I can think only one thing: That was it? I should have had more.

Closing Thoughts: I don't want to sound disgustingly trendy, but I just love going to Momofuku. I love the food, I love the atmosphere, I love the people that work there. , and I love their iPod (eating a pork bun while "Juicy" by the Notorious B.I.G. is playing? Can you beat that? Only when the Pixies are playing during your hanger steak-eating.) Trips to Momofuku just make me want to not shave, wear more button-up shirts, write more things, buy some more sneakers, own sunglasses, go to parks, drink plenty of water, laugh at jokes, think smart thoughts, obey the commandments, and tip with great generosity. Pretty much if Coach Eric Taylor were a restaurant he'd be a Momofuku. What more can be said after saying that?

You and I need to take a break if you don't know Coach Taylor by now.

Previously:
Lunches One and Two at the Ssam Bar.

Best Recommended Reading II

A&P by John Updike

This is one of the stories that I read in my first English Major class that told me "Yes, Brigham, you are in the right place." The ease and flow of the writing was stunning to me in 1998 and caught me off guard again tonight.

Put in a strong day at work, I've got a dinner with my brother-in-law at the Ssam Bar in a couple of hours, and I just re-read this absolute classic. Good day, good day indeed.

This picture is one of the ones that you'll find if you search flickr for "A&P"

Best Sandwich Possible

The Sabbath Keeper remains controversial, but behold my Friday night creation!


It was like a banh mi of sorts featuring steak cooked in a soy/ginger pan sauce on a baguette with cilantro/jalepeño mayonnaise and plenty of Sriracha hot sauce (don't worry, I kept putting more on)


If this sandwich were a song by Led Zeppelin it would be the Immigrant Song.

PS: Something I learned this week: If you go to the Asian supermarket on 32nd street with a short list of slightly hard-to-find Asian ingredients you're looking for, prepare for absolute humiliation because the place is cramped and crowded and next to nothing is in English. BUT also be prepared to discover tempting offers on pork shoulder and pork belly that fill your head with notions of recipes far beyond your grasp...or are they?