Don't know if it's due to folks coming out in droves post-transit strike or the fact that Christmas and New Year's both fell on the weekend, but the past week's been a bit nuttier and action-packed than previous holidays... It's all good for the most part...
Christmas Eve was spent in NJ over at Tita Aida and Tito Angel's, then followed with a quick drive by to Concetta's. Christmas Day started off with lunch at Suzy and Sachin's, then dinner (Vallie made a fantastic glazed ham), a "Family Guy" marathon, and U2's "Vertigo" concert dvd viewing (courtesy of Joseph's video iPod), as we recovered from food coma at Chip's with Miles (our little micro-chip), Pinky, Vallie, and Joseph.
My birthday fell on a Tuesday this year. Augusto took me out for lunch at Les Bleu uptown, followed by an "Entourage" marathon - a nod to my bro, Derek, since that's our thang, and allegedly Augusto's first time watching the show (What the fondue? It's only the. best. show. EVER - well, next to "Grey's Anatomy" and "West Wing"). That night, a bunch of us all met up in Astoria, Queens for a familial, Croatian dinner at a fairly underground social club. It was nice, mellow, and dramaless... just what I wanted. :-)
Wednesday, Siobhan and I grabbed brunch and ran some errands in the Upper East Side during the day, and later that evening, I braved the Rockefeller Center tourists to meet up with Liz, Cate, Karen, Jess, and Courtney for holiday drinks at Morrell's and a big fat Greek birthday dinner for Liz and myself at Uncle Nick's in our old neighborhood, Hell's Kitchen.
My last brunch for 2005 was spent with Chip, Pinky, Michelle (Pinky's sister) and Miles at Union Picnic over in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Tonight... Hmmm... Plan to go to the Hoppys for a New Year's Eve cocktail party, but it's snowing now... If I make it, pics to be posted tomorrow.
HAPPY NEW YEAR