New Year's in New York: A Photojournal

[originally posted 1.9.06]

Uncomfortable catnap on American flights 2249 & 523 notwithstanding, I haven't slept in over 24 hours. I spent my last night in New York at a house party I didn't leave until about 4:45AM which got us back to Brooklyn around 5AM, packed, left some stuff at HW's place so I wouldn't get charged for a bag that was too heavy and ready for the car to pick me up at 6AM for my 8AM flight. Aaah, it's good to be young! :)

In my one week in NYC, HW and I took a little under 200 pictures plus some video. I have to get my film developed but below you'll find some choice pics at some of spots we hit.

New Year's Eve Pictures:

1st party: Afropunk, 2nd party: Amu and Montana's brilliant loft party- A Bedford Hills Joint. We stayed at Amu and Monty's until 10AM and only left 'cause Luna had to get home and get ready for her brunch, otherwise WHO KNOWS when we would have finally gone home? The party went from 5AM til 6PM!

About to walk out the door to party #1

HW with Amu who along with Montana puts on the Bedford Hills Joint. House music...all.night.long!

part of the loft party included an umbrella dance, a common practice in New Orleans were Montana is from. This picture is me with myspacer, Julia who's been on my friends list for some time but who I bumped into at the party, she recognized me from my picture. Got to kick it with her twice more before I left the NYC. Great lady, I look forward to getting to know her better as well as the cutie Gale I met before leaving the party.

HW sportin' the Christian LaCroix blazer

Next set: @ Sputnik

Me with Deepa Soul
helping Olive cool off (I'd never met or interacted with Olive before but she recognized me at the Afropunk party by my picture! Turns out she knows Hanifah and some of my other friends so I got to see her a few times before I left. Great lady and we have a lot in common.)


Me with Hanifah Walidah, Olive & Luna

Hanifah with Mariposa

Me with T'ai Freedom Ford

Soooooooo hot, so talented but soooooooooooooo married. *le sigh*

Maybe next lifetime.

Next set: @ Caddyshack

w/ YK Me, HW & Holiday

w/Kerri

Next Set: My last night in the NYC

This picture makes me giggle not just because of T'ai's face but because I remember exactly what she was saying at the time the picture was taken.

Gloria and my fellow B.O.C, Zina

Ruby and Luna

Question: Did I enjoy my week in New York? Answer:


See more pics here

Black Folks Guide - Seattle

Hanifah's show was extraordinary tonight. She played to a almost full 300 seat theatre (about 260) full of folks who were genuinely receptive and thoroughly enjoyed the show. Tomorrow we anticipate a completely packed house.

She has revamped sections of the show and it's even better than the DVD version. Who knew that was possible?

Anyway, I'm tired. 'Night!

P.S. - Cute story. We had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory this afternoon. I mentioned to our waiter that he should come check out Hanifah's show. Being modest, Hanifah kinda of protested to my telling him about the show but he had already gone on to ask what type of show it was. She mentioned that it's a one woman show and before she could even mention the venue, he goes: "OH! Black Folks Guide?!" We were like: Yeah! surprised that this white, frat-boy type was even familar. He said he was already planning on catching the show and he said now that he'd met her he'd DEFINITELY make sure he caught the show tonight.

We asked him how he'd heard about it and he said that National Public Radio has been announcing the show practically every hour so...pub on the show is solid and people are responding. In fact, most of the audience was non-African American straight couples. Great group, though, they laughed easily and often and I heard the older man to my right sniffling when Hanifah did her character Louie which is definitely a tear-jerker segment.

At any rate, that's it, just wanted to share our Cheesecake Factory waiter story.