Two weekends ago, I was in New Jersey to attend the illustrious wedding of Jeff Crepeau to Beth Gibson (now Beth Crepeau). It was also my chance to finally go back east and bring Larry back home with me! Had a chance to first spend a few nights at the Empire Hotel in the Upper West Side of NYC before then taking a car into Jersey for the weekend of the wedding. As the pictures below show, it was a lot of fun, first just getting a chance to hang out in NYC, and then second, hanging out with friends from Colorado Springs. Weirdly enough, during the Crepeau wedding reception, we all found out Whitney Houston died. What a strange occurence to have associated with your wedding!
First Night in NYC – 8 Feb 2012
After Larry braved the light snow to pick me up at Newark Intl, we met up with his mom so she could get her car back and then she dropped us off at the hotel. We had a delicious dinner at Fiorelli’s, a restaurant we both had walked by for years without ever having eaten there. Amazing food, and highly recommended if you get the chance. The chocolate mousse was insanely served – the menu tells you that it’s served with two buckets, one bucket of mousse, the other with creme. They literally come over to your table with two big buckets and ask you how much you want. I vastly overestimated how much I could eat. After dinner, we walked around the area a bit, but the snow kept falling and began to soak us. Here are the pics we got, which I think look awesome as I finally figured out how to use the night mode. 🙂
Playing with night mode on my camera at Lincoln Center
08-Feb-2012 19:39, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800
Obviously needed to tell Larry NOT TO MOVE while using night mode
08-Feb-2012 19:39, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 1000
08-Feb-2012 19:39, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800
See, this is how you NOT MOVE
08-Feb-2012 19:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800
A total stranger offered to take our picture! Thanks, random stranger lady!
08-Feb-2012 19:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
08-Feb-2012 19:41, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
It also happened to be the beginning of NY Fashion Week - knowing that now, surprised we were able to get a room right across the street.
08-Feb-2012 19:42, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.2, 6.271mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 800
Looking from Lincoln Center back towards the Empire Hotel
08-Feb-2012 19:43, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800
I love this crazy ass picture looking down Broadway to Hotel Empire
08-Feb-2012 19:46, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 5.393mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 800
The sign for Lincoln Center with its electronic steps in the background
08-Feb-2012 19:48, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
There's a rooftop lounge/bar at the Hotel Empire where you can get up close and personal with its sign
08-Feb-2012 19:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 500
Had to do a self shot
08-Feb-2012 19:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 800
View looking north at the Broadway / Columbus intersection
08-Feb-2012 19:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800
Totally worth making into a poster
08-Feb-2012 19:55, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800
Without a fisheye lens, it was kind of impossible getting the entire sign in frame
08-Feb-2012 19:55, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250
Day 2 in NYC – 9 Feb 2012
The next day was a Thursday so it was a full day to spend hanging around doing whatever, as it wasn’t until Friday when we had to take off to New Jersey for the wedding. We first revisited our fave Utopia diner for breakfast, then headed down to Ground Zero. I’d been wanting to see the Freedom Tower up close as the last time we were there, it hadn’t broken ground level. So to see it 70 or so stories up is insane. Unfortunately we didn’t make reservations to get into the Memorial Park so we’ll have to take care of that the next time. I want to see the waterfalls and names up close. After Ground Zero, we took a ferry over to Hoboken and visited with Larry’s sister, Alyssa, and her newborn daughter, Stacy. It was awesome to see them. Finally, we went back into the city and met up with Treva at the Standard Hotel’s swanky and EXPENSIVE rooftop lounge. Great views, but definitely not conducive to relaxing for very long. And God help you if you sit down where you haven’t reserved it. Eeek. We found a relatively less expensive wine bar for a few more drinks, then said good night to Treva, and then headed over to Blue Smoke, the home of the best mac & cheese ever. Great ribs too. We were basically shitfaced by the end of the night. Yay!
Morning outside the Hotel Empire
09-Feb-2012 10:12, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 250
Decided to check out Ground Zero - this here is the Freedom Tower under construction. Much higher than last time we were down here.
09-Feb-2012 11:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
You can kind of see the big memorial waterfall
09-Feb-2012 12:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 9.592mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
Without reservations, this view is about as good as it gets as you can't get inside
09-Feb-2012 12:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 9.592mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
09-Feb-2012 12:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 9.592mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 250
Sitting at the Hudson River with the Statue of Liberty in the distance
09-Feb-2012 12:13, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 3.5, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
Zoom in a bit
09-Feb-2012 12:13, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
Bundled up because NYC got COLD when I came out there
09-Feb-2012 12:13, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 125
Larry and Jersey City
09-Feb-2012 12:14, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100
Chilling, literally, at the Hudson River
09-Feb-2012 12:14, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 320
From the World Financial Plaza, you can see into Ground Zero a little more
09-Feb-2012 12:38, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
The Freedom Tower has gotten HUGE
09-Feb-2012 12:38, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
09-Feb-2012 12:38, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 160
You can see the waterfall again here
09-Feb-2012 12:39, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 16.824mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
09-Feb-2012 12:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 160
09-Feb-2012 12:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
I love the way the buildings here all look like they're right on top of each other
09-Feb-2012 12:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.0, 8.258mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
09-Feb-2012 12:47, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.709mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 160
The main foyer of the World Financial Plaza
09-Feb-2012 12:49, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
We went to Hoboken to visit Larry's sister and her newborn daughter
09-Feb-2012 13:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 320
The view from Hoboken's ferry terminal to southern Manhattan
09-Feb-2012 15:21, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 9.592mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 200
The Freedom Tower is definitely going to stand out from the buildings there
09-Feb-2012 15:22, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 800
That would be good ol' Midtown Manhattan
09-Feb-2012 15:25, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
The view from the Standard Hotel's rooftop lounge - Midtown is always striking at night
09-Feb-2012 16:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
The Cloud City fixture in the Standard Hotel's rooftop lounge
09-Feb-2012 16:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 800
Having drinks with Treva
09-Feb-2012 16:31, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
Your favorites!
09-Feb-2012 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 3200
Drinking their $20 (tip included) drinks
09-Feb-2012 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
This is the view from the bathroom. The wall is entirely window. And it's see-thru on both sides.
09-Feb-2012 16:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
Had to take a picture, but it doesn't convey the scope all that well.
09-Feb-2012 16:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
09-Feb-2012 16:35, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.1 sec, ISO 800
the view of the Standard Hotel from the ground - you can see the lounge from here
09-Feb-2012 17:04, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 4.5, 10.485mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 3200
The Meatpacking District's Apple Store
09-Feb-2012 17:46, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 640
At Madison Square Park on the way to Blue Smoke
09-Feb-2012 18:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
The Empire State Building was very striking that night, as was Larry
09-Feb-2012 18:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
Firmly standing my ground
09-Feb-2012 18:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 800
Night mode strikes again with the sense of motion captured
09-Feb-2012 20:23, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 800
From NY to NJ – 10 Feb 2012
Not many pictures here as this was mainly a day to recover from drinking too much the night before (must admit I wasn’t that hungover though – just tired), grab some food and then get a black car to drive us to Morristown, NJ, which was about an hour’s drive from the Empire Hotel. It was another relaxed day but it was fun because that evening, we got to have dinner (and drinks, of course) with Melissa Milas and Ryan Curtiss and eventually got to see Jeff Crepeau and meet Beth. Yay!
The Fashion Week entry to the tents
10-Feb-2012 10:36, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 200
10-Feb-2012 10:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 250
It was getting a little busy in the Lincoln Center plaza
10-Feb-2012 10:37, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 200
10-Feb-2012 10:40, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 320
At the Madison Hotel's Red Dog Tavern with Melissa, a great place with a waiter who while hot broke lots of things.
10-Feb-2012 18:07, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 3200
This is very strangely lit shot - I am quite drunk here, and don't really remember this. Hi Jeff!
10-Feb-2012 19:41, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 500
Melissa in much more natural lighting.
10-Feb-2012 20:00, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400
Jeff Gets Married – 11 Feb 2012
The wedding wasn’t until 4pm, so we had plenty of time to kill that day. Unfortunately, there’s not much to do in Morristown, especially if you don’t have a car. What was cool was that there was a train station right next to the hotel, and if we had been adventurous, we could have taken the train in to the city again, but at this point, I think we were NYC’d out. So there was a lot of TV watching and I read much more of “Clash of Kings.” Kelly Dean had stayed with her in-laws the night before but she came in shortly before the wedding started, so the Colorado Springs gang at that point was as re-formed as it was going to get. As you can see in the pics below, the wedding was in a beautiful place and the wedding itself was great. And quick, which is always appreciated. 🙂 Cocktail hour (yay!) followed and then the reception, which was good food mixed with fun dancing. No midgets, but there was a photo booth and an ice cream bar(!). Our table had a blast, told lots of dirty jokes and stories, danced a lot, and of course, drank plenty (while also finding out Whitney Houston had died). It was great to see Jeff get married and to finally meet his fiancee/wife, Beth. They’re currently off and about on a Space-A adventure, and I think they’re still bouncing around Europe as we speak, having hit Venice and Rome. It’s a great way to travel if you have the free time! Congratulations Jeff and Beth!
It freakin' snowed the night before.
11-Feb-2012 06:32, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100
Our classy ladies
11-Feb-2012 13:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
I miss KD and Melissa!
11-Feb-2012 13:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
KD makes me have faces like this
11-Feb-2012 13:53, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
?
11-Feb-2012 13:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 400
Verging on gay-face there - me, not Larry
11-Feb-2012 13:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 200
11-Feb-2012 13:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
I think Larry feels that way quite a bit
11-Feb-2012 13:54, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 400
The conservatory where the wedding was held
11-Feb-2012 13:59, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 400
11-Feb-2012 13:59, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.8, 4.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
Jeff in his mess dress
11-Feb-2012 14:01, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 400
Beth coming to meet him
11-Feb-2012 14:05, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.2, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
11-Feb-2012 14:05, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.5, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 250
Not the most close-up of shots, admittedly. I didn't bring a camera like Ryan's super-mega one
11-Feb-2012 14:12, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 200
11-Feb-2012 14:16, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 400
Ready for their march back as a wedded couple
11-Feb-2012 14:17, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 15.225mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
And my camera decides to focus on the lady's head in front of me
11-Feb-2012 14:17, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 15.225mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
Seriously, what the heck is wrong with my camera at this point!?
11-Feb-2012 14:17, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 15.225mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
Melissa is ready for her meal
11-Feb-2012 15:58, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Oh boy, dancing photos never really capture you in a way you want to be captured. Never.
11-Feb-2012 19:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400
I love to put my hands up.
11-Feb-2012 19:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Work it, Miss Keladora
11-Feb-2012 19:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
A very cute photo of the bride and groom
11-Feb-2012 19:18, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:19, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Yay, sweatyface!
11-Feb-2012 19:19, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:20, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:20, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:20, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:20, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 400
11-Feb-2012 19:21, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400
11-Feb-2012 19:21, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:22, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 800
Someone get these guys off the dance floor
11-Feb-2012 19:22, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:22, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
11-Feb-2012 19:23, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400
11-Feb-2012 19:23, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 400
11-Feb-2012 19:23, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.8, 18.8mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Jeff's friend Brian who I met back in 2007 when I went with Jeff and Susan to Europe. No Shannon with him this time though.
11-Feb-2012 19:28, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 5.0, 11.381mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
One More Pic – 12 Feb 2012
Their first morning after the wedding
12-Feb-2012 08:10, Canon Canon PowerShot ELPH 500 HS, 2.0, 4.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800