Birthday Hamburger, East Village, Manhattan

After being out til 3:30 a.m. the night before, Jess and I got up at 9:30 a.m. to go to Times Square and stand on the TKTS line. To celebrate my last day as age 27 we got tickets for Stomp and made plans to go to dinner. To say I was hungover from the night before would be quite an understatement. And to be in that condition in Times Square is pure torture. But luckily the TKTS line moved quickly and the ticket man was some sort of comedian who made me laugh.

When we got back to Jessica’s apartment, she and her roommate prepared lunch for all of us. I cut two tomatoes and then passed out on the couch trying to get some sleep before the show. Susan made and grilled some pretty amazing cheeseburgers and Jess made a salad and sliced veggies for the burgers. Big thanks to them for making me lunch and helping me get over the results of last night’s drinking binge. After lunch Jess gave me a coffee maker as a birthday gift. I was just mentioning the other day that I may have finally come to terms with my coffee consumption. You see, I never drank coffee until I moved to New York 2 years ago. In the beginning it was only now and then and if you asked me I’d say I didn’t consider myself a coffee drinker. Somehow things escalated into drinking the free coffee at work every morning from paper cups to bringing in my own mug to use to craving it on the weekend mornings. Thanks, Jess!! Now I will never be tired and crabby! Heh, yeh right.

Stomp Stage, Orpheum Theater, East Village, Manhattan

Stomp. It’s not like the hip show to see right now.. it’s been out for about 8 years. Back when it first came out and was big and everywhere I remember living in WI and thinking how great it would be to see it. So yesterday I finally saw it and it was fantastic. Everyday objects being used to make sounds and to have these sounds composed into “music” and to have the “music” orchestrated and performed by up to 10 people on the stage at once is amazing. There is just enough “music” with just enough “dance” sprinkled with satisfying helping of humor. If you haven’t seen it already, go!

Birthday Cake at Gnocco, East Village, Manhattan (photo by Jessica)

For dinner, Jessica & Susan and I met up with Mark & Wendy and Jeannette & Yvan at one of my favorite restaurants in the East Village, Gnocco. The food is delicious and the waiters are all from Italy and very personable .. even if they make lame-o jokes that you don’t really get. Jeannette & Yvan and Mark & Wendy all gave me gifts that support my digital photography habit. Thanks to everyone for a great dinner and for the thoughtful birthday gifts!! Age 27 can get the hell out! Here comes 28!

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