The Only Gin I Actually Like?

Care for a Drink?

Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery, 14 Grist Mill Lane, Gardiner, NY 12525

Amy is at Jenn Gnecco's Bridal Shower in Newburgh this morning... What's a guy to do?

Notes

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Good Old Fashion Politics

The Graycliff

The Graycliff, 122 Moonachie Ave, Moonachie, NJ 07074

Mayor/State Senator Brian P. Stack hosted a Spring Gala at The Graycliff Banquet Hall.  This is the second or third such event that we have been invited to - a flier in the door.    

Notes

Moonachie is a suburb in the Meadowland area.  The venue's immediate surroundings to the South and East are industrial buildings, to the West is Teterboro Airport, and then to the North is Residential.

The Graycliff is a banquet oasis in the middle of all this.  Hedges keep the surroundings peaceful and private.  

Senator Stack represents New Jersey's 33rd Congressional District: all of Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken, and a portion of Jersey City. - Were all 250,000 residents invited?

By the time we arrived, all the tables were full and the people seemed to have set up residence.

We arrived at 7, the advertised start.  The reception line was out the door and down the building.  Amy's crutches got us cut into the front of the line. 

Inside there was a photo booth and we DID NOT see a coat check as we navigated to the ballroom where the main buffet was set out.

Calimari Salad, Macaroni Salad, and Pasta Salad

Red and Yellow Roasted Peppers

Raw Clams, boiled shrimp, followed by vegetables, dip, and pieces of bread.

PASTA!  Penne in marinara, tortellini in alfredo, ziti in Bolognese

Italian sausage and peppers, Tostones, and Maduros

Meat Balls, Eggplant Rollatini, Chicken, Rice and Beans and off the end: Seafood Paella

I did not get a photo of the carving stations, or the open bars.

The auxiliary buffet, seating, and bar in the tent-in-the-parking lot annex

And of course, Music and Dancing!

Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas Party at Home

Superbowl 51!

Tonight is Super Bowl LI  or 51 to those of you who think roman numerals are pretentious and archaic.   It is being held in Houston TX.  Houston is becoming quite the item in our lives.

Amy and I went to see The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Fredrick Loews Theater on the NYU Campus

After the show, we rushed home just in time to put the finishing touches on our annual Super Bowl Party.  Here is what we had:

Taco Meatball Ring

These were GREAT.  So great, that the salad part was good for just that:  a salad. Tomorrow, we are having the meatballs with red sauce and pasta with the spinach dip (below)

Buffalo Brussels Sprouts

These too were excellent, and a great way to mix up the prep of sprouts! 

Slow Cooker Reuben Dip

This tastes just like a good Reuben.  But it is definitely something best WARM!  Here we had it as a spread on toasted Rye Bread.

Spinach Dip and Onion Soup Dip

Have to have some classics.

Christmas Cookies for a Cookie Party

Mexican Chocolate Cherry Cookies... just a little cayenne :)

Apple / Pear Linzer Cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Stars

Cookie Tray Set to Go!