Late September in Seattle

...and some of the things I miss the most...

The Value of an MBA

One of the things I’ve realized since graduating from Business School is the value of the MBA. Yes, I earned an awesome education and the experience itself has shaped me beyond any other time of life. However – and as I’ve expressed to many MBA candidates – what you really get out of Business School is a network. Of friends. Of colleagues. Of contacts. While I’m sure this is true of many, if not all, graduate school programs, the value of my MBA education has been priceless.

I was reminded of this again as I had lunch with Patti Brooke, a friend of mine from the UW MBA Class of 2000. I think Patti and I may have only had a class or two together and worked together only in one group, I believe. That said, however, I had always admired her and we were fast friends.

Patti was in New York for Ad Week and we met for lunch at a little corner Italian place on 8th. We caught up on where we are professionally and in life. Shared stories of tragedy and triumph both personal and in the lives of our common acquaintances. Patti said something that really struck me… she mentioned that she was particularly impressed that I was living in New York knowing the value I place on friendship and the quality and depth of the relationships I have in Seattle.

I suppose I’d be more impressed myself if I wasn’t as rocked by the whole transition altogether. Still, it was nice to spend time with someone who I completely respect, with whom I spent two siginificant years of my life, yet who I rarely see, and who knows me at the core and of the things I value beyond breath.

Thank you, Patti.

Happy Brithday, C-Ennis!

For Charles’ 2006 Birthday, we got him to New York City for his first vacation in a long time. He arrived on Tuesday night and we started his NYC adventure by joining my fellow DRIVE folks from Seattle at Desmond’s (see previous post). After giving Jason a run for his money at Buck Hunter, Charles and I then mapped out his Manhattan itinerary. And, of course, no Manhattan Adventure would be complete without a CrashOut shot at my place!

Charles was Mr.NYC all day Wednesday and took in as many sights as possible throughout the city. Importantly, however, Charles took in Century 21 and Filene’s Basement and scored some awesome finds. We met up later in the afternoon for the AARF Happy Hour @ Aspen where we could only stay for a bit because of the show tickets we had for Wednesday night: Kasabian + Mew at Webster Hall!

After enjoying crack-marinated short ribs from Saigon Grill, Kasabian rocked us and the heavily-British house. The best part of the show was the music and energy, but a fave for me was the crazy likeness of the Kasabian lead singer to Hugh Grant’s wacky roommate in ‘Notting Hill’. Could have been the shag British haircut, the size-too-small t-shirt exposing his paunch every time he lifted his arms, or simply me subliminally playing the Celebrity Look-Alike Game. Whatever the reason, the guy was Spike in the flesh.

Charles enjoyed SoHo on Thursday while I worked. We met for lunch – at which time, he expressed, ‘I’d love to have a quality star sighting while I’m here.’ Not 60-minutes later, his prayer was answered as Mike Meyers passed us on Spring Street. Yes, that Mike Meyers. Quality Star Sighting for sure!

Charles met Elphaba and Glinda at the Gershwin Theatre Thursday night while I was at volleyball. The night wouldn’t have been complete with a full download after the show, so we headed out to Cilantro for an 11:30PM Fajita/Margarita/drunken adventure.

Friday night – A BALL! Charles took on the town during the day and after I got off work, we headed out to Williamsburg to the Brooklyn Brewery. After downing the largest pie slices you’ve ever seen, we hit the Brewery in what would be the start of another awesome Friday night out of Manhattan. Charles and I secured a picnic table and were quickly joined by a fun party of four who used our second deck of cards and with whom we drunkenly bonded for the rest of the evening. Sadly, no photos were captured of our new friends… and no names remembered. We do remember, however, that Charles managed to slam their New Balance shoes and they still bought us beer!

After the Brewery, I took Charles to my favorite place on the planet: MyMoon. As the birthday celebration continued, we were introduced to Patrone espresso-flavored tequila and quickly tipped back two shots in honor of 9.15.2006. We agreed that the second one was in honor of Aiden Francis Grieb – there’s always a good reason for a pair of shots, I say!

We said farewell to Brooklyn and hit Orchid Lounge on the Lower East Side to meet Charles’ friend Dinah from Law School, her husband and a couple of his friends. We could have continued our string of fun and adult beverages in the LES, but I just had to take the gang to Pop Burger in Chelsea! If you come to New York and the Pop Burger option doesn’t come up, know that I have done something terribly wrong. It’s the equivalent of Dick’s in Seattle – an institution worth visiting, if not for the sliders and cool ambiance, then for the swank lounge and built-in video booth behind its façade.

Charles and I did the UES bagel thing Saturday morning before we trekking to the World Trade Center site. Even for a Saturday, the place wasn’t overwhelmingly busy and we were affording ample time to reflect. This is my fourth or fifth time at the site and it’s still just as moving as the first. That said, however, I realize that all of me wants there to be healing there – and construction. I feel the site will be more impactful with statements of regrowth through rebuilding. Five years later and we’re still looking at a construction site. I’m looking forward to a memorial – and to what they have in store for it.

We also ventured into the heart of Chelsea to Billy’s Bakery – a locale that Dinah had wanted to check out for their famous cupcakes and ambiance. It was a charming treat and a great way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon with friends. More sun and yet another great way to spend a Saturday was with a stroll through Central Park. Charles and I decided to walk through the park to get home such that he could get some time and several mid-town vantages from one of the most famous Commons in the world.

Sunday morning was yet another slow one, but started off in the West Village at Cafeteria. We said hello to Dylan McDermott and farewell to Dinah and Jeff there, only to return to my place to send Charles on his way as well.

As has been every visit from a Seattle friend, it was a great week! I’m already looking forward to Charles returning – as he is for another round of Pop Burger! Happy Birthday, dear friend!!

CrAzY DRIVErs!

Some of the DRIVE posse hit New York and painted the town red. Me? I painted the underside of the toilet bowl in their Alex Hotel suite, but that’s a story you’ve probably already heard as what happens in New York… gets spread all over the place. (It was not the drinking, I swear!)

Chris, Jason and Justin came to Manhattan to visit clients. Given that NYC was chock-full of booked hotel rooms due to the U.N. Summit, they resorted to a 2BR and shared the space between the three of them. OK, Chris and Justin shared more than space, but I’m optimistically of the belief that some things stay where they should.

I wasn’t able to join the gang for most of their outings, but did have a chance to enjoy Desmond’s Tavern, along with P.S.450, and Bar XII – where we finished the night with plasma screens in the round and on the back of the beer taps. And yes, I ended up crashing on their hotel room couch that night, but was fully ready to head to work in the morning!

My friend Charles also arrived in town early in the week, so we ventured out with them again one night… starting at Desmond’s, working through P.S.450, and finishing our night with Buck Hunter at Whiskey River. On their final night, I also got to go to their AARF Happy Hour to see some familiar faces, but more that I didn’t recognize. Aspen is a hot new lounge in the Flatiron District with killer buffalo and bacon sliders. Deelish!

It's always a kick in the pants to hang out with other CrAzY DRIVErs and I'm looking forward to more visits from HQ in the coming months!

Project Runway!!

I went to the Project Runway Show @ Olympus Fashion Week Friday morning!

In a nutshell, I met Gillian at a Happy Hour we hosted at work for a client. She had just started there and we got to talking about Project Runway. She mentioned that she *might* be able to get in to the Project Runway Show and said that if so, she'd take me. WOO HOO! Turns out, she did and we went! The passes turned out to be 'knowing the head security guard' (through her mom's boyfriend) and we were ushered to the front of the priority Standing Room Only line.

We then had to wait for all of the seats to be filled, then they started to let in the Standing Room folks. It was brilliant altogether -- as from our vantage point, we got to see everyone enter... including all of the designers and celebs heading in to the show.

We stood with unimpeded views to watch the collections come by from Jeffrey, Uli, Laura, and Michael. Talk about AWESOME! Heidi started the show with a quick greeting and the show just started and managed itself. Each of the designers came out, said a few words, then let their collections do the talking.

You can check out each of the collections above -- I have to admit that I was impressed by Uli's collection and disappointed in Michael's. That said, we won't know the winners either until the show airs either this week or next!

The best part of the show, however, might have been the adventures after. Gillian and I decided that we wanted to meet the designers and get as many photos as possible. The one here of Heidi Klum is the closest we could get to her as she was swarmed after by the media. However, we got to wander through the crowd and meet the other designers. I talked to crazy Vincent; Angela cheek-kissed me. I chatted most with beautiful Alison, met Connie, got a photo with Robert, chatted a bit with Kayne, was complimented on my jacket by my Season 2 favorite Nick, and spent quite a bit of time with Michael's mother -- who became best friends with Gillian.

My personal highlight came as I was just kind of hanging out, then found myself engaged in a conversation with some woman, Thom Filicia from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and the guest judge -- a designer I didn't know. I raised the question, 'so, having seen the collections, who's your favorite to win?' The random woman said she was impressed with Uli. Thom mentioned he hadn't followed the show too closely this season, but thought that Uli also had the best full collection on the runway. The judge then said, 'well, as a judge, I can't really say.' I didn't know who she was or that she was a judge (so uneducated, Todd!), so said I didn't know she was judging; that I had come late and didn't see who the guest judge was, but was excited that it was her (again, whoever she was). At that point, she turned to talk to someone and I noticed her Project Runway note cards in her hand. I grabbed Thom and motioned down to her hands. "You distract her; I'll get the results!", I whispered. Thom and I laughed and high-fived. At that point, he reached out his hand, "Hi. I'm Thom." The guy introduced himself to me! Like I didn't know who he was. Brilliant!

I then joined Gillian again for more meet-and-greet and photos. It was a blast altogether and an adventure for the ages! Again, I'll be getting more photos to update and support this entry, but in the meantime, I'm still just giddy. And, I'm not going to lie, I'm also giddy about having met Alison Kelly. She was such a calming beauty:


So, I got to go to Fashion Week, to attend the hottest show of the event, and to mingle with celebs and top designers. Who would have thought the Eastern Oregon kid would wind up in Manhattan at Fashion Week in Bryant Park for the Spring 2007 Collection?

Celebrity Sighting!

I know this isn't a big one per se, but I'm completely excited about it: I walked past Peter Krause tonight crossing 10th @ 57th! Who is Peter Krause you say? He's the very Nate Fisher from Six Feet Under -- the series I'm wholly and completely addicted to at the moment! I was walking with my volleyball teammate Mark and we walked right by. Given that he was in workout gear and jogs on the show, it was a celbrity sighting with 100% assurance. Ironically, he's been a prick on the show lately.

In other news, I'll have a pretty awesome adventure to report this weekend. Stay tuned! It's SO GOOD you won't want to miss it!

LIVE from Bryant Park...

Olympus Fashion Week!!!

Instead of heading home after work tonight, I decided to head to Bryant Park and check out the Fashion Week events. I'm sitting here in the park enjoying an incredible evening and watching the world of fashion unfold not 20 yards away. Every now and again, a series of flashing bulbs draw my attention to who might be arriving, but so far, it's been unrecognizable (to me) designers and stunningly skinny models.

The Baby Phat show is tonight at 8PM... it's 7PM now and folks are already lining up to take in the arrival action. Should I try to score an even better spot and kill another hour? Or do I have better things to do tonight? -- more flashes -- more skinny people -- more people in tight clothes I don't recognize -- THIS IS FUN!!

More to come...

I ended up venturing over to the pathway from 40th into the Fashion Week Tent and caught the arrivals of Brandy, 50 Cent (who, incedentally was arrested that very morning for speeding and erratic, unlicensed, uninsured driving in Midtown), Jamie Lynn Sigler, and Lorraine Bracco, to name a few I recognized.

I also saw Baby Phat designer Kimora Lee Simmons arrive with her entourage. Here's what was so very interesting. While there was a flock of paparazzi lined up and the entrance to the path to capture celebs getting out of cars, once they entered the actual 'runway' to the tent, there were pretty much just a handful of star gazers, maybe a person or two deep on either side. What was hilarious to me about Kimora Lee's grand entrance is that she glammed all the way in to the tent. Even though there was few paparazzi snapping photos at that point, she was hair-tossing and lip-pursing and having silent conversations with the folks around her the entire way in. I caught myself laughing out loud and her silent one-woman show. Did she realize that people were standing not 5 feet away on either side and she wasn't fooling anyone?

Honestly, you know what? It didn't really matter. It was a show and I was completely entertained. Definitely worth the price of admission!

That said, the Olympus Fashion Week Site posts photos from the runway shows along with video clips. Check out the Baby Phat Show as well as any others of interest. I ended up admist the departing models from the Nicole Miller Show and am so far a big fan of John Bartlett's Spring Men's Line.

Labor Day Weekend

I'm coming off of an incredibly low-key holiday weekend... and am in that space between again. It was a good weekend in that I consider having gone to the U.S.Open to be a part of it, but I also got to experience the tail end of Hurricane Ernesto, all of 'Six Feet Under' Season III, and brunch at Les Deux Gamins with my dear friend Jen who I just don't get to see that often.

The biggest news of the weekend might be the fact that I started running! Tired of me becoming a New York Giant myself, I made this weekend the start of my daily exercise commitment. Unfortunately, it's pouring rain tonight, so my evening will not include running, but indoor exercise -- a plan I will be developing as I go.

And so, with the passing of August, so too has passed my 5th month in Manhattan and the 7th month of my DRIVEnyc one-year commitment. I oddly still feel as though this is all new, so it's way too early to tell what this will all mean come early 2007. I do know this, however, I still find myself walking the streets thinking, 'I live here. Incredible.'. I'm also getting excited about the upcoming visits of friends Charles, John, Amy, and the Pidducks, and know that my time here won't be complete until we exhaust it.

My best to you, avid reader. I hope you're well!

A Day at the U.S.Open!

My colleague Gary and I took clients to the U.S. Open yesterday. I love that I got to go again this year; it was something I have been hoping to make a reality since having moved out here. We scored box seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium to catch the likes of Roger Federer, Justine Henin-Hardenne and James Blake -- who wore flourescent to honor Andre Agassi's Retirement Tour.

Of course, when you walk the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, you also get to be up close and personal with all of the professionals playing throughout the grounds. We also saw a doubles match with Robby Ginepri and the Mixed Doubles battle between the Bryan brothers and their respective partners, including Martina Navratilova.

Of course, now the effects of Hurricane Ernesto are touching New York and the Open will be facing rain outs through the weekend and week. This means that tickets will be hard to come by to simply head out to Flushing again to catch some tennis action. However, it does mean that I'll get to enjoy it throughout the week, with close-ups and replays from my couch!