What a trip! Three Christmas parties, two memorable dinners, a few nights out at clubs, plenty of drinks—and, as El Guapo joked, a partridge in a pear tree. We squeezed a remarkable amount into three days in New York City, making the most of every minute.
Day 2
We didn’t leave Indochine until 1:30 a.m., so the morning arrived faster than any of us wanted. Still, there’s no room for wimps on these trips: I headed to the train early with Michael to catch the express to New Canaan, while Doug and Bret arrived a bit later. I helped Michael set up for our first party of the weekend, and it was a whirlwind of activity. Note to Michael: next year, bring us in earlier!
We gathered at their remarkable bridge house, a striking piece of architecture designed by Philip Johnson during his most prolific period as part of the Harvard Five. The property has been lovingly maintained; Doug and Michael are only the second owners since it was commissioned nearly sixty years ago, and Michael has been working for two years to modernize systems while preserving the original design.
The party at the bridge house went off without a hitch. The guests were warm and chatty, and we made a few new friends. My cousin AJ helped coordinate everything—this was his second time organizing the event and he steered us through the challenges like a pro.
Next stop: the West Village Christmas party. Space is always tight in the city, yet this gathering felt lively and packed. Fortunately the bar was accessible and people mingled comfortably. We met some interesting folks—one was Bernard, an MTV producer from San Diego. We bonded over hometown similarities; Denver, in our conversation, felt like “San Diego West.”
By 1 a.m. we were starving and headed to dinner. I’m the kind of person who gets cranky without food, and after a night of drinking a late meal was essential. We made it to the Standard Hotel just before the kitchen closed and devoured grilled cheese, fries and a Moscow mule. A Glee star even crossed our path, which made the night feel extra surreal.
Day 3
Sunday was supposed to be for rest, but with our pace there’s little downtime. We slept in a bit after the late night. AJ and Mr. B ran to the corner market to fetch bagels and lox—perfect hangover food—and the others focused on prepping for the final party that evening.
While the hosts handled setup, AJ, Mr. B and I hit the streets. Mr. B wasn’t happy with his shirt choice, so we went shopping in SoHo for a better option. Then it was a brisk walk past Madison Avenue to admire the Christmas decorations; the oversized snowflakes hanging above intersections and the festive window displays finally got us into the holiday spirit.
A quick change of clothes and we were off to the third and final party—the main event we had been looking forward to all weekend. It was wonderful meeting the hosts’ close friends and enjoying an evening full of laughter and good conversation. If you two ever read this, thank you for inviting us.