Wednesday, July 6, 2011

4th of July Recap

At the last minute, Dan and I decided to go to Ocean Grove, NJ, our favorite local beach destination.

As you know, the one day we go to the beach is usually my favorite day of the whole year. Kind of crazy that I would use up my one and only beach day so early in the summer season. Maybe this might mean there could be room for seconds?



The best part about going to the Jersey shore via my mom's house is that she bought us a delicious assortment of food to eat including cold cut sandwiches, grapes, watermelon, and a can of Pringles. Is there anything better than eating on the beach?


Except, perhaps, having an ice cream sundae after the beach? Or in Dan's case, going to Red Bank, NJ to check out a record store after the beach? (By the way, Red Bank is a pretty cute place. Who knew?) When we came home at 9 pm, my mom had the barbecue ready and we ate more food and more ice cream outside on the deck and it was warm and dark and lovely. I think I just love eating outside.


Thanks, Ocean Grove!

On the actual 4th of July, we were invited to Adam and Nell's rooftop for an Independence Day celebration which also served as a last hurrah since they are moving to Brooklyn in a week. Their friends, Amie and Rob, co-hosted the get-together. They also live in the building, and they are moving to Brooklyn in a few weeks. It's a mass exodus. The Squeens are practically the only people left in all of Manhattan. We have spent a lot of great days and nights at Adam and Nell's place, including the roof top. (Remember our crazy makeshift mini-golf course with Courtney's bra as an obstacle?) Yeah, good times. An end of an era. But good stuff ahead of us, I am sure.


Dan and Adam.


Me and Nell


Um, we didn't eat vegetarian at this party.


I made a peach slab pie for the first time. In case you don't know, a slab pie is a pie made on a baking sheet. Some say its akin to a pop tart. While making it, it was so hot in my apartment and the dough was not cold enough so it completely fell apart when I rolled it. Chris Nowak would not approve. I was convinced it was ruined as I tried to bind it all together again but I made it at the last minute so I had no choice but to just go with it. And you know what, it tasted really, really good and didn't look half bad either.

The sunset that night was crazy amazing. We were all taking a hundred pictures.


Amie and Nell getting shutter-happy.










Any good barbecue includes some guitar playing.


Lots of people were setting off fireworks around the neighborhood. (And yes, that is the Empire State Building being all red, white and blue.)


But we also got a nice view of how the professionals do it with the Macy's Firework Display.

Happy 4th of July!

3 comments:

Peter said...

I remember Mom and Dad taking us to the beach and they alway brought Weaver chicken drumsticks wrapped up in tinfoil. They always tasted so good. I think they sell them boneless these days and are not the same. Miss the good old days:)

Peter said...

Love the fireworks pics too.

Susan said...

What a fun celebration! We were in Canada....and they didn't celebrate the 4th of July.
Gorgeous sunset pictures.
Your slab pie looked wonderfully tasty!