It Is Now A WHAT???

The Limelight. This club was housed in a former Episcopal church in Chelsea. A big part of the New York City club scene in '80s and '90s is now most definitely closed forever.

Lori never actually set foot inside the place, but Maria went a few times in the early 90s, and it truly had to be seen and experienced to be believed. Techno, goth, industrial, trannies, club kids, - all were accommodated dancing on the the floors and the altar.

Not a place for the faint of heart! No one had any need to actively seek out drugs like Ecstasy, Special K, heroin, etc etc because things were so bizarrely handled out in the open. If those walls could talk! The 2003 release of Party Monster starring Macaulay Culkin and Seth Green was based on the murder of Angel Melendez by party promoter Michael Alig. It seemed like the cops busted this place on a regular basis in the 90s, and the venue was in a constant state of closing and reopening. The club took its last breath was taken in 2007.

And now? Yet another completely implausible transformation......

It is a mall. A mall. A freakin' high-end mall. Blasphemy!

The doors opened this month as The Limelight Marketplace. Is nothing sacred??? You can now by gelato and children's books and little soaps on the same spot where acid-laden club-goers partied until the dawn's early light. It is kind of like walking into some sort of warp zone when you go inside and remember how things used to look. Very different clientele now!
This would be facing the altar/stage.
Is this an improvement? Maybe. It just seems like yet another NYC institution, whether it be deemed a positive or a negative one, has gone the way of the mainstream and the tourists. Don't want NYC to lose all its character. Or its characters!

Quiet Reflection

Preschool Musical

As we both have the journey of navigating the NYC preschool admission process in our sights, this Sesame Street sketch temporarily relieves our stress and just cracks us up every time it is on. Brilliant.

Having A Ball

Chelsea Piers also sported a ball pit in the toddler center, and it was Cooper's maiden voyage in such a chasm of globes. Yeah, we know there are as many germs as can be found in a petri dish, but the kid had a ball.

Of course, life always comes with its trials and tribulations.

So close, and yet so far......

Chelsea Piers

Maria had a day with no work last week, so she canceled the babysitter and she and Cooper headed out in to the city to spend some time together. Lots of options: Park? Zoo? Farmer's market? Or maybe the Children's Museum?

Decision was made.

Chelsea Piers.

The duo jumped on the A train to head downtown.

Chelsea Piers is a way cool place. A simply amazing venue. The northern entrance is on 23rd Street, and it spans several blocks and Pier 60, 61, etc etc. Golf, ice-skating, bowling, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, volleyball, baseball, basketball, sailing, and a million other things to do. Very impressive facility.

Cooper was very impressed with facility.

Little Athletes Exploration Center. Only open to toddlers through 4 years old.

Cooper gasped and clapped when we walked in!

Cooper didn't spend all his time crawling and jumping and exploring. The center also had all sorts of cool interactive stations on the walls - gears and bells and patterns and such. And ya know that Cooper found the area where he could open/close the doors and cabinets and fill his little mental quota.

Cooper had a BLAST with this little mini trampoline.

Expecting

A cousin is coming! A cousin is coming!

Michael and Christina are expecting, and due in mid-November. So excited! The first one to hear the news was Cooper - Christina was babysitting a while back and whispered her status in his ear. And Cooper didn't tell a soul! Whatta kid, huh?

We also refrained from spreading word of their condition, but last night they Facebook'ed the world of their upcoming arrival - so we feel it is now safe to jump on the bandwagon. Facebook. Ah, the 21st century. What a weird/wacky venue to make such a broadcast, right? LoL, we did the same thing!

Water Baby

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime......

Cooper loves the water. Loves. Hearts. He can't get enough.

Loch Alex Monster.

Can't wait for an enjoyable summer splashing around in Highland Lake, Lake Coronado, Jersey Shore, and all the numerous pools, sprinklers, and puddles we can find. Do you think that Cooper is too young for the paddle board? What about the jet ski? Will find out!

Brown Eyed Boy Vlll

Nazi Tourette's

Lewis Black. Genius.

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Lounge Lizard

So this little blanket-thing is Cooper's FAVORITE possession. We never saw them or heard about these "lovey" things anywhere..... Until we got three as gifts - one green frog and two blue elephants. Oh my god. They are awesome.

We didn't catch on to its amphibian'ness at first, so we casually and quite wrongly referred to it as Cooper's 'Lounge Lizard' all this time. Sorry Kiddo, that name is a keeper. Anyway, this green guy is in his bed each and every night. He gets so excited when he gets it in his hot little hands. Way cute.

And the two blue elephants? Well, one has made its habitat at the lake house. And the other is the 'travel friend', and he has been to 6 states and 3 countries in his short little career. Not a bad gig!

The company that manufactures these particular critters is called Angel Dear, and we would suggest picking one up as a gift for a baby shower or whatever. These 14" things are way better than a big 'ol blanket they are dragging around or a crusty stuffed animal that is impossible to throw in the washing machine. Seriously, these guys are Cooper's best friends.

Double Trouble

Pop-Pop And Coop

Cooper actually said the word 'Pop' a few times on this trip!

Maria got in on the act too.

Ahoy Matey

Sail away! The whole group grabbed suits and sunscreen, split up between Walter's truck and Vincent's van, and headed to Havensight Dock for the Kirk adventure du jour.

Hung out in the bar area for the crew of Fury to hook up with us. Fury is a 46' Ketch that we chartered for the day. Sailing and snorkeling. Saw many turtles. Life is good.

Alex was a trooper.... He told the captain several times to not go too fast. Looks like he enjoyed himself! (he fell asleep soon after this)

Cooper and his Great-Grandpa. Youngest and oldest. Represent.
Jeannie. Manning the cooler. What a good woman.
Liza. Sans kids and sans husband.
Grandma. The wind-blown movie star look.
Seasickness? Ha! I laugh at the thought!
Ha Ha! I also laugh in the face of seasickness.
Hey Guys! Turtles are thataway!
Lowering the boom...... And our child......
Success! We have engagement.
One. Two. Three.
Good-bye Fury, good-bye!