Special Occasion!

I've got four frens that all turned 40 within the month of March. Typically, for most people, that's a cause for self-reflection and the beginning of the mid-life crisis (for any wisecrackers out there, there's no Porsche in my future). Here in the reality-distortion field that is San Francisco, it's just another special occasion, to rally the troops and to eat and drink well!

The pre-party began on Friday night where six of us assembled at the party venue for wine and steak. Bone in Rib-Eye! And some very fine reds. And last minute party-planning.

Hellboy cuts return! MMMMMMMEAT

After a salt and pepper rub and a thin coat of olive oil, off it goes into the All-Clad!

This is where wine, mushrooms and jus go. Reduction!

Dinner!

The next night's highlights (besides the attendees) included a BV Tapestry Flight. Bottles from 1996-2003 were to be opened and tasted. We opened. And tasted.

Part of Saturday's flight

The wine flowed...

...and was drank

Good wine and happy people

Just so you don't get the wrong idea about these parties, they ARE family friendly. For the first two hours.

Jeon and Son, Solicitors

Christine and a new fren (so shy lah)

This is more par for the course!

Kawaii ne? She wants to learn how to ride a motorcycle. Good for her!

From the left, David, Garren, Wal, Mark. March brats.

Typically, you knew the evening was winding down when karaoke began.

I'm singing i'm singing

Actually, our parties end like this, in a mugging!

When the evening started, this was empty

Unlike the previous parties, this was quite tame. Only about 2/3 of the usual suspects showed up, there was actually more wine at the end of the party than at the beginning and no one wound up barfing in front of the house. Also, there was no X-rated kissing and cleanup was almost Japanese in efficiency. Hopefully, since cleanup was easy this time, there'll be another party here soon!