(e:Terry) and I got done with our tax filings earlier than expected Monday night and got to go on an awesome bike ride (see also (e:paul,57534) and (e:xandra,57532)) with (e:Paul), (e:Xandra) & (e:Dianne), first ride of the season! Woo!

On one of our dates back in December, I had taken (e:Dianne) down to canalside to see the view and she loved it. When we started our ride Monday night, the obvious choices were Delaware Park or the harbor... She had no idea where we were until we were right on the water. So cute.



Then we went to the Pan-American Grill at Hotel Lafayette. Food & beer were okay but the space is incredible!



Floor tiling







Marble detail

Marble context


I would have taken a shot of the gorgeous women's room but (e:Dianne) and I got busted making out before I had a chance (and was too embarrassed after).

We went back to the 24, played a game of Dominion, then went back outside for glow-in-the-dark bocce ball! Woo! (The game is also now known as hibachi ball.)

I really wanna know what Mike's hand is doing.

This is (e:metalpeter)'s photo cropped a bit - it's definitely my favorite of his set. (e:Paul) looks like he should be engaging in some kind of Men in Black activity, like a space-agey spy.

I took some crappy video of the lights synchronized with music. The music is really faint.

Jill, Kelly & I judged the annual Christmas lights contest last night. I've asked some photog friends to help out with the official set of pix but here's my set:

Most Christmas Spirit - this year, Jill C. & Rich H. won - talk about maximizing available resources! They rent the first floor of this house and decorated to the max. Excellent details.



Victorian category winner, the Larsens. Again, awesome details.





Whimsical category had a tie - Nicole & Derek - Jill C. & Nicole are sisters and lived together with their mom, Jill's ex-husband and a ton of kids until about two years ago, their house won a couple times.


and Amy & Robb:


Ryan & Melanie at Bloss Holiday Market won best business display even though there are no lights on the decorations. I've made a request to the board of the nonprofit that owns the building to fix the canopy (I'm on the board).



Dave & April won in the Green Christmas category but I need to go shoot video of it. They timed the lights to music - it's rough execution but good concept.

A top contender for the Victorian category



I like this one.


Also not a winner but we liked its log cabin feel.


Nate & Kelly tried really hard but it doesn't top the others.


Another nice one - Lindquists


Chad & Erica are ineligible because they don't live in the borough but I really like how the lights highlight the lines of the house.

I missed family dinner yesterday because I was sick, but I got leftovers today! A and his niece made these adorable deviled egg chicks for me. A, Nisha and I went for a little stroll around the pond.

:-)

These are just some parade pix. I have some great (e:peep) shots that I'm still playing with... next post!

Submit your proposals by May 1 for the 2012 Buffalo Infringement Festival July 26 - Aug. 5.