Three trains, getting lost in some questionable alleys, a few cases of Coney Island beer, Farinelle pizza, cops, some friends I haven't seen in forever, and Stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia. Mix, shake, and serve on a cold Friday night.
Following weeks of deprivation of outdoor riding, the first Motion Pictures event showing the infamous stage of last year's Giro elicited an emotional response in me akin to that evoked when I see the word "sunny" combined with a number greater than 30. I didn't even care about the free beer or pizza. When I first heard of the event, all I saw was Cuddles, cycling, and the potential for interaction that is more socially acceptable than therollercam.com. How could I say no to that?
Despite my geographically-challenged sense of direction, I arrived at the Glass Shop at the fashionably prompt hour of 7.35. To a packed room. Empty Coney Island beer bottles already crowded the back of the counter and the pizza boxes were mostly picked over. Getting to the back of the room seemed like a dim possibility. But hey, there was a 9 foot screen and a chair nearby. I wasn't worried about missing the mud-covered finish.
Except that friends started to arrive. People I hadn't seen since I started wearing multiple layers of wool were coming through the door or squeezing towards the front of the Glass Shop. I caught up with Derrick, saw Hot Sam, was invited out on a ride with Phoebe, and met Dave Trimble. And just when I started to remember how to carry on a conversation with someone without 140 character limits, the cops showed up.
Not that that stopped anyone, least of all Cadel. They issued a bunch of [pink!] citations, I actually got to say, "I'm an attorney," and the stage and party finished out. No one seemed to want to leave even after the stage was over, but the last train called and we reluctantly headed out into the cold, still giddy from the stage, the beer, and the company. A monthly thing? Man, I wish this was weekly.
Check out more pictures here, and if you're in NYC next time around, be sure to stop by!
[Note: all photographs by Mr. Gage + Desoto]