Hunkering down in the blizzard

We (and everyone else actually) stocked up on groceries and other essentials in preparation for the big storm.  Dy said that they didn't get too much snow in the city, but we ended up being snowed in.  There were 3 to 4 foot drifts in places - particularly in our driveway.  Unfortunately our batty landlady convinced us to bring our cars deep into the driveway, so we were stuck behind her. (Shame on us - how is it that we moved from MN without a decent shovel?!) We managed to convince her that we couldn't shovel it all with a measly car shovel so she finally hired someone to dig us out. 

Winter wonderland in the backyard

Front yard 

Driveway

Closeup of the car, pre-shovelling

After shoveling

Dy's Birthday: Eating tour

We haven't celebrated Dy's birthday together in AGES.  Now that we are finally in the same city, Pranay organized an awesome eatery-route through Little Italy and Chinatown in Manhattan. 

First stop: Pepperoni pizza at Prince St. Pizza (27 Prince St)

 "Oh, excuse me, did you want a bite of this?"

Second stop: Taim Falafel and Smoothie Bar (45 Spring St) 

Chowing down in the concrete playground across the street

Third Stop: Giant chocolate chip cookie from Birdbath Neighborhood Green Bakery (right next door)

Fourth Stop: Pranay bought some fresh mozzarella from this classic Italian deli

Fifth stop: Paos (soft chinese buns)

"Egg custard? But this is amazing!"

Sixth stop: Dimsum from 456 Shanghai Cuisine. 

Seventh stop: Hong Kong Supermarket. 

Stocked up on some basic chinese-y supplies.  (157 Hester St)

Eighth and final stop: Vivi's bubble tea. 

Mina and Masi playing with lightsabers

 

Christmas in Rochester

We definitely missed Rochester!  We had two awesome weeks to get in as much stuff as possible.

A full house

Super cute wrapping paper that was individualized for each grandkid

Xmas PJs

The pretty view from Bob and Leslie's new sunroom.  We were lucky to see a white Christmas

Tuckered out after the festivities

Got to see the whole extended family too!

Helping Mama pack

"I wanna walk like [dada], talk like [dada] too!"

Our Family of Friends

Shruthi and Mallory at Pho Chau.  A few days after this picture was taken Mallory drove out to Bakersfield, CA to teach a genetics course for a semester.  She likes to live on the edge though - she was still doing mouse experiments until the last minute, and classes in CA are scheduled to start on Jan 4th!  Shruthi is having a lot of success with her oncolytic virotherapy company, Omnis Pharma (http://www.omnispharma.com/#!team/c1olq).  As Chief Scientific Officer, she is spending some time with their collaborator at AstraZeneca (!) in California, and just got her first royalty check.  

Chris and his son Alex at Forager Brewery.  Chris was working at Omnis's sister company, Imanis Life Sciences in Rochester but decided that wasn't working out.  So, he continues to do referee for national soccer matches while his wife finishes up her fellowship at Mayo.  

 

Aaron Wulff, Caleb and Liam.  Martha is working as a middle school teacher, and Aaron is looking for job and taking care of two very active little kids.  

 

New Years at Uma's.  Uma is now officially on staff - 90% research, and 10% clinical - she actually has an office on the same floor as the Barry Lab. 

Nadia (13 mo) and Mina (15 mo).  Nadia is showing Mina how to eat blueberries by the fistful

Dan is still working with Kelly, his business partner, to come up with a unique coffee device. So we even snuck in some time for some clandestine coffee experiments.  These are three different roasts, brewed in two different ways.   

The day after we returned to NY we managed to catch up with Mehma and Aarti at the Indian restaurant in Port Washington.  They were only in town for a couple of hours, but it was nice to see them.