ALIVE, and LIVE

lots of pictures from a party

We had a party last week (to celebrate the Knicks and) because (as u know) we started a podcast, called Mary in America, which I host.

Our first interview was with Al Roth, the Nobel-prize winning economist who created a kidney matching exchange.

I’ve heard from SO many listeners that they are they’re still thinking about the conversation — that they’re considering their own moral lines, internal delineations of right and wrong to discover where they are and why. Like for this listener:

OUR SECOND episode was a conversation with Xochitl Gonzalez, the writer. If I could give you one piece of advice it would be to go buy her latest book, Last Night in Brooklyn, situate yourself on a pool float so you are separated from your phone, lay down, and read the whole thing cover to cover while you float in the sun. The book is so fun and goes down so easy, because Xochitl knows what she’s doing.

OUR THIRD episode came out Friday — it’s a conversation with Leila Amineddoleh, who is THEE person to call if/when you find yourself with some stolen art.

But the party!! As you know I think we are not socializing enough and I think the cure for this is parties, and — new to me — sport, maybe? The Atlantic recommended last year that everybody in America have two (2) parties per year, at least, to get us out of this hole. Last year I had little parties in my front yard, but I like an invite list in the hundreds. This year, I will meet my quota.

Here’s me welcoming you to the party:

all photos courtesy of Jess Tran

Before we get in too deep I need to show you the CAKE:

it’s teal, it has our logo, it has stars, ribbons, disco-ball-silver cherries??

AND IT WAS GOOD

This baby is a Bodega Cakes creation. Beautiful, delicious, devoured. We are so grateful.

we had to ask an expert to cut it for us, we were too scared. Ann Treistman made her own wedding cake. she wasn’t scared.

It was a really good party. Crucially, people attended, and they talked to one another. And laughed!

introducing new best friends across the party, as much as I was able

Scott and Eduardo are like omg pizza

As this picture suggests, we ended up with TOO MUCH pizza, if you can imagine. We decided to share the bounty with our fellow Knicks fans in the streets (see below for documentation). Because this took place this past Wednesday, which you know was game four, Knicks v Spurs, so at 8:30pm we turned the projector on and got to witness history. For which we were ready:

Luana has a bag for every occasion. Like a luxe Ms Frizzle

Jessica Siskin, forthcoming author!!, and her sequin pants

Here we are getting to Billy on the Street some pizza at happy New Yorkers.

And here is our team, or the part of it that could attend:

We are thrilled, exhausted, euphoric, manic, delighted, madly in love with you. From left we have Creative Director Caitlin Owens; Executive Producer Katherine Sullivan; me, duh; and stylist (!) Rachel Garcia. Not to do the whole credits sorry but the rest of our team who aren’t pictured: editors Liza Yeager and Meg Cramer, DP Brian Leisring, set designer Marko Orso & Hannah Newman, music theme composer Scott Lane at Overcoast Music & Sound (close readers will note that’s my husband); producer Mitchell Johnson; video editors Shira Golden and Nick Oliver; and HMU Fredy Anaya. Jess Tran was our photographer for this party. There are, improbably, a few more, but you have to know that I can’t say enough good things about these people!!! I’m happy to provide unequivocal recommendations for all.

I’m still euphoric, and tbh still tired — I stayed out way too late, but life is tradeoffs and I would and will do it again.

Our next episode comes out Friday (and every subsequent Friday, forever). Like ‘n’ subscribe!!!! Send me your best guest suggestions, your biggest questions, the weirdest true story you ever heard or adventure you went on, I wanna hear it all!