Pencils of Promise

I want to take a moment to give a shoutout to Pencils of Promise.

It's a non-profit started by fellow Brown grad AdamBraun.



They build schools in under-developed countries like Laos, Guatemala, and Ghana, and are currently on track to break ground on their 100th school.

I suppose it doesn't hurt that the Biebs is one of their global ambassadors...



Click below to donate to Adam's 29th birthday campaign to build their 100th school, I already did:
http://adams29th.stayclassy.org/fundraise/pop?fcid=215237

(And yes, I am hoping my donation generates good karma for later next month when Justin Bieber performs at my birthday party I attend the Justin Bieber concert.)

TL got hitched

Teresa Lin has changed the way I look at weddings. Forever.

This weekend was nuts. I have thousands of photos to edit through, and I just got back to HK from Bangkok and Phuket, but TimLoh and I are heading downstairs to get massages so I will leave you with a couple of teasers.

Boom.

Boom.

BOOM!

Will post more soon. Off to Tokyo tomorrow!

20 hours in Hong Kong

I landed in HK late Wednesday night.

The first thing we did on Thursday was wake up and go to the market.

After that, it was off to the Jockey Club for brunch with Uncle Bill, Auntie Pearl, and MaMa.

Mmmmmm Mmmmmm. MaMa loooves her waffles.

After brunch we went to the cemetery to pay respects to my Gramps.

MaMa, feeling a surge of energy, decided to attempt the 5 flights of stairs to the top of the cemetery where my grandfather's grave is. Something she hasn't done in about 7 or 8 years!

It was kind of amazing. A 90-year-old lady with two metal legs!

Of course, she needed a breather or two. But we were very proud of her.

And I'm sure gramps was happy to see her.

The way down was kind of scary.

But we made it. Whew!

After a quick dinner, I headed to the airport and hopped on my flight to Phuket, where I'm now sitting poolside looking out on the ocean. Wooo!

A great quote I came across...

“I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine. Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say,” My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very personhood.” It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you “disagree” with your candidate on these issues.” 

— Doug Wright, Pulitzer and Tony Award winning playwright

Layover in Tokyo!

Can't wait to come here to visit for realz exactly one week from now!

Double-header weekend

I had two wedding this past weekend.

One for Alana, who got married at Highlands Country Club, same as Irene a couple weeks ago.

And then I had Vicky and Michael's Wedding in Hamburg, NJ.

Vicky is one of my favorite brides this year. She is just so sweet and SO beautiful. She looked like a bride-model out of a wedding magazine. And she actually wore the same Vera Wang stunner dress as Connie!

The venue was absolutely stunning.

And the party was SUPER fun too!

And now I'm off to Thailand for TL's wedding finally!!!!! I've been counting down the days (and weddings) for months!!!! SQUEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best Day EVERRRR

I was going through old emails yesterday and realized that I had an old paypal account that I had completely forgotten about.

I logged in...and found $6176 sitting in it!

It basically feels like I "found" all that money in my couch or something, because I had long-forgotten that it even existed.

BEST DAY EVER!!!



The funny thing is, just minutes before all this happened I had been driving by the Bellagio fountains and they had created a beautiful rainbow and I had been thinking to myself, "Gosh, rainbows are like the coolest thing EVER." Wrong!

Vegas!!! / EATPARTY!!!

So I came to Vegas on Monday for photo shoot on Tuesday.

I stayed with Erik in his awesome new downtown pad.

The apartment itself is already epic. And then there's his closet, which is like the biggest apartment walk-in closet I've ever seen. It's the size of some NYC bedrooms.

These pictures don't even accurately convey how big this thing was. It's messy because Erik just moved. At least that's his excuse. But I bet you it will still be this way when I return. (Sorry Erik!)

Pretty!

The building also features a two-level gym.

And a pretty lap pool.

And is just steps from Fremont Street.

But who cares about all that. Let's talk about what really matters. Which is FOOOOOOOOD.

I've been trying to be good lately. Been eating lots of salads and Whole Foods.

But when you're in Vegas, you just have to Treat Yo Self.

And the great thing about Vegas is that these resorts are CONSTANTLY trying to outdo each other by having the latest and greatest amenities and attractions.

So when I heard about the brand new Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar's Palace and how it is supposed to be EVEN BETTER than The Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan (voted #1 in Vegas in 2011), I just had to see for myself.

Caesars is such a pretty resort!

And of my god, they weren't lying. This buffet is f*cking EPIC.

It's so EPIC you don't even feel guilty about pigging out. In fact, you'd feel bad if you DIDN'T taste everything because it just feels like you will never ever see this kind of assortment of incredible food ever again and you are just so privileged to even be in its PRESENCE.

CUPCAKES!!!

Seafood Shooters!

Fresh squeezed juices, including Watermelon, Pineapple, and CARROT! We LOOOOVES a carrot juice!

Mussel mania!

Other assorted seafoods

It was so pretty...

Salads and couscous-ery...

Even random assortments of honey...

I'm not even close to finished.

So much DESSERT!

Cake pops!!!

Meatballs!!!

MEATS!!!

CHEESES!!!

Even the CONDIMENT bars looked amazing!!!

And there was an amazing dim sum station that was Chinatown restaurant quality.

Honestly, each station was its own little restaurant. It was as if they'd had hired the best Mexican chefs to handle the mexican dishes.

Chinese chefs just to make the best dim sum ever.

They even had SOUP DUMPLINGS!!!!! And they were GREAT!!!!!

Everyone please just stop what you're doing right this second, lean back in your chairs, raise your hands to the sky and scream with me, "SOUP DUMPLINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

(That is pretty much what I was doing while the quiet little elderly couple next to sat there daintily sipping their tea.)

There was tons of delicious pasta...

They even had Artisanal Bread. (I don't know what kind of idiot eats even a single slice of bread at a buffet like this, but whatevs.)

LOVES a tater tot and fried chicken station!

MMMMMMM chillllld, FRAAHHHD CHICKKKEN!!!!!

Pizza!!!

MORE SOUP DUMPLINGS

And for dessert, cakes, and pies and ice creams galore!!!

I didn't even take pictures of a lot of it. The sushi bar, the curry bar, the taco zone, the carved meat stations. You get the point. Caesars Buffet. You HAVE to go if ever you're in Vegas. It would be a crime to deprive your tummy of such glory.

That's all. After my brain and stomach exploded, I went and played a ton of poker. Made about $250 doing that...

And now I'm currently in-flight back to NYC.

Breast Cancer Fundraiser tomorrow.

Wedding in NJ on Friday.

Wedding in upstate NY on Saturday.

Asia on Tuesday!

WoooooOoOOoOOOOO!!!!