Santi missed out on the next round of classes for his usual Music for Aardvarks class (www.musicforbrooklyn.com) but we still get to enjoy some weekly musical fun. The new apartment is now closer to the cafe that hosts a kiddie sing-a-long every Thursday morning. Led by the ashy blonde haired Lloyd (below), he sings, dances while playing both the guitar and harmonica to a group of enthusiastic younglings.

We've transitioned Santi to taking one longer nap in the afternoon as opposed to having one in the morning and another one later in the day. I've been pushing his nap time a little later than he's used to so he's usually groggy around 11am. Here he is after music class:

Mica texted me early morning yesterday asking to have some of the bangus I had in the freezer and that got me craving for bangus myself. Instead of the usual fried fish however, I decided to put a slight spin on my meal by cooking it like sisig, with onions, garlic and chili. I haven't had bangus sisig since 2008 back in Manila. Might have been late at night with Jammi after a closing shift at TPC Fort or after a late night drinking sloshfest with my Pilar buddies. I've missed eating at Gourmet, a late night cantina in the middle of BF Homes. If I ever find myself back home again, I shall pay a visit to this little hole in the wall.

I'd like to assume that Taco is sleeping off his Friday in preparation for a sleepless yet exciting weekend ahead of him. But really, it's me who's about to get no sleep this weekend. Nothing to complain about though. Vien and I have been excited for tonight's event. My fabulous Tita B from the UK, scored both of us tickets to Sleep No More, an interactive theater performance. I've been hearing and reading so much about it and I can't quite contain my excitement.

Tomorrow, I have lunch with both Omar and Santi and their respective parental units. For now, the plan is to have another pinoy feast in Queens as we usually do when we all get together. In the evening, I get to be V's plus one to his friend's birthday. However the rest of the evening pans out, I am anticipating another foodtrip trip on Sunday to help nurse the aftereffects of the previous night.

My weekends keep getting better and better. As mentioned in my Friday post, Vien made me a mussel dinner last Friday. The finished dish can be seen on the right. It was so good we did not have enough bread to mop up that yummy sauce.

We also had way too many Vietnamese bahn mis this weekend. We pretty much had one everyday from Friday until Monday. I think I'm taking a short break from those for a while.

Across the street from the bahn mi spot was this mural which was funny to me because my roommate's name is Caitlin.

Saturday was met with the first snowfall of this season. Usually, it starts with light flurries but that day, it snowed all day until late evening. It got so cold that Vien and I blew off three Halloween parties that we were supposed to attend and stayed in watching movies on Netflix.

 Snow on cars outside his bedroom window.

Halloween day was also moving day for Ana and Poy. I took Santi back to my apartment where we hung out with Vien while Ana, Poy and hired movers packed everything and moved all their stuff to the new apartment.

Later that day, Vien helped me while I took Santi trick or treating. He was such a cutie dressed up as Tigger. After an hour of candy begging, the three of us headed to Cornelius for Oyster Happy Hour. One year old Santi watched as his Nanny and her helper downed 18 oysters each with glasses of beer.

This is Vien when he was a baby. He hardly looks anything like he does today. This baby photo must be of someone else noh?

Monday night, I went out to see a Sandwich gig at the lower east side. I listened to them a lot in college and I was so happy to learn they were coming to NYC to perform. I got to see a few people from Manila I haven't seen in a long time and it was all very nostalgic and fun.

They let Rann play a couple of songs with them and he naturally ripped my ear drums off with his style of noise.

Sunday morning was met by a sudden craving for Pho and Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Vien was particularly craving them from one particular restaurant in Queens so we hauled our asses all the way from Brooklyn and braved through the mad subway service changes and track work being done over the weekend. About an hour and a half and 4 subway rides later, we were snarfing down hot bowls of pho and spring rolls with iced coffee. Very few words were exchanged while we nurse our hangovers with steaming, delicious broth.

After lunch, we hopped on a cab to go see Omar, who was expecting us for the day. As soon as we walked in the apartment, we were greeted by a tray of multicolored cupcakes with a special note attached...

Now Vien knows why Omar will always be my #1. 

We took him to go see Real Steel (which was blah and doesn't deserve more space in this post). The movie was followed by a quick dinner with Tita Chon at Jackson Hole Diner because Vien was craving for their huge 7oz burgers. 

Benny is back from his 3-week european tour so we met up with him and other friends for a drink before we called it a night.

Vien hung out with Santi and I the next day...

V looks extra chinky here because I pretty much forced him
to get out of bed to hang with us.

We missed the $1 oyster happy hour at Cornelius after work but that didn't stop us from ordering a dozen of them to share and enjoyed with a bowl of fries and beer. I must remember to go back there on a weekend so we can make it to happy hour and chug down a lot more of those. Yum!

In an effort to lessen Santi's TV time, we've started on afternoon dance parties after his afternoon nap. Like today, I played these songs and we both just started moving in the living room while passing around his mom's body ball. Play them and see if you don't start moving.

Birds have begun to fly south

Friday night.

Vien takes me to a ramen joint deep down in the recesses of Alphabet City.

It was sooo good but it oddly reminded of La Paz Batchoy,

which is NOT a bad thing at all.

9:00 am Saturday Morning at Carl Shurz Park

Waaaay up at the Upper East Side for the early morning shoot for Koyuki.

Midday coffee break with Mica

Monday morning madness with Santi.

Dressing him up is like playing with dolls.

He's such a hottie in this denim shirt.

Taco gets silly and rolls around on the sidewalk.