This photo is part of my attempt to take at least one photograph a day in 2011.
Inspired by SE’r PoorOldMama, we declared January 8 International Serious Eats Day and tried to spark a series of distributed, autonomous meet-ups of SE’rs across the U.S. and around the world.
At the NYC meet-up at Radegast Hall & Biergarten, we had easily more than 100 folks show up. At one point, we pretty much OWNED half the hall,* taking up three-plus tables.
These two women were sitting at one of the SE tables, and I sat down across from them, attempting to be an affable host. They had a box, which I began pawing. “What’s in here?!?”
“Cupcakes. It’s her birthday,” says the one on the left.
“Oh, wow! Happy birthday!”
How cool, I thought, that an SE’r would choose to celebrate her birthday with us during ISEDay.
“Did you make them?!?”
“Um, yeah. Do you want to see them?”
“Sure.”
The one on the left opens the box, and I start shooting pictures. I thank them and leave.
About an hour later, I’m chatting with SENY editor Carey Jones and her boyfriend. Carey’s like, “Um, did you know those two women with the cupcakes weren’t here for the meet-up?”
I AM MORTIFIED.
“It’s OK,” Carey’s BF says, “I explained to them what was going on. But they were pretty freaked out at first.”
So, if you’re reading this, ladies, I’m sorry for bugging you and freaking you out. My birthday gift to you is the weird story you had to tell your friends later that day.
* Many thanks to Radegast, whose hospitality in the face of such unexpected numbers was impeccable. The beer and food were great, too!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA… I’m sorry but HAHAHAHAHA… I have done the same thing before and forced myself to be social (cuz I get shy at these things) and introduce myself to people to only find out they were not at a place for the same reason I was… mortifying but funny later… hehe 🙂 At least someone explained to them why you did that… instead of just them always thinking of you as weird dude!
I know! I think Carey’s BF was like, “I explained it to them, so they didn’t think you were crazy.”
I said, “Well, I am crazy, but this time not for the obvious reasons.”
Too funny!