Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

It's been so nice to see old friends and come back to New York City. Lots has changed, little has changed. There's a newly designed subway map. The W is gone, the M has replaced the V, and the Q goes all the way to Astoria. People have new jobs, new apartments, new relationships, and some friends even became models in my absence.

After the homogeneity of China, it also felt good to be in a more diverse place. Gayle (who threw me a wonderful welcome-home roof party) lives in Prospect Heights. Getting off the subway on Saturday after eleven months in Dalian was like a shot in the arm: old black men sitting outside a barbershop, hipsters on their laptops inside quirky cafes, Hasidic Jews walking purposefully somewhere, teenagers playing ball on the sidewalk.

Washington Ave

Burritos and beer under the stars

Last night was a little MOMI reunion in Williamsburg, which was equally wonderful. It's nice to feel like you can just pick up where you've left off.

Beautiful pizza at Motorino's

Meredith's "Welcome Back" book...

...where she illustrated my blog posts!