Our Family Reunion

Usually family reunions are large families who are spread out over a few states and gather together in a random place (with homemade T-shirts and all) once a year or every few years to see each other. Well, in this case, my extended family is within a few mile radius of each other, and all originally from NYC (if not Italy) - the same borough even, Queens - and some of us still haven't ever really met. Though when we did, it was like we had always known each other. So we spent an evening at Piccolo's, another italian experience, and all got together to hang out and chill, and for some, meet for the first time.

These are my 3rd cousins, I think! Haha. It's pretty amazing how we are all around the same age. 3 of them are married (including my sister) - 2 of the weddings were just recently - and 2 more are engaged.





There are only 4 of us left single, myself included... :) The only one missing was my brother who didn't get home until a few weeks later!



i love tony's head sticking out in this one.....can't miss a picture...


How cute - the older generation :)



Here's the guys...lookin' slightly like a bunch of "how you doin's"...





Here's the girls...



Before I left NYC again, and being that my brother had gotten leave from the army and was home by now, we arranged another time to get together...and this time we all realized another very important fact about our family, we're all catlovers!

Radio City Music Hall...Thank you Aunt Beanie and Uncle Richie! Haha

Being a native NYer, this was ironically the first time I had seen the Radio City Show...the famous Rockettes. It was pretty incredible and a definite NYC holiday experience....















There's a beautiful 'nativity' scene at the end, which I completely did not expect, with live animals - camels and goats - and great costumes. The show talked about the real reason we celebrate. I just was shocked that in our day when everything is all politically correct, this show has gone under the radar so to speak and the story of Jesus' birth is still being shared.. (tho Nicole noticed that they never actually say the name "Jesus" throughout the whole monologue...hmmm...but still you can assume everyone knows the story)...





and then of course, not to be outdone, the real rockettes took to the streets!!! crazy NYers...





and to top it all off, we enjoyed dinner and (barely) dancing at a real city Cuban restaurant, complete with authentic Cuban cigar-making on premises.. Really good food and a great band!