Does anyone else out there find it exceeding difficult to find a TV show that both you and your significant other can enjoy together?  Well, it’s a regular challenge that both Kathleen and I deal with on a regular basis.  She’s obsessed with her morbid crime documentaries or dry Egyptology shows, where as I enjoy silly shows like House or So you think you can dance.  We all have our vices…But every once in a while there’s a show that really works for both of us.  The Cake Boss is one such show.

The show is about Buddy Valastro, who  is one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the United States.  He’s the master baker of Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey.  He’s the BOSS, hence the name.  He basically supervises a team that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law.  The show blends the artistry of cake-making and the drama associated with running a family business.  There are a bunch of characters on the show, which bring us endless entertainment. 

While watching a recent episode, Kathleen and I thought it would be a cool idea to visit the actual bakery in Hoboken.  We joked around about a few times, but I didn’t actually think we’d ever end up going.  I mean, it’s not like it’s just down the street.  We’re talking about a 2 hr drive.  Well, as you might have guessed by now, we chose a date and stuck to it.  We’d be accompanied by our close friend Tara and Kathleen’s brother, Joey.  We chatted and laughed the entire way there.  It was great!  continue reading »

A close friend (Rob) and client of mine recently reached out to me to invite me to attend an NBA game. It’s been years since I attended one so I kindly accepted his generous offer. I brought my sister along and he brought his cousin. Rob chauffeured us in his beautiful Audi A8 and we chatted the entire way. Before we arrived at the arena, we made a quick stop at the Nets headquarters in East Rutherford as Rob’s Net’s representative said he had a gift waiting there for him. It was a typical business building with cubicles and offices galore. However, the big differentiator was the ridiculous amount of NBA memorabilia all over the place. It was a sport nuts paradise. Anyway, Rob was given a really nice team chair that’s actually used by the players in their home games. What’s the big deal you might say? Well, it was signed by NBA superstar Vince Carter. How cool is that?

The night only got better once we arrived at the arena. Special VIP parking and ticket entrance, so no lines at all. Then to the VIP lounge where we were greeted by a massive all you can eat buffet. I actually ran into 1986 Slam Dunk Champion and former NBA star, Spud Web. Very cool stuff. After our binge, we were escorted to our seats. Ground level, right at the corner of the court, near the visiting team’s locker room. The seats were amazing! Good times. Even my sister who could care less about basketball loved the experience. Thanks for the treat Rob.

The following are photos from the event, taken on November 12th, 2008:

Rob and I just after raiding the buffet:

Here’s a view of the court from our seats. We had personal monitors that were playing the game, with replays, which also had other channels that provided statistical data on the game: 

Rob’s representative stopped by at half time to see how we were doing and actually gave us two tickets at the center court for the second half. Apparently he had some extras and figured he’d take care of his VIP guest. Take a look at that face value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were literally in the 3rd row, center court, on the ground level. You could hear the players talking smack and I even spotted a few celebrities in the front row. Check out Vince striking a pose:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to head home: