Day 42: The Cru

Photo of the Day: Sailing on the Hudson

Today after work, I met up for dinner with my friend Jonathan (see my post Day 40: The Best Friend), who is visiting from Austin this weekend. He is in town for Movement Day, a conference held in New York City for urban ministry movement leaders, so we dined together with a lot of his Campus Crusade for Christ co-workers who had come in for the event. They selected a well-known Italian eatery called Dean's Restaurant & Pizzeria on the Upper West Side. It was quite elegant and spacious, the latter being a rare characteristic in New York City. A group of us ordered family-style and shared two pasta dishes and a pizza. The Spaghetti Carbonara and Farfalle Vedura were tasty, but it was the pizza that took the cake (or should I say pie?). Made in classic brick-oven New York style, our order was topped with sun-dried tomatoes, prosciutto, garlic, basil, and mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. Delicious! 

Afterward, we went to the apartment of one of the Crusade staff women who works in New York. Hanging out until midnight playing games, it was like college all over again. Despite the many new faces, it felt familiar and fun as we laughed ourselves silly over ridiculous competitions. 

If you're wondering about the Photo of the Day, it was taken at the Riverbank State Park on the Upper West Side along the Hudson River. I arrived early for dinner and decided to swing the park by for a quick stroll to pass the time. The lighting over the water at sunset was magical, so I'm glad I took the detour!

The view from Riverbank State Park on the Upper West Side.

Sailboats on the Hudson River between Manhattan and New Jersey at sunset.

Flowers at Riverbank State Park on the Upper West Side.

White pizza with sun-dried tomato, prosciutto, garlic, and basil at Dean's.

Polishing off the pasta at Dean's.