Happy New Year

Max, Gangham Style

Westport Ice Rink, Dec 30, 2012

Nice Work If You Can Get It

We were in the first row, my seat was straight behind the conductor. The star of the show, Matthew Broderick, was looking into my eyes, smiling, winking... Only later, I came to realize that he was actually looking at the conductor...

Screen Tests by Max

Max continues experimenting with Lego animation techniques. The weapons theme is unfortunate, especially after Newtown, and we hope he is going to change that to something non-violent.

(Make sure the sound is ON, because his sound effects are even better than the animation)

Lego Weapon Store

Sniper Test

Walking Test

Flintlock Test

SLS Band Winter Concert

Irene Does Europe 3

In this episode, Irene goes back to London to buy more tea at Harrods. 

...Coming soon...

Thanksgiving Feast 2012

Zombie Experiment

Max's new short... It's very experimental...

Irene representing IBM at a panel discussion in New York

Gymnastics Dynasty Continues

Irene's presentation about herself to IBM's colleagues

Click here to see Irene's presentation about herself to IBM's colleagues

CSIdal Bomber

Max's Latest

(turn sound ON)

Athena

Not too bad

Sandy-shmendy

(news picture)

Sat 11/3

Parents got the power and the Internet back. Still, lots of trees hanging on the wires.

Fri 11/2

In the evening, we got the power and the Internet back, but parents are still without. The generator ran for 4 days non-stop, keeping us warm and entertained. Each day was about 10 gallons of gas ($45).

In the morning, got home telephone line working.

Thu 11/1

Ditto.


Wed 10/31

Still no power / no Internet. No repair crews on the streets - must be busy somewhere else.

Tue 10/30

We have no power (running on the generator) and no Internet, but other than that, all is normal. Not as bad as other storms of the past.

Phone line went dead.

Picked up Leon on Tuesday night - NYC below 38 street is all dark. So, the students were told to move to camp in the few buildings that have generators or to get out. Empty highways. Made it to Washington Square and back in less then 2 hours.

Mon 10/29

Power went out around 4PM.

Irene does Europe 2

Irene is back from the second European tour London - Paris - Amsterdam.

Here are the pictures:

London Album

Paris Album

Amsterdam Album

Ink Experiment

Max's painting Ink Experiment was named Artwork of the Week at school.

Ink Experiment, by Max (ink, carton)

Prepping for Halloween

Max raided the Army and Navy Surplus Store today.

Gone Fishing

Last weekend, Max, Dad went fishing in a good company of close friends. We rented this boat and set out  from the very tip of Long Island. Max turned to be an excellent sailor and a fisherman catching two sea bass despite rather rough seas. Dad - not so much. Stricken by sea sickness, he spent most of the long and fun nine hours horizontally in the cabin.

Pictures and the short movie below are courtesy of Oleg.

Vienna - Bucharest - Tallinn - Vienna

Click here for pictures from Irene's tour

Fame

From streets of Saratov

Irene does Europe

Irene is on a multi-country tour in Europe on IBM business.

At a conference in Tallinn

Going Back to School

Max and Leon at Coffee Shop Cafe on Union Square next to Leon's dorm

Leon's room

Odnoklassniki и примкнувшие

Coke Commercial

Martha's Vineyard Vacation

Perfect summer vacation - we swam, kayaked, boogie boarded (mostly on sand), went fishing (no luck) and crabbing (big success), flew kite, watched countless hours of Olympics, biked around the island (Leon did), saw our friends, braved rain and high seas (Grandpa and Grandma did), ...

Here is a link to some pictures... and more pictures to come...

Evidently, the video above was inspired by this:

Happy Birthday, Max!

Max's birthday bash this year was attended by the record 24 people! And it was just on a weekday Thursday...

Grand Opening of Dr. Lakowsky Office!!!

www.drlakowsky.com

Lego Army Gone Mad

Another short film by Max

Happy Birthday, Mom / Grandma / Lita !

from Bella

Kayaking

There is a new kayak rental place by the old bridge over Saugatuck River. Vitaly F. who works there told us about it. Max and I gave it a try on Tuesday and today we came back with Leon, Alex and Dennis. It was like an instant vacation in the middle of workday. The part of the river that connects with Long Island Sound is quite wide. While it's close to home we never went there, because there is no public access from the shore pass the point when we took off. But on the river in the kayak, we were on our own, free to explore whatever we wanted. We are definitely coming back!

Pictures are here

Nerf War

See pictures from the Nerf War organized by Max for his friends here

Grand Day Out

Max, Leon and I spent Monday shamelessly enjoying the tourist traps of San Francisco.

Weekend at Alik's

Last weekend, Max, Leon and I were visiting with Alik. Here are some pictures from the trip.

Father's Day

Leon continues the fine tradition of forgery and fakery with this handmade gift certificate

Bella's Sweet 16

Bella looked awesome and it was also wonderful to see how much she is loved and respected by her friends.

See pictures from the party here.

Mia's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Mia!

See more pictures from the party here.

Max got this "пилотка" from Misha and Ira who are visiting with us this week.

Blue Man Group

Last night, we went to see Blue Man Group performance at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT.
Maryasha M., who is on the show crew, gave us the backstage tour and presented Max with the drumsticks used during the show. The show was a flawlessly choreographed and performed eccentric fun.

We are very proud of the grace and professionalism with which Maryasha manages her formidable duties back stage. The troupe moves to a new location every two-three days, as the show criss-crosses the country in the six(!) huge eighteen-wheelers full of equipment.

See more pictures from the show

Max won two awards today - the Best Comedy Performer (for his performance in Spring One Acts last week) and the Thespian Award (for his performance over the past three quarters).

Spring One Acts

Max in St.Luke's Middle School Production of "Spring One Acts".
Click here for more pictures.

Fish

Yesterday, after months of planning and coordination of schedules, we met with Andrey and Eva in the city, where we polished off this four-pounder.

Vegas

Last Saturday, we met our friends Piskunovs in Vegas.

What happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas. Except for this photos from the Hoover Dam.

Vampire Deer

Last year, the deer ate all the greenery around the house. This time, we bought some magic potion - check out the ingredients (dried blood, garlic, cloves...). It will keep the vampires away for sure, but what about deer? Will see about that...

Irene with Sheldon Fetissov

Best in Show

While at the New York Autoshow few weeks ago, Leon took part in the competition on the race simulator. Turns out, his time was best in show. He is now expecting a windfall of promotional goodies from Ford.

Cinematography

Max's rendition of Aunt Rhody Boogie

P.S. Дрожащая в середине клипа камера, это, по всей видимости, кинематографические эксперименты насмотревшейся Виктории Гай Германики Иры.

Photography

Due to weird temperature fluctuations - a week of a very warm weather followed by weeks of cold nights, the blooming this year is especially long... The flowers stay on the branches like being refrigerated.

Here is the photo gallery link. 

All shots are from local streets.

Осторожно Тигры

Here are some pictures that Max took on his school visit to the Bronx Zoo about a month ago. Interestingly, the sign "Осторожно Тигры Рядом" was only in Russian...