Chicago

Lyakhovetskiy, Lyakovetsky and Lakowsky met for a get-together weekend in Chicago.

We took a river tour of this surprisingly good looking and clean city. Then we settled for a long lunch at Trump Plaza, overlooking Chicago river and lake Michigan. There we performed a field study on what's better: Scotch or Bourbon. The results were inconclusive. We'll have to repeat it again.

At night, Dad took kids to the movies (first time, since early eighties, if ever). We saw Gravity. We didn't like it.

.... Pictures will be here soon....

Eugene Onegin

"I was re-reading Moby Dick the other day ...it's about this whale..." 
                                                                                  (Wonderful Town)

Irene with the kids went to see Eugene Onegin at the Mets. Not to fall behind, I got a recording from iTunes, which led to re-reading of the book.

The book is pure genius. How about this, for example:

XXXIII

...Когда благому просвещенью

Отдвинем более границ,

Современем (по расчисленью

Философических таблиц,

Лет чрез пятьсот) дороги, верно,

У нас изменятся безмерно:

Шоссе Россию здесь и тут,

Соединив, пересекут.

Мосты чугунные чрез воды

Шагнут широкою дугой,

Раздвинем горы, под водой

Пророем дерзостные своды,

И заведет крещеный мир

На каждой станции трактир...

Mind you, it's 1826.

BTW, did you know that the book had no Prince Gremin character. It was written by Tchaikovsky.

Leon's crossing the line in a race (second place)

Martha's Vineyard

Click here for more pictures

We spent the last week of August in "our" house on Martha's Vineyard. This year, it was quite cold, rainy and windy. No crabs.

The highlight of the week was our childhood friend Yulia with her daughter, on tour of the U.S., visiting us on the island. That, and Max's getting a picture with 30 Rock start Jack McBrayer.

Players

Happy 13th birthday Max!

Cousins

Stranger

Andra, Rachel and Dana flew in for a quick visit.
And then we had this stranger show up unannounced. Guess who this is?

Battlescars

Max in E.R.

Max, attempted a trick on his bike, but (he was wearing flip-flops) slipped and fell. His chin needed 11 stitches. He had the stitches removed on the day of his birthday. It is all healed up by now; Max proudly sporting a small scar.

Leon's trying to reconstruct the accident
(следственный эксперимент)

Text from Leon on our wedding anniversary:

Thanks for getting married, it helped me a lot

Hudson River Bike Ride

Max and Dad went on a bike ride across Hudson River over the former railroad bridge (now Hudson Walkway) near Poughkeepsie, NY.

See more pictures here

France 2013

Irene came back from business trip to France. Pictures from the trip are here.

At Bobby's BBQ

After Max's Piano Recital, at Bobby's BBQ in Westport

Recital

Fritz Spindler Op. 157, No 4.

A Character

Best Character Actor Award

Earnest

Max as Jack Worthing in SLS production of "The Importance of Being Earnest"
More Pictures

Happy Mother's Day

Landscape, by Max

Package Rage

New comic from Max - was #1 in rage comic reddit yesterday, 215K views, 6K upvotes.

Package Rage

Niagara Falls

Last weekend, Max and Dad flew to Buffalo / Niagara Falls. There, we met with our friends Piskunov (vacationing in the States). The weather was gorgeous and the views - spectacular.

View from Canadian Side
Click here for more pictures

Max's Rages

Left-handed Rage

Showering Rage

Stuffy Nose Rage

Blooming Spring 2013

April in Westport
More pictures

Cultured

Two main events of past week - Louis C.K. live performance in Stamford (great!) and "Mad Men" Season 6 premier (awkward...).

Louis C.K., complaining about his bulk, said that the worst part of his day is when he has to put socks on.

In overripe Mad Men, each character became a caricature on its former self, with exception of joke-cracking Roger, who became Woody Allen (as astutely observed Leon).

Travelers

Last week, Max with his French class was in Quebec. Irene was at a conference in Monterey (by way of San Francisco).

At the Pier 39
Click here for more pictures

On the way to Canada
Click here for more pictures

Before Smartphones

This rage comic "Before Smartphones", by Max, collected over 250,000 views and counting

Before Smartphones, by Max

In L.A. with Krauses

In L.A. with Krauses
(click here for more pictures)

Fame

Max played Professor in St.Luke's production of the musical "Fame Jr."
(click here for larger pictures)

Leon 2.0

Turn sound ON

Snowbird, Utah

Alik and I went to a short skiing trip to Snowbird, Utah. 

The views were spectacular and the 11K mountain kept us quite challenged.

Chip's Run, Snowbird, Utah

See more pictures here

Downstairs

Not to be outdone by Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey hiring of a new footman, we hired two new domestic staffers - Roomba and Mint.

Silent, well trained and discreet, they are absolutely marvelous.

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...