Dinner Party #4: December 10, 2005

John and I got up to it again, this time it was our post-Holidazzle, pre-exams dinner party. A great night overall. Sam prepared some mulled wine as the introductory drink as people arrived, which went over really well (except for the full cup that John spilled on the carpet, but somehow it managed to clean up pretty well...and my iPod seems to have survived a minor dousing).

The menu was French Onion soup, duck breast (orange/port/tarragon sauce), candy-cane creme brulee.

13 people in total. Adding to the novelty of the evening was the fact that a lot of people's significant others were in town for Holidazzle on Friday night, so we got to meet Cathy's fiancee Calvin (who, incidentally, is completing his MBA/Law joint degree at U of T, in addition to finishing chef school, so he appreciated my quality cookware and our fine german knives). We also met Sara's boyfriend, who was a lot of fun. Steve (one of "the Dartmouth guys") also brought his sister Betsy, who was a pleasant addition to the group--as was my classmate Andrew.

The evening was also productive in that John and I finally got around to getting a couch, in anticipation of a fairly large crowd. The first Ikea in Massachussettes just opened, so we took the opportunity to get ourselves an inexpensive couch which looks like it's from the same colour palette as my poang chair, which works out well. It's also good for unintentional afternoon napping.


Glenn slices the duck breast, while (nearly) professional sous-chef Calvin helps plate the succulent flesh.

Calvin, Betsy, Cathy and Sam enjoy some conversation between courses.

Above: With the oven and stovetop full, John is sure the duckbreasts are about ready.



Left: Kate, Liz, Steve, Sara and Shane enjoying the main course.

Holidazzle 2005 (HBS Christmas Party)

Last week was the annual HBS Holiday Party, known as "Holidazzle". It is a formal event, attended by nearly all of the first year students, and a good deal of second year students. After an initial cocktail reception, each first year section has has a banquet in their own banquet hall, first term "awards" are given within the section, speeches made, and a good deal of joking around happens. Afterwards, the entire group joins the main ballroom for a big party. This year it was at the Sheraton in Boston, near the Prudential Center. It was a good night, although the highlight (next to dinner) was my section's pre-party. We had planned to have a champagne party at one of the student's apartments (Kapil's) then arrange transportation, so we didn't have to suffer through the HBS busing arrangements. In the end though, we wound up securing sponsorship for our party from the Boston Consulting Group, under the aegeis of "recruiting expenses". This naturally required us to increase the quality and quantity of champagne, and so we dutifully purchased cases of Moet & Chandon. Our transportation was improved immensly, utilizing "stretch hummers" and a large "party van". (See photos below). I also used the occasion to buy a good quality tuxedo shirt and bowtie, which I think I've done a decent job learning to tie (if I may say so). Oh yeah: the stretch hummer I rode in (with 23 others) had not only plasma tv's, refrigerator and the like, but it also had a smoke machine and lasers. That's right: Lasers. Hilarious!

Left: Cocktails before dinner. (Morley, Gonzalo, Glenn, Clemens, Nicholas)
Below: Mac, Jayne, Dylan. (Mac's full name is Macomma Grayson III. Apparently, the nickname "Trip" comes from the title "III" and is somwhat common at east coast boarding schools. He went to Harvard undergrad, so I suspect he's heard "Trip" more than once).









My chariot...the only way I travel these days.
Inside the Hummer, we had our token Frenchman (actually, there's three) dispensing the Moet whilst we crusied the snow-packed streets of Boston.
This is me with a classmate, Judy at the cocktail hour before dinner. Sharp looking folks.








For completeness, here's a shot of the inside of the party van...not a bad way to travel either.

Wednesday Socials

One tradition that my class of 90 has initiated (and I'm fully supportive of) is "Wednesday Night Drinks" which we rotate around Boston and Cambridge. Usually we get about 30-40 people out, which is an excellent turnout considering the workload and family responsibilities of some of our classmates.

Our section historian is charged with taking a few pictures to document the evenings, a few of which I've posted here.

This week is the lead-up to three momentus events:

1) Friday: The Annual "HBS Hollidazzle Ball", or, the Christmas Ball. This is a very popular, black tie ball. Over the US Thanksgiving weekend I secured my tuxedo shirt and 2 ties (classic black bowtie, as well as the more modern long tie) for the event, and a couple of websites and frustrating attempts later, have learned to tie a decent bowtie.
Another noteworthy element here is that our section has arranged a Champagne pre-party in my building, as well as transport to the venue in stretch Hummers (stretch limo's, but of the US Military HUM-V variety). Hilariously overkill. And best of all, it's all being paid for by the Boston Consulting Group, ostensibly as a "Recruiting event". I'll certainly take pictures.

2) Saturday: Christmas dinner at Glenn & John's. We're having spicy seafood soup to start, duck breast with an orange/port/tarragon reduction, and finishing with creme brulee. (First two ideas belong to Tim, the last I'll submit as being fairly universal). Should be a great time though, a last hurrah before exams begin.

3) Exams. Not too worried, though most of them are 5 hours long, which can't be fun, but I'll muddle through alright. Enough said on that topic.

Below we see me with Geoff, a former public school teacher. He's definitley among the more left-leaning in the class, and adds a lot of useful perspective to our discussions.

Here I am with Jim, Andrew and Jayne. (Goldman Sachs, McKinsey and Bain respectively...typical of the diverse cross section of students in the program :)