Earlier last week, I had a pleasurable experience exploring the Mickey: The True Original Exhibition in NYC. We couldn’t miss Micky’s 90th Birthday bash, especially since the museum has landed in the city. It’s been a while since my last encounter with Mickey Mouse. Thirteen years (Senior Trip) to be exact, and my little buddy hasn’t really aged at all. From all the urban artwork to the nostalgic Mickey Mouse Club diner, Mo and I spent a couple of hours exploring each room within the museum. Plus, we got to walk around in these cool Mickey Mouse ears. How fun! I felt like a little kid all over again! I’m not going to spoil too much about the exhibit, but the pictures speak for themselves. If you have a upcoming trip to NYC and $38 to spare, be sure to pay Mickey a visit. He will appreciate all the fun!

From Micky and friends,

-Bryce Lennon

“What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”

On Friday, September 23, 2016, Ariana J Williams lost her life in  a tragic car accident. Unfortunately, the memory still haunts me today. I was sitting in a staff meeting, and I received a text message from one of my friends, Kira. She asked to me check up on Tatiana since she saw a “Rest in Peace” post to her sister on Instagram earlier that morning. I excused myself from the meeting and gave Tatiana, a call. The phone went straight to voicemail. Luckily, I was able to get in contact with Tatiana’s cousin Whitney. She eventually broke the news to me about Ariana’s passing. My heart sank instantly, as a tear rolled down my left cheek. To anyone who has ever experienced the loss of a friend, sibling, parent, or relative, my heart goes out to you. Words can’t describe the feeling.

For the last two years, family and friends of Ariana gather for an evening of remembrance and fellowship. This year, we congregated in Florence, NJ for a candlelight service. While under the stars, we ate, danced, and came together in honor of Ariana’s life. We love and miss you Ari!

Her twin sister, Tatiana, has been working around the clock to debut her personal blog 365daysofloss.com. There’s nothing I love more than a blog with a powerful message. To be transparent, Tatiana’s work is truly AMAZING! I admire anyone that can channel their energy in a positive direction. So, make sure you check out 365daysofloss. Be sure to show Tatiana some love.

Bless,

-Bryce Lennon

By now, you should be quite aware that summer is the most popular season for weddings. This doesn’t mean that the other seasons are more or less great. However, there is something special about walking down the isle on a beautiful summer afternoon or evening. That being said, I was honored to be apart of my friend’s big wedding day last weekend! Reggie and Chavon met a little over three years ago, and have been inseparable ever since. So, it came to no surprise when Reggie popped the question last fall, and here we are! The couple tied the knot in Durham, North Carolina. Their wedding venue, Cotton Room at Golden Belt, was truly magnificent! It’s factory like appearance was the perfect location for this special occasion. Before the wedding, the groomsmen were confined to the “Man Cave” to relax, drink, and snack. Luckily, I was able to snag a few shots before we hit the ceremony, as shown above. When the wedding photographer drops those photos, I’ll be sure to share. In the meantime, enjoy my pregame shots 🙂 .

Congrats again Reggie and Chavon,

-Bryce Lennon

On Thursday, August 16th, Maurice and I had the opportunity to dress in all white and attend Le Dîner en Blanc in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia! What the heck is Le Dîner en Blanc? To clarify, Dîner en Blanc is an invitation only dinner party that originated in Paris thirty years ago. Over the course of an hour, guests travel together in groups to a secret location for a night under the stars. So, this is the second time I attended the event, thanks to a wonderful friend of mine, Cassandre! She has been looking out for the kid since last summer. What a gem! For inquiring minds, if you are looking to attend and don’t have a direct connection, you can register for next year here. If I’m not mistaken, you will get added to the Phase III waiting list.

So, here’s how it works: grab a partner, pack a delicious meal, purchase some white furniture, decorate a center piece, bring a bottle, and wear some comfortable shoes. Sounds simple, right? Well, not exactly, but it’s a heck of a great time. We purchased most of our items from Amazon, IKEA, and Dollar General (Don’t Judge 🙂 ) which can be found here: 1) Outdoor compact table ; 2) Folding chairs ; 3) Tablecloth; 4) Chair covers; We also purchased a hand truck from Loews to transport everything.

When dressing for the vent, make sure everything is white. Not beige, cream, or off white, but white! They are very strict folks. Depending on what city you are in, you may be able to get by with a non-white. Last year, I wore my favorite suede chelsea boots. This year, I dressed down my blazer and shorts with a pair of white chucks. Maurice stepped out in a sleeveless dress shirt, white denim jeans, and black boots with a rose neck accessory. For the ladies, wear your favorite white skirt or dress to the event. Heels or sandals will also work.

Food, food, and more food! Depending on your budget constraints, you can bring your own food to the event, or purchase a meal from the event itself. Maurice and I decided to keep it simple. We packed a picnic basket with some of our favorite treats including a house salad, salmon, crackers, fruit, and wine. Yummy right?

This year, we had an opportunity to wine and dine at City Hall, which was a huge contrast from last summer! The event itself was broken up into three or four sections, with live muiscians and djs playing throughout the venue. We danced in almost every section. By the end of the night, the entire crowd was worn out, but it was way worth it! I hope you were able to live vicariously through us.

Au revoir,

-Bryce Lennon