Venue Location and Lodging Options

VENUE LOCATION AND LODGING:
The venue, reBar, is located at 147 Front Street, Brooklyn, NY.

The closest subway is the F train at York St (only one block away).
The subway map is available here:
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

The venue would also not be an expensive cab ride from lower Manhattan or other areas in Brooklyn.
Note: You can have your hotel's front desk call a car service for you. If you would like to take a car back to the location where you are staying, a car service is available on Front St right next to reBar. You can just walk next door to get a car or call. Their phone number is 718-858-6666.

Should you choose to drive, pay parking is available near the venue on Jay St between Front and York Streets.
You can find the venue by plugging the street address into Google Maps here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Nice hotels in Brooklyn are expensive. Even with a group discount, they are pricey. I think you can do better at a less expensive hotel in Manhattan.

Here are some lodging options:

Rent an apartment in Brooklyn at http://www.vrbo.com/. The price per night is comparable to hotels in Brooklyn (sometimes less) and they can sleep a number of people. The wedding is in a section of Brooklyn called DUMBO (down under the Manhattan bridge overpass). Other good areas of Brooklyn to stay in are: Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and Brooklyn Heights. Email me at alisonfrazer@gmail.com if you want me to check out a location that you’re interested in!

Expedia.com, Priceline.com, Travelocity.com, Orbitz.com, and Hotels.com are also good resources for hotels in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Again, email me at alisonfrazer@gmail.com if you want me to check out a place you’re looking at!

A note about gift registry ... and dinner at the reception!

A note about dinner at the reception ...

Will there be food?  Hell yes! Loads of it! There will be appetizers, main courses, desserts ... Vegetarian and non-veggie options will both be available.
Full open bar?  Yup yup.

A note about gifts ...

Your presence at our wedding is gift enough and we would also like to mention that there will be no gift registry.

We live in a small apartment in Brooklyn and we don't have room for any more "stuff."

XOXO

The Bridal Party

The Bride’s Man of Honor and Bridesmaids:
(Commentary by Alison)

 

Marc Savoie – The Bride’s Man of Honor

Marc in the town of A Coruña in the Galicia region of Spain

Alison met Marc at her soul sucking corporate job in New Jersey. While Alison was quite glad to leave that job behind, she did gain a lifelong friend as a result of that experience. Marc shares the bride’s tendency toward wanderlust and a love of all things French. Marc has good taste in music, is talented, warm hearted, linguistically gifted, and pleasantly eccentric. He also knows how to throw one hell of a party! Marc also grew up in New Jersey and he is now living in his very own Haussmannian flat in Paris, France.

Jealous much?  Vive la France! Vive le Marc!

Michaela Hickman – Bridesmaid and Sister of the Groom

Michaela is the beloved sister of the groom. She has also fulfilled a lifelong dream for the bride; she will soon be Ali’s sister! Michaela is a fellow MSW and a successful forensic psychiatric social worker in her home state of Arizona. Michaela can pretty much accomplish whatever she puts her mind to. She’s recently become a world traveler with trips to Singapore and Costa Rica and I’ve seen her walk stealthily in five inch heels. Her accomplishments do not escape me. Michaela has a penchant for 80s fashion when combined with cocktails, but she’s promised not to crimp her hair for the wedding. ;)

Breanne Church – Bridesmaid

Alison met Breanne after moving to Brooklyn and she has fast become one of the bride’s favorite people. Breanne is a gifted writer, world traveler, businesswoman, and is passionate about living life to its fullest. Breanne works in the hotel business, hails from PA via D.C., and now lives in Brooklyn. Last summer, Breanne explored much of Europe with a trip that went from the Netherlands down through France, Spain, and over to Italy! (She’d better take me along one of these times.) We dance, have cocktails, brunch, and gossip about each other’s life quite well.

Sarah Hoadley – Bridesmaid

Alison met Sarah (and, her man and our groomsman, Gerrard Lindsay) at one of Lucas’ DJ gigs almost 6 years ago. We’ve decided that Sarah and Gerrard should teach classes on being awesome. Sarah is super fun and a wonderful, caring friend. She’s usually up for anything and hosts many fight nights with delightful snackie things. Sarah descends from Quakers and her dad is a storm chaser! It’s no surprise that Sarah’s creativity takes on many forms; she is a fashion designer and regularly performs bellydance. I’m hoping Sarah’s Quaker connection can get me into the private Quaker cemetery in Prospect Park where Montgomery Clift is buried! What do you think?

Amanda Kinsley - Bridesmaid

Amanda and Alison met when she visited New York with her man, groomsman Dave Knight. Much to Lucas’ and Alison’s delight, the two decided to move to New York permanently from Arizona. (I’m secretly hoping they’ll move back to AZ with us one day.) Amanda is pursuing a degree in teaching at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn and lives in a 5th floor walk up on a historic block in Clinton Hill. Aside from being really good at climbing stairs, Amanda is a masterful cook and she knows how to have a good time. Amanda also likes to explore caves in Central America, touch large furry spiders, and dodge bats. That doesn’t sound like a vacation to me, but she seems to enjoy it. 

Honorable Mention: Rob Frey – Usher

Robbie and Alison have known each other since they went to the same preschool … so age 3?  They went through school together and played in band together. Ali played Alto Sax and Rob plays the drums. Rob was much more serious about band camp than Ali. He even joined Drum Corps. In high school, Rob asked Ali to buy some green Doc Martens and then they went to Lollapalooza together. A lifelong friendship was solidified in the early 90s through many a punk rock show on Handy Street, hardcore shows at Middlesex County College, and many, many skate videos after school. Ali’s prom date canceled on her at the last minute, so Rob took Ali to the prom the day after our friend Kevin broke his nose. His mom wouldn’t let him wear old school vans. I’m still upset about that.


Honorable Mention: Jacques Bou-Bou - The Bride's Beloved Doggie


Jacques will likely be unable to attend the wedding because he can be naughty (he's a diva) and the venue is not doggie-friendly. Jacques is the "honorary ring boy" - in any event. 
Smooches Jacques. Smooches.      

The Groomsmen: (Commentary by Lucas)

Brian Peterson - Groomsman

Brian, an AZ native and resident, is one of Lucas’s oldest friends and a family favorite around the Hickman household. He is one of the few friends that can still remember the high school years and one of the only ones who told high school to “F” off.  He was often mistaken for a biblical figure while in his 20’s. Brian is also a lethal trivial pursuit opponent, computer genius (according to Lucas), successful poker player, movie critic, fine liquor connoisseur, and an experienced traveler. Brian’s European travels were the catalyst for Lucas’s 2005 solo European backpacking adventure. Brian is an excellent judge of character and the groom has always appreciated Brian’s ability to keep Lucas’ propensity toward BS in check.

David Knight - Groomsman

              

After over a decade of common acquaintances, mutual friends, and two states, Dave has finally settled in Brooklyn and become one of Lucas’s closest friends. Dave, AKA “The Nighthawk,” is everyone’s favorite late night, rock n’ roll adventure seeker, amateur jungle explorer, amphibian husbandry expert, exotic tropical horticulturist, and a JETS fanatic. Dave has recently accepted a position in the organic and sustainable food industry and has happily left the monotony of corporate life behind. He loves a mighty fine cup of joe and is, at times, that Faustian voice in your ear. 

Phil Rigaud - Groomsman

           

Lucas met Phil at a local reggae DJ night through a mutual friend.  A common love of music, obscure movie references, and obsessive record collecting has fostered a great friendship. Aside from being Lucas’ DJ partner in crime, Phil is an internationally sought after provider of good music and the president of Special People Quality Records, Inc. In addition to his many successful musical endeavors, Phil is also a podiatrist; he can quite efficiently saw off a pesky limb or cure what ails your aching feet! Lucas has to credit Phil’s “acta non verba” maxim for the first acquaintance of his future bride. It was Phil’s skilled peripheral vision that spotted Alison’s initial glances towards us, and it was his coaxing that brought Lucas to introduce himself. So, it’s really all his damn fault.

Gerrard Lindsay - Groomsman

           

Lucas first met Gerrard in Central Park while walking with a couple of mutual friends. Gerrard was playing softball and, in the process, he had injured himself and the female shortstop while trying to get to second base. As memorable as this first encounter was, he will always be appreciated for bringing the dance party wherever he goes. This Strong Island native firmly believes, “Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t dance” (DTAWDD).  Gerrard has an almost sadistic fanaticism for the NY Mets and this likely helps him see the positive in any given situation. Gerrard’s ability to make and share his music and act as host to the frequent get-together is the glue that helps keep our circle of friends together.

Mike Josephson - Groomsman

Mike (on right) with fellow Groomsman Gerrard (left)

            Lucas met Mike in NYC the winter of 2004.  A friendship quickly emerged through similar circumstances and interests. At first, Mike thought Lucas was some young elitist punk but he quickly learned that Lucas was actually just shy and quiet around strangers. Mike learned that, once Lucas warms up to people, he can be quite loud and stubborn. A couple years later, Mike moved into the infamous 3^rd Ave apartment with Viki and Lucas until work took him out West to San Francisco. Mike has the superhuman ability to open a bar at 4am after no sleep in order to fulfill the need for a hospitable place to watch European football. Mike is a true supporter of a crap team called Arsenal; a long distance call to talk about the weekend’s football action has been a long tradition between he and the groom. Lucas would like to apologize for leading him to believe Arsenal won the 2006 Champions League Final.

How We Met by Lucas Hickman

Lucas and Ali at Marc's "Bring Your Own Wig" Party in France May 2009 

In the instant gratification age of internet dating, match finding, social networking and speed dating, I met Alison the old school way.  I bought her a drink at the bar. 

There once was a place called Rififi in the East Village.  Once a month, it hosted a soul music dance party called Subway Soul.  The music was always good but the crowd was unpredictable.  It could be jam packed some nights with well dressed patrons shimmying across a talcum covered wood dance floor to the greatest hits the 60’s had to offer.  It could be a mix of young hipsters showing up to what they thought was a Brit-pop night and be pleasantly surprised by the music that was offered, or a bridge and tunnel crowd that heard that Rififi was the place to be. The night that I met Alison, it was none of the above. The place was dead.
 

I had been frequenting this monthly party for the last couple of years.  It was a good meeting place to start off or end the night depending on the vibe.  I met my friend Phil at Rififi and the place was oddly empty for a Saturday night.  After getting a drink and making rounds about the place looking for familiar faces, it was decided that we should wait a couple more minutes to see if anyone else shows then move on to a more happening venue. As we were BS-ing and passing time Phil tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Don’t look now, but there’s a cute blonde [her hair was blonde at the time] checking you out hard, son.”  I waited a couple of moments and nonchalantly stretched my neck, as guys do, to see what was over my shoulder.  I think I said, “Yeah she’s cute, but she’s probably waiting for someone.”  Phil responded, “Nah man, I think she’s been checking you out for a while.”   Another friend showed up and confirmed Phil’s observation.  While two of them pondered where to go next, I was getting up the nerve to go talk to her. 

Once I was left alone at the bar, I really had no choice.  I wasn’t going to stand there and talk to myself.  I might as well see who this young lady was.  I think the first thing I said was, “Hi, I’m Lucas.  You come to this night often?”  Pretty lame, I know, but I was a little out of practice.  I learned her name was Alison, she lived in Jersey, and her friend bailed on her that night so she drove in on her own and ended up at Rififi because she knew it was a good dance spot.  I bought her a Redstripe, talked for a while, and got her to leave with me and go to another bar to meet up with my friends.  The look on Phil’s face was priceless when we walked in together. 

Later that night, I escorted Alison back to her car - and good thing, since we witnessed a purse snatching on the way. I had mentioned that I was leaving for Europe in a couple of weeks and told her that I would love to see her again before I left.  I told her what a pleasure it was to meet her and asked for her number. [Actually, you said you’d “show me a good time.” haha ~ Alison] In any event, I think I waited the average 3 day grace period and called her for a date. 

We had sushi and talked about our lives.  Alison told me how wonderful Paris was and would email me things to do there.  We discussed how unfortunate it was to meet right before I left for Europe for 6 weeks.  We remained in contact via email throughout my trip and I called her for a date as soon as I got back.  For the last 6 years, Alison went from the “Jersey girl” to “girlfriend” to fiancé, and finally to wife on July 24^th.  I will always remember that fateful night when we met and the adventures we have shared together since then. I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world.

A glimpse of Alison and Lucas through the years ...

Ali and Lucas in December 2005 at a Templars show.


Ali and Lucas (in 2006?) at a DJ night in Manhattan.


Ali and Lucas circa 2007.


Ali and Lucas on New Years Eve 2007/2008


Ali and Lucas in Morocco February 2008.

Lucas in Fes, Morocco February 2008.

Ali at Roman Ruins at Volubilis, Morocco. Feb 2008.


The souks in Marrakesh - Feb 2008.


Ali and Lucas in San Francisco - March 2009.

Mont Ste Michel, May 2009.


Ali and Lucas in Mont Ste Michel, France May 2009.

Ali at Mont Ste Michel

Lucas at Mont Ste Michel


Ali and Lucas newly engaged on November 26, 2010.

Save The Date!

We're getting married on Sunday July 24, 2011 in Brooklyn, NY.

Thanks for checking out our blog. We can't wait to celebrate with all of you.

Get ready to dance your pants off ...

Love,
Alison and Lucas