Who: Laura, Peter, Michael, Liz, Dano, Patty, Mel, David Salmanowitz
Where: 17th St (heeeeey)
What: Onion rings/ fried mozz for the table, avocado and tomato ome let (with fries), coffee, spicy bloody

Laura and Pete r are moving to New York. To Brooklyn. To Smith Street. It is truly horrible and it will only after we find someone to replace them in next month’s try-outs that we’ll be able to fill the void left by their absence. JUST KIDDING!!! WE WE WILL MISS YOU BOTH TONS!!!! 

As the only silver lining on this cloud of darkness, Laura and Peter’s departure was a great excuse to go back one last time to Annie’s—because it wouldn’t be a real brunch with Laura and Peter if it weren’t with their favorite gays at Annie’s. Who can count the number of times that Peter has made late night plans to meet there in the morning, only to not answer his phone for the next two days? Who can begin to recall the first time Peter left urgently after the meal because he “forgot he had to do something at home”, orange crocs and red mesh shorts squeaking as he walked briskly down the block? And who even remembers a time when they didn’t think they they were meeting Peter to have a nice relaxing breakfast, only to find a group of 15 strangers from Peter’s listserv (all the ‘most cool guy ever!’) sitting at a giant table in the back with King Slutsky holding court in the middle? Okay, so maybe it’s really Peter who loves Annie’s. In fact, Laura doesn’t really even like brunch except for the bloodies (sorry, Peter). But Laura will admit that she too has a little spot in her heart for Annie’s, especially after their impromptu champagne toast with Al the weekend they got engaged.

With a sad trombone playing on loop in the background throughout the morning, it was hard to comprehend that this really was the end of a long and amazing era (twss). Maybe we’ll all meet again when we all buy our block of giant brownstones in Philly. Or maybe we’ll all move out to Michigan to work on the Michael Simon for Congress Campaign in 2024. Or who knows?? Maybe that whole polygamous compound thing will suddenly come back into style! Until that day comes, though, we’ll wipe our crocodile tears with the pages of yuppiecatastrophe.com [“My friends moved to Carroll Gardens and now I can never go back to their favorite brunch place”] and rue the day that the words “Mightybell” and “Reading Partners” ever came across our lips.

Guys, this sucks. We really will miss you. Good luck and come visit often!