Maxine's Big Birthday Bash at The Essex Mar 21-22, 2026

I rented out our favorite local restaurant, and one of the best in the state, The Essex for a Saturday night soirée to celebrate Max's big 7-0. I worked closely with chef Colt Taylor to craft a Korean and Japanese influenced kaiseki-style cocktail party menu that was absolutely over the top! 🥂
Maxine70thBirthday-001 Showing up Saturday afternoon for pre-party setup
1 Showing up Saturday afternoon for pre-party setup
Maxine70thBirthday-003 Colt and his team were already cooking and prepping up a storm
2 Colt and his team were already cooking and prepping up a storm
Maxine70thBirthday-005 Deb and Mary had flown in a couple of days earlier specifically for the party and came along to help with the setup
3 Deb and Mary had flown in a couple of days earlier specifically for the party and came along to help with the setup
Maxine70thBirthday-006 Deb and Mary had flown in a couple of days earlier specifically for the party and came along to help with the setup
4 Deb and Mary had flown in a couple of days earlier specifically for the party and came along to help with the setup
Maxine70thBirthday-007 The banner is hung above the door with care
5 The banner is hung above the door with care
Maxine70thBirthday-008 Slideshow setup on the bar
6 Slideshow setup on the bar
Maxine70thBirthday-009 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that...
7 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that…
Maxine70thBirthday-011 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that...
8 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that…
Maxine70thBirthday-014 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that...
9 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that…
Maxine70thBirthday-015 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that...
10 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that…
Maxine70thBirthday-018 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that...
11 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that…
Maxine70thBirthday-019 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that...
12 Marlee Spector, the wife of my personal trainer Sam, owns one of the most prominent floral shops in the area. She arrived with the tropical arrangements that…
Maxine70thBirthday-024 Colt and his crew continued their prep work while we continued to decorate
13 Colt and his crew continued their prep work while we continued to decorate
Maxine70thBirthday-025 Colt and his crew continued their prep work while we continued to decorate
14 Colt and his crew continued their prep work while we continued to decorate
Maxine70thBirthday-026 Colt had been fermenting for days and the banchan started being put out on the counter: kimchi cabbage, kimchi daikon, kimchi cukes, pickled onions, and several...
15 Colt had been fermenting for days and the banchan started being put out on the counter: kimchi cabbage, kimchi daikon, kimchi cukes, pickled onions, and several…
Maxine70thBirthday-027 Colt had been fermenting for days and the banchan started being put out on the counter: kimchi cabbage, kimchi daikon, kimchi cukes, pickled onions, and several...
16 Colt had been fermenting for days and the banchan started being put out on the counter: kimchi cabbage, kimchi daikon, kimchi cukes, pickled onions, and several…
Maxine70thBirthday-028 Colt had been fermenting for days and the banchan started being put out on the counter: kimchi cabbage, kimchi daikon, kimchi cukes, pickled onions, and several...
17 Colt had been fermenting for days and the banchan started being put out on the counter: kimchi cabbage, kimchi daikon, kimchi cukes, pickled onions, and several…
Maxine70thBirthday-031 The banchan shared space with the raw bar- Niantic Bay oysters and jumbo gulf shrimp 🦪🦐
18 The banchan shared space with the raw bar- Niantic Bay oysters and jumbo gulf shrimp 🦪🦐
Maxine70thBirthday-032 The banchan shared space with the raw bar- Niantic Bay oysters and jumbo gulf shrimp 🦪🦐
19 The banchan shared space with the raw bar- Niantic Bay oysters and jumbo gulf shrimp 🦪🦐
Maxine70thBirthday-034 The banchan shared space with the raw bar- Niantic Bay oysters and jumbo gulf shrimp 🦪🦐
20 The banchan shared space with the raw bar- Niantic Bay oysters and jumbo gulf shrimp 🦪🦐