Let’s be honest here – I’ve never been a big fan of Curry and since Indian Food is based most of it on Curry and sweet flavors – I always stayed on the fence when It comes to eating it.

That changed. Spice Cove, located at 326 East 6th street, is a MUST visit.

Chef Ricky stopped by to say hello and offered to cook a full course for us. We had one appetizer, 3 courses (shrimp, halibut and lamb) and finished with great ice cream.  For appetizer he offered us a Eggplant, beef served on a green pepper cut in half. Delicious flavor combinations and very well seasoned. Remembered something that my mother used to cook for me in Brazil…. Nothing like mama’s cooking :p

Shrimp and lamp was also of great taste. But I have to talk about the halibut.  I am no chef, so I can’t really tell you exactly what was inside the dish, but from what I was able to taste – Seared halibut on a sauce that was out of this world. I know it had cinnamon and coconut tones to it. But nothing overwhelming. Everything was so perfectly balanced that we had to re-order that fish and eat it TWICE!

To finish it up a green tea pistachio ice cream.

Ricky and Lisa! Spot on!

Service quality was fast. We had special treatment with the owners, but looking at the waiters working with the other tables they were fast and reliable. Great environment.  All the tables that left before us left with a big smile on their faces. We not only had a great smile but a so much satisfied stomach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am definitely bringing  friends and clients to have dinner with you guys again.

Here is a few photos from the relaxing and warm environment from Spice Cove.

Photo credits. Di Zhang Photography

I proudly say that I was one of them. Being from Brazil and growing up with braces, 2 root canals, racing dirt bikes to joining pillows with a dentist -  I’ve been to quite a few of them in my life . I’ve been to dentists who were extremely expensive, dentists who doesn’t know the meaning of anesthesia, those who are more like butchers and to emotionless ones who don’t realize that because he is not in pain doesn’t mean that I am not either.

Well I have to say – Thank God my ex wife to introduce me to a team of professionals who knows what they are doing. After 25 years I am finally free of the fear and so happy with the final results that I have to share this experience with you guys. If you are in New York City and you need an orthodontist or an aesthetics  professional I would consider giving a thought about Dr. Frank Celenza and Dr. Kellen Mori

Let me explain why:

3 years ago just when I moved to Brooklyn we were home celebrating life – you know young people, and Tequila got into play. Long story short – I got so overwhelmed with the taste of Patron (It was my first time having it) that I ended up kissing the floor so passionately that my tooth got broken.

Don’t ask me how but in these 3 years it never got infected even tho took me 1 year to do an X-ray  to find out it was broken and another 2 to create the courage to do this implant. (That’s where the ex-wife come into play otherwise I think I would not be writing this) There is also the fact that this is a very difficult place to lose a teeth. It’s the frontal where my smile shows the most – I could not afford to be toothless for a day. I met 2 dentists who proposed to do this because of the rare way my tooth was broken. But fear came into play. I knew by looking at this it would be hard because the way the root was still inside me gum structure.

One day I had to remove my wisdoms out and Dr. Celenza did it for me. That’s when I knew I’ve found the right person to do the implant. The great experience started from the anesthesia to  the final procedure. He has this machine that applies the anesthesia – so the fear factor of that huge syringe with that gigantic needle and the mad “i will take on the world face” they all do was gone right there. 2 minutes and ready to go. I haven’t felt a thing! And no pain on the post procedure what so ever. I was amazed.

Mean while (still took me another 6 months after this to do the implant) I met a bride (Dr. Kellen Mori) who is an Aesthetic dentist and I have to say by looking at some of the before and after – I was sold. Got ready to do the implant.

Well yesterday was the day. Dr. Celenza did a procedure that I don’t have words to express how much careful and precise he was. Here is an x-ray of the final procedure.

After Dr. Celenza was finished (an extensive 1 and a half hour to remove that root without damaging the socket where the screw would go in)  I went from his office to Kellen’s office and right there she placed the flipper to cover the hole . (flipper is this fake temporary teeth that goes on the space of the non existent real teeth) I will have to stay with it for 10 weeks so the gum heals so we can come with the final implant and finalize the procedure.But It already looks perfect. I walked out of her office you couldn’t even say I had just walked out of surgery.

First I have to thanks Flor for introducing me to them – I guess that’s why our paths were crossed so I could get in touch with these amazing professionals and Dr. Celenza and Dr. Mori – Thank you AGAIN! you guys are phenomenal – Aces in my book!!!! I couldn’t be happier with the results.

If you are reading this – and you need an orthodontic procedure (wisdom extraction or bracelets or Invisalign)  or if you need an implant and you haven’t considered these professionals – do so. You won’t regret it.

Much love to you all.

Paulo.

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Frank Celenza, DDS, PC –  880 Fifth Ave  - (212)327-2923

Kellen Mori DDS – 923 Fifth Avenue –  (212)734-6111

Disappeared again for a few. Still last run of the year and I have to thank God for being this busy! Booked all they way to December 12th, Flying to Miami on the 17th for a few photo shoots and probably pitch on a promising couple – taking the chance to a 1 week vacation with amazing friends! Edu – thank you so much for the invitation – can’t wait to be there among you guys!!! Heart you brother! – And them back to NY to Anne and Adam wedding on the 27th (check this guys engagement session here! There is no other word – It’s hilarious!) You guys are phenomenal!! Just as much as the couples I’ve been blessed to be able to work with. I put together new images for the website so you guys can check it out.

I just want to say, thank you God for this amazing months you’ve given me, Thank you all my couples for being so cooperative and to joining me on having fun on such an important day on your lives. I pray to God that you all be blessed with joy and happiness. I love you all.

I will still be of the hook for a few because of all the work, but I promise once things slow down I will start putting here a few walk-through on DGFoto Art and how to design albums, and a few photo techniques the pros use, so the photo enthusiasts can also get that unique shot.

Check the images out guys.

Thank you all for everything. Blessings and Love always!

Paulo

New York has this thing. It’s like, if you let it consumes you. So from time to time you have to become a true new yorker and just forget about everyone else, stop everything that you are doing, and contemplate the beauty of this city.

Brad had a welcoming party for his new place in Brooklyn (Congrats brother! Amazing spot!) and we helped him out with a few things. At the end of the night we all went for the roof deck of the building. 41st floor, overlooking the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo area in Brooklyn.

As a good photographer, your baby is always with you. And I just want to share a few images from NYC with you guys. 30 seconds exposure, f/22 ISO 50. Feels like an HDR image.

Thank you all for an amazing weekend! For great companionship, for awesome laughs and new friends. Got my batteries charged for a few months of hard work

Love you all!

Paulo

But unfortunately a moment of grief lives among my heart. My baby, strong, titan, severe used, there for every time, for the great shots lens, is hurt. A fatal drop cracked the mount and aluminum components on the bottom of the lens.
Very sad. “She” is on it’s way right now to Nikon Photo Service Center to be medicated. Hopefully they will be able to apply CPR procedures and revive my long lasting friend, the 80-200mm 2.8.

Jokes aside (and YES I have friends! I just care very much for my gear ) the baby is off to service. Long due now.
I want to express my feelings towards this beast thou. I have this lens for almost 5 years now. First DAY I used it felt on the floor cracked the filter but was ok. On this five years I’ve dropped it around 6 or 7 times and I have to say, what a STRONG lens! The front part of the casing was oval (filter would not come out anymore) it was all loose and you could feel it had a long history. But every 6 months I do a focusing test and calibration on all my lenses and this baby never had to be serviced. Amazing how it always absorbed its bumps and drops. I am very happy and very impressed with the quality this lens have and I wish to the Gods that Nikon keeps producing quality tools like this one. Specially for us who uses them on a daily basis. I mean, the 80-200mm is my work horse. I use it 80% of every wedding. No joke! And it never let me down.
Even after the whole bottom of the lens cracked, the interiors were perfect. Aperture ring, Diaphragm blades working, zoom, focusing everything was working perfectly. I could not mount to see the quality of the images (for obvious reasons) but I have to say I was impressed by the way it absorbed the impact. From what I felt It really was designed to take the punishment and protect the interior of the lens.
Nikon Pro Service was also of great help! They have telephone assistance 7 days a week from 8 am to 2 am EST. I just gave them a call, we filled a order form, send my lens this morning via UPS next day and depending on how bad is the damage it can come back to me in up to 10 days. Just astonishing.

Makes me sad, I really care for my gear, but them again, when you are in the field things happen and sometimes you have no time to deal with it. Basically that’s what I did, popped my 24-70mm and shot the whole wedding with it. Now it’s up to Nikon to come to me with a budget so I can decide to either service or buy a new one. And the truth is, between the 80-200mm or the new 70-200mm I would not think twice. the 80-200mm. Only if I could find a one in good condition AF-S. THAT would be a good treat. They don’t make the 80-200mm AF-S anymore thou.

Well, as time goes I will let you guys know how everything went.

Here is the images of my fallen baby.

- ” Wishing you all the best darling! Hope you get well very soon! ”

God Bless Guys!

Thank You!