Happy Holidays!

Fall 2007 Highlights Part 2

Fall was so much fun, I couldn't stop at just one. Here's another round of amazing autumn color portrait highlights - enjoy the full part 2 here!

Happy Chanukah!

We had a huge Chanukah party on Friday night - what a blast. We had chef Lilah come over to teach the kids how to cook noodle kugel, had two Hebrew school teachers do arts and crafts- and then they led the party to sang songs while lighting the menorah - and then we had a dreidel contest and a dance contest. It was really a ton of fun - thanks so much to everyone and all the kids who made it so special! Check it out:

Babes in Toyland 2007

A few hundred special guests were treated to a private morning of shopping, entertainment, and treats at the annual Babes in Toyland event hosted by Cookie Magazine and Divalysscious Moms at the legendary FAO Schwarz. Here's a sampling of the great fun that morning.




















Click here for the full gallery.

Fall 2007 Highlights

It's amazing to me how time flies by so quickly. The end of summer passes into the new school year, apple farms and pumpkin picking, Halloween and fall foliage photos. I try not to let it all pass without capturing the moments in color and smiles. With the past few weeks so busy for me, I thought I'd press pause for a moment and share the fun...







Check out the slideshow below and full highlights gallery here

Mayor Bloomberg Give Fats Domino Key to New York City

Last night was a star-studded affair celebrating Fats Domino and the music of New Orleans at the former Studio 54 nightclub (now called the Pink Elephant). The principals of the Tipitina's Foundation had convinced Fats Domino to travel to New York this week to promote the foundation's two-CD benefit project, "Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino." Once Fats committed, NYC was there to embrace him. Mayor Bloomberg gave Fats Domino the key to the city and the music kicked into high gear with Ivan Neville, Leo Nocintelli, Nick Daniels, Eric Krasno, Toots Hibbert (from Toots & the Maytals), Gvin & Joey Degraw, Olu Dara, Donald Harrison, Jeff, "Tain" Watts, Loyd, "Lawdy Miss Clady" Price. For fans of New Orleans music, this was a special night indeed.


Domino/Bloomberg photo courtesy of Jason King

CookieJams Highlights October 2007

Cookie Magazine celebrated their biggest rock and roll kids show in Chicago on October 14.
I flew out to cover the event and it was "red" hot. Seriously - the place was decked out in the most incredible red wrapping - glamour style. Kids bands, dj's, faux photo shoots and just about every other kind of fun entertainment kept the kids busy for hours. Kudos to Cookie for putting this event together - I'm a fan, for sure! Check out the highlight slide show below.

Divalyssicous Moms Fall 2007 Holiday Photos

Gal's Surprise 40th!

Surprising the unsurprisable? That's exactly what we did for my incredible wife, Gal. She was shocked and we were shocked that she was so shocked. We had an amazing night. Here are some pix from the surprise party!



See the awesome slideshow here:

Jonah's Kicks Off First Soccer & Baseball League

Jonah kicked-off his first official soccer and baseball league with a back-to-back season opener this weekend. Can a papa get any more proud? I mean look at him
(sliding into the soccer ball in the yellow shirt) - my little David Beckham/A-Rod. :)

Eden celebrates her 6th in TWO Cities!

Eeeddie-bear got to celebrate her 6th birthday in two cities this year! We threw it down with the cast of Broadway Babies and danced to High School Musical - so much fun. Then we spent the weekend in Philly and surprised Eddie with a private limo to take her all over the city to enjoy fun, treats, and family love.

Here are a few fun pix below, but check out the photo gallery here.












See the full slideshow here:

Moms on Madison 2007

For the third straight year I put on my most comfortable shoes to capture NYC's best shopping event - Moms on Madison. Cookie Magazine and Divalysscious Moms held their annual exclusive shopping and charity event on September 9. Hundreds of families strolled, stopped and shopped along 30 blocks of New York’s famed Madison Avenue (bet 57th & 86th St) for children’s entertainment and private access to some of the best retailers the city had to offer.

Click here for the smiles on Madison in this photo gallery

Taste of Tennis 2007

Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal, Layton Hewitt and the world's top professional tennis players joined celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and NY's finest chefs to showcase their culinary skills at the W New York on August 23rd! The annual Thursday night kick-off to the US Open is called the Taste of Tennis and is one of the best events in NYC.

2007 Hamptons Highlights

Summer 2007 reached its peak in mid-August with a series of family portraits in Bridgehampton. Here's just a sample of the magical moments I spent with each family this summer. I love it out there!

Click here for the Hamptons photo gallery

Taste of Tennis Highlights!

Summer 2007

Summer seems to come and go as quickly as the night turns to day. The best way for me to hang on to those golden moments is through pictures. Here's a magical image of my Eden that captures the essence of summer.

Fu-B-Q Part 2, The Ultimate Colorado Weekend

The Stokens did it again! Friends and family gathered from all across the country to share a little Radiators magic in the hills of Boulder, Colorado. The Krewe of Snafu is truly growing new legions of fishheads by the dozens - ensuring that kids of all ages can enjoy that swampy New Orleans music for years to come. Savory BBQ, swimming, margaritas, kids karnival, baseball, hotdogs (the costume kind), the Stoken family backyard, Radiators music and fireworks all provided the backdrop for the most incredible 4th of July one could ever imagine. Relive it all here!

See the awesome slideshow here:

Central Park...New York City's Storybook

Sometimes we take Central Park for granted. Other times, we take a photo and are reminded of its timeless beauty. This image was taken early one morning with a family that I photographed - and when I reviewed their gallery again, I had to pull this one out and showcase it. It struck me just how much Central Park can bring a smile to your face. Enjoy.

Jonah's Mega-Uber-Ultimate 7th Sands Beach Club Birthday Bash

For some 7 year olds, a two-hour birthday party is usually the deal. However, when your playground is the Sands Beach Club - your birthday party suddenly takes on a whole life of it's own and the fun stretches on for hours. With my treasure hunt firmly established as a Memorial Day tradition (and more elaborate than ever) the kids of the Sands were grinning from ear to ear on the hunt to find the "buried gold" - both in the sand and sea (and pool). Then the dance contest got the kids shakin' their groove thang before smashing the Pinata to bits. No birthday at the Sands would be complete without dodgeball to cap off an incredible day. However, this year, we started it off by playing WATER BALLOON dodgeball! Jonah's cousins helped fill up about 125 water balloons for the game. Even the grown ups got in the mix and we played a round of water balloon tossing, before giving the field back to the kids for a massive 10 rounds of dodgeball. The day ended for Jonah with his family at Jordan's Lobster. Thank you to everyone who helped make Jonah's birthday blast one for the record books. I think I speak for almost everyone who was able to share in Jonah's joy when I say that it seemed like it was everyone's birthday party this past Sunday. :)

Thanks to Shannon and Kenny for helping me take pictures throughout the day. Here's a little gallery to give you a sense of the day. Enjoy!

Photo gallery

Gal & Michael Renew Their Vows in New Orleans

Ten years after Gal & I tied the knot, we shared an idea to show the kids what it was like to be in love and "get married" again. We believed the best possible way to do this was to renew or vows in the Garden District of New Orleans during Jazzfest. With Eden leading the procession in her gorgeous white flower-girl dress, she dropped white rose petals on the courtyard grounds of the charming and colorful Creole Gardens Inn. Since Eden had not yet been a flower girl, a big part of having the ceremony was for her. Kingsley & Lisa led the festivities and when we exchanged vows again, we did the same for Howard & Cindy. All the kids were there and we couldn't have picked a more perfect way to share with our friends and family an unforgettable morning.

Photo Gallery

Jazzfest 2007

Did I take my camera everywhere I went this year at Jazzfest? No. I set out to enjoy my vacation free of the lens a bit more than last year. However, when I did take it, I nailed a few gems. Here's a small sampling of The Radiators w/Little Feat's Paul Barrere (the grease was laid down thick at SNAFU), Michael Franti & Spearhead at HOB (epic), Stephen Marley at the Fairgrounds (He opened with "Sun is Shining"!!! Bob Marley was summoned and channeled thru his son), and Snooks w/George Porter.

Jazzfest 2007 Photos

Highlights I WISHED I caught on camera:

The Meters w/Derek Trucks - I've seen the Meters dozens of times, but never have I heard anything so fluid and soul-driven funk like I heard on Saturday night at the House of Blues. This show was the dark horse of the weekend and blew everyone away.

John Mayer - a personal highlight for me getting Jonah ONstage and watching John Mayer play from right next to Mayer's keyboard player. (Thank you Doug!)

Joss Stone - phew, can you say pipes??? Slinky dress and all - she played an incredible set and Jonah and Eden and the Sanders kids, Casey and Dylan were escorted to the front of the stage in the media riser to watch her. I know Jonah was psyched. She threw long stemmed lilies to the kids after her encore.

Dumpstaphunk - 110 degree inside Tipitina's did NOT stop the funk - it only FUELED IT. There is no stopping Dumpstaphunk, they continue to rein supreme as the funkiest band on the planet.

It was a super quality friends and family Jazzfest. Joy can't even begin to describe the weekend that we had together. The one and only problem with Jazzfest...is the end of it. The re-entry back into reality is the toughest thing to do when experiencing such joyous heights.

For your movie viewing enjoyment, check out this little snippet that Jill Vandercar took of one MJ introducing the Rads for the 2nd set of GREASE SNAFU (thank you Kingsley!)

Jurick video intro

Enjoy All!

-MJ

SMART Cookie Awards

On April 30, Cookie Magazine honored Sharon Stone, Mariska Hargitay, Iman, and eight other amazing charitable mothers who have made a difference in the world for women and children. I helped capture the moments for Cookie -

visit Cookie magazine's
in-depth coverage

NightTrain

Live version of the song "Night Train" from there album Appetite for Destruction.
Awesome Video and Performance from one of the best rock bands in history... Guns n Roses!





Loaded like a freight train
Flyin' like an aeroplane
Feelin' like a space brain
One more time tonight

Well I'm a west coast struttin'
One bad mother
Got a rattlesnake suitcase
Under my arm
Said I'm a mean machine
Been drinkin' gasoline
And honey you can make my motor hum
Well I got one chance left
In a nine live cat
I got a dog eat dog sly smile
I got a Molotov cocktail with a match to go
I smoke my cigarette with style
An I can tell you honey
You can make my money tonight

Wake up late honey put on your clothes
Take your credit card to the liquor store
That's one for you and two for me by tonight
I'll be loaded like a freight train
Flyin' like an aeroplane
Feelin' like a space brain
One more time tonight

I'm on the nightrain
Bottoms up
I'm on the nightrain
Fill my cup
I'm on the nightrain
Ready to crash and burn
I never learn
I'm on the nightrain
I love that stuff
I'm on the nightrain
I can never get enough
I'm on the nightrain
Never to return - no

Loaded like a freight train
Flyin' like an aeroplane
Speedin' like a space brain
One more time tonight

I'm on the nightrain
And I'm lookin' for some
I'm on the nightrain
So's I can leave this slum
I'm on the nightrain
And I'm ready to crash an' burn
Nightrain
Bottoms up
I'm on the nightrain
Fill my cup
I'm on the nightrain

Whoa yeah
I'm on the nightrain
Love that stuff
I'm on the nightrain
An I can never get enough
Ridin' the nightrain
I guess I
I guess, I guess, I guess I never learn

On the nightrain
Float me home
Ooh I'm on the nightrain
Ridin' the nightrain
Never to return
Nightrain

You Could Be Mine

Guns N' Roses - You could be mine





I'm a cold heartbreaker
Fit ta burn and I'll rip your heart in two
An I'll leave you lyin' on the bed with your ass in the air
I'll be out the door before ya wake
It's nuthin' new ta you
'Cause I think *we've seen that movie too


'Cause you could be mine
But you're way out of line
With your bitch slap rappin'
And your cocaine tongue
You get nuthin' done
I said you could be mine


Now holidays come and then they go
It's nothin' new today
Collect another memory
When I come home late at night
Don't ask me where I've been
Just count your stars I'm home again


'Cause you could be mine
But you're way out of line
With your bitch slap rappin'
And your cocaine tongue
You get nuthin' done
I said you could be mine


You've gone sketchin' too many times
Why don't ya give it a rest
Why
Must you find
Another reason to cry


While you're breakin' down my back n'
I been rackin' out my brain
It don't matter how we make it
'Cause it always ends the same
You can push it for more mileage
But your flaps r' wearin' thin
And I could sleep on it 'til mornin'
But this nightmare never ends
Don't forget to call my lawyers
With ridiculous demands
An you can take the pity so far
But it's more than I can stand
'Cause this couchtrip's gettin' older
Tell me how long has it been
'Cause 5 years is forever
An you haven't grown up yet


You could be mine
But you're way out of line
With your bitch slap rappin'
And your cocaine tongue
You get nuthin' done
I said you could be mine
You should be
You could be mine


Yeah!

Skytop Dream Lodge...Serenity Now

In the Poconos, we were treated like royalty at the grand historic Skytop Lodge. We took advantage of the 5500 acres by hiking, biking, ice skating, swimming - and eating an unlimited amount of incredible food. I highly recommend a weekend at this beautiful resort. Enjoy the photo tour...

Photo gallery

Amazing Spring Wedding

On a pristine spring weekend in Jacksonville, Florida, Mathew & Melanie Lazarus were wed and the party rocked the house. Even though I photographed the wedding, I would still have to rank it as one of my top 5 favorites for the sheer number of back-to-back moments that unfolded throughout the night. Take a look at the wedding book I designed for them. Thanks to Stephen Flint for being my wingman during the wedding co-capturing the images you see in this presentation.

Wedding Showcase

Langerado Music Festival 2007

On assignment for Jambase, I ventured down to Sunrise, Florida for the 5th Annual Langerado Music Festival. It has fast become one of the best and brightest music events in the country. The 2nd week of March brings absolutely perfect South Florida weather, 3 stages and 47 bands of diverse music - all in pristine Markham Park (on the east edge of the everglades). It has replaced the "traditional" Ft. Lauderdale beach jaunt to become the "it" place to be during Spring Break. Take a look inside the photo gallery to see why...

Civil War

Music performed live.


"What we've got here is failure to communicate.
Some men you just can't reach...
So, you get what we had here last week,
which is the way he wants it!
Well, he gets it!
N' I don't like it any more than you men." *

Look at your young men fighting
Look at your women crying
Look at your young men dying
The way they've always done before

Look at the hate we're breeding
Look at the fear we're feeding
Look at the lives we're leading
The way we've always done before

My hands are tied
The billions shift from side to side
And the wars go on with brainwashed pride
For the love of God and our human rights
And all these things are swept aside
By bloody hands time can't deny
And are washed away by your genocide
And history hides the lies of our civil wars

D'you wear a black armband
When they shot the man
Who said "Peace could last forever"
And in my first memories
They shot Kennedy
I went numb when I learned to see
So I never fell for Vietnam
We got the wall of D.C. to remind us all
That you can't trust freedom
When it's not in your hands
When everybody's fightin'
For their promised land

And
I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need your civil war

Look at the shoes your filling
Look at the blood we're spilling
Look at the world we're killing
The way we've always done before
Look in the doubt we've wallowed
Look at the leaders we've followed
Look at the lies we've swallowed
And I don't want to hear no more

My hands are tied
For all I've seen has changed my mind
But still the wars go on as the years go by
With no love of God or human rights
'Cause all these dreams are swept aside
By bloody hands of the hypnotized
Who carry the cross of homicide
And history bears the scars of our civil wars

"We practice selective annihilation of mayors
And government officials
For example to create a vacuum
Then we fill that vacuum
As popular war advances
Peace is closer" **

I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
And I don't need your civil war
I don't need your civil war
I don't need your civil war
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need your civil war
I don't need one more war

I don't need one more war
Whaz so civil 'bout war anyway

Welcome To The Jungle

Music Video and Lyrics


Welcome to the jungle
We've got fun 'n' games
We got everything you want
Honey, we know the names
We are the people that can find
Whatever you may need
If you got the money, honey
We got your disease

[CHORUS:]

In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
knees, knees
I wanna watch you bleed

Welcome to the jungle
We take it day by day
If you want it you're gonna bleed
But it's the price you pay
And you're a very sexy girl
That's very hard to please
You can taste the bright lights
But you won't get them for free
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
I, I wanna hear you scream

Welcome to the jungle
It gets worse here everyday
Ya learn ta live like an animal
In the jungle where we play
If you got a hunger for what you see
You'll take it eventually
You can have anything you want
But you better not take it from me

[CHORUS]

And when you're high you never
Ever want to come down, YEAH!

You know where you are
You're in the jungle baby
You're gonna die
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
knees, knees
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my serpentine
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
knees, knees
In the jungle
Welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to your
It' gonna bring you down-HA!

Knocking On Heaven's Door

Video shot live a tribute to the late Freddy Mercury.




Mama take this badge from me
I can't use it anymore
It's getting dark too dark to see
Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door

Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door

Mama put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore
That cold black cloud is comin' down
Feels like I'm knockin' on heaven's door

Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door
Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door

"YOU JUST BETTER START SNIFFIN' YOUR OWN
RANK SUBJUGATION JACK 'CAUSE IT'S JUST
YOU AGAINST YOUR TATTERED LIBIDO, THE BANK
AND THE MORTICIAN, FOREVER MAN AND IT
WOULDN'T BE LUCK IF YOU COULD GET OUT OF
LIFE ALIVE"

Knock-knock-knockin' on heaven's door

Guns n Roses Wallpaper

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