HBO has always delighted subscribers with meaningful and poignant documentaries about invigorating topics. The best of these had the opportunity to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival to commemorate their compelling stories and lasting impact.
The films that were showcased were from an assortment of backgrounds, with some pursuing topics like music and print, and others tackling more serious stories about family and crime. The films that premiered at the festival are Billy Joel: And So it Goes,Β Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?, Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print,Β My Mom Jayne, A Film by Mariska Hargitay,Β Surviving Ohio State, andΒ Wizkid: Long Live Lagos; all important topics, and all masterful in their own right. Tonight, I will be attending a celebration commemorating these films at the prestigious Gansevoort Rooftop.
Right upon my entrance, I was treated to an electric green cocktail from one of the waitresses. The cucumber base tasted amazing, and I would soon learn from the menu card at the bar that it was called the Accidentally in Love. I was actually in love, and I was also learning that I really like cucumber-based cocktails. I sipped and chatted with several others and admired the venue.
The stellar cocktail list
A breathtaking view greeted me from outside, the huge glass windows showcasing downtown Manhattan under a gorgeous sunset. Foliage adorned the ceiling around a giant chandelier and set up an incredible atmosphere.
As I strolled around, waiters passed by and handed me several small bites that were some of the bestΒ hors d’oeuvres I have had. I started with some caprese bites on a stick, consisting of a ball of mozzarella, tomato, and basil on a toothpick. Next I tried arancini-style mushroom balls, also delicious.
Caprese on a stick with a cucumber cooler
My personal favorite, though, was the miniature avocado toast. Creamy avocado spread on a toasted chewy mini toast with a tomato and balsamic drizzle on top, it was absolutely perfect. I ate five.
We finally had dinner at the end, and to my surprise, all of the options were vegetarian. I was able to indulge in pasta primavera, a penne a la vodka, and a tortellini that stole the show. Along with these, I picked up a second drink, this time a mocktail, HBO had aptly titled “The Mockumentary”. I also saw a full Mediterranean spread that had every finger food I could think of, from kalamata olives to feta cheese. I was thoroughly impressed by the offerings of The Gansevoort Rooftop and made a mental note to revisit soon.
I thought this rooftop party was the perfect way to celebrate the success of the documentaries, and I really enjoyed the effort and magnitude that the organizers went to to ensure that the documentaries and their creators were honored. HBO has a penchant for delivering stellar content on their platform, and I implore anyone that has an interest in hearing new voices and stories to check these documentaries out.
