Life in 12 Hour Shifts...: A Maine Lobster Bake on a San Francisco Rooftop...

I am a Maine native who has lived in San Francisco for the past 4ish years. I love San Fran but I am a Mainer at heart and have been dying to throw a lobster bake. My friends and I have a "Gourmet Club" where one apartment hosts, picks a main dish and theme and then the others bring a side, desert, appetizer, and a cocktail. In prep for my 27th (ugh) birthday I decided that the perfect way to celebrate my birthday with my closest friends, would be by hosting Gourmet Club. Growing up I would request lobster as my birthday dinner every year and so in keeping with tradition I decided to host a Lobster Bake Gourmet Club. I invited the usual members along with my roommate and neighbor who were fantastic helpers! To keep with authenticity I ordered the lobsters from Taylor Lobster Company in Kittery, Maine which is where my family always goes.

I have always wanted to host a dinner party on the roof but I usually got scared that the windy and foggy San Francisco weather would make it too uncomfortable. With the lobsters though I decided we would have to suck it up not wanting the rest of the building to have to deal with the smell of lobsters. Through some miracle I got one of the five nice nights of the year. Seriously it was the perfect evening and night. With the decision to use the roof I began designing a look in my head including the large bulb lights, red and white strip runner, candle lights, etc. Luckily my very creative and helpful Aunt Kristin and Uncle Don were out visiting and helped me develop and execute my ideas. Uncle Don was the mastermind behind the lights while Aunt Krissy helped me mold my fantasy into this...