Dear ALL,

The event page on Facebook has been amazing and for those of you not on Facebook here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=534424810#!/event.php?eid=230807386972555

As you know, all the money rasied at the Spike Hill concert itself will be donated to The Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City.

http://www.musicandmedicine.org/.

And we also started a Stand Up 2 Cancer Team to raise money in Drew's name for all of those people who can't make it to the concert. And we are almost half way to our goal already!!

http://www.standup2cancer.org/custom/?c=team&a=index&id=5323

But, to make it even more confusing, I have added a Donate Button here on the Blog so that people who cannot make the concert, who may not want to donate to Stand Up 2 Cancer, but want to donate to the Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine directly can do so. All money raised thru this donate button thur the end of the year will go the Music and Medicine program at Beth Israel. Basically just more ways to give!!

We are very excited to do all of this and raise money to help people in Drew's name.

5th Anniversary Memorial

Wow, I can't believe 5 years have past. The past three years, the memorials have been held in LA by a group of freinds who miss him like they're missing an arm. This year, New York is hosting the 5 year anniversary memorial, and we will another amazing concert, just as we did in 2006, the year Drew passed. And we are very excited to say that the concert will raise money to benefit The Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City. The show will be at:

Spike Hill
Bedford & N.7th
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Saturday, December 3rd
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Five years is a long time...or is it? The blog doesn't get as much traffic as it used to, but we all know that Drew is still with us every day. These days Facebook (dare I say it) has more of the attention and most of the information and updates about the memorial concert are being circulated via Facebook. Here is the link to the Event Page:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=230807386972555

In addition, we also have a Stand Up 2 Cancer team page, which we are hoping to match the donations made at the concert, and is a way for all of the folks that won't be able to attend the NYC concert to participate in raisng money for a good cause in Drew's name. Here is that link:

http://www.standup2cancer.org/custom/?c=team&a=index&id=5323

We are really excited for this event, to gather and share with good people, to hear great music and bring good energy to those who love Drew, as doing this bring's Drew's good energy to each one of us, as we do good in his name.

Check out all the links and we hope to see you there!!

3rd CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE.

Hello all,
It's the time of year again to get together with friends and family, and to do our 3rd annual "DrewBQ" get together. It was 3 years ago (on the 5th day of Hannukah by the Jewish calendar) when we lost Drew, and every year around this time I like to get everyone together for a celebration of his life and the loving bonds between us that endure.

I would like to invite everyone over to my place in Topanga, aka "The Roadhouse" at 1704 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA 90290, on Dec. 23, at 6pm. Hana will be making a big, warm pot of a tasty homemade stew which was a fave of Drew's, as well as some other homemade treats. I will whip up a batch of the spiced, hot apple cider (the "wassail" as it is called in Denmark, meaning "to your health") some of you may remember from last year. If you like, please do bring along either an hors'deurve type item or a nice beverage of some kind.

Back when we were all in high school, we used to get together at Christmas and do a friends-only gift exchange. I was aware at the time how special and cool it was, but it seems even more so when I look back on it. It formed organically into something meaningful for us. Without forcing it, we created our own tradition where we got a chance to speak some loving truths to each other.
I know I am not giving much advance notice, and not only that, but everyone is especially strapped this year I am sure, so there is no pressure to participate, but in homage to that tradition, I would like to invite you to bring a wrapped gift of any kind, valued anywhere from "sentimental value only" to no more than $30, and we will do a version of the gift exchange with whoever wants to participate - just for fun. Last year, some really cool nostalgic treasures were unearthed, and no doubt we will see some of those items make their way around the circle again.

Please pass this along to any old friends of Drew's whose contact info I may not have. I also invite you to widen the celebration a bit this year and invite other close friends who you would like to have join us, even if they never met Drew. Hana and I agree that rather than a somber occasion, Drew's memory is better honored by our getting together with friends, old and new, and celebrating this festive time of year, just as we would do if he were still with us! I know it would please him to know that although we may not get to see each other often, that he can still bring us all together.

Much love to you all and best holiday wishes,
Eric


FarWest AlmanacPO Box 605Topanga CA 90290310-455-2949http://www.farwestalmanac.com

I only found out about Drew’s passing about 6 weeks ago. I have been wanting to add to this memorial page, and decided to celebrate his birthday by posting this picture. I had the good fortune to get to know Drew when he was a young teenager. Drew was so easy to get to know, so warm and so friendly. My own son was a young boy at the time, and typical of Drew, he befriended him as well. Drew, like me, loved movies, and we went to many together. He introduced me to new music. But one of the most memorable times we had was when Drew accompanied me on my first trip to NYC. We took the red eye flight. As I remember Drew listened to music and napped while I read and tried to nap. Over the weekend, with his grandfather and mom, we all went to see the Broadway production of Starlight Express. I remember Drew had that sense of awe and wonderment that allowed him to enjoy and experience the musical the way it was meant to be. I see that same emotion in Drew’s photography and that is what makes his photography so special. That night was a night of firsts for me that I got to share with Drew– first Broadway play, first limo ride, and first White Castle hamburger . The picture above was taken when we were riding the subway in New York (my first subway ride). As you see Drew is napping and I find it ironic that his website is subwaysleeper.com.

Unfortunately, I lost touch with Drew and his mom about 20 years ago and always wondered what kind of man he grew up to be. When I went to the memorial page and then to his website, I was able to get a glimpse of what a wonderful man he had grown up to be. I would have loved to tell him how pleased and proud I am of him, how beautiful his photography is, how amazing it is that he can capture raw emotion, including the pure love he had for his daughter, Nina. I won’t have that chance, but I will have my wonderful memories, and his soul lives on through this beautiful memorial website.

So Happy Birthday Drew. You were a good friend, and even though I was older and could tutor you in math, you taught me more about how to live life fully and enjoy it. As anyone can get a glimpse of in your photography, and those who have met you know, you have a gutten neshama, a good soul. May your name always be for a blessing my friend.

Love,

Ron

friday night kiddush

I had to post this one, drew has an amazing smile..........

Oceanside, OR September 2006

thinking of you...

Remembering The Good Times

Nina's First Christmas...Doesn't Drew look happy!

Eric hosted a BBQ on behlaf of Drew Saturday Dec. 27th 2008. It was nice to see faces I havent seen for a while. We did a gift exchange, with Drew in mind, and it was beautiful. It took us down memory lane. Everything Drew loved was there. Friends, family, steak, chicken, chili, beer, wine, cameras, pictures, and lots of love. Can't wait until next years.

The 730th Sunset

I am writing this as I walk down the hill from Drew's. Turns out the gates code @ 17:00--no biggie; a little high-school-ditching-esque fence-hopping+some hiking took care of it. TBC when I get home...


-- Post From My iPhone

a winter memorial to drew from me and dr z

drew would think this is cheesy as heck!
couldnt resist writing in the snow.....

LOVE YOU DREW


xooxx

2nd annual Drew Goren Memorial BBQ

2nd annual Drew Goren Memorial BBQ
Date/ time: Dec. 27th, 2009 at 6pm
Location: The Topanga Roadhouse (Eric's place)
1704 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Topanga, CA 90290

For more information, to RSVP or for directions, contact Eric:
Ph: 310-455-2949
email: eras_490@yahoo.com

Dear friends and loved ones,
It's hard to believe that 2 years have gone by since the passing of our dear friend Drew Goren. In some ways it seems like he was only with us yesterday, in others, it is like a lifetime has passed. One thing is sure, Drew's memory has not dimmed from our minds nor our hearts. I plan to keep doing these annual gatherings as long as I am able and I hope it will provide all of us with an opportunity to remember Drew as well as to stay connected and to reconnect with each other.
Although Drew was a vegetarian for a while toward the end of his life, somehow I can think of no better way to celebrate his memory than charring beast-flesh and imbibing liquid spirits, in the spirit to which he was accustomed for most of his life.
Another long lost tradition of our merry band of friends is the annual Holiday Gift Exchange, which has fallen by the wayside in recent years, but I would like to try to reinvigorate that tradition in this context. I invite anyone who would like to participate to bring a wrapped gift so that we can revive this tradition.

For those of you who were not part of the original gift exchanges, we would all bring a gift of similar value ($20-$40.) We would be secretly assigned someone to purchase for by a neutral 3rd party (my mom) and then at the exchange ceremony, we would pass around a candle and each person would take their turn to speak about the person they had bought the gift for, and what that person means to them, at the end of which they would announce the name of the gift recipient and present the gift.
In this way we managed to have a deeper experience than simply trading gifts, but also we would each express our appreciation for one another and also hear appreciation expressed for us.
I suggest we take this model but have Drew as an underlying theme throughout, giving each other gifts which have something to do with Drew, whether they might be actual possessions of his or simply things which he loved or would have loved, or just something that reminds you of Drew.
If you are reading this, even if we have never met, I want you to know that I love you from the bottom of my heart for continuing to remember Drew and for being his friend, as I was, while he lived.

Drew & Nina on my scrapbook

Since Drew became sick i would always put him in my scrapbook.
I made one afer he passed cause i needed too, to try work through it.

I just titled this chapter 10.4.06 of new scraapbook
and I usually always did the cover. This was the cover Drew the inspiration in life.
.
Drew holding Nina in shadow in camille's room ( you can see ninas curl peeking out)
think drew was wearig a yellow sweatshirt
saying he was " leaving now

Thought I share. I know you cant see nina or drew. But just wanted to share.

Of course the US ( was drew and nina)

Drew's Hospital Scrapbook

Something that I've been wanting to share for a while...the scrapbook we all helped put together, as Drew wanted, from about the 2nd day of being in the hospital, to document his experience with his camera. It took the doctors and nurses by surprise at first, but as they got to know Drew they quickly became more comfortable in front of the camera! These pictures are invaluable.

Speaking of Berlin...

A couple Drewish videos. Hear a little voice, see a little smile... Maybe the boys can tell some stories behind these videos and their trip to Berlin.

Good times.

Mad and Mike's wedding in the pool hall.

Art opening

Dinner party in Brooklyn


Bucket of Beers in Tijuana

BBQ at Eric's place in LA

Thinking about Drew a lot this week! Of course because of his birthday. But other stuff too:
I pulled out my oldtimey 35mm camera and some notes I had written down about film stocks he recommended to me.
I recently experienced a new high with some excellent mexican hot sauce.
There's a grilled meat restaurant in my neighborhood that the mere mention of sends me drooling.
Planning a snowboard trip in the spring.
All these little things bring Drew to mind.
That's how it is. He's always around.
And I miss him so much.

NINA, JENN & DREW...one ny visit

Nina and I here...looking through pictures. These were a couple of her fav's.

Nina says "We spent last night sharing drew stories and it was his bday. I especially love hearing about drew when he was a kid. We had a wonderful night and i asked Hana to write these stories down for me to read always."

p.s. my dad was a silly kid. ha ha ha.

I LOVE YOU DAD

The Perfect Bite

it wasn't until i was about 26 that i was able to appropriately share drew's love for all things food. we spent our childhood as food opposites...drew tried everything, i ate chicken fingers and chocolate chip ice cream.

he was thrilled when my taste buds finally developed. since then we spent many of our moments sharing what we called 'the perfect bite'. this often included the careful layering, toasting, sprinkling, or spreading of ingredients we were sure was the ideal combination to warrant such a title. we'd trade tastings back and forth...no matter the hunger time was not a factor...he say "wait jenn, you've got to try this bite...hold on i'll make you one."

this pic is from my 30th? bday...another great party at amiees apt in bushwick.
a perfect cheese cracker bite i just knew he had to have.

happy bday drew...

Mazal Tov, Drew מזל טוב דרור

This is my first time posting on this blog; while having followed it throughout its existence, I did most of my mourning and reflection in private. Today, on Drew's birthday, the following Instant Messaging session with Jenn inspired me to share how Drew's talent inspired (no time for thesaurus) me:

The first quality time I got to spend with Drew as an adult was in 2005 in Israel. While the main event of that summer was Orie's Bar Mitzva, Drew and Eric also set on a personal documentary(/mockumentary) tour of the country; Eric with an oversized first generation mini-DV, and Drew with the manual film camera—not that I had the slightest idea why or how to appreciate this oldschoolness back then. Throughout the summer, I joined the 2—along with Jenn—on every expedition I was available for. That summer illustrated a fundamental mathematical equation that forever holds: ∂rew = 1 - photography (had to play with the algebra, otherwise it'd sound too corny). While—looking back at it—I was not yet able to appreciate the true art in Drew's gift, I immensely admired his talent, dedication, and PASSION. God, he had passion... what else could possibly drive a man to do a photo shoot while hooked up to a bag of chemo?

Many summers have passed since, and with them our beloved Drew. This past May, when I had saved up enough money to get a camera, I initially went out and got what the typical consumer would get–an ultra-compact camera "to carry around anywhere"---------------------------------------------->

After a few days with the camera, some internal drive—which, retrospectively, I've increasingly attributed to Drew—was telling me to get a "real" camera and see what I can do with it. So I returned the sub-compact, dug out of the last pennies form my college-student pockets and got myself a Nikon D60, along with a fashionable carrying case so I would "take the camera everywhere I would take a sub-compact"------->

I skipped the free Ritz Camera courses I got with the purchase and got a couple of books from the library instead; one that taught me the technical basics in 15-20 minutes, and another with brilliant photos and descriptions of their styles. ~6 months later, I CONSTANTLY tell myself, as well as others how I wish I had discovered photography while Drew was still here; WOW, the possibilities...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DREW! I think of you every time that shutter snaps bringing a bit of you in each of these:

Love you always; your cousin, Leeron

[Chronologically ordered from June up until the picture I sent Jenn, which was taken last night]

Happy Birthday Drew.....Love Shannon, Camille & Dr Zaius

November 4th Drew's Birthday

Big day for election and Drew's birthday, Jenn, Julia, Nina and I will have a quiet dinner to celebrate his life. I wonder if Drew was here, who he would have voted for.
Happy Birthday Drew, you are gone but not far from our hearts and thoughts.

well are all thinking and love you drew

love

We MISS YOU

More Papa Drew

Happy father's day, papa drew.

I picked nina up from school, june 9th, we were going to spend the afternoon with Justin (drew's cousin). Justin was getting ready for her prom.

As i got there, i noticed that nina was upset, there was a little mix up with who was picking her up. The teachers called her back as she was running to that person. I tried to explain to her why it is so important, to the school, that the right person picks her up and what can happen if it was the wrong person.

Sweet nina told me, as i was going into graphic detail about what can happen, "don't talk about it, it scares me and gives me nightmares." "Don't be scared, there is a little angel that sits on your shoulder, your dad, and he is always watching over you" I told her.

She calmed down and we drove to LI and met up with Justin and her mom, aunt Eliza. We went to the hair dresser and watched as Justin got her hair done.

Next it was the makeup artist's turn. Justin says she is psychic. As Justin sat in her chair, before she started applying the makeup, she saw her looking around as if she was looking at someone. She then turned to Justin and said, with nina sitting next to her, "there is a spirit here, i can feel it and it is a male. You are connected to this male, she told Justin, but he is very important to that little girl and she is important to him. He is watching and smiling, he is very happy that you are spending time together."

I hadn't been there at that time and Justin told us about it later when we were in the car. As she was relaying the story to me i was sitting next to nina in the back. Nina looked up at me smiled and said "see that was dad." I smiled back at her and said "he is with you where ever you are..........."

October 10 2005

Good Times.....

drew & nina & stella

Drew waiting for camille to hook up playstation...

8-6-06

Drew and Nina came over...Drew used to work on his website. Nina is dancing on the bed while drews working away. Nina and I would do artwork. Oh, of course - I had to put this pic...in of Drews socks...

Nice Socks!!!

Just found this sweet shot.

JENKINS BEACH 2007

HERE WE ARE TRYING TO DREW IT UP AT JENKINS BEACH THIS PAST SUMMER. AND I HAVE TO SAY WE DID IT PRETTY WELL. BURGERS, RELISH, FISH FRY, THE BOAT!, AND GOOD OLD RELAXING AT JOE BEACH. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. AND SOMEWHERE DREW LOVED--NICE AND QUITE AND OUT OF THE WAY. JUST A TRAILER AND THE WATER...WE WENT ON VACATION HERE FOUR TIMES WITH DREW AND THIS LAST TIME IN HONOR OF. IT WAS GREAT AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE BACK!