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RIP Marty Resiman, legend, hustler, friend.

Lara and marty25_2198567_n

Last night, we lost a great in the tennis table world, Marty Reisman at the age of 82 due to heart and lung complications. He lived life on a large scale. Marty was many things, jetsetter, entrepreneur, legend, famed ping pong hustler (he won over 20 major table tennis titles) and to the lucky ones we got to call him a friend. He was so dapper and the kind of man that could pull off sunglasses and a Panama hat indoors and carried himself in a way, that you knew he was one of the greats. And he was.

I had the honor of meeting two table tennis legends Marty Reisman and Dick Miles.

In 2008 Matthew Broderick was on the David Letterman show and reference the legend and how he could “supposedly put a cigarette on a table and hit it with a ping pong ball and crack it in half, that’s how good he was.”  Lettermand then surprised Broderick with Reisman and a table where he performed the trick — until that moment the two had never met him. Broderick wasn’t the only one to meet Reisman that night.

The evening that episode aired, I was at a party in Tribeca, of which Marty was the celebrated guest. When the Letterman Show came on, the room became still and over a projector we watched together as Marty (always so stylish), triumphantly cut that cigarette in half. Later that evening we were introduced and I remember being so taken in by his very cool and calm demeanor. We talked about

Birthday Bliss

Lara's 27th Birthday Celebration at SPiN New York

I’m not a very big birthday person. I used to be when I was younger; my mom would stress out over what to do for me ‘since nothing was ever good enough’.  I supposed I just wanted to feel special on my big day, although looking back that’s pretty funny.  Then again it did make for some very memorable birthdays.

This year I had mixed feelings about even celebrating; however after traveling most of the summer I realized it was the perfect excuse to just invite everyone I haven’t seen in months and whoever showed showed, whoever didn’t, no big deal. It fell on a Tuesday so I wasn’t expecting a crazy turnout anyways.

Lara with Table Tennis Legend and friend, Marty Reisman

Considering it was my day and I get to do whatever I wanted, it came as no surprise to most that I decided to have it the ping pong social club/bar, SPiN. I wanted to do something fun and low key that didn’t require a lot of planning, had a bar and served food. And the best part about SPiN is how spacious it is (and I never have to worry about feeling too crowded whether I have 10 or 100 guests). Plus the owners Franck and Jon are practically my brothers, so it

RIP Dick Miles

Lara with stylish table tennis legends Marty Reisman and Dick Miles at SPiN New York Vanity Fair Launch Party

RIP table tennis champion and legend, Dick Miles. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to meet you.

Happy 1-Year Anniversary SPiN New York!

By now some of my avid readers have probably noticed I have thing for ping pong. Unlike most table tennis players, the obsession doesn’t come from a table in my basement or game room in my college dorm, but from a few friends.

With SPiN Owners Franck Raharinosy and Jonathan Bricklin at SPiN Hollywood Opening Party

Once upon a time these friends, filmmakers Jonathan Bricklin, Franck Raharinosy and Bill Mack all lived together in fabulous loft in TriBeCa and bought a ping pong table. They started playing, didn’t stop, friends would come over, more tables we’re bought, more friends would come over and eventually they started throwing a weekly party/tournaments named Naked Ping Pong. While no one was actually naked, the parties attracted everyone and anyone from  jocks to hipsters to nerds, artists to celebrities and everything in between; creating a diverse environment that was effortlessly fun. In those days I didn’t play, but I wasn’t the only one, and it didn’t matter. The mix of great people and music in such a social atmosphere made it still one rockin’ party.

With all the press they we’re receiving and popularity of the parties they decided to take their idea to the next level. Together with investors Susan Sarandon and Andrew Gordon they opened SPiN New York; a 13,000 square foot table-tennis social club complete with a gourmet restaurant, Ducks Eatery and bar.

Spin and the City

Susan Sarandon may have played a Queen in Exit the King, but off stage she remains on her thrown as the Queen of SPiN.  Susan, alongside owners Bill Mack, Franck Raharinosy, Jonathan Bricklin, and Andrew Gordon welcomed guests to their 13,000 square feet table tennis social club this past Thursday to their grand opening hosted by Vanity Fair and Hermes.

The celebration and space was nothing short of pure magic. In fact it was out of control AMAZING. With a 30 ft bar and lounge that looks into the 23rd street subway station and 17 ping pong tables on Olympic caliber flooring, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen (and after 8yrs in NY, that’s rare).

The room was filled with members, celebrities, heartthrobs, models, nerds, hipsters, fashionistas, Olympians, legends, reporters, artists, bankers, – oh and Spider-Man. No matter your status, age, or playing ability, Spin offered an equal playing field and allowed us to be kids again.  They gave us game time on their courts and served gourmet popcorn and grilled cheese compliments of their restaurant, Ducks.

It's an honor to be photographed with stylish table tennis legends Marty Riesling and Dick Miles
Lara Eurdolian with stylish table tennis legends Marty Reisman and Dick Miles

Guests played dress up in Hermes scarves while waiting for their turn to be photographed. Not only did the full size pictures print out instantly, but it also allowed you to enter your email address to have the images sent to your account.

I clearly had a lot of fun with this feature.

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Later on the party continued in their private Fred Perry room.