2016 Year in Review!!

Hey sports fans, so begins another recap of everything “Noah.” These have grown significantly in size over the past few years and I’m sure this year will be no different. I have also gotten such great and positive responses from all of you who enjoy reading these and even some of you who look forward to their release. Now I know how George RR Martin feels. Well I don’t want to keep you in suspense any longer so make yourself comfortable, relax and prepare yourself for the sweet soothing sound of my voice . . . . or words . . . . Let it Begin!!

January- First day of the new year and change is happening, Dina moves out and my brand new roommate Johnny moves in. He joins Ella and I for 2016 and so begins the new era of the Bay Ridge Trio. I parked my motorcycle in a garage for the winter (thanks to Lee) and then hang out at the moonlight mile for Neil’s last shift. What a great guy to have at the mile, he will be missed as a bartender. I go to the bar on a normal Thursday and walk right into the set of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! They rented out the bar to shoot, so my 2 worlds collided in EPIC fashion. Got to have a beer and chat with David Cross. Ellie Kemper was like the sweetest person ever, and gorgeous. Jane Krakowski was also very nice, and gorgeous and even Tina Fey showed up (only saw her very briefly). Was a pretty great night as I love being at the bar and LOVE being on set, so I was double loved by myself. I decide to shave off my facial hair. I rocked the handlebars for 2 whole years, and made the decision that it was the right time to shave for the good of my career. That day I went to a training seminar with James Lew and blew everyone's minds as I literally look 10 years younger. Was a great training session with the stunt community and I fought Jenna! The Blizzard of 2016 arrives and I am slinging drinks behind the bar. What a great time hanging out with all the regulars as we got 2 feet of snow dumped on us. I wasnt able to get home because they stopped running the train I needed so thankfully Luke and Laura put me up for the night. The next day we watch some football with Johnny and Brittany as they are Carolina fans, the chili was yummy!! A last minute decision is made to go up to Windham Mountain for some snowboarding. Only my 2nd time boarding ever and I started to get the hang of it towards the end. Had a blast busting my ass on the mountain with Hannah, Alexa, Aaron and Drew!! The rest of this month is spent training, running (ran 27 miles for the month), eating healthy and cutting weight.

February- This month pretty much begins the way the last one ended, training, running, and cutting weight. The roomies and I watch the movie “Groundhog Day” on Groundhog day as you do. Alexa, Aaron, Alex and I all go out to the bar to see Jenna host her last night of Trivia before she departs for L.A. for 3 months. She is awesome and will be missed but hope she kicks some ass out there. Next up is the Annual Superbowl Party!!! 112 Jello Shots were made for the big game, 56 for the Broncos and 56 for the Panthers. Lauren comes by early with breakfast to help me ready the place for the night. Overall the game was not that exciting and the half time show fails to keep my attention every year, so the open handed slapping in the kitchen commenced early. What a great party with the regulars Hannah, Alexa, Aaron, Lauren, David, and Liz. The new comers this year were Christine, Alex, Jasmine, David, Chelsea, Johnny, Jess, and Ella!! I think everyone had fun and someone even wound up naked, HAHA! Ok so that night was obviously a cheat day, as I forgot to mention I have stopped drinking in pursuit of my weight loss goals, until I get to where I want to be. I get right back on my grind following the big game and the Broncos victory. Valentines Day is always a despised day for me, always has been, but it was a little more fun this year as I spent it training stunty things. I help Joe and Leanne by working with them at “El Jefe’s Nachoria” stand at the Royal Palms Shuffleboard club for a couple of nights. Good times :) I go to an audition for a workshop of “Peter Pan” being done by the guy who did “Sleep No More.” That was my first audition in quite some time but still ya know, auditioning haha. Not much else to report for this month, I did add the Insanity Program to my weight loss regimen on top of the running and training. Did surpass 50 miles for the month running.

March- This month starts with spending a few days dog sitting for bar regulars Mark and Jill. Timing couldn't have been more perfect as we also celebrated our 2 year anniversary party at the bar. Got to hang out a block from work in a penthouse while walking 2 of the coolest dogs ever in Kingsley and Muhr. The 2 year party at the bar was Awesome!! Lots of fun with the regulars. Tiffany even stopped by early in the night for some cocktails and catching up! Lauren also swung by and checked out the penthouse and walked dogs with me. Man its nice walking a block after a long shift at the bar. I went to a SAG/AFTRA stunt meeting with the Treasurer Jane Austin as part of the NYC Stunt Community. What a great turnout for this very informative meeting. Got to see everyone and got a lot of compliments on my weight loss and new look :) Next up is a “Stand Up For Stunts” Rally that was spear headed by the awesome Frank Alfano Jr.!! (Thanks again for being the point person on this) Got to stand outside with the NYC Stunt Family and hold up signs to let people know that the Academy does not recognize stunt coordinators at all in the Oscars. St. Paddys Day this year was very low key as I had to work behind the bar, so I did just that while watching a concert of The Pouges. I get to cat sit for Johnny and Brittany over a weekend again only having to walk a block after working at the bar. Have I mentioned my regulars are awesome!? Easter weekend I spent in Greenpoint staying at Drew and Stacy’s Apartment (cat sitting for them). Ok thats 3 different regulars whom let me crash at their pad this month!!! I hung out with Kristopher, Luke, and Laura for an Easter “Pot Luck” get together with food and movies. Good times! The last day of the month I get a phone call that I have been waiting for pretty much my entire life as to start off April I will fly down to Atlanta for Stunt Work!!

April- Well I jump on a plane the afternoon of the 1st of April on my way down to Atlanta to work on the new film by Edgar Wright (one of my favorite directors) entitled “Baby Driver.” It was also the very first time in my life that I ever flew First Class! It was right to work as I went straight to a fitting, then to drop off my stuff at my hotel, then right to set for an overnight shoot. I get to set and meet “my actor” whom I will be stunt doubling. Since the movie hasnt come out yet and it might be a secret all I can tell you is I was doubling for an Academy Award Winning Musician!!! My first stunt contract and I’ doubling an Academy Award Winner!!! WHAT!?!?! I really had a blast with the stunt team and working with Jamie Fox, who is quite the jokester by the way! I spent my 34th Birthday on set working, and one of the best things EVER happened as I was lying on the ground setting up a shot staring up at the ceiling, Edgar Wright stands over me and says “You’re doing a great job down there Noah.” and then gives me a double high five. Yup he is my favorite director now!! Look for this Movie in August 2017. Thankfully it wasn’t 100% work as I got to meet up with my brother Nick for a Birthday Lunch, Gary for a brief breakfast and Andrea and Josh for a Birthday Dinner. I spent 4 nights and 5 days down in Atlanta and the people I worked with were incredible all around! Big props to my new stunt friends Ben, Paul, Elena and Marielle (among others)!!! Back in NYC I decide to get an instagram for professional reasons. Anthony, Paige, Chelsea and Andre stop by the bar for my birthday and to catch up. I stop by David’s pad for a fun BBQ in Astoria, and its the first time I ride my motorcycle to Queens. I get to hang out, eat food, and catch up with Jasmine and David. I even met up with Hannah and her Mom in the park as they just so happened to be in the park on the same day. I join forces with my brother Nick as his guest on his podcast “You Can Relate” for this 100th Episode. I hit my weight loss goal this month by hitting 120lbs. Which was 22lbs lost from when I started! Thats not going to stop me from cutting weight though! Onward!

May- I join forces with my good friend Theik and shoot some new headshots for my new look. What a talented and positive friend! Shots turned out great and we had some fun! I on a whim decide to go out for a run and just see if I could run the equivalent of a Half Marathon. My furthers run to date was 10 miles, so its only 3 more. Well Mission Accomplished!! I ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 2 minutes!! As if running isnt enough Drew challenges me to the 22 Day, 22 Pushup Challenge! I happily accept and do and complete the challenge while also raising awareness to PTSD of our Veterans! Next up the ever amazing Tim Gallin invites me to be a part of the “NY On Location” event at the Astoria Kaufman Studios! I spent the day doing high falls with many of my stunt brothers and sisters for the public to see. Ella, Jess, Molly, and other friends stopped by to get a sneak peak at some of the things we do for work, as other than Film and TV not much opportunity to really see how and what we do. Dog sitting again in Greenpoint for Memorial Weekend! Lauren joins me and we grill up some food and chill with Bianca (the bulldog) and watch Game of Thrones. Good times! I set a new running record this month as I surpass 100 miles run in the month of May! Craz-balls!

June- Month starts with running and push ups! I actually complete the push up challenge this month with my last day doing push ups on the bar at the moonlight mile, surrounded by my regulars haha. I weight in at the lightest I have been since I was 18, which was 114lbs, so thats 28lbs lost since Jan!!! WHAT!?!?! Next up I head on down to Atlanta again! My journey down there was quite interesting as I wasnt paying attention on the flight, the plane lands in Charlotte due to weather and low fuel, then after 4 hours of waiting, flight gets cancelled and I have to change my rental car pickup from Atlanta to Charlotte and drive the rest of the way through the night as I had to film the next morning. FUN :/ I partner up with some Atlanta locals to film a fun little music video. Had a great time with Ben, Mooney, Adam, Billy Matt, Diandra and a few others as I got to play Marty McFly for the music video. I stay with my brother Nick while I am down in Atlanta and him and I go to a Braves Game, get some training in at a Ninja Warrior course, go running and just hang out and have some fun! I also met up with Gary and went to a fun house party where I was able to mingle and meet many other Atlanta local Stunt Peeps, including Jessica, Jacob, Sarah and others. I get back to NYC and have to go right to a production office to get fitted for a possible stunt doubling gig, much to my surprise when I arrive to the fitting, its for the Feature Film”The Dark Tower.” WHAT! I have some motorcycle trouble as my bike dies on the BQE after a late shift at the bar, thankfully I was able to keep it running long enough to pull off the highway before it died for good. Had to call a tow truck to get me home, but at least I lived haha. Next more training with Brian Smyj and Stephen Mann up in Yonkers for some Air Ram training. I have only ever been on one of these once a long long time ago and I could never get the hang of it. Thankfully with this training I was able to finally get the hang of riding one of these and was being called “Rocket Man” for the day! I also get some very good news as I was selected to be the double for “The Dark Tower.”

July- Spent the 4th on a rooftop in Greenpoint! Watching fireworks with friends and even grilling out. Then its 3 days of shooting for “The Dark Tower.” I show up to my trailer and meet up with the amazing Robbie Smith. I am doubling for the “Jake” Character (which if you are familiar with the books is a major character.) Day 1 was spent on a rooftop in the brutal sun all day long, hot and sweaty day of shooting. Day 2 I go to get into hair and makeup and am sitting next to Idris Elba, talk about intimidating haha. We shot in Chinatown on Day 2. Day 3 we finished up on a fire escape in the Chelsea area. I had a ton of fun running on rooftops, running across lanes of traffic and running down a NYC fire escape! Look for this movie in July 2017!! I spent a lot of time this month trying to repair my motorcycle, Tony even stops by to help me out with it. I learned how to remove and clean my carburetor, and replaced my spark plugs and air filter. All to no avail, I was able to get it running long enough to get it to the shop and find out that I had a short in my stator which had to be replaced. So that cost me quite a bit to get that replaced.

August- This month begins with dog sitting for Garry. Jake (Garry’s dog) and I have a great time hanging out! Jenna and I get tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream for some yummy tasting and sprinkle diving! Good times! I get hired to be a Stand In for Danny Strong’s character on Billions and shoot a scene for that for a couple days. The very next week I get hired for stunts on “Gotham” as a character, and we shot the scene in the exact same location that I shot Billions in the week before, what are the odds of that!?!?! I got to shoot a scene in my underwear, covered in Goo (to make me look frozen) and doing a scene with two beautiful ladies in Jess and Erin! I had great fun working with Norm and Turner after so many years of trying to get on this show haha. Thanks guys! Unfortunately a friend of mine passes away this month. I worked with Colin back in my Best Buy days and actually hired him to work on my project team. He was a great guy and we had a blast working together back in the day. Unfortunately I hadn't seen him in quite some time since I left the Best Buy world, but I will always remember that guy. His funeral, while sad, was good as I got to see so many of my former employees and catch up with them a bit. Good people all around. I get my bike back from the shop, and its still running a bit odd, so I removed the carb one more time and replaced all the gaskets, and surprise surprise IT’S FIXED!!! Whew! I cross the 1000 mile mark for running all time!

September- This month starts off with a trip to Greenpoint for the Wisconsin Badgers Opening football game against LSU! Met up with Luke, Laura, Johnny and Britt and watched the Badgers get a BIG WIN!! I fly home to Wisconsin to attend Burdick’s wedding. Had a great time at the wedding and got to catch up with some of my favorite parents :) Joe, Colleen, Rick, Kim, and even Bill and Lori Shrank!! I also used this time to go to a Home Badger Football game in Madison at Camp Randall! The first time I have been there since High School! Went with Carl, and Judy (my mom) and Blaine. The next day I hop in the car and drive up to Minneapolis and meet up with Mike and Cathy as we are going to the Opening Game in the Brand NEW Stadium for the Vikings/Packers game. Unfortunately the Pack lost, but it was a fun time. Had such a blast with those 2 amazing humans! Back in NYC time for another stunt workshop, this time its a wire workshop. Learning to ride wire, wire assisted falls, stuff like that. What a blast and what a turnout of stunt people!

October- I hop on a bus and head down to MD to have some fun with Brad and Ilyana. I went to Six Flags America and got to see the stunt show for both the day and the night time fright fest stunt show. Bother were wonderful and very entertaining, sometimes I miss doing that show. Got to stay with Brad and play some video games and just chill and catch up.. We all went bowling on my last night there too! Back in NYC I make my primetime network television debut on “Gotham.” Alexa, Hannah, and Aaron all came by to watch the episode live! I love my friends so much! Was pretty crazy to watch my work on TV! I finish up work on my Halloween Costume and debut it at the mile’s Halloween Bash! I went as “Wild Thing” Ricky Vaughn from Major League. Seemed appropriate as the Indians were in the World Series.

November- Well I voted, and then I flew down to Charleston, South Carolina for the 5 year wedding anniversary of Dan and Amanda! Crazy to think that 5 years ago I was the Reverend at their cold ass destination wedding. I stayed in a small place with my mom and Blaine and Jennifer (my sister) and Johnny (my bro in law). We had a blast walking around, eating and drinking, as you do with family. Went pub crawling and rooftop bar hoping with the happy couple and their friends! Even went on a run with my mom! Back in NYC I watch Lee run by as he ran his first ever NYC marathon! Lee was one of our regulars at the bar until he moved to IN, so it was awesome to see him! Had a pretty lowkey Thanksgiving as Ella did all the cooking and I just sat on the couch and ate and drank and watched football.

December- I got some new winter gear as this is the first winter since I have lost all that weight, so I am getting colder easier now haha. Another stunt seminar this month with Brian and Stephen on rappelling. Was a great refresher for me and was very cold outside to be dealing with ropes and stuff, but still a blast. Always love hearing all of Brian’s stunt stories haha. Thanks to Ed for the ride, and then rode from Staten Island back home on my motorcycle in the snow. Wasnt bad actually, aside from my visor collecting snow. Next up is a stunt-tacular holiday party on Spring Street. Jenna and I met up and had some dinner in Little Italy before hand, best decision ever yum yum!! SO many stunt friends at the holiday party, was great catching up with so many awesome, rad and talented people. Kris and Luke came down to Bay Ridge as we drank, watched football, and Feasted on lobsters!! Followed by a walk around Dyker Heights to see the Christmas lights! Went to Arelene’s Grocery for some live band Karaoke with Matthew, Tina, Joanne, Aaron, Jenna, Alexa and Christine! Got to watch Jenna KILL IT!! I fly back to Wisconsin for the Holidays! Spent a wonderful Christmas with the Nowak side of the family to start. Then went to historic Lambeau Field with my Mom and Blaine for the Packers/Vikings game and a BIG PACK WIN!! Christmas morning with my Dad, Nancy and Jimmy. Then a Rogue One viewing where I got to see and catch up with Aaron, Carl and Chelsey!!! Back in NYC to ring in the New Year at the Bar with all of my amazing regulars and possibly someone very special, time will tell :) 

That does it for my 2016!! Please if you remember something that we did together this past year and I forgot to include it, add it in the comments below! I hope you enjoyed this and if you actually read the entire thing, you get a crisp high five for your dedication! Love to you all and here is to a brand new Year! Lets Go 2017!!!