Freelancing can be a lonely life, so it's no wonder that so many of those strident independents met up with mb at Pioneer, one of our favorite spots on the Bowery. We had the spacious back room all to ourselves and took full advantage of the happy hour. By the end of the night, we envied our guests who wake up and go down the hall to get to work.

At Pioneer, July 25, 2005

Photographs by Brian Van Nieuwenhoven

Freelance writer/producer Liane Wunderlich and Ugly Productions producer Nicky Akmal

Freelancer Joyana Peters, mb East coast education director Carmen Scheidel, Mr. Castro, and RMI Entertainment Corp. writer/producer/director Ronald Scoot Maestri

Z-Radio personality/consultant David Webb, MedEdit reporter Lise Stevens, and consultant LaMarr Renee

Freelance comedy writer Alan Cross, freelance copywriter Mark Scott, and mb's own LEARNed Carmen Scheidel

NYSSPCA editor Simon Eskow and mb photographer Brian Van Nieuwenhoven

Amnesty International's Megan Green and freelance writer Nell Stundell

Self-portrait: Brian Van Nieuwenhoven and freelance writer Jeri Yoshida

NM Greenspan Mgmt.'s Nance Greenspan, freelance writer Bonnie Rosenstock, and Claudia Pinto of Claudia Pinto Marketing

Freelance writer Zibby Right and art director Jan Uretsky

Freelance writers Alison Gregor and Eric Marx

Medical writer Tom Simmons and medical reporter Monica Smith