Slideshow: Leading Lights Awards 2007Slideshow: Leading Lights Awards 2007

NEW YORK -- Ethernet Expo -- As you've already read, the 2007 Leading Lights Awards are history. But we do have photos of the festivities to share: All photos by New York's own Andrew H. Walker.— Phil Harvey, Barely Managing Editor, Light Reading

Calm Before the StormThe scene was Japonais Restaurant in New York City, which was quiet and calm until we showed up.The CenterpieceDuring set up, we wondered if the tree in the middle of the room was real, or a prop borrowed from a Yes album cover.The Rayno ShowLight Reading's editorial director Scott Raynovich spiced up the proceedings with a list of "Ten Awards We Wish We Could Give to the Telecom Industry."The Brix PackThe crew from Brix Networks celebrates a win for Best Marketing (Private Company). In the background, Heavy Reading's Patrick Donegan looks longingly at a plate of appetizers.It's Tina TimeTina Iglio of Ericsson accepts the award for Best M&A Strategy (Public Company).Packet Optical PowerFujitsu's Jim Hintze accepts the award for Best New Product (Public Company).Stock PicksLarry Margolis from Arris makes a speech after accepting the award for Best Investment Potential (Public Company). We can't tell you what he said because we're in a quiet period. Shhh!Person of the YearInfinera's Jagdeep Singh gets the gong for Readers' Choice: Person of the Year. Take that, message board monkeys!Phil Does It AllLight Reading's managing editor, Phil Harvey, (or maybe, his evil twin) hands out starters.The Trophy ClubTop row: Alliance Bernstein's Mike Genovese, Heavy Reading's Stan Hubbard, Verizon's Patrick Sullivan, and Carlos Benavides. Bottom row: Verizon's Maria Montenegro, Mike Volgende, Alla Reznik, and Michelle Waggener.Did You Say Open Bar?Light Reading's Phil Harvey; XKL's Bob Michaels; Light Reading's Julie Muroff and Scott Raynovich; and Bruce Manning, PR man extraordinaire.Drink to ThisHeavy Reading analyst at large, James Crawshaw clinks glasses with Ericsson's Eva Sparr (far right) and Joe Baker.Three Cheers for EricssonEricsson's Tina Iglio (left) pauses and poses with Ericsson's Nina Jones and Donna Campbell.Party's OnFrom up here it's hard to tell who's had too many sake martinis.Heavy HittersGlenn Thurston of BTI Photonic Systems and Heavy Reading's managing director, Dennis Mendyk, brace themselves for a dright of ninking. Hiccup.Point of ViewIt certainly helped that our photographer was nine feet tall.Verizon Talks Business "VPLS is serious stuff," they say with a smile.