The City Girls

A few weeks ago, at that Thievery Corporation concert in the park... I met the lovely Loretta and Whitnee, we totally hit it off and instantly decided that we're friends. Loretta is from Pasadena and Whitnee is from Delaware, they both work for a real estate development firm here in Manhattan. More than that, they are witty, stylish, fun and interesting.

We were finally able to make plans to meet for dinner last night, and since my gorgeous friend Kristin also fits that description, I invited her as well.

So the four of us convened at an awesome little Thai place in the east village, and chatted non-stop for an hour and half about life in New York: restaurants, venues, shows, bars, shopping, work, commuting, work, subways, parks, dating, not dating, shoes, fashion, and the various hilarities that inevitably occur when all of these things collide in the glorious mess that is Manhattan.

Needless to say, it was a great time. One of my favorite moments is when we first walked into the restaurant and I happened to look down and see that we were all wearing flip flops with our business slacks and pencil skirts. Another iconic moment. My other favorite moment was when we left and were walking down St. Marks Place towards the subway all four in a row. It looked like a Sex and the City movie poster... but better, because it was real and I was in it instead of walking past it.

We all agreed that we'll have to get together regularly and hit up different hot spots in different parts of the city.

I found my city girls.

The Celebration of Ed Felix

Ed Felix is my home teacher, and the true and living embodiment of the word "rad." Last weekend was Ed's birthday bash and Ed's incredibly talented roommate Peter, set up a photo booth in their apartment to take pictures of all of the party attendees. So here are some of my friends from the Manhattan YSA scene in their pictures from Ed's Birthday Extravaganza:

The man himself, Mr. Ed Felix...





Me and Roommate Sarah, yeah, we're friends...


Johnny...


Mitzi and Anne Marie...


Sean by day, SuperSean by night...


Becca and Brent...

So clearly Ed has a gift for bringing something out in people. What that something is, we're not quite sure yet... But there is no doubt that he throws a good party.

Back on the Blog Train

For various and sundry boring reasons, I've been a little off my blogging game this past week, but do not fear, loyal readers, because I'm back on the Blog Train... and the Blog Train stops for no one.. except me... but I'm back on it, so we're good to go.

So! honest to blog (I've been dying to use that Juno line, sorry for the cheeeeeese) the updates will keep on comin'... and there are pictures in abundance.

I just hope you can keep up.

Curiosities

1) The fire hydrant on my street is always broken and spraying a wall of water across the pavement. On the handful of times that I've taken a cab home, the driver always looks back at me before driving through with a look that says, "Do I have to?" I always smile and say, "Down to the corner please."

2) Last Saturday, I got called a minority for the first time in my life... and I think that's hilarious.

3) A movie ticket in New York is upwards of $12. Except on Saturday mornings! The first and sometimes second showing of the day is a super bargain matinee of $6... Thus inspiring a little tradition that we like to call, "Brunch and a Movie."

4) One slice of New York pizza could take out an entire army of California pizzas in a fight. The slices are huge, which is why they must be eaten folded in half. My local pizza guy (110/Columbus) has met me once and calls me "doll."

5) Pinkberry makes me happy, but I still miss Golden Spoon.

You can rain on my picnic, but you can't stop the fireworks!

Happy 4th of July everyone!

I love fireworks, so this is one of my favorite holidays. Plus, I just reading a favorite book of mine called, "The Partly Cloudy Patriot," so I'm feeling especially pro-America lately.

The rain put a damper (pun intended, hee hee) on our grand independence day plans, so we had to move our rooftop picnic inside. Nonetheless, fun times were had:

This is Addie, she's 2...

These are Addie's awesome parents Aubrey and Cole...


After our indoor picnic, many of us trudged our way through the rain over to the East Side to watch the fireworks. Every year they close down the FDR (the highway that runs down the east edge of Manhattan) so that people can stand there and watch the fireworks that they set off from barges on the East River.

So we arrived around 8 and hung out in the rain:

But honestly, what's an adventure without a little rain?

Me, Amy and Sarah... (two of my favorite people here in the city)

Amy, Kelsey, Sarah, Tyler, Me...

All of the New Yorkers on their cell phones...

While waiting, I discovered this nifty little feature: my camera can record video! Who knew?

So you get to see 3 minutes of the fireworks over the East River...

Happy Birthday America. We're glad you were born.

The Happiest Places on Earth

The happiest place on earth is a little bastion of love, belonging, support, peace and joy that I like to call Home.

Undoubtedly, however, the second happiest places on earth are temples. Inside them there is a feeling of peace unparalled and the joy that begins to develop from going to them often is unmatched.

Today I went for the first time to the Manhattan temple. This particular temple is somewhat unique because it is one of the only temples built on a pre-existing structure. It's on the Upper West Side, right across the street from the Lincoln Center, 40 block directly down my street.

I met roommate Sarah there and it was a wonderful way to end the week.

I've been humming primary songs ever since.

Happy Anniversary!

I have been in New York City for exactly one month, today.

I celebrated by getting Greek food in Greenwich Village after work with my cubicle neighbor, Alon. And then we sat in a park while he explained Jewish high holidays to me and I watched the people parade. It was another great, very New York, day.

SO, after 30 days here are my top ten things I love about New York:

10) The architecture – they don’t make boring buildings here, they are all fascinating and often gorgeous.
9) The food selection will blow your mind, and all of it's good, all of it.
8) The people here are super sharp, ambitious, fun and interesting.
7) Everyone is from somewhere else, and often that somewhere else is another country. I've learned more about Greek culture, Jewish culture and Indian culture in the last month than the rest of my life combined.
6) I can see world class, world famous art at a dozen different locations, all of which I can get to in about half an hour or less.
5) Central Park is kind of like heaven, and only two blocks away.
4) There is something to do, every minute of every day. Live music, shows, concerts, parties, picnics, outings, field trips, gatherings, games, festivals, fairs and performances.
3) The fashion is impeccable and the shopping is legendary. Seriously, people here know how to dress.
2) I get to spend my morning commute reading books!
1) New York is the most exciting city in the world, and I LIVE HERE, which means I never have to leave.

A few things I’m not a fan of….

-Not being able to understand cashiers and clerks because their English is so bad.
-The awkward smell the sometimes wafts down certain blocks and often through the subway – it's vile.
-Humidity sucks, seriously.
-It’s a little far from my family and I miss them.
-No husband yet. ;)

So, for the record, I'm completely in love with this city and it's almost ridiculous how happy I am. Looks like I'm here to stay. (Sorry Mom!)