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since my last post, i've been back to la as well as sf on two separate trips. i always have an amazing time for different reasons visiting each. each trip felt different than other times as being on the east coast has definitely influenced my views and experiences. small things like driving around in a car passing by homes with actual yards makes me reminisce and ponder where i want to end up in the future after ny. will my life take me back to la where i spent 21 great years and end up tanning on the beach, getting closer with best friends, and being closer to my parents? or will i somehow end up back in the bay area where i spent 4+ years making new friends, enjoying the foggy weather, and attending great music concerts? both places have a ton of benefits with few drawbacks and in all honesty one can't go wrong. being back in ny i do miss certain parts of california and wish i could bring some of the west over.
la: ironic as it may be, i wish cheap chinese foot reflexology businesses could survive in ny. if you walk through chinatown, you'll see countless hair salons offering $5 haircuts or the shady chinese hole in the wall offering a full greasy meal for $2.50...but where...WHERE are the cheap foot massage shops offering $15 an hour back and foot massages a la valley blvd? not only would this thrive in terms of popularity, but i know my feet and overall stress would appreciate this service. out of every city in the u.s., ny is the one that probably has their citizens walking the most. why not reward this eco-friendly activity by subsidizing these sometimes ventures? if only bloomberg could realize the advantages he would make a new law: "those who walk more than 5 miles a week for work get 10 minutes free. those who walk and don't ever use cabs get 15 minutes free with complimentary chinese herbal tea." it's too bad i didn't realize this until bloomberg got re-elected or else this blog may not exist and you would instead find my opinions on nytimes.com. but for now, i'll only be able to get my fix on major holidays and the occasional weekend trip back home.
sf: i lived in sf for 4 years and i loved every minute of it. but when trying to pinpoint one piece of sf i would bring to ny it's extremely difficult. do i want the weather that consistently falls between 50-75? or how about the ability to stay in the city and bar hop and live the city life and then head twenty minutes over the bridge to suburbia with weather 10 degrees warmer? or my favorite winter activity snowboarding being a short 3.5 hours away? with all sf has to offer, it was difficult, but i narrowed what i would want to bring over to ny...the odd collection of events sf had to offer. where else can you go that offers valentines day pillow fights where thousands gather and have an all out slumber slugfest sending feathers flying? or how about drag queens performing prince songs at the purple rain sing a long? fake snow along fillmore street where jonny moseley flips and spins? red bull go kart racing in the mission? easter race down lombard? or the granddaddy of all...bay to breakers. by definition, an actual race...but in reality a huge parade of costumes, alcohol, and music. approximately 75,000 take part in this annual tradition that has some neighbors outraged at the public urination and trashing throughout the city. but for those who run/walk/stumble it, it has the making to be one's most memorable sf moment. bay to breakers headlines the list of the all star cast that i wish i could bring to the east coast. ny has some unique traditions of its own, but sf will always have my heart.
finding time to write a new post has been extremely difficult the past couple months. when i'm not busy with work and play, i'm busy catching up on sleep or new tv shows. when i first moved here, i was making an effort to keep an actual log of activites and places in ny. but i realized that whenever i live in a city, i become immersed in the lifestyle and have difficulties remembering specifics. i'm almost six months into my ny stint and people ask me constantly "do you like it?" it's easy for me to say "yes, i'm loving it so far" because i truly am. but if they ask me what i love, i can only answer with general answers like "tons to do, good food, and beautiful people." i struggle to list out what activities i actually love to do, what restaurants are delicious, and what beautiful people i've seen...okay, maybe the beautiful people is a stretch. i can usually name the time and place i saw them and also the outfit. it's a natural gift i'd say. i'd assume my lack of creative suggestions is due to my general reliance on others to make decisions on ny activities. since i'm fairly new, i tend to follow and be open for anything. usually this leads to great experiences, but i don't make it a point to remember the names in order to visit again. this is always a problem when people visit and i'm their guide. i find myself recommending the same two or three things for every visitor...shake shack, broadway musicals, central park, top shop. this only goes so far, however, as the guide can only take so much. so my goal is to try and pick one favorite thing each two weeks that i would want to repeat.
this past weekend i went to my first "hyped up" restaurant and it did not disappoint. last friday was david chang's momofuku ssam. definitely one of ny's most popular chefs, chang's series of momofukus caters towards elites and commoners. ssam is a smaller east village spot that features a tender melt in your mouth pork butt dish. $200 buys you oysters, lettuce, and one of the greatest rear ends you can put in your stomach. when the dish arrived, i was curious why they didn't bring a knife to carve the dish, but soon after received the answer when a simple pull with tongs produced a succulent piece of pork with just the right amount of fat. as soon as i put my first piece in my mouth, a smile wiped across my face and a collective sigh was heard from our entire table. heaven in your mouth. besides the excellence in food quality, the service was attentive (one waitress in particular had my full attention), the prices reasonable, and the decor was stunning. there was even a gossip girl sighting as ed westwick (chuck bass) sat two tables away sans his gossip girl gf. fortunately we were so stuffed that we weren't able to try out momofuku mik bar, chang's popular dessert restaurant next door. it does give me one item to add to the list now.
it's been a great 6 months up until now, but i do miss cali...sooooo next weekend is the first return to la since i left in april. so now i'm the visitor and i'm ready to have the la natives recommend their favorites. can't wait!!!
it's been a hectic past few weeks as the summer has been approaching the end. ny'ers are cramming their social lives before the sub 60 degree coldfront hits the east coast. and for me personally that has been no different. this was recently brought to my attention when some friends who recently visited my apartment commented on the lack of food in the fridge. i explained to them that there's no point in having food in the fridge if i won't be home to cook or eat it. i don't consider myself a social butterfly, but have felt a little overwhelmed on the lack of sleep and abundance of activities i have participated in. in fact, i'm a little too tired to be my usual witty self when writing so the rest of this post will be a list of events:
- storm king - upstate. huge sculpture park that takes a good day to full cover. amazing views
- standard hotel - great bar close to the highline park with an outdoor patio and tasty cocktails
- broadway musicals - next to normal and 9 to 5. checked two more off the list
- chelsea market - lobsters and oysters can't get any fresher
- friends visiting - shopping, brooklyn parties, shake shack, catching up
- us open - federer and his effortless game and look
- wine tasting - city's only winery fixed with great food
- britney concert - it was free so give it to me
- movies in the park - edward scissorhands in dumbo with 4,999 other people
- spending money - too much to be honest
it doesn't get any better. looking at my schedule, the next full night i'll be at home is friday september 25th...for now. i guess my fridge will remain empty. but i guess i never planned to have a full stocked fridge when coming to ny. too much to do, too little time. hopefully i can update this blog sooner than later
i have checked another to-do off my list of things in nyc. this past sunday i volunteered as a movie extra that took place in the outer regions of the bronx. it's safe to say i won't be volunteering for other extra roles anytime soon. i was already in an unpleasant mood from having to take a 1.5 hour subway ride only to find myself waiting in the 90 degree heat and 90% humidity for a good 3 hours before actually speaking to the director on his vision for the scene. once the time did come around to shoot, my part took a short 10 mins to finish. maybe i'm just a natural born actor as it only took one shot for the director to say the scene was good to go. let's hope that part actually makes it into the movie. i'm not sure when it comes out, but as soon as i do, i will let everyone know so they can set their dvrs and rewind and replay my 3.5 seconds of oscar worthy performance over and over since it'll probably be my last. must be hard to be an extra in a movie as you must have patience and be willing to put your game face on when your name is called and you have been brain dead most of the day. i won't be quitting my day job anytime soon.
last friday marked another celebrity sighting. drew barrymore (picture) and justin long were actually at our work building filming for an upcoming movie. they were using our lobby and front entrance in the shot as drew was exiting in the scene. i got a glimpse of my first papparazzi as my coworkers and i were forced to stay inside the building until the shot was complete. drew was looking skinny and mac boy was not in the shot so he was just on his phone (pretty sure it was a pc based phone) sitting in the corner of our lobby. so if you don't happen to actually catch ME in my movie, you can at least know that the office building in drew's upcoming film contained yours truly.
i'm looking forward to the next few weeks as there will be a lot of visitors in town. that just means money will be spent, food will be eaten, fun will be had, and sleep will be lost. let's hope this recent streak of heat and humidity diminishes. till then...peace
since my first "celebrity" sighting was constantine from american idol, i had to follow up and actually watch the musical he stars in, rock of ages. luckily my job description includes attending free events with reps and that's exactly how i ended up in the third row center for the show monday night. taking place in la during the 80's rock and roll scene, the atmosphere was amazing. we sat, beer in hands, screaming and singing the countless rock covers. the cast could act, sing, dance and more importantly make you laugh. the audience thoroughly enjoyed it which included shooter mcgavin from happy gilmore, chubby friend from 21, and some disney star selena gomez. i've seen a lot of musicals and i had to rank this as one of my favorites. but i figured if you have my favorite song, more than words, as well as don't stop believin in one show, it has to be steps ahead of the competition. two thumbs up!!!
this week also went to all points west, the coachella of new york. it took place at liberty state park and this weekend was a giant mud pit(see pic). torrential downpour did not leave the grounds in presentable conditions. with thousands flocking from all over to see the likes of coldplay, mgmt, black keys, and others the day was exhaustingly disgusting. by the end my legs were tired, my body caked in mud, and my ears were somewhat satisfied. dance pop acts la roux and lykke li were two highlights and mgmt was one large disappointment. a piece of advice to them...keep your music within the studio where your limited vocal range can stay produced. bummer too because i was expecting an awesome show.
the celeb sightings continued this week as i saw both josh radnor (how i met your mother) and whitney port filming for the city. look for yours truly lurking in the shadows of the upcoming season. she was extremely tall and super skinny. they were filming their reality show, but it truly looked like a movie set with all the planning and prep work and them pretending to walk from the subway. sadly, i was pretty excited. i guess this is my reality and i'm capturing parts of it for you all to enjoy.
i've recently had a little case of writer's block and so the topics have been limited. that changed when a cousin of mine recently posted an article to my facebook wall. slightly embarassed, i was brave enough to keep it up there as it's an entertaining topic and quite an idea. lusting laughs or just plain lusting? well all you have to do is purchase a $15 ticket, dress to impress and show up at comix 14th st. and 9th ave. inspired by the "korean phenomenon called 'booking," comedian/matchmaker helen hong will actually attempt to diss your mama while finding you your next baby's mama. her objective is to match compatible looking people together regardless of your own reservations. as i have not been to a show...yet...i can't tell you exactly how helen works her magic, but i'd assume it follows a basic format:
helen: "hey you...yeah you who is now covering her face and trying not to blush. we all know why you've decided to put money in my pocket and so i'm not leaving till you stand up and walk over to that cute little male specimen at table 10 with the green polo shirt that screams for a cuddling session and romantic walk down the west side highway. now go on...sit down, introduce yourselves, have a drink or two, and send me pictures a year from now."
this probably happens multiple times throughout the night as people jump from seat to seat. i'm not sure the exact success rate of helen's pairings, but it's safe to say that it'll be an unforgettable night. there's something enticing about being "forced" into meeting as if both people were thinking "well we might as well enjoy this since we HAVE to do it." in a city that houses millions of singles, the concept sounds like it's slowly becoming the next weekly event ritual. so long taco tuesdays and wing wednesdays. coming soon to a city near you will be comical coupling...so i ask...what do YOU have planned for next thursday? because i know a great comedian in town who may just put the biggest smile on your face of all.
sorry for not blogging in a while (like you actually noticed) but it's been a hectic past couple weeks. made the move to the new apartment that saw tripS to ikea, bed bath and beyond, my office, and countless flights of stairs. it's slowly shaping up as we've gotten our basic essentials and now it's time to be selective in choosing the accents for my room. i'm guessing it'll be till the end of summer before i'm satisfied for the most part. our couch ended up being too large for the wall we wanted it against so our living room is a bit cramped, but we've got a nice HD tv and comfortable seats.
celebrated independence day at our new place and watched about 10 different firework shows from the comfort of our own rooms. it was a great setting as 5 of us managed to watch the synchronized set of manhattan fireworks that were being set off on the hudson river. unfortunately we were couchless at the time so our guests were forced to eat our delicious delivered burgers on our hardwood floor. promise that next time the apartment will be more cozy and offer more amenties for all.
this past weekend i also made the return to san francisco. had a wonderful time hanging out with friends karaoking, drinking yogurt soju and eating cheese corn. the majority of the weekend was spent in tahoe for a wedding. a tahoe lake front wedding in the middle of summer? oh you know it..uhhh not quite...20 minutes of rain from the moment she walked down the aisle till the moment we ran inside to finish the ceremony. you might think it's tragic, but it made it highly unforgettable and both bride and groom smiled throughout and the wedding was a huge success. the reception was filled with cupcakes, great music set, and some serious crowd surfing. in true bride and groom fashion, the after party was taken to nearby cabo wabo located downstairs of harveys casino.
i was sad to leave sf, but slightly anticipated the return to ny. someone recently hinted to me that missing ny was a sign of falling in love with ny. if that's the case, it's happening sooner than expected. unfortunately i just think that feeling was one of a desire to get back to finish setting up the apartment. but i have no doubt that it'll happen soon because i feel everything is slowly falling into place. with a volleyball season coming up, the weather improving, and all the siblings together in the same city, why wouldn't you look forward to living in nyc.
i have found another item to add to my list of "things that are better in ny than california." it was a tough call, but i have to admit that walking the brooklyn bridge takes the cake over the legendary golden gate bridge in foggy san francisco. the golden gate bridge has a special symbolism to the entire city and it's understandable why thousands flock to walk the bridge daily. but there was something special the evening i walked the brooklyn bridge to manhattan. gorgeous weather, architectual background, lady liberty in the distance...walking above the car traffic, able to see 360 degrees clearly...it's almost like a boardwalk...a pier to be more precise. physically you are in nyc, but a peace settles over your body and you feel like you're walking on a cloud. commuters take to it daily to avoid the congested subways, athletes sweat running on it, couples stroll basking in the evening romance. for the entire time it took to cross (~20 mins casually walking) i found myself envious of the brooklyn->manhattan commuters that are able to take advantage of the bridge daily. it's a wonderful way to spiritually calm yourself from the rigors that come from a city lifestyle.
the past couple weeks have been entertaining. regina spektor concert at the beacon theater was amazing. the theater has a lot of character and regina puts on a great live show. went to a work dinner at shang in the lower east side. probably my favorite extravagant meal so far. each dish was unique and flavorful. we had a group of 8 and i can honestly say every single person enjoyed all the dishes they tried. family style is the way to do it here and large families are always better. recommended dishes: singapore slaw (THE best asian salad i've had), black cod, skirt steak, lamb chop, and lobster rolls...pretty much every dish was amazing and our waitress had a major hand in choosing what we should order. it's got a great outdoor patio overlooking allen st. where you can sip on drinks and order bar food as well. my stomach is still full thinking about it. next week i'm moving into my new apartment so get ready for the housewarming party!!!
p.s. want to send out a shout out to the king of pop. his music will always be a favorite with all generations. he will never be forgotten
i will tell you upfront that i am not a fan of cupcakes. out of all the sweets, i am more inclined to the ice cream cones, ice cream shakes, ice cream sundaes, a la modes and...well you get the picture. but you would be very oblivious if you did not notice that the past couple years cupcakes have been popping up everywhere. housewives have started creating delectable treats made of flavors such as red velvet, carrot cream cheese, and the ever so popular monkey love. since i'm not personally a fan of cupcakes, i always thought that it was just a fad and it would be quick to pass just like i thought reality tv, facebook, and the jonas brothers would. but here we are in 2009 and i feel like i'm surrounded by the cupcake mecca of the world. not only do ny'ers love cupcakes, but it seems like all bakeries have to make them overly extravagant in order to be the best of the best. today we got cupcakes at work from crumbs bakery during a meeting. as i listened to the sales rep talk about why we should buy their inventory i couldn't help but sit and stare at these round balls of colorful lard. they were all the size of my fist with another fistful of frosting on top. but that's not it...here in ny, there's an extra layer of whatever goodies you want. for example, picture one is with M&Ms sprinkled all over the top. picture 2...in case you forget to eat that nutritious snack of oreos you could get one with oreos on top. no cupcake in ny is too small for extra few layers of sweetness. but this is where the irony of the cupcake lies. cupcakes are supposed to be a miniature version of a 'normal sized' cake. but here in the big apple cupcakes are no longer miniature cakes. they have taken their own identity and are no longer associated with bite sized treats. here in the big apple you must ask for a knife and fork to indulge in the chocolate peanut butter oreo cookie on top of the red velvet caramel cake topped with raspberry vanilla frosting. and before long...the cycle will be complete and cupcakes will only be known as cakes...bon apetit!
i woke up today knowing that rain was in the forecast. the weatherman told me so. but unlike those previous times i listened to him, this time he was actually right. and boy was he right. today poured cats and dogs. remember that part in forrest gump where they're fighting in the vietnam war and it rains for weeks straight? it's raining from above, from the side, and from below. forget about using an umbrella as it'll just get blown straight from your wet grip. as i walked around i noticed everyone else looking miserable and complaining about weather, but i got a kick out of it. it's not everyday, at least in california, where you have to predict the wind patterns for your umbrella position, hop around random puddles or swing around the elderly lady with the fat umbrella. i was literally smiling while walking back from work. now as i sit and type this, i wonder how long it will be until that smile fades away. at least i'll have another couple days to ponder that as the weatherman calls for sunshine over the weekend.
and hopefully he's right this time as i'm scheduled to go furniture browsing around the city. furniture for my new apartment!!! after several apartment viewings, we finally applied, got approved, and signed the lease for a july move in. it's located in a high rise luxury building just west of times square and the building comes with a modern gym, putting green, roof deck, entertainment lounge, and free breakfast every weekday. i'm lucky that the process wasn't painstaking. and now i can concentrate on furnishing the apartment as my next goal is to be part of apartment therapy's 2010 small cool apartment contest. check out that site. it's great for guys who lack any creative talent but still want their apartment to be sophisticated. it's time for me to start collecting those ikea and bed bath and beyond gift cards. ebay here i come!!!
'you know you're a true new yorker when...300 square feet constitutes a decent apartment...for TWO people.' it's not quite THAT bad, but those 9 million people have to live somewhere and the city has its limitations. my quest for such a 'luxury' has begun and i have quickly realized why finding the right apartment is THE frustration in new york. forget about the hardships of finding a girlfriend. i could walk down any given street and see tons of beautiful girls and there might even be one that looks back at me, but the chance of finding an attractive, affordable apt in the neighborhood of your dreams is like hitting the mega jackpot. craigslist deceives you, brokers charge an arm and two legs, word of mouth only gets so far. even when you are able to stumble on an ideal location, jane, john, sally, harry, serena, and dan are all waiting there with check in hand. it takes a very fortunate individual to find an apt without breaking a sweat or a wallet.
i saw 3 apartments in the west village yesterday and you definitely get what you pay for. the first one had beautiful rooms, renovated floors, tons of storage space, natural sunlight, a washer/dryer, yet lots of debt after all is said and done. 2 and 3 got progressively worse as the walk up floors got higher and higher, the rooms got smaller and smaller, and my encouragement shrank more and more. it's still early in the process, but the window is very tiny. i am hoping and praying that craig and his infamous list come through as it has time and time again. there is one brightspot in this experience, it has allowed me to understand new york and help future residents prepare for the move. i would like all of you who may move to ny to know that you always have a space on my future 5 foot sofa...for $50/night!!! hey, i gotta pay the bills somehow since i'm not hitting the mega jackpot anytime soon.
*updates: visitors visited and shake shack was the meeting choice. i have upgraded my rating as the shroom burger (portabello mushrooms stuffed with cheese and fried) was amazingly savory and hit the exact spot. hung out with jack bauer (kiefer sutherland for all u non-24 fans) at a local bar where one of his bands was playing. his gf and i mingled a bit and she told me stories about her sister stealing and wearing his shoes after a night of bowling. also, next season's 24 is going to be filmed in ny!!! who wants to go with me and try and be an extra as a terrorist who gets killed/tortured by jack?
i am a freelance food critic. i am not employed by a reputable company, yet i still love to voice my opinion. the following is not meant to offend anyone in particular. my food preferences are my own and i'm not trying to start any sort of argument as it's all in the eye of the beholder.
in the short 4 weeks that i've been here, it's only the last week and a half where i have visited "popular" nyc dining facilities. by far the most popular being shake shack. i'm not sure if it is ny's version of in-n-out as the only similar comparison i found is they both serve meat on a bun, fried potatoes, and ice cream shakes. with two locations in manhattan, shake shack is known for LONG lines, airy fries, and various shake flavors. fortunately i went to the location in the upper west side and there was no waiting for my outrageous $13 meal. the burger was small in size, dry to chew, and overwhelmingly normal in flavor. where the burger missed, the shake more than hit bullseye. i ordered the black and white shake and it was made to perfection. as i gulped it down, i couldn't help but think what flavor i would try the next time. order a glass of water though as you'll realize it goes fast and you won't have money left to order a coke. overall i give shake shack a b-. the menu has a lot of options so i am looking forward to going more in the future, but just remember it's the price of 3 in-n-out meals.
i have discovered in four short weeks what some spend their entire lives searching for...the perfect noodle. and it lives at ippudo restaurant in the east village. earning a 25 on zagat's food rating (most popular restaurant, per se, got a 28 for a $250 meal)ippudo makes all their own ramen noodles and this is why it earns 4.5 giant panda hugs (out of 5). the wait is expectingly long, but once you sit down you are transformed into another world. the atmosphere is swanky, waitstaff friendly, beer was chilled and best of all prices reasonable. i walked out of there spending $25 on a bowl of shoyu ramen, an extra serving of noodles (kae-dama please), and 2 appetizers. ippudo will remain on my mind for quite a while.
UPDATE: I started a job at an ad agency. Monday was my first day and so far it's been good. I signed on for a 3 month contracting position so in another couple months I might be looking again. But it's great to have some money and strange to use my alarm after my 3 month hiatus. jealous of my parents who get to golf, travel, and socialize all day.
Recap of my time in NY
- 3 broadway musicals - Mary Poppins, In the Heights, and Jersey Boys
- Favorite food - Ippudo, Nyonya (malaysian goodness), shakes from shake shack
- 'Celeb' sightings - Constantine, John Turturro
- Events - 2 Yankees games
i've made two discoveries the past week that will make my life in nyc both simpler and more exhilarating (sometimes at the same time). hopstop is a handy tool to keep both in your web browser as well as your phone. going from point a to point b? hopstop provides you directions via subway, bus, or walking. and the icing on the cake is if you're not one of those trendsetters with your $300 iphone and internet access, you can simply text their number and you'll get directions beamed to you as soon as you push send and before you have the urge to ask the police officer walking by for directions. i wonder how long until i can be my own hopstop and not have to rely on one of the smartest websites ever...now if you thought hopstop was as good as it got, then you're in for a huge shocker. omgicu has to be why nyc is one of the top locations north of antarctica, west of australia, and east of the pacific ocean. forget about the world renowned restaurants, high end fashion, 24 hour nightlife, and all the cultural diversity...nyc houses millions of celebrity sightings. for example, last week i spotted constantine (see previous post) walking in the west side. in true gossip girl style, i could have texted in to omgicu and every member could have received a text with the words "long haired b-list hippie, constantine, seen wandering about the upper west side looking for his next 5th place finish." users are able to vote if they care or not. notable sightings include justin timberlake working out at new york sports club and rachel mcadams walking hand in hand with some guy not named matt. i'm guessing i'll spend a day or two following these sightings to see if i can snap some photos true paparazzi style. more updates to come shortly which will include my favorite foods so far, trip to philly, and a brand new job.
now that's what i'm talking about...it took a little more than 2 weeks to check off two items on my NY to-do list. walking through the west village on friday evening, i noticed a familiar looking face right in front of me at the crosswalk. his long flowing brown hair was waving through the light winds as he turned leading his female companion down the street. at first, excitement ran through my veins as i had just spotted my first famous sighting...but as i slowly registered the information, my excitement turned to embarassment knowing i had just seen, and instinctively known, that is was constantine, the american idol contestant who finished 6th in season 4. i later found out that he's got a lead role (and tony nominated) in the broadway musical, rock of ages. so i walked away knowing i had just checked one item off my list, see celebrities...okay okay, HALF a celebrity i'll admit. for all you non-american idol viewers or celebrity gossip followers (which i fall into), a picture is included.
speaking of broadway, i was able to check #2 off my list, see broadway shows. my parents happened to be in town for the weekend and all they wanted to do was watch musicals. fine by me as i've always been interested in theatre. i've seen les mis three times, phantom, ave q, wicked, lion king, beauty and the beast, spring awakening, and the list goes on and on. so what better city to live in than new york new york. my parents were able to get half price tickets for mary poppins where my sister and i joined for the saturday matinee. amazingly magical set, hot pink costumes, good singing, and that classic story made this musical a must see. just hours later, we all decided to try and get lottery tickets for west side story. if you're unfamiliar with lottery tickets, it's one of the best deals for the money conscious individuals. show up 2.5 hours prior to the show, put your name in a hat, and X number of front row seats are given for $27. so being 1/16th irish, i lucked out and my name was called. but my eyes were tired, butt was sore, and stomach was growling so i walked out with a pair of tickets and handed them to my mom as a mothers day present from my sister and i. sounds like it was a great gift and it allowed me to rejuvenate for the next day of dim sum, shopping (sitting for 2 hours in uniqlo waiting for my mom) and watching tony award winner in the heights. this one had rapping, breakdancing, and puertorican slang, and it left me content. won't go down as a classic, but at least it got a passing grade from me. i'm hoping that i see at least 4 shows a year so if anyone ever wants to go just has to ask...
next post will include updates about the lost season finale, brother's visit, philly, and possibly a J-O-B update...
surviving, and coming out ahead, in NY requires certain characteristics and behaviors. simple as it may seem, one is the ability to know your destination and get there as fast as possible. i'm not talking about achieving your greatest potential in life, finding the woman of your dreams, or landing that sweet penthouse on the upper westside. i'm literally saying being able to walk to/from your apt to your next destination...as fast as possible. in a city like san francisco, it's possible to do this without pushing, shoving, or stomping that group of tourists semi-obstructing your path. but in a city pushing 9mm in residents along with the travelers, NY'ers follow the 'survival of the fittest' mentality. elderly lady struggling up the stairs? pass her. children at the corner waiting for the walk sign? pass them. NYPD blocking your subway stop due to a gang shootout? okay well maybe not, but you get the picture. we fight to survive.
from day 1, i've told myself that I would not fall into this mode. i'll observe my surroundings and be happy that i'm walking down broadway with clothes on my back, food in my stomach, and pocket change in the bank. but 11 days later, i'm questioning if it can be done. walking up a set of stairs, i found myself torn between helping a struggling female lugging her rather large suitcase or just passing her. in that split second, the pros and cons were weighed and my mind went through multiple 180s. i ended up passing her, looking back, and then eventually extending my arm and helping that suitcase up the remaining steps. i walked away feeling like i had not fully transformed, but it'd only be a matter of time. but even though i felt this was not a great quality to possess, i've come to the early conclusion that NY impatience is tolerated, accepted, and even welcomed and as long as all NY'ers are on the same page, we'll all survive.
*Updates on past week
this past week has been full of firsts. attended my first yankees game in the new stadium and saw that other 'LA' baseball team defeat the boys in pinstripes. partied till 4am and ended up at a 24 hour diner where the entire back room started singing our own rendition of 'Lean on Me.' there's nothing like strangers coming together in a drunken state and belting out Bill Withers' #1 hit. looking forward to seconds, thirds, and many more.
2 months and 9 days after i jumped off the edge, i finally boarded that virgin america party on a plane and 5 hours later made my presence in the NYC. if i blogged about each of the emotions experienced throughout that extended vacation, i'd lose you somewhere between envy and fear. but it's time to move forward and start planning for the unexpected. this blog will serve to document my highlights for the next few years and hopefully allow me to reminisce on my late 20's when i'm at an old age of 31. i'd like to provide a posting once a week, but who knows when i'll be in the hamptons, flying to europe, gambling in atlantic city, or just too tired to remember what i did the past week. so for this blog, as my favorite youtube duo says 'like it, love it, hate it, whatever, just enjoy it!"
i do not fear the small apts, expensive food/entertainment, noise, massive crowds, rats, long work hours, or even the new fad they call the swine flu(ok, maybe a little); rather i dread the extreme weather conditions that come with living in 'the city.' ny has long cold winters and blistering sticky summmers that force people to have closets within closets of clothes to dress appropriately. so ironically the first weekend it was around 80 degrees with no moisture in the air. this was days after it was 60 and rainy. so once i came to realize that these weather inconsistencies were no different than sf, i felt more at home.
the weekend consisted of visiting a bar in the lower east side, picnicking in central park, enjoying long island oysters, table service at a sleek lounge, and tanning at a brooklyn beach. i discovered that when the weather was perfect, new yorkers instantly opened up and smiles were out and about trying to enjoy the limited time. it was like seeing a prisoner leaving his cell and opening his eyes to his first day of freedom. i had a great first weekend catching up with old friends, making new friends, experiencing 'small world' encounters, and familiarizing myself with the city and its offerings. i came away with a tan, hot pink friendship bracelet, and many first impressions of ny...i'm predicting much much more to come in the near future...
