Los ... York

Looks Like We Made It …

2006-11-08T17:41:00.000-05:00

Well kids, here I am, one year later. Can you believe it?

The last three days I have been on my couch, sidelined with a case of strep throat. So, in addition to watching a lot of bad daytime TV, I have been thinking about what I have learned over the past year.

1. New Yorkers are generally kind and helpful people.
2. Good Mexican food only exists in Southern California (well, and Mexico).
3. Always wear a seat belt in a taxicab.
4. The ability to have everything delivered is a good thing.
5. I like a little change-up in my weather – seasons are fun!
6. Not having a car has its advantages (and disadvantages).
7. An apple you picked yourself tastes really good.
8. When running errands during the winter, wear a t-shirt under your heavy coat.
9. Central Park is fabulous any time of the year.
10. Picking up and moving across the country is totally worth it for the experience.
11. An occasional escape from the city keeps you sane.
12. The people that you love are always with you, no matter how far away they are.

So there it is! I hope you have gotten a kick out of reading my blog (and thank you for your comments) – I have enjoyed sharing my experiences with you!

I [heart] New York.

Eve

2006-10-12T22:05:00.000-04:00

My friend Silo and I decided to escape from the city and do a little apple picking. So, we put on our migrant farm worker finest and drove to Warwick, New York.

Renting a car in Manhattan takes patience. When I showed up at Dollar Rent A Car at 10:15 am, they were out of cars. So, we waited. And we shot the shit with our fellow wannabe escapees. We went to Starbucks. And, 3 hours later, we had a car and were on our way. (It would have been 2 ½ hours, except I took pity on this girl who was in line after me, who was trying to make visiting hours at the prison where her brother was currently residing. All I can say is, thank God my sisters, Abba and Frampton, haven’t landed in prison (yet).)

Just over an hour later, we were in the sticks. And surrounded by children. So what did we do? We picked exactly 9 apples, a pumpkin (which Silo later abandon), ate some apple donuts (a total waste of calories, in my opinion – have they not heard of glaze?), and hit the “winery”. As we checked out of the orchard with our 9 apples and 4 bottles of wine, the clerk looked into our almost-empty apple bag, scoffed, and waved us through. And off we went, back to our little island of Eden.

Kingpin

2006-10-07T21:11:00.000-04:00

Hands down, my favorite building in Manhattan is the Chrysler Building. And today, I had the pleasure of going inside and learning a little something about it.

The Chrysler Building was completed in 1930, and is still the tallest brick building in the world. (It was the world’s tallest building for a few months, until the Empire State Building came along.) References to Chrysler’s automobiles can be found in the radiator cap gargoyles (31st floor) and hood ornament eagles (61st floor).

Here is the 43rd Street entrance/exit:

And a lobby elevator:

The ceiling mural in the lobby:

And, a lower level subway entrance:

38

2006-09-27T22:05:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to thank everyone for the calls, emails, and other birthday greetings – it meant a lot to me. (I especially appreciated those of you who sang!) You made my first New York birthday a fabulous one!

Oh, Mandy!

2006-09-24T21:53:00.000-04:00

This weekend, two L.A. girls came to visit two former L.A. girls in NYC. And lots of eating, drinking and fun ensued.

P.S. - Tonight, I finally tried the low fat “frozen dessert” that is known as Tasti-D’lite. If you ever watched Sex and the City, you’ve heard of it. I think that I will stick to full fat desserts and get my ass to the gym more often.

Rhythm Nation

2006-09-21T21:29:00.000-04:00

As an early birthday present, my sister, who I shall call Frampton, came for a visit all the way from San Diego.

On Frampton’s first day here, we visited the World Trade Center site, and the Trinity Church – St. Paul’s Chapel. Despite its close proximity to the site, the church endured the attacks. This is the view from the church grounds; the open space you see is where the Towers once stood.

We also checked out the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. (Well, sort of. It was absolutely pouring rain, so technically, we checked out a bar in Little Italy. And picked up some (amazing) cannoli to go.)

Other highlights included a view of the Statue of Liberty by way of the Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, Times Square, and lots of dessert. (Apparently I have developed an expertise in where to get sweets in Manhattan.)

What a fabulous gift!

Yo-ho-ho!

2006-09-19T21:18:00.000-04:00

Besides being the official kick-off of birthday week, today happens to be Talk Like a Pirate Day. Gar, where is me bottle o’rum?!?

9/11

2006-09-09T21:00:00.000-04:00

Since moving to New York, I have heard amazing and moving stories from the people that were here on September 11, 2001. One friend told me about seeing the second plane fly by her office in the Empire State Building. Another friend told me about the confusion and chaos – not being allowed to leave from work, and then the long and somber journey home to the Bronx. But one of the most touching stories was told to me by my friend Tina, and the family member that she lost that day.

Tina has an older sister named Jane. Jane and her boyfriend John had gone on vacation the prior week, and had gotten engaged. They both returned to work on September 11th.

Jane and John were in the habit of talking on the phone every morning before work. That morning, however, Jane was running late and didn’t make her usual call to John, who worked on an upper floor in the Twin Towers. Once she got to work, she had this overwhelming feeling that she should call him.

Jane was on the phone with John when the first plane hit his building, and she heard the crash through the phone line. They had just a few moments before the line went dead. It wasn’t until six months later, in March 2002, that a body part of his was identified and they were finally able to hold his memorial service.

A few months ago, Jane got married to her high school sweetheart. John’s best friends all attended the wedding; they were there to support her, because they knew that John would have wanted it that way.

Rest in peace.

Summer’s End

2006-09-04T21:25:00.000-04:00

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated in NYC in 1882, and today, 124 years later, I celebrated my first Labor Day in NYC. And what did I do to mark this occasion? No labor, of course!

On Saturday it rained. All. Day. Long. The remnants of Ernesto, which formed in the eastern Caribbean Sea on August 24th, landed in NYC nine days later. Hurricane name fun fact: six lists of names are used and rotated on a yearly basis. “Erika”, you will be pleased to know, is on the Atlantic list, and will be back in contention in 2009. Needless to say, Saturday was a wash. :-)

The sun came out on Sunday, so I started with brunch at the Chelsea Market (www.chelseamarket.com), home of the Food Network (my weekend TV-watching guilty pleasure) and the Fat Witch Bakery (www.fatwitch.com) (a new guilty pleasure). Next up was Chelsea Piers for a little bowling action (where I was dubbed “E-Rod” by the “Zwagster”).

A few hours, one strike and some gutter balls later, we made our way to the West 79th Street Boat Basin Café, an interesting (for lack of a better word) outdoor café on the Hudson River. Brownies, bowling and margaritas – not a bad way to spend the day.

And today I went to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. (The Intrepid is closing down for 18 months for renovations, and since I don’t know if Manhattan will still be my home in 2008, it seemed like a good time to check it out.) Intrepid fun fact: the USS Intrepid served during WWII and Vietnam, and ended her service career in 1974. The planes were cool, as was the enormous carrier itself (though, I admit that I felt a bit claustrophobic in the bridge). I was especially intrigued by the bunk art – the doodles and drawings that the soldiers made on their bunks - personal expressions of the soldiers who called it home.

Konijn Eiland

2006-08-20T20:11:00.000-04:00

I have been a bit homesick lately. Perhaps it is because I have had loved ones come to visit, and it sucks when they leave. Perhaps it is because I seem to have a never-ending summer cold. Or perhaps it is because I long for a nice 75-degree, humidity-free, sunshiny day ... just one.

So, in search of something Southern California-ish, I was lured to Coney Island this weekend by the promise of pro beach volleyball. (And I made Mya go with me.) We never found the volleyball tournament (mostly because it was hot and we were too lazy to make the effort), but we did get to check out Coney Island.

Turns out, Coney Island is (1) not an island (though it once was, it is now a peninsula) and (2) in Brooklyn.

From 1880 to the early 1940’s, Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the U.S. (Before Disneyland, that is.)

The Cyclone roller coaster originally opened in 1927, and is the most copied roller coaster ever built. When it opened, a ride cost 25 cents; today it costs $6.00. (And, no, I didn't go on The Cyclone. It doesn't go upside down, which is my roller coaster deal breaker, but I choose to spend my pennies at Nathan's instead ...)

Nathan’s Famous opened in 1916 as a nickel hot dog stand. Today, Takeru Kobayashi is the current champion of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, consuming (God knows how) 53 ¾ hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes.

No frankfurters for me, but I did take a liking to the crinkle-cut fries and lemonade. Just what I needed for the 45-minute subway ride back home to my little island.

A Family Affair

2006-08-16T19:32:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, my oldest sister and her family came for a visit. I got to play tourist (more than usual), which was cool. (And, they brought me four cans of El Pato salsa.) It was a lot of fun! We checked out Lincoln Center, Central Park, the Met, the first pizzeria in the U.S., Bryant Park, Times Square, a random Mister Softee truck, the Guggenheim, Dylan's Candy Bar, Tiffany’s, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center. And that was just the first day …

One-Word Movie Review

2006-08-15T19:32:00.000-04:00

We all know that the pace in NYC is go-go-go. So with that in mind, I am cutting to the chase, just for you.

Miami Vice: SUCKS

Spectacular!

2006-07-08T18:02:00.000-04:00

Today I found the sundeck in my apartment building. After eight months in Manhattan, I have never been so pale, so I was determined to get some sun. For one sun-and-cloud-filled hour (because it seems that a New York summer is all about the clouds), I chilled on a lounge chair, IPod cranked up to drown out the noise, staring off at the airplanes parked on The Intrepid (http://www.intrepidmuseum.org). It is very strange to sunbathe in the city, with no ocean or pool in sight – only concrete. But, pasty-white beggars cannot be choosers.

My first July 4th here was great. This year was Macy’s 30th annual “Fireworks Spectacular”. (Macy’s is apparently the official sponsor of NYC. It is amazing how much that department store does to entertain us.) It is the biggest fireworks “spectacular” in the U.S., using 55 times more fireworks than the average show, and firing off more than 30,000 shells. My friend Mya invited some people over to watch the “spectacular” from the roof of her eastside apartment building. Armed with chips, pizza and sangria (my contribution, natch), we had an excellent view of the show. Spectacular!

Knee Knocker

2006-06-11T21:04:00.000-04:00

So, did we know it rains so much in New York?

We didn’t, but a little rain did not keep me from spending a recent Sunday on a golf course in upstate New York. Yes, you read that correctly. Golf.

I have wanted to learn for a while now, and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in a “Beginner’s Tour” class through ESPN Golf School (http://www.espngolfschool.com/beginners_tour.php). And, it was great! (Apparently, my high school years playing field hockey were good for something. Funny, I seem to be drawn to playing sports where I can wear a skirt!) I have a long way to go before I actually play 18 holes, so for now I am happy reading my “Golf for Dummies” book and hitting balls at Chelsea Piers:

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I spent some sun-, fun- and cocktail-filled days in Los Angeles. It was a great trip, and I did my best to eat as many burritos as I could. Good times were had by all.

No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn

2006-05-15T21:43:00.000-04:00

OK, technically I went to Brooklyn on very little sleep. But that wasn’t my fault; the bars are open until 4 am here.

Yes, I finally left my little island to check out another borough. And how did I get there? I walked the 6,016 feet (1,834 m for my international readers) across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Ready for your fun facts? The bridge crosses the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The construction was completed in 1883, and at the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world (the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan currently holds the record). And, it played an important role in the film "Fantastic Four".

In West Philadelphia born and raised …

2006-05-09T21:54:00.000-04:00

I have a new man in my life. He is sweet, he is available, and he loves to travel. He even has his own theme song.

His name is Mister Softee.

I know what you are thinking. (Especially some of you.)

What am I doing, seeing a 50-year-old? I just can’t help myself.

I first noticed Mister Softee a few weeks ago, when the weather got warmer. There he was, on the corner of 44th and 6th, ready to serve. I was tempted, but I had to do a little reconnaissance first. Turns out, a lot of people know Mister Softee; he is an East Coast institution. Everyone I spoke to offered up his or her best advice.

One balmy Friday afternoon, I finally worked up my nerve to go see Mister Softee. With a girlfriend by my side, we made our approach. “How can I help you?” he asked. The moment of truth had arrived. I studied him for a moment, and then said without hesitation, “I’d like a vanilla cone with chocolate sprinkles, please”.

I think I am in this relationship for the long haul. (Or at least until the end of summer.)

A Saturday in the City

2006-04-29T19:25:00.000-04:00

Cat Call

2006-04-26T22:21:00.000-04:00

In my five months here, I have already gotten used to the unsolicited remarks that men make on the street. It happens somewhat frequently, especially compared to L.A. where it never happened. (Then again, I never walked anywhere in L.A. Just like the song says.)

The comment I seem to inspire the most is “sexy”. (Don’t ask me why. Especially since I have been forced to wear closed-toe shoes for the last five months.) I don’t really mind the remarks – they give me a giggle and hey, a compliment is a compliment.

But today I got the most interesting one yet. I was out at lunch and, hand to God, this guy said “nice posture” to me. Nice posture? Well, I guess I’ll take that one too.

Three Days of Rain

2006-04-25T22:23:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday it was 83 degrees and beautiful. By Saturday, it was 30 degrees colder and raining. And it rained Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Thankfully the rain let up on Sunday evening so I could get dolled up and go to the theatre. Where I saw Three Days of Rain.

Three Days of Rain is Julia Roberts’ Broadway debut. The critics have been quite unkind to her … and it is not entirely unfounded. Compared to her co-stars, Paul Rudd (Clueless) and the very fine Bradley Cooper (Will Tippin to you Alias fans), she just didn’t bring it. But I am glad I got to see it (and her). Fun facts: she had the shortest bio in the playbill, and the only shout-out (“For D.M. – my courage.”).

More entertaining was my low-budget theatre experience the night before. I went to see a little show called Mortified. Mortified, which plays in L.A., N.Y., Boston and S.F. (yo MJ!), is a show where a bunch of adults get up and read their most embarrassing teenage diary entries. Suddenly, my teenage obsession with Adam Ant doesn't seem so bad after all ...

Food Crazy

2006-04-17T22:33:00.000-04:00

There is a lot of crazy in New York. Just walk a few blocks, and you see it everywhere. And for a few minutes the other weekend, I joined the crazy.

You see, the very first Trader Joe’s recently opened up in Manhattan. And I actually waited in line to get inside. Seriously. I queued up for a grocery store.

The opening of a Trader Joe’s is a big deal here. We have a few Whole Foods, but the crowds and lines are intolerable. Beyond that, the grocery stores pretty much suck. (Hence my reliance on online food shopping.) I recognize the insanity in my actions. But, can you blame me?

Seeing that I am now willing to stand outside in line in the name of peanut butter pretzels, thank God the weather is getting better. It felt like California this weekend! We hit the mid-70s on Saturday and hovered around the low-70s on Sunday. I understand that I should enjoy this weather while it lasts, as soon enough it will be unbearably hot and humid. (And pungent.)

One last note. Coming home from work tonight, the sun had just gone down. As I was walking toward my apartment building, I was taken by how beautiful the Hudson River looked. It was this deep majestic blue, and the New Jersey lights shimmered upon it. Trader Joes, warm weather and a spectacular view … fabulous.

Abundant Sunshine

2006-04-03T20:40:00.000-04:00

That was the weather forecast yesterday. Isn’t that fabulous? And it was no lie - it must have been around 70 degrees. I was even wearing a tank top, determined to get some color back in my blindingly white skin. Of course, today it is back to the 50’s and rainy. But it was a good 12 hours!

However, apparently, the warmer weather brings out the rats. As I was walking home one evening last week, I saw the biggest rat I have ever seen. It was seriously the size of a small dog. Ewww.

Ah, welcome to springtime in New York! Ready to come visit me yet?

Que?

2006-03-12T15:28:00.000-05:00

Because I am still on the hunt for some good Mexican food here, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make myself some enchiladas. Fresh Direct, my online grocery store, didn’t even carry enchilada sauce (gasp!), so I was forced to find some in a local market.

Here is the actual conversation that transpired:

Me: Do you carry enchilada sauce?

Grocery boy: What is it for?

Me [dumbfounded]: Enchiladas.

Grocery boy: [Blank stare.]

Me [amazed yet slightly amused]: Mexican food?

Grocery clerk: Oh. [Light bulb!] End of aisle 6.

Ay, Caramba!

Black Widow

2006-03-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

Luke had a birthday. I flew across the country to help him celebrate. Because I am cool like that.

You all know who you are. And you all know what went down.

Curious George

2006-02-28T21:21:00.000-05:00

Over the holiday weekend I made my very first trip to Washington D.C., with my friend who I shall call Mya.

Mya and I took the train from Penn Station to Union Station early Saturday morning. (Note to self: upgrade to business class next time.) And, here it is! (By the way, you will notice the Dr. Zhivago hat I am sporting. We managed to pick the coldest weekend EVER to be in D.C. Hence, the new addition to my wardrobe.)

Gualtier Malde

2006-02-16T22:53:00.000-05:00

This week I took in “Rigoletto” at the Metropolitan Opera. Favoloso!

As I waited for my friend to arrive, I sat outside by the fountain (it was in the 50’s that evening) and enjoyed the experience that is Lincoln Center. (Lincoln Center is the world’s largest performing arts center, and includes the NY City Ballet, Juilliard, and the NY Philharmonic.)

Once inside, we were treated to a fabulous performance (and I very much appreciated the individual title screens) and fabulous champagne. All in all, a wonderful New York night.

This weekend I am off to Washington DC. There will be no hunting trips with Dick Cheney, so a good time should be had by all.

Happy Presidents’ Day everyone!

26.9

2006-02-12T20:22:00.000-05:00

I moved here just in time for the biggest snowstorm EVER in New York City. 26.9 inches of snow fell in Central Park during my very first blizzard. Check. Me. Out.

The snow started yesterday afternoon around 3 p.m. and subsided just over 24 hours later. It wasn’t too bad when I went to bed, but I was woken up at 6:30 a.m. by thunder (and lightning). (Thunder snow!) I spent most of the day inside watching the snow whip around. (Don’t worry – I was also semi-productive. I made chili (more on that later) and cleaned my apartment in between bouts of staring out the window.) And, of course, once it stopped, I had to go outside and take pictures for you!

This is right outside of my building:

There is a police station on the next block. Some lucky officer gets to dig his/her car out of this:

As my chili sucked, I had to get some dinner so I walked a few blocks to Better Burger (not to be confused with Mo Betta Meaty Meat Burger on Fairfax). They have a veggie burger that I can’t get enough of. (Seriously, I think I have had three in the last week.)

Besides veggie burgers and a record-breaking snowstorm, my weekend also consisted of an art gallery tour in Chelsea. Chelsea is home to over 250 art galleries. The tour that I took visited seven galleries, and the exhibits included works on paper, sculpture, painting, computer art/video, photography and an installation. (Apparently the director of the tour group visits 200 galleries a month and selects eight exhibits for each tour.) In case you are wondering, my favorite was a photography exhibit called “Niagara” at the Gagosian Gallery. The tour is definitely something I’d do again. (Same goes for the blizzard.)

Paraphernalia

2006-02-08T22:49:00.000-05:00

I have been a New Yorker for three months now. Miss me yet?

Winter is finally kicking in, sort of. It hasn’t gotten out of the 30’s in the past few days. But, it is sunny, so it is not so bad. I can’t tell you how many times I have almost walked out my door without a coat, or a scarf, or gloves. I am just not used to the winter accoutrements. By the time I remember to put everything on, it is going to be Spring!

Fashion! Turn to the left …

2006-02-07T07:42:00.000-05:00

Lately, fashion seems to be everywhere in Manhattan. And it makes me oh so happy.

I went to the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum to see the terrific Fashion in Colors exhibit. Basically, it is 68 fashion designs spanning the last 300 years, broken down by color. There were some fabulous frocks by Vivienne Westwood and Cristobal Balenciaga (try saying that three times fast). (Though, the collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is still my favorite.)

Last week was tax-free week in New York City. Apparently, the Governor designates periods of one week during the year to be sales tax-free for purchases of clothes and shoes. It is intended to encourage shopping and boost business. Being the model citizen that I am, I had no choice but to participate.

Finally, it is Fashion Week. The tents are right across the street from where I work. It is next to impossible to get in to any of the shows, unless you are famous and/or very well connected. So, I am officially adding “become very well connected for the sole purpose of getting into fashion shows” to my list of goals. (And, in case you were wondering, the original goal of finding good Mexican food is still being pursued. Actively.)

Seven Rays

2006-01-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

One of the things I’ve wanted to do since I moved here was to visit the Statue of Liberty. Since we have had unseasonably warm temperatures this week, I decided to give it a go. (Yes, it was 60 degrees yesterday, and yes, it was around 20 degrees last weekend. Your guess is as good as mine as to what it will be like next week!)

I took the subway down to The Battery and jumped on the surprisingly crowded ferry. (Like Los Angeles, there doesn’t appear to be an off-season for tourism here.) Here is the view of lower Manhattan from the ferry:

After a 15-minute ferry ride, I was at Liberty Island. (Ellis Island, which is another 10-minute ferry ride away, is where the museum is located.) And here she is (drum roll please!):

And, since I know you read my blog just for the random fun facts:

* From the ground to the tip of the torch is 305 feet, 1 inch
* The length of her nose is 4 feet, 6 inches (and you thought your nose was big)
* Winds of 50 m.p.h. can cause the statue to sway 3 inches and the torch to sway 5 inches

Afterward, I grabbed a pretzel from a vendor, checked out the street performers and marveled at the inordinate number of people who were randomly standing on crates, dressed up as Lady Liberty. (Truth be told, I suspect they weren’t actually being paid to be there, if you know what I mean.) C'est magnifique!

Falling Ice

2006-01-16T17:52:00.000-05:00

Reason #1 why I love NYC: Central Park. Central Park is 843 acres (6% of Manhattan’s total acreage), and it runs 2.5 miles north to south and .5 miles west to east. And it is blissfully peaceful. If you have ever lived or visited here, you know that Manhattan is busy, crowded, and loud. The Park is a little piece of heaven for me.

I took these today as I wandered through the south end:

And, yes, that is snow on the ground. This weekend the temperature plunged 30 degrees overnight as a storm passed through. (By the way, what’s up with sleet? My understanding is that it is frozen rain – isn’t that hail? Is there a difference? In my book, ice falling from the sky is ice falling from the sky.)

For all of you enjoying the 70-degree weather in California, you’ll love this: on Sunday, I decided to go to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (http://ndm.si.edu/) to see the Fashion in Colors exhibit. I got all bundled up and was no more than 10 steps outside of my building when the bitterly cold wind almost knocked me down. So what did I do? Brave the elements for a little culture? Hell no. I turned around and went right back inside. Culture just might have to wait until the springtime.

Eliminator

2006-01-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

Over 8 million people live in New York City. Approximately 1.5 million of them reside in the 33 square mile borough known as Manhattan. (Fun fact for those who never paid attention in geography class: New York City is made up of 5 boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.)

Tomorrow marks my two-month anniversary as one of those 1.5 million. Isn’t that amazing? My first two months were all about finding a place to live, adjusting to a new job, and basically figuring out how everything works here. And then came the holidays. But this week I have started to feel more settled, and I am developing somewhat of a routine.

Part of my routine is waiting for my groceries to be delivered, which is what I am doing as I write this. Grocery delivery is a wonderful new addition to my life. Since moving, I have stopped at the local market on occasion to pick up a few items, but lugging three bags of groceries home in the rain out-and-out sucks. I come from the land of mega grocery stores with everything you could ever want, and a car to load it all into. In Los Angeles, I never had anything delivered, except for the occasional pizza. But everything gets delivered here … groceries, dry cleaning, liquor, linens from Bed, Bath & Beyond …

(On a side note, I do miss Trader Joe’s – there isn’t one here. Anyone who cares to send me TJ’s chocolate covered cranberries or wild rice mix will get mad props.)

The best package EVER came in the mail the other day. In West Hollywood, Bo, Luke and I used to play pool at a local bar. I would always play with one particular pool cue, an 18 oz. cue called the "Eliminator”. I favored it mostly because it was light, but it is entirely possible the name had something to do with it too. ;-)

Well, without going into the (possibly incriminating) details, the Eliminator made the 2,800 mile journey across the country and arrived on my doorstep on Saturday. Besides living in a borough and having her groceries delivered, what more could a girl ask for?

Balls Out

2005-12-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! I certainly did, as I spent it with my favorite boys, who I shall call Bo and Luke.

The three of us spent the long weekend re-arranging furniture, drinking, sightseeing, drinking, eating, drinking, and playing pool. And, did I mention drinking?

My building has a deck on the 32nd floor with the most amazing view. Here is a picture of Luke and me on the deck:

Doesn’t it look like he is going to throw me over the side? (We’ve known each other for 18 years – he is probably tempted.)

And here are the Duke boys on the subway. And yes, Bo always looks that goofy. (coo-coo-coooooo!)

On Christmas, we got Dunkin Donuts (natch), opened presents and headed to Rockefeller Center to ice skate. Unfortunately, it was raining like crazy, and though other people were on the ice, we decided against it and set off instead to an Italian restaurant in HK, where we had an incredible dinner.

With New Year’s Eve around the corner, the city is packed with tourists. I am hoping to catch a glimpse of the Times Square ball before the big night. (The thought of standing in a herd for six hours, braving the elements and the porta-potties, isn’t exactly appealing.) Did you know that the original ball, which descended in 1907, was made of iron and wood and weighed 700 pounds? The current aluminum frame ball is covered with 504 Waterford crystal triangles, 90 rotating pyramid mirrors and 696 lights, and weighs 1,070 pounds. A little party conversation for you. Aren’t you glad you read my blog? ;-)

I wish you all a fantastic 2006, full of what matters the most in life, and that, of course, is love.

Re·al·i·ty: the quality or state of being real

2005-12-20T20:55:00.000-05:00

I live in Manhattan.

This particular thought has gone through my head a lot over the last few days. Sometimes it is accompanied by feelings of wonder and joy, and sometimes it is accompanied by feelings of uh-oh. Fortunately, it is usually the former.

I did have an uh-oh moment yesterday. My belongings finally made it from Los Angeles, intact save for a few broken glasses. As I spent the day unpacking, reality set it. All of the sudden, I am not living out of a suitcase in someone else’s apartment. I am sleeping in my own bed and eating takeout off my own plates. (I have used the oven in my apartment exactly one time, and that one time, the fire alarm went off. I took that as a sign not to cook.)

It is interesting (well, maybe just to me) what items made me particularly giddy when I unpacked. My framed photograph of a Manhattan Beach lifeguard tower. My wooden pig I hang my keys on (my grandfather made it). And my shoes.

This is my first Christmas away from my family. I miss you all. (And yes, I mailed your presents.) Thank God two of my favorite people in the entire world are coming to visit. Ye-haw!

For those of you who have asked about the transit strike, basically, it sucks. I am lucky in that I can walk to work. Many of my co-workers are bridge and tunnel, and their commutes were not easy. People are definitely taking it in stride though. New Yorkers seem to be that way. Just like I am going to take it in stride that I have a closet full of fabulous shoes that I can’t wear until the mercury rises. Because, as it turns out, I am now a New Yorker.

O Christmas Tree

2005-12-13T18:45:00.000-05:00

My awesome sister Renee and her family (hi kids!) sent me a baby Christmas tree to go with my baby apartment (thank you!). So I just had to show it off:

And, since we had a really clear (but freezing cold) day today, I wanted to share the view from my apartment. If I look to the left, I see the Hudson River and New Jersey:

If I look straight ahead, I see a behemoth of a condo building that is currently being built. (Not so pretty.) And if I look to the right, I see part of midtown (somewhere in the 50’s):

Gummy Bears

2005-12-12T21:24:00.000-05:00

I sit here, on my air mattress, writing this from my new apartment – I spent my first night here last night. I really like my little studio, and I am digging the full-service building. Having a doorman to hold the door open for you. (Chivalry! Yes, I know that is his job, but still!) Having a concierge who can accept your endless deliveries. And an on-site café, with pretty good pizza, that delivers. Sweet.

I am anxious for my belongings to arrive. Not having a TV sucks. (Remember, this is a girl who worked for CBS for 5+ years.) Oh, and my bed would be nice! I did buy a couch, which is supposed to be delivered on Wednesday. At least then I will have a place to sit that is more than a foot off the ground.

On a side note, I have started eating gummy bears again. (A forbidden food for vegetarians, not because they are shaped like tiny little bears, but because of the gelatin.) And I noticed I actually have a process for doing so. I take a handful out of the bag, and I separate them by color. Then, I eat them by flavor preference, starting with my least favorite (green) to my most favorite (red). Wow, I hope my TV comes soon!

S to the Now.

2005-12-09T21:42:00.000-05:00

As of today, I have been a resident of NYC for one month. And wouldn’t you know it, the first snowstorm of the season hit. Yeeeeeeeeeee! As I walked to the bus stop this morning, my only goal was to not slip and fall on my ass. (Again with the lofty goals!) We got about 5” of snow in total, and by lunchtime the sun was shining. So I went out and took some pictures, just for you.

Here is the Christmas tree and skating rink at Rockefeller Center:

And, this is Bryant Park, which is a beautiful park right across the street from my office:

(It has a temporary skating rink set up for the holidays.) I understand that in the summertime, the library (which is right next door) puts out books for people to read and there are weekly movie screenings. I learned these fabulous facts from an acquaintance I met for drinks last night. She and her husband moved to Manhattan from L.A. about four years ago. She gave me all kinds of great information, and she even recommended a Mexican restaurant. (She also told me it took her three years to find this place – that is some serious dedication to the cause.)

Everyone has been so great about introducing me to people they know in the city. And now I get to return the favor, as a friend has asked me to meet her friend who just moved here from L.A. As long as he shares the passion for good Mexican food, we will get along just fine.

Snow Alert

2005-12-06T23:04:00.000-05:00

Last night we had a “snow alert”. It sounds a bit silly, but they take their snow very seriously here. I guess it is like L.A., where a few drops of rain inspire “storm watch”.

It did actually snow! The first snow was on Saturday night. After a very late dinner in the Meatpacking District, we stumbled (literally) out into a winter wonderland. It was really pretty.

A big storm was supposed to hit last night (hence the snow alert), but apparently it decided to pick on New Jersey instead. (Do you blame it?) And another storm is possible at the end of this week. My boss told me today that it never snows this early in the season. She is so lying to me – I think she is afraid I am going to flee.

I have been spending some time, measuring tape in hand, at my new pad trying to figure out how one goes about setting up a studio apartment. You’d think it would be easy, being only one room. You’d be surprised. I have also spent some quality time trying to find studio-size furniture. It is quite possible that the deliverymen from Crate and Barrel are going to be my new best friends. Despite the fact that my belongings are still en route, I will be moving in this weekend. It will be me, my air mattress, my laptop and my Sex and the City boxset for the next few weeks!

Tonight I saw the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Impressive. My Christmas tree this year will be slightly smaller.

The city is beautiful right now, with all of the holiday decorations and the (allegedly premature) snowfall. I wish you all could be here!

Turn It Up Loud, Captain! *

2005-11-27T11:53:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday night, I braved the cold and the stroller people and saw the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade balloons being inflated. Here is Scooby-Doo waiting for his Scooby snacks:

On Thanksgiving I went to a very nice brunch. I even had a few bites of turkey bacon, which you know is a huge step away from vegetarianism for me; oh my God, it tasted good!

I saw the motion picture “Rent”. I must say, I much prefer the stage musical – it was a lot more powerful. (But, that might be because, when I saw it, Doogie Howser was one of the lead actors.)

I also continued my quest for decent Mexican food. (I was experiencing some serious cravings yesterday.) I tried a hole-in-the-wall called La Paloma. The search definitely continues … (BTW, you guys rock for giving me places to try. Of course, if one of your suggestions sucks, I will call you out on it. Just kidding. Sort of.)

I am happy to report that I have found an apartment of my own! It is a studio, in Hell’s Kitchen, in a fabulous high-rise building. The building has a 24/7 doorman and concierge, a gym, a sundeck, and a billiards room (boys, you are going down now!). There is also a café and drycleaners on the premises. I pick up my keys this week, and will slowly (or very slowly, depending on how long it takes my stuff to come from California) start moving in.

Finally, I know this is old news, but I had to comment on Lindsay Lohan absolutely slaughtering “Edge of Seventeen” on the American Music Awards. I was reminding of this atrocity when the kick-ass original came on my IPod while I was working out this morning. Just saying.

* A gold star to those who recognize that particular lyric, which really has nothing to do with anything, except that it is also on my IPod.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-23T17:17:00.000-05:00

It is 34 degrees right now. And it might snow tonight. And tomorrow. I’m just saying.

There are certain of you who love nothing more than telling me it is 80 degrees in L.A. and you’ve had to use your air conditioning. I’m not naming any names (Joe), but you know who you are. You suck. ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Pretty As A Picture

2005-11-20T20:34:00.000-05:00

I thought I would share some pictures with you. Here is the view from my current apartment:

This is the view from the Top of the Rock:

(One of these views is a little more impressive than the other!)

Today I wandered around the south end of Central Park. It is so beautiful, as you can see:

And, on a totally random side note, one morning last week while I was on my way to work, this guy got on the bus and sat next to me. In his hand he had an advertisement he had ripped out of the newspaper. As I just couldn’t help myself, I glanced over to see what it was for. The opening of a new Target? A great sale at Best Buy? A new restaurant to try? No my friends, it was an ad for volunteers for a clinical study on bipolar disorder. Gotta love public transportation!

Hollaback

2005-11-16T20:51:00.000-05:00

I am eating pizza from a place called Fat Sal’s. I have to say, this shit is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s. (That song sticks in your head, doesn’t it? he he he)

I have started apartment hunting, and apartment hunting in Manhattan is quite an experience. There is an episode of Friends where Ross is apartment hunting (Cathy, I know you know the episode!), and one of the places he looks at is a studio with a “bathroom/kitchen”. Not an exaggeration. These apartments are small - think Barbie Dream House. And once you find a place, the approval process is out of control. Thank God juvenile criminal records are sealed. (Just kidding.) I am starting to understand why a lot of people live in Brooklyn!

I have been here a week now, and I have never seen weather change so much on a daily basis. (I admit that I have never lived anywhere with actual “weather”. But I do think the meteorologists here really need the Doppler 7000. Unlike Dallas Raines.) Tonight it is raining, and tomorrow the temperature is going to drop like 20 degrees. Frozen B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

Rock On

2005-11-14T21:04:00.000-05:00

You will be relieved to know I found the Kiehl’s on the Upper West Side. I hope you didn’t lose too much sleep over that. ;-)

This weekend I took advantage of the nice weather (mid-60’s) and visited the Top of the Rock (http://www.topoftherocknyc.com). The Top of the Rock is the observation deck on the 70th floor of Rockefeller Center. The view was spectacular! I also visited the gigantic multi-level Banana Republic. Another winner!

On a side note, I saw “Pride and Prejudice” this weekend. A great movie, though the male characters had to wear the most unfortunate pants. Apparently there was no Banana Republic in town.

Today I started my new job. I rode the bus to work (2 buses, technically). After 2 ½ hours of orientation, I was presented with my safety backpack, chock full of emergency supplies. (One can never have enough astronaut food.) No free DVDs with this job, but it was pretty darn cool walking in the sunshine down 42nd Street at lunchtime.

The Search ...

2005-11-12T22:26:00.000-05:00

… has begun for decent (dare I hope for good?) Mexican food in NYC. (A girl has to have goals.) FYI, my So Cal favorites are the taco stands (Roberto’s, Alberto’s, or any –berto variation), El Tarasco, and The Gardens of Taxco.

My first attempt was a place in Hell’s Kitchen called El Azteca. I was encouraged by the tacky décor and good salsa (not as good as El T, but good nonetheless). But, my hopes were soon dashed when my taco arrived in a pre-made taco shell. As in Ortega. As in the ones you can buy at the grocery store in packs of twelve. Some things can’t be forgiven. The search continues …

On another (somewhat amusing) front, if you know me, you know that I have no sense of direction. Zero. Nada. So, I spent some time today looking for the Kiehl’s store on the Upper West Side (which I never found), and a guy (who was clearly misguided) asked me of all people for directions to 6th Avenue. I think I pointed him in the right direction, though it is entirely possible he ended up in New Jersey.

Adios for now.

Jacket and Scarf Required

2005-11-11T10:17:00.000-05:00

The high today is supposed to be 47 degrees. Um, yeah.

I am all moved into my short-term rental. It is a studio, not unlike a hotel room, in the area known as Hell’s Kitchen. Back in the day, Hell’s Kitchen was the home of the most badass criminals. Today, it is the home of many a Dunkin’ Donuts (including one in my building). My favorite story (so far) about why it is called Hell’s Kitchen is the story of a veteran police officer and his rookie partner watching a riot in the area and the rookie commenting, “this place is Hell itself”, and the veteran officer replying, “Hell’s a mild climate. This is Hell’s Kitchen.”

I took my first spin on the subway yesterday. (Actually, a few spins.) It is quite unlike my ultimate driving machine.

Today I am planning to brave the cold and head to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree (just delivered yesterday). I’ll be the one all bundled up with a Dunkin’ Donut in my hand.

Home ...

2005-11-10T01:47:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog, where I will babble on endlessly about my move from Los Angeles to New York City, and all of my adventures as the new girl in town. Feel free to post a comment if you think I am being dull. Or, as is much more likely, particularly witty.

I am standing on the stairs, in the rain, waiting to board my Jet Blue flight to JFK. (Jet Blue, for those who haven’t flown it, is best known for its nationally televised landing gear malfunctions.) The Burbank airport doesn’t have jet ways like most airports, which is charmingly old school, yet annoyingly 818. The woman in front of me, who is also getting pelted by rain, turns to me and says, “I wonder what the weather will be like when we get home?” Home, as in Manhattan. A good omen, I hope.

In the next few days, I will have a crash course on living in Manhattan. My immediate goals are to (1) figure how to get to work on Monday, (2) learn how to ride the subway (no doubt essential to the achievement of goal #1), (3) calculate exactly how far I can walk in my new super-cute high-heeled boots (which just might happen if I don’t hit goal #2). I will keep you posted!

And now, some random song lyrics to end this post (lyrics that I know my boys will recognize, as I was singing them loudly in the U-Haul over the weekend):

Get down girl, go ahead, get down.

Later, alligators.