A couple of weekends ago Justin and I went to Brooklyn Diner and then went off to see Damn Yankees at Civic Center. It was the best show I have seen in a long time. Sean Hayes from Will and Grace played Mr. Applegate aka the devil. Jane Krakowski from 30 Rock was Lola and Cheyenne Jackson (one of my new favorite bway performers) was Joe. I convinced Justin to humor me and let me get Cheyenne and Sean's autographs after the show (I also got a hug from Cheyenne).
That Sunday, Esther, Michael, Bob, Susan, Sandy, Terry, and I went to Katz's Deli. The famous scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed here. Not only was the food great but we saw Jelvis aka Jewish Elvis perform.
Elissa and Adam visited last weekend. We enjoyed a trip to MoMA, Central Park, and the Library. We explored most of the neighborhoods in Manhattan and had a great tour of food. This included many bagels, French Fusion at Brasserie 8 1/2, Turkish food, a Jewish Deli, Italian Gelatto, Cuban, and of course a trip to Bar Centrale.
We went to see "Some Americans Abroad" at Second Stage. It is a dark comedy about professors from an English Department who are on a Drama trip with their students in England. It stared Anthony Rapp from Rent and Tom Cavanaugh from the TV show "Ed".
We also took a ride on the Roosevelt Island Sky Tram. It is really cool. It is like a sky ride at an amusement park but it goes over the East River between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island.
We also went to a Belgian Beer Bar called Burp Castle where you can bring in take out food. To go with our Belgian Beers we got Belgian Fries from around the corner.
This week I went to a art gallery opening that featured work from some of the Fashion Illustration Professors at Parsons. I invited Esther and everyone at work can not stop talking about how pretty she is and what a great sense of fashion she has.
Today Josie and I went to Broadway in Bryant Park. We saw performances from "A Tale of Two Cities", "The Little Mermaid," and "In Transit" among others.
My crazy, cool thing that I learned this week is that the Police squad that manages traffic control is housed in a literal castle!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
M.O.T.
Things have been quite busy the past couple of weeks.
Last week Esther and I went to the Yves Montand film fest at the French Alliance center and saw this amazing film from the 80s, "Jean de Florette". After the film we met up with Linda at this new Greek restaurant Persephone.
Last weekend I went with some of my co-workers to a party out on Long Island. One of the faculty members has this amazing house out on the bay in West Islip. We all had a great time and there is no crazier ride late at night then a 90 minutes Long Island Railroad trip with Fashion Design professors.
Sunday was the Bastille Day fest in NYC. Sarah, Joe, and I enjoyed crepes, wine and cheese tasting, and live music. Later that afternoon we went to FAO Schwartz, Rockefeller Center, the Nintendo store, and had coffee at Dean and Deluca's.
Thursday was the big day. I had to write an essay on why I wanted to convert to the three Rabbis who sat on my Bet Dein (high court). They asked me questions about my essay and then made me leave the room. (sort of like orals for a graduate degree) I was told that they felt I was ready so I was sent to the Mikvah. I had a ritual bath where I was reborn as a Jew. Then we went to the synagogue where Hillary (my friend who also had her conversion) and I were called to hold the Torah for the first time.
Esther, Linda, Hillary, and I went to a pub for a celebratory drink. Later Arthur, Esther, and I got some Japanese and Thai food to go and had a little party at Esther's apartment. So now I am officially a Member of the Tribe and its amazing!
Last week Esther and I went to the Yves Montand film fest at the French Alliance center and saw this amazing film from the 80s, "Jean de Florette". After the film we met up with Linda at this new Greek restaurant Persephone.
Last weekend I went with some of my co-workers to a party out on Long Island. One of the faculty members has this amazing house out on the bay in West Islip. We all had a great time and there is no crazier ride late at night then a 90 minutes Long Island Railroad trip with Fashion Design professors.
Sunday was the Bastille Day fest in NYC. Sarah, Joe, and I enjoyed crepes, wine and cheese tasting, and live music. Later that afternoon we went to FAO Schwartz, Rockefeller Center, the Nintendo store, and had coffee at Dean and Deluca's.
Thursday was the big day. I had to write an essay on why I wanted to convert to the three Rabbis who sat on my Bet Dein (high court). They asked me questions about my essay and then made me leave the room. (sort of like orals for a graduate degree) I was told that they felt I was ready so I was sent to the Mikvah. I had a ritual bath where I was reborn as a Jew. Then we went to the synagogue where Hillary (my friend who also had her conversion) and I were called to hold the Torah for the first time.
Esther, Linda, Hillary, and I went to a pub for a celebratory drink. Later Arthur, Esther, and I got some Japanese and Thai food to go and had a little party at Esther's apartment. So now I am officially a Member of the Tribe and its amazing!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Quirky Town
Things have been busy in the Big Apple. After the slow month of June at work, things have picked up again. My class is starting to wind down and will be finished at the end of the month.
Last weekend my Uncle Marv and cousin Ruthie were in town. It was wonderful getting to see both of them. My Uncle Marv lives in Cleveland and Ruthie lives in Nashville so it is a treat to spend time with them. Before meeting them for dinner at Al Dente, I went to the movies and saw Wanted. I have a thing for James McAvoy...and have no idea what that is about. :) After the movies I went to the Museum of Modern Art. Since the New School is a corporate member, not only can I get in for free but I can go to members only events. A new exhibit on Salvador Dali opened and it was nice to enjoy it without a crowd since only members could gain entrance.
Earlier that week Michael treated Esther, our friend Jill, and myself to cocktails at The Library Hotel. What makes this story funny is that just days earlier Chad and I wanted to have a drink at the library hotel but apparently it is closed on Sunday. This bar is totally different then I imagined. In a hotel that labels the floors by the Dewy Decimal System, one imagines a quiet rooftop garden where you can enjoy tea, lemonade, or scotch while listening to classical music. Well that was not the case. Instead imagine a trendy, loud bar, where the waitresses wear matching little black dresses that are cut entirely too low. We did have a nice time though and they make a mean Campari and Soda.
My friend from Graduate School, Theresa just moved to the NYC area. We hung out last Sunday with some of Theresa's friends who were in town from Boston. We caught part of the Pride Parade which was going down Fifth Avenue. Later we got caught in a down poor so we hung out at Chipolte for a while.Later Theresa and I hung out in the West Village and made it over to Magnolias to enjoy..."A treat Carrie Bradshaw would love."
My fourth weekend was very quiet which is what I wanted. While it would have been cool (and crowded) to see Sonic Youth with some friends at Battery Park, it was just as nice to stay in. I never get to spend a day reading and lounging around so it was a nice change. The weather has been iffy here all weekend anyway so it was not the best time to go out and see fireworks, though I saw some from home.
Today I hung out with Theresa. Her sister works for a ticketing agency so she gave us tickets to Title of a Show, which was a really fun musical. Before the show we enjoyed Crêpes and window shopping at the 6th avenue street fair.
So living in NYC, you see a lot of weird things that you can't explain. If you did not grow up here, then things that are every day may seem curious, weird, or just different from Midwest life. Here are some things that I find mildly amusing:
-The best coffee comes from Mud Trucks (trucks that park on corners and sell breakfast food)
-The police occasionally make announcements to the press right on Times Square...and tourists photograph them doing so
-You can buy peanuts, almonds, pecans, or cashews from the Nut Trucks but if you want Chestnuts you have to buy them from the Hot Dog or Shish Kabob carts
-The police will occasionally raid shops in Chinatown that sell knockoffs but they don't shop the venders on every corner in midtown from selling knock offs
-People often walk their dogs in baby strollers-There is a Mikvah Tank (which is an RV) and they like to pull people into the truck to pray with them, yes I have been pulled in before
Last weekend my Uncle Marv and cousin Ruthie were in town. It was wonderful getting to see both of them. My Uncle Marv lives in Cleveland and Ruthie lives in Nashville so it is a treat to spend time with them. Before meeting them for dinner at Al Dente, I went to the movies and saw Wanted. I have a thing for James McAvoy...and have no idea what that is about. :) After the movies I went to the Museum of Modern Art. Since the New School is a corporate member, not only can I get in for free but I can go to members only events. A new exhibit on Salvador Dali opened and it was nice to enjoy it without a crowd since only members could gain entrance.
Earlier that week Michael treated Esther, our friend Jill, and myself to cocktails at The Library Hotel. What makes this story funny is that just days earlier Chad and I wanted to have a drink at the library hotel but apparently it is closed on Sunday. This bar is totally different then I imagined. In a hotel that labels the floors by the Dewy Decimal System, one imagines a quiet rooftop garden where you can enjoy tea, lemonade, or scotch while listening to classical music. Well that was not the case. Instead imagine a trendy, loud bar, where the waitresses wear matching little black dresses that are cut entirely too low. We did have a nice time though and they make a mean Campari and Soda.
My friend from Graduate School, Theresa just moved to the NYC area. We hung out last Sunday with some of Theresa's friends who were in town from Boston. We caught part of the Pride Parade which was going down Fifth Avenue. Later we got caught in a down poor so we hung out at Chipolte for a while.Later Theresa and I hung out in the West Village and made it over to Magnolias to enjoy..."A treat Carrie Bradshaw would love."
My fourth weekend was very quiet which is what I wanted. While it would have been cool (and crowded) to see Sonic Youth with some friends at Battery Park, it was just as nice to stay in. I never get to spend a day reading and lounging around so it was a nice change. The weather has been iffy here all weekend anyway so it was not the best time to go out and see fireworks, though I saw some from home.
Today I hung out with Theresa. Her sister works for a ticketing agency so she gave us tickets to Title of a Show, which was a really fun musical. Before the show we enjoyed Crêpes and window shopping at the 6th avenue street fair.
So living in NYC, you see a lot of weird things that you can't explain. If you did not grow up here, then things that are every day may seem curious, weird, or just different from Midwest life. Here are some things that I find mildly amusing:
-The best coffee comes from Mud Trucks (trucks that park on corners and sell breakfast food)
-The police occasionally make announcements to the press right on Times Square...and tourists photograph them doing so
-You can buy peanuts, almonds, pecans, or cashews from the Nut Trucks but if you want Chestnuts you have to buy them from the Hot Dog or Shish Kabob carts
-The police will occasionally raid shops in Chinatown that sell knockoffs but they don't shop the venders on every corner in midtown from selling knock offs
-People often walk their dogs in baby strollers-There is a Mikvah Tank (which is an RV) and they like to pull people into the truck to pray with them, yes I have been pulled in before
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