Coming to an End

Last weekend Joanne and her brother Brian came to visit me. I feel like we did a lot of different things...we were always on the move. They came on Friday and we headed toward Blockheads for some tasty Mexican food only to find out it was a 2 hour wait. We then proceeded to a different Mexican restaurant called Sombrero. Now that sounded like a party. The food was pretty good and the drinks were delicious. Afterward, we headed toward Times Square and saw the movie 500 Days of Summer. Such a good movie! Parts were very sarcastic and made fun of people/other movies... definitely my type of movie. Check it out!

On Saturday, we woke up early and went to the Rock & Roll Annex with the John Lennon NYC Years Exhibit. It was amazing! The tour is a little pricey, but I promise you it is worth the extra cash. You instantly become enveloped by the 60's and 70's. Sadly, Yoko Ono never called us on the telephone they provided. 

After the Rock and Roll Annex, I showed them Bryant Park, my work and Rockefeller Center. 

Our next museum? Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Oh ya you betcha. It was sorta creepy seeing the celebrity wax figures. Joanne said not to look them in the eyes. I did. I am forever scarred. It's a bit terrifying. I'm not so sure I would want to stick around that place once it was dark and empty. Anyway, here are some cool photos of us catching up with the celebrities: 

Afterward, we headed down toward Washington Square Park. We went into some different music shops with old records and looked around. We then ate at John's Pizzeria. Very delicious pizza with a fun atmosphere. 

One would think the day would be over. Not at all... we were still going strong. We headed back to my apartment to change then headed back out on the crowded NYC streets. Our first stop was to get our palms read. Some of the answers were a bit eerie and dead on. Then again, who knows. Not too sure what to think, but it was a fun time overall. 

We ended the night at Upright Citizens Brigade a comedy club. We saw an improv group called Reuben Williams. It was pretty hilarious. My favorite skit was about Chuck E. Cheese and they made fun of the Chuck Band. Too funny. Maybe... just maybe...we sat next to Drew Barrymore. The world may never know. 

The next day, Joanne and her brother went to Coney Island while my roommate and I headed to the Hayden Planetarium. We saw a space show called Journey to the Stars, which is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg. Everyone sat in a huge round circle and the movie played above you, so you felt as if you were really close to the stars. Definitely something I have taken for granted before I moved to New York... I rarely see stars here and it is sorta sad to think the only way I really got to see them here was to pay $9 for a movie about them. Enough pondering. Lesson Learned: Don't take nature for granted. 

Afterwards, I met up with Joanne and her brother. We walked through Central Park and listened to street performers. We walked by the Dakota (twice... haha) and took some picture. Since I've moved here, I have been wanting to go to the ESPN Zone for dinner. We started getting hungry, so it was a perfect opportunity to test it out. It was delicious! The drinks weren't that pricey either. Well played sir. 

We had some time left after we ate diner, and so we decided to check out the Titanic Exhibit. It was so intersting! Whenever you enter, you get a card with a persons name that traveled on the Titanic and what class they were. I received Ellen Hocking that traveled in 2nd class. At the end of the exhibit, you find out if you were "saved" or "lost." Ellen Hocking lived! The exhibit had the grand staircase and rooms modeled after the ones on the Titanic. During some points, you actually felt as if you were on the Titanic. They had this huge iceberg that you could touch to see how cold it really was. I couldn't even keep my hand on the ice for more than 5 seconds. The last survivor of the Titanic passed away not too long ago. Such a tragedy. Here are a few pictures: 

On Monday, I headed to work. Joanne and her brother did a bus tour through New York. We met up at night and ate at Applebees. How I miss chain restaurants (as sad as that sounds). It was so tasty! And yet, so touristy. 

Just finished up my last week of work. I am pretty bummed about it. However, I feel like I had a great experience in a great city... can't ask for much more! 

Highlight of the work week: Going out with the interns Wednesday night for dinner. We went to a restaurant called Lederhosen. 3 Das Boots, multiple steins, Brats, ginormous $2 pickles, and pretzels later, you could say we had a good time. I even had a Bavarian photoshoot. I'm going to miss the other interns... so many great shenanigans. 

More visitors are arriving soon until I'm Homeward Bound.  

Willkommen Mutti!

Only three weeks to go in the big apple. Honestly, I am really torn about this. I am excited to go home to silence, smores, and sunshine, but I'm sad to leave behind everything I've come to love about this city. 

Last Tuesday, Laura, Christian and I went to see the Philharmonic in Central Park. It was absolutely packed. The best view of the concert was up in the Belvedere Castle. I became obsessed with the castle once I realized that it was indeed the castle shown in the movie "Stepmom" with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon. Here are a few photos of the crowd and the castle: 

Thursday finally arrived! The day my mom was to come in town. That morning, I decided to go ahead and take the bus rather than the L train. It seemed logical since I had a lot of luggage, and there was no way I could squish my body into any mans armpit and find room to fit my luggage into the subway, as well.  The bus was the best solution.....It was horrible. Stopped at every avenue. Then finally some girl got on the bus and she smelled like meatballs. Who wants to smell meatballs at 8 in the morning? Or a better question would be who eats meatballs at 8 in the morning? 

I finally got off at the ave. I needed to transfer subway's because I knew the other subway line would be less crowded.  The worst part of it all was that people could see I was struggling with my luggage. Not one person asked to help out. When the subway arrived, some man just got in and blocked the door. He looked at me to go around him and stand in the middle of the train with all my luggage. I will never understand how some people can be so oblivious. 

I finally made it to the hotel and saw my mom after the work day. We ate dinner in Hell's Kitchen and drank tasty margaritas. Done for the night? I think not. We headed toward the same pub that my dad and I went to the first week I arrived in New York. We decided to get the Dogfish Head 120 Minute Hopp beer. Delicious. Mom was a champion and beat me with the drinks. Afterward, we headed to M&M World. 

Delicious chocolate after a night of drinking never tasted so good. Done for the night? You bet. We were both exhausted from our long days so we decided to sleep it off. We both knew an eventful weekend was ahead of us. 

Mom and I woke up on Friday and headed toward Times Square. That is when the best thing happened. The tourist attraction I have been waiting to see since my arrival in the city... Naked Cowboy! He sings and plays guitar in his underwear and cowboy boots/hat. Apparently he makes a lot of money doing this. Perhaps I will join him one of these days. Except I will play the recorder. 

While in Times Square, we decided to take a bus tour. We did and uptown and a downtown loop. On the downtown loop we decided to see Macy's, Canal St. for some bubble tea and chinese food, and South Street Seaport: 

At South Street Seaport, they had the cutest Christmas store. It was truly Christmas in July. They had great ornaments with Macys/Times Square/and Empire St. Building on them. Really fun snow globes as well. Take two people who love Christmas in that store... they will never come out. At least my mom and I didn't for quite some time.

That night when we headed home we decided to stop real quick at Junior's in Times Square. My sister told me about their great Cheesecake. I got a Raspberry Swirl Cheescake and my mom got some ice cream! Interested in their dessert? Here is what you look for to help guide your way toward Junior's Bakery: (Option number 2: sniff it out). 

The next day, mom and I went to the NBC Experience Store to take a tour. On the way, we ended up seeing the taping of FOX News and the Today Show: 

On the NBC tour, I saw the same studios as last time (NBC Nightly News, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon... which I can't wait to see live, and Saturday Night Live). Even though I saw the same studios twice, it was perfect. I love NBC. 

After the tour, we went to the Experience store. I ended up getting a Central Perk Coffee Cup and bag (from Friends) and a NBC NY T-shirt! After that, we did the uptown loop part of the bus tour. We saw Harlem, Columbia University, Museum Mile, Central Park Zoo and we made quick stops at Cafe Lalo and Dylan's Candy Bar. 

The bus tour was so nice! It was great to sit there and see the sights in the warm breeze. Since it was such a nice day out, we thought it would be a good idea to walk the Brooklyn Bridge and eat at Grimaldis! 

On Sunday, mom and I wanted to get brunch before her flight. We decided to eat at Sarabeth's on the upper West side. It was so delicious! They even had a brunch special that day where you could split a pitcher of Sangria. That is just what we did. Afterward, we walked toward Columbus Circle and found Tavern on the Green along the way! So pretty! Couldn't have asked for a better last day with my mom. 

It was the perfect weekend! I'm so happy my mom came out to see me. I already miss her! 

Update next week to come! I have two great guests coming my way this weekend! Can't wait! 

Thank You for Being a Friend

Yet another week has gone by, and it was great! My sister and her friends, Emily and Sara, came to visit me. There was so much to do and so much to see. 

After I got off class on Monday, Kelsey and I met up with the girls at a place called Brooklyn Diner in Times Square. It is more of an upscale type of diner ("A Finer Diner" as they like to call themselves) but we figured we would live large since it was there first night in the city. (and by living large that meant paying $17.00.... very upscale for a college student/ intern). Afterward, I took the girls to Peculiar Pub (this seems to be a reoccurring theme within my posts). I got Yuengling and they bonded with Magic Hat beer while they were here. My sister and I headed back there later and we tried random beers on the list. The result: 

Since I missed celebrating my sister's birthday at home, we decided to have a NYC style celebration for her here. After work on Tuesday, we all headed to 11 B, which serves great pizza. Afterward, we came home to enjoy some wine and music. Perfect celebration with some perfect people. 

Throughout the week, Kait showed me Dylan's Candy Bar. It was a dream...magical. The first time we all went, we got sundaes. The sundaes were huge! Definitely try the Cookie Derby Demolition... or something like that. It was delicious vanilla ice cream, cookie, malt balls, whip cream, and chocolate syrup. mmm... Kait and I went back (yes, for a second time) and we got some candy bars. I must steer clear of the place for a few weeks now or else that could easily become a weekly tradition. Here are a few photos: 

By Thursday, Emily went to Africa for a trip and Sara went to visit her friend in Queens. Kait and I were by ourselves in the big apple... which could only mean trouble. Kait wanted to show me Cafe Lalo. This is no ordinary cafe. This is the cafe in the movie You've Got Mail where Meg Ryan's character is stood up by Tom Hank's character. That isn't even the best part. Kait and I got seated in the same spot where Meg Ryan sat in the restaurant! Such a great experience: 

Media Friday Adventures (Tours) Included:

1. New York Times

2. Cookie

3. Reuter's

4. Standard and Poor's 

One of the coolest things to see was in the lobby of the New York Time building. It has a computer system behind the wall that pulls random quotes and things that have been written and displays it on the wall:

Other Magical Adventures with my sis: 

1. We really wanted to see the movie "My Sister's Keeper." Both Kait and I read the book by Jodi Picoult and LOVED it. If you haven't read the book, then you must. The movie? It was okay. Felt it was too different from the book at times. The ending of the book is what made it so compelling and interesting and the movie in no way enveloped this. I felt it was still worth to see, though. 

2. Went to a bar called Cowgirl. Got Margs and BBQ. Classic. 

3. Magnolia Cupcakes! Delicious! Mine is on the left. Kait's cupcake is on the right. Yum! 

4. Paley Center to reminisce on shows such as Wonder Years, Pete & Pete, Salute Your Shorts, etc. Halal afterward! 

5. Coffee Bar in Union Square. Enjoyed Lattes and our chocolate bars from Dylan's Candy Bar

6. Wandering around Toys R Us in Times Square at night.

Sadly, Sunday came. We knew we had one day left to fit in everything that we wanted to see with each other. We first headed to Harlem. We saw the Apollo Theater (Stevie Wonder, Billie Holiday and Michael Jackson were here) Michael Jackson t-shirts, posters, pens, etc lined the street. 

We also went and checked out Lenox Lounge and Sylvia's Soul Food. 

I would have loved to see a Harlem Renaissance museum or anything concerning Langston Hughes, but I will have to try and discover that during my next trip in Harlem. 

Afterward, we went to Morningside Park and Columbia University. We checked out the Journalism school and the bookstore at the University. It was such a pretty campus that seemed hidden in the craziness of this city. Slight getaway, which was perfect. 

By the end of the day, Kait and I knew we wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset.... we hauled down there just in time! Such a great view. I recommend this to anyone and everyone! 

Afterward, we ate at Grimaldi's which is supposedly the best pizza in NY! It was very delicious! 

All weekend my sister and I had the Golden Girl's theme song stuck in our head. We were singing it out loud when we happened to pass this: 

Too funny!

My update seems all over the place! Kait and I saw so much that it was too hard to keep an organized post.  Sad to see my sister go, but I was incredibly happy that she took the time to come and see me in NYC. Such a great sister and friend! 

Done with my Monday, and I'm excited to be able to spend this coming up weekend with my mom! More great updates to come!