5 More Days and Counting!!!

I just wanted to give a quick reminder that the '08 election is in 5 days, that's right people 5 days! This is one of the biggest decisions in our lives, so no matter if you are voting Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin, get out there and make your vote count! Check out the website below for information on where to vote, when to vote, what to bring, ect.

www.rockthevote.com/electioncenter

Happy Halloween!!!

Short But Oh So Sweet!

Last week my sister, Amy, and brother-in-law, Randy, came up to NY for a few days to visit me as well as Randy's brother and his family. I had to work every day they were here, but I got to spend time with them before and after work each day, which made for some long and tiresome days.

The first night they were here we went to dinner at a noodle restaurant in Union Square with Jen and her boyfriend Scott. After that we all went for dessert at Black Hound cake shop. We each got our own yummy little cakes and enjoyed them at Scott's house. Saturday Randy, Amy, Jen, Scott, and I all went for brunch at the Double Crown restaurant in the East Village. Brunch was delicious and we even got free Champagne sent over to our table! We left the restaurant and popped into a funky little store to look at Halloween costumes, then it was time for me to go to work. When I got off work I met Amy and Randy up at one of our favorite spots The Cabana rooftop bar in the Maritime Hotel. We had a few drinks there and danced the night away to some great music. Sunday morning I met Amy, Randy, and Jen at Panificio for another wonderful brunch. We all ordered something different, I had a veggie panini, Amy had the toast with salmon, Randy had a huge piece of steak and eggs, and Jen had a breakfast panini, all of it was so good. We left the restaurant and went to the Tompkins Square Park and enjoyed the dog costume parade, all of the pups were dressed up so cute! After we walked around and checked out all of the amazing costumes, we made our way in to Chinatown for some shopping. Of course Amy and I found ourselves in closet after closet looking at all the knockoff purses. At one point we even managed to make our way into a sketchy van, which I do believe every time we are in Chinatown we vow never to go into another van again ;) I once again had to go to work, and once I was off I met Amy, Randy, and Jen up for a few drinks in Manhattan. We had $16.00 Martinis at Nobu and then went to the Sky Bar in the Dream hotel for some more deliciously expensive drinks, but we did have the most amazing view of Time Square! Sadly after the three days they were here, it was time for them to go back to Jacksonville.

I really enjoyed our short but sweet visit with Amy and Randy, we had some good times and some good laughs as always! I am looking forward to another visit with Amy for the weekend of Thanksgiving! Below are the pictures from last weekend, enjoy!

From 2008-10-28 amy randy ny

Where to Begin....

So much has happened since my last post. Mom came in town and brought Chili Palmer, I had some roommate drama and had to go apartment hunting, and saw a really great art exhibit in Greenwich Village. Oh and last but not least, Sunday was my 4 week anniversary of living in New York!

Mom flew in on a Wednesday afternoon. we had a late lunch at a Mediterranean place in Brooklyn, had dessert in a little deli in Time Square, and saw the Broadway show Hairspray, which was a wonderful performance! Later that night I secretly took mom to a gay bar in the East Village, she finally caught on when she pointed out that we were the only women in a bar full of men ;) After we left the bar, I took her to get some of the best pizza in town at Artichoke Basille' Pizza & Brewery. We shared a slice of spinach and artichoke pizza, yum yum! Thursday morning we went shopping on Canal street in China Town. We got several handbags and some jewelry. We also went to Union Square and found some good deals at Filene's Basement. I had to go to work at 3:00, so mom did more shopping in Union Square and went and watched two back to back movies to kill some time. Friday Mom and I went into the city for MORE shopping! We spent hours in Macy's, where we found some great deals, H&M, Old Navy, and made our way to the financial district to shop at the famous Century 21. We had dinner at Simply Pasta near Time Square and then ended the night with the New York City Lights Sailboat tour around Manhattan. They served wine, champagne, beer, and hot cyder with rum. It was a bit cold, but we had a lot of fun. It was such a great way to see the city. It was so wonderful to spend some quality time with mom and I am so happy to have my Chili pup with me agian!

Moms October Weekend in NY

Before my mom came in town, my roommates told me that they wanted to get a large dog, I guess the two dogs that they have already just weren't enough for them. I expressed to them that Chili doesn't get along with big dogs and if they got one we would have to move out. So the Friday that my mom was here, my roommates decided to out and get a Golden Retriever, which brings the dog count in our apartment up to 4! I told them it was ridiculous to have that many dogs in the house and explained to them once again that Chili doesn't like large dogs. So I started looking on craigslist once again for another roommate. Gabe told me that his friend Dave was also looking for a roommate. So Dave and I spoke and decided to look for a place together. Gabe came through once again and found us a super cute and very large 2 bedroom apartment in a brown stone building in Brooklyn and only two streets away from where he lived. Dave and I went to see the apartment and fell in love! We found out the next day that we were approved to get the apartment and we move in on November 30th. I think this situation will work out much better.



Last week I read on www.JacksonvilleConfidential.com that there was an interesting art exhibit by the UK artist Banksy in Greenwich Village called The Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill. With this exhibit Banksy wanted to show the weird relationship that people and animals have. So this week on my day off I decided to go see the exhibit and see what all of the hype was about. The exhibit was totally free and I must say it was very interesting and super creative! I really had a good time and took lots of pictures and videos so I could report back to JC. Enjoy!

http://www.jacksonvilleconfidential.com/2008/10/village-pet-store-charcoal-grill-update.html

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!

I am coming up on my third week here in NY, it seems like much longer! Like I said many times before, things are going great. The weather keeps changing from hot to cold and back to hot again. I have been working on getting used to the crazy weather and also trying to prepare myself for a very cold winter. I have eaten at a ton of great restaurants in the Lower East Side this week and have found that New York is VERY vegetarian friendly! I am constantly on the go and meeting new people. Here is a little run down on what my the past week has been like for me.

Last Friday I did a little shopping at Filene's Basement and saw the movie Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in Union Square with my friend Brooks. After that we ended up at Gabe's restaurant for a couple of drinks and then out to Union Pool, which is a fun little bar in Brooklyn with a nice outside area. Saturday I went biking around Brooklyn with a friend to some bars in the Ft. Greene and Williamsburg area, it was a lot of fun and biking at night while slightly intoxicated was just a little scary ;)

I started my new job last Sunday, so today starts my first weekend off. Its been a good week of work, my hours have been 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. every night. This coming up weeks hours will change a little bit, I will have a few day shifts as well as my usual night shifts. I really like the job a lot so far, its a very social job. Which is right up my alley. I finally had my first celebrity encounter last night. An actress, I wont say her name, came up to the hotel last night looking for a friend. It was pretty cool to see and talk to someone you see in the movies and on TV all of the time.

Besides work I haven't done too much this week. Tuesday I signed up at the Metropolitan Pool and Fitness Center, I swam at the indoor pool for about an hour. Yesterday Gabe and I went to Two Little Red Hens, in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, to have a dessert sampling. We enjoyed a pumpkin cupcake, a pecan/chocolate bar, and a chocolate cream pie, which tasted just like a french silk pie. We totally didn't need to eat all of those sweets, but we really enjoyed ourselves. After the dessert sampling, we walked around the Union Square Farmers Market. I still can get over all of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are sold in NY! Last night after work a couple of co-workers and I went to a little tapas bar across the street from the hotel and had some amazing martinis and some tapas. It was nice to get to hang out with my co-workers and get to know them a little bit better. This morning at 6:30 a.m. I met up with some people from The Brooklyn Running Meetup Group for the Brooklyn Bridge run. The run is great and the views of the city skyline and the Statue of Liberty are AMAZING!

I found out today that my interview with Fox 5 will be on the Good Day New York Morning show this Monday, so I will definitely have that posted up the beginning on next week. Next Wednesday, the 15th, my Mom comes up from Jacksonville to stay with me and to bring little Chili Palmer up. I am so excited to see Moms and I'm happy to finally have the Chili pup with me again! She and I are going to go see a Broadway show, do some sight seeing, and of course we will do a little shopping!

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend, talk to you soon!

Oh Happy Days!

Great things are happening in New York these days! Within the first 9 days I moved here I managed to get an apartment AND a job in hospitality!

I got a great deal on a room in a two bedroom apartment in Brooklyn with a couple. Its a brand new apartment and we are the first people to live here. The first few days I slept on an air mattress and finally found some furniture on Craigslist. I got a nice mattress, end table, tv with stand, and an air purifier for only $300. Then the next day I went to IKEA and went wild! I got a chair, lamp, window shades, 3 drawer dresser, mirror, trash can, bed linens, hamper and cork board. My room is pretty much complete, I think all I need now is just need one more mirror to put above my dresser and some pictures to put on the walls. It feels nice to be all set up and actually have a home. See pictures of my room below.

I interviewed on Tuesday, September 23rd, for a front desk position at a nice hotel in the Lower East Side (Manhattan). The interview went really well and James the manager told me he would call me the next day and tell me if I got the job or not. Well he didn't call, so I assumed that I didn't get the job and continued with my job search. I had various interviews for restaurant, catering, and nanny jobs. I finally got a call from James offering me the job on Tuesday, September 30th. I was so happy to get that call, since my goal was to work in hospitality. It is a great job with a lot of awesome benefits. My first day is today, so I hope it goes well. Wish me luck!

I feel very fortunate to have found an apartment and a job so fast. Things are really falling into place here.

Finally Here and Loving It!

What an exciting week! I finally made it to the Big Apple on Sunday evening. Gabe and his roommate, Brooks, took me to the Metro Bar for a bit. Monday I had an interview bright and early for a nanny job. After the interview I walked the Brooklyn Bridge which was amazing! Tuesday I had a interview for a front desk position at a really nice hotel. After that was done, I took the subway and got off on the Rutgers stop, I think, and wondered around until I ended up under the Manhattan Bridge. I then walked along the river until I reached the Brooklyn Bridge and got to see the Waterfall exhibit. Wednesday morning I had my interview about the website Exboyfriendjewelry.com at the Fox 5 news station. Everyone was really nice at the station and I really had a good time during the interview. It should air in a couple weeks, so I will definitely post it on here! Last night Gabe took me to the Phoenix bar in the East Village, we played some pool and danced a little bit. On the way home we stopped and got two slices of spinach and artichoke pizza from Artichoke Basille's Pizza and Brewery. Hands down the best pizza I have ever had! Today I sent my resume to a ton of places on-line and then had a interview at Mesa Grill for a serving position. After that I got off on the wrong stop on the subway and took a walk around Manhattan. I had a yogurt parfait and hot tea at Starbucks and was joined by the sweetest old Englishman. We had a good time talking and sipping our coffee and tea, who says New Yorkers aren't friendly! I walked about 30 blocks down Lexington Avenue and then headed home. I hope to go see my friend, Jen Elliot, sing at a Sidewalk Cafe on Saturday. I have more interviews this week and next and I am still looking for an apartment. Everyone cross your fingers that I find a job this week!

It has been a busy week, there is so much to do, so much to see, and so many places to get lost! New York is a spectacular place and I am so happy to be here. I miss all of my friends and family back home and hope everyone is doing great!

My Going Away to NYC Bash!

Last Friday, September 19th, was my going away party at my sister Amy's house. Amy did an amazing job of getting the party together. We had a great time, with great cocktails, food, music, and friends. It was great to see everyone and to have one last chance to party with all of my great friends before I left for New York City. Here are a the pictures from the party...enjoy!

Time is a Tickin'

Time has flown these past couple of weeks. Luckily I sold my car on September 8th, just 12 days away from my leave date. I finally had my garage sale the last week of August and did well. This week I am finishing up at work and training the new girl, Ashley, to take my place. In between working and my busy social life, I have been trying to pack (which I am still NOT done with). Even though I am not all the way packed, I am going to have to admit things have been going pretty smoothly for me these last few weeks.

So besides all of the hard work I have been doing, I have also made some free time for some social hours with friends before I leave for the Big Apple. Im so glad I have been able to spend so much quality time with my friends and family these past couple weeks. I have really been feeling the love ;) I have been taken out to so many dinners its unbelievable, I've had several girl's night outings with all of my bffs, and several shopping outings with my wonderful mother. This evening my whole firm took us out for happy hour at the new Ivy Bar in downtown Jax and then treated the girls to dinner at P.F. Changs afterwards, which was very thoughtful. Tomorrow will be my last day of work and in the evening I will have my last staff meeting for www.JacksonvilleConfidential.com at Koja Sushi at the landing. Thursday I will have a girls dinner at Mimi's Cafe and then hopefully make it out to the Pearl for one more night of dancing at our favorite Indie bar. Friday is my big going away party at my sisters house, so that will be fun to see everyone one last time before I leave, I will try to take lots of pictures from that. Sunday I will have brunch at my house to say my last goodbye's to friends and family, then at 4:40 p.m. my friend Gabe and I will be hopping on our plane to New York!

Gosh once I actually leave Jacksonville I am going to need a vacation from my social life!

#26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!)

So today I was looking at one of my FAVORITE websites www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com, and I came across one post that is very near and dear to me, #26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!). Enjoy!

#26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!)
January 26, 2008 by clander

Often times if you ask a white person about where to travel, you will get a lot of responses. But if you ask them about New York, white people will go nuts. They love the city universally and all either live there, have lived there, will live there or want to live there.

White people like New York because it has artists, restaurants, a subway, history, diversity, plays, and other white people. It literally has everything white people need to thrive! The only thing it’s missing is nature, but Central Park is right there, and since you are walking all the time, you are outside!

If you are from New York, tell this to a white person. They will instantly be interested in you “what part of New York? and you are really from there?” When they inevitably tell you about your home town (”I know this great italian place…”) you should respond by saying “man, I thought place was only known to New Yorkers.”

Another secret fact about white people, if you are in group setting and the topic of New York City comes up, find the highest ranking white person and say “oh, are you from New York?”
To them, this means you are calling them cultured, cool, and urban. They will respond with something like “oh, well, I’ve spent a lot of time there,” or “I lived there for three years.” You will have instantly become more popular than all other people in the group.

United We Stand

Today marks the 7 year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America. I sit here today and reflect back on where I was that day and how I felt so helpless and vulnerable during the attacks. It was a sad day, but America stood strong and came together, united as one.

My heart goes out to the victims and the family of the victims.