Week #7 (plus some...again): NYC, the land of cupcakes.

I've been neglecting this blog again. I need to go all the way back to a week and a half ago I believe...

Well, Friday after writing my last lovely blog, I wasn't planning to go out, but a group was heading to some place Matt knew, so I decided to go with them. It ended up being kind of a bust. It was the first time I wore heels in quite a while, and we walked for dozens and dozens of blocks, and we didn't even find anywhere good to go. At least I didn't get blisters this time around! ...kind of a disappointing night, but Matt made me soup when we got back, so that made up for his poor club-picking skills? (notice the question mark...haha)

I don't really remember a lot of the rest of the weekend. Monday I went out for pizza at St. John's in the West Village with my seminar group and then I went wandering the city with Ben. We did some people-watching at Grand Central Station, which is one of the best things to do for free in NY! The funniest people we saw were this bald guy with a Christmas-y sweater, a striped scarf, and lime-green pants with a really short guy who followed him around like a little puppy dog. I soo wish I had a picture of them, haha. After that, we went to South Street Seaport, an outdoor mall-like area by the water (the Hudson? I don't know...) with ships and such. I'd been there before during my interviews last May, but it was way different at night when everything was closed...very quiet and cool.

Nothing toooo exciting to report for Tuesday or Wednesday that I can remember now. Thursday was a Futurepoem book party for Ronaldo Wilson's book, "Poems of a Black Object." Everything went smoothly, and I even got to have my first NY taxi ride on the way to help set up for it. So exciting! It was exactly how I would have imagined it...very jerky, and a little smelly. Expensive too! Almost seven dollars for less than ten blocks...good thing I didn't need to pay for it! After the party, I went out with everyone for Thai food, which was mucho delicious. I was the only one in the group of about a dozen to finish all of my food, which they all noticed, of course. What can I say? I like to eat! I didn't get home until almost midnight, and I was completely exhausted, but it was a good night.

Saturday I worked, and again, the subways were messed up, and it took an hour and a half to get to Brooklyn. I accidentally stabbed myself with an aul (little pokey tool thing), and then I got caught in the rain on the way back to the house after taking another hour and a half to get home. Yes, the subways are definitely one of my least favorite things about the city! It was kind of a rough day, but I made up for it by sleeping in Sunday until mid-afternoon...a record-setting laziness! I was feeling a little suffocated from staying in the house, and since it was a beautiful day, I decided to just head south and see what I could see. I stumbled upon Magnolia Bakery walking through the village, so I "hit up Magnolia and macked on some cupcakes" (thank you to everyone who appreciates the "Lazy Sunday" SNL reference). I have now decided that few things in this world are better than coffee, double-chocolate cupcakes, and sunny fall days. Doesn't that just sound like a happy time? It was. All the little kids were running around in their Halloween costumes too. Not sure why they were dressed up a week early, but it was cute.

Magnolia Bakery

After that, I walked South along the water (once again...I'm not sure what water!) all the way to Battery Park. It was such an incredibly gorgeous day. I saw some guys with intense roller-blading skills weaving in and out of little paper cups too, which I know some of you in Michigan would appreciate!

Eventually, I took the train back uptown in time to meet Lisa, Fallon, and Bryce to go stand in line for the late show of Upright Citizens Brigade. It was even funnier than last time, and we didn't end up in stand-by so that was a plus because we got to go out for dinner in between getting tickets and seeing the show, and we actually got to sit in SEATS. No way! Apparently, last week, Kenneth from 30 Rock was in the show. I'm bummed that I missed it! Oh well!

Bryce, Lisa, and Fallon waiting in line for UCB

Monday, I was supposed to work until 5, but since my boss is in Spain, and it was a beeeautiful day, I gave myself the afternoon off (I'll work extra hours later in the week to make up for it) and headed to Central Park for a few hours. Great decision on my part--it was another gorgeous day! I found this sweet part of the park with a pond and lots of ducks. I read for a while in the sunshine and completely forgot I was even anywhere near the city. All the trees were turning colors too...it was soooo pretty. The only bad thing was that I had to go to the bathroom at one point and it took me about an hour to find one! But that ended up being good because the bathroom search took me to Strawberry Fields again and there was a guy singing John Lennon songs, so I chilled there for quite a while. What a wonderful and relaxing afternoon--it's so great to get out of the house when I can! Don't get me wrong...the 305 is a decent place to live, but hanging out here isn't my idea of fun when I can be elsewhere.

Central Park

Today I went to Amy's Bread for lunch, a Panera-like cafe that has a few places in the city. So nice of them to name it after me, isn't it? Kidding! Bad joke, I know... Anyway, I usually take my lunch to a nearby park, but since it was rainy, I stayed in to eat, and as I was eating yet another delicious double-chocolate cupcake (I can't resist them!!), a random guy struck up conversation with me, and we ended up talking for a while. I found out he does photography and film work, and he's worked closely with Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Comedy Central, and other famous people/networks! He was telling me all about what it's like to work with comedians and whatnot because apparently that was his specialty for a while. Apparently he used to tell Conan and Letterman, "Ok now, do it again, but this time, don't hold back the funny stuff," and they'd get irritated/angry. Niiice. It's amazing the people you randomly meet in NY! He mentioned he may be able to help me get Letterman tickets too. Sweet! I'm not even a big fan of Letterman, but I certainly wouldn't give up the chance to see it!

After work I had planned to enter the Hair lottery, but I mixed up the street numbers and was too late for it. I ran into Kelly waiting to get standing-room tickets to God of Carnage though, so I went to that with her instead. I haven't been taking advantage of the cheap Broadway tickets I can get (usually around $25 for either standing room, student rush, or lottery depending on the show), so I definitely need to change that! God of Carnage was pretty good...I was more in the mood for a musical, so I wasn't necessarily feeling a play instead, but it was pretty funny. I'm not going to rave about it, but it was definitely solid. Anna and I are planning to go to Hair sometime soon, so watch out for a description of that if we get chosen in the lottery! I'm sure it'll be interesting! ;-)

Until next time...maybe Friday? We'll see...