You can’t live in New York without having some sort of commentary on the food. From the bagel and hot dog carts on the street corners (even when it’s 0 degrees Fahrenheit!) to the chicest, trendiest restaurants with even chicer, minimalist, it’s-hip-to-be-obvious names like “Eat”, “Salt”, and “Bread”, New York is paradise for everyone from junk food junkies to the most discerning epicures.
There are two things you must do when you first arrive in the city: (1.) Gather a thick file of takeout/delivery menus from a wide variety of restaurants in your neighbourhood and (2.) Sign up for a miracle called Fresh Direct.
The stash of menus is particularly critical for those nights when you not only have nothing in your fridge, but also for when it’s minus one million degrees outside or raining horizontally.
Strategy #2, Fresh Direct, has actually made internet shopping for groceries work (no surprise in a city where most people don’t have cars), delivering what ever you want right to your door. It’s brilliant. Now I can buy BOTH orange juice AND milk. And I don’t have to think about how I’m going to carry 40 pounds of groceries home. LOVE Fresh Direct.
Because New York is such a foodie city, you can get away with NEVER having to cook. In fact, “cooking” for me now consists of either pushing “start” on the microwave or picking up the phone and dialing one of the many handy numbers in my menu rolodex.
And as my credit card can attest, I also have been aggressively sampling many of the great restaurants that this city has to offer (minimally named or not). Here’s a tour of some of the recent highlights:
Craft Bar (Flatiron District)
- Most unbelievable appetizers, including risotto balls (heaven) and chick pea French fries with an olive tapenade
- Incredible hanger steak entrée with pureed potatoes (smooth as buttah!)
- The chef/owner is Tom Colicchio, the head judge of Bravo’s Top Chef
Landmarc (Tribeca)
- Another great collection of appetizers including goat cheese profiteroles and steak tartare
- Cozy environment – kind of like being in someone’s loft apartment (exposed brick and wood beams with wood floors)
- But dessert truly was the stand out: Ice cream cones (with real sugar cones) served in adorable conical wire stands
Megu (Tribeca)
- Modern Japanese cuisine
- Dozens of kinds of sake (sake list is more extensive than many restaurants’ wine lists)
- Must order the Kobe beef slices that you grill yourself at your table on a scalding hot river stone – Unbelievable!
- Love the giant ice Buddha which we learned is carved new and delivered each day from a studio in Brooklyn (for a cool fee of about $1500 per day – that’s a lot of Kobe beef!)
wd~50 (Lower East Side)
- The menu is seasonal and somewhat exotic, using elements from a variety of different cuisines. Some of the items that graced our table one night included smoked octopus, rabbit sausage, parsnip tart, carrot ice cream, and of course, a fabulous champagne/vodka concoction with a cherry infusion
- I’ve also heard fun stories about side dishes of flavoured foam, but I guess foam wasn’t in season the night we were there.
Buddakan (Chelsea)
- Modern Asian cuisine
- This is a "too cool for school" kind of place (the web site actually says "Dress code: downtown chic, hip and fun)
- NY Times called it “the post-millennial urban mess hall as supersize cocktail lounge with super-stylized dishes, which chart a far-out trip to the Far East”
- Oh yeah, and this was the place that laughed at us over the phone for trying to make reservations ONLY two weeks in advance
- But the food was great and you can forgive the chi chi stuff (to some extent) for good food
Apizz (Lower East Side)
- Creative Italian cuisine
- A tiny place (only three seats at the bar) with a cozy number of tables placed around a warm and inviting fireplace; it’s kind of like hanging out in someone’s living room
- Joe recommended this to me and also said “you have to try the wild boar lasagna!” – I loved the restaurant, but couldn’t screw up the courage for the wild boar.
The Burger Joint (Midtown)
- Ironic juxtaposition of a greasy burger place tucked away in the corner of the imposing marble lobby of Le Parker Meridien hotel, marked only by a flickering neon sign in the shape of a hamburger
- The closest thing I’ve found to In ‘N Out!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Welcome to Dallas, Y'All!
I know I've been MIA for a few days -- last week was upside down and then I jetted off to Dallas for the weekend for a much needed reunion with Special K. Highlights of the weekend in Big D:
-- Playing airline roulette and finally WINNING when my flight was delayed (due to weather -- what else??) BUT I managed to get on an earlier flight that was also delayed, but ended up leaving when my original flight was supposed to leave. Yeah! Some good travel karma. Finally!
-- Moment of total surprise when the otherwise unassuming woman sitting next to me spontaneously burst into song, grooving along with her iPod. Made even more interesting by the fact that she sang in Chinese. AND the fact that the guy on the other side of her pretended NOTHING unusual was going on.
-- Relinquishing my virgin Chick-Fil-A status and wolfing down the most amazing chicken fingers and waffle chip french fry things I've had in ages. (Could have also been the fact that it was 10:30 at night and all I'd had to eat all day was a bowl of Cheerios and a cup of frozen yogurt.)
-- Getting the "Real Special K Tour", seeing all sorts of photos, yearbooks, trophies, accolades and even report cards from somebody's colourful and special past. :-)
-- Playing airline roulette and finally WINNING when my flight was delayed (due to weather -- what else??) BUT I managed to get on an earlier flight that was also delayed, but ended up leaving when my original flight was supposed to leave. Yeah! Some good travel karma. Finally!
-- Moment of total surprise when the otherwise unassuming woman sitting next to me spontaneously burst into song, grooving along with her iPod. Made even more interesting by the fact that she sang in Chinese. AND the fact that the guy on the other side of her pretended NOTHING unusual was going on.
-- Relinquishing my virgin Chick-Fil-A status and wolfing down the most amazing chicken fingers and waffle chip french fry things I've had in ages. (Could have also been the fact that it was 10:30 at night and all I'd had to eat all day was a bowl of Cheerios and a cup of frozen yogurt.)
-- Getting the "Real Special K Tour", seeing all sorts of photos, yearbooks, trophies, accolades and even report cards from somebody's colourful and special past. :-)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
This isn't California, ya know
We have more than two sunny, 75 degree days in a row and I completely lose my mind.
Yesterday, I cheerfully marched out of my apartment building in the morning without a jacket. The forecast was good in the morning, but by midday, I was starting to hear that rain could be on its way. (Well, at least I have an umbrella permanently stuffed in my bag.) Luckily, the rain stayed away yesterday and I made it to and fro various meetings, out with friends after work and back home without so much as a drop of falling water getting anywhere near me.
Today, I at least had the sense to grab a jacket on my way out of the house. Thank goodness because a day that started out at 65 degrees and sunny is now 48 degrees and pouring rain. I may have a raincoat, BUT I am barefoot. Well, to clarify, I have shoes, but no socks.
Taxi!
Yesterday, I cheerfully marched out of my apartment building in the morning without a jacket. The forecast was good in the morning, but by midday, I was starting to hear that rain could be on its way. (Well, at least I have an umbrella permanently stuffed in my bag.) Luckily, the rain stayed away yesterday and I made it to and fro various meetings, out with friends after work and back home without so much as a drop of falling water getting anywhere near me.
Today, I at least had the sense to grab a jacket on my way out of the house. Thank goodness because a day that started out at 65 degrees and sunny is now 48 degrees and pouring rain. I may have a raincoat, BUT I am barefoot. Well, to clarify, I have shoes, but no socks.
Taxi!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
A Brilliant New York Weekend
Snapshot of my first true spring weekend in Gotham...
-- Spontaneous invitation (and acceptance of said invitation) to McGee's pub on Friday night with a motley crew from our other office. Much revelry and much discussion about the nature of the Red Sox uniforms that night. (And many sad faces at the ultimate fate of the Yankees.)
-- Errands and grocery shopping (so that my fridge contains more than just goat cheese, spinach and a six-pack of Stella -- which I don't even drink, by the way)
-- Subway adventure to get to Union Square .... no 1 trains running downtown, accidentally got on a C heading uptown (could have sworn I was on the downtown platform)... said C train turned into D train (due to a passenger with an illness) and made a hard left to Rockefeller Center.... consulted handy Manhattan map, got off at the Rock to switch to the F train.... waiting for the F, a woman and her daughter asked me (in Spanish, gracias) which train would take them to 34th Street and when I pointed them in the right direction, they promptly got on the OTHER train (ay caramba!).... F must stand for "finally" because 45 minutes after my adventure began, I finally made it to Union Square.
-- Delighted to find the Green Market at Union Square, a very extensive farmer's market with brilliant flowers, fruits, veggies and even roots. Yes, roots. Also a fun selection of artisan-type displays where I picked up a little something special for Special K. (We'll see if he reads this before I see him again!) :-)
-- Dinner at Sparks, including an unbelievable glass of 137 year-old Grand Marnier.
-- Fun Sunday lunch at Shelli's on 57th where I had the most INCREDIBLE eggs benedict.
-- Roamed around Central Park most of the afternoon enjoying the nearly 80 degree weather (along with just about everyone else in Manhattan -- Sheep Meadow and the Great Lawn were positively teeming).... enjoyed a beautiful African drumming session AND a random disco rollerskating exhibition.
Now, catching up on a tiny bit of work before Monday morning rolls around once again...
-- Spontaneous invitation (and acceptance of said invitation) to McGee's pub on Friday night with a motley crew from our other office. Much revelry and much discussion about the nature of the Red Sox uniforms that night. (And many sad faces at the ultimate fate of the Yankees.)
-- Errands and grocery shopping (so that my fridge contains more than just goat cheese, spinach and a six-pack of Stella -- which I don't even drink, by the way)
-- Subway adventure to get to Union Square .... no 1 trains running downtown, accidentally got on a C heading uptown (could have sworn I was on the downtown platform)... said C train turned into D train (due to a passenger with an illness) and made a hard left to Rockefeller Center.... consulted handy Manhattan map, got off at the Rock to switch to the F train.... waiting for the F, a woman and her daughter asked me (in Spanish, gracias) which train would take them to 34th Street and when I pointed them in the right direction, they promptly got on the OTHER train (ay caramba!).... F must stand for "finally" because 45 minutes after my adventure began, I finally made it to Union Square.
-- Delighted to find the Green Market at Union Square, a very extensive farmer's market with brilliant flowers, fruits, veggies and even roots. Yes, roots. Also a fun selection of artisan-type displays where I picked up a little something special for Special K. (We'll see if he reads this before I see him again!) :-)
-- Dinner at Sparks, including an unbelievable glass of 137 year-old Grand Marnier.
-- Fun Sunday lunch at Shelli's on 57th where I had the most INCREDIBLE eggs benedict.
-- Roamed around Central Park most of the afternoon enjoying the nearly 80 degree weather (along with just about everyone else in Manhattan -- Sheep Meadow and the Great Lawn were positively teeming).... enjoyed a beautiful African drumming session AND a random disco rollerskating exhibition.
Now, catching up on a tiny bit of work before Monday morning rolls around once again...
Shoe and Handbag Mecca
Maybe a couple of weeks ago, I got an email from Amazon.com with a subject line that promised "something new in online shopping". I do tend to read the Amazon emails I receive because they are pretty good about recommending things that make sense for me, based on my previous purchases. As I was catching up on personal email this weekend, I finally got around to actually opening this email and I'm SO glad I did!
Amazon has unveiled the beta version of a new online shopping experience, Endless.com. I refer to it as an "experience" because it's much more than a typical shopping web site. The site is focused on shoes and handbags at the moment and the selection is pretty phenomenal.
What's best, however, is the technology they've used to allow a user to narrow down his/her search in a progressive way. ("I want ballet flats, in black, size 7.5, from Kenneth Cole.") And voila! There are your choices. You can also narrow your search by price range and by heel height (so clever!). Once you're on the item's individual product detail page, you can see multiple views and there is a VERY cool in-page zoom tool that lets you check out every little detail of the product.
AND to top it all off, Endless has a great promotion running right now where they pay you $5 for the "privilege" of shipping your order overnight. Love it.
So, of course, I HAD to test this all out for myself (purely in the name of online research) and my new black flats should be delivered straight to my doorman's hands on Monday.
Amazon has unveiled the beta version of a new online shopping experience, Endless.com. I refer to it as an "experience" because it's much more than a typical shopping web site. The site is focused on shoes and handbags at the moment and the selection is pretty phenomenal.
What's best, however, is the technology they've used to allow a user to narrow down his/her search in a progressive way. ("I want ballet flats, in black, size 7.5, from Kenneth Cole.") And voila! There are your choices. You can also narrow your search by price range and by heel height (so clever!). Once you're on the item's individual product detail page, you can see multiple views and there is a VERY cool in-page zoom tool that lets you check out every little detail of the product.
AND to top it all off, Endless has a great promotion running right now where they pay you $5 for the "privilege" of shipping your order overnight. Love it.
So, of course, I HAD to test this all out for myself (purely in the name of online research) and my new black flats should be delivered straight to my doorman's hands on Monday.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Shout Out for Music Recommendations
I need some new music. So does CM, my good friend in London. We were emailing back and forth about this and I thought why not see what you are all listening to these days and get some fun recommendations. So feel free to post or email me (you know where to find me!) and you'll have the satisfaction knowing that you are impacting the cultural consumption patterns of at least two of us!
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Cosmo Party
Wednesday night, Ally, Nick, Kristy, Dina and I escaped the office and headed off to a Cosmopolitan "mixer" at Marquee over on the west side. As we were organizing ourselves downstairs to hail cabs, somehow Nick slipped into a parallel universe and disappeared between two DHL trucks, only to reappear in a yellow cab a half a block away. Our very own David Blaine.
We finally arrived at Marquee, and after recoiling at the $3 PER ITEM coat check charge, we joined the rest of our group for a drink. We were a little bit late and much of the food was already picked over, but eventually, we did station ourselves next to a cheese tray that was still in pretty good shape. 
A random guy sidled up, looking for cheddar (just cheddar???) and when I pointed out the distinct orange cubes, I said "I'm a chesse connoisseur -- sort of like a wine sommelier -- so just let me know if you have any questions."
He looked at me skeptically for a second and said, "I don't really think you know that much about cheese."
I said "I only really need to know more than you, don't I?", popped a cube of Havarti (with dill) into my mouth, smiled and moved off to join the rest of my group.
Jamba, Anyone??
There's a Jamba Juice at the base of my office building. I'm not so sure that it's really taken off here like it has in California -- the only two people I know who go there are me and Ally. (And we both have some CA roots.) I'm a little worried that one day, my own personal Jamba Juice will have closed down because it just simply doesn't do enough business... Today, both the toaster and one of the juice blenders were broken, with big "out of order" signs slapped across them. That doesn't seem like a good sign.
New York, get out there and buy Citrus Squeeze's and Razzamatazz's!
New York, get out there and buy Citrus Squeeze's and Razzamatazz's!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Bunny-licious
I had lunch with the Publisher of Playboy magazine today. Yes, I thought THAT would get your attention.
Lou and I are former colleagues and have been trying to get together since I moved here. We finally meshed our schedules today and met up for Greek food just down the street from my office. It was great to see him and of course, like any good magazine Publisher, he showed up bearing gifts.
Most of my mag buddies show up with copies of their wares and this was no different, except that this mag showed up at lunch in an inconspicuous big brown envelope. Huh. Wonder what's in there? I am now in possession of a collector's edition issue with an Anna Nicole retrospective. Fabulous. I hear the articles are GREAT.
I have a feeling that the mailroom dude is about to be VERY happy when he finds a random copy of Playboy in the outgoing mail bin tomorrow morning. Hey, I do what I can to spread a little happiness around.
But this was not where it ended... oh no, there was something else in the envelope. I now own a copy of "The Bunny Book". That's right -- a guide of "How to Walk, Talk, Tease and Please like a Playboy Bunny". Sigh. I was JUST getting the hang of being a New Yorker. All of these alter egos are going to make me schizophrenic.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Nor'easter Update
- over 6 inches of rain yesterday (complete with ice pellets, lightning and thunder)
- still raining furiously today
- hundreds of flights canceled yesterday.... some airports actually closed completely today
- over 55 highways in New Jersey are closed ... NJ declares a state of emergency
- subway/train service interrupted and delayed at best and completely shut down at worst
- countless stories from colleagues on this Monday morning about travel issues, commuting nightmares and flooded basements
Would a modern day Noah's Ark feature a pair of AJAX programmers to ensure the future of Web 2.0??
- still raining furiously today
- hundreds of flights canceled yesterday.... some airports actually closed completely today
- over 55 highways in New Jersey are closed ... NJ declares a state of emergency
- subway/train service interrupted and delayed at best and completely shut down at worst
- countless stories from colleagues on this Monday morning about travel issues, commuting nightmares and flooded basements
Would a modern day Noah's Ark feature a pair of AJAX programmers to ensure the future of Web 2.0??
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Overheard
I went to the American Museum of Natural History yesterday for the first time. It's quite impressive and so large that I only managed to make it through a limited number of the exhibits in the few hours I was there.
It was quite fun to overhear random comments from the people milling about around me... The top three things I overheard were:
- A full-grown woman (that's right, not a child) asking "Are those all ALIVE???" as she stared at various specimens of snakes, lizards and other critters preserved in sealed jars of formaldehyde. When the museum docent smiled pleasantly and explained that they were, in fact, dead, she stuck her hand on her hip, cracked her gum, cocked her head to one side and asked, "Well, why are they all in those jars of WATER???"
- In front of one of the human evolution displays, a guy whispered to his girlfriend, "Do you think this is where Geico got the idea for their commercials??"
- In front of yet another display about human evolution, this one featuring some of our female ancestors in all their prehistoric glory, a woman with a charming southern accent exclaimed, "Look y'all, it's 'Cave Girls Gone Wild'!"
It was quite fun to overhear random comments from the people milling about around me... The top three things I overheard were:
- A full-grown woman (that's right, not a child) asking "Are those all ALIVE???" as she stared at various specimens of snakes, lizards and other critters preserved in sealed jars of formaldehyde. When the museum docent smiled pleasantly and explained that they were, in fact, dead, she stuck her hand on her hip, cracked her gum, cocked her head to one side and asked, "Well, why are they all in those jars of WATER???"
- In front of one of the human evolution displays, a guy whispered to his girlfriend, "Do you think this is where Geico got the idea for their commercials??"
- In front of yet another display about human evolution, this one featuring some of our female ancestors in all their prehistoric glory, a woman with a charming southern accent exclaimed, "Look y'all, it's 'Cave Girls Gone Wild'!"
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Good Things Come in Three's
I can always count on my wonderful friend, KR, to send around those fun "get to know your friends" emails where you respond to a list of 20 or 30 questions and forward your answers to another group of friends in order to try and keep the chain going. Once again, KR has provided similar inspiration, this time "tagging" me with the challenge of completing the following mini lists.
Three things that scare me:
- Failure
- Losing a loved one
- Disappointing those who love me
Three people who make me laugh:
- Special K with his undeniable wit and cleverness
- Lisa-Lou-Who (even via email and IM!)
- Cricket and Solexy -- when the three of us are together, someone is sure to spray Coke out her nose
Three things I hate:
- Dishonesty and disloyalty
- Nor'easters in the middle of April
- Leaking boots in the middle of a nor'easter in the middle of April
Three things on my desk:
- Black & white photo of me and Special K in black leather frame with contrast white stitching
- About two dozen client RFP's that are in various stages of being developed, pitched or executed
- Half-full bottle of Poland Springs water
Three things I'm doing right now:
- Planning how I'm going to take advantage of this gorgeous sunny day
- Sipping a hot chocolate (not the same when I make it in the microwave; see "favorite foods" below)
- Listening to the constant drone of traffic and city noises outside my window, punctuated with the odd dog bark (which sounds remarkably clear and close, considering I'm on the 17th floor)
Three things I'd like to do before I die:
- Host a TV show
- Write a book (and publish it!)
- Take voice lessons and learn to sing
Three things I can do:
- Draw (pencil and charcoal) and paint (oils and acrylics)
- Basic Bhangra, Rajasthani and Bollywood-type dance moves
- Speak French
Three things I think you should listen to:
- The lyrics to almost any Barenaked Ladies song -- they are fun, but dead clever at the same time
- The great stories your family members tell you about family history, when they were kids, when you were a kid...
- Your heart
Three favorite foods:
- Barbecued steak dinner (especially with my Dad's marinade and my Mom's onion potatoes!)
- Cheese enchiladas from Wahoo's
- Hot chocolate made on the stovetop (Special K's is unrivaled!)
Three shows I watched as a kid:
- Happy Days
- Dukes of Hazzard (why were the doors of the General Lee stuck shut??)
- Solid Gold (Remember that??? I thought the Solid Gold dancers were SO cool.)
Three things I regret:
- Not going to study abroad when I was in high school or college
- Not staying in closer contact with some old friends
- Not taking out a huge loan to buy half of Los Angeles when I first moved there!
Three things that scare me:
- Failure
- Losing a loved one
- Disappointing those who love me
Three people who make me laugh:
- Special K with his undeniable wit and cleverness
- Lisa-Lou-Who (even via email and IM!)
- Cricket and Solexy -- when the three of us are together, someone is sure to spray Coke out her nose
Three things I hate:
- Dishonesty and disloyalty
- Nor'easters in the middle of April
- Leaking boots in the middle of a nor'easter in the middle of April
Three things on my desk:
- Black & white photo of me and Special K in black leather frame with contrast white stitching
- About two dozen client RFP's that are in various stages of being developed, pitched or executed
- Half-full bottle of Poland Springs water
Three things I'm doing right now:
- Planning how I'm going to take advantage of this gorgeous sunny day
- Sipping a hot chocolate (not the same when I make it in the microwave; see "favorite foods" below)
- Listening to the constant drone of traffic and city noises outside my window, punctuated with the odd dog bark (which sounds remarkably clear and close, considering I'm on the 17th floor)
Three things I'd like to do before I die:
- Host a TV show
- Write a book (and publish it!)
- Take voice lessons and learn to sing
Three things I can do:
- Draw (pencil and charcoal) and paint (oils and acrylics)
- Basic Bhangra, Rajasthani and Bollywood-type dance moves
- Speak French
Three things I think you should listen to:
- The lyrics to almost any Barenaked Ladies song -- they are fun, but dead clever at the same time
- The great stories your family members tell you about family history, when they were kids, when you were a kid...
- Your heart
Three favorite foods:
- Barbecued steak dinner (especially with my Dad's marinade and my Mom's onion potatoes!)
- Cheese enchiladas from Wahoo's
- Hot chocolate made on the stovetop (Special K's is unrivaled!)
Three shows I watched as a kid:
- Happy Days
- Dukes of Hazzard (why were the doors of the General Lee stuck shut??)
- Solid Gold (Remember that??? I thought the Solid Gold dancers were SO cool.)
Three things I regret:
- Not going to study abroad when I was in high school or college
- Not staying in closer contact with some old friends
- Not taking out a huge loan to buy half of Los Angeles when I first moved there!
I'm SO Over This
It's April. April 14th to be exact. In other words, it's the middle of April. And guess what's on its way to NYC? Yep, you guessed it -- a severe winter storm. November through January were mild months with no snow and quite bearable temperatures overall. We paid for that reprieve, however, starting in February and apparently we're still paying in the middle of April.
When I first moved here, one of my colleagues, Matt, gave me the breakdown of the weather in New York. He said the worst months of the year are March and April because even though much of March is still technically winter, you still sense that spring is on its way and certainly should be here any second. Ironic that three weeks after the first day of spring, we're being warned with no uncertain terms that tomorrow will mark the beginning of an intensely nasty three days of high winds, excessive rain, coastal flooding and should the temperatures dip a few degrees, it could turn into snow. And lots of it.
The weather system is called a nor'easter. Once again, a deceptively festive name that suggests an abundance of chocolate eggs and bunnies. Why not just call it a Spring Fling to REALLY establish a party atmosphere. It would be the perfect complement to a Wintry Mix.
When I first moved here, one of my colleagues, Matt, gave me the breakdown of the weather in New York. He said the worst months of the year are March and April because even though much of March is still technically winter, you still sense that spring is on its way and certainly should be here any second. Ironic that three weeks after the first day of spring, we're being warned with no uncertain terms that tomorrow will mark the beginning of an intensely nasty three days of high winds, excessive rain, coastal flooding and should the temperatures dip a few degrees, it could turn into snow. And lots of it.
The weather system is called a nor'easter. Once again, a deceptively festive name that suggests an abundance of chocolate eggs and bunnies. Why not just call it a Spring Fling to REALLY establish a party atmosphere. It would be the perfect complement to a Wintry Mix.
Seen on the Streets of Manhattan
In a city where you walk most places, you tend to see a lot of details you might not notice from the confines of a car. Some are curiously interesting, some make you scrunch your nose in disgust and some are tragic and sad. I'll add more as they present themselves and as something in my memory triggers things I've already seen...
Seen on the streets of Manhattan:
- A giant blow-up rat tethered to the ground outside an office building, a not-so-subtle message from an unhappy workers' union. (I thought it was some exterminator's clever marketing gimmick!)
- A REAL rat on the sidewalk curb just outside a MacDonald's, crouched over nibbling on something. Did not even flinch when a guy threw a french fry and hit him on the back.
- A multi-colored polka dotted cement mixer truck.
- A pedestrian get hit by a taxi cab.
- Multiple fender benders as drivers attempt to wedge their vehicles into tiny parking spots along the curb. (One woman ripped a jagged tear down the entire side of her minivan. And yes, she was on her cell phone. Which is illegal in the city, by the way.)
- A scene that replays with disturbing frequency.... various moms with usually younger children (probably between the ages of 5 and 10) yanking them almost viciously by their arms, yelling at them to behave, pushing them into stores and actually cussing at them with language so ripe, it would make Andrew Dice Clay look tame. What wonderful role models.
Seen on the streets of Manhattan:
- A giant blow-up rat tethered to the ground outside an office building, a not-so-subtle message from an unhappy workers' union. (I thought it was some exterminator's clever marketing gimmick!)
- A REAL rat on the sidewalk curb just outside a MacDonald's, crouched over nibbling on something. Did not even flinch when a guy threw a french fry and hit him on the back.
- A multi-colored polka dotted cement mixer truck.
- A pedestrian get hit by a taxi cab.
- Multiple fender benders as drivers attempt to wedge their vehicles into tiny parking spots along the curb. (One woman ripped a jagged tear down the entire side of her minivan. And yes, she was on her cell phone. Which is illegal in the city, by the way.)
- A scene that replays with disturbing frequency.... various moms with usually younger children (probably between the ages of 5 and 10) yanking them almost viciously by their arms, yelling at them to behave, pushing them into stores and actually cussing at them with language so ripe, it would make Andrew Dice Clay look tame. What wonderful role models.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
A bit of NYC Trivia
In 1870, Thomas Adams invented chewing gum in New York City.
The largest park in New York City is Pelham Bay Park. (who knew??)
The first capital of the United States was Manhattan.
The record for the longest running show on Broadway is held by "The Phantom of the Opera".
NYC's largest indoor theater is Radio City Music Hall. (It has a marquee a block long!)
In 1895, the speed limit in NYC was 8 mph.
New York taxi drivers collectively speak about 60 languages.
50 (yes, 50!) islands make up New York City.
(Thanks to Snapple for the trivia!)
The largest park in New York City is Pelham Bay Park. (who knew??)
The first capital of the United States was Manhattan.
The record for the longest running show on Broadway is held by "The Phantom of the Opera".
NYC's largest indoor theater is Radio City Music Hall. (It has a marquee a block long!)
In 1895, the speed limit in NYC was 8 mph.
New York taxi drivers collectively speak about 60 languages.
50 (yes, 50!) islands make up New York City.
(Thanks to Snapple for the trivia!)
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Designer Shari!
Thanks to my good friend, Kate, I have been introduced to a very fun web site, Design-Her Gals where you can create an illustrated likeness of yourself sort of like you can in Second Life. However, unlike Second Life, I did NOT lose my clothes and VERY unlike Second Life, there is an extensive wardrobe of fun items to experiment with. (You can even order personalized stationery with your designer self printed on it!)
Spring Break
Ever since I have personally been done with school, I have lost all sense of measuring the progression of the year according to academic milestones. (It wasn't "fall", it was "back to school".) Now, the months just sort of all melt together -- this was especially the case for me in SoCal where most days were "70 and sunny", so I didn't even have the weather to cue me about the season.
Now that spring is unfolding in New York, I'm noticing that it is apparently a very popular destination for the spring break crowd. Not just lots of families with kids, but HUGE tour groups of young people from all over the world. Since my office is on Broadway, not far from Times Square and right in the middle of the Theater District, I am starting to see more and more swarms of people.... they'll descend on one of my regular lunch places and take over the entire restaurant. They'll be congregated at the corner, posing for a group shot with the Letterman Show sign in the background. Or they'll be around the corner in a long queue to get into the famous Stage Deli. (Which, by the way, was the very first place I ever ate in New York in my first trip here almost 15 years ago now!)
It's so easy to slip into the "I live here now" persona and be so focused on just getting to work, getting to the next meeting, getting to the restaurant to meet friends and getting home again. What I love about the tourists and tour groups is that they remind me to pay attention to the marvelous city around me and to always look at it as if I'm looking for the first time.
Now that spring is unfolding in New York, I'm noticing that it is apparently a very popular destination for the spring break crowd. Not just lots of families with kids, but HUGE tour groups of young people from all over the world. Since my office is on Broadway, not far from Times Square and right in the middle of the Theater District, I am starting to see more and more swarms of people.... they'll descend on one of my regular lunch places and take over the entire restaurant. They'll be congregated at the corner, posing for a group shot with the Letterman Show sign in the background. Or they'll be around the corner in a long queue to get into the famous Stage Deli. (Which, by the way, was the very first place I ever ate in New York in my first trip here almost 15 years ago now!)
It's so easy to slip into the "I live here now" persona and be so focused on just getting to work, getting to the next meeting, getting to the restaurant to meet friends and getting home again. What I love about the tourists and tour groups is that they remind me to pay attention to the marvelous city around me and to always look at it as if I'm looking for the first time.
Friday, April 6, 2007
The Top of the Rock
I am officially a high-end party crasher.Thursday night, Eric S and I had made plans to get together for dinner. He called me at 5:00 and said “Here’s the deal…” and I interrupted “You are NOT going to flake on me, are you???” Long story short, Eric had been invited to a very swanky cocktail and dinner party for Mazda and said “Why don’t you come, too?” So off we went, me as the fill-in for one of Eric’s colleagues, Brad (an ex-colleague of mine, too) who was unable to make it. (I did try to wear Brad’s nametag, but the nice Mazda event people managed to scrounge up a proper tag for me.)
The party was at the Top of the Rock – the 67th floor of Rockefeller Center – in a new private event space (not the Rainbow Room) with ceiling to floor windows, two huge outdoor terraces and spectacular views of the city in three directions. It was a crisp, clear night and you could see forever – the city is absolutely gorgeous from the 67th floor as you’re standing around with some of the most elite people in the North American automotive industry, bellini in one hand, and crab cakes from Cipriani’s in the other.
Dinner was a riot at our table with the most random collection of automotive journalists/consultants, their wives, a couple of guys who produce a syndicated automotive radio show and a producer for the Today Show. Though not at our table, even Chip Foose (host of Overhaulin’ on TLC) was there.
Most fun, however, was chatting with friend and former colleague, Jean Jennings, the venerable editorial force behind Automobile Magazine. Jean was honored this week with the Ken Purdy Award for Excellence in Journalism, the highest possible honor in automotive journalism. As usual, Jean was in fine form with a one-of-a-kind winged hat (which she dubbed her “Easter bonnet” and almost took my eye out only once), her sharp wit and her absolute sweetheart of a husband, Tim. (Tim called me the “Queen of Digital”, so I have a soft spot for him already!)
One of Jean's funniest stories was about how insistent the Naked Cowboy was that she squeeze his butt. (and she wasn't even wearing the hat when she saw him!)
Towards the end of the evening, I did get to say hi to Jim O’Sullivan (President of Mazda USA) who was the ever-gracious host and really did seem to remember me from the Chicago Auto Show a couple of years ago.
With a royal wave, this party-crasher gratefully accepted her gift bag of Marie Belle chocolates and disappeared into the elevator to plunge 67 floors back to the reality of honking cabs and lost tourists.
Flashback – NY Auto Show Press Days
This past week was press days for the NY Auto Show and given my previous automotive media background, I still have lots of contacts in the auto biz, many of whom were in town this week.
My first random encounter was a breakfast on Wednesday morning with an automotive client’s agency from the West Coast and lo and behold if the main agency guy wasn’t someone that I not-so-subtly told to “bugger off” at a party last fall in LA. Oops. He claimed not to remember meeting me (“Oh, I go to SO many parties, you know”) and I hope that was, in fact, the case. I have a six-figure advertising deal riding on his failed memory.
Wednesday night, James B and I grabbed dinner at Eatery in Hell’s Kitchen, one of my favourite places – I have never had a meal there that I didn’t love. The pomegranate martinis were incredible and the tuna tartar is to die for. It was a blast catching up with James, even though we were disappointed that Jocelyn was unable to join us at the last minute. We missed you, JJ!
My first random encounter was a breakfast on Wednesday morning with an automotive client’s agency from the West Coast and lo and behold if the main agency guy wasn’t someone that I not-so-subtly told to “bugger off” at a party last fall in LA. Oops. He claimed not to remember meeting me (“Oh, I go to SO many parties, you know”) and I hope that was, in fact, the case. I have a six-figure advertising deal riding on his failed memory.
Wednesday night, James B and I grabbed dinner at Eatery in Hell’s Kitchen, one of my favourite places – I have never had a meal there that I didn’t love. The pomegranate martinis were incredible and the tuna tartar is to die for. It was a blast catching up with James, even though we were disappointed that Jocelyn was unable to join us at the last minute. We missed you, JJ!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
See Shari Run. Or Not.
I don't like running. I have bad knees and an even worse attitude. In a desperate move to get some exercise this winter, I did the unimaginable -- I starting running on the treadmill. And now something has happened to me... I'm gradually weaving this unthinkable form of exercise into my routine.
Today, I noticed on our company intranet that we participate a corporate challenge -- a 3.5 mile walk/run for charity in Central Park. And I'm actually considering signing up. And not only signing up, but actually RUNNING. WHAT is happening to me??
You think I'm the type of person who publicly announces something to ensure that she'll actually stick with it and do it? Yeah, that's not me. You'll just have to stay tuned to see if I pull this one off or not...
Today, I noticed on our company intranet that we participate a corporate challenge -- a 3.5 mile walk/run for charity in Central Park. And I'm actually considering signing up. And not only signing up, but actually RUNNING. WHAT is happening to me??
You think I'm the type of person who publicly announces something to ensure that she'll actually stick with it and do it? Yeah, that's not me. You'll just have to stay tuned to see if I pull this one off or not...
Monday, April 2, 2007
Spoon Me
I am missing a spoon. How can this happen? Where is this renegade spoon? I live in only about 700 square feet -- how many places can this spoon BE? (Especially when its journeys basically consist of moving from the drawer into a bowl of cereal to my mouth to the dishwasher and back to the drawer again.) Socks, I understand. Every clothes dryer is a Bermuda Triangle for socks. But spoons?? And the dishwasher continues to sit smugly in the kitchen as if it knows nothing.
I've got (NY Times) Style!
So, the very same wrap dress that nearly allowed me to complete the "I see London, I see France" rhyme with my very own personal ending last week actually landed me in the NY Times Sunday Styles section in yesterday's paper! How about THAT?
Remember my Crazy New York Day from last week (broken heel, fight with cabbie etc)? Well, apparently, a very subtle photog managed to capture me on my way back from a client meeting. Kind of makes the fact that one of my favourite pairs of shoes is probably ruined feel like not quite so much of a tragedy.
Who's "hokey" NOW, baby?
Remember my Crazy New York Day from last week (broken heel, fight with cabbie etc)? Well, apparently, a very subtle photog managed to capture me on my way back from a client meeting. Kind of makes the fact that one of my favourite pairs of shoes is probably ruined feel like not quite so much of a tragedy.
Who's "hokey" NOW, baby?
Chicago, My Kind of Town
Taking a break from the NY paparazzi, I jetted off to Chicago for the weekend to work with colleagues on Friday and to hang out with Special K for the rest of the weekend. It was all very clandestine meeting up in an anonymous hotel room in a strange city! The weekend was a melange of absolutely hilarious moments, the highlights including:
-- Dave dumping his remaining quarter glass of riesling INTO his remaining quarter glass of chardonnay. ("Isn't it all just grape juice at the end of the day?")
-- Looking over at the next table and seeing the 15-year old taking a swig of someone's red wine ... looking over 30 mins later and seeing same 15-year old quietly draining an abandoned mojito.
-- Grabbing a quick lunch at the legendary Billy Goat Tavern (inspiration for the famous "cheezeborger, cheezeborger, cheezeborger" Saturday Night Live skit) with the funniest collection of Dougie Fresh's family members, the boyz having gotten together to celebrate their patriarch's 80th birthday.
-- Ordering a single "cheezeborger" at the Billy Goat, only to be told by the soup nazi-esque burger boy "only doubles today!" Wait a sec... you can make me a DOUBLE cheeseburger, but not a single? Are the patties glued together or something? Never mind, I'll take the double, the chips and the Coke and I'll LIKE them, darn it.
-- Meeting "The Canadians", a trio of hilarious countrymen (are there any other kind???) who managed all the logisitics of the fast 'n furious style car show Special K was in town to look after. We bonded immediately over hockey. (Flames won on Saturday night, yeah!)
And I was so lucky to catch up with former UCLA classmate, John, and his fiancee, Ashley, over dinner on Saturday night. I was treated to photos of their four-month trip around the world and now I'm inspired to chuck it all and buy an open-ended plane ticket! Hey, it'd be great material for my blog!
-- Dave dumping his remaining quarter glass of riesling INTO his remaining quarter glass of chardonnay. ("Isn't it all just grape juice at the end of the day?")
-- Looking over at the next table and seeing the 15-year old taking a swig of someone's red wine ... looking over 30 mins later and seeing same 15-year old quietly draining an abandoned mojito.
-- Grabbing a quick lunch at the legendary Billy Goat Tavern (inspiration for the famous "cheezeborger, cheezeborger, cheezeborger" Saturday Night Live skit) with the funniest collection of Dougie Fresh's family members, the boyz having gotten together to celebrate their patriarch's 80th birthday.
-- Ordering a single "cheezeborger" at the Billy Goat, only to be told by the soup nazi-esque burger boy "only doubles today!" Wait a sec... you can make me a DOUBLE cheeseburger, but not a single? Are the patties glued together or something? Never mind, I'll take the double, the chips and the Coke and I'll LIKE them, darn it.
-- Meeting "The Canadians", a trio of hilarious countrymen (are there any other kind???) who managed all the logisitics of the fast 'n furious style car show Special K was in town to look after. We bonded immediately over hockey. (Flames won on Saturday night, yeah!)
And I was so lucky to catch up with former UCLA classmate, John, and his fiancee, Ashley, over dinner on Saturday night. I was treated to photos of their four-month trip around the world and now I'm inspired to chuck it all and buy an open-ended plane ticket! Hey, it'd be great material for my blog!
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