long awaited

In almost five years in New York City, I've never even been to the MoMa! My sister-in-law vowed that she was going to pick a day to come into the city and that I "must" join her for a visit (although she's been multiple times and lives in New Jersey). Annnd, today is the day: I'm meeting her and a few of her friends there this afternoon. I just checked out the website to see what is on exhibit right now and I'm even more excited.

Especially to see this:

a breath of fresh air

Yesterday was a nice little respite from the cold, snowy days we've been seeing lately. Besides my heater running at 98 degrees without the capability to turn it off or down, I couldn't complain. It was so lovely being able to work with my window open and breathe in nice warm-ish air. While I've thoroughly enjoyed the snow over the last couple of weeks, spring can never arrive too early!

happy birthday Pameleeanne!

Two of my dearest friends in New York City were born two days apart. We celebrated them last weekend over coffee, laughs, and grits. It was delightful: a Tipsy Parson brunch, 4 girls reminiscing about the wonderful, fateful summer that brought us together in the big city (+ the almost 5 years that have followed that summer), and our shared southern roots. It's such a joy to have all of us still in the city and able to celebrate each other every year on our birthdays. LeeAnne's birthday was yesterday and Pamela's is tomorrow. So I'm splitting the difference (er, I'm not actually late, LA!).

wishing them both a big, merry, cheery and fabulous HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

feeling this way:

[i love some ecards.]

merry christmas from minnie!

This year's window display at Barneys New York includes a festive video of Mickey, Minnie and friends. I think it's almost too adorable for words, such a fun spin on classic Disney characters.

filling nyc subways with holiday cheer

I was serenaded on my commute this morning by this talented & cheery quartet on the 1 train.

[click to listen: Subway Jingle Bells]

hello there, mr. cunningham

Last weekend, Pamela, Katherine, LeeAnne and I met in the park for our annual Central Park "photo shoot." I have more pictures from that to share later, but I wanted to share these pictures first.

As background, my friends turned this year's shoot into a pre-birthday surprise for me and they brought balloons, confetti and gifted me with this wonderful rainbow umbrella. Turns out, these things made amazing props for our little photo-taking jaunt in the park.

So amazing, in fact, that Bill Cunningham even snapped a few pics of us. Mr. Cunningham is a fashion & lifestyle photographer for the NYTimes and is known for always wearing his blue jacket and khaki pants and riding through the city on his bike to snap photos. A few years ago, the documentary "Bill Cunningham New York" came out telling about his life and work. (I've yet to see it, but it's now on my Netflix queue.) If you look closely in all of these pictures you can see him snapping away - and smiling! - in the bottom right corner, standing on the bridge. How adorable!

We're all crossing our fingers for a brief cameo in his Sunday video or photography piece...

colorrrr

Being in the neighborhood of an enormous art supply store - Dick Blick - last week definitely warranted a drop-in. It took me back to my design school glory days seeing aisle after aisle of beautifully arranged art supplies. I wandered around looking at the beautiful colors for almost half an hour because, unfortunately during design school, I never had much time to leisurely enjoy an art store. I usually only ventured in to grab supplies when my project was due in 24 hours...or less.

election day, 4 years ago

I've now lived in New York for two presidential elections which is almost unfathomable. (It seems like I moved here just last year!) For the presidential election four years ago - when I was just a New York City newbie - I actually spent Election Night at Democracy Plaza in Rockefeller Center.

And, that, my friends, was a mistake I didn't make again this year. Although, my friend Kline and I were able to have our picture made with the lovely elephant below, there's not much that would convince me to go back to that place on Election Night...ever again. Right, LeeAnne?!

I did have some pretty fun Election Night plans this year, though. Details: coming up.

the city and the storm

The most commonly used word to describe this week's cover of NYMag: 

Striking.

I can agree with that. It's an unbelievable shot of the two worlds New York became last week.

eat down. tip up.

Last week when Hurricane Sandy hit New York, much of the upper part of Manhattan walked away completely unscathed. Downtown was a different story. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power for nearly a week including tons of local restaurants and small businesses.

Because NYers really come together in times of crisis, a campaign was started to help those local businesses and restaurants get back on their feet. It's inspring: Eat Down. Tip Up. You're encouraged to eat downtown at these small restaurants and leave a double tip, take a photo of it and submit it to this blog where they're cataloging all of the people joining in this campaign and what restaurants they're helping. What a great way to support our neighbors in lower Manhattan. It has my vote.

[I took this photo from the Eat Down. Tip Up tumblr. I haven't joined in yet, but I will.]

God's promises never fail.

"Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: '...I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.'... I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind." 

Genesis 9:8-17

[This rainbow photo in New York after Hurricane Sandy was found here. Simply amazing. After seeing so much devastation and feeling so discouraged by the "worst storm in the city's history" that has impacted so many this week, this is a miracle of the things God has promised. I may or may not have shed a small tear when I saw these beautiful rainbows shining above Manhattan.]

reunion no. 2

The second reunion in the last few weeks was with an old friend, Amy J. LeeAnne and I met Amy at the meet-and-greet part of the service at Redeemer (not the cookie room, but the part where you shake hands with those around you for 15 seconds! yes, quite unbelievable that we became such instant friends.) during our first summer internships over five years ago. When we told her we were from Alabama she said, "Woww. That's REALLY southern!"

Amy came for a quick visit last week, and Katherine and I met up with her for a Shake Shack dinner. We realized that we've only all lived in the same place for a total of 3 months, but we became quick friends that summer as we all shared the very new experiences of the working world + life in a big city. Amy please don't be such a stranger! Come back and visit soon...even if it means taking another 20 hour bus ride from the Carolinas, AmyJ-style.

conversation at the yogurt counter

I had been noticing the new yogurt place, Yapple, in the neighborhood the last few weeks, but hadn't made time to stop in and try it out until last Friday afternoon. I inadvertently ended up there at 3pm with all the teenie boppers, so my conversation at the checkout counter went something like this:

Yapple worker: Hi, do you have your student ID? You get a discount.

me: I have one, I wish I could use it...but...I think it's probably expired by now.

Yapple worker: Expired?! (confused look)

me: yeaaa. I've been out of school for a long time.

Yapple worker: OH...ooooh, you look good for your age!

me: ("for my age"? I didn't say I was 50.)

me: Well. Thank you. I'll take it...

sticky's finger joint

I discovered the best chicken fingers in all of New York City on Monday night: Sticky's Finger Joint. That's a big feat considering I've lived here four years and tried hundreds of chicken fingers around the city, and I just made this discovery two nights ago. That's saying something.

I got a special coupon on Gilt City for a dinner for 2 that included two orders of chicken fingers, two sides, two slaws, 4+ sauces, and two drinks. And, for only $26 when that package normally would have cost over $45. I was pretty excited. But making our order was no easy task with 10+ options for chicken fingers and almost 20 options for dipping sauce, alone!

As we were trying to make our final decisions on dipping sauce (15 min after starting our order), we asked the woman for recommendations. She said, "If you like ranch, ours is really good." She had no idea who she was talking to but this was the moment I became a fan for life. 100% sold.

Sticky's: Before

Sticky's: After