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big apple bbq fest

4 years and counting. That's how long I've been going to the Big Apple BBQ Festival in NYC. Katherine, Pamela, LA and I sealed the deal on our friendship in the summer of 2007 when we went to the festival for the first time together. We were four southern girls in the Big Apple and we missed pulled pork sandwiches and sweet tea. Now, I plan weeks in advance to make sure I don't miss this event and drag all my northern friends to Madison Square Park with me.


Brendan's two attempts (above and below) at capturing an artistic photo. We were also trying to portray how much we missed our 4th BBQ-goer, Katherine.

garage

If you're looking for a great restaurant in NYC, you should try Garage in Greenwich Village. Brendan took me here for dinner last week before I left the city and it was amazing! It had a great menu and nice atmosphere, and the best part was that there was a live jazz band playing the whole time. Nothing too loud or overwhelming, though, which made it enjoyable (I'm not a fan of having to scream to each other across the table at dinner). I also loved the design of the restaurant which had a slightly rustic feel while also being homey and comfortable. If you find yourself in this neighborhood and hungry, I give it a thumbs up!

belay on

I won't lie. I was pretty nervous as I walked into the climbing gym. Especially when Marco, our instructor, told us that we should get at least one size smaller shoe size than we normally wear because the shoes should be uncomfortable and our toes should curl at the end. If I'm climbing high into the air, shouldn't my feet at least be free from misery? Somehow, though, Margaret and I survived and actually loved our rock climbing excursion!



I had a little trouble remembering how to tie the double-figure 8 knot. Luckily, I fixed that before I belayed on...

"where chili pepper lights meet christmas tree lights"

Lights of every kind.
Christmas. Red Hot Chili Pepper. Little basketballs.
Hanging down 2 feet from the ceiling.
Mirrors on the wall.
That is Panna 2.
I convinced Brendan and Allison to go to dinner there with me.
because I love this place so much.
And believe me.
It's well worth fighting through claustrophobia to enjoy a cheap Indian meal.
It's my favorite.
Just ask one of these two.

no turkeys

No one had any turkeys but I did bowl a strike! And I did beat a few people...

Brendan and I went bowling a few weekends ago with some friends in my small group, Monica and Kevin. (Or rather, Monica is in my small group and Kevin is her boyfriend.) We ventured over to Leisure Time Bowl in Port Authority, which (surprisingly) is a really nice bowling alley. We had a great time until we were kicked off our lane for the next incoming reservation. But, luckily, since the night was still young we decided to stroll through Times Square and act like tourists, hence the picture above of Monica pointing to the beautiful lights. This gave bowling a run for its money... Brendan suggested we ask a tourist for directions somewhere, but I couldn't stop laughing long enough to do it. Next time....



reunion @ boat basin

When I moved to New York City for the first time four summers ago in May 2007, I didn't know anyone. And when I say I didn't know anyone, I do mean I didn't know a single soul amongst the 8 million people living here. I had been introduced to one girl, LeeAnne (who is more commonly referred to as LA on this blog), who also went to Auburn, was an interior design student, and was doing an internship in the city with an architecture & design firm, but we didn't really know each other. Then through a serendipitous turn of events, I met Pamela and Katherine in Central Park one Sunday afternoon. They invited me to church at Redeemer to hear Tim Keller (who, at the time, I'd actually never heard of...gasp!). I thought they were being nice and friendly southerners who I'd probably never hear from again until I received a phone call later that afternoon with a voice on the other end saying "Hey! It's Katherine from Central Park! Where should we meet for church?" We, along with LA, all became fast friends (and one other, AmyJ, who LeeAnne and I met at the meet&greet portion of a church service the next week) and joined a start-up fellowship group the next week. Katherine and Pamela had met Aaron at a citilights event who was just starting a group with a few friends he'd met at a Redeemer Retreat earlier in the spring. We all became great friends and a very unique fellowship group from many different stages and walks of life. Since then, the original fellowship group has grown and changed and multiplied into at least 5 different sister groups. Aaron has a gift for bringing people in, teaching them, and then sending them back out to form new groups and bring more into the circle. Then we all get together and talk about the good ole days when the group was in its infancy and the five southerners were only referred to as "the interns". Things have changed a lot, but some things never will. Getting together, catching up and looking at how far God has brought the group in only three short years sure is fun, and especially when the venue is Boat Basin!


I love this picture of Pamela... not sure what I'm thinking about though.


Pamela, me and LA. (And Katherine will finally be rejoining us in the city in August!)

The "interns" (minus Katherine and Amy) with the grandfather leader, Aaron.

the zoo


On Saturday, Brendan and I joined our friends Julie and Andrew for an outing at the Bronx Zoo. It was even more fun than I was expecting, and a ton more fun than Brendan was expecting. We went through "the Congo" to see the monkeys, an okapi, gorillas, then the tigers, giraffes, peacocks, and sea lions as we made our rounds through the park. Who knew, walking around a zoo in New York City could feel spacious, but it was wonderful! If you live in the city and haven't been, I would definitely give it a thumbs up and suggest you go. If you can avoid it, stay away from Saturdays, though, because it's packed, but definitely worth the trip uptown. After the zoo, Brendan introduced me to, as he called it, the best Italian food anywhere, except Italy. We had lunch on Arthur Avenue (Little Italy in the Bronx) at a restaurant called Emilia's, and it was delicious. It was great Italian food with seemingly more authenticity than most Italian restaurants in Manhattan. It was a fun day, followed by a birthday party picnic on the Hudson River, which ended the day nicely. I'm so thrilled to see summer back in full force!

au singer show in nyc!


Tonight, Brendan and I went to an Auburn Singers performance at St. Malachy's church in the Theater District. It was a great show and a great performance (and ever-so-kind of Brendan to accompany me). I also got to see one of my baby hoots, Sarah Beth (she is second from the left in the above picture), perform which was a real joy! It made me miss Auburn and college and all of the great memories and friends I have from there and also feel very inspired by all the talent and beautiful voices surrounding me. I sure hope to be back on the plains soon, but tonight was close enough!

it's (almost) summer!

Last night sealed the deal. Summer is almost back! We celebrated a friend, Allison's, birthday at the Boat Basin with perfect company, perfect weather, a perfect view of the sunset, and a perfect Jersey City skyline and Hudson River view after the sun went down. I survived another northeast winter and could not be more excited about SUMMER again!

live with regis and kelly

Yesterday morning, my roommate Margaret and I braved the 6:30 AM wake up call and waited in the standby line for tickets to see Live with Regis and Kelly. Luckily we didn't have far to go and ended up being the second and third person in line! We got tickets and got second row seats to see the show. My great affinity for the show has definitely died down since high school and college, but it was slightly rekindled yesterday...









screwtape letters

Screwtape Letters, a book by CS Lewis that is written from the perspective of a high level demon to his understudy nephew, Wormwood, chronicles the efforts of the devil and his workers to pull Christians off course, ultimately ending in damnation. If you haven't read this book, you must. As I mentioned here, it is one of my all-time favorite books. As I'm rereading it for the second time, I'm convinced that everyone should read this book during any challenging time in life, or as Screwtape refers to it, a trough in comparison to a peak.

And to make rereading this book even more worthwhile for me, tonight I'm going to see the Broadway version with Brendan and his parents! Max Mclean (who actually goes to Redeemer!) directs the play and acts as Screwtape. I am beyond excited and hope the play is as phenomenal as the book, but I have no doubts.

NJ 2 days in a row

My sweet friend Daniela was baptized and became a member at Redeemer today. In celebration, we were able to join her and family for a lunch in her honor at The Manor Restaurant in West Orange, NJ.


It was my first time on the George Washington Bridge. And look how beautiful of a view it is coming back into the city! Home Sweet Home.

i forgot to mention,

last week, I also went to see Riverdance at Radio City Music Hall with RL and gang. AMAZING. Even better than I was expecting or hoping for.