weekend adventures.

On this rainy New York Tuesday, I like to be reminded of my warm, sunny weekend adventures.  Last weekend I ventured up to "South Harlem" to visit Columbia University and it was beautiful.  Tucked in the middle of Manhattan, you would never know it was in the middle of such a grand city.  It had that University feel and I was even a bit nostalgic about not being a college kid anymore.  While I was on campus, I didn't even realize I was walking through a famous area for looking downtown over Amsterdam Avenue.  Afterwards, I stopped for a photo opt at the famous Tom's Restaurant from Seinfeld.  It made me think of my dad and all the times we watch Seinfeld together and even the times when we weren't watching it together and we would laugh about it together later.

Columbia University Library

I'm guessing this was sort of "the quad."

The Philosophy Building

The very popular, almost famous overpass at 117th St.

I didn't even know this was a famous sculpture!  It was done by
Henry Moore and it spins when you push it!

Of course I had to take a picture of the Law School for my dad :)

Just a cool building on campus!

There it is!! Can't you just picture Jerry, Elaine, George & Kramer
having breakfast while George complains about life??

This past weekend, I wanted to do something I hadn't done before so, I traveled to Brooklyn.  For Christmas, my dad gave me the book "The Best Things to do in New York: 1001 Things to do" and as I was perusing it, I saw a section about where to take the best pictures.  The author said that for the best pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge, you needed to walk over the Manhattan Bridge to get the best views.  Then, he said that the Brooklyn Botanic Garden was beautiful in spring.  The last thing he said was to take as many pictures on the Brooklyn waterfront as possible because thats where the best Manhattan skyline pictures are taken.  So, I ventured out, walking across the bridge and taking in the scenery of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and a bit of Queens.  Once on "the other side," I began snapping pictures and walking around Williamsburg.  Later, I realized that the Manhattan Bridge ends in Brooklyn, not Williamsburg--I had accidentally walked across the Williamsburg bridge!  Oh well, right?  It was still a great adventure and I did finally make it to Brooklyn!  

Two weekends well spent, indeed!  And now I get to look forward to family coming this weekend!!

Just some interesting graffiti on the Williamsburg (not Brooklyn)
Bridge!

A view of the financial district from the
Williamsburg Bridge

Well hello, Manhattan!!

The Brooklyn Bridge with the financial district in the background

I experienced my first above-ground subway station!

Another Saturday in the Park--in Brooklyn!

At the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway

This was too cool not to document.

The infamous Manhattan Bridge--the one I did NOT walk over.

The Brooklyn Bridge flying it's American pride 

And again--can you tell I was kind of excited to see the
Brooklyn Bridge?

Overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge Park

spring has arrived in New York!

My daisies are still hangin' in there from a couple of weeks ago, reminding me that it is indeed Springtime.  One of my favorite movies, even before I moved here, was You've Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.  It always made New York seem so enchanting and beautiful.  Now, as I have my own bouquet of daisies, I am reminded of that movie.  As Tom Hanks says, "It would be a shame to miss New York in the Spring."  So, come visit during one of the most beautiful seasons (I've heard) in New York!

The markets are back!

This was at a flea market--they were cookin' up anything you wanted from every spice you
could imagine!

This is what I see outside of work everyday--each planter has
a different flower!  AND--there are leaves on the trees!!

two months...already?!

 Yes, that's right--Friday April 1st makes 2 months that I've been able to call this city mine--NO April fools.  Since that first cold, icy, day when we landed, a lot of things have changed:

We've had the pleasure of living in 3 very different apartments and neighborhoods.

When I thought finding a job was hopeless--the Binder family found me!! Theo is the most intelligent 4-year-old I've ever met-seriously.  Henry is a 10 year old with a great imagination and an even better sense of humor.  They are a sweet little family living in the prime Upper East Side neighborhood with a huge apartment and great view.  It has been a pleasure getting to know them!

Theo is quite the entertainer!

Henry--well, Henry is hilarious.

                                                

                                             The Upper East Side at rush hour on a
                                                  beautiful afternoon.

We found an apartment that was too good to be true in a location that was just as good as the apartment!  We've made it into a home, and are loving getting to know our neighborhood.

THEN--I found a job!  The people at Chilton Investment Company are great; they're young, energetic, and so welcoming.  I've found that my walk to work isn't so bad, and my view of across the street when I leave at night isn't so bad either! 

Rockefeller Center on my walk to work
every morning.  They put the daffodils
there so tourists think it's spring :)

St. Patrick's Cathedral--another great
landmark on my morning walk to work. 

The New York Palace--one of my favorite buildings, and not
just because it's on Gossip Girl!  It always looks so enchanting!

Then there's the view of across the street--the famed Waldorf-
Astoria!

This I took on my morning walk at 6:45am--I work from 7a-4p each day.
Isn't the sun coming up over Grand Central just beautiful?? It's like
I have my own New York City tour on my walk to work!

One last thing during my two months here so far--I survived the winter with only 1 legitimate snowfall!  Here are some glimpses of spring I found today while strolling along in Central Park.  I looked like a tourist taking so many pictures, I'm sure people thought I was from another city!  I guess I better get used to the fact that this is my  city now, my home; after all, it's been two months!

At least I should feel safe with hundreds of cops
in my neighborhood!

Trees are blooming and daffodils are coming!

Good afternoon, New York!

I swear I didn't mean for it to come out looking this cool!

To keep with my spring day, I decided to spring decorate our apartment!
The flower shop on 82nd St. has just about every flower arrangement
and flower type you could want!

They just make you smile, don't they?

Daisies are my absolute favorite!

Happy Spring!!

sick days are even better in New York

I've been sick all day today--I even stayed home from work.  Want to know why New York City is still great even when you're sick??

- You can wake up feeling terrible, look outside, and see it snowing--in March!

- When you finally feel like you want to eat some food, pretty much the entire restaurant industry delivers and you don't even have to lift a finger!  Well, maybe a couple fingers to order the food :)

- Then, when you finally feel better, the city is still out there, waiting for the new and improved you!

weekend.

This weekend was the first I've had as a full-time worker and the first I've had in the city in two weeks; I was excited.  The only thing was, I had no idea what to do!  Here it is, this great big city filled with every store you could imagine and every restaurant you could ever crave, and I was at a loss.

I decided to be super productive and do my laundry for the first time in 3 weeks.  I got to experience my first laundromat and it was wayyyy cool!  

this is just un-called for.

isn't this just SO New York City??

On Sunday, we went on the hunt for macaron's during NYC Macaron Day and found a place in Herald Square.  I got the pleasure of tasting a ROSE macaron.  What does a rose macaron taste like, you ask?  Well, to use the description that Hannah's friend used: "it tastes like year old pink peeps that have been sitting next to old potpourri."  Aren't you jealous??

To get the taste out of my mouth, I finally had a shake at Shake Shack along with a delicious burger and fries with my friend, Alexa. Afterwards, I kicked her butt in Scene It? Friends :)

It was a fabulous end to a beautiful weekend.

hello Sunday afternoon!

things I saw on my Friday night walk home

Today New York City topped out at around 74 degrees--while I sat inside and worked.  Welcome to the real world, huh?  As I've said before, being an adult is overrated.

I've heard that when the temperature starts rising, people come out of the woodwork around this city.  They weren't exaggerating.  I work on E 49th and live on W 81st which is a 30 minute commute by train, but it was so nice out, I decided to walk home.  My walk took me through Rockefeller Center and Times Square where I saw quite a few people still celebrating St. Patrick's Day; gotta love those Irish!  In Times Square, I think I saw more cameras than human beings--I love seeing tourists in this city because it reminds me that I actually live here and I'm not a tourist anymore.

When I reached the Upper West Side, I was stopped by a man asking directions and I knew exactly what to tell him and he was really nice!  I love knowing my way around this great big city and I love being reminded that there are people in "the north" that are just as nice as us Southerners.

I decided to walk the rest of the way from Trader Joe's on W 72nd and was greeted by large groups of people heading to dinner, the theatre, or wherever their Friday night plans were taking them.  All the restaurants had their outdoor seating filled to the max, giving me just a hint of what this city is like in the spring & summer.

The weirdest thing I saw?  A couple having dinner outside with a stroller...for their dog! 

...welcome to the city!!

Here are some other things I saw that were worth a photograph...

A nice reflection of the buildings in Times Square. 

There is sun in New York City! A look
down Central Park South.

My favorite picture so far...a great piece of art on
the sidewalk from a street artist in Columbus Square.

Is that GREEN GRASS!?

hello again!

Hello my faithful followers!  I do apologize for the long absence from my blog.  Things have been a bit out of the ordinary lately!

To catch you up, let's start with...I GOT A JOB!!!

I interviewed last Monday and got a job working at Chilton Investment Company last Wednesday!  I am the newest addition to their Reception team and will learn everything I never knew I needed or wanted to know about hedge funds and investing!  It's a fantastic company with friendly people and endless perks.

I also had to say goodbye to a high school friend of mine, Alex Boehling.  Alex lived such a great life that, honestly, I was always a bit jealous of.  He had such gumption and passion about life and whatever he did, he succeeded.  I'll miss him always and hope that I can take a bit of Alex's passion for life, his love of family, and his great personality and inspire my life to be better, in his spirit.

I'll miss you everyday, Alex.

Alexander Thomas Boehling
06.20.88 - 03.07.11