lately...

To all of my faithful followers, I'm sorry I haven't been around lately!  I never want to post things, just to post them; I always like my posts to be relevant.  So, I guess it's sad that I haven't felt the urge to post things lately!  

Today marks my official three-month anniversary!  It couldn't have been a better day for an anniversary--a true spring New York day.  As I've said a few times, spring is finally here in the city, but it's actually been hanging around for the past couple of weeks!  To mark my anniversary, here are a few things I've been up to lately...

My family came to New York a couple of weeks ago for spring break and it was actually spring weather!  I was so excited to get to spend time with them and show them my city.  We took a great walk in the park, I showed them my tiny apartment (to non-New Yorkers), and we had a great dinner at Tony's DiNapoli.  I was a little nervous, I must admit, to take them to a family-style Italian Restaurant when there were so many other places in this enormous city.  Well, Tony's didn't let me down, and I don't think it let my family down, either!  My Uncle Mike fell in love!  It was a great time that ended with celebrating my cousin Catherine's 15th birthday a few hours early.
Thank you guys so much for visiting--I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Our lovely waiter who is also an opera singer.

Being sung to by our opera-singing waiter.

Happy Early birthday, Catherine!

For Easter, I got a great long weekend and wanted to take advantage of it.  This was the first year I was away from my family so I thought I'd find another family to spend it with!  I ventured over to New Jersey to see my old college roommate and great friend, Kelsey.  She is lucky enough to live right on the beach in the north part of the Jersey Shore (the good part!).  We had a great weekend hanging out with her friends and getting to spend some quality time with her parents.  I thoroughly enjoyed being their adopted daughter for the weekend!  

 

The lovely Jersey Shore!

It's so nice to see the ocean!

I had to document these adorable little girls & their brother in their Easter outfits!

On the Asbury Park boardwalk

This was a really cool convention hall.  Check out May 5--Crosby & Nash!  Wish I was
going to be there!

This past week was Administrative Professionals week at work, and I just have to share pictures of the absolutely beautiful flower arrangement I got.  It makes spring seem very much alive!

So, that's my life lately--it may not be much, but I loved every minute of it.  To my faithful readers, thank you again for being a fan!  I'll try to keep you posted more often :)

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!!