Today I find myself in the Charlotte airport, in the very spot that I began writing this blog exactly 366 days ago as I awaited my flight to London. There is a palpable difference between the atmosphere here and the city that I have left for the next few days. For the first few minutes in Charlotte, I was confused as to why people were making eye contact—even smiling. Even though it has only been one month, I have grown completely accustomed to the coldness of New York and the universally accepted irrelevancy of each face in the hordes of tourists and workers hurrying toward the next best thing.
I am so happy to be here—more specifically on my way to KD convention in Tucson—that I don’t even mind the six hour layover. It will allow me to recount my last few days, as I have been much too busy keeping up with the pace of NYC to write. These past few days and the preceding weekends have been the best by far. My weekend visitors have played a major role in making my time in NYC a fabulously unforgettable adventure.
When Boley arrived last Friday, my NYC friends came with me to pick her up and we checked off many of the touristy things from our lists. We had some of the best pizza I’ve ever had at a shack in Hell’s Kitchen, wandered through Times Square, walked the Highline, and went to Legends. We got up early to see SOHO, which proved to be one of my favorite areas. It is much more artsy low-key than the rest of the city, and because we were there early there were far fewer tourists than usual. Afterward, we walked in Central Park before getting ready for the main event…GLEE!!!
We met for dinner at Artisanal, an esteemed cheese restaurant. We found it highly overrated—the “3 cheese plate” we thought we’d share came out an hour later with literally 3 slices of cheese on it and set us back $20! After we had paid, the waiter had the audacity to tell us that gratuity was expected and wasn’t included in the bill. We took some of it back just for spite. That event--though comical--set the tone for the first half of the evening. We were supposed to meet for Glee at Grand Central Station and though we were excited to see the iconic establishment, we were a bit flustered when we discovered that it was not in fact where we needed to be. We found ourselves running the streets of Manhattan in an attempt to get to Penn Station to catch the train bound for Long Island. Once there, we were told that we could get to the next train station by 8:30 and take a cab from there to the coliseum. The show started at 8. Panic ensued. With a little help from some kind New Yorkers, we found our way to the right train and hopped on just in time, but not without a few meltdowns.
At last we were on our way, and everything worked out in the end. There had been two opening acts so we got there in plenty of time for the show. It was probably one of the best concerts I have ever seen, and when they sang “Empire State of Mind” the crowd went absolutely crazy. Every time one of the cast said “Thank you, New York” (or something to that effect) the enormity of living in this crazy, enchanting place struck me—made me realize how much I have grown to love it and consider myself a member of the massive cosmopolite.
The next day, we watched the sunrise over the Brooklyn Bridge and said our goodbyes. The work week began again, this time with fewer remarkable events—a couple at the TriBeCa Club, one at the Century Club— and they came with a normality for which I was acutely grateful. After work , my friends and I continue our missions to become NYC’s cupcake connoisseurs. Cupcake couture is a huge current trend in the city, and we have decided to try as many different places as we can (our rewards for making it through the work day). Strange as that may be, we have actually discovered some pretty cool neighborhoods, nooks and random areas of town to which we might have not otherwise ventured. So far, our favorites come from a truck that moves around town—you have to follow them on Twitter to know where they will be each day! That sounds sketchier in writing…
Michael (the kid I babysit) and the Hayes’ (his grandparents and the owner of Lance Hayes Flowers where I work in Baton Rouge) visited this past weekend, and I had a great time showing them the city. Michael and I went to the Harry Potter exhibit at the Discovery Museum on Saturday—an absolute must see for HP nerds. Even though it was all movie stuff (as opposed to the books) it was fascinating, and we spent the greater part of our day inside. That Sunday was Gay Pride day in the city. I have mentioned my frustration about different types of parades getting in the way of going to Mass on Sunday, so I decided that in order to get to church on time and shield Michael from the inevitable vulgarity, we should go to a different church. What I didn’t anticipate was that “Gay Street” was located a mere block away from our chosen location. I will not even put into writing the things that we saw that day—use your imagination. Or don’t.
The last couple of days have been insanely busy at work. Since I am missing the rest of the week, the company tried to squeeze my week’s hours into Monday and Tuesday. Monday night I was in charge of publicity for a biography of Bob Dylan that took place at the NYC Public Library. The people that attended this event were the weirdest group of people I have seen yet—including the atheist convention. Dominated by 60+ year-old hippies, these folks had no doubt consumed far too many illegal substances in their heydays. The event lasted hours longer than was intended because everyone had unrelated questions or experiences to share with the authors and the rest of the crowd. At one point the author spoke approximately one line of a Dylan song, and the audience began an impromptu sing-a-long, completing an insultingly out of tune rendition of Blowing in the Wind nearly five minutes later.
Last night I was in charge of publicity for an event at the Park Avenue Synagogue, a beautiful old venue on the Upper East Side. This was enjoyable to me because I genuinely appreciate Judaism and the Jewish culture. I live by a popular synagogue on the West Side and have made some pretty cool friends because of the proximity. Earlier that day, I went to a store called H&B across the street from my building in search of a new iPhone screen cover with one such friend. I was previously unaware of the fact that H&B is basically Santa’s workshop but instead of elves, all the workers are members of the synagogue. Every worker wore a yarmulke and was happy as a clam to be of assistance. H&B was the largest electronics store I’ve ever been in, with things whirring overhead on assembly lines and transportation rails. There are different stations for buying, paying, and picking up your items. I was already laughing to myself as I pictured the store as Santa’s workshop, and when the last clerk whipped out his candy stash to offer us a piece, I almost lost it. It was probably one of the funniest 10 minutes of my life, and I wish someone funnier than I had been witness and able to better articulate the hilarity of the situation.
I think that’s all for now—hopefully I will come back with some good stories from Kappa Delta Convention! I will try to be better about posting regularly so y’all don’t have to read a novel when I finally sit down and write it all :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
introducing the players
What really characterizes New York for me is the people. I suppose you could say the same about any city, but there is a certain je ne sais quoi here that makes it more noticeable than, say, London, Paris, or Rome (or Mobile). Each of the latter—yes, even Mobile—has such deep history and resplendent beauty that can be focused on instead of the masses of mere mortals that roam the streets. The people that make up New York, however, simply cannot be ignored. In my short two weeks here, I have seen and met so many, many crazy people that I am astounded and even suspicious when I meet a normal one. What are they hiding? These are the characters I have read about or seen in movies but never actually believed existed. From the man I pass every day on the way home from work on the street corner in front of Madison Square Garden demanding “A penny? A penny? A PENNY!” to the monomaniacs in the crosswalks, these people are crazy…plain and simple. I have begun to realize that I am in the small minority of people whose mamas taught them to stay to the right side of the sidewalk, that it is rude to holler at people as they walk by, and that Affliction t-shirts do not qualify as business casual (Jersey intern). I have seen knock-down-drag-out-fights and intense make-ups, hair and clothes that would make Gaga cringe, and enough tangible lunacy to sink a ship.
I have encountered many of these nuts at my author events. The first of this week’s events was a huge ordeal. It was for the release of a new cult self-help book/DVD/CD called The Gift. There were over 700 people who came to be photographed on the red carpet and hear the authors speak. The Gift is basically a charismatic movement lead by a guy who “wandered around and partied” for 23 years “searching” for his true self, his Gift. (after a certain point it’s not a spiritual thing—it’s freaking lazy. Get a job.) Early in the book, the author says that he does not endorse a higher being, but that instead the Gift is what we long to find within ourselves. For the rest of the presentation/book/DVD, he talks about the “Gift” in the same way that most of us think or talk about God, all the while denying his existence. The disillusionment present in not only the speaker but also the audience who devoured his words and immediately ran outside to purchase his rhinestone encrusted paintings and self-help books was truly disturbing to me. I didn’t get back to the office until after midnight, and as I walked home on the quiet streets I thought about how very, very thankful I am for my family and friends and to know that as long as I have y’all, I will never be as lost as many of the people I met that night.
After such a long, emotionally draining night, I was thrilled to find that my next event was at an old Episcopal church on Wall Street. It was exactly what I needed. The event was with a children’s author, and I finally met some people with whom I was more connected (so what if they were 4 years old). The Trinity community center was a bright, open space where anyone can drop in and hang out. You know how in commercials and advertisements they gather a wide spectrum of races and ethnicities? Well as it turns out, that is an accurate depiction of life in the city. I had more children from different backgrounds sitting on my knees, reading me stories, and telling me secrets that day than I could possibly keep track of, but it was definitely my best day of work yet.
Today my event was at the Society of Mechanical Engineers. The book was really interesting—it was about the first steamboat built in America. I loved that the author was truly passionate about the subject. He had studied and researched the steamboat and its captain for years. The joy that emanated from him as he talked about his book was contagious! This made me realize even more how phony The Gift and its author are. Talking to him, it was easy to tell that his primary concern was the profit garnered by book and merchandise sales. The author of Steamboat Coffin had no need for breathing rituals (to get rid of evil spirits) or cheesy sob sessions punctuating his speech. His simple passion for the subject was sufficiently engaging. The attendees of the Mechanical Engineering Society were similarly enjoyable company; all the old men wanted to discuss their steamboat experiences with me and said that if they were my age they would like to take me dancing in the city. They were so precious!
After work, Emily and I went to a place called High Line Park. We got ice cream and walked on a boardwalk that is suspended about three stories high and runs next to an old railroad line parallel to the river. It afforded us the most beautiful view of the city lights, and is definitely my favorite place here by far. I am going to wake up early to see my boy Kenny Chesney in a few hours, so I will catch up with y’all later!
P.S. The ultimate “Gift” is love. Spoiler alert.
I have encountered many of these nuts at my author events. The first of this week’s events was a huge ordeal. It was for the release of a new cult self-help book/DVD/CD called The Gift. There were over 700 people who came to be photographed on the red carpet and hear the authors speak. The Gift is basically a charismatic movement lead by a guy who “wandered around and partied” for 23 years “searching” for his true self, his Gift. (after a certain point it’s not a spiritual thing—it’s freaking lazy. Get a job.) Early in the book, the author says that he does not endorse a higher being, but that instead the Gift is what we long to find within ourselves. For the rest of the presentation/book/DVD, he talks about the “Gift” in the same way that most of us think or talk about God, all the while denying his existence. The disillusionment present in not only the speaker but also the audience who devoured his words and immediately ran outside to purchase his rhinestone encrusted paintings and self-help books was truly disturbing to me. I didn’t get back to the office until after midnight, and as I walked home on the quiet streets I thought about how very, very thankful I am for my family and friends and to know that as long as I have y’all, I will never be as lost as many of the people I met that night.
After such a long, emotionally draining night, I was thrilled to find that my next event was at an old Episcopal church on Wall Street. It was exactly what I needed. The event was with a children’s author, and I finally met some people with whom I was more connected (so what if they were 4 years old). The Trinity community center was a bright, open space where anyone can drop in and hang out. You know how in commercials and advertisements they gather a wide spectrum of races and ethnicities? Well as it turns out, that is an accurate depiction of life in the city. I had more children from different backgrounds sitting on my knees, reading me stories, and telling me secrets that day than I could possibly keep track of, but it was definitely my best day of work yet.
Today my event was at the Society of Mechanical Engineers. The book was really interesting—it was about the first steamboat built in America. I loved that the author was truly passionate about the subject. He had studied and researched the steamboat and its captain for years. The joy that emanated from him as he talked about his book was contagious! This made me realize even more how phony The Gift and its author are. Talking to him, it was easy to tell that his primary concern was the profit garnered by book and merchandise sales. The author of Steamboat Coffin had no need for breathing rituals (to get rid of evil spirits) or cheesy sob sessions punctuating his speech. His simple passion for the subject was sufficiently engaging. The attendees of the Mechanical Engineering Society were similarly enjoyable company; all the old men wanted to discuss their steamboat experiences with me and said that if they were my age they would like to take me dancing in the city. They were so precious!
After work, Emily and I went to a place called High Line Park. We got ice cream and walked on a boardwalk that is suspended about three stories high and runs next to an old railroad line parallel to the river. It afforded us the most beautiful view of the city lights, and is definitely my favorite place here by far. I am going to wake up early to see my boy Kenny Chesney in a few hours, so I will catch up with y’all later!
P.S. The ultimate “Gift” is love. Spoiler alert.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dead Ends and Deathly Hallows
The past few days have for me been characterized more by things that didn’t happen than those that did. We got up early and went to the Today show, but realized too late that we were on the wrong street. We were sitting behind the stage and equipment, so we missed the band and the show entirely. I set out to run along the river, but there is construction for 3 miles both ways. I attempted to go to mass at St. Patrick’s yesterday, but got caught up in the Puerto Rican day parade instead (that is one experience I do not care to relive).
From each of these seemingly failed endeavors, however, I made new discoveries and adventures. At the Today Show, I learned about Matt Lauer’s favorite local bar…I will definitely be hitting that up! Instead of running by the river, I went to Central Park instead, and last night I discovered a beautiful church on the Upper East Side—St. Ignatius of course!!! I felt right at home, and not just because it was St. Ignatius. The congregation was friendly and the priest talked about his recent visit to—you’ll never guess—Alabama!!!
I have done lots of traditional New York things—went to an underground comedy club, ate cheesecake on the steps of the beautiful old post office building across from Madison Square Garden, looked down from the top of the Empire State Building—but at the end of the day, nothing that would be interesting enough to subject ya’ll to on this thing. Today when I got up and made my list of things to do, I thought to myself, “I’m going to make this day worth writing about.”
Mission accomplished. I had a pretty nice day at work, just running errands about town. On my way home, I passed the Manhattan Center a block away from my dorm. They were rolling out the red carpet with advertisements for the Webbys, an awards show for YouTube and online phenomena. I looked it up online to see who would be making an appearance and was surprised to note some significant actors and actresses. I didn’t think too much about it, and I took my computer to the Starbucks across the street to work on some standards E-mails. When the barista called my name indicating that my drink was ready, the guy next to me said with a British accent “sometimes I make up weird names at Starbucks too” I turned around with my usual answer (haha, it’s a family name…) but stuttered when I realized it was DANIEL RADCLIFFE!!!! Somehow I got the words out and we chatted for a few seconds but I honestly don’t remember a single word because all I could think about was that I was talking to HARRY POTTER!!!!
Still giddy, I ran home to eat dinner with two of my friends from the apartment. We decided we better go check out this Webby thing to see who else we could see. As it turned out, the security people wouldn’t allow us to get very close—one of them told Nisreen that “this is very much NOT a public event” even though the red carpet and the photo op was on 34th Street—one of the main drags in the city. We lingered about the edges and were able to see Brooke Shields, Adrian Grenier and my personal favorite: Antoine Dodson (hide yo kids, hide yo wife) and his sister!!! They even sang the song. After all the stars had gone inside, the security guards teased us and told us they would let us inside even though they had no intention of doing so. Instead we walked around Hell’s Kitchen, which is the eclectic area near our building on the West Side. There are millions of different cuisines and bars, including Ethiopian, which I thought was…interesting. (What kind of food do they actually have in Ethiopia?)
Walking back, we rehashed the day’s events and agreed that the best part was that we had met each other and had someone to share these things with. Even a city with 3 million people can seem empty if you don’t have people with whom you can share your experiences, including the the dead ends. Today has definitely been the best day yet, and I am looking forward to many like it in the future…I think from now on I’ll live each day with the intentions of doing something worth writing about!
From each of these seemingly failed endeavors, however, I made new discoveries and adventures. At the Today Show, I learned about Matt Lauer’s favorite local bar…I will definitely be hitting that up! Instead of running by the river, I went to Central Park instead, and last night I discovered a beautiful church on the Upper East Side—St. Ignatius of course!!! I felt right at home, and not just because it was St. Ignatius. The congregation was friendly and the priest talked about his recent visit to—you’ll never guess—Alabama!!!
I have done lots of traditional New York things—went to an underground comedy club, ate cheesecake on the steps of the beautiful old post office building across from Madison Square Garden, looked down from the top of the Empire State Building—but at the end of the day, nothing that would be interesting enough to subject ya’ll to on this thing. Today when I got up and made my list of things to do, I thought to myself, “I’m going to make this day worth writing about.”
Mission accomplished. I had a pretty nice day at work, just running errands about town. On my way home, I passed the Manhattan Center a block away from my dorm. They were rolling out the red carpet with advertisements for the Webbys, an awards show for YouTube and online phenomena. I looked it up online to see who would be making an appearance and was surprised to note some significant actors and actresses. I didn’t think too much about it, and I took my computer to the Starbucks across the street to work on some standards E-mails. When the barista called my name indicating that my drink was ready, the guy next to me said with a British accent “sometimes I make up weird names at Starbucks too” I turned around with my usual answer (haha, it’s a family name…) but stuttered when I realized it was DANIEL RADCLIFFE!!!! Somehow I got the words out and we chatted for a few seconds but I honestly don’t remember a single word because all I could think about was that I was talking to HARRY POTTER!!!!
Still giddy, I ran home to eat dinner with two of my friends from the apartment. We decided we better go check out this Webby thing to see who else we could see. As it turned out, the security people wouldn’t allow us to get very close—one of them told Nisreen that “this is very much NOT a public event” even though the red carpet and the photo op was on 34th Street—one of the main drags in the city. We lingered about the edges and were able to see Brooke Shields, Adrian Grenier and my personal favorite: Antoine Dodson (hide yo kids, hide yo wife) and his sister!!! They even sang the song. After all the stars had gone inside, the security guards teased us and told us they would let us inside even though they had no intention of doing so. Instead we walked around Hell’s Kitchen, which is the eclectic area near our building on the West Side. There are millions of different cuisines and bars, including Ethiopian, which I thought was…interesting. (What kind of food do they actually have in Ethiopia?)
Walking back, we rehashed the day’s events and agreed that the best part was that we had met each other and had someone to share these things with. Even a city with 3 million people can seem empty if you don’t have people with whom you can share your experiences, including the the dead ends. Today has definitely been the best day yet, and I am looking forward to many like it in the future…I think from now on I’ll live each day with the intentions of doing something worth writing about!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Curveballs
I can’t even get over this day and this city. I guess the beginning is the best place to start! First of all, the city is uncommonly hot right now, made even more miserable by the lack of AC in most buildings including my apartment. I’m a beach kid and the heat doesn’t usually bother me, but my Burt’s Bees melted inside my room. Just sayin. Ok, so I did some office stuff at work and then headed off to the University Club. It was gorgeous, old and obviously the watering hole for only New York’s most affluent members of society. The author was speaking about her book called “The Lost Boy,” a biography of Mickey Mantle. I was mesmerized by her adoration of the Yankees icon as well as the real passion that all of these old billionaires have for him. They all wanted to tell me stories about how he was their childhood idol and where and when they first saw him swing that bat. I know I promised not to become a Yankee fan but I have definitely added a game to my “to do” list. One won’t hurt, right?
My second author appearance was an entirely different experience all together; one I was wholly unprepared for. It was put on by the Center For Inquiry at the New York Institute of Technology. The book was called “The Believing Brain” (or something to that effect) and I’ve always been interested in the mechanics of brain function, so I anticipated a pretty interesting talk. It took me a good half-hour to realize that this was in fact a convergence of atheists (or skeptics as they refer to themselves). The talk was all about how the brain has been tricked into believing that there is a God. I would have been fine to just chill by this psycho author while he did his thing, but apparently I had an invitation for the crazies written on my forehead that I was heretofore unaware of. These people—seriously, movie characters… I never thought people like this existed—came up to me with Einstein hair, glasses and quotes muttering psycho babble about the books that they are writing about skepticism and the brain. By the way, ya’ll—were you aware that the brain is like one of those party favors that you blow and it puffs out and makes a sound? Learned that tonight.
And when they discovered the cross around my neck and that I am Catholic—you can’t imagine the field day they had with that. I wasn’t going to argue with them at this event but I was seriously disturbed with the images people have about even Christianity in general. They were shocked that I believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell and found the concept entirely unfathomable. I explained my beliefs when asked but it may have been one of the most uncomfortable situations of my life. Afterward, two of the guys asked for my number so we could discuss this in depth over coffee (why of course, atheism is definitely at the top of my checklist). Riding the subway home and even now as I sit on the rooftop looking at the Empire State Building (it’s green tonight!) I can’t help but wonder is this for real?!
My second author appearance was an entirely different experience all together; one I was wholly unprepared for. It was put on by the Center For Inquiry at the New York Institute of Technology. The book was called “The Believing Brain” (or something to that effect) and I’ve always been interested in the mechanics of brain function, so I anticipated a pretty interesting talk. It took me a good half-hour to realize that this was in fact a convergence of atheists (or skeptics as they refer to themselves). The talk was all about how the brain has been tricked into believing that there is a God. I would have been fine to just chill by this psycho author while he did his thing, but apparently I had an invitation for the crazies written on my forehead that I was heretofore unaware of. These people—seriously, movie characters… I never thought people like this existed—came up to me with Einstein hair, glasses and quotes muttering psycho babble about the books that they are writing about skepticism and the brain. By the way, ya’ll—were you aware that the brain is like one of those party favors that you blow and it puffs out and makes a sound? Learned that tonight.
And when they discovered the cross around my neck and that I am Catholic—you can’t imagine the field day they had with that. I wasn’t going to argue with them at this event but I was seriously disturbed with the images people have about even Christianity in general. They were shocked that I believe in the existence of Heaven and Hell and found the concept entirely unfathomable. I explained my beliefs when asked but it may have been one of the most uncomfortable situations of my life. Afterward, two of the guys asked for my number so we could discuss this in depth over coffee (why of course, atheism is definitely at the top of my checklist). Riding the subway home and even now as I sit on the rooftop looking at the Empire State Building (it’s green tonight!) I can’t help but wonder is this for real?!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Clichés
You know what they say about clichés: they all come from some thread of truth. So far, I have discovered no exception in NYC. It is the city that never sleeps, the concrete jungle, and the worst sin one can commit is taking up more space (anywhere) than you absolutely require. I haven’t held up on my promise to update consistently because I like to write only when I have the most positive things to say; and for the first couple of days, that was hard to do. NYC is a huge adjustment and this blog title ended up being more appropriate than is absolutely necessary (or safe). It is very well known that I am the most directionally challenged human being possibly on the planet (one night as the DD I ended up with our car full of 12 girls on the other side of the Mississippi river from Baton Rouge…) and the subway system did absolutely nothing to ameliorate this problem in NYC. I kept getting hopelessly lost, past the point of the “haha, I’m wandering around in the big city” phase. I’m talking hours. And not in daylight (sorry mom).
I moved into my 6x6 “apartment” (ha, dorm) on Saturday. It is small but quite cozy and with a brilliant view of the city. Right now I have the window up listening to the incessant hum 12 stories down. The next day Alex and I explored the city—we went to St. Patrick’s for mass, Saks, the New York Palace, and China town. It happened to be Israel day (another cliché: “everyone in NYC is Jewish, even if you’re Catholic”) so there were literally thousands of Jewish people in the streets and the Star of David was prominent on every establishment, including hotdog stands. Irony?
I started work the next day. I knew going in that interning means starting at the bottom of the feeding chain. I did not, however, expect to be sent out into the city equipped with a metro card, seven addresses, and an empty rolling suitcase. All day long, I performed menial tasks like filing, organizing, etc. In the late afternoon, however, they decided to send me out on the day’s book garnering. I got lost, had a few minor meltdowns, walked about 7 miles (in heels) and dragged that dang suitcase (increasingly filled with books) up and down subway staircases. I was that girl. By the end of the night, I was ready to peace out and head back to ol’ Mob.
Not to worry though! I had the morning off of work today, and things have begun to turn around. I was able to sleep in a little and explore the city. I finally rode the subway without getting off at the wrong stop and didn’t use the compass on my iPhone one time (and you thought no one used the compass…). At one point, I looked up and saw a huge void in the skyline. I automatically knew that the WTC had once stood in that spot. It was a really strange, almost spiritual moment for me as l looked through the scaffolding at where the buildings had once stood. There were flags and memoirs of Sept. 11th all around as if it was a sort of sacred ground. I definitely had chills as I wandered around through St. Peter’s church across the street.
I picked up some pretty pink peonies to brighten the room and came back in time to get ready for work, anticipating a different kind of day. I knew that I would have my first author appearance tonight. It turned out to be wayyy cooler than I expected. Let me first explain the function of my company: Publishers are not allowed to conduct events publicizing their books/authors. They come to us to plan book signings and author events. I have already worked with major publishing houses (HarperCollins, Random House, Penguin…) and am pumped about making those connections. The event that I had tonight was with a couple who wrote a cookbook and actually cooked on Good Morning America this morning! They hosted a cooking show tonight in which they promoted their vegan cookbook and extremely popular NYC vegan restaurants. They let us try everything they cooked, including tomato gazpacho and chocolate mousse pie. It was FABULOUS. Seriously, if I didn’t love meat and dairy so much, I would consider trying veganism. I got to talk to the authors/chefs and got to know them really well. They even taught me some tricks of their culinary trade! I definitely want to hit up one of their restaurants now to see what all the buzz is about. I didn’t get finished tonight until after 10PM, but it was well worth it. I liked walking home on the quiet(er) streets. The pace was slower and the tourists few. I am about to hit the hay because I have to be up bright and early for an author appearance at the University Club—an exclusive gathering of Manhattan’s elite. I have yet to see anyone famous but maybe tomorrow will be the day!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Here We Go Again!
New summer, new adventure! Where to start? I am currently taking a brief hiatus from packing three cities and two months into one suitcase and I decided to update the ol’ blog. I had to change the name this summer, as “Au Revoir, America” is no longer applicable. After Libby’s wedding on Friday, I am heading to New Orleans and shipping out for New York City where I have a publishing internship for the summer. “The Wandering Kind” seems to me the perfect title for a chronicle of my escapades in NYC and beyond, especially because it is the name of the prelude to one of my favorite albums. It signifies hopeful beginnings; new trials and pursuits. I am going to make a conscientious effort to keep this thing up to date (we’ll see about that) primarily for my own journaling purposes and because I fully intend on filling every day with new adventures.
At this moment, I cannot imagine how different things will be in just a matter of hours. Walking outside now, I step under the canopy of oak trees that lines my street. The bay breeze blows heavy with the scent of magnolia, and the sky is a rosy saffron color as twilight settles on our sweet southern town. All is quiet except for dogs and children playing in the street. After tomorrow, I am fairly certain that this picture will be replaced by a very different one and I can’t wait to experience it!
Sidenote: In a fit of nostalgia a few days ago, I went through my pictures and entries from London last summer. I remembered this correspondence gem and thought I would post it just for old time’s sake. (Background: after London, the group split up to visit different places in Europe. Paul would come to Rome a few days after Emily and I left. People that have been/are going to Rome will probably appreciate this more than others J)
Paul
Hey guys hope yall are having a blast in Rome. Just got a few questions:
1. Where did yall stay?
2. Whats the weather like?
3. How friendly are the people there?
4. Did you make any new friends?
5. What did you do while you were there?
6. Is the coliseum worth seeing?
7. Do they have a tube?
8. If so, Is it anywhere near cockfosters?
9. Did you happen to see the queen there?
10. What was the weather like again?
11. Are all their signs in English?
12. Is it anything like little Italy?
13. How was the food?
14. How was the night life?
15. Is there a Zoo Bar there?
16. What about Pubs?
17. Did you join the mafia while you were there?
18. If so, can you get me in?
19. Were there any instances of gender politics?
20. How was Rome?
Sorry thats all I could come up with off the top of my head. If I remember any more questions I'll be sure to send yall another message.
1. Where did yall stay?
2. Whats the weather like?
3. How friendly are the people there?
4. Did you make any new friends?
5. What did you do while you were there?
6. Is the coliseum worth seeing?
7. Do they have a tube?
8. If so, Is it anywhere near cockfosters?
9. Did you happen to see the queen there?
10. What was the weather like again?
11. Are all their signs in English?
12. Is it anything like little Italy?
13. How was the food?
14. How was the night life?
15. Is there a Zoo Bar there?
16. What about Pubs?
17. Did you join the mafia while you were there?
18. If so, can you get me in?
19. Were there any instances of gender politics?
20. How was Rome?
Sorry thats all I could come up with off the top of my head. If I remember any more questions I'll be sure to send yall another message.
Hallet and Emily
Dear Paul (Paolo),
These are the things that you should know before you head to Roma.
Anticipate a slower pace. Italians do not hurry.
Basilicas: My favorite part of Rome. They are everywhere, and they’re gorgeous! St. Peters was my favorite. We celebrated Mass on the front row with a Cardinal. Soooo cool. Also St. Ignatius—What. A. Baller.
Cookies: The best gelati flavor ever.
Don’t think that a Vatican tour is a good idea. It’s not. They will dupe you and escape with your money.
Exploring: many of our favorite finds were places we discovered when we were just wandering around. Go in random buildings and take a look around.
Fontana d’Amore: Doesn’t exist. Don’t make a fool of yourself by asking where it is.
Gelati: God’s gift to mankind. Eat lots of it while you’re here. Also Gypsies: NOT God’s gift to mankind. They will scam you in front of the Vatican. NOT COOL.
Have lots of pizza and pasta. As if you had another choice.
If you don’t want to see the Coliseum, too bad. It’s pretty much everywhere. But it’s really cool, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
Jersey Boys: The best theatrical production of all time—OH WAIT, THAT’S IN LONDON.
Know the difference between fresh and frozen foods. Call us American, but all four of us preferred the frozen.
Like usual, the nicest and coolest people we met were from the great city of Mobile, Alabama. We explored the Vatican and went to lunch with them.
Make a night trip to the Fontana di Trevi and Piazza Navona—they are both beautiful when they are illuminated after dark! As for the Mafia—if we told you, we’d have to kill you.
Naples: May we suggest Florence instead?
On Sunday at noon, the Pope should make an appearance from his apartment window. If he’s not in his summer home, that would be a really cool sight to see! If you go, take pictures for me!
Piazza de Popola: a place we found when we were wandering around one day. It’s a lovely park to walk through. As for pubs, not so much. Pretty sure they’re unique to Britannia.
Quintessentially, Italians do not like to speak English even though they are perfectly capable. Just prepare to speak slowly or in poor Italian. As for the Queen—someone today found out that we we spoke English and his automatic response was “Queen Elizabeth II???” But no, we have not met her. We’re in Rome…
Roma pass: get it at the metro station by the Coliseum. It will get you 3 days on the metro plus entrance into two exhibits for free.
Spanish Steps: worth the hike. A trip to the top gives you a great view of the city.
Tiramisu: Always a good choice.
Underground: Pretty good, actually. It’s no Piccadilly line terminating at Cockfosters (mind the gap) but there are two lines that get you where you need to be. Mostly.
Very. Very. Very. Rude. The people at our Best Western were sooo mean!
Weather: Sunny and hot. PERFECT.
X. This isn’t an x but croissants are really overcooked here. We miss sainsburyyyys.
You should never, under any circumstances, accept a Vatican tour. Even if a sweet North Carolina girl says it’s a good idea, DON’T DO IT. Did we mention that already?
Zebra crossings (aka crosswalks) are really scary. Just close your
eyes and make a run for it. On second thought…maybe just make a run for it.
pace, amore and tiramisu,
hallet and emily
These are the things that you should know before you head to Roma.
Anticipate a slower pace. Italians do not hurry.
Basilicas: My favorite part of Rome. They are everywhere, and they’re gorgeous! St. Peters was my favorite. We celebrated Mass on the front row with a Cardinal. Soooo cool. Also St. Ignatius—What. A. Baller.
Cookies: The best gelati flavor ever.
Don’t think that a Vatican tour is a good idea. It’s not. They will dupe you and escape with your money.
Exploring: many of our favorite finds were places we discovered when we were just wandering around. Go in random buildings and take a look around.
Fontana d’Amore: Doesn’t exist. Don’t make a fool of yourself by asking where it is.
Gelati: God’s gift to mankind. Eat lots of it while you’re here. Also Gypsies: NOT God’s gift to mankind. They will scam you in front of the Vatican. NOT COOL.
Have lots of pizza and pasta. As if you had another choice.
If you don’t want to see the Coliseum, too bad. It’s pretty much everywhere. But it’s really cool, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
Jersey Boys: The best theatrical production of all time—OH WAIT, THAT’S IN LONDON.
Know the difference between fresh and frozen foods. Call us American, but all four of us preferred the frozen.
Like usual, the nicest and coolest people we met were from the great city of Mobile, Alabama. We explored the Vatican and went to lunch with them.
Make a night trip to the Fontana di Trevi and Piazza Navona—they are both beautiful when they are illuminated after dark! As for the Mafia—if we told you, we’d have to kill you.
Naples: May we suggest Florence instead?
On Sunday at noon, the Pope should make an appearance from his apartment window. If he’s not in his summer home, that would be a really cool sight to see! If you go, take pictures for me!
Piazza de Popola: a place we found when we were wandering around one day. It’s a lovely park to walk through. As for pubs, not so much. Pretty sure they’re unique to Britannia.
Quintessentially, Italians do not like to speak English even though they are perfectly capable. Just prepare to speak slowly or in poor Italian. As for the Queen—someone today found out that we we spoke English and his automatic response was “Queen Elizabeth II???” But no, we have not met her. We’re in Rome…
Roma pass: get it at the metro station by the Coliseum. It will get you 3 days on the metro plus entrance into two exhibits for free.
Spanish Steps: worth the hike. A trip to the top gives you a great view of the city.
Tiramisu: Always a good choice.
Underground: Pretty good, actually. It’s no Piccadilly line terminating at Cockfosters (mind the gap) but there are two lines that get you where you need to be. Mostly.
Very. Very. Very. Rude. The people at our Best Western were sooo mean!
Weather: Sunny and hot. PERFECT.
X. This isn’t an x but croissants are really overcooked here. We miss sainsburyyyys.
You should never, under any circumstances, accept a Vatican tour. Even if a sweet North Carolina girl says it’s a good idea, DON’T DO IT. Did we mention that already?
Zebra crossings (aka crosswalks) are really scary. Just close your
eyes and make a run for it. On second thought…maybe just make a run for it.
pace, amore and tiramisu,
hallet and emily
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