My Third Month as a New Yorker

I try to maintain a sunny disposition on this blog (and in real life), but I have to admit that my third month here was a bit harder than the first two. I still had my share of amazing adventures, but emotionally it wasn't a super great month for me. I started off the month back in Ohio, celebrating my birthday and gathering the remainder of my possessions (including Mozart!). While I was glad to head back into the city with significantly more cat than I had before, it was an incredibly stressful and busy weekend.

Once I got back, there was a mountain of unpacking to attend to, out-of-town guests to entertain and somewhere around the middle of the month I came down with an annoying cold. I was sleeping on an air mattress, going out every day to buy supplies (only what I could carry, of course), and suddenly feeling homesick for Ohio, which I was not prepared for.

BUT, I'm happy to report that things are improving, as I knew they would, and I'm starting to feel more settled. I've got a brand new bed and I set up the living room area so it is actually starting to feel like home. Putting together IKEA furniture is a total pain (so. many. pieces.), but with a tiny apartment and low-cost delivery, it's a necessary evil. I definitely had my share of YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME moments during assembly, but none of it has spontaneously collapsed (yet). There is a certain satisfaction to knowing that I built put together the bed I'm sleeping on with my own two hands, but if I never need to do it again I'll be ok. This weekend I also hung up all of my art, which has gone a long way to making me feel at peace. Blank walls make me nervous and sad, so maybe that was part of the problem all along.

Some other highlights of my third month as a New Yorker:

After one (very stressful) 8-hour car ride, Mozart officially became a city cat, I went to IKEA three times in one month (that's too many times), discovered the delicious delight that is the Chipotle taco, cut and colored my own hair for the first time with surprisingly not-bad results, saw the 9/11 tribute lights from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and finally decorated my cubicle at work.

It may have taken me three hours to put together, but I finally have a new bed — and Mozart approves! I visited Woodlawn Cemetery, and spotted early hints of fall. I stumbled on the Feast of San Gennaro festival in Little Italy, but already had dinner plans in Chinatown, where I tried my first dim sum (pork buns ftw) and had the most amazing almond cookie ice cream from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.

I got irrationally excited to see pumpkins and fall delights start appearing around the city, waited for sunset so I could see the recreation of Nighthawks in the base of the Flatiron building, participated in the last yoga-by-the-Hudson session for the season, had a life-changing burger at Umami Burger, relived my childhood at a celebration of Nickelodeon's Golden Age at the 92nd Street Y, and finally hung up all of my art.

I'm definitely glad that September is over, and that I seem to be getting back into a good groove again. Turns out that it IS incredibly hard and sad to sell most of your possessions, move 500 miles away, start a new job and live a new life. But, I am incredibly lucky, as always, to have amazingly supportive friends and family (and Mozart!), to help me through the rough patches.

I knew moving to New York wasn't a magical fix, and I never thought it came with a 100% happiness guarantee. I gave up a lot, and I miss a lot (of people, places and things) that can never be replaced, but I've never regretted making the move. Everyone has tough times no matter where they are, and now I have the luxury of walking in Central Park or browsing books at the Strand when I get in a mood. Plus, I have a ton of amazing fall festivities planned for October, and I'm pretty sure it will be physically impossible to be in a bad mood as fall really starts to hit the city.

Nickelodeon's Golden Age

If you ever wonder how I became the person I am today, look no further than every single show that was on Nickelodeon when I was a kid. I wasn't particularly athletic and I didn't have many neighborhood friends, so I spent nearly all my free time watching TV. That might sound sad or unhealthy, and maybe it was both, but it was also really, really awesome. I was a Nick kid, through and through, and my TV never strayed too far from good old channel 28 (why do I remember this?).

I'm certainly not alone in this experience, and I'm always delighted to meet someone around my age with whom I can reminisce for hours about the "golden age" of Nick. So it should be no surprise that I bought tickets immediately upon discovering that the 92nd Street Y was hosting a "Historical Celebration of Nickelodeon." Based on the new book, Slimed: An Oral History of the Golden Age of Nickelodeon, the event promised to bring together cast and crew from an impressive list of shows such as Double Dare, Clarissa Explains it All, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Nicktoons, etc. The tickets were only $15 (with a discount via TimeOut NY), which is only 50 cents more than it costs to see a movie here in the city. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect (the description was a bit vague) but I knew that no matter what, it would be worth it.

If I'm really being honest, few things in my life have had more of an impact on me than '90s Nickelodeon. I can still remember Stick Stickley's address (PO Box 963, New York City, New York State, 10108) and every word to the Log jingle, even on days when I can barely remember my own cell phone number.

I had never been to the 92nd Street Y before, but the theater was pretty small so there wasn't really a bad seat. Marc Summers was the host of the event, and he was wonderful — a little older, a little fatter, but surprisingly funny and his booming voice brought me right back to being a Double-Dare/What Would You Do/Unwrapped-watching fan again.

The night consisted of a series of panels, each one centering on a specific show or topic — top Nick executives from the era, You Can't Do That On Television, Double Dare, Clarissa Explains it All, Nicktoons (specifically Doug and Ren and Stimpy) and a catch-all at the end for various cast and crew members. I was a little young for You Can't Do That on Television ('79-'90), but the panel included two main cast members, Alasdair Gillis and Christine McGlade, and it was interesting learning about the show that basically started it all (including the famous slime).

The Double Dare panel was probably the most fun, with Marc Summers reuniting with cohost Robin Marella and the announcer, Harvey. It was mentioned that Melissa Joan Hart was supposed to make an appearance on the Clarissa panel, but couldn't make it, which was unfortunate. However, Jason Zimbler (Ferguson) and Sean O'Neal (Sam) were there, and it's worth noting that of all the former Nick kids, time has been the most kind to Sean (i.e., he is a total babe).

Before the Nicktoons panel, voice actor Fred Newman (Doug) performed the Doug theme song and it was absurdly awesome. I'm not above admitting that it actually gave me chills, not because I particularly even liked Doug, but he was so spot-on with the sound effects that it was just a really cool thing to see and hear live. They also did the Beets hit "Killer Tofu," which was great until the audience started clapping along (my number one concert pet peeve). I was surprised to see the super-talented voice actor, Billy West (Ren, Stimpy, Doug, Roger Klotz, Futurama, Looney Tunes, etc.) on the Nicktoons panel. It was a total treat to hear him switch effortlessly between Ren and Stimpy or Doug and Roger. Constance Shulman (aka Patti Mayonnaise, aka Yoga Jones from Orange is the New Black) also did a little Patti, but that's basically just her normal speaking voice.

The last panel included Phil Moore from Nick Arcade, the dad and big Pete from The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Ross Hull (Gary) from Are You Afraid of the Dark, Kelly Brown (Brad) from Hey Dude, and Trevor Eyster (Sponge) from Salute Your Shorts. It was a super fun and interesting night and I'm so glad I went. The whole program was a little more than three hours, but I wasn't bored for a second. I even got my book signed by Marc Summers, even if I did feel super nerdy doing it.

I'm about a third of the way through the book and I only started it a few days ago. It's a little bit hard to follow since there are so many people giving their recollections, but it's almost not even necessary to keep them all straight. I am totally jealous of the author, Mathew Klickstein, for having the idea to write about something I know most people my age still can't stop talking about. But without him the night at the Y would have never happened, so I guess I owe him my thanks (in addition to the $17.95 I paid for the book).

Nom Wah Tea Parlor + Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Last week my friends Jim and Katie and I decided to meet for dinner in Chinatown. Katie works downtown, and wanted to shy away from the crowds in Little Italy, and I jumped at the chance to suggest the Nom Wah Tea Parlor. I had been wanting to go for a while, both for the food and the décor. The Nom Wah has been on Doyers Street since 1920, and was the first dim sum parlor in New York City. I had never had dim sum before, and I figured if it had been around for nearly a hundred years that it had to be good.

In 2010 they completely remodeled their kitchen, but you wouldn't know it from the stuck-in-the-past dining room. The place has the feel of an old diner, and is definitely worth visiting just for the atmosphere. I love any place where you order by checking off boxes, which limits both human interaction and potential errors in communication. We ended up ordering way more food than any of us could eat, but it was mostly delicious. They tell you what each dish is as they bring it to you (everything is made-as-ordered), but I'm still not entirely sure what each thing was that we ate.

Two of the dishes were much too slimy for my tastes and the tofu skin roll was a bit bland (not to mention the off-putting nature of eating anything with the word "skin" in it). But the original egg roll was delicious and it's on my list of things to definitely order next time. The star of the meal, however, was indisputably the pork bun. They're number one on the menu for a reason, and my only regret is that they came out last — I was pretty much full by the time they arrived. It was the first pork bun I'd ever had, and it was fluffy, flavorful and incredibly filling. I would be satisfied just ordering two and calling it a meal, and at only $1.95 they're a total steal.

I will definitely be returning to Nom Wah, a little more seasoned in the ways of dim sum, but probably still no better at effectively using chopsticks. I eventually resorted to just spearing my food, like an embarrassing American, which I'm not proud of, but it got the job done.

Even though we were all super full after dinner, we couldn't resist checking out the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, which had also been on my to-do list for a while. It's right around the corner from Nom Wah and open late even on weekdays. They have all sorts of interesting flavors, all of which you can sample. I sampled the almond cookie and cherry pistachio, with the almond cookie being the clear winner. Almond is one of my very favorite tastes. The ice cream version was so, so good — seriously one of the best scoops I may have ever had. I sampled Katie's pumpkin pie (amazing) and Jim's red velvet so I mean it when I say that I don't think they even sell a mediocre scoop. They have so many flavors (red bean, black sesame, ginger, lychee, etc.) that I obviously need to return quite frequently, although it might be hard not to become married to the almond cookie.

The sweetness of the ice cream was a perfect complement to the saltiness of the dim sum (aka the gallons of soy sauce I poured on everything), so it was a pretty perfect night. I also noticed that most of the open-air fish markets (aka what I hate most about Chinatown) were closed at night, which made our evening that much more pleasant and redeemed the entire neighborhood from my last less-than-thrilling experience. Any place that produces a pork bun that delicious deserves a second chance, for sure.

Feast of San Gennaro

Last week after work, I was on my way to meet friends for dinner in Chinatown when I found myself right in the middle of the Feast of San Gennaro festival in Little Italy. I had some time to kill before we were due to meet, so I walked down Mulberry Street taking in the sights (and smells!).

The Feast, going on annually for 87 years, is basically a street festival with an (obviously) Italian theme. There were some decidedly non-Italian vendors — hot dogs, cheeseburgers, fried oreos — but also more pizza, italian sausage, cannoli, gelato and pasta than I've ever really seen in one place. There were carnival games, souvenir vendors, and even a few rides, mostly for kids. It's definitely a place you go to eat, eat and eat some more, which was driving me a little crazy right before dinner.

The food all looked (and smelled) incredibly amazing, and I eventually broke down and bought a tiny pistachio-cream-filled cannoli (it was definitely worth it). Little Italy is a charming part of town, even if all that remains of it fits on basically one street. That street — Mulberry — was really crowded, but the people-watching opportunities more than made up for any inconvenience, and compared to the 2/3 train I take every morning the streets felt downright deserted. All of the restaurants had seating outside, and most had at least a few empty tables.

I love the painted buildings, vintage signage and old-world feel of the whole area, and I've never met a pasta or pizza that I didn't like. Sunday was the last day for the festival, but I definitely want to go back and explore (and eat my way through) Little Italy soon.

The Woolworth Building

A few weeks ago I had the privilege (well, I paid for the privilege, actually) of touring the famed lobby of the Woolworth Building. Completed in 1913 — it's one of the oldest skyscrapers in the US — the amazingly decadent lobby has only been accessible to those who actually worked within the building since World War II. But 100 years after its completion, the lobby is once again open to the public via small group tours.

We took what was supposed to be a 15-minute tour, and paid $10 per person, but it ended up being more than 30 minutes, total. It doesn't look like there's a 15-minute option anymore, but it was definitely worth the price of admission (I can't speak for the longer, more expensive options). The tour was suggested to me by my two friends who just happen to be classically trained architects. The three of us met for the tour after work, and while I may not have the degree to back up my commentary, I can say that the lobby is spectacular.

The mosaic ceilings are breathtaking, and almost too much to comprehend at once. No detail or expense was spared — everything from the elevator doors to the mailboxes is dripping in ornamentation.

I loved the personal details too, like the carvings of Mr. Woolworth counting his nickels and dimes, or the one of architect Cass Gilbert holding a miniature replica of the building. The level of detail is really unbelievable, with a hidden carving or embellishment every where you look. I loved all of the carved faces and the fact that each one was designed to be unique from one another just sort of boggles my mind. You just don't find that level of attention or appreciation of superfluous decoration in buildings (or cars, products, etc.) today.

At one point our tour guide said that even if you wanted to build an extravagant lobby alá the Woolworth Building today, you couldn't. There aren't enough materials (such as marble) left in existence for project of similar size and scope. I love building tours, and they always make me wish even more for the ability to turn back time, if only for a moment. I would love to be able to see the Woolworth lobby as it was in its heyday, as a commercial hub and tourist destination. There's even an abandoned pool in the basement that has just the right amount of history and mystery to it to make me wish it was part of the tour.

The tours were recently extended for who knows how long, so sign up soon if you're interested. Or, if you happen to be absurdly wealthy, in the market for a new home in 2015 and are willing to pay 3,000 per square foot, then you can just tour the lobby every day on your way home.

Mozart in Manhattan

As you might know if you follow me on Instagram, or know me in real life, I recently brought my cat, Mozart, back to the city with me. She had spent her entire life in Ohio (and all of that time minus four months, as my cat), but I missed her too much to ever leave her for good.

The longest car ride she had ever had was about ten minutes to the vet as a kitten, and in that short amount of time she managed to throw up all over herself. This was really the only indicator I had as to how she would do on the 8-hr car ride from OH > NY, so you can imagine that I was a bit nervous.

My dad packed up his truck with all of my belongings, leaving Mozart for last. We had her in a carrier right behind the seats, but that lasted about thirty seconds. She immediately began screaming, so I let her roam freely. She didn't have very far to go, and for the most part (thank god) the screaming stopped. I could tell she was stressed, but I was very vigilant about trying to make her feel safe and calm. I estimate that I probably petted her more in that car ride than I have this entire year. She's far from aloof, but she's also not what you'd call a lap cat. She generally does her own thing and will demand attention as needed, but I mostly held her the entire ride.

She spent a good deal of time draped over my feet, which was kind of adorable. She even sat on my lap as I shared in some of the driving, which I'm sure is not exactly safe but she seemed to enjoy it. Thankfully, she never once tried to pull a Toonces and drive us over a cliff, and we were able to exit and enter the car without her trying to make a break for it. She never went back into the carrier until it was time to bring her up into her new home, and she hasn't given it a second thought since. She also didn't use the bathroom at all during the trip, which was sort of amazing. I wasn't really sure how to handle that so I guess I just hoped it would work itself out, and thankfully it did.

Once we got to our new home, there was another adjustment period but she came through that like a champ as well. She was generally terrified for the first few days, mostly of the noises (and the pigeons), but eventually she was brave enough to explore. She got really low to the ground and slinked (slunk?) around, investigating everything.

I know that she really started to get back to her old self when, after a few days, she started her nightly ritual of screaming in my face and dropping toy after toy by my bed. I had almost forgotten about that charming aspect of Mozart ownership, but she made sure I remembered. Our hallway is long enough for her to play fetch, and the litter box is residing in the walk-in closet (yes, the walk-in closet— it even has a window!) so that worked out pretty well.

She looooves being held.

I felt really bad taking her away from the only home she ever knew, but every time she cuddles with me, or we say our morning greetings, I know I've made the right decision. I think Mozart and Manhattan are going to be very happy together — just as long as I don't try to hold her too often.

Woodlawn Cemetery

Woodlawn has been on my list of places to visit for a long time, and the weather on Sunday was perfect for a cemetery stroll. I know some people are creeped out by the idea of cemeteries, but I've always loved them. They're sad,  yes, but also peaceful, beautiful and in a way, hopeful. I think it's nice that in reading the names of people long gone I'm helping in some small way to preserve their memories.

Woodlawn is one of the largest cemeteries in New York City, and a designated landmark. I only ended up walking around about half of the cemetery — the office is closed on Sunday and I didn't have a map — but what I saw was absolutely beautiful.

The grounds are filled with huge mausoleums, intricate tombstones and beautiful signage. I love the variety of markers — obelisks, poems, angels, portraits, etc. I would love to go back to Woodlawn and explore further. There are quite a few famous gravesites that I'd like to see, and will definitely be picking up a map next time I go. I think I'll try to go again when the leaves really start changing since there's nothing that says fall to me quite like a good cemetery stroll.

There were already quite a few hints of fall if you looked hard enough, and I can only imagine how amazing the whole place will look in a few weeks. Maybe I'll even be brave enough one day to do one of the nighttime tours of the cemetery?

Murray's Cheese Bar

The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy for me: finally moving all of my possessions to New York, helping Mozart adjust to big city life, working full time while trying to unpack and scheduling for an entire apartment of furniture to be delivered (praise the furniture gods for IKEA). Somewhere in all that, I managed to turn 28 and fit in no less than six birthday celebrations (!). The first of which took place in my beloved new home, at Murray's Cheese Bar in the West Village. I hadn't intended on even having a New York birthday gathering, since I was going to be in Ohio for the actual day. My friend Trent, however, suggested we do something and I'm never one to turn down a chance to eat food of any kind. He e-mailed me potential spots, all great suggestions, but the clear front-runner was Murray's. I had wanted to go there for a while — do you blame me, when they're tagline is "An Homage to Fromage?" They take reservations too, which is nice, since this is New York and at anytime there are millions of people trying to do the exact same thing that you want to do.

I had been to Murray's Cheese shop, on Bleecker street for more than seven decades, and knew that we were in good hands. I had actually tried to cut dairy from my diet recently but failed miserably — cheese is basically my favorite food to eat alone or add to most anything. The cheese bar does have a bar, but it's also a full restaurant, with appetizers, entrées, a long wine list and, of course, cheese.

We decided on the Cheesemonger's Choice plate of eight for the table. You can "art direct" your plate as much or as little as you want — for example, we said that we wanted two meats, six cheeses and nothing from the bleu cheese category, but left the rest up to the "Cheesemonger" to decide. We were not disappointed, and everything we ended up with was incredible. Aside from being delicious, the presentation was beautiful. Every cheese came paired with a sweet or savory side (honey, raisins, kimchee, cherries) and I can't possibly remember every one. I do remember that the two meats were prosciutto and boar (!) which were both great.

We also ordered queso fundido to share, and I'm not even sure what was in it (cheese for sure, jalepenos, some sort of meat, beans maybe?) but it was a fancy, amazing version of nachos that was devoured in no time.

The entire place is small, but incredibly cute. I loved the typography, menu design and farmhouse-industrial feel, and I can't wait to go back. Their entrées all looked great — probably because most everything they have prominently features cheese — and I'd love to try more (all?) of the cheese combinations. I was surprised at how little the bill was ($20/person for the platter, fundido and a bottle of wine), which is always a good way to end a great meal.

Murray's is also right next to Cones, home of my favorite sweet corn ice cream, and John's, my favorite New York pizza place. There are a few more restaurants that I'd love to try on that stretch of Bleecker Street, and considering the company they keep I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

My Second Month as a New Yorker

The longest continual time I've lived in New York before now is two months, in January/February of this year, after which I moved back to Ohio. Well, I've hit the two month mark again, and this time I find myself back in Ohio BUT IT'S TOTALLY TEMPORARY, don't freak out (I say, mostly to myself). I'm in Ohio right now celebrating my birthday with family, gathering the rest of my belongings, packing Mozart into some sort of carrying apparatus and hitting the return road to NY today with the generous help of my dad. It will always be sad (sort of) to leave Ohio, but by now it should be obvious to anyone that even vaguely knows me that I am having the time of my life as a New Yorker.

As predicted, my second month slowed down a bit, due in the most part to starting my full-time job, but I still managed to cram in more than seems possible. In addition to marking the beginning of my life as a New York working girl (not that kind), August will always be known as the month I signed the lease on my first-ever apartment. I spent last weekend cleaning it from top to bottom, so it's all sparkling and ready for us to move into when we get back to the city tonight. But in the meantime, I'd like to recap my second month as a New Yorker:

I became obsessed with everything sweet corn-flavored (ice cream, custard, cookies), watched a lot of breathtaking sunsets, attended my first-ever rooftop party, said goodbye to the unemployed life with a trip to Coney Island, re-joined the 9-5 working life and got approved for my very own apartment!

I settled into my commute to this amazing, landmarked building on Fifth Avenue everyday, took the worst photo in the history of corporate ID photos, frolicked in the car-free Summer Streets, had sensory overload in the Voice Tunnel, toured some of my favorite Upper West Side landmarks and bought two teeny-tiny tarts at the farmers market.

Had a Red Hook adventure day with my friend Alisha, including a visit to Fairway Market, silly posing and a Key Lime Swingle that changed our lives. I ate lunch most every day in beautiful Bryant Park, except when it rained and I had to move into that dump, Grand Central Terminal.

I became obsessed with yoga, saw Pitch Perfect on the pier and E.T. in Bryant Park, had a boozy picnic in Central Park, found the most delicious wine bar, snapped photos at the always-enchanting Conservatory Garden and fell into a relaxing Sunday routine.

I got the keys to my new place and celebrated with Gilmore Girls and pizza, found the most delicious margaritas living across the street, creeped out HR by ordering books about bodies and the funeral industry, enjoyed the last of Summer Fridays, caught up with an old friend over tea and scones and walked the Queensboro Bridge.

Once again, it's exhausting to review everything that I've managed to cram into just one month. Hopefully when I get old and cranky about city life I can look back on these recaps and realize just how much fun there is to be had if you just know where to look. I'll probably also wonder how I ate so many pies, scones and scoops of ice cream without gaining a thousand pounds. Maybe there are just some things in this world that won't ever be explained.

The Happiest of Birthdays

Detail from a mural at 5 Pointz

I'm so glad that I made it to 28. Not that I'm famous enough to have joined the "27 Club," but 27 was a rough year for me. I certainly ended the first year of my late-twenties on a high note, however, one I hope to keep going well into this next year of my life.

28 will be the first year of my life lived entirely (I hope) in New York. I will officially move into my first apartment three days after my birthday — a fresh start in so many ways. I've never been freaked out or saddened by birthdays, and luckily I've always had wonderful friends and family to make sure I feel special on or around the big day.

I am lucky in so many ways.

I'm even thankful for things that have happened to me that others would definitely not classify as "lucky" — they have made me who I am, and I'm kind of fond of me lately. I've dreamed of living in New York for as long as I can remember, and now I'm actually doing it. It's strange to be living the very life I have wanted for so long. Not everyone gets to do that in their lifetimes and I am thankful for every single day that I have or have had in this one.

I've done a few lists on birthday's past, and it was always fun, so this year I thought it would be nice to list the things I'm particularly thankful for, in no discerning order — 28 of them, but of course:

1. New York City - Because really, if there's a better place to live than I haven't been there yet.
2. My cat, Mozart - We're going to be reunited tomorrow and Monday she'll be riding back with me to the city to become a city girl just like her mom.
3. Cheese - Everything is better with cheese.
4. My family - They're continually outdoing themselves in generosity, selflessness and unconditional love.
5. My friends - They're a crazy group of weirdos and I love them more and more each day.
6. Books - I'm reading more now than I have in a long time and it's wonderful.
7. Parks - Central Park, Riverside Park, Gantry Plaza State Park, I love them all.
8. Yoga - I can't believe I waited so long to try it out, but now I'm obsessed.
9. My legs - They take me so many amazing places.
10. The subway - It takes me all the places my legs can't, or are too lazy to take me.
11. The frozen margarita - You know what I'm talking about.
12. Fall - I might lose my mind with delight in these upcoming months.
13. Jackets - I look so much better in layers.
14. Peanut Butter Panda Puffs - Try them and you'll understand.
15. My new job - I am surrounded by books and the friendliest, most helpful coworkers.
16. Eating lunch in Bryant Park - It's a dream.
17. Fans - The noise, the breeze, I couldn't live without one.
18. Bobby pins - A short-haired girl's best friend in the summer heat.
19. Fruit - Vegetables can suck it, fruit is my lifeline.
20. Summer nights - The air, the smell, the warmth.
21. Adventures! - I hope I never stop having them.
22. Taking photos - Maybe one day I'll get a real camera, but it's still fun to document my adventures.
23. Sunsets - I've never appreciated a sunset like a New York City sunset. They actually make me tear up.
24. My iPhone 5 - What a lame thing to put on this list, but let's be honest: it's a pretty remarkable thing.
25. Gluten-free options - Especially ones that don't taste awful.
26. Lemon or Sweet Corn-flavored anything - Give it all to me.
27. My new apartment - I can't wait to make it a home.
28. My life - Special thanks to my parents for giving it to me in the first place — I hope I'm doing it right!

After tomorrow, I'll have had four different birthday celebrations, in four different cities and two different states, with four very different groups of people. If 28 is half as good as the cheese plate we shared at Murray's Cheese Bar on Thursday, than I'm a very lucky girl, indeed.

Sweet Corn EVERYTHING

I walked 110+ blocks for this scoop, from Cones A few years ago I became embarrassingly obsessed with cornbread. I think it started when I made chili and bought a box of Jiffy corn muffin mix to go along with it. I bought Jiffy because it's like, 49 cents a box, even though I was traumatized as a kid when I opened a blueberry muffin mix to find it filled with mealworms. They haven't changed the box design in like, fifty years, so I still think about that bug-infested nightmare every time I see the packaging. But I guess I'm cheaper than I am afraid of bugs, so I used the corn muffin mix to make cornbread.

It was very good, and a great compliment to the chili so I started buying it more frequently. Gradually I started adding sugar to the mix (this is America) and at the height of my addiction I was not only adding a few tablespoons into the batter, but I also sprinkled it on top so it developed a delightful, sugary crust. Sometimes on nights when I was home by myself, cornbread was the only thing I ate for dinner. I eventually broke out of my terrible cornbread habit by going (mostly) gluten-free, but luckily I've found a few other sweet corn treats to take its place.

[source]

In the beginning of this year, I discovered the heaven that is the corn cookie at Momofuku Milk Bar. They're famous for their compost cookie, but it's actually my least favorite from their line-up. My favorite is definitely the corn, and it's obvious to me why: it tastes like an even better version of my sugary cornbread. I feel like I had been basically trying to make this exact cornbread cookie without even knowing it, all along. It's chewy and soft and a little undone which is exactly how a cookie should be. Yes, they are also not gluten-free, but I occasionally allow myself one as a special treat. In a showing of extreme willpower, I also no longer buy them in threes — even though they're cheaper that way.

I'm not exactly sure when I discovered that sweet corn ice cream was an actual thing, although I know I immediately typed it into Yelp to get to some as soon as possible. The first place I tried was Sundaes & Cones in the East Village. I went there specifically one night to try the sweet corn, but after tasting a sample I was unimpressed. It didn't have much flavor, and wasn't what I was expecting, so I ended up with a scoop of mint chocolate chip.

The next place I tried was just called Cones (apparently there's not much creativity in the ice cream shop world), in the West Village. They had rave reviews on Yelp, so I was hoping I wouldn't strike out again. At Cones they ask you if you'd like a sprinkle of cinnamon on top of your sweet corn ice cream, and I said sure I do. I definitely recommend the cinnamon even if it might sound weird, but it was a great pairing. The ice cream itself was exactly what I had wanted it to be — great, distinctive flavor and even tiny bits of real corn. I actually came back to Cones the next day to get the almond ice cream which was also amazing, so I think anything you order there will not disappoint.

Last Sunday I went to Shake Shack with the intent of ordering a burger (duh) and a lemonade, but scrapped the drink when I saw that their special custard flavor-of-the-day was blueberry sweet corn (!). It's hard to overshadow the deliciousness that is the Shack burger, but the custard came close. The blueberry was an inspired addition, and because it was a custard it was creamier than the scoop from Cones. It's dangerous now that I know that it exists, especially because I can get it from the 'B' or 'C' lines without having to wait forever.

I would also love to try Jeni's sweet corn and black raspberries— it would figure that I would discover something exciting in Ohio a few weeks after I move away for good. I might have to break down and order a pint for myself, although at $12 + shipping I'm already longing for those cheap boxes of Jiffy mix.

The Ed Koch Queensboro 59th Street Bridge

After yoga in the park on Saturday, I decided to get back to Manhattan from Queens by walking the Queensboro— or if you're reading this post-2010, the Ed Koch, or if you're feeling groovy, the 59th Street — bridge. It's the fourth bridge I've walked, and the first that hasn't spanned from Manhattan to Brooklyn.

I'd admired it from Roosevelt Island, but I'd never heard much about walking over it. It's certainly not as touristy (or as beautiful) a walk as the Brooklyn, and it doesn't deposit you in a trendy neighborhood like the Manhattan or the Williamsburg, but I loved the walk. It's getting hard to rank the bridges at this point since they have all been so different, but I think I would put it above the Manhattan and tied with the Williamsburg. I've said before that the Brooklyn Bridge will always be my favorite, and I don't see it losing that title anytime soon.

The Queensboro is the longest of the four bridges, with a lengthy (and slightly inclined) approach from Queens before you're even on the actual bridge. I took my time (and approximately six million photos) and there is a lot to see so it's definitely worth it. It's a divided path, Manhattan -> Queens on one side of the line, Queens -> Manhattan on the other. Bikers and pedestrians share the same lane, which I thought would be treacherous but aside from one person yelling at me VERY loudly to signal they were approaching to my LEEEFFFT, it was surprisingly civil.

The side is lined with high fencing, so you never have a clear view, but it feels safer than the Manhattan. The walkway is right next to the car lanes and below and to the side of the subway track. I actually never knew that trains went over the Queensboro until I started taking the N train to yoga on the weekends.

One of the most special parts about the walk is Roosevelt Island. The bridge spans over the island (a car elevator used to deposit you onto RI if you wanted) and offers amazing views of the adorable tram in action. I waited like a bouncy little kid for the perfect tram photo, but if you miss it don't worry — they run pretty frequently along a good portion of the bridge walk.

There are a few locks scattered on the fence, which I haven't seen on other bridges, carved with initials and messages. I wish I would have thought to start doing this to commemorate my bridge walks, although I think it's mainly a love thing. But I really love walking over bridges and New York City, so that counts right? Mallory's big purple lock echoed my thoughts perfectly, but it was the tiny one with the painted initials "R + H" that really got me. Isn't it just the cutest thing?

The approach into Manhattan is pretty spectacular, and as the name implies you're left off right onto 59th street. I definitely recommend walking the bridge from Queens to Manhattan (instead of the other way around) since you're on the fence side, with better views and photo-taking opportunities. I think next I'm going to walk the cute red Roosevelt Island bridge, which is the only way to get to the island on foot (you enter from Queens) or maybe the George Washington bridge. Unfortunately I can't tackle the Verrazano-Narrows anytime soon because it was never built with a pedestrian walkway. Maybe they thought no one would be crazy enough to want to walk one of the world's longest suspension bridges. Although now that I've read that heavy use and deterioration have lead to it being called "New York City's Most Dangerous Bridge," maybe it's a good thing I don't run marathons or take bike tours.

I guess I'm actually running out of bridges to walk, which is kind of a weird problem to have. I like the idea of returning to each one to leave a lock, or maybe I'll try walking each one at night. The Brooklyn is breathtaking all lit up, but is under construction until 2014 which is kind of a bummer. Does anyone know where I can get a few locks engraved with "AC + NY" ? 

I'm asking for a friend.

Alice's Tea Cup

On Friday I had arranged to meet my good friend Grace, who recently moved back to the city, for lunch (I get off at 1pm on Fridays — for one more week). We met in college but hadn't see each other for about seven or so years (!) so we had a lot of catching up to do. Grace suggested that we meet at Alice's Tea Cup on West 73rd. I had never been there but I'd walked by many times and it was on my list of places to try.

I could describe it as an amazing place to have a birthday party if you're a 7-year-old girl, but that is just part of it. Yes, they offer you fairy dust and sell costumes and wings, but when we went it was filled mostly with adults. It's bigger than I expected, with a lot of tables (you can also order to go), each set with teacups and china in a variety of patterns. As the name suggests, it is Alice in Wonderland themed, and the main attraction is the tea. Well, that's what they probably want you to think but I think we can all agree that what I was mainly excited for was their pastry selection.

They have real food too, but we decided on the two-scone-and-pot-of-tea deal, with two extra scones because who can decide on just one? They have a ton of rotating flavors, all of which sounded delicious, but I chose the blueberry lemon and banana almond (which just happened to be vegan). I have always had this idea in my head of scones being these dry, sad, barely edible rock pastry impostors, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

These scones were brought to us warm, with a side of cream and jam. They were both so incredibly, mind-blowingly delicious that they forever changed my opinion on the scone as a viable pastry option. They were so good, in fact, that I almost forgot we had tea — almond tea — which was also very good. The combination was perfect, although their list of teas is so long that I'll probably have to try a different one next time just because I can.

We didn't get too far into their menu before making our decisions, but everyone around us had adorable and tasty-looking racks filled with sandwiches, cookies and even more scones. I can totally understand why Alice's is such a popular destination, and now I want to bring everyone I know. Even if the idea of having a proper tea sounds boring and girly to you, I urge you to take a leap of faith and try Alice's.

As the weather gets colder I'll probably find myself there more and more — Grace and I said that we should just start at the top of the tea list and work our way to the end. That might take us a while, but I think I'm up for the challenge.

Free: Yoga

So I guess I'm a yoga person now? I've been wanting to try yoga basically my whole life (is that how long it's been, like, a thing?) but I didn't take my first official class until last Wednesday. I am the least flexible, coordinated and athletic person you will ever meet, so I was understandably hesitant. But it's also because of those things that I always felt that yoga might actually be the perfect thing for me, and even after only three classes I can say that I think it is.

Starting something like yoga can be intimidating (and expensive, and confusing etc.) —this post is actually really good at explaining why, and then encouraging you to just do it even if you're scared. I'm so glad I finally just went for it, and now of course I'm wondering what exactly took me so long. But better late than never, right? Yoga is the exact combination of things I need in my life right now: it's relaxing, challenging but not impossible and free! That last one is the biggest reason I tried it, actually, because I wasn't really ready to hand over a bunch of money to a gym or studio without knowing if I even liked yoga first. 

Luckily, it's summer in New York and I've already found two great parks offering yoga for free: every Wednesday in Riverside Park South from 6:30 - 7:30pm, and every Saturday (9:30 - 10:30am + 11am - noon) and Sunday (10 - 11am) in Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens. Both sessions run until the end of September, and began in May. I'm sad I am just now getting into it, but grateful that I have more than a month of classes to go.

I've gone to both, and enjoyed them equally. They're both in wonderful parks, right by the water, with excellent views and a great breeze. Both teachers have been really helpful and kind, and while the routines were different (I liked the variety), they seemed to be the same level of intensity.

I feel so amazing after doing yoga, which is a huge change from the tight muscles, hunchback, and general feeling of awfulness that I've grown accustomed to. Sitting at a computer all day wreaks havoc on my neck and back, but stretching and increasing my flexibility will definitely help. If you've been on the fence, I urge you to just go! Do yoga! Don't worry about how you look, or about not being able to do some of the poses — no one is judging you and it's totally ok to go at your own pace. I'm wobbly and probably won't be able to touch my toes for a very long time (if ever) but I haven't felt embarrassed for one second.

Also don't worry about going alone — my first time I went with my friend Alisha and while it was nice to have company, you don't talk or interact during the session so it's perfectly cool to go alone. I'm already thinking about finding a studio for the winter, but I'll definitely be taking advantage of the free sessions as long as I can. I think I'm already spoiled by taking classes in such beautiful settings — no indoor space could possibly compare. I'm also already thinking of buying a new mat because the only one Target had left that wasn't insanely expensive was bright fuschia and I kind of hate it. Anyone know where I can get a gray (Mozart-colored!) one? Anyone in the market for a thrice-used pink one? I  know a guy.

Floor Pizza

So, I mentioned that I had signed a lease on an amazing apartment a few weeks ago, and last night I picked up the keys! I was a little nervous that it had somehow all been a scam (hey thanks for the thousands of dollars, you naive midwesterner) or that the apartment would be different than I remembered it. Luckily, neither of those nightmares came true, and I'm happy to report that it is just as I remember, if not better.

First, I took a minute to check all of the fixtures, drawers and appliances to make sure nothing major was broken (it wasn't). I flushed the toilet, opened the windows, looked in crevices, turned on the burners — everything checked out, thankfully. I was terrified that I would find thousands of cockroaches or a rat in the toilet, but aside from some dust it was surprisingly clean. Then, I spent a few minutes just walking around, picturing where all the stuff is going to go and imagining living there for the next year.

I decided that the occasion called for a bit of a celebration, so I headed across the street to Mama's Pizzeria and ordered an individual pizza to go. I had Mama's a few time when I was here in the winter, and I had been pleasantly surprised to find out that it was literally across the street from the apartment. While I was waiting for my pizza, I actually heard the employees talking about how Johnny Depp had just eaten there LAST Sunday. Like, the Johnny Depp. Right across the street from my apartment. There are no more words.

I took my pizza and my Snapple back to my new Johnny-Depp-adjacent apartment, and sat on the floor watching Gilmore Girls on my laptop. I won't have furniture until after Labor Day (and I'll be staying in my sublet until then), but it's already starting to feel like home. It's incredible to finally have a place to call my own, especially since I've spent the first half of this year bouncing from place to place. I've moved five times to four different places since January. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally start to feel settled again after a rough few months.

I decided to walk back to my sublet, because it was a beautiful night and also because there is no great way to get from one to the other. I walked around the neighborhood for a bit, familiarizing myself and making a mental note of restaurants to try and happy hour times.

I couldn't resist stopping at Pinkberry on Broadway and 112th  — finding an apartment was stressful, hard, and confusing — I wasn't ready to stop celebrating. Once I get settled (and actually have some furniture), I plan on throwing a more proper house-warming, which I'm looking forward to immensely. I love putting together parties and cooking for friends. I'm so happy to have a space for that once again, even if it's a tiny one.

But there was also something wonderful about being there alone, just me, my pizza and my new keys — I think we're all going to be very happy together.

The Perfect Weekend

Now that I will be in New York for the foreseeable future, I've written about how I've been trying to relax, and settle into a routine. Slowly I'm getting more comfortable not having a huge, exhausting adventure every single day that I'm free. This weekend was filled with the perfect mix of activities that were relaxing but also incredibly fun and exciting in their own way.

Saturday morning I made the trek back to Queens for free yoga in Socrates Sculpture Park. I tried yoga for the first time last Wednesday and was immediately hooked. Every Saturday until the end of September there are two free sessions in the park. I opted for the later one (11am - noon) and it was wonderful. The teacher was helpful, the poses were challenging but not impossible and it was an incredibly beautiful morning. There weren't a ton of people so it felt intimate and the breeze off the river was perfect.

After yoga, I headed back to Manhattan to meet some friends for a picnic in Sheep's Meadow in Central Park. Everyone brought snacks (and, um, beverages) and when the iPod speaker arrived it really became a party. It was impromptu, casual and totally fun. There's really not many better ways to spend a summer afternoon than eating a variety of snacks while lounging with your friends in a sunny meadow in Central Park (or at least I haven't done them yet).

When we finally decided to pack it up, my friend Alisha and I weren't quite ready to call it a night, so we headed uptown to a wine bar that we had been wanting to try for a while. We both live around the west side of Harlem, and had tried to meet up at Vinatería once before only to discover that they are closed on Mondays.

They were pretty busy Saturday night, but we got seats at the bar. We both ordered a glass of wine, and then almost immediately decided that we had to try out the cheese/prosciutto plate as well. The entire place was just as awesome as their cheese plate presentation, with a metal bar, custom tile floor and a ton of industrial, vintage touches. We decided to make it a regular date, and made a note to check out some of the other new and interesting-looking places that have opened in the area.

On Sunday I slept in, and then took a leisurely stroll through Central Park. I'm only a few blocks from the always-stunning Conservatory Garden so I took my time wandering around, trying to take as many "insect-in-flower" photos as I could. The garden is breathtaking in the spring, but I've been in most other seasons (I'm coming at ya, fall) and it never disappoints. It's small, but carefully curated and feels like a secret haven, with a quieter, more reflective vibe than the surrounding park.

I walked down past the Reservoir, and crossed over to the west side, ending up at my new favorite brunch place: Cafe Eighty Two. They have an entire gluten-free menu, but I've gotten the GF waffle (with bacon) three times now because it's so delicious.

I definitely want to make it my usual place, and I can't wait until they know me and my order as soon as I walk in. The place is filled with elderly, UWS residents who are cranky and demanding and I love every one of them. I can only hope to be doing exactly what I'm doing now, when I'm 80-years-old, although I'm sure I'll have on a lot more sweaters.

Right across Broadway is a Barnes & Noble, so I went there after brunch to catch up on my trashy tabloids. After spending a few hours with my good friends US Weekly, People and Entertainment Weekly (Fall Movie Preview!) Alisha met me there and we headed downtown to the Strand. She needed to pick up a gift, and I needed to browse the dollar racks because it had been a whole week or so since I'd been (the horror!). I have a habit of buying and hoarding used books, but since I've moved to the city I've actually been reading everything I buy. Reading on the subway means that I go through about a book a week, which has been really wonderful. I plan on getting my library card soon, but I'll always have a soft spot for the Strand.

When I was done browsing, I headed back uptown, stopping at Trader Joe's to buy my groceries for the week. I'm getting pretty good at only buying what can fit in two bags, and I think I've finally perfected my post-shopping subway turnstile entry technique (slide the bags through first). I'm so glad that I'll still be close to TJ's when I move into the new place (this week!). Everything I ever get from there is so delicious, and it's crazy cheap when compared to other places in the city.

When I got home, I cooked up a huge batch of my new favorite pasta dish (GF pasta, vodka sauce, mushrooms, zucchini, hot pepper flakes, feta, parmesan) and I have at least two more meals-full in leftovers for this week. I always want to eat everything I buy on grocery day at once, but I'm trying to pace myself. Add in a few episodes of Gilmore Girls, an early bedtime and ladies and gentlemen, I give you: the very perfect weekend. I hope to repeat this itinerary  — with minor variations — on many more weekends to come and it feels great to finally be settling into my new life.

And what a lovely life it's turning out to be.

Red Hook: Part Two

I went to Red Hook, Brooklyn

for the first time this past February

, when I took the ferry to IKEA, ate a  dollar cinnamon roll, walked over to Baked for brownies (

I'm fat

) and that was pretty much it. The area was still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, and a lot of the businesses were closed. Since I've

recently found an apartment

and very much need to fill it with stuff, I decided to go to IKEA last weekend to begin to get a feel for what was available.

My friend Alisha agreed to go along, and the night before we went I texted her our itinerary because

I'm a crazy person

: Ferry > Fairway Market > Brunch > Waterfront Museum > Steve's Key Lime Pies > IKEA. Luckily she wasn't intimidated and we ended up accomplishing most of what was on

my

our list.

We took the IKEA ferry, which has added a stop at Fairway Market/Van Brunt Street if you're more into exploring Red Hook than shopping for Swedish furniture. The stop was a pleasant surprise and much more convenient for our itinerary.

Fairway Market was one of the businesses that was closed for months, so it was my first time seeing it up close. The pre-Civil War building is amazing, but inside it's, well, a grocery store. They had some good free samples, but you'd never really know you were in such a beautiful building from the inside.

From there we made our way down Van Brunt Street, the main drag in Red Hook. There are a ton of cute brunch places, bars, galleries and shops, including Baked where I ate "Oprah's favorite brownies" last time I was there. We had decided to eat brunch at Home/Made, which was really, really good. We both had scrambles and the portions were huge, even if the prices were a bit higher than the menu currently shows on their site. Definitely sit in the garden if there's seating available. If there's not, at least you can sip a complimentary cup of coffee while you wait (flashbacks to Tom's Restaurant).

After brunch we walked along the waterfront, through the more industrial areas, ending up at Louis Valentino Pier. The pier has great views of the Statue of Liberty, fishing and free kayaking. As we were walking around the park, we ran right into Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies, without even trying. I had read nothing but rave reviews, and like Fairway, the shop had been closed for months for repairs. They eventually moved to a new location, and the shop feels like you've stepped right into Key West (or what I imagine Key West is like).

I'm pretty sure we were waited on by Steve himself, who was drinking a beer at 1pm which is exactly what any owner of a Key Lime Pie shop should be doing at 1 in the afternoon. We both got a Swingle, which is a Key Lime Pie tart on a stick, dipped in chocolate. It was amazing. We ate it under a shady tree with a view of the Statue of Liberty and talked about how lucky we felt to be New Yorkers.

We eventually made it to IKEA, but managed to browse the entire store without buying a single thing. I'm glad to have a better idea of what they have, and I've started a list of potential purchases. I'm trying to do this whole "experiences over possessions" way of life thing, but I'm going to need a few essentials —like a bed— and IKEA is a great place for the tiny things that are necessary for tiny apartments.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to tour the Waterfront Barge Museum because it's only open on Saturdays. I had actually thought it was Saturday and felt incredibly stupid when Alisha pointed out that it was actually Sunday. Now we have a reason to go back to Red Hook, for the museum, as well as wine tasting at the Red Hook Winery — we were so full from brunch + Swingles that we couldn't even look at wine but the place was awesome and we vowed to go back.

Red Hook is a great neighborhood to spend a day (or two) exploring. It's filled with great old warehouses, beautiful storefronts and vintage, nautical details everywhere you look. I'm glad it appears to be finally recovering from Sandy, and seems to even be thriving. With such delicious brunches, IKEA AND my new best friend the Swingle there are more than enough reasons for me to keep coming back.

Summer Streets

On Saturday I, along with my friends Katie and Jim, got up early to take advantage of this year's Summer Streets events. On three consecutive Saturdays in August, "nearly seven miles of New York City's streets are open for everyone to play, run, walk and bike." We did a little playing, and a lot of walking, but our main destination was the Park Avenue Voice Tunnel.

Open to pedestrians for the first time in history, the Park Avenue Tunnel is currently home to an "interactive light and sound installation," known as the Voice Tunnel. I had heard that the lines had been pretty long the previous Saturday, so we met there at 9am. The line was long but moved incredibly fast, even with everyone being required to sign a waiver before entering the tunnel (it's pretty much seizure-city in there so if that's even a possibility for you I would sit this one out).

It's kind of hard to explain what the Voice Tunnel is about and how it works, but if you're interested you can read the official explanation here. I think I was expecting a more randomly influenced pattern of lights, but they came on and off in consistent intervals. It was neat to be able to walk in a tunnel that has never been open to pedestrians before, which is the appeal of Summer Streets in general. It was a pretty long walk through, and by the end of it I was very much in sensory overload. With the hundreds of voices blending together and the flashing, moving lights, I was definitely glad to reach the other end.

It's hard to complain about something that is free, but it's definitely not worth the Rain Room comparisons, in my opinion. I do recommend getting there early if you'd like to get in, especially on the last day. Summer Streets goes from 7am -1pm, but they say to arrive by 11am if you'd like to guarantee entrance into the tunnel. It's been my experience that New Yorkers are late risers in general, so the earlier you can get somewhere the more likely you are to get the proverbial worm.

When we emerged from the tunnel I was pleasantly surprised to find us right under Grand Central Terminal. Because of the car-free streets we were able to walk right up to and around it, then down through the Helmsely Building and back onto Park Avenue. We took Park all the way up to Central Park, and it was kind of awesome to have the entire street as your sidewalk.

There are a ton of events going on along the car-free routes, but we mostly just enjoyed the walk. There's one more Summer Streets Saturday left and I might go back to see what else is going on — I saw a bunch of people eating chocolate-covered bananas, so that definitely warrants further investigation. I love events like this in the city that make you look at places you might pass by every day in a whole different light, and it doesn't hurt when they're totally free.