I'm Awake! And... Blogging!!!

 It is no secret that I am smitten with NYC. But what no one knows is the few unanswered questions I have in my noodle each day, frolicking, running, or day dreaming my way through the city.

Unanswered Question:

1.WHO is my cab driver talking to? And HOW do they have that much to say to be talking and driving all day it seems.. my gosh man..aren't you all talked out yet? Don't you just want to roll your window down, listen to some Enya and bliss out awhile? Perhaps not. Or perhaps I just flag the chatty cabies?

        ***Funny Story*** After a late night dinner with a (gay) friend of mine, James (who is dating anther gay friend of mine). I hugged James goodbye and got into the cab.. My cab driver turns completly around grinning from ear to ear to ask:

 "Soooo...How was your date!?"

To which I replied,

" ...well... he is gay sooooo".

He burst out laughing and said,

"We can't win them all sweetheart!"

I said,

 "No, no.. I know he is gay".

He about dies laughing again and said to me,

 "Girlie you've got more problems then I thought if youre knowingly going out with gay men.."

After this comment I was a) no longer charmed with our banter and b) puzzled...who ever said that was a date dude.. mind Yo biz-nass.. Don't you have calls to make!!

2. Just how filthy are the rails, seats, floors and ok air on the subway trains anyway??? or is that one better left unanswered? I can't decide. All I know is, the sting of hand sanatizer is both now a routine and comforting burning smell when "riding the rails".

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MM on the subway

3. How much Joes coffee and teas is too much? Becuase I am certain that this place is a must on my way to work in the mornings, or in the afternoon...or um.. *cough* on any small break. :/ I love them though. It is my favorite little coffee joint that I have found so far in the village. I guess they opened another one, but I love their little corner shop. Large creeking door and wooden floor. Local art, live plants, pet friendly, and always filled with (what I assume to be) bloggers, writers, and of course. the early morning over achieving joggers.

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Pictures of West 4th neighborhood from my spiffy new iphone camera app!

outside of Joes

Across the street with the skeleton on the roof.. thats the Slaughtered Lamb.. its  bar we frequent.

The Duplex on my way into work...

The Duplex on my way home from work in the wee small hours of the morning

and I can't leave out my Harlem!

HEY YO! Marilyn is everywhere right now.. The movie..the books..the calendar I bought for the new year (LOVE seeing her each morning in all her curvacious glory cheering me on as I get ready) ..and what with the new SMASH tv show (addicted! Debra Messing how A and I have missed you so. Thank you for being back in my life you wonderful ginger you)

I couldn't help but to snag a few indulgent Pinterest moments looking at this beauty...

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Pssst.. who do you think makes the better Marilyn?? Leave a coment and let me know!

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If you haven't seen already - your under a rock! Ahh quick crawl out! becuase Banana Republic has a MadMen collection you don't want to be stuck under a rock for! I suggest if one has an extra ninty eight buckaroos you get the pearl clutch..one would love that would't one.

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Right now I am reading a wonderful book called "New York Diaries (From 1609-2009)" it. is. facinating! I've been reading on the subways, in the bath, in bed, anywhere I can! I can't decide though.. should I read from page one on... like you normally read a book, or should I read one days worth of entried for that day and make the book last? I'm giving myself the rest of "Janurary" to decide.

So yes.. the book is written with random and interesting, some funny, or sad entries from people like Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Edgar Allen Poe. Some are from the diary entries of socialits, military men,  bloggers, artists, clergy, or even George Washington.. anyone who kept a diary during a time they lived in New York. I love this idea as I am now a New York addict. You'd think living here would be enough but now I have that dang New York pride thing where I want to literally eat sleep dress work read and breath in New York.. well..maybe not BREATH in New York.

If you have been here/lived here then you know that you can be walking along having a wonderful thought..maybe your listening to your new favorit song on youre iPhone, and then BAM! Youre assalted with smell.. musky street smell.And thats.just.not.cool. yuck. you gag, hack and look around in shock to see others doing the same for that one space where "the smell" lingers.. bummed you continue forth, and slightly judge those who did walk through it and didn't react, apparently they didn't mind the smell.. Are you THAT used to bad smells that you can open mouth breath past that area dude? No no. I will never be that New Yorker...I love my nose and mouth too much.... bleck!

Entry from NY Diaries:

                                                         May 19th, 1953

King Street is one of those dark, quaint vestiges of old New York and the route to it from the cafe is dank with garbage pails and "the yellow smoke that curls".

Bahahaha.Well said Judith Malin...well said.

I literlly just flipped the book open to this page and looked down and read that line. How perfect!

Also on this Page:

May 15th, 1842

Sally hatched another bird.

-Augustus Van Horne Ellis

Riviting stuff here Augustus..

May 18th, 1842

Both {Sally's Hatchlings} Dead. Dick {her mate} killed them.

-Augustus Van Horne Ellis

May 20th, 1842

Shot a cat dead, dead, dead.

-Augustus Van Horne Ellis

LOL what the Hell Augustus! lol geez! what a violent past few days you had!

May 5th, 1976

And so I am a Pulitzer Prize winner.

-Ned Rorem

Aaaaallllrighty then Ned. You seem thrilled! Are ya thrilled Ned? Are ya?

Quick entries that made me Chuckle:

March 28th, 2009

No calls, missed or otherwise, tonight. The blistering honesty of technology.

-Staying Pinoy in New York

April 17th, 1907

A high wind this morning and the pranks of the gusts about the Flatiron Building at Fifth Avenue and 23rd St. was interesting to watch. Woman's skirts flapped over their heads and ankles were to be seen. And a funny thing, a policeman to keep men from loitering about the corner. His position is much sought, I suppose.

-John Sloan

October 23rd, 1963

Fortieth birthday. I can no longer die young.

-Ned Rorem

February 2nd, 1867

My experience is that a man cannot go anywhere in New york in an hour. The distances are too great- you must have another day to it. If you got six things to do, you have go to take six days to do them in.

-Mark Twain

Boy, it was true then and it is true now. If Marky Mark needs more hours in the day then I feel less guilty myself for needing them!

But my two favorites still...

May 22nd, 1947

Today I arrived by train in New York City, which I'd never seen before, walked through the grandeur of Grand Central Terminal, stepped outside, got my first look at the city and instantly fell in love with it. Silently, inside myself, I yelled: I should have been born here!

-Edward Robb Ellis

March 11th, 1978

I had a lot of dates but decided to stay home and dye my eyebrows.

-Andy Warhol

LOL I love it! I did the same thing yall and stayed in a few nights ago and colored my hair a dark auburn brown color again. I love it

B.

Fluff

Ev says he needs to gain weight.. something I was both happy to hear and couldn't help but roll my eyes at.

Happy because I need someone to bake for! He isn't a big fan of marshmallow, but when I make these delish cupcakes (from) they wont be just for him ;)

It is still cold here in NYC but nothing like the blizzard and bone chillin cold they have had in the past

 (knock on wood). Kitty cat and I have been little cuddle bugs at home, and not going out and about as often.

However, a few weeks ago I set out on a mission to find a Restaurant..nah THE restaurant for a momma/friend back in Az. To my surprise it was here in Harlem and just one subway stop and short walk away!

The walk took me through a pretty park, and out onto a street where a large beautiful building towered above..

Gorgeous isn't it..and just a tad spooky!

And then I found it..Toms. Home to the famous Seinfeld restaurant on 112th street and Broadway.

I see so many things I love on my walks to and from work, errand, or wandering around...

At the top of the list is a pet store I pass in the West Village where I get to tap on the glass and say good morning to these adorable faces!

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Since my last post I'd say three big things have happened

1. They shot a Jerseylicious episode at the place I work (ep 13 in the new season)

My coworker and buddy ended up being their server even though they requested a girl server, but guess what aint no way Im being on that show! Also, I lost my voice at the time :)

So yay good for biz!

2. Bradley left :/ bummer. He got a great job and will be in Hawaii for the next six months or so. I was planning to go with some friends already so I might just make some time to say hello and hang out this summer if I go.

His going away night I busted out my sparkle pants and heels. I think it was the first time I wore any heels here in the city. It went well meaning I didn't fall once. :)

Note: these were taken on a phone (other than i..sooo) ... I look like a demon. sorry bout that.

Isn't he adorable?!

and 3.

It was Evans birthday!!!

Yay!! We went out for a very yummie dinner at a place called Buddakan. Which I am sure I just miss spelled terribly. yeesh. The place was BEAUTIFUL. here see for yourself:

coming down a giant stair case you enter this room here.. you might recognize it since it is where Big and Carrie held their rehearsal dinner :)

view from above

Later we headed to two clubs. My fav ended up being the Jane Hotel. Its super old.located n..yep Jane St. And their cozy giant lux living room/dance floor complete with DJ/ roaring fireplace, plush decor and dark dim lights this place is just cool!

It too has held some great parties, like the after party for the "Away we go" sreening where John here (aka "Jim" be still my heart) also enjoyed the lounge.

Outside Buddakan after many a drink, obvs as I am crashing into coworker Ben there on the side, and bless his heart he kept me up right :) what a pal.
 We had a great time and birthday boy went home happy and dance off  champ.

Snow on my nose and eye lashes

Do you guys know who Jessie J is? Apparently she is a song writer from the UK and released an album...mmmmaybe two. These songs are ones she wrote that didn't get picked up. You can almost hear who she had intended it for, and it turns out that HEY that girl can freaking BELT! 

who she has written for:

Miley

Britney

Justin

"Despite being hailed as 'the best singer in the world' by Timberlake, Jessie credits her career so far to her fine blagging skills."

-here:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/3253814/Jessie-J-Brit-ney-Spears-is-going-British-with-her-new-single.html

Willow Smith

Chris Brown

Christina

Here is her video for "Who You Are". I think it is so beautiful..

She also has a new single out called "Do It Like A Dude" that I really love. Here she is at the Brit Awards singing it acoustic.. I like the dance version too, but at 3:00  in the video its my favorite lol. She reminds me of Nikki Minaj the way they both take on this different funky style or personality when they sing.

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Alright so enough of that. It started to snow the other night as I was walking to the subway from work in the west village. I was SO excited I literally started to skip down the street in the snow that was collecting in little white patches. The only non Christmas song I could think of with snow in it is that "Sound of Music" lyrics "snow on my nose and eye lashes.." And they really do fall down onto your eye lashes! I would blink the little pearls of snow away down onto my cheeks..I was beaming!

This is just outside my front doors...see it??? Yeah I know.... it is very light..but it counts!

Also you know its my brownstone because of the Halls wrapper on the ground..oops!

Today I decided to head out and hit up some parks I've been wanting to go to. I went all the way down to my usual stop (West 4th) and strolled on over to the beautiful Washington Park.

The Monument there, the Arch is just beautiful..and GIANT! My goodness I sat there for three songs worth while I took it all in. Its a green park with pine trees, lawns and plenty of squirrels rushing about trying to recall where they hide their nuts.

The grand NYU surround the park, along with some brown stones that were so old, yet refined looking I'm sure that Washington himself must have lived in one of them.

Union Square is pretty, lots of dogs running and playing together.. basically being adorable and making me miss little Marley (the poodle/mix that I owned for a few years, then gave over to the loving and capable hands of my sister sue).

But my Favorite part of Union Square was the Farmers Market that I happened upon! I bought some fresh Organic and local honey, hot fresh apple cider, and a single daisy (which I ended up giving to a cute little kid on my walk up to Madison Square Park)

 Just as you come up to Madison from the south east end, you come across the the Shake Shack. I have read about this place and their amazeballs burgers and shakes. I ordered the mushroom burger of course (their only veg option) and packed it away safely. No way was I about to eat that there outside. But it was very pretty with light strung up above out over the cute little park chairs and cafe tables. It was just TOO cold for that! But still I bookmark it in my mind for when my brothers come to town. (All the time I do this. I see a place and snap a photo of the cross streets to I'll be able to find my way back for when someone is in town. I have places all over the city just perfect for certain friends and family ;)

I trekked further north in search of the New York Open Center. I hoped that it would see Hemp Seed Oil which I prefer to use in my massage. On my way I happily stumbled upon a Crumbs bakery. E told me about these little bakeries all over the city. "THEY are the best!" he raves. So I stopped in. What else goes more prefect with a mushroom burger than a cupcake am i right?

(One thing I love about this city is all of the wonderful, stop you in your tracks architecture around you ALL of the time. No matter where you are, what part of the city.. it is so grand and lovely to look up and see what has been built and put there for us to marvel at. Brick my brick someone made this, and I love that I get to see it while on my way here or there.)

 Before I forget: these are my favorite shots of the Washington Park. The Arch frames the Empire State Building behind it several blocks north of the park. Isn't it beautiful!? The details are dizzying when you get closer :)

 

Ok so back to the baked goods :)

These folks aren't messing around! They have giant cupcakes, cakes, and many other treats.. I stood there... happy...warm..hungry..and with more then enough cash in my pocket.

I will be back for more. Oh so much more! Is there a Crumbs near you?

I have a serious yet odd question.  Can Buildings have brick envy? Because all day long I noticed that if one building was tall...the one RIGHT next to it was taller. A small voice san out from somewhere high above, "Anything you can do I can do better.." take a look:

Thats all she wrote my dears. Is it still chilly winter weather where you are or are things warming up? Treat yourself to any yummy home made or otherwise acquired goodies? Or are we doing better then myself on the whole New Year Resolution thing? 

Tata

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