Always Running, Running, Running

My presence has been lacking a little on this blog, as I've been running on what seems to be a life-sized hamster wheel called work. Egads! I wish I could linger a little more in the present, but it seems my days are broken up hurrying from task to task, until I come home, collapse on the couch and watch a movie. Ahhh, to be young and overworked.

That brings me to a quote in a Donald Miller book I've been reading. A quote that hit really hard:

"But I like movies. There's something about a good story that helps me escape...if it was a good movie, the experience felt like somebody was resetting a compass in my brain so I could feel what was important in life and what wasn't. I'd go to the movies because for an hour or so I could forget about real life."

Lately, I've been watching a lot of movies.

Movies are all well and good and fun. But Donald here brings up an excellent point. When do we ask ourselves why we are watching so many movies? Is it to admire the art, or is it to forget about reality? After Donald decides to create his own interesting story within his life, he brings up the subject of movies again:

"Once I understood the power of story in my personal life, I wanted to know more about how to create a good one. I was getting up a little earlier, and interestingly enough, I was going to fewer movies...I didn't need to escape my boring life anymore."

Even a busy life can be boring. So even though I'm running, running, running...where is it that I'm running to? I think it's about time to plot my story.

Favorite Thing Thursday

Well, hellooooo there. After a good month of New York posts, I believe it's back to the regular schedule...

Here are some of my favorite things:

1. Pretend Sushi: I hate sushi, but I love tagging along for sushi outings. Usually I'm stuck getting mediocre chicken teriyaki. Enter fake sushi. The roll pictured below is stuffed with steak and fries and slathered in barbeque sauce. I love these little amusing touches that restaurants think up.

2. Solar Eclipse: Did you catch the solar eclipse on Sunday? Pretty sure I burned my eyeballs looking directly at it...but I couldn't help it! It was too fascinating to look away!

3. Finding Adam Levine in Random Places: Oh, alright....not the real Adam Levine (lest you forget the time the real deal pointed at me). But when you're walking through Target, shopping for such mundane items as cotton balls and shampoo, a small surprise such as this makes one very happy. 

New York: My Favorites, and Tips for Travelers

Favorites: 

1. Bryant Park: Central Park is magical, of course, but there's something about Bryant Park that I liked the most. It's a little slice of serene green wedged in between a slew of tall buildings. I always found myself taking a breather in Bryant Park.

2. Top of the Rock: As in, top of the Rockefeller, which has 360-degree views of New York, without the huss-and-fuss of waiting in line for the Empire State Building. 

3. New York Pride: I love any place where the people love their stomping grounds. This trickles all the way down to babies in Yankee hats. It's charming, really. 

4. The Fierce Energy: It was contagious. New York is always go, go, go and it makes you want to really get moving! I'm pretty sure my procrastinating ways would be squashed here. 

Impressions: 

• Not sure what I was expecting, but I thought the buildings would be even bigger than they are. 
• Furthermore, Manhattan is fairly small, mile-wise. 
• Harlem is not as unsafe as everyone says. 
• Cheesecake and Pizza really are better here. 
• New York tap water is the nastiest in the US. I can easily assume this without going to every state.
• Contrary to popular belief, New Yorkers are friendlier than people say. People often asked us if we needed help with the subway and directions. 
• "Fuggedaboutit" is a phrase we heard quite often. Love it.  

Tips and Tricks: 

• When visiting the museums, you'll notice there is a "Suggested" price for tickets. What this means is you can donate whatever you choose (I payed $5), instead of paying the full suggested price. 
• Buy the unlimited subway pass, as it will save you moolah. 
• Don't eat out in Times Square. Prices are doubled as this is the touristy part of NY. 
• Download the Hopstop app on your phone, which gives you subway, bus and walking directions and makes it much easier to navigate the concrete jungle!
• If you still have a student ID, you can try to get student rush tickets for Broadway shows. Lainey and I saw Mamma Mia for $30 through this trick (it's good to go the morning of the show and ask the ticket vendor). 

Favorite Restaurants and Bars: 

• Lombardi's: Some of the best pizza I've ever had. (Located in Soho) 
• Sip Sak: The most authentic Turkish Food I've had in the U.S. (Located in Upper East Side) 
• Katz's Deli: BEST. SANDWICH. EVER. (Located in Lower East Side) 
• bOb bar: A hoppin' bar, if you're tired of hearing techno, and want some straight-up 90's hip-hop in your life, this place is perrrrrrfect (with reasonable prices). (Located in Lower East Side)

New York is simply smashing! So get your butt over there...and if you do, I hope these tips and tricks fare you well. 

Empire State of Mind (New York, Part 4)

I spent the backend of my trip just shooting the breeze. I've never been a traveler who relies on an itinerary; but rather, my mood and whether I have good walking shoes on.

The thing about New York is there's so much to do on one city block. You don't need an agenda...you just need to take a step outside. I wasn't trying to see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station, but I stumbled across them while on a mission to get morning coffee. C'est magnifique!

Honestly, California is really lacking in these grand, gorgeous buildings. Sure, we have the beach...but give me architecture, please! I especially loved the brick buildings in Soho, most likely my favorite area of New York...

Beyond gawking at the architecture, we were in Soho for a specific purpose: to eat at one of the best pizzerias in America (or so we were told). 

Lombardi's boasts "the best on the planet" when to comes to pizza, although I saw this claimed on numerous awnings all over NY. Hmmm...I get the feeling that New Yorkers believe they have the best pizza in the world... 

Aaaaaaand....

They just might be right.

This pizza was pretty flippin' good; although it's hard for me to say it's the best in the world, as I'm not well-traveled enough to decipher that. I will say it was melt-in-your-mouth awesome, and I'm curious to know how Chicago stacks up. 

***

The next day I had museums to visit and important people to see.

The Met is one of the loveliest and most massive museums I have ever been to. I hurried through a few prime floors, and kept it under an hour-and-a-half. 

I couldn't admire the impressionism for too long, because I had a very important blog friend to meet: Frank from Frank (Slept Here), lover of bacon and purveyor of robot takeovers.

Frank is as quick-witted and kind as you'd gather from his writing. And as he put it, it felt like I was getting together with an old friend, as we've been blog buddies for many years. I also had the chance to meet Frank's fiance, who is pretty darn perfect for Frank...congrats to the lovely couple! The best part about meeting Frank? Hearing him order bacon on his burger, reaffirming that all is right with the world. Thanks for coming out, friend. 

***

Wrapping up our last full day in the city, Lainey and I were completely drained of energy. No amount of coffee or tea could wake us up; in fact, we started to fall asleep in coffee shops. 

Even through my exhaustion, my heart still beat wildly for NYC until the very second I left. It is a new favorite of mine, rivaling the likes of Istanbul and London (my other favorites). It has the craziest, busiest, most ambitious energy I have ever felt, ANYWHERE. And I love it.



Until we meet again, New York. And I believe we shall meet again.

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of (New York, Part 3)

The one thing you'll do plenty of in New York is walk, walk, walk...look at a building...then walk some more. I walked more (and faster) in New York than I ever have on any of my trips. 

But what's great is as you are walking, you run into so many great sites on one block the sore feet are worth every step...

The New York Public Library is just as beautiful as I hoped it would be, and I found myself jealous that I couldn't study there every week.




Miles of walking makes one ravenously hungry, so it was time to hunt down food. I was told of a few great food establishments to try, and Katz's Deli was one place I just had to go to.



The reason is two fold:

1. This is where the infamous orgasm scene was shot in for When Harry Met Sally.
2. They supposedly have some of the best, authentic pastrami sandwiches in all of New York. My dad has always wanted said sandwich from NY, and this was my chance to brag.



Honestly, I'm not sure if that pastrami can be described as anything other than orgasmic. I've never had a better sandwich in my life. IN. MY. LIFE.

Just pastrami, mustard and rye. That's all I need in life. 

...

After a glorious lunch, it was off to Broadway to see Mamma Mia, which was perfect for a cold and rainy evening. 

Before the show, I just had to have a picture with the NYPD. Look at their cute little hats! This cop was nice enough to comply with my silly request.

Thanks for humoring me, Mr. Officer.

***

And guess what? I have even more pictures of NY. Until next time...

I Want To Be A Part Of It (New York, Part 2)

As I've traveled to more places, my "Cities I'm Homesick Over" list has grown exponentially. New York has demanded it's way into a spot...

The second day started out with a fantastic meeting with Jillian, the blogger over at Coffee, Light and Sweet. Jillian is even more beautiful in person and super fun to talk to (with a cute east coast accent to boot). She was nice enough to come out or her lunch break, suggesting the delicious La Bonne Soupe where I had a crepe that truly rivaled the likes of cafes in Paris.

Thanks for coming out, Jillian!!

Then it was off to Rockefeller Plaza where Lainey and I signed up for an NBC Tour. Why not tourist it up?! 

Cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery were also in order. Since Sprinkles are my favorite ever, I knew I had to try the competition. My verdict? Magnolia icing is divine, but Sprinkles still takes the gold medal.


Because it was a bright and shiny day, we decided to catch the free ferry to Staten Island.







Once night time hit, we knew Times Square was the next stop.



Quite obviously, Times Square is the main tourist stop, as noted by the slow walkers and fanny packs--ha. I wouldn't recommend eating in Times Square (as the food is a mix of bland franchises), but a walk-through is most definitely fun, colorful and lively.



Sitting on the famed light-up stairs in Times Square.



Midget Iron Man here begged me to take a picture with him, then asked for tips. Uh, that's not the way it's done, buddy.



Of course, I'm still rather touristy is some respects, and insisted on sipping on a (strong) martini--When in New York!

Lastly, here's a video to show the movement of Times Square, in case you're curious (wink).



I MISS NEW YORK!!