First baseball game in NYC! Woohoo!
My bestest, best friend John Blair visited me on this beautiful spring day, and being the baseball enthusiast that he is, proposed we go see the Mets new stadium. Gorgeous! So well designed with the classic brick to make it just beautiful. There was a big, giant #42 inside the entrance. Neither of us knew why, so we made a bet that whoever could figure it out bought the other a Shake Shack shake (redundant?). [side note: just now realizing i won the bet and haven't collected] Its Jackie Robinson, by the way. According the my baseball encyclopedia (Blair) all the ball clubs retired his number this year.
We decided to walk in the opposite direction from our seats so we could look at the whole stadium. In center field we stumbled upon the Shake Shack and waited in a fast line for our yummy, over-priced little burgers. Delicious! Then made our way up to the nose-bleeds. We did the typical "sit in the empty seats until the real owner of the seats shows up and you bump down one". However, the owners of the seats we parked in were a group of middle school Canadian kids who got up every two seconds to go get more food or walk around or do anything but stay in their seat for 2 minutes! It was amazing how often we had to move for them to get out of the row. AH!
The game ended in extra innings with a walk off walk. Did I say that right? It was exciting! Blair and I had made our way down to the lower level in the 9th inning, so we scrambled to peak over heads to see the final innings. As soon as the game was over we literally ran to the subway! Down the stairs, out the stadium, across the parking lot, up the subway platform and onto the train... where we had to wait until the train was full but we did get to sit down. That was one of the most fun parts. Our mad dash to the train! We beat the thousands of people coming from the stadium though!
Go METS!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Don't Walk Over the Sidewalk Grates!!!
SPRING IS HERE!!!
Actually its felt a little summer-ish the past couple days, but you won't hear me complaining. I love sweating! I feel alive! (and in a month i'll hate it again). Anyway, the warm weather has allowed everyone, including myself, to bust out the skirts/dresses/anything other than pantelones! However, one must be cautious! I find it funny when people avoid walking over the subway grates that are on many streets/avenues in NYC. Are you afraid of falling in? Do you think someone might grab your leg? I always walk on them to get around slower walkers on the sidewalk, HOWEVER when one is wearing a skirt its another story! I nearly had several 'Marilyn Monroe moments' walking around the city this weekend! Ooops!
This weekend also marked the opening of the back dining patio at the wonderful Bourbon Street Bar & Grill. Basically this means that due to amazing preparation (i.e. none) we got our butts kicked and made nice money! Its one of those weekends that as I sit and reflect (and count my earnings) I see room for improvement but overall I am pleased. BUT in the midst of a Saturday night rush with no supplies available, demanding tables, slow bar-tending, I hate my life! Ah, the paradox of the restaurant industry! One wonderful aspect of the new back patio is once it is closed and I can step out there alone. The music pulsing inside is muted when the door closes, the potted trees and plants help block out the buildings surrounding me and I can actually see the night sky! I saw the Big Dipper last night. That is honestly the first time the I can say I've seen that constellation since I moved to NYC nearly a year ago. That is huge b/c I absolutely adore the night sky! Although this new seating space causes great stress (and sweat), it is also my brief escape from the City!
Actually its felt a little summer-ish the past couple days, but you won't hear me complaining. I love sweating! I feel alive! (and in a month i'll hate it again). Anyway, the warm weather has allowed everyone, including myself, to bust out the skirts/dresses/anything other than pantelones! However, one must be cautious! I find it funny when people avoid walking over the subway grates that are on many streets/avenues in NYC. Are you afraid of falling in? Do you think someone might grab your leg? I always walk on them to get around slower walkers on the sidewalk, HOWEVER when one is wearing a skirt its another story! I nearly had several 'Marilyn Monroe moments' walking around the city this weekend! Ooops!
This weekend also marked the opening of the back dining patio at the wonderful Bourbon Street Bar & Grill. Basically this means that due to amazing preparation (i.e. none) we got our butts kicked and made nice money! Its one of those weekends that as I sit and reflect (and count my earnings) I see room for improvement but overall I am pleased. BUT in the midst of a Saturday night rush with no supplies available, demanding tables, slow bar-tending, I hate my life! Ah, the paradox of the restaurant industry! One wonderful aspect of the new back patio is once it is closed and I can step out there alone. The music pulsing inside is muted when the door closes, the potted trees and plants help block out the buildings surrounding me and I can actually see the night sky! I saw the Big Dipper last night. That is honestly the first time the I can say I've seen that constellation since I moved to NYC nearly a year ago. That is huge b/c I absolutely adore the night sky! Although this new seating space causes great stress (and sweat), it is also my brief escape from the City!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
St. Patty's
The one day of the year when everyone is IRISH!!! Lucky for me, my name (ERIN) is Gaelic for Ireland, so I'm extra special. All the folks I served just loved that! Yes, I spent the entire day in a restaurant/bar... but I was working. The morning at Bourbon Street, which is a New Orleans themed place but owned by 4 Irishmen, therefore we decked out the place in Irish decor for the special holiday. Shockingly we weren't that busy. MAYBE ITS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT AN IRISH BAR! Hmmm... puzzling.
Anyway, the second half of my day was spent at job #2, O'Flaherty's Irish Pub. Yes, I am experiencing NY exhaustion on a whole new level since taking on this second job, but I can't complain when unemployment is on the rise everywhere else in the country. In Erin's world there is no recession... or sleep. Back to St. Patty's, O'Flats was much busier. By 5 p.m. we were so full I could not walk through the place without contorting my body in a million different ways just to get around people to deliver drinks and food. My cohorts from Bourbon came down after getting off. I even had a drink with a leprechaun (one of the owner of Bourbon is a short little Irishman who probably wouldn't appreciate me calling him a leprechaun, hehe). The night lasted longer than I thought possible and I was never happier to call it a day and fall into bed!
As a Texan, St. Patrick's Day has never been anything more than a reason to pinch someone for not wearing green. But in New York, I experience holidays on a whole new level!
Anyway, the second half of my day was spent at job #2, O'Flaherty's Irish Pub. Yes, I am experiencing NY exhaustion on a whole new level since taking on this second job, but I can't complain when unemployment is on the rise everywhere else in the country. In Erin's world there is no recession... or sleep. Back to St. Patty's, O'Flats was much busier. By 5 p.m. we were so full I could not walk through the place without contorting my body in a million different ways just to get around people to deliver drinks and food. My cohorts from Bourbon came down after getting off. I even had a drink with a leprechaun (one of the owner of Bourbon is a short little Irishman who probably wouldn't appreciate me calling him a leprechaun, hehe). The night lasted longer than I thought possible and I was never happier to call it a day and fall into bed!
As a Texan, St. Patrick's Day has never been anything more than a reason to pinch someone for not wearing green. But in New York, I experience holidays on a whole new level!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Best Ever!
Please keep in mind that this was the day after Mardi Gras...
The adventure began on a surprisingly gorgeous, sunny afternoon, where else but Times Square at the TKTS booth. The finale of the Texan and Kiwi. Two souls brought together in the melting pot of the world on Restaurant Row, each forever changed by the other. I, of course, am talking about myself and my closest friend Avi, a traveling, wine-loving, surfing, artistic, law school grad leaving March 1st to continue his journey. Ok, the scene is set, the players introduced, and so begins the best day in NYC...
Our mutual friend attends the King's College, which holds class in the Empire State Building. Upon our request, she drags herself from a mid-afternoon slumber to help us bypass the lines and receive a discount to the top! We had tickets to Billy Elliot at 2 p.m. and we didn't arrive to the top until 1:40 p.m. We gave ourselves 10 minutes to look out in each direction over the endless buildings of NYC. Despite the haze, its incredibly freeing to breathe above it all. The City is massive, but manageable up there. With little time to ponder much more, we raced thru the maze of commercialized merchandise one must walk thru when leaving the observation deck. We hit the street at 1:55 and hopped into a cab, b/c we had no other choice. The driver was informed if he could get us there in time for the curtain, there would be an extra tip in it for him. Yikes! Careful when you say that. I feared for the pedestrians. Avi and I were dropped at 45th and Broadway and ran down the street. Some of you may be thinking, "there is no way you'll make it. What's the point?" Well, a little insight for you ill-informed, all Broadway curtains are held until 8 minutes past the hour. However, despite this cushion we came in at the very end of the opening number. Billy Elliot made me cry. The first act final dance sequence blew me away. We loved it!
Next we ventured over for a drink and apps b/c we decided we'd try for the lottery drawing for West Side Story. Not a lot of people have the stamina or interest for two Broadway musicals in one day, which is why Avi is amazing! Ha! We dottle a bit too long at the restaurant and arrived to the theatre as they were closing the entries. I begged the guy to let us enter and amazingly relented. Three names in I heard my name called. Can I just say, if you ever enter a lottery drawing for tickets, please be enthusiastic when you win. So many people are just too casual about it. You get to see a Broadway show, on the front row for less than $30, is a little jumping and screaming too much to ask? That is precisely what I did. What is funny is as we waited inside to buy our tickets, we heard them call Avi's name too! We were just meant to see West Side Story that night!
With two hours to kill, we ventured to the Lower East Side to a bar we'd heard gives free pizza with each drink purchased, even during Happy Hour! How have I not visited this place before? We had our little personal pizza and drink and headed back to midtown arriving at the theatre with plenty of time to spare!
West Side Story has only just begun previews, opening in March. This particular production has Spanish mixed in and I LOVED it! Maybe its b/c I come from a land full of Spanish, but I thought it added something very interesting to the show. Another great performance that added to the magic of our day!
Eager to get out of midtown, we descended to the Village. At this point Avi pretty much took over with directions cause lower Manhattan confuses me. We stumbled upon a cute little Italian place and talked over a bottle of Cabernet. One of my favorite parts of the night. A good bottle of wine, lovely environment, great company and a conversation ended only by the empty bottle and closing restaurant.
We continued the night strolling the lively streets of Greenwich Village. We were invited in to catch the end of a free stand-up show, which I'm often leery of but we decided to check it out. We laughed but doubtful we saw the next Seinfeld. In the bar above, a live bluegrass band was playing. I haven't heard live music in forever, we were all about it. A little dancing, but mostly just listening.
Feeling a bit fatigued, we agreed to leave but we had one more stop before calling it a night. Av wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge at night. Now anyone concerned with my personal safety (parents) stop reading now. We hopped into our second cab of the day, which I never take cabs, but we didn't know the nearest subway and were too tired to look for it. We asked him to drop us at the bridge. He told us not to walk the bridge alone at this time of night. Isn't that great?! The cab driver was looking out for us. Of course, we did not heed his advice but thanked him anyway. As unsafe as this may have been, I'll never regret making such a poor decision. We were the only people on the entire bridge all the way across! We sang and danced our favorite songs at the top of our lungs. Incredible!
Falling asleep on the subway, I rehearsed my Shakespeare sonnet to Avi as he dozed. I am extremely grateful for everything that fell into place for this day to happen. A blessing!
The adventure began on a surprisingly gorgeous, sunny afternoon, where else but Times Square at the TKTS booth. The finale of the Texan and Kiwi. Two souls brought together in the melting pot of the world on Restaurant Row, each forever changed by the other. I, of course, am talking about myself and my closest friend Avi, a traveling, wine-loving, surfing, artistic, law school grad leaving March 1st to continue his journey. Ok, the scene is set, the players introduced, and so begins the best day in NYC...
Our mutual friend attends the King's College, which holds class in the Empire State Building. Upon our request, she drags herself from a mid-afternoon slumber to help us bypass the lines and receive a discount to the top! We had tickets to Billy Elliot at 2 p.m. and we didn't arrive to the top until 1:40 p.m. We gave ourselves 10 minutes to look out in each direction over the endless buildings of NYC. Despite the haze, its incredibly freeing to breathe above it all. The City is massive, but manageable up there. With little time to ponder much more, we raced thru the maze of commercialized merchandise one must walk thru when leaving the observation deck. We hit the street at 1:55 and hopped into a cab, b/c we had no other choice. The driver was informed if he could get us there in time for the curtain, there would be an extra tip in it for him. Yikes! Careful when you say that. I feared for the pedestrians. Avi and I were dropped at 45th and Broadway and ran down the street. Some of you may be thinking, "there is no way you'll make it. What's the point?" Well, a little insight for you ill-informed, all Broadway curtains are held until 8 minutes past the hour. However, despite this cushion we came in at the very end of the opening number. Billy Elliot made me cry. The first act final dance sequence blew me away. We loved it!
Next we ventured over for a drink and apps b/c we decided we'd try for the lottery drawing for West Side Story. Not a lot of people have the stamina or interest for two Broadway musicals in one day, which is why Avi is amazing! Ha! We dottle a bit too long at the restaurant and arrived to the theatre as they were closing the entries. I begged the guy to let us enter and amazingly relented. Three names in I heard my name called. Can I just say, if you ever enter a lottery drawing for tickets, please be enthusiastic when you win. So many people are just too casual about it. You get to see a Broadway show, on the front row for less than $30, is a little jumping and screaming too much to ask? That is precisely what I did. What is funny is as we waited inside to buy our tickets, we heard them call Avi's name too! We were just meant to see West Side Story that night!
With two hours to kill, we ventured to the Lower East Side to a bar we'd heard gives free pizza with each drink purchased, even during Happy Hour! How have I not visited this place before? We had our little personal pizza and drink and headed back to midtown arriving at the theatre with plenty of time to spare!
West Side Story has only just begun previews, opening in March. This particular production has Spanish mixed in and I LOVED it! Maybe its b/c I come from a land full of Spanish, but I thought it added something very interesting to the show. Another great performance that added to the magic of our day!
Eager to get out of midtown, we descended to the Village. At this point Avi pretty much took over with directions cause lower Manhattan confuses me. We stumbled upon a cute little Italian place and talked over a bottle of Cabernet. One of my favorite parts of the night. A good bottle of wine, lovely environment, great company and a conversation ended only by the empty bottle and closing restaurant.
We continued the night strolling the lively streets of Greenwich Village. We were invited in to catch the end of a free stand-up show, which I'm often leery of but we decided to check it out. We laughed but doubtful we saw the next Seinfeld. In the bar above, a live bluegrass band was playing. I haven't heard live music in forever, we were all about it. A little dancing, but mostly just listening.
Feeling a bit fatigued, we agreed to leave but we had one more stop before calling it a night. Av wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge at night. Now anyone concerned with my personal safety (parents) stop reading now. We hopped into our second cab of the day, which I never take cabs, but we didn't know the nearest subway and were too tired to look for it. We asked him to drop us at the bridge. He told us not to walk the bridge alone at this time of night. Isn't that great?! The cab driver was looking out for us. Of course, we did not heed his advice but thanked him anyway. As unsafe as this may have been, I'll never regret making such a poor decision. We were the only people on the entire bridge all the way across! We sang and danced our favorite songs at the top of our lungs. Incredible!
Falling asleep on the subway, I rehearsed my Shakespeare sonnet to Avi as he dozed. I am extremely grateful for everything that fell into place for this day to happen. A blessing!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
From Up Here...
Weightless. I barely felt the thing move. Slowly we climb. Floating over the Upper East Side just along 60th St. Do you suppose the people that live in the buildings next to the tram notice us flying by? Is it just like living next to a busy street? Do they care we can see into their homes? Did the sales associate mention this special feature when they showed the place? Do they leave their lights on and shades drawn to show-off their apartments? Do they even realize they're on display? Does it bother them that even though they are on the 21st floor, they are still not afforded the privacy one might expect when at such a height? Or is it just a fact of life? This is New York after all.
Its fascinating to note the differences in each apartment dweller's decorative taste. Its essentially the same space but the use is dramatically different. One place I love passing every time... Eloise. I have never seen a living (or non-living) person in the place. But I think, based on the furniture and style of the apartment that we would be friends. Maybe on one of my passes I'll eventually see who lives there. Will keep you posted...
Its fascinating to note the differences in each apartment dweller's decorative taste. Its essentially the same space but the use is dramatically different. One place I love passing every time... Eloise. I have never seen a living (or non-living) person in the place. But I think, based on the furniture and style of the apartment that we would be friends. Maybe on one of my passes I'll eventually see who lives there. Will keep you posted...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
1/20/2009
Today was a momentous day in the history of the United States of America. I hate to sound like a cheeseball, but I can't help it. The day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we inaugurate our first black president. Rather appropriate, I think. Whether you voted for Obama or not, it was a great day for the US.
I happened to be in class this morning, but at the start of class our instructor asked us if we wanted to watch any of it. We all agreed that we would take our usual break, but push it back to noon so we could see the oath. As usual in any good acting studio, we were without a television, so we streamed it on the front office computer. Apparently other classes had decided to take a break for the same purpose, so it was a little crowded. In and around the small 10x12 room, 30 (approx--i'm bad with crown estimation) crammed to catch a peak at the screen. Some were crouched on the floor, others used their neighbors shoulder as a boost to look over heads.
I decided to go around to the front and watch through the glass, so I was facing most of the group. I didn't have a great view of the screen (which was delayed anyway) so I watched everyone else as I listened. It was a beautiful speech and the feeling of hope was tangible. Granted it was a room full of actor's with enduring hope about that next part, next audition, next challenge. A room full of artists propelled by passion watching what many thought improbable a year ago and impossible 60 years ago. Its a contageous ideal... hope. I know it got a little cliche during the campaign, but that is why people are constantly pushing to be better. When you lose hope, you lose ambition, become complacent and life loses its value.
So much of my life is out of my hands, but my hope sustains me no matter what my circumstance. My faith allows me the freedom to hope. Today I think the nation felt it.
I happened to be in class this morning, but at the start of class our instructor asked us if we wanted to watch any of it. We all agreed that we would take our usual break, but push it back to noon so we could see the oath. As usual in any good acting studio, we were without a television, so we streamed it on the front office computer. Apparently other classes had decided to take a break for the same purpose, so it was a little crowded. In and around the small 10x12 room, 30 (approx--i'm bad with crown estimation) crammed to catch a peak at the screen. Some were crouched on the floor, others used their neighbors shoulder as a boost to look over heads.
I decided to go around to the front and watch through the glass, so I was facing most of the group. I didn't have a great view of the screen (which was delayed anyway) so I watched everyone else as I listened. It was a beautiful speech and the feeling of hope was tangible. Granted it was a room full of actor's with enduring hope about that next part, next audition, next challenge. A room full of artists propelled by passion watching what many thought improbable a year ago and impossible 60 years ago. Its a contageous ideal... hope. I know it got a little cliche during the campaign, but that is why people are constantly pushing to be better. When you lose hope, you lose ambition, become complacent and life loses its value.
So much of my life is out of my hands, but my hope sustains me no matter what my circumstance. My faith allows me the freedom to hope. Today I think the nation felt it.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Baby, It's Cold Outside
I'm officially tired of winter. Today it snowed and I was not entranced by its beauty, I was thinking, "I hope it stops before I have to go to class." When living in British Columbia, I never grew tired of the snow. It was magical when it floated silently down creating amazing conditions for snowboarding, which is possibly the missing element here. Snow in the city is simply that... snow in the city. Makes things wet (namely me) and slushy because it only stays on the ground while its snowing. Once it stops it goes away again.
I'll stop complaining about the weather. I'm just a little bitter b/c I walked home from work tonight and it was 8 degrees outside and my face was frozen! The high tomorrow is 16... yikes. I think I want to be a bear!
I'll stop complaining about the weather. I'm just a little bitter b/c I walked home from work tonight and it was 8 degrees outside and my face was frozen! The high tomorrow is 16... yikes. I think I want to be a bear!
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