Span the length of the isle of Manhattan
Today after brunch and mimosas in the East Village Risa and I walked over the Brooklyn Bridge in the most perfect weather. Blue skies, white clouds, warm sun, cool breeze.... it was all there. It was such a good walk we did it twice before getting immersed in the most hipster place on Earth. But I can't complain because we ended up with Stefi in a bar in that severed Manger's Irish Cider. Yum. Had a piece of Brooklyn pizza before getting on the subway back to Manhattan. We've been eating pizza everyday which is reminding me of my happy eating days in Italy. And since we have been eating out a lot I'm back to my happy vegetarian days in India. I find that eating vegetarian while traveling is cheaper, healthier, and safer. We ate at a fantastic veggie place tonight called Candle Cafe and celebrated Stefi's birthday.
On Thursday I got to see downtown for the first time and we spent most of Friday there too. The East Village is Risa's favorite place to hang out and I can see why. It has just the right amount of electricity in the air to feel like life is happening at just the right speed, but most importantly, happening. We ate three tiny courses of desert at Chikalicious, hung out at a cool bookstore, ate some pizza and met up with Tara for a sushi dinner and good Foo Fighters talk. I last saw Tara in Portland when she dropped me off for the interview for the job I didn't take. I didn't even know she was going to be in New York until Risa ran into her at Central Park last week. Crazy thing is they had never met before, but Risa was able to recognize Tara's cute kids, and thanks to the internet they both already knew they were connected by me and the best band ever. Even crazzier is that the same thing happened to Risa and Stefi a while back at a Death Cab show at Roseland where they happened to be standing near each other and Stefi recognized Risa from my pictures. Seems as though I don't even need to be there for my friends to meet, pretty cool. Timing is everything and this world is small.
Anyway, we had a great sushi dinner and hung out at a bar for while after. I learned about what a beshert is. And though the conversation and rainy city night was good it was tainted by the death of DJ AM, not far from where we were. I didn't even know who he was until he was in that plane crash with Travis Barker a year ago but these tragic drug overdoses by talented people make me sad. And this death concerns me because it directly affects the lovely people who are in my Tuesday plans, but whether it happens or not I still have the high of my first day here. So I hope they do what is best for them.
I've done some touristy things like the MET and Times Square but I find those crowds and areas to be draining. I very much prefer to just hang out somewhere off the normal path and take things slowly. Last night Risa, Danielle, and I went to a theater in Chelsea to see a screening of a film called Sneakers and Souls written by a guy they know. It was a cute low budget film with good themes and I got a chance to admire what an accomplishment it is to even make a movie. And speaking of movies I've been trying to watch New York movies while I'm here in the city just to make the movie and the city that much better.
As I walk on the streets here, and sit on the subways and buses, and take in the atmosphere, I enjoy the energy of it all. This is a very people orriented city and it feels alive. From my last two short visits I had the impression that New York was a super crazy busy and crowded city. Some parts can be at times and yeah the people walk and talk faster than my speed, but I think I misinterpreted things by being too rushed and busy myself in previous visits. This experience is so different and I'm getting to see what a great place this is.
Also, I just joined twitter. amimtbc. I'm not sure why, i've been voicing opinions against it since it came out, but like facebook or ipods or macbooks, I gave in. Such an American. Though I plan to use it more to keep up with other people, since it will allow me to keep up with John Mayer and Mark Hoppus in hopes that their daily lives will inspire me. I think it's the promotion of exhibitionism that bothers me so I won't be "tweeting" or whatever. Instead I'll just write these long blogs!
On Thursday I got to see downtown for the first time and we spent most of Friday there too. The East Village is Risa's favorite place to hang out and I can see why. It has just the right amount of electricity in the air to feel like life is happening at just the right speed, but most importantly, happening. We ate three tiny courses of desert at Chikalicious, hung out at a cool bookstore, ate some pizza and met up with Tara for a sushi dinner and good Foo Fighters talk. I last saw Tara in Portland when she dropped me off for the interview for the job I didn't take. I didn't even know she was going to be in New York until Risa ran into her at Central Park last week. Crazy thing is they had never met before, but Risa was able to recognize Tara's cute kids, and thanks to the internet they both already knew they were connected by me and the best band ever. Even crazzier is that the same thing happened to Risa and Stefi a while back at a Death Cab show at Roseland where they happened to be standing near each other and Stefi recognized Risa from my pictures. Seems as though I don't even need to be there for my friends to meet, pretty cool. Timing is everything and this world is small.
Anyway, we had a great sushi dinner and hung out at a bar for while after. I learned about what a beshert is. And though the conversation and rainy city night was good it was tainted by the death of DJ AM, not far from where we were. I didn't even know who he was until he was in that plane crash with Travis Barker a year ago but these tragic drug overdoses by talented people make me sad. And this death concerns me because it directly affects the lovely people who are in my Tuesday plans, but whether it happens or not I still have the high of my first day here. So I hope they do what is best for them.
I've done some touristy things like the MET and Times Square but I find those crowds and areas to be draining. I very much prefer to just hang out somewhere off the normal path and take things slowly. Last night Risa, Danielle, and I went to a theater in Chelsea to see a screening of a film called Sneakers and Souls written by a guy they know. It was a cute low budget film with good themes and I got a chance to admire what an accomplishment it is to even make a movie. And speaking of movies I've been trying to watch New York movies while I'm here in the city just to make the movie and the city that much better.
As I walk on the streets here, and sit on the subways and buses, and take in the atmosphere, I enjoy the energy of it all. This is a very people orriented city and it feels alive. From my last two short visits I had the impression that New York was a super crazy busy and crowded city. Some parts can be at times and yeah the people walk and talk faster than my speed, but I think I misinterpreted things by being too rushed and busy myself in previous visits. This experience is so different and I'm getting to see what a great place this is.
Also, I just joined twitter. amimtbc. I'm not sure why, i've been voicing opinions against it since it came out, but like facebook or ipods or macbooks, I gave in. Such an American. Though I plan to use it more to keep up with other people, since it will allow me to keep up with John Mayer and Mark Hoppus in hopes that their daily lives will inspire me. I think it's the promotion of exhibitionism that bothers me so I won't be "tweeting" or whatever. Instead I'll just write these long blogs!