Everything

New York is a beautiful and tragic and magical and awful place.

There are a few things everyone should know about New York that I think no one ever really talks about. It’s really cold here in January. By that, I mean it’s so utterly bitter outside that you find yourself contemplating if it is actually physically possible for bones to freeze. Also, every few blocks you need to avoid animal feces on the sidewalk, as so many people have dogs and yet do not carry doggy bags. (?) And the 6^th Ave subway often smells like pee. No grocery stores. Everything’s expensive. There’s always the uncertain risk of bed bugs. Death by moving fixed gear is a real possibility on Bedford Ave. I think the cyclists can’t see over their beards.

In spite of all that, it’s also a dreamland. As I write this, I’m contemplating the idea of ordering in for chocolate chip cookies. Only in New York can you order from 50 different restaurants, bakeries, and bodegas, whatever you want at any time of night. You can stand in a subway stop in Brooklyn and find yourself only moments later in Times Square on the most densely populated city block in the world. Or take the train a couple stops over to Washington Square Park and throw a penny into the fountain. My office in Greenwich Village, outright THE most charming neighborhood in America, is dangerously close to Bleeker Street Pizza and the view of the Hudson river is positively stunning.

I took a new route home from Williamsburg today and found a walk up vintage closet and maybe the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen, hidden away in the bustle of Driggs street.  Reclaimed hangers from Junk? Yes, please. I had a life changing hot dog that cost me 4 bucks. Yesterday, it was a Polish potato dumpling at the same price and honestly, riding the subway isn’t that bad at all. Add to that, you look across the East River and see this. You have to catch your breath.

Then there’s this amazing opportunity I keep referring to as my job. Truly, I could not stand to be more blessed. I think sometimes we ask God for something and when it finally arrives, we’re unprepared to receive it.  I have more work to do in the next month than I know what to do with. It’s going to take weekends and nights and skipped lunches. It will be far and away the most challenging task I’ve ever set out to accomplish and I wouldn’t give up a single second of it because next week I have a Skype meeting with a colleague in India. The week after that, I’ll be launching a nation wide campaign with the largest public relations firm in the country. The following week, I’ll be heading off in a tour van for 4 months to see this amazing nation we all call our home.

So I guess what I ask the world is this….If you’re not putting everything all in, what are you really doing?

New York takes everything from you and gives nothing back and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

Bryant Park

NYE threads

Punch Brothers at The Bowery

Rock Center

 

Keys to the Office 

Heart Elbow Pads :)

Sunshine in Greenpoint

Modern Anthology

Crif Dogs

This is not a Buffalo Exchange. 

The City So Nice, They Named It Twice.

I feel like I've been on the fast train ever since I got back from New York this week! I literally have not had time to unpack one thing. I've been desperately grabbing things out of my closet that revolve around me not having to pull anything else out of the suitcase, lest I have to laundry. But, the time has come. I've been back from that wonderful and great bustling city for about 4 days now, laundering has to take place this morning. For the record, New York City is a scary and magical place and I can't wait to go back. As to be expected, I'll be splitting NYC in to at least two separate posts as there are a crap ton (that's a scientific estimation) of photos.

It rained on us the entire first day, but we still managed to make it into Soho and shop. Times Square is a hellish adventure that we chose to take at night and I've sworn to never go back. Also, the Gansevoort hotel bar is overrated. Sorry Kardashians. But, the weather brightened right up on the second day! We spent most of that day in the Financial district where we ate at the most delicious and adorable bakery called the Financier Patisserie before going to the 9/11 memorial. It was definitely ominous and obviously fairly sad, and I mean this is me...but we all thought it was kind of weird that tourists had huge smiles and were taking photos in front of the memory pools and stuff. I mean...weird? I don't know. Then we went over to Brooklyn with a friend of ours who lives there. The park in Williamsburg where I took the photo of the cityscape is kind of breathtaking.

P.S. Do yourself a favor; don't ever come to New York and fail to eat at The Shake Shack. Umm....I drool thinking of it now.

We became masters of the cab hail by the end. ;)

  Day 2

Egg Brioche. 

Amazing, right?

MSP late night Shake Shack.