Did I leave anything out?

Running across the Brooklyn Bridge at 5 a.m. may not have been the brightest idea, but while my time in New York has been ticking down, I can't afford to leave anything out. (Even if it does cause me have a fever, cold, sinus infection...). Nontheless, I did it, and the Brooklyn Bridge is an incredible piece of architecture that is hard to take in while listening to honks and horns of speeding cabs and cars.
Oh, and I finally tried Artichoke Basille's Pizza and Brewery -- a must for anyone in the city! I can't tell you how many times I walked by this summer and saw the long line but wondered why it was so popular. Well, now I know. Their cheese and artichoke pizza is a slice of heaven. Read more about this wonderful dive in New York Magazine.

After making numerous trips to UPS and deconstructing our apartment from half decorated to bare and lonely, I finally gave up the television set. (A little reminder- our TV was found on the side of the street at 5am after my birthday party at the Mansion). I put a post-it on the TV stating, "working TV, we found for free... pay it forward." Hopefully someone will get some more great use out of it because I know we did!

Update on the furniture -- it has not arrived in Arkansas yet, but it will!
I am waiting on pictures from the Les Paul concert at the Iridium to post on here, so stay tuned.

Nothing rains on my parade

I'm sure you are curious about the adventures I've had since my last post. Well, it has been a whirlwind since I last logged on. A lot has happened and I have so much more to do, but don't worry, I will keep you all updated... but somewhat out of order I'm sorry to say. For example I am beginning with Saturday. But don't panic, I won't leave anything out (honestly, do I ever?).

8:00 a.m. Saturday morning: I am up and moving, ready to start the day, a full day at that. Flea markets, rummage sales, farmers markets galore. With rain in today's forcast I knew I had to start early. I left my apartment at twenty till nine and headed uptown to Hell's Kitchen to see what all the fuss was about. Again, thanks to a tip from my aunt I had many markets to check out, but I had google-mapped it all perfectly. Hitting the L to the A (my usual train routine it seems), I get off at 42nd St.. and 8th Ave. and walk over to 39th between 9th and 10th. 

As seen in the picture I was greeted by the devil himself, completely full of hot air. Arriving minutes after nine, vendors were still setting up and I was already seeing fabulous finds. At that moment I back tracked, found the nearest ATM and withdrew the maximum amount I was going to allow myself to spend... or so I thought. Continuing back through Hell's Kitchen flea market I was finding a few wonderful things but I wasn't sure if the vintage 1940's Louis Vuitton was worth the wear or if snakeskin belts for 20 bucks were worth my time. Then I stroll over to the next vendor and see several vintage women's magazines. 1920s and 1930s, Farmer's Wife, Good Housekeeping, REDBOOK, etc. It was incredible. I began talking with the vendor and his wife about the magazine's and about my passion for magazine's. Of course the value of a 1920s women's magazine is ten times the amount of the cover price, but the the stories and history of magazine journalism lies within the pages of such publications. So I bought one and gave the vendor my e-mail to let me know when he gets more in the future. 

Blah...blah...blah... we talked for several minutes and come to find out his wife went to school at Mizzou. Small world I know. In the side of their booth was a set of walnut furniture which was fantastic. It looked similar to the pieces my grandparents used to have which are now partly in my apartment and partly in my room at my parents house. Custom made for a client, pure walnut, tongue and groove drawers, hand crafted legs, built in the in mid 50s  -- early modern furniture, and priced unreasonably low for the entire four piece set... I even told the couple they were crazy for selling that cheap. 

A couple of phone calls to my dad, and a couple phone calls not answered by my mom, I ended up buying the furniture... even cheaper than the asking price! Yes I know, your asking yourself, how am I going to get all that furniture back to Arkansas? 

After hailing a mini-van taxi, three men loaded all of the furniture up and drove to my apartment where I was met by Haynes and his dad who helped me bring it all up to my apartment... on the tenth floor. 

As I sit on my bed typing this post, I am still in awe of how fast this all happened, as is my mom. So now that all this furniture is in my apartment, how is going to get 1300 miles south? A shipping company is coming to pick it up this week and after it is packed and put on a palette, it will be taken on the railway to Little Rock, then taken by truck and delivered. Please hold your breath until I pull this off. 

After all these events the rain came down like cats and dogs, which put a bit of a damper on my day, but I headed back out and went down to Greenwich Village. I walked around for about an hour finding that both markets I wanted to attend had been run off by the rain. I met up with a friend from school and we ran into a few stops and good eats we had been meaning to try before we left. Our favorite was Yogurtland - cheapest yogurt in town, and the best part is... it is self serve and then pay by the ounce. Muy delicioso! 

More coming soon! 

She suggested it... I did it

For the past several posts I have been asking for suggestions concerning things to do my last few weeks in the city. For as many people as I know read this blog, only one person has given me any response. And to her I am thankful, but really, all suggestions are still welcome.
Last week my aunt sent me an e-mail with a list of things to do on any given day of the week.
I woke up without a plan, without a single intention for the entire day. Before I let myself rent another movie on iTunes and crawl back into bed to hibernate, which was Sunday's list of activities, I got on my computer and began uploading pictures from the past weekend. In the process I checked some older e-mails that I had forgotten about and stumbled upon all of the suggestions my aunt had supplied.

Thus I had a schedule for the day. After showering and getting ready, I headed to the Flower District. When I got off the train I wasn't sure which direction I should go, so I chose what I thought was east and started walking. Before seeing a single petal the scent of the city had made a 180 degree turn. Roses, hyacinths, and cala lillies, galore. I picked up my pace and got my camera out. There really is nothing like it anywhere else in the city. It reminded me of Papa's greenhouse but in the middle of a metropolis. I ducked into different wholesalers and flower houses and chatted with several shop owners. I watched one man make arrangements three feet in height, with bamboo, moss, and touches of color from hyacinths. Breathtaking.
Palms lined the sidewalks which gave shade to boxes of rose petals that were being bought by the ounce. Baskets, bamboo, and sticks of all shapes and colors were lining store windows to inspire any floral decorator to walk through the door. What is now left of the flower district (predominantly 27th st. between 6th ave. & 7th ave.), was easy to enjoy and reminded me of fond childhood memories.

After walking up and down 27th st. I headed for my next destination, Big Nicks. Located at 77th and Broadway, Big Nicks is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has cheap food. It was mid-afternoon and I sat outside in the shade enjoying the nice breeze and gazed over the 23 page menu, which predominantly included "unbeatable beefburgers." Looking over and over the menu, I searched for a turkey burger and came up short. So, Dad, I embraced the beef and ordered a cheeseburger. Be proud, I clearly haven't given up on red meat, just taken a hiatus. I lingered at Big Nicks for over an hour reading, writing, and people watching. It was very relaxing.

Next on my aunt's list was Zabar', conveniently located a couple blocks away from Big Nicks. She also had Filene's Basement on the list, but I found that on my own a while a go, and emptied my wallet at the Union Square location on Monday, thus I passed the one on the Upper West side, but I did not pass up Zabar's. I could outfit my entire kitchen, refrigerator, and pantry at Zabar's. I managed to snag a few gifts for people and wander around aimlessly for nearly an hour. It soon became a little crowded for my liking and since I was done shopping I slipped out and began heading back downtown to my neck of the woods.

Yet another book

So my reading list continues. I cannot recall ever reading this much in such a short period of time, but with the subway rides, and waiting on trains, etc. reading is the easiest way to kill time... and avoid eye contact with people.

Thus far I have finished:

• Julie Kraut & Shallon Lester's Hot Mess: Summer in the City
  
• Timothy Keller's The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
• Lily Koppel's Red Leather Diaries
• Pete Hamil's Forever
• Pete Hamil's Downtown
• William Golding's Lord of the Flies (for the tenth time)
• Letters to a Young Artist

This last book I got on Monday at P.s.1 and is a quick read. For anyone aspiring to achieve their life goals and ambitions, I suggest reading Letters to a Young Artist. A young man a year out of college moved across the country to New York City to pursue his art as a career. He feels compelled to write artists who have once been in his shoes. Several weeks later he actually gets a response. Soon after he begins writing other artists for words of wisdom, passion, and integrity.
The small book contains twenty-three letters from artists across the world, from Stephen Shore, Yvonne Rainer, Yoko Ono, to Guerrilla Girls and Xu Bing.

Words of wisdom I particularly valued:
Young artist to be,
"You should have grandiose ideas about your future success. No one with small ambitions and vague goals ever amounted to much in this game." -Kerry James Marshall, Chicago

Dear Young Artist,
"New York is a tough city. It is complex and beautiful. Cities are amazing and brutal. We love cities. They survive, we survive. Each individual finds a way alone or with the help of others.
One must know when deciding to beome an artist-it is an irresistible attraction that there are no guarantees of success, rewards, recognition, etc. One chooses or is drawn to a life of producing works that have no practical use in a largely indifferent world. The way is not easy or comfortable. To be an artist you must love art-and you must respect and find a haven for yourself in your work." -Joan Jonas, New York

Dear Y.A.,
"...The real importance lies in the question, 'How can I write in ways that contribute?'...Everything else follows. Good luck to us," -Jimmie Durham, Berlin

Dear Young Artist,
"...Good luck. You are already succeeding just by attempting." -Elizabeth Murray, New York

Monday, fun-day, with a touch of seriousness. Can you handle it?

Monday was one of my favorite days I have had this summer. It mixed many of my favorite things: art, architecture, design, exploration, and adventure. I traveled to Long Island City, Queens to visit P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, an affiliate of MoMA. One of my favorite teachers last semester told me that my summer would not be complete if I did not make the trip. I thought she might have been playing up the fact that her sister, Alanna Heiss, founded P.S.1 in 1971 as the Institute for Art and Urban Resources, Inc.

Well, my professor was not merely shining light upon her sister, because the museum has become a new obsession of mine. It could easily be my favorite, but in a whole different spectrum of museums. The building is unique, as it was the first public school in New York. The architecture and restoration were as mesmerizing as the interpretations of socio politics and culture of the 1960s, which is a current exhibit that is heart felt, gut wrenching, and leaves the soul wanting more.

My favorite exhibit that I saw is called "That Was Then... This is Now." Split up into three sections, flags, weapons, and dreams, an "international group of artists, spanning 4 decades mobilized art as a means of change."

"That was Then... This is Now, situates theses representations as central to artists collective aspiration towards progress, as it examines political hopes and the ambiguity of symbols meant to imply consensus."

Unless you have a media pass, no one can take pictures of the installations or anything in the exhibits for that matter. As I was sitting on the floor in awe of Controller of the Universe (picture at the left), a hanging sculpture consisting of old tools and weapons (some literally rusted and discolored and out of production), I notice a man taking pictures from every angle. I tried not to get annoyed, but it was seriously starting to bother my flow of thoughts. *Side note: I'm writing a paper on P.s.1 for my final project of the summer.* Anyways, before I decided to get mad, I see the P.s1 employee chatting with them about the piece. His accent was very strong and his English was somewhat broken.

A light bulb went off in my head and I figured it out. The man taking pictures was, Damian Ortega, the artist of the sculpture and not to mention a well known artist originally from Mexico. Once I put the pieces of the puzzle together I tried to "slowly" approach him (we were the only ones in the room), and ask him twenty questions about the piece.

The dream section of the exhibit was as if Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech had come alive. The reality that the power for equality and the right to vote was once a dream for women and African Americans has pus history in much more perspective. To see the feeling and passion as art is much more powerful than reading in a text book.
I took many deep breaths while I was in the room of dreams because what many of us, including myself take for granted, was once many American's dream.

The flag portion of the exhibit struck a few cords with me. Being raised in Southern suburbia America, I have been raised seeing the flag on a flag pole, raised above school yards, front lawns, churches, etc. All of which consist of thirteen stripes and fifty stars, with the universal colors of red, white, and blue.

Walking into the room I was faced with a police car hanging upside down from the ceiling, viewable from all angles. I turned to my left and see a flag made of aluminum foil. It still had thirteen stripes and fifty stars. Did it hold the same meaning? What about a water color that had dots painted for the stars, but all the colors remained true?
Or what about Lovett Codagnone's, Stripped, hand stitched cotton and satin flag which had thirteen strips was completely black?

Does the meaning of the flag change by an artists interpretation? It isn't my place to say it does or it does not, because I am only one person and can only speak for myself. But to me, the flag stands for camaraderie, freedom, courage, justice, heritage, achievement, and future perseverance.

Hopefully, you've all enjoyed my deep thinking for the day. Monday was really an awesome experience and I got to think a lot about art and America's history and I am very glad I took my professor's advice, because I would have regretted not going. Put it on your list next time you visit.
Even if contemporary art isn't your niche, the architecture is out of this world.

too busy vs. too bored

Okay so there really is no way of being bored in New York, but today my plans got cancelled because P.S.1 isn't opened on Tuesday's or Wednesday's and my day was left wide open. Completely open. Since both of my roommates were at work and I wasn't in the mood to go uptown or have to run through crowds of tourists in mid-town, I decided to explore more of the lower east side. 

I walked past a few parks, several schools, exploring more of my neighborhood.  I walked about a mile and a half and then stumbled upon Sugar Sweet Sunshine, a bakery that specializes in cupcakes. It is much like Magnolia Bakery but so much better. Haynes told me about it when I first moved here and I have read about it several times in local articles. Until

 now I had totally forgotten about it. 

Side note: It is the perfect place I would take Mimi -- pumpkin cupcakes and chai tea -- not to sweet, but just the right amount of sugar to make the icing perfect! Unfortunately I was there alone, so I bought one for each of my roommates so we could try a few, and I could surprise them when they returned from work. (Also half the price of Magnolia... and for everyone at home, these cupcakes win hands down to C on K... wink, Mickey). 

So after my morning of wondering what I was going to do all day, I found Sugar Sweet Sunshine. And if you are addicted to Magnolia or think it is the only cupcake that exists in the city, please take a step on the wild side and explore other options. My preference -- the pistachio cupcake!  

So after indulging in a cupcake and ordering in grilled fish for dinner with my roommates, I got a burst of energy (I know, weird, right?) and went running along the east river. *Disclaimer: for all of those concerned, there were tons of people running, it was light outside, it was one block from my apartment, and I'm still alive.* It was a fantastic run. The river had a few waves but by the sky it was noticeable a storm is nearing. 

P.S.1 is moved to this weekend, in case you were wondering. 

Added to my list of things to do before I leave is the Flower District... anyone else have suggestions? 

Busy bee turned sleeping beauty

And on the the seventh day Maggie rested. Today is the first day in over four weeks that I have had nothing, and I mean nothing to do. No plans. Nothing set in stone that I am required to do. And let me tell you it is a great feeling. But nonetheless I found myself awake at 9 a.m. this morning getting ready and meeting Haynes on the corner about 45 minutes later to go to church. (I can't really go a whole day without any plans...). The church was a lot like The Crossing in Columbia but much much smaller and local. The sermon was awesome, and I plan on going back. Prior to today I have worked and moved non stop! 

Friday I had the day off of work to go on a media tour with about ten people from Missouri to visit different publications and media fields. 

But before the tours began I went to the Miley Cyrus concert in Bryant Park for Good Morning America. Yes, yes I did. It was fantastic. I throughly enjoyed myself. It was so crowded and mothers and daughters everywhere but

 I was able to sly my way up as far as I could, for as late as I got there - 7 a.m. I stood next to a mother of twins who were seven years old and adorable. 

The mother was switching daughters between songs on who would get on her back to actually see Miley. It was really cute, but sad for the twin that didn't get to see. So, I offered my assistance. 

Being a Miley fan myself, Sadie got on my back and we sang every song together and she and her sister both were able to see. Look at our picture... isn't she adorable? 

We began at Billboard magazine and made our way to Editor and Publisher, The NY Times, ELLE Magazine, New York Stock Exchange, and a couple others. Needless to say I grabbed a cab home close to 6 o'clock and was asleep in my bed by 6:30. My intentions were merely to take a nap and go out later in the evening, but my body did not agree, because I did not wake up until nearly 11 a.m. Saturday morning. I guess you could say I was tired? 

Well, after a very nice long night of sleep I caught up on some reading, finished another book, and read a few magazines before heading to work. Yesterday was my last day at Banana Republic, Soho. Don't worry, I have not quit, I am being transferred back to my home store and will pick up a few hours before I return to school. I can never really leave Banana.  Besides work, I came home and slept more. This weekend has really been a highlight -- please hence my sarcasm. 

Today is July 20 and I have about 25 days or so left.... I'm not actually going to count because that will make me sad, but my roommates and I are trying to make a list of things we must do before we leave, which, oops... we haven't done yet. So far the list consists of, Little Italy, Canal St. (Aunt Becka... comments welcome here), Jazz night at Bemelman's, Saks again... and seeing In the Heights. There are many more, but my list isn't next to me. If you have any suggestions let me know. I'm serious.

I have free time again and don't know what to do with it... so help me out. 

Tuesday I am going to P.S. 1 in Brooklyn - a part of MoMa, and am super excited! Look forward to a post about it.