Bedbug Debacle

Welcome to your new apartment! You have bedbugs!

Yes it's true. I have come face to exoskeleton with one of New York City's best known critters - Cimex lectularius, or as it's more commonly known, the bedbug. Deny it as I did, pretending like it was just mosquito bites littering my body and lauding my impeccable cleanliness habits, they came, they bit, they got themselves exterminated.

Thankfully I have a cooperative landlord who knows a thing or two about responsibility (because yes, landlords in New York City are responsible for the eradication of bedbugs in apartment buildings with more than three units) who immediately put me in touch with an exterminator who did a preliminary spray that day and came three days later (after I did loads and loads and loads and loads and well, you get the picture, of laundry and scrubbing) to essentially soak my bedroom in pesticide. It was a very excruciating process and I wish it on no one, but if it happens to you here's my advice:

1) Don't deny it. If you see clusters or lines of bites anywhere on your body, if you see blood or "ink" stains anywhere and especially if you see a bug, check your mattress, box spring, dust ruffle (that's where I found a party going on) and even check behind any pictures on the walls next to your bed. The longer you put off eradication, the larger the problem will get. If you catch a specimen, keep it. I used a lint roller. Also, take a picture.

2) Immediately notify your landlord who should put you in contact with a licensed exterminator. It is illegal to spray pesticides without a license so make sure your landlord is responsible and not up to any funny business. Do this both on the phone (more immediate) and in writing (certified mail with return receipt just to protect yourself).

3) Wash ALL fabric in your room in hot water and dry on high for at least an hour. The heat is what kills the bugs. All fabric means sheets, clothes, curtains, comforters, blankets, pillows, mattress covers, etc. etc. Anywhere bugs can hide. After washing, bag all clean clothes in sealed bags (trashbags work) and remove them from the infested room.

4) Buy bed-bug protecting cloth covers for your mattress, box spring and pillows. Make sure you purchase cloth covers because bedbugs can eat through the vinyl or plastic. Yes, I know they are expensive, but you are protecting your investment. Make sure to put on the covers immediately. This will prevent any bugs on the inside from getting out and will kill them eventually and will prevent any new bugs from hopping aboard.

5) When the exterminator comes, make sure all pictures are removed from the wall and that your bed is not touching the wall or any other furniture.

6) Keep your fingers crossed that the exterminators got all the little suckers, but if you see any more, call them and make sure they get back asap to do more spraying. Many times the original spraying will not kill eggs already laid and they will hatch. One more spray should be sufficient to solve your problem. Even the environmentalist I am says to make sure you do this, because there is no getting rid of bedbugs without chemicals.

Again, I hope you never have to deal with this, but if you do, shoot me your questions and I'll try to answer to the best of my ability or find someone who can.







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High After In the Heights

I'll admit it. I'm a musical junkie. Always have been and now that I live and work here, my addiction has only grown hungrier.

On my way to the gym yesterday after work, I walked by the In the Heights theater and saw that the lottery raffle was back on. I haven't seen many people out there in the last couple of months. Last summer I waited six different times for that lottery and didn't win until the last time, when of course they called my name first. It was my first major production since moving here and I loved every minute of it. It's not hard to love when sitting in the front row being absorbed into the incredible dance choreography and hearing pre-microphone voices from 10 feet away.

So back to yesterday - in my much adopted typical New York fashion, I'm walking down the block, cell phone in one hand, gym bag slung around the shoulder and of course sunglasses hiding my computer-tired eyes, I stop to fill out the little slip of paper for two tickets. Why not? I had 30 minutes to spare reading my latest book ("Around the World in 80 Days" - very entertaining if you've never tried it). I didn't have anyone in mind for the second ticket at the time, but I figured if I won a) it would be a waste to let the second ticket go to waste and b) I know people here now who want to go to these things with me.

Flashback to last summer again. Each time I entered, at least 60 other people were there to enter as well. The show only raffles off between 20-26 tickets each night, so your odds aren't that wonderful. However, last night, for some reason, there were only 22 people present for the lottery. We all got tickets!

I sat on orchestra left last night and got a different view of the stage from last fall. Half the cast has changed over, and with the exception of the character Vanessa (she was lost and definitely not as passionate as the others), I thought they were all wonderful.

Here's a piece of advice, go get lottery tickets now for In the Heights if you want to see this wonderful show, before all the summer tourists get here that is.

Drawings take place: Tuesday - opens 4:30 with drawing at 5:00. Wednesday-Friday - opens 5:30 with drawing at 6:00. Weekends, check with the box office. Tickets are all front row for $26.50 cash.

Go see it!! You'll be singing the songs all the way home!!








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Different Coats for Different Folks

If there is one thing I've noticed about New Yorkers in the winter, it's that nobody wears coats. Sure people are covered up; except for the Naked Cowboy prancing around in his briefs, I don't see much bare pale skin from people these days. I'm not talking about those light-weight wool trendy coats or the leather bombers or even the gargantuan furs overwhelming the shoulders of little old ladies everywhere. I'm talking about the Goose down, microfiber, L.L. Bean, made-for-negative-20-degrees coats.

Travel up to Boston or Providence or even Albany, and you will find the Columbias, Northfaces and Lands Ends that New Yorkers see in adds on the street, but never actually buy unless taking a ski trip to the Adirondacks. It's a style thing.

I own what I call my marshmallow coat. It's white and fluffy, made from synthetic down (supposedly warmer than the real thing), has a hood that pulls so tight I can make it so that only my nose peeks out (not 100% practical, but good for the wind or when I want to be in disguise), and the best part is that while it covers everything from my keppi to my kishkas, I can wear a tank top underneath and still be toasty in that coat. I'll be the first to admit it's not very stylish. It wouldn't go well with a pair of Tory Burch skimmers and it would stand-up a D&G hobo. It certainly would clash with a Fredrik Fekkai styled do and a Chanel face. Needless to say, you won't see Isla Fischer wearing my coat in her recently released Confessions of a Shopaholic.

This coat was my constant companion in Boston. But, how many times have I worn that coat this winter? Twice.

I understand that New York's climate is slightly milder than what I left in Boston, however, there have been days (re: this morning) when I wish I would have dragged my 10 lb. monster coat out of hiding and taken up double space on the subway despite how crowded it is. Then there's the hauling. When I already walk around with my gym bag over one shoulder, my purse on the other, my left hand balancing my lunch and my right hand doing the Metrocard swiping, I'd need to be an octopus to handle much more. My pedestrial lifestyle prohibits marshmallow coat wearing.

Even though I'd prefer not to think the style thing affects me, this is the fashion capital of the country and I'd be lying if I said that it doesn't. Not that I can afford the Tory Burch skimmers or the Chanel face, but working and living in this city, you almost work harder to present a better image of yourself.

New Yorkers do find other ways to keep warm - whether drinking/holding five cups of Starbucks a day, standing over subway grates to feel the warm breeze engulf their feet, ducking into walk-through stores as shortcuts between streets, and my personal favorite, making sure to walk by and linger under hotel entrances with heat lamps. Who needs a marshmallow coat when you've got all this?

I'll keep mine though, you know, in case I go back to Boston, Providence, Albany...







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Gilty Pleasure

In New York, it's all about fashion. Even when you think no one is watching, someone is and someone has an opinion. Like it or not, that's the way it is, so you better play along right? Well, I think there's no better way to begin than to join this fabulous site I discovered recently.

Gilt Groupe is a New York based company that sells designer clothes, shoes, jewelery and home wares for ridiculously marked down prices. The good news for you, my out of town readers, is that it's free to join and anyone can do it.

What makes Gilt Groupe unusual is that it does not have a constant stream of the same merchandise. Everyday at noon a new sale or couple of sales begin and things sell out very quickly. So, if you are not someone who checks email/Internet consistently, this is not for you. However, if you manage to snag some loot, you will be handsomely rewarded. For example, check out the photos below to see what I practically stole this morning:





First the sweater from Design History - I bought it for $34 and it was originally $172. Next, the skirt from IISLI was originally $228 and I got it for $34. Last, my favorite new yellow silk party shirt from Alice + Olivia was only $38 down from $220. You just can't find these deals in stores people, ANYWHERE in New York.

The site has both men's and women's sales as well as children's, so it truly is for everyone. They offer member benefits as well, so click here to get started.

Happy Shopping!







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Leaving the New York Bubble

If you really want to observe how New York has had an impact on your life, leave it.

I don't merely mean take the Q to Brooklyn or the LIRR to Montauk, but escape the New York bubble. To do that, you usually need to get on a plane, or a long train ride, or an even longer bus ride or an even even longer car ride.

I did not realize how important this step is in the whole "moving to New York from someplace out of New York" process, by my recent 5-day trip to Denver made me understand the city from a more enlightened perspective.

I have only lived here for about six months -- half a year if you want to think about it that way. Long enough to feel established and grow some short roots but short enough to still completely flounder at the awe of the city's magnanimosity, my time here has convinced my lifestyle that it needs to adapt in ways my brain didn't even acknowledge.

Exhibit A: Denver International Airport (DIA) uses an underground tram system to connect the three concourses with the main terminal and baggage claim. Within five minutes of disembarking the plane on Mile-High soil, I found myself face to face with a tram about as crowded as the R train on a Tuesday night at 9:45 p.m. (before most of the major shows let out but early enough so those leaving the comedy performances and the earlier plays care pining to get home). There was definitely room. But I was not going to succumb to the stubbornness of the weary travelers who would rather have their two feet of circum-personal space than let me on. Without a thought (all of this analysis came after), I pushed on, found a grab bar and awaited my baggage claim stop. Then came the thinking -- "Wow, that was really New York of me!"

Exhibit B: I dare any New Yorker to step into a suburban supermarket (not just a grocery store or a market but a SUPERmarket) and not feel envious. Even if all you eat are frozen Hungry Man dinners of mashed potatoes and Salisbury steak and don't care about the selection of fresh, pure produce, you would still feel jealous of the significantly lower prices. Aisle after aisle, frozen food freezer after deli counter, prepared food bar after produce racks (complete with those misters which make a "thunder" noise before turning on), cheese cooler after organic food section, sample table after fresh fish department, I stood enamored at what I was missing out on. Sure there is Whole Foods, the cult market of Manhattan, but have you seen the inflated prices there? Just to satisfy my urge for suburban SUPERmarket greatness in New York, I bought a box of scrumptious, juicy blueberries for $1 and two California avocadoes (the only true avocado) also for $1 each. Call it gluttony if you want, but I love my fresh produce.

Lastly, Exhibit C: Since moving to Manhattan, I've developed my already keen sense of direction to one in which I think of almost everything in terms of North, South, East and West. With a grid system like ours, it's so easy to find your way around; except when you go below Houston, I'm a little rickety. However, when you take away the grid, the park, the water, boy, I have no idea which way is up. At DIA, I finally figured out which side of the terminal I should tell my Aunt to pick me up by figuring out that I could not see the Rocky Mountains in any direction so I must be facing east. If you haven't figured it out, I use landmarks a lot. Perhaps a few more months of internal compass training in New York should do the trick of fine tuning my sense of direction enough not to get me lost in other parts of the world.

[Random NY fact: Manhattan doesn't exactly run due north to due south. The island is slightly slanted to the East. So when you walk up 5th Avenue, you actually head northeast instead of due north like you would think. Ssssh! Don't tell anyone though or you might be the enemy of many pedestrians. New Yorkers have adapted faithful directions to fit their needs.]

So get out New Yorkers, out I say! Then come back. Don't forget to share your renewed perspectives with me. Remember, you can only really appreciate what you have until you see both what you and others are missing out on.








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The Best Way to Travel to Travel?

So I'm leaving New York tomorrow for the first time since I moved here (well, if you don't count trips to Long Island leaving New York). It's kind of a big deal. I've been so absorbed in the riches and rigors of the city that the thought of leaving is a little disheartening. If I'm at the center of the universe, what could happen when I leave?

Then I think, well, it's only 5 days. I think Manhattan will go on without me. Surely I will go on without it as I am traveling tomorrow morning from JFK to the mile-high city of Denver, CO where the weather is said to be warmer than the balmy negative digits New Yorkers are sure to experience this weekend. But what I am most looking forward to is the presence of oxygenated air. Sure the atmosphere is thinner, but I guarantee that the proportion of O2 is still greater there than it is here with all the taxi fumes and cigarette smoke. Oh, New York.

But back on topic, I am somewhat puzzled at the matter of how a girl gets to the airport in this city. Bus? Cab? Walk? Train? Blimp? Tram? Space Shuttle? For someone who has gotten used to rapid public transit, I am dumbfounded as to how to make my way to a place further than a 20 minute subway ride away.

Looking at MTA map, I can take the subway to Penn Station, take the LIRR to Jamaica where I can then get on the AirTrain Bus...too many modes of transportation for me. I could also take the subway to Port Authority and pay $18 to get on a bus to JFK - definitely a cheaper option which cuts out some time.

Then again, my flight leaves at 8:30, the wind chill tomorrow is said to be at around 1* and it's going to be snowing. Maybe I'll just make it easy on myself and hop on a cab. Next time I'll be more adventurous.

Any tips for next time would be much appreciated.

A Touch of Union Square Class

High tea has been a Mom-n-Me tradition as far back as I remember. It's not a snooty thing like you might think, although my mom used to dress me up like a "society lady" when I was six years old, with a hat and everything. (I think it was a guilty pleasure).

So on my mom's recent holiday NYC visit, we decided to continue the tradition and have tea, metropolitan style. I searched Google for the best and most unique tea houses in the country. My search took me from the elite hotels to the smallest of boutiques, but we settled on Lady Mendl's Tea Salon located off of Union Square inside the Inn at Irving Place.

It was a brisk Monday afternoon (yes, I played hookie from work), and we were delighted to enter the warm reception area of the Inn with a fire crackling, mistletoe hanging and the most charming employees I've met in New York. They took our coats, welcomed us to tea and gave us a choice of tables, by the fireplace or the window. Like you even had to ask my mom, the window was our destination.

Our friendly and attentive server brought the first course, a mixed greens salad. Interesting, since salad isn't traditionally served at high tea, but I went with it. The slight tang in the dressing was refreshing after a full day of walking around. After the salad, we ordered our tea (and the Champagne to ring in the New Year of course). If you are in the mood for something light but extremely flavorful, I'd recommend the White Peony. Of course you can't resist mixing in the sugar cubes hand-decorated with candy roses.

Next came the finger sandwiches. I used to love these as a little girl because the crusts were cut off and if I didn't like something, I only wasted a little bit instead of a whole sandwich. Plus, there's the whole nice idea of not having to make decisions when you can try everything! The menu at Lady Mendl's stayed traditional with egg salad and cucumber rounds, but added a seasonal twist with the turkey and cranberry (a personal favorite combination) triangles and a little kick with the goat cheese circles. The best part - they offered seconds!

Then the scones came. Fresh baked plain and cranberry goodness with the usually jam and clotted cream accompaniments. Those were gone within minutes.

After two pots of steaming tea (at this point, I too was glad we were sitting by the window) they brought out slices of cake. Again, unusual since high-tea desserts usually follow the pattern of the sandwiches are are little, meant to be eaten in a bite or two. My mom tried the vanilla and I tried the chocolate, and although I usually prefer the rich taste of cacao bean and sugar, I must say my mom made the better choice. Her's was more textured like Phyllo dough, while mine was a tad dry and sticky. Her's also came with fresh berries while mine only came with coulis. Fresh berries are always better than coulis.

Right when we thought we'd sipped our last sip of tea, our ever so pleasant waiter (did I mention that all of the service staff were male while all of the patrons were female?...Nice for a change) brought the final course - the finger desserts I'd originally thought went missing. But alas, they were present in the meal, chocolate covered strawberries and all.

The whole experience was wonderful and relaxing. With 20 different flavors of tea and five lovely courses of food, Lady Mendl's is a classy refuge away from the snow and the taxi fumes that tend to mess with your head when you are outside for too long. Slightly pricey ($35 per person plus $10 for Champagne), the experience would be fun for a celebration or to entertain out-of-town guests. Although, I wouldn't be adverse to going for no particular reason either.








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Nespresso Me Happy

I've been meaning to visit Nespresso since September. I've had a free cappuccino coupon sitting in my pantry and, for goodness’ sake, I live within walking distance.

So today I did it. I took out the coupon and walked down to the Nespresso Boutique Bar (on Madison Ave. between 65th and 66th) to meet a friend. Upon entrance you are intrigued by the decor of little espresso "pods" in unique colors covering the walls, invited by the sweet smell of brewing espresso and welcomed by friendly servers dressed in gold and black. You will feel very "New York" when you sit down in posh silver chairs and glance through their menu of 12 flavors of espressos made into several frothy, iced or no-frills drinks.

I ordered the cappuccino, which was brought to the table with a long sugar sleeve and a small square of dark chocolate. My friend got the same, plus two mini-pastries, the smallest croissant I’ve ever seen and a lemony Madeline. This place doesn’t necessarily fall into the “cheap Manhattan” theme of things to do, with the cappuccino at $5 and the mini-pastries at $6 for two, but time-wise, you can spend several blissful hours there and dole out less than $15.

Obtaining the bill proved to be a bit difficult since our original waitress disappeared without notice, but overall the experience proved a good intellectual setting great for conversation, could satisfy a sweets or caffeine craving and was a different (slightly verging on elitist) change of venue from the hundreds of Starbucks scattered throughout the island. For those in Lower Manhattan, there is another location in Soho for your convenience.







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A Walrus of an Aquarium

Seals, penguins and jellyfish - how could you go wrong? I decided to start my new year right with a little marine love and trekked to Coney Island to visit the New York Aquarium.

Whenever I travel, I make it a point to visit that city's aquarium, if there is one. It's often the best way to gauge how well a city can incorporate nature into an urban environment. Having a degree in environmental science, I am always impressed when an aquarium can meld these two antitheses of worlds.

Upon arriving at Coney Island (yes, there is an extra special benefit of going to the aquarium that you get to walk around Coney Island afterward) after an hour and a half ride on the Q train (that's the downfall), I flashed my Bank of America card to get free admission. (After a careful look back I cannot find a previous blog on this so pardon the aside: If you are a Bank of America card holder you can gain free admission to many popular museums throughout the country on the first weekend of every month. Check out this link to find out which you'd like to get into for free).

Many people might not know this, but the NY Aquarium is open 365 days a year. Just make sure you visit on a fair-weather day because the exhibits are spread out through several buildings and you must wander outside to make your way from the sharks to the jellyfish. Plus, who wants to sit through the sea lion show in the rain?

Saturday was a perfectly crisp, clear day, perfect for viewing the marine creatures of the sea. After viewing the main tank near the entrance, we made our way through to the viewing windows of the seals, otters and the year and a half old baby walrus. If you ever want to feel skinny, go visit the walrus. That thing has more jiggling blubber than anything I've ever seen, but he was really fun to watch frolic through his tank. Next up was the shark building. Often in New York, we forget about the Earth's original predators as we most often fall victim to anthropomorphic enemies like traffic accidents, construction hazards and general city pollution. Watching the sharks in their tank and silently shuttering at the sight of their razor, predator teeth brought me humbly back to "human" land, if only for the afternoon.

I gazed at the delicate, almost ghost-like jellyfish, read about fish that change from male to female and back again (very fitting for this city), and of course sat through the sea-lion show. Even though Osborne the sea-lion was the only creature to make an appearance, the show did not lack in hilarity or amazing-ness. I was one of those children who always pictured myself as a dolphin trainer at Sea World when I grew up. That never materialized, but I can never turn down a couple of good marine mammal tricks.

All and all, I would recommend you visit. Take an afternoon away from the city and take a trip to the sea. Oh, and if you want a sea-lion kiss at the show, sit in the front row.







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The New Year's Party Shuffle

New year's eve and New York City - they go together quintessentially.

So for my first New year's eve in the quintessential New year's eve city (minus the time I 3 years ago when I was in town for less than 48 hours but happened to fit in Times Square and the "ball"...never again), I decided that I wanted to have a bit of fun. I'm not a big party girl and the quieter house party/dinner party usually appeals to me more, but the idea of getting dressed up, dancing til dawn and clinking champagne glasses with strangers is oh so New York. And this is a blog about New York.

I rounded up some friends all with the same intents, we did some research online, found a couple of clubs/lounges with open bar specials. Found a few more. Found a couple hundred more. Found VIP speacials. Found Ultra VIP specials. Found restaurants. Clubs. Bars. Speakeasys. Well, scratch the speakeasys.

If you've conducted this search, you are sure to have ended up in the same conundrum. How is one to pick a locale to bring in the new year when New York City offers so many venues? Here's what I learned.

1) Go to the source. New Year's Eve Central is the main coordinator behind hundreds of major parties throughout the city. They essentially rent the restaurants/clubs/bars/lounges and throw their own parties. If you look through their Website, the descriptions of the parties are pretty much the same with the exception of the ticket prices and appetizer selections. Often, you can find tickets to these same parties through various other sources, but they will try to lure you with a deal and ultimately rip you off (like they tried to do to me) or just charge more in the first place. Definitely shop around before purchasing.

2) Decide on the type of party environment you would like before beginning your search. With hundreds of venues to choose from, it is easy to get lost in the selection process. If the large club scene is your style, most of the major dance floors in the city will be ringing with tunes of international DJs. However, if a quieter lounge environment would better suit your needs, there are also several options. There are bar frat parties, "green" parties, ethnic parties, classy parties, boat parties (I'm saving up for next year), even rooftop parties (although with the chilly forecast for tomorrow night, I wouldn't want to be at one of those). You get the picture - if you decide before getting lost in the Websites, it will be much easier for you in the end.

3) Book early. Many of the more popular venues will sell out - quickly. Book at least 2-3 weeks before the big day to avoid sell-outs and increasing ticket prices.

4) Book together. If going out in a group, have one person purchase all of the tickets to cut down on fees. NYE Central charges $4.95 per order to pick up tickets, and at least $9.95 per order to ship the tickets. The more tickets per order, the less in fees everyone pays.

5) Eat beforehand. Most of the parties, with the exception of restaurants, will not be serving substantial food. They list appetizers, but chances are the passed trays will be empty before they reach you. With all that "premium open bar," you don't want to get sick on New year's.

6) Have fun! You paid for it and you worked hard this year, so enjoy! Just be safe in the process.

Happy New Year's everyone!







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Recruiting Friars

You have to love Subway ads.

If you ride the Subway often, I'm sure you've seen the multi-lingual lawyer and "Save our Schools!" banner ads that ring the ceilings of train cars. If you've ridden the Shuttle between Times Square and Grand Central, I'm sure you've seen how TV Shows like MadMen and Shrek the Musical have decked out entire cars - from the ceilings to the seats, even to the floors. Anybody been lucky to see an ad from Dr. Zizmor, the amazing dermatologist who speaks five languages, can cure anything relating to your epidermis and has several financing options? (hint: you can spot the thing because it uses more than 10 different font families - to clarify graphic design speak, it is a mess).

I thought I'd seen most of the good ones. Until this morning and this is what I saw:


It took me a minute to figure out that this wasn't just an ad for a church, but is was an ad to become a monk! Do people who become monks usually do so because of an ad they saw on the Subway? Isn't there supposed to be some sort of calling that makes someone commit to this sort of life choice? Can you actually picture someone sitting on a rickety cracked orange seat in the Subway thinking, "I hate my job. Maybe I should be a monk?" Is the church really so down on its luck that it has to resort to posting recruiting ads on public transportation like the Army or Americorps?

I frankly don't know the answers to any of these questions, but the whole experience of seeing this ad this morning made me laugh inside, so much so that I had to check out the Website and tell you about it.

So who can be a Franciscan Friar (as they call themselves) you ask? I found out:

• between 22 and 38 years of age
• in good physical and mental health
• a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
• open to learning about and living a Franciscan religious life in the 21st century
• committed to living the vows of celibate chastity, poverty and obedience
• prayerful with a desire to mature in the spiritual life
• seeking to live and serve in fraternal communities
• a practicing Roman Catholic for at least 3 years
• free of significant financial and family obligations
• a high school graduate, or, if you wish to minister as a priest, completion of at least two years of college

It seems pretty consistent with what I've heard about monks previously, except the part about only being a Roman Catholic for 3 years. I mean, if you are going to be preaching about Catholicism and living that way of life with other Catholics, don't you think they'd want you to know a bit more about your religion than from what you could learn in 3 years. It's taken me 21.5 years to learn what it is to be Jewish, and I still don't really know what that is. Last thing, anyone notice how none of the qualifications explicitly say that you have to be male? You might think that is inherent, but it is New York you know.

Anyway, that was the morning bit of randomness. And hey, if you're reading this and maybe you do hate your job, you can always be a Franciscan Friar.







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Tourist Time

Friends and family headed your way for the holidays and you have no clue where to entertain them? Here are my choices for the best ways to manipulate your loved ones into thinking you're hip and in the know about your city:

1) Max Brenners: Chocolate by the Bald Man

Who doesn't love chocolate? (Wait, think carefully before answering that question because if you can think of a name, you probably shouldn't be acquainted with them). You walk into Max Brenner's (2 locations: Union Square at 13th and Broadway and East Village 2nd Ave at 9th Street) and it's like walking into Willy Wonka's chocolate wonderland - at least that's what they want you to feel like. From the sample chocolate nice helpers treat you to upon entering (don't be too greedy though - you only get one and they remember your face) - to the 25 flavors of hot chocolate to the pipes of chocolate flowing throughout the ceiling, this place is heaven. I can't get enough of the Swiss Whipped Hot Chocolat ($5.25) and a good treat to split is the Tutti-Fruitti Waffles ($13.95) (you can feel better about yourself because you are eating fruit, albeit covered in to-die-for chocolate sauce). Be aware that the wait is usually lengthy, but the experience is all too worth it. Go in the morning, just before the lunch crowd hits.

2) Strand Book Store

Just a block away from Max Brenner's you will find the flagship location of Strand Book Store. I love this book store because you can find everything you would find at the big chain stores, but so much more. I am a big fan of the old and rare books section. I once found a 1942 copy of Thoreau's "Walden" for $6. In addition to books, you can also purchase one of their trademark tote bags or t-shirts with their slogan "18 Miles of Books." Be sure not to go in with any other large backpacks or shopping bags though or you will have to go through a lengthy check-in/check-out process.

3) MoMa Store

Forget the actual museum when you can visit one of the neatest shops in the city. Find gifts for almost anyone you need from a solar-powered laptop charging backpack to a chair and coffee table made completely out of cardboard. Of course they have more reasonable items with equally as much interest like a bracelet in the shape of a double helix (a great conversation starter) or neon stemware. Anyone can enter the store, but you must have a ticket to enter the museum - unless you go on a Friday night, then it's gratis. I would definitely recommend checking out the museum as well - make sure to see the Van Gogh exhibit before it closes Jan. 5. I don't want to knock one of the greatest contemporary art establishments in the city/country, but the store deserves the recognition here. I mean, all the touristy books list the museum. For ideas on what they have, go to momastore.org.

4) Top of the Rock

The Empire State Building usually gets all the acclaim for its spectacular views and old frills and glitz. However, to opt for a slightly different view of the city, purchase your ticket to the top of the GE building in Rockefeller center. You get both history and breathtaking views in this experience as the walls of the waiting rooms are covered in Rockefeller history. For example, did you know that John D. Rockefeller was a lifelong teetotaler? (I'll save you the trouble of looking that up on dictionary.com and tell you that's a person who doesn't drink alcohol). The extra benefit about visiting the Top of the Rock, besides the psychedelic lighted room at the top (go and you'll know what I'm talking about), is that you actually get to have the Empire State Building IN your panoramic photos, which I thought was cool. Fight the cold weather and go at night to really experience the lights of the city.

5) Serendipity

Known for its role in the cheesy 90's flick of the same name, Serendipity is the home of the self-proclaimed best frozen hot chocolate and of course ice cream sundae in Manhattan. The frills and decorations make this restaurant with a menu full of comfort foods a little girls dream, but all other members of your party will love it as well. Make reservations in advance or expect to wait at least 45 minutes. Luckily, you have Dylan's Candy Bar just down the way to pass some time while you wait.

I'm sure there are more, but these are my top 5. Have fun exploring the city and let me know if you find any others worthy of adding to the list.







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More Cheap Theater

As I mentioned in my last post, I FINALLY got to see Spring Awakening - a musical that takes place in 1890's Germany about repressed adolescents figuring out life, sex, themselves (the original play was banned so you know it's scandalous) on Tuesday night. I found the story a bit predictable and depressing, but the music was excellent and the passion within each of the actors was surely intense - that made for a good show.

Here's the great part (and probably why I enjoyed the show so much), for $40 you can sit on-stage. I don't mean off to the side somewhere where you can barely see the show, but I mean on the stage, with the actors - you can hear their voices from their mouths as opposed to just a mix out of the speakers. This is sometimes a drawback because you miss some words when the music gets really loud, but on the whole, it was an amazing experience that I'd highly recommend. Plus, you pay so much less than all those clamoring for front row seats.

You can buy these tickets online by choosing "on-stage seating" or by going to the box office day of. But hurry! The show closes January 18th!







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Too Broke for Theater? No such thing!

Although I discovered the Roundabout Theatre's HipTix mailing list a few months ago, I only recently realize how amazing it is and I feel it's time to share.

The Roundabout Theatre Company is actually based down the street from my office on 46th Street. Over the years they have produced shows like Cabaret and an original reading of Spring Awakening (which I am going to see finally tonight!), and now they are promoting Pal Joey with Stockard Channing and have some more coming out with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in the Spring. Most of their tickets sell for regular prices ($74 and up), HOWEVER (this is a BIG "however" - notice the caps), if you are between the ages of 18-35, you can get tickets to ANY of their shows for only $20! Only $20! That's awesome! Also, they will have periodic promotions to get $10 tickets, sometimes with free after parties.

I went to see the play currently showing in their Black Box Theater on Sunday night called The Language of Trees about a family where the father is captured in Iraq in 2003 as a translator for the war. I thought it was good. The staging was excellent...almost a diagonal stage. There were a lot of underlying themes about different generational bridges in communication which I found fascinating. My dad was in town so I bought him (well, he ended up buying me...) a $10 ticket. Too good to be true right? Well, sort of. It turns out that not only do you have to be under 35 to buy the tickets, but also under 35 to USE the tickets. They let my dad and me pass this time, but they said it can't happen again. Oh well, at least I can still go :)

I'm going to see Streamers with some colleagues for only $15 in a few weeks. I'm telling you, if you like theater and have no money (or have money but are cheap and under 35) you should sign up for this mailing list.

http://www.hiptix.com/







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No Time Wasted is More Time Celebrated

If there's one thing I love to hate about New York is that New Yorkers do not waste any time. It's practically a mantra around here. 

Emerging from the Subway station near my apartment on the way home from my Thanksgiving meal tonight - the sidewalks were quiet and crisp and you could hear faint grumbles of the tryptophan working its way through stuffed Manhattanites - I found my usually empty sidewalk decorated with holiday lights, garland and rows and rows of Christmas trees.

Welps boys, turkey's barely digested, dishes aren't done yet, hey, some people still have Jack-o-Lanterns out, but we are going to start selling the pine and Douglas fir! Maybe if we start early enough and overcharge a bit, we might actually break even this year!

Even though these Christmas tree sellers are part of the majority I despise for making time run faster year after year, and even through they have set up shop on a public sidewalk, you have to applaud them for their efforts. And I guess I won't mind the fresh pine smell wafting through the grimy Subway station morning after morning and evening after evening - that is, until the evening of December 25 comes and we can go out and buy our Valentine's chocolates.

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Play Nice with Tourists, It's Better for Your Bank Account

It’s that time of year again – holiday season. The city overflows with tourists meandering through the wind-tunnels of streets, eyes focused everywhere but the sidewalk. Subways fill with map-laden passengers who don’t know how to properly squeeze and make room for others during the Monday morning rush.

Fortunately for me, I always escaped the Thanksgiving rush in Boston, leaving for the suburbs just before everyone would arrive to the largest city closest to the Pilgrim’s landing point. Thus, now living in NYC, this is my first experience with a tourist holiday in a tourist city.

With the state of the economy, I wishfully expected a slight lull in holiday traveling. But, oh no, people will never stop coming to worship the neon of Times Square and the golden Atlas of Rockefeller Plaza. I spoke with a man named Nain (pronounced nay-en), who owns and manages the café downstairs from where I work. He told me that if anything, the number of tourists has increased. The sad difference for him though – they are not spending as much money.

Well, traveling on a budget has always been big. You can’t take the curiosity out of adventurous travelers, but you can take the money out of their wallets. So we have the current dilemma of all these tourists running wild down the streets and subways of Manhattan, but less of an economic benefit. At least when they were spending hoards of money on black and white cookies and Ray’s pizza, the locals would put up with the annoyance because of the massive inflows of money. Alas, now we must cope with these outsiders even though they are no longer funding our summer concert series or our mailmen.

But hey, it’s the holidays. Sometimes I think I’m too hard on tourists, knowing that I used to be one not that long ago. Also, I realize that they don’t even have to travel, but at least they are doing what they can. Some support is better than none especially for New York City – I’m sure those that lived here through 2001-2002 really know that.

So I’d like to put forth the thought that we should all be nice to tourists this holiday season, because everyone is suffering through the economic downturn, as we have come to call it, and the tourists, big cameras and all, are doing their best to help us out. Embrace those that walk through don’t-walk signs, love those that order enormously large corned beef sandwiches from overpriced delis, and thank those that may accidentally on-purpose steal your cab.

Happy almost Thanksgiving!








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