Day93 #100daysofNYC

Ok, suck it up. Put on your big girl panties New Yorkers and become a tourist for the day! Remember why you moved (or have always stayed) here! Grab your sunglasses, your camera, and maybe a scarf cause it might get a little breezy, and get on the Hop On Hop Off! There are so many companies that offer this, and please take your pick! I chose the Gray Line when mama and daddy came, and as soon as we were done I texted Jason and told him we must do it when he came! I even made Brandy do it when she visited!

Even if you're only here for a few days, it's the best thing! They offer multiple packages to adjust to your schedule. There are five different loops that are available: Downtown, Uptown, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and a Night Tour. You can purchase each loop separately if you're short for time, or for the best deal do the All Tours for either 48-hour unlimited or 72-hour unlimited. You get to ride high, see the city in a seat, get some great NY facts, and get a tan ;) Oh, and get some great shots of the city!! 

The best part is that the Brooklyn loop and the Night loop goes over the Manhattan Bridge!

* Try to get Jose for the Brooklyn loop!

The Cowgirl Rides Away

The Last One. 

Well, not the last, but the last as an official New Yorker, lol. 

This is it. It's 5:30 in the morning, I'm sitting in Newark Airport waiting on my plane. It seems so necessary to write my last blog here, as this is where it all began... Sitting in the airport. I can recount the times my blog as started, "I'm sitting in the airport..." and it brings back good and bad memories. 

I left my apartment at 3:15 this morning, lugging the last four bags left by the movers. They have 14 days to get my things home, so I had to keep a few things on me :) It was pouring rain. I had garbage bags wrapped around my bags. Two on my right shoulder, one on my left, and my rolling carry on. Needless to say, my last trip up the stairs at the subway was fun. I took my last ride on the D train with just a few people, most passed out in their seats whether tired or hungover. I had to remind myself it's 3am on a Friday morning. 

Last night, I had the most amazing pleasure of spending my last evening in the city with those amazing people I told you about. Samantha Mewhorter, Colleen Tinvan, Kenneth Curtis, Emily Olcott, and Jessica Perkiss, I love you all. Thank you for the greatest last night I could imagine. I don't know why we didn't do that more often. We ventured off to the lower east side to delve into the beauty of Freeman's. Located down a little alley, it's such a quaint rustic place. I knew the minute I walked in, this was where I was supposed to have my last supper. Deer heads, geese, a moose, they lined the walls... Here are a few pictures from the evening! The animals are what hovers over the stairwell :)

After dinner, we headed home and while we waited for the D at Broadway/Lafeyette as we do every night after work, I got Sam to take my photo so I can always remember one of my absolute favorite things about this city... Yes, it may sound disgusting when you think hard about it, but my favorite feeling is that rush of air the train brings with it. That gush, your hair swirling around your face, it's indescribable. Photos might could do it :)

This is what I'll miss. And the smell of bread baking from the Jewish bakery under the subway station at 1 in the morning as we walk home from work. And the crazy old lady that lives in our building that when we moved in thought I was Jason's wife, and when I moved out asked Sam if she was my mom. And the weird man that whispers "sexy lady" as he passes me on the street. And the child screaming bloody murder on the subway on my way to work. And so much more... 

New York, I love you! I've been infatuated with you for ten years, and you finally take me in. It's been a good ride! This country girl is headed home :)

New York State of Mind

Some folks like to get away,

Take a holiday from the neighborhood. 

Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood. 

But I'm taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line...

I'm in a New York state of mind. 

I'm sitting here watching two men load all my things into a moving truck. This is my last morning in New York, my last morning in Brooklyn... my home for the past year. I'm starting to get emotional here...

Two days ago I got to spend the whole day with Sam and Colleen. Total girls day. Brunch, movie, and then dinner at Blue Smoke. Man, am I gonna miss that place! Some of the greatest people I've ever worked with. To all of you Blue Smokers who have taken the time to read this, I just want you to know how much I love you all and will miss you terribly. Y'all brighten my day. You are all so unique in your own way and hold special places in my heart. I'm speaking to you as a group because in my emotional stupor I'm afraid I will forget someone and will never live it down :) Thanks for the send off! Happy trails to you!

Yesterday, I got to get pampered one last time before I head south by the beautiful and talented Christine, who has given me a new love for my hair, as she has made it it's best :)

Today, I mourn. LOL Just kidding! Yes, it will be a sad day, but it must be a good day, as it's my last in the city. I'm getting to spend it with some of my absolute favorite people who have been there for me, shaped me, and made fun of me (tuesdee and the-A-ter). I'll make sure to call every now and then just so y'all won't forget my twang ;) 

We are headed to the plaza for a drink to celebrate classic New York, and then off to Freeman's on the Lower East Side for my last supper. 

New York, bless me with your beauty one last day!

(Manhattan Bridge and Empire State Building, May 2014)

Lover Come Back #100daysofNYC

A top five best experience I've had in NYC! Last night I finally got out to Bryant Park for their HBO Summer Film Festival. They were showing Lover Come Back, 1961 starting Doris Day, Rock Hudson, and Tony Randall. I was excited to not only have my first experience of screening a movie outdoors, but also seeing this movie. If you've never seen it, it's a romantic comedy about two Madison Ave advertising agents that will do whatever it takes to get an account. (Side note: my TCM film buff, Jennifer Ranz, MD, told me Pillow Talk was their best together, but that this one was also really cute. It's next on this list, as she is the master of classic movies!)

The movie didn't start until sundown, which was 8:30, but the lawn opened up at 5pm. I got there at 4, with all intentions of just reading my book and then strolling onto the lawn later to throw out my blanket and sunbathe and read until dusk. WRONG! It was hilarious. I love to people watch, so I caught on to what was happening. At 5pm on the dot, a lady announced the grounds were open and people literally RAN to throw out their blankets! I mean, they had them out of their bags, shaken out, holding both corners ready to launch at five til! LOL I got a great spot though! I was ready! I ended up having a super sweet elderly man in front of me alone and just started chatting me up. It was absolutely amazing to hear some of the things he has done. Right before the film, they showed a Looney Tunes cartoon and I knew I was in my element :)

Before I launch into the photos, I just have to say next week is the last screening for this summer, but it's their 22nd year, so I know there will be more! Plan it! Do it! Monday nights, Bryant Park, next summer!! FREE! 

My awesome view!

My awesome view laid out in the grass!

The initial crowd behind me...

Merrie Melodies presents!

Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam

Movie begins!

Best view all night. I'm gonna miss these bright lights :)

Toot toot! #100daysofNYC

STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS PLEASE!

I'll miss those words. I'm a few days late on posting this, but I went to the Transit Museum! It was really cool. The entrance is presumed to be a regular subway entrance, as the site of the museum was the old Court St station in Brooklyn. Once underground, you walk through lots of old photographs, displays, and descriptions of how they began construction on the subway lines. Another section has all the turnstiles they have used over the years and the many different forms of payment to ride the train. My favorite Alex and Ani bracelet is the NYC token. It was the original token used for subway fare.  My favorite part is the actual subway line... They have trains from when it first began. It's amazing to see how things have changed! All of us who complain about the heat, please take note of the first cars-- look at what's hanging from the ceiling. Enough of the yacking, how about some photographs? :)

And for all of you who don't get the pleasure of having these as your daily transportation, here's my current subway cars: the 6 train and the D train :)

Take a day... #100daysofNYC

"But where in New York can one find a woman with grace, elegance, taste and culture? A woman suitable for a king."

"QUEENS!"

-Coming to America

I decided to embrace The prince's desires and head to Queens! I hit up a couple museums and headed over to Flushing Meadows Corona Park to see the site of the 1964 NY World's Fair. 

My first stop was The Museum of the Moving Image. I have to say, this is probably one of my favorite museums in the city! It's soooo cool! Currently, they are doing an exhibit on Chuck Jones and his animation. They also permanently have sections devoted to each role in film making, from writing to performance. A huge surprise was the devotion to video games. I actually sat down and played the original Mario Bros! I embraced my childhood... In the midst of the Chuck Jones exhibit, they had the classic Beep, Beep from 1951 and I plopped down with the kiddos and watched it :)

Dedicated to the portrait photographer. Classic actors and their iconic portraits. 

Soundtracks and scores... Albums from the classics. 

Classic games and toys from the 50's and 60's. 

Just a couple of the classic video arcade games :)

Courtyard at The Museum of Moving Image

Kaufman Studios. Currently recording Orange is the New Black. 

Just the beauty that is Queens :)

The second museum was Queens Museum. It hosts the iconic Panorama of the five boroughs. If you watched New Years Eve, this is where Zac Efron takes Michelle Pfeiffer to walk all five boroughs in a day. Little fact: he must really have some pull because you can't really walk out on it, lol. I wish you could see it in the photos, but it's really hard... At Laguardia Airport, there's a plane that is on very thin wire that lands and takes off. Amazing!

The Queens Museum is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which also is home to the grounds of the NY Worlds Fair. It was amazing walking around. The Unisphere is used in Men in Black; the iconic New York State Pavilion by Philip Johnson, and the observatory towers. 

Go to Queens! Spend the day! It's worth it! Great borough!! I'm gonna miss this city :)