Just a Little Bit.

Another wonderful fall weekend, another fun filled weekend. Here is a just a little bit of what I was up to:

Saturday

Belated brunch at Red Rooster (damn to the sneaky beets, yay for spotting Marcus Samuelsson himself).
Hellooooo 30 Rock!
The requisite stop when on 5th Avenue..St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Woorijip!!

 Sunday

Fall foliage makes it's appearance en route to more leaf peeping.
High Point Monument. (I'm lucky the wind didn't knock me over while trying to take this!)
More fall foliage.
Up high in the sky.

PS - The title of this post makes me think of Gina G's Ooh Ahh...Just a Little Bit. (Are you singing it now?!)
PPS - If read this blog regularly, you'll know I get to scratch another thing off my list. Can't wait to blog about it!

Things I Love.

I'm pretty sure I already have a entry with this name but too bad, so sad. Here are three things I love from today.

1. NYC institutions - Serendipity 3

2. Catching up with a good friend over dinner and dessert.

3. The library - yay for new music!

Picture Potpourri.

Jager loves NY. So do I.
Let me be clear, I love NY, not Jager.

Mani pic of the week - Essie's Trophy Wife.
(Though I would think 'trophy wife' would be some type of gold or bronze color.)

Summer fashion meets fall fashion.

A perfect way to end a not so fun day at work - with the funniest little man (and cutest family) I know.
(I have no clear pictures of you child!! You move too much.)

A Day of Remembrance.

Eleven years ago, our world changed. I personally didn't know anyone who lost their life that day but, I, like other knew of people - my neighbors' nephew, a friend of a friend's girlfriend. And everyone has their story. My story, though different from everyone, is also the same. September 11, 2001 was a day that affected everyone.

Eleven years ago, almost out the door to start another year of college, I was stopped by the news on the television. Though not very far from the actual scene, I watched the news unfold before me. I watched one horrible scene after another. I watched my college turned into a triad center.  I watched to see if my friends and family were okay. I watched my whole future change.

And every year since then, I have commemorated in my own way - by watching the remembrance ceremony on tv. I watched and lived the moment from afar back then, and I will do so every year. Even when shortly after 9/11, I worked with the FDNY in the Special Events (as a result of the out-pour of gratitude they received), I watched the first ceremony in the press office of headquarters. Year after year, I watch a part of it at home and then stream the rest at work. Even if I'm not fully paying attention, it's on. It's my way of remembering.

I watched 11 years ago. I watched 5 years ago. I watched last year. But today, I only watched the first 30 minutes. This year is different.The media has said so. And perusing today's blogs, less than 50% mention today's significance. Is it because we've passed the 10 year mark? Maybe. Have we moved on? I don't think so. Are we moving through? Most likely. But just because I didn't do my normal routine, doesn't mean I have forgotten. In fact this year, I made it a point to walk down to the waterfront and reflect. Though I see the skyline almost every day and work in that same exact area where tragedy took place, today was different. I wanted to remember the past, but see the future.

(It was hard trying to take the picture at the same exact spot.)

Tribute in Lights.

The Big Apple: #5

I love impromptu outings. Last night, I went to One if By Land, Two if By Sea for dinner (sorry no pictures!) and ended up crossing off #5 on my "New York Musts" list.

For quick reference, here's where I'm at:

1. Roosevelt Island
2. the Cloisters
3. the High Line
4. Top of the Rock
5. top of the Empire State Building
6. Jazz at the Lincoln Center
7. an opera at the Met
8. the Guggenheim Museum
9. Wicked
10. SummerStage at Central Park
11. mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral
12. St. John the Divine
13. Conservatory Garden at Central Park
14. Belvedere Castle
15. Brooklyn Botanical Garden
16. 5 boro bike tour
17. spectator at the NYC Marathon
18. BAM (aka Brooklyn Academy of Music)
19. ride the G train
20. Brooklyn Flea
21. visit the main NYPL on 42nd Street
22. ride any train from starting point to end point
23. Native American Museum
24. have a drink at the Waldorf Astoria
25. "visit" the Today show
26. see a taping of a NYC show
27. Riverside Park
28. ice skating at Bryant Park
29. Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
30. sledding in Central Park
31. Prospect Park
32. dine at the River Cafe

How did I end up at the Empire State Building you ask? Well apparently the last ride up is at 1:15AM. Yes, AM. I find this piece of information so cool and since it was past 9 when I learned of this, I was all gung-ho at the suggestion of going. I mean it was late enough in the day and the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, so how bad could the wait be?! Well, it was still a wait of nearly 45 minutes but (a) to me that's really short considering I've always seen long lines outside of the place (b) it wasn't hot out so I didn't mind the wait. And  so I bring to you the wonder and amazement that is the view from the Empire State Building...

North.

South.

East.

West.

Going up to the 102nd floor is a waste, so don't bother. I didn't really experience a difference being further up from the observatory so that's a disappointment (and waste of money). But otherwise, the experience was pretty cool. I love seeing the City from high up in the sky. One more building to go!

PS - I realize I've crossed off #20 on the list and I could have sworn I already blogged about it, but I guess I will have to do so soon. I just hope I didn't delete all my pics off my phone about it.

PPS - Being that today is Labor Day, something tells me that I won't be achieving #10 before my 32nd birthday. Oops!

This City Is My City - Part 2.

Yup, still singing the song. Although, I don't think it would have jived with yesterday's atmosphere.

Something I've been wanting to go to, and somehow always miss, is the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island. It's not on my list of NYC things to do, but I'm glad I made it yesterday! What a sight to be seen and I mean that in a good way. Some ladies and gents totally got in the spirit and got all decked out for the event. Which, of course, made for excellent picture taking, and fed my Instagram obsession. (So much so, that I am still editing photos and posting them on my account.) Despite it being overcast, the day spent on Governors Island was great! It wasn't hot or humid, and there was a nice breeze. Couple that with all the dapper and dashing people and jazz music, it was a rip roarin' great time ;)  Good way to spend a Sunday! (Except for the one ferry to shuttle the hundreds of people off the island at the end of the day. Let's not think about it anymore.)

Next year, I've really got to step up my fashion and picnic game. Check out the scene!

Naturally, there are a ton more on my Instagram account, so feel free to check out/follow me @heart_of_luv. Orrrr you can search #jazzage #jazzagelawnparty, #1920s. :)

This City Is My City.

If I could have a soundtrack to this weekend, this song would definitely be on it:

"This city is my city
And I love it, yeah I love it
I was born and raised here
I got it made here
And if I have my way, I'm gonna stay"

Yup, this Patrick Stump song is the jam. ;)  And why is this city, my city? Cuz check it:

And a few of the ones that didn't make it onto Instagram:

What's not to love about Summer Streets?!

top 3 horizontal pics: Free Masala Bhangra class @ Astor Place Rest Stop by Crunch Fitness
top left: People walked, ran, cycled, rollerbladed, skateboarded...and jumped? Those things look like fun.
top right: a human hamster wheel @ SoHo Rest Stop courtesy of Merrell
bottom left: "Cyclists to your left! Pedestrians to your right!"
bottom right: a rock climbing wall  (almost as tall as an apt building!) @ SoHo Rest Stop courtesy of REI

What started off as a rainy Saturday, turned out to be a glorious summer day in the city! I'm so glad I was able to see Summer Streets and spend literally 8 hours, walking around. Sure, I walked around SoHo and NoLita over and over again, but it was a great day of exploration, adventure, and laughs with a dear friend. There's always something new to be seen in the Big Apple! (Check out my Instragram @heart_of_luv for proof.)

And I end this post with a little more video that made me smile:

(This last one makes me laugh because the street was noisy of only bicycle bells and people's chatter...and then they came through...)

The Big Apple: #3

After brunch with friends on Saturday, I decided to seize the day since it was still early and cross something else off of my list. Sure it was hot and a tad humid (because once again we're converging on heatwave #4), but I figured I was already in the city so why not take advantage. So off I went to the High Line. FANTASTIC! I wish the skies weren't so overcast, but I still got some great shots. In fact, if you follow my Instagram (@heart_of_luv), you'll see just how many photos I took (and edited) on my handy dandy iPhone (god I love this thing!).

Here are just a few of my little adventure. Now we can cross #3 off my list! Only 30 more things to see and do!

The Big Apple: #21

Remember this post? Well, a few days before blogging about it, I actually had already crossed out #21 on my list: visit the main NYPL. Aka - the one with the lions out front on 5th Avenue. Aka. - the Steven A. Schwarzman Building. 

I went on a Sunday, which was nice because it wasn't so crowded, but the downside was that a lot of the rooms/exhibits were closed. All in all, a gorgeous building with great architectural detail and old New York history. Which of course makes for awesome Instagram opportunities.

I was also really excited to see the Doodle 4 Google exhibit. I took a lot of photos so I won't post them all (and also my camera ran out of memory so I didn't get to take as many I would have liked to) but here are some of my favorite. These kids are really super talented.