The 100th Post

March 16^th, 2000 and 9,

I was really feeling quite fine.

That is when this blog began

Even if I was “The Why’s” only fan.

*

I first introduced you to the Newark streets,

With a harsh life for some that just repeats.

You saw school fights and broken lights

And at times, a complete loss of rights.

*

My next big adventure was out of The States,

To Dublin I went and met some new “mates.”

Ireland was lushly beautiful, no doubt,

And now I wonder how I’ll visit again and go about.

*

You were with me, dear blog when I was scared of planes,

Or when I was stuck in the “village of the dead,” called Slane.

I told you readers about being called homeless,

And when I got lost because my internship had no address.

*

Senior year was briefly documented despite class,

So you got to read about eating dinner under an overpass.

There were also some confusing moments in time,

Like how was I supposed to graduate and make life sublime?

*

Finally, you followed me to New York City,

Where life is enjoyable, humorous, and sometimes gritty.

I laugh and I mess up; I feel infinite and occasionally confused.

But I hope “The Why” and I always keep you amused.

*

So cheers dear blog, and cheers reader to you!

Happy Birthday to the “The Why” - what a dream come true.

The 100^th post is now finally complete.

But may there be countless more adventures to beat.

May there be 100 more.

Back to School and Dogs Rule

We’re back.

School is once again in session, and these semester’s assignments are already underway. Between the internship 20 hours a week, Bloomingdales 22 hours a week, and two graduate school classes, this is going to be an interesting couple of months. Then again, who doesn’t love to be busy?

On a more entertaining note, I saw Martha Stewart’s dog yesterday! It was walking around outside the building, doing his business, with a little raincoat fastened over his white fur.

I really wanted to run up and kiss the little thing, with his only-cute-for-a-dog smushed face. But because of recent events… well, I just smiled at him from a distance.

And finally - the latest update from NYC - I woke up to this monstrosity...

2 to 4 inches today, and 3 to 5 inches tonight... humph!

So Where's the Art?

“The artist I work for is having a show in Williamsburg tonight.”

That was the text I received last Monday from a friend at Bloomingdales. She wanted to know if I would accompany her after work to the viewing, and I said “Sure. Why not? I like art.”

Several of us met on the corner of Spring and Crosby Street, with zipped jackets, scarves, and gloves. A possible “winter mix” was approaching the city, leaving the air icy and dry.

Hopping on the uptown 6 train, we transferred at the Union Square station to the L towards Brooklyn. We got off at Bedford Avenue, and wondered down 6^th street in the Williamsburg area.

Now I like art – but I’m no expert. I took your typical liberal learning art history curriculum in undergrad, and I enjoyed visits to museums like the MoMA or the Guggenheim. Basic metaphors I can understand, and occasionally I’ll actually appreciate “modern art.” But the New York “art scene” is beyond my knowledge.

“This is the place,” one of the girls said. It looked as though we would need our IDs to enter, which made since if they were severing alcohol. After passing two different bouncers, we walked into a low-lit room with an elevated stage and a bar.

It seemed an odd setup for an art show, but I didn’t ask questions and simply ordered a drink. Looking around, I began to ponder how we were supposed to view art in such a dim environment. And where were the actual pictures or statues stored? Something was off…

“There’s the artist I work for,” the girl I was with shouted over the deafening music being played on stage.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw the rapper Stelley with his long beard and baseball hat. Around that moment, everything clicked.

I’m sure you could guess what I'm about to say. But I was, in fact, not an art show. No... I was actually in Brooklyn at some sort of rap-off. Now everything – the stage, the music, the bouncers, the dim lights – it all made since.

“IIIII’m an idiot…” I pretty much said to myself. Obviously "artist" doesn't necessarily mean a painter, just like "doctor" doesn't necessarily mean a surgeon.

Ops.

Needless to say, we did not experience classic art that evening. But I enjoyed a different kind of talent I would never have been exposed to in an everyday occurrence. And I learned a new song. “S-T-E-DOUBLE L-E-Y, Stelley on top!” I said throwing my hand up.

Oh the situations I find myself in.

What To Do In "The City"

So I’m updating “the list of things I have to do in NYC” that I have now accomplished, and giving you some reviews and tips.

#3) Shop at Beacon’s Closet

This was actually a lot of fun. The large thrift store is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, so if you’re going, make a day trip out of your adventure and look up the other sweet shops in the area. Also by nightfall, all sorts of awesome little bars were opening their doors.

Price: $10 – $40 average

Memorable moment: Kayley wearing 6 inch, clear, plastic, platform shoes – modeling for us – and then busting her butt.

#19) Go to a hookah bar on Steinway (Little Egypt)

I haven’t smoked hookah since college, but with Little Egypt practically a block away, I had to go exploring. Though our experience started off a little awkward, we eventually enjoyed mango hookah at “Egyptian Nights.”

Price: $8-$14 for hookah (which is usually split), $2+ for drinks

Memorable moment: How about Kathryn and I were THE ONLY girls/women/ladies/females in all of Little Egypt except for our waitress. Hence potential but avoided awkwardness.

#37) Go to the Ronnybrook Milk Bar

This little joint is actually located in the Chelsea Market, and has an awesome “glass of milk + 2 cookies” deal. The atmosphere has a nifty "soda-shop meets farm" theme and, of course, the milk was amazing. The Ronnybrook farm is local, organic, and highly rated by New York publications. The cookies were tougher than I usually like (then again I could simply eat cookie dough) but it worked well for dunking, so no complaints.

Price: $6-$10, but the 2 cookie deal was around $4.

Memorable moment: Waitress: “A glass of whole milk, right?” Me: “Um, yes.” I don’t think I’ve ever downed a glass of whole milk, but it was so good. There chocolate milk is also rated #1.

#42) Visit the Chelsea Market

This was a cozy, indoor market that was a great escape from the harsh winter weather. Filled with small shops and restaurants, it would be an ideal place to shop for gifts and snack along the way. I still need to do more exploring because I was mostly distracted by the Ronnybrook Milk Bar and the Anthropology on the way in.

Price: Ranges

Memorable moment: There are tons of different bakeries, and the entire place looked great for the holidays.

Help A Girl Out

My sister Kathryn went on a trip last summer to the Dominican Republic through a program called Orphanage Outreach. She worked in a children's home for boys, and though the trip had it's ups and down, she really enjoyed her overall experience.

So she wants to go back... but this kind of thing is expensive. Luckily, there is a contest to give one returning person a free trip.

This is where I need some help (because I only have so many verifiable email addresses). All you have to do is click the link below and vote for her picture! Make sure to uncheck any boxes so that you won't receive emails.

And that's it my friends :)

http://www.orphanage-outreach.org/witw/

Look st that dedication! Standing in cold, with a teeshirt.

I Love New York But...

A pepperoni pizza had started all this mess.

I hung my head low, surrounded by squished passengers on the subway. The train was crowed, partially because it was a Saturday, but also because the N train’s tunnel was under construction. Thus, many unhappy New Yorkers had piled into the less favorable 7 train.

I had gone into work at 9 this morning (earlier than usual) and had felt nothing except tiredness. The day had passed relatively quickly, with not much seeming amiss until after lunch. Around 3:30pm, my stomach was churning and waves of dizziness attacked me every 15minutes of so.

“Actually no this isn’t on sale – yeah sorry, someone must have just put it on the sale rack,” I heard myself mechanically saying with a fake smile plastered to my face. What was going on? The nausea would suddenly ease up, and I could function for another 10 minutes or so.

But something bad happened. I work on the 3rd floor, and on the 2nd floor is the café. Smells of cookies, coffee, and pizza often waft up towards our counter, and unfortunately my usually nonexistent gag reflects did NOT enjoy the idea of pepperoni at all.

Run.

And so I did - up two flights of escalators, passed agonizingly slow walkers, to a vacant 5th floor restroom. There I was finally able to… well, to not do much of anything. But I wasn’t going to repeat this episode so I informed my co-workers that I was going home.

Ugh! But home was so far away! This kind of commute doesn’t happen in Virginia.

Hence me sitting with my head hung low in the crowded subway car. Everyone seemed to be breathing hot air, mixing into this nasty toxic oxygen that made my ailing stomach very angry, indeed.

Amazingly enough after mentally chanting Joshua 1:9 like a crazy person, stopping by a pharmacy, walking 15 minutes home without my jacket zipped because the cool air felt so nice, and crashing into my bed – I survived.

I won’t get into the details, but let’s just say 10pm – 11pm was not a pleasant hour.

24-hour stomach bug: 1, Britney: 0.

I'll win next time you stupid, little virus.

Thursday’s Things New Yorkers Say: Pickup Lines

Yeah - we've all heard (or said) some good ones. Those lines guys say that make you cringe. In fact, I had a great example today and it was just in time for Thursday's Things New Yorkers Say.

Walking towards the Martha Stewart Living building in Chelsea.

"Miss?" I stop, but leave my headphones in. I press pause and look at the 30-something-year-old man. "Probably needs direction," I think to myself. "Yes?" I say. "I'm looking for directions..." he says and lingers for a moment, not speaking. I nod, prompting him to continue since I was already expecting this request. Then he says, without even cracking a smile, "I'm looking for directions to how I can see your beautiful face again." BLAH! I'm sure I visibly looked taken aback. I could only laugh out loud and walk away, smiling at the fact he would simply shine on my blog.

Guys in there late teens or early 20s talking behind me in Greenwich Village.

"Yeah, yo but do you remember the kind of crap we used to say? Like..uh, what was that one.. oh yeah, "I forgot my number. Can I have yours?" Several of the guys laugh. Another one says, "Or how about 'Have ya got the time? Cuz' I gotta place..." All the guys laugh again. One dude suddenly stops and says, "Hey wait, that's not too bad." Everyone ceases laughing, pauses to contemplate the idea of this pickup line, and then simultaneously say things like, "Mike you're an idiot." And I have to laugh too, because it's just that bad.

And my all time favorite in New York City:

"Hey... I'm an actor (insert creepy grin)."

Well aren't we all!

Want an NYC Internship?

I’ll let you in on a little secret…

Like what you hear about Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia? Well I was just informed that HR is looking for two more interns. If you are interested in working with wholeliving.com or weddings.com please message me on Facebook or email me at ...

Experience in writing or blogging would be helpful, and the internship will be taking place in NYC for the Spring semester.

So there’s a useful leak straight from corporate for you!