New York City is known for its torrential downpours of rain and often I’ve been caught without an umbrella. Every time it pours I think of one particularly awful experience I had…
About five years ago I attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. After leaving a dance class one evening I found myself caught in the rain. I was running to meet friends and decided to hop on the crowded train to get me there faster and dryer.
Once I got on the train I did what I like to call “the seat scan” where you scan as quickly as you can for an available seat and then high tale it to claim the seat before anyone else can get there. I was happy to notice one available seat in the whole car, so I wove myself in and out of people to sit. Upon arrival I realized that the reason it was an available seat was because there was a very smelly, very loud homeless lady one seat over. But I didn’t care. I was sitting and that’s all I wanted. I discreetly put my hand over my mouth to mask the smell as the lady got up to walk through the car. And that’s when I saw it…a puddle on her seat, a puddle that was leaking its way over to my seat. I bolted up to reveal homeless lady urine all down my sweater. I ran off the train at the next stop, tried not to vomit and threw away my favorite sweater. When I finally arrived to meet my friends I was soaking in nothing but a leotard and jeans.
Oddly enough, I was applauded for my bold fashion sense by my friends and kept the secret to my style until now…
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
New York State of Mind
This past week provided plenty of adventures with friends in town that have never been to the city before. Naturally, I loved playing tour guide (not) but was happy to do it none the less, plus it would give me an opportunity to prove how awesomely New York I am.
While down in Times Square, my friend asked a random passerby to take our picture. As we’re getting read y to pose, sweet friend asked the photographer to make sure the Eiffel Tower was in the picture. I let out a petty laugh and informed her that we weren’t in France and that we’d actually like to have the Empire State Building in our picture if they could find an angle to fit it in. Duh. The photographer stared at me for a moment and replied that it was actually the Chrysler Building but yes, they could fit it in the photo. Awkward.
So I vowed to myself that not only will that never happen again, but I will also know random facts about the two buildings to look like I know even more than everyone else.
FACT:
1. The Empire State Building was originally designed to be a landing platform for Blimps but was decided against due to the wind blowing through the buildings.
2. In 1979 a woman jumped off the 86th floor of the Empire State Building to kill herself but the wind blew her back into the 85th floor and she only broke her hip.
3. There is a race every year called The Empire State Building Run Up that goes from the ground floor to the 86th floor. The record is currently held at 9 minutes and 33 seconds. (Seriously? That’s nuts..)
4. The gargoyles at the top of the Chrysler building were modeled after the hood ornaments on Chrysler automobiles.
5. The original design for the Chrysler Building featured a 12 story base of glass wrapped corners to give the illusion that the crown on top was floating but proved to be too expensive.
While down in Times Square, my friend asked a random passerby to take our picture. As we’re getting read y to pose, sweet friend asked the photographer to make sure the Eiffel Tower was in the picture. I let out a petty laugh and informed her that we weren’t in France and that we’d actually like to have the Empire State Building in our picture if they could find an angle to fit it in. Duh. The photographer stared at me for a moment and replied that it was actually the Chrysler Building but yes, they could fit it in the photo. Awkward.
So I vowed to myself that not only will that never happen again, but I will also know random facts about the two buildings to look like I know even more than everyone else.
FACT:
1. The Empire State Building was originally designed to be a landing platform for Blimps but was decided against due to the wind blowing through the buildings.
2. In 1979 a woman jumped off the 86th floor of the Empire State Building to kill herself but the wind blew her back into the 85th floor and she only broke her hip.
3. There is a race every year called The Empire State Building Run Up that goes from the ground floor to the 86th floor. The record is currently held at 9 minutes and 33 seconds. (Seriously? That’s nuts..)
4. The gargoyles at the top of the Chrysler building were modeled after the hood ornaments on Chrysler automobiles.
5. The original design for the Chrysler Building featured a 12 story base of glass wrapped corners to give the illusion that the crown on top was floating but proved to be too expensive.
Words of Wisdom...
I can’t help but notice the sudden change in weather…the sun is out, birds are chirping and everywhere I look the gals are sporting sundresses. Well ladies…be careful!
Last summer I was wearing a strapless sundress much like this one from Anthropologie. It was a hot and muggy day, and I was desperately trying to wear as few layers as possible, so naturally I decided to go solo up top (ahem…no bra). As I was sitting on the train, I realized the ridiculously handsome guy sitting next to me. The rest of my train ride was spent focusing on how to discreetly angle my iphone so I could see his reflection. Without realizing it, I was about to miss my stop. I jumped out of my seat also not realizing that the person on the other side of me was sitting on part of my dress. As I bolted out of my seat, my dress stayed under the persons rear sitting next to me…and thus I showed the entire busy-afternoon/just-off-of-work train my tots. Oh and it was my birthday.
So the next time you’re throwing on that strapless dress and discarding other (essential) layers, keep in mind the laws of gravity! It could happen to you!
Last summer I was wearing a strapless sundress much like this one from Anthropologie. It was a hot and muggy day, and I was desperately trying to wear as few layers as possible, so naturally I decided to go solo up top (ahem…no bra). As I was sitting on the train, I realized the ridiculously handsome guy sitting next to me. The rest of my train ride was spent focusing on how to discreetly angle my iphone so I could see his reflection. Without realizing it, I was about to miss my stop. I jumped out of my seat also not realizing that the person on the other side of me was sitting on part of my dress. As I bolted out of my seat, my dress stayed under the persons rear sitting next to me…and thus I showed the entire busy-afternoon/just-off-of-work train my tots. Oh and it was my birthday.
So the next time you’re throwing on that strapless dress and discarding other (essential) layers, keep in mind the laws of gravity! It could happen to you!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sick in the City
A survey taken by American Community in 2007, revealed that over half of current New Yorkers-more precisely 52.7%- moved to the city from either another country or another state. In fact, if you’re reading this, there’s a very good chance that you’re one of those people.
Furthermore, The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that 83%-95% of individuals in a new environment will experience symptoms of homesickness. This means that nearly half of New Yorkers could be experiencing nostalgia. How funny is that?
My 18 year old self went through some similar motions in a more extreme way...my first day in New York didn’t prove that promising. After a sleepless night resulting in endless vomiting, my new roommate begged me to make a Bed, Bath and Beyond run. I couldn’t fathom leaving the apartment but she was one persistent bugger so I agreed to go on the condition that she pay for us to take a cab to the store and back.
As we’re breezing down Central Park East, I began feeling a little clammy. Suddenly I got hot flashes, a familiar lump was rising in my throat, and I quickly realized this was a bad idea. I frantically searched for a bag, any bag, as my mouth started to water. I really, really didn’t want to hurl in a cab. I started rolling down the slowest window I’ve ever encountered in my entire life and as soon as I found a clearing for my head to fit, I let it run in all God’s glory. And there I was, my first day in New York City, projectile vomiting out the window of a cab going down Fifth Avenue. Not one of my finest moments, and I dearly hoped this wasn’t a foreshadowing of my future life in the city.
Unfortunately, it’s been an accurate reflection thus far.
Furthermore, The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that 83%-95% of individuals in a new environment will experience symptoms of homesickness. This means that nearly half of New Yorkers could be experiencing nostalgia. How funny is that?
My 18 year old self went through some similar motions in a more extreme way...my first day in New York didn’t prove that promising. After a sleepless night resulting in endless vomiting, my new roommate begged me to make a Bed, Bath and Beyond run. I couldn’t fathom leaving the apartment but she was one persistent bugger so I agreed to go on the condition that she pay for us to take a cab to the store and back.
As we’re breezing down Central Park East, I began feeling a little clammy. Suddenly I got hot flashes, a familiar lump was rising in my throat, and I quickly realized this was a bad idea. I frantically searched for a bag, any bag, as my mouth started to water. I really, really didn’t want to hurl in a cab. I started rolling down the slowest window I’ve ever encountered in my entire life and as soon as I found a clearing for my head to fit, I let it run in all God’s glory. And there I was, my first day in New York City, projectile vomiting out the window of a cab going down Fifth Avenue. Not one of my finest moments, and I dearly hoped this wasn’t a foreshadowing of my future life in the city.
Unfortunately, it’s been an accurate reflection thus far.
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