{ back in the (other) city i love }

i am back in new york, and things are slowly returning back to normal. 

i am back at 200 west... it feels fantastic to be back in my apartment, and to have my roommates back.

 it also feels pretty fantastic to live in a place that doesn't function as a hotel. 

i spent some time in florida with my family, and enjoyed doing nothing for a few days, then i came back to the city and landed a job within a week. 

things are returning to their normal pace... and life is good.

i'll slowly, but surely start to blog about some of my last european adventures in the weeks to come. if anything, writing will serve as a lovely reminder of a fabulous year.

My life for the past two months has been a little crazy, and if you can believe it, I finally have the time to blog. Hooray!

December was a crazy month. It involved lots of studying, solving a huge mess created by an extremely irresponsible person, and a huge trip home. I love living in London, but by the time December 15 rolled around, I was ready to head on a plane and see my family and friends.

I did a quick two-day stop in NYC and then headed to Florida for ten days... Then I headed back to NYC for a week (and more specifically, to attend Brittany and Logan's wedding). Overall, (and despite being plagued with the fact that I had two term papers to finish and one exam to study for) I enjoyed my time at home. There's nothing like being where you belong with the people who you love most! I loved, loved, loved seeing my family, KLR, Tash, Elise and James, Mrs. B and her boys, Bella, and the rest of my wonderful NYC people!

View from my NYC apartment. Not the most exciting view, but it's home.

My Sweet baby girl. I got to puppy sit for Mrs. B and I LOVED hanging out with little B... It's crazy how much a person can become attached to an animal.

I also got to spend some fun time with little Will. Sweetest boy!

Manhattan Saturday brunch is absolute perfection. We went to Isabella's which I had never been to before.

Brunch was in honor of this gent. Happy 30th, James!

My silly monkey. He stuck by my side the whole time I was there. He also made me take 85 shots just like this one!

The sweetest pup around. Mozart is seriously the BEST dog.

Spent some time fishing with my brother Esteban. I caught absolutely nothing, which I am sort of okay with.

I spun lots and lots with Rodrigo

Beautiful Mama and Rodrigo

My silly monkey. He had to have me help him the first time, but this one he did all on his own!

Mom found a recipe for stuffed apple caramel cupcakes. She was super proud of her creation.

The finished product

Mom made the boys matching PJs! So cute!

Jessie loves this dog.

Picca (that's what we call him) learning to use this. He sort of just hit it as much and as often as he could. I suppose technique will eventually follow. :)

A traditional parting shot.

Beach days are a dream. Even in December... I LOVE that about Florida.

Right as I was leaving for the airport. :( She's kind of the greatest sister in the world.

B camping out on my bed. She would sit RIGHT in the middle and refused to move.

Britt and Logan's wedding! You can't really tell from the photo, but the Statue of Liberty is in the background.

Greatest girls. I miss them so.

The Newly Weds! 

Welcoming the New Year in Central Park!

SO MUCH FUN!

A parting shot. I love this city. So. Freakin'. Much. 

TTFN, NYC!

As the time for my departure approached, I made sure to spend extra time seeing the people in
NYC that I love! It was so sad making final dinner plans, final show plans, etc...
Thankfully, I'll be back in just a year, but it's sad to think that I'll be missing out on a year of their lives.
Well, anyway, here are a few shots from the final weeks:

Bella the Wonder Nugget

Our view at the Andrea Bocelli concert in Central Park. 

During my last week, I stayed in the UES and always walked past the Ralph Lauren store.

 I don't know why, but this store always makes me so happy.

Technically, this should be filed under "Sights From the City I Love"

James!

 An blurry Elise profile. She'd probably kill me if she knew.

With Luke, future Broadway star

The gang at work! Hen, Will, me and Danielle. All people I will miss.

Cake from Mrs. B and the boys.

Me and my sweet Bella Bear. She is the best dog EVER. EVER. EVER.

TAAsha. I suppose you had to be there for this to make sense...

Festival of San Genaro in Little Italy with Elise and Tash

Some of my very favorites at my farewell gathering at Houdstooth Pub

(a proper place for such a send-off): Rob,  Luke, Laners, and Briana.

Mini Updates, and more sights from the city I love

Guess who has to be moved out by Thursday?

Guess who keeps getting majorly distracted with Pinterest, LOST and Angry Birds while packing?

This girl! 

I'm so sick of packing but happy to be weeding down my stuff to the essentials. Lots will go to Goodwill and the like, most will be sent home to Florida. 

A blurry mess. 

I'll be traveling to London with four suitcases. THAT IS IT. I don't know how missionaries manage to live out of only two. That sounds like my idea of a very bad idea. I need just one suitcase for all my coats! Another one for all my Louboutins. Wait....

Everything has felt surreal because most of it was happening on paper. Now that I am taking steps to go, it has started to feel more like a reality. I am nervous excited, but mostly excited. I think this will be such an amazing time for me and I am so ready to go and put every last ounce of effort into my master's. 

Aside from packing, I've been taking some time to go see more of my favorite NYC sights and do some of my favorite NYC activities. 

One of my favorite Central Park spots... provides a lovely view of Essex House

Beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral. My work errands often take me that way.

First off: Royal Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet. Brother and Sister Peterson gave me a ticket and I was so blessed to go! Tickets were nearly impossible to get, and not only did I have one... I had one in the second row, center... valued at $200! My jaw dropped in the first 2 minutes or so and it stayed that way for the rest of the performance. It was absolutely the most professional piece I have ever seen. The quality of the acting and artistic direction was fantastic and I look forward to seeing RSC in London!

RSC's Romeo and Juliet at the Park Avenue Armory

The theater space was built inside the Armory building as a full-scale 

replica of The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in England. 

Last Friday, we hit up the MoMA for the Free Friday admission. It's always amazing to me to see what is considered art and it inspires me to continue creating work. It was fun to visit the MoMA with someone who is not as fluent in the visual arts because I get to see how they experience a specific work for the first time. Luke did have some very funny reactions to some of the pieces, but also appreciated the more classical art.

Installation piece at the MoMA. Multi-colored projected slides.

On Friday we went down to South Street Seaport. I know there is not much there, but for some reason I really love going down there. We had dinner at Johnny Rockets  (which is so not my fave, but whatevs) and then got caught in a monsoon.

View from the deck of the South Street Seaport. Love the view of 

the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Queensboro (?) Bridge. 

Afterwards, I made myself go home and pack... AGAIN.

NYC Bucket List

 I'm leaving in less than a month. I'll only be gone for a year, but a year is too long to be so far from this awesome, awesome place. I've put together a list of the things I know I want to do before I leave. 

1. Stroll through the MET

2. Saturday morning brunch at the Life Cafe, followed by a pit stop at Veniero's

3. Row boats in Central Park followed by lunch at the Shake Shack

4. Golfing at Chelsea Piers 

{not because I am good or anything, historically, I've had one good hit}

5. Cloisters and all its Medieval beauty

{after 3.5 years in NYC, I still have not been there... I mean, it's basically in Upstate New York}

6. Mets game also with Shake Shack 

{this should possibly be the last thing on the list, considering I hate baseball, and also Queens}

7. Andrea Bocelli concert in Central Park. 

{Tickets are ubber sold out, but this lucky girl is the holder of 4 tickets}

8. South Street Seaport and Staten Island Ferry

9. Late night cupcake from Sweet Revenge and a stroll through Washington Square Park

10. Sit at my Central Park bench on a Saturday afternoon

{not in a million years telling ANYONE where it is. Back off.}

11. Bike Riding at Governor's Island?

{Second to last on the list}

12. Check out the newer exhibitions at the MoMa

{I haven't been since they did that Tim Burton one}

13. Dinner in Little Italy. Doesn't matter where, though I am partial to S.P.Q.R.

14. Conservatory garden in Central Park @105th and Fifth 

{can't believe I haven't found these yet, but who ever just wanders in 

that general direction for the fun of it? Not me}

15. Sunday afternoon at Sheep Meadow

16. See more shows 

{honestly, the only things I really need to see are Follies and War Horse, though I would see Priscilla or How to Succeed once more}

17. Chelsea Market for brunch***

Feel free to come... or not. :)

Sights of the City I love: Take 2

The days come and go, and each day is a day closer to my big move across the pond.

Crazy how quickly things happen.

I'm beyond excited. And frustrated... but the latter is due to the huge amounts of stuff I own.

Where does it all come from???

Well, here are a few more little gems as part of my "Sights of the City I love" cycle/theme/whatever.

 One of my favorite Italian Places in the Village. Trattoria Spaghetto.

 Street outside La Maison Francaise in Greenwich Village.

 Popbar. Passion fruit? Yes, please!

 Washington Square Park on a sunny, perfect Tuesday afternoon.

 Bethesada Fountain on my way back from work.

 Grand Central late at night.

Cafe Lalo for Chad's birthday.