Happy Birthday Boy

Yep - it's his birthday today. Well, today NZ time. Tomorrow NY time! 48 hour birthday - lucky thing!

Unfortunately, he's found himself kind of homeless this week.. He had to move out of his flat today, and can't move into his new flat until the end of this week, and this was all very last minute, and none of his friends have spare beds right now, so he has checked himself into The Jane for tonight. What awesome hotels they have in NYC! This was where the survivors of the Titanic were housed after it sunk in 1912!

He has a Standard Cabin, and it is just hilarious. I just skyped him an hour ago from his room, and the bed is literally 4 feet long! I asked him how many steps he could take to cross the room. His reply? 1.64. The bathroom? Down the hall - bring your soap-on-a-rope.

So it's certainly no 5 stars, but at $99/night, and an awesome location in the West Village, he can't complain. In fact, he finds it hilarious - quite a novelty for his 35th birthday.

Wish I was over there with him to celebrate!!

Oh yeah, and what did I get him for his birthday? Something from this guy...!! I've got it here in NZ so he doesn't know what it is yet, but will find out in 4 weeks!

The Jezabels

It's been a while since I've continued my tours of NYC, so here we go again, with an absolutely guaranteed opportunity for you to star-spot me - if I was in NYC in two weeks time, you would find me here!!

Cultural Tour - 2nd Stop : The Jezabels

I fell in love with this incredible Aussie group in February, when I downloaded the weekly iTunes free track, "Hurt Me". It became one of the songs that helped me get around my 7km Round The Bays run, and I've been a fan ever since. I just need to track down their Debut "The Man is Dead" - already having the single from that EP, "Disco Biscuit Love", plus their last EP "She's So Hard", and their new EP "Dark Storm". LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

So I would give anything to be in NY to see them perform, and I can only hope they come back when I'm actually over there! I'm not quite as good as you are Katie at describing why I love a particular band so much, but I'll give it a go! I love the scale of each track - the songs are definitely not shrinking violets. They are at the complete opposite end of the spectrum - epic (I hate this word but it is all I can think of right now to come close to how grand this music can be). The lead singer, Hayley, takes her voice to stunning Kate Bush heights in each track, and you have to play these songs loud! The pianist in me likes to imagine that I could be Heather, and the awesome drums keep everything moving which is why Hurt Me was such a great running motivator.

Have you guys been to any of these places? Which would be your pick for a gig like this?

Thursday October 21 - NY - Bowery Ballroom 8pm
Thursday October 21 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall 1am
Friday October 22 - NY - Piano's Upstairs Lounge
Saturday October 23 - NY - Fat Baby

Splish Splash I was Takin' a Bath..

The Boy tells me of plans to go for a surf on the weekend. Surfing? In New York? When I think of swimming in New York, two images come to mind.

The first is of Kramer doing laps in the East River.



The second is of the SATC girls getting some rooftop poolside action - though of course Samantha had to impersonate a British socialite to actually gain entry to the pool..

Pic: flavorwire.com

I've discovered a much better option, though not so sure a surfboard would actually fit in any of these pools.. Dumpsters have been set up on Park Avenue for New Yorkers and tourists to cool off in the heat of the New York summer! I hate to say it, but I am actually craving some heat right now - I miss the humidity of a Sydney summer that sees you sweating the moment you step out of a shower. And I think queuing up before 9am just to get one of the 420 daily swimming passes (they are free!) would be well worth it, even to be constrained in such close quarters for 20 minutes with a bunch of other hot and sweaty people..

For more dumpster diving pics, see here!

Bloomingdale's

Shopping Tour - 2nd Stop : Bloomingdale's

This place totally speaks for itself right? Does anyone not adore a gorgeous department store? Well, actually, if you're anything like me you avoid them at all costs at certain times of the year (Boxing Day Sale anyone?? Anyone?? Thought not..)

They sell pretty much everything a shopaholic could desire. I totally forgot that I have actually been to Bloomingdale's, however it was the San Fran store back in 2008.. I did pick myself up a small brown bag, and carried it home in a medium brown bag.

The New York store however, has that magical aura surrounding it.

The Brothers' Bloomingdale started selling hoop skirts in Manhattan in 1861, and opened their first store in 1872 on Third Avenue. The fabulous Christmas window displays that I used to love at David Jones in Sydney when I was a little girl have their history with Bloomingdale's, where theatrical visual merchandising pretty much made it's trademark.

1930 saw the famous art deco Lexington Avenue store open, and this is where you regularly will find me, most likely window-shopping, in NYC.

Maybe I'll run into John Cusack when I'm shopping for gloves at Christmas...

Overheard in New York

I love this website. Some of my favourites recently:

Wasn't That a He-Man Villain?

Stoner: How do you spell "helter skelter"?
Friend: ...exactly like it sounds.
Stoner: H-e-l-k-e-t-o-r s-k-e-l-e-t-o-r?
Friend: (shakes head in dismay)

--N Train

Otherwise the Human Race Would Soon Die Out

Employee #1, to customers with a baby: That is the cutest baby I have ever seen!
Employee #2: I think my boyfriend and I would have an ugly baby.
Employee #1, in front of couple: No. Ugly people usually have the cutest babies!

--Subway

Overheard by: Drew

Yes.

Loud mother: So that's what this is about? Really?
Unhappy young son: (looks down, says nothing)
Loud mother: Really? That's what this is all about? An orange drink! This is all because of an orange drink?
Unhappy son: (looks down, says something barely audible)
Loud mother: I'm overreacting? You think I'm the one who is overreacting??

--Union Square Park

Overheard by: tycho anomaly

Itchy Feet

Rach - I'm sharing one of your posts here because it really struck a chord with me.

When I asked if she ever got tired of all the running around, she said no, this has always been her preferred way: the life of the high-end nomad, moving from town to town…Like the hero of Apocalypse Now, wherever Jolie is, she wants to be in the other place. This can make her seem removed, less like a person living in the now than like someone living in the five minutes from now. She seems both mystical and beyond petty nationalism, but her footloose drive for new experience is pure Americana. “Anytime I feel lost, I pull out a map and stare,” she told me. “I stare until I have reminded myself that life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see.”’

-- Angelina Jolie, as interviewed by Vanity Fair

I have lived in NZ for 18 months. I think within one month of moving here, I was already thinking about where I wanted to go next. And I think that's why I imposed a time limit on my stay here - 2 years. The first reason being that 2 years is the minimum amount of time I'd like for a job on my resume. My previous job I was only at for 15 months, so I knew this one had to make a bigger mark. The second reason is that I can conceive of how long two years is. I lived in the UK for two years in my early 20's. It was enough time to get a lot done. But it wasn't long enough to get bored. And I hate being bored. Only boring people are bored, so says Betty Draper.

Apart from growing up in Sydney, I also lived in Sydney for 4 and a half years in between the UK and NZ. I think I was pulled in two opposite directions during that time. On one side, I was leading myself towards settling down to a life in Sydney. I was purchasing furniture. I was developing a career. I was on the hunt for a relationship. But something wasn't quite sitting right. I still don't know exactly what it was, but I like to use this quote from Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey to try and describe it..

"If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad."

I definitely started to get bored during that time back in Sydney. So the other direction that was pulling me was to get out of Australia and see what else was out there. I've never been one to sit around and wait for things to happen to me. I go searching for them. NZ has been a fantastic adventure so far. I'm working for a really incredible company, and through that I'm meeting some fantastic people. And the city is just beautiful and peaceful and vibrant and cultural. And of course, I met my Boy! It was definitely the right move at the right time. I'm now really starting to settle in to a lifestyle here, but I constantly have those pangs of curiousity - what else is out there? New York is like a great big magnet. It has been pulling at my head and my heart for years, and I feel that it might now be pulling at my body. I'm loving living vicariously through my Boy at the moment - hearing about where he's shopping and eating and going to movies and catching the A-Train. I can't wait for the day when I click that "OK" button and my flights are booked. Another adventure will start.. I can hardly contain my excitement!

Mad Men Yourself

It's certainly nothing new, but so much more stylish than turning yourself into a South Park character, which was all the rage a few years ago..

Go ahead and "Mad Men Yourself" - select your 1960's hair-do, figure-hugging outfit, and cigarette or cocktail to delicately wave around.

Here's me..!

While you're playing, have a listen to the divine Ella Fitzgerald singing about that Isle of Joy.. Wonderful!

Beauty

I have been a devout follower of Kiehl's since 2005. Since I started earning a proper salary really - a salary that could only just afford Kiehl's! It's certainly not cheap.. Sadly it's not available in NZ, so I try and stock up when I go back to Oz. And I may need to ask the boy to bring some items back from NYC for me!

Shopping Tour - 1st Stop : Kiehl's  

"Since 1851, our New York apothecary has been dedicated to serving discerning customers fine formulations for skin and hair made with uniquely efficacious, natural ingredients."

These are my favourite products that I truly do swear by - I have been using them continuously for the past 5 years, going on 6 years, and I like to think that they are the reason I still get ID'ed at the supermarket when I try to buy wine..!

Ultra Facial Moisturizer - SPF 15

It's so light - I put it on every morning straight after my shower - it's great if your face is still damp because you need less of it. It lasts for AGES! And of course, gotta love the SPF factor. I know everyone has different skin types, but this one suits me perfectly - not greasy, keeps my face feeling exactly the same all day.

Foaming Non-Detergent Washable Cleanser

This is so great to use in the shower - it gets rid of all your makeup without even really trying, and it's not soapy but still makes your face feel completely clean, and the best part is that it doesn't make your face feel tight - I can't stand cleansers that do that! And you hardly need any at all, so it also lasts for ages and ages!

Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

This is just awesome to carry around in your handbag - it makes your hands tingle and completely wakes them up when they get that horrible dry, tired feeling.

Abyssine Eye Cream

I've been using eye cream since I was 21. When my little sister found out about this when she was 25, she couldn't believe it. I still remember being in DJ's in Sydney with my Mum, and we were looking at Natio products, and a lady came up to us and recommended the eye cream - said she had been using it since it since she was 21, and without recalling how old she actually was, I remember thinking at the time that I hoped I would still look that good at her age. Your eyes, I think, are the first part about you to tell your age.And while this is a little pricey for such a wee jar, it's lovely and light.

You only have one body, and even if those few extra dollars trick me into thinking I'm doing myself a favour, then I'm all for it, because it's my body and I want to keep it looking like me for as long as possible! Along with these pricey New York potions and lotions, I have always loved this quote from Audrey Hepburn:

"For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people, For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry, For Beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day, For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

The Movie in My Mind

I don’t know exactly what it is about New York, but there is definitely a magnetic force that has a hold on me.

Perhaps it’s the films I watched throughout my life so far. The idea that walking the streets of New York City will be like stepping straight into the movie of my life.

I recently asked my Facebook friends what their favourite films set in, or about, New York were. Here is what they came up with:

Home Alone 2     Rosemary’s Baby     Taxi Driver     Annie Hall     Private Parts     Gangs of New York       King Kong     Ghostbusters     Serendipity    Sex And The City     Manhattan     Big Business     Kissing Jessica Stein    The Squid and The Whale     Arthur      Arthur 2 - On The Rocks     Wall Street     Breakfast at Tiffany’s     On the Town     Serpico     Reign Over Me     An American Tail     The Secret of My Success     In the Cut

I watch a lot of films, and I have seen many of these, but not all of them. I have some DVD renting to do! Of course there are a million more films about NYC – would love to hear what your favourites are.

Will my idealized notion of New York being one big film set be crushed when I eventually do arrive? Will my feet hurt with all the walking around I plan on doing? Will I be mugged in Central Park? Will I leave my purse in a yellow cab by mistake? Will I queue for hours and pay through the nose to get to the top of the Empire State Building? Will I feel lost and lonely in the big city?

Or will it feel like home?

I think about old school mates who have perhaps gone off to university for a few years after school finished, but returned to our old village and settled down with a local partner. Married, bought a house, had a baby or two. It must be a comfortable life for them. A secure life. Perhaps there was a moment, who knows how long ago, when this may have been something I also saw for myself. But I’m sure the feeling didn’t last long. It certainly hasn’t been there for a very long time. I have a restlessness in me that keeps longing for bigger things. Funnily though, this drive is still constrained within the need to have a full-time job with regular money coming in. I haven’t got the courage yet to branch out as a freelancer. But I know that will come eventually. Perhaps once I’ve paid off my credit card..!

And the feeling hasn’t diminished since I’ve found myself suddenly with a lovely boyfriend. If anything, the desire for adventure is even stronger – I just want to run off and have fun in NYC with him! Living in NZ is strange – I love it, and I forget sometimes that I am actually living in a different country from that in which I grew up. This should be exciting right? But perhaps it’s the fact that I’m still hidden away down this corner of the world, that I feel a little closed in. The really exciting part about living this life is that I never know what’s around the corner. Where I will end up next. What’s going to happen next week, next month, next year. I’m 30 years old and definitely not ready to slow down just yet! Bring on NYC!

A Sartorial Summer

I love The Sartorialist. He doesn't need an introduction - just these four lovely photographs. Could he make a New York summer look any sweeter?

Pics: The Sartorialist

I love that a new city can be an excuse for an entirely new wardrobe. In NZ, my winter wardrobe currently consists of a lot of merino - perfect for layering, black stockings, dresses and skirts, my favourite brown boots, a few pairs of black boots, some slightly inappropriate silver ballet flats (although they really were just inappropriate when I was catching the bus - now that I'm driving, I can get away with them a little better with the quick run from the house to the car, then the car into work!), lots of scarves, my gorgeous new wool coat, beret and gloves. There was nowhere near as much wool in my wardrobe when I lived in Sydney, but I'd like to think a move to NYC would mean I can take my merino items with me.

NZ is a whole lot more relaxed than Sydney - you don't need to try quite so hard, which is a refreshing change. And what's even better, it seems that anything goes in NYC. I can't wait to just take the bare minimum of my current wardrobe with me, and start filling it out with new favourites! Hoping they have as many wonderful little boutiques as we have in my current city. Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Moochi, Papercup.. I will definitely miss these places!

Counting Down

Weird that I'm starting a blog about a city I've never been to? Perhaps. But I will be there eventually, I can promise you that.

He was meant to be leaving tomorrow morning. Change of plans - it's now next Friday! So 6 more days to go.. Then just over 4 months until he comes back. From NYC. The complete other side of the world.

Ok so I don't really know what to say yet except that I will miss him like crazy and I'm just going to enjoy this next week!

Now.. to start up a list of the hot spots where you may be able to find me in NYC one day.. they'll have a tour bus that will visit all of these places someday in the future, when my celebrity status has reached legendary, and people visit NYC just to follow in my footsteps. (hey, a girl can dream.)

Gourmet Tour - 1st Stop: The Magnolia Bakery

Cliched? Yes. I don't care. It will be my first stop!

Pic: allthingscupcake.com