Friday, December 31st, 2010

Ah New Years Eve. You better believe that like any true New Yorker I will NOT be anywhere near Times Square. Now the real question will be how high the trash will be stacked tomorrow since I don't know the last time it was actually picked up - as evidenced by this picture taken on Christopher Street this afternoon.

Verdict: Love New York Today (but dreading tomorrow)

Thursday, December 30th, 2010

Ah, the aftermath of the blizzard - nasty dirty snow piled up over the garbage that hasn't been picked up. There is brown slushy snow everywhere and the remaining white snow is slowly turning yellow (gross!). This picture is from Bleeker Street late this afternoon. Cornelia Street hasn't been plowed and is a disaster zone.

But you know what? I still had a great day today.

Verdict: Love New York Today

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

This picture, blurry though it may be, represents a miracle. Out that window is JFK after my flight landed this afternoon. Yes, I actually made it back today! I won't do more than mention the fact that the jet-way wouldn't work on arrival (the pilot actually said that in 25 years of flying he hadn't seen it take that long to get it working), the cab line was absurd (no car services were available) and the ride home took well over an hour and a half. I also won't go into detail about the mountains of snow covering everything and how dragging your luggage over said mountains sucks (and makes your apartment really messy). None of that matters because I made it home today!

Verdict: Love New York Today

Monday, December 27th, 2010

You know those 800 or so flights into New York that have been canceled? Of course I was on one of them. So, in lieu of a report on all the blizzard activity all I can do is post another fun holiday picture. Hopefully I'll make it back sometime this week!

Verdict: Delayed flights = hate New York today.

Saturday, December 25th, 2010

Merry Christmas!

Rockefeller Center tree 2010!

Friday, December 24th, 2010

Cartier Fifth Avenue - all tied up with a beautiful red bow (though the color doesn't show as well in the picture).

Tuesday, December 21st, 2010

57th Street - I love the candy canes that appear to be hanging from the building. They put these up every year and they always make me smile.

Monday, December 20th, 2010

Taken on my subway ride home on Friday

Unlike the target audience of this sign, who would apparently agree that visiting your parents is the WORST thing ever(!), I actually don't mind visiting mine. In fact, I like it. So while I'm home I can't really love or hate New York. But in the spirit of the season, I will post some of the holiday sights from around town, taken over the past week or two. Enjoy!

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

I love the sound of snow. The crunch it makes as you walk is so hard to describe but such a perfectly happy sound. And the sound that it makes when it falls - it is the absence of sound that itself is a sound. I'm glad that it snowed earlier this week - it somehow makes it feel more like December, although I've spent my entire life in a climate that never has snow in December. Granted, I almost ate it about four times but I can still think about the flakes gently falling and smile. 

Verdict: Love New York Today

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

What is it with people walking around New York and singing like no one else is around? Hey dude walking down Grove singing Rihanna's "Only Girl (In the World)" - I don't want to listen to you and your horrible pitchy rendition of top hits.

Verdict: Hate New York Today

Monday, December 13th, 2010

I went to Bryant Park over the weekend to see the shops, check out the tree and get a well-needed dose of holiday spirit. It did not disappoint. The ice skating rink was on the smaller side but packed with people having a great time. There was a Sigmund pretzel outpost (delicious!) and Max Brenner hot chocolate. Holiday spirit restored. At least for a while.

Verdict: Love New York Today

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Things I saw today in no particular order:

1. A guy literally wiping his bulldog's ass on the street.

2. Anna Wintour walking down Bleeker Street

3. Hundreds of people dressed in full Santa costumes for a Santa bar crawl.

Verdict: Love New York Today.

Friday, December 10th, 2010

Well this was a lovely sight outside of the Plaza Hotel:

The Coke truck, all decorated with Christmas lights and Santa. Love it!

Verdict: Obviously, Love New York Today

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Went to the Bowery Ballroom last night for a concert. It was my first time there and I have to say it was a great concert space: a lot smaller than venues tend to be so you could get a great view no matter where you were; ample bathrooms (always important when attending a concert) and easy to access bars. My only complaint was the coat check, which took forever as there was only one woman running it (and they charged $2/item).

Verdict: Love New York Today

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Shopping for Christmas trees in New York is a hassle and you lose some of the magic when they are piled on the curbs. But on the plus side it smells much better with all the fresh cut trees everywhere.

Verdict: Draw

Sunday, December 5th, 2010

Went to the Wired pop up store today, and that's one of the cool things about living in New York: you can go to these amazing stores that literally only exist for a week (or less). This one was pretty awesome as pop-up stores go: free beer and snacks with TVs showing various football games on the top floor, multiple drawings for freebies and all kinds of gadgets that you wish you could afford.

Verdict: Love New York Today

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Subway solicitations are the worst. There is no escaping them - the doors ding shut and you're trapped. Today on my commute home I had the pleasure of two such encounters. The first was an entire Mariachi band, and while I admit they were good, it can be difficult navigating around a bass. The second was the standard homeless speech "I just need help, anything you can give would be appreciated. I don't want to be doing this but I don't have other choices. I don't do drugs, I just need help." Today's pitch had a twist though - she added that she would appreciate any help "including advice." I would love to have seen her reaction had someone actually tried to offer advice instead of give her money.

Verdict: Hate New York Today

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Wow, I can't believe it is December already. I mean in my opinion it is one of the best times to be in New York (weather notwithstanding) but wow, this year has just flown by. So anyway today was nasty. It was that horrible weather where the day starts off warm but you know it is going to end up cold, so you have to wear a heavier jacket in the morning and sweat it out on the way to work. It also rained almost all day. Gray, nasty rain. I think this picture does today justice, and I like the small bits of sunlight peeking through, promising a better day tomorrow.

Verdict: Hate New York Today