Monday, March 28th, 2011 - Alligators in the Subway

Sometimes you're walking around New York thinking "you know I'm not sure what I'm going to blog about today." Then you come across Christopher Street (which on a typical night is a good source of material) and you see something out of the ordinary. A giant alligator tail protruding from a manhole. I literally thought to myself "what the hell?" until I saw the sign.

Apparently the history channel has a show called Swamp People. I just can't believe they were advertising like this. And also, what kind of clearance do you have to get to do this on the street?

Verdict: Love New York Today.

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 - WTF w/the Weather?

Woke up to snow today. Then it rained. And now we're closing the day with a hail-storm punctuated with lightning lighting up the entire sky. What a day.

Verdict: Hate New York Today

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 - Family Guy NYC Style

I'm not sure what I think about this:

Is it funny? Offensive? Am I missing something?

Verdict: Hate New York Today

Monday, March 21st, 2011 - Vintage Car Sighting

I was wandering around today and this was something new. Now this isn't a car you typically see parallel parked along the side of the road:

Two things: (1) I don't know much about cars and (2) I still wouldn't park this car on a street in New York. It looked like it was in mint (get it? because of the color? heh heh) condition.

Verdict: Love New York Today

Sunday, March 20th, 2011 - A Visit to Billy's Bakery in Chelsea

 In a strange coincidence I had Billy's twice this weekend after never having heard of it prior to Friday. It first made an appearance at a friend's birthday party where there were carrot cake cupcakes - delicious. The trip today brought banana cake and pumpkin whoopie pies. I took a picture of the slice of cake (and milk on the side) - it was huge! I will say that you definitely get value for your money at this place. And as a plus there are two tables where you can sit and enjoy - a nice change from Magnolia.

Verdict: Love New York Today

Thursday, March 17th, 2011 - St. Patrick's Day in NYC

Ah, St. Patrick's Day in New York: an experience not to be missed. Well...I guess that's true if you really like parades. Otherwise, eh. Basically it's just a lot of really rowdy people wandering around aimlessly, attempting to get as many freebies as possible (ex: Monster energy drink being handed out on Madison Avenue, Lucky Charms in individual small sizes). The end result is all of the rest of us who have to navigate around them on the way to and from work are completely annoyed. Case in point: on my way to work this morning I encountered a very large group of people (I'd guess late teens, early 20s) who were yelling at the top of their lungs "shots, shots, shots, shots, shots". It was about 9:15am.

Four Faced Liar window

Verdict: Hate New York Today

Monday, March 14th, 2011 - Jersey Strong

I passed this bumper sticker on the way home.

Living in New York there isn't much you can say to this!

Verdict: Love New York Today

Saturday, March 12th, 2011 - A Trip to Dinosaur BBQ

So here in NYC there are a few places that people flock to for BBQ. One of these places is Dinosaur BBQ, all the way up at 125th street. After a long-ass subway ride plus a taxi (subway service stopped at 96th street and the free shuttle buses were taking way too long) we finally made it there to try this institution.

To be honest I thought it was ok. It wasn't life changing, though their mac and cheese side and sweet potato side were both good. Maybe we hit them on an off day? The problem is there is NO way I'm going all the way back up there to find out. From now on I'm sticking with Hill Country, where I can also get some Bluebell ice cream.

Verdict: Love New York Today (Because I can now say I went up there and never have to go again.)

Friday, March 11th, 2011 - iPad 2 Launch at Fifth Avenue

I don't know what it is about new Apple products that brings out herds of people in New York. Maybe I'm just not tech savvy enough; all I know is you could not have paid me to sit out in the torrential rain that we had the entire night last night to reserve my space at the front of the line. But apparently there were some entrepreneurs doing just that -- the woman at the front of the line at 59th & Fifth Avenue sold her spot for $900. Bear in mind that guy still had to pay for the actual iPad. Now that's commitment.

The Apple store did something different for this launch, at least in terms of the line out front. They set up a winding/snaking section (much like security at an airport). But then as I looked across 59th Street I saw a line stretching down towards Madison Avenue! I don't know how far it went - if it reached all the way to Crate and Barrel - but it looked like crazy line management. FAO Schwartz must have finally got fed up with the line always blocking their 58th Street entrance!

Verdict: Laughing at New York Today

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 - Who Let the Mice Out?

On my way to the gym this morning I had my eyes directed down (as one must do in New York to avoid dog sh**). When what should appear - a mouse - running directly from the garbage up to a brownstone.

Verdict: (While thankful it wasn't my apartment) Hate New York Today