Creating Coral Reefs

I came across this project randomly while flipping through tumblr. It's a creation by the British artist Jason de Caires Taylor, part of a reef conservation project off the coast of Mexico. The installation is made up of 350 statues cast from real people in a pH neutralized material designed to grow coral, in essence starting a new coral reef from scratch. The goal is to create an underwater tourist attraction that draws snorkelers away from the real reefs near Cancun that are  stressed by constant human contact.

In the meantime, it looks like a pretty cool place to visit!

Mumford and Sons: Winter Winds

All I can say is that I am so unbelievably excited to see them perform at Bonnaroo.

Bonnaroo 2011

I'm going! I bought my ticket, and I could not be more excited. I went in 2009, and it was pretty much the best trip ever. I gushed about how much I loved it here. You can check out the full lineup here. The artists I won't be leaving without seeing?

• Mumford and Sons
• Amos Lee
• Girl Talk
• The Strokes
• Lil Wayne
• Karen Elson
• Steven Stills and Neil Young
• Eminem

I cannot wait!

Protect Women's Reproductive Freedoms

One of the things that I value most about being a woman in a free and democratic nation is the ability to do what I please with my own body. It sounds cheesy, I know. And my friends and I always joke around about that line they teach you in Health class, “It’s my body, I’ll do what I want.” Maybe we changed it around a little in retrospect, but the message is the same. I have control over my body, and I can decide if I want to have sex, have a baby, prevent having a baby. Then after that, I have the resources to obtain health care for whatever choice I make.

It seems simple, but the reality is that women around the world don’t have these freedoms. In the United States, if someone attacks a woman and forces her to commit sexual acts, that person can be prosecuted. If a woman becomes pregnant and decides she can’t have the baby, she has legal access to abortion. Here, if a woman finds herself being abused by her partner, she can leave the marriage and seek help at a medical facility or crisis center. If she contracts a sexually transmitted diseases, there are places to seek treatment. These things set us apart from much of the world.

Planned Parenthood is one place where women (and men) of any age or socioeconomic status can access this type of care. If young women are afraid that their parents will find out they’re sexually active, they can go to Planned Parenthood to receive care. If women don’t have the money to afford birth control, or don’t have insurance, they can go to Planned Parenthood to receive health services for free, or on a sliding scale basis depending on the scenario. This public health institution has made prenatal and reproductive health a reality for many women who previously could not afford it. I support their mission 100%, and donate when I can.

Over the past week, the House of Representatives has approved approved a series of budget cuts that would include totally defunding Planned Parenthood. The cuts eliminate all Title X funds for the institution. In past years, the health center used $317 million of funds like these to support the range of care they offer. Without this money, the center is likely unable to survive.

Federal funding has always been banned from financially assisting abortion. These cuts would eradicate vital health services including free pelvic and breast exams, family planning (read: birth control), infertility counseling, and HIV tests. In short, this bill is pushing the right to take care of your own body out of reach for thousands of women across the United States. It is a public health crisis.

Why do they think they can get away with this? Well, it’s simple. Many people (read: pro-life conservatives) equate Planned Parenthood with promoting abortion (read: evil), and abetting the sexual activity of youths (read: greater evil) and those who may not be monetarily privileged. Never mind that the center does exactly the opposite by giving access to contraceptives and educational materials. Let’s just focus on one main thing here. People aren’t going to stop having sex. Bam. I said it. Sorry to the Catholic Church, and abstinence supporters. We might as well make it safe, right?

So what can you do to stop this attack on the care of women, men and teens who rely on Planned Parenthood? Sign their open letter to the members of Congress who voted to bar federal funding here . Find an event where you can stand up for Planned Parenthood in your local area here. Donate to help Planned Parenthood stay open here. Or find out how your representative voted and share your thoughts here.

Yogi Tea

I'm not much of a tea drinker. I tend to associate it with being sick. I only ever drank it with lemon and honey when I had a terrible sore throat and my mom brought me a mug while I lay on the couch. I've tried to find teas I like with limited success. Chamomile flower tea is quite tasty (for tea). Harney Hot Cinnamon Sunset black tea blend of orange, cloves, and cinnamon is a delightful exception that I enjoy when I can find it. English Breakfast tea with milk is good, but I think mostly because it reminds me of a mild form of coffee. No flavor has really wowed me enough to take the place of the main hot beverage in my life (read: coffee or espresso). Quite frankly, it's mostly because despite the different taste, and all the wonderful healing properties of tea, well, it just doesn't have enough caffeine to make it worth me drinking it.

Then I sampled Yogi Super Antioxidant Green Tea. Someone gifted me a box of it, and one day when the office machine was out of all the good flavors of coffee, I decided why not? I'll give it a try. It's better than nothing.

It has lemongrass, licorice root, alfalfa leaf, jasmine leaf, dandelion root, grapeseed extract and irish moss powder. Typically when I drink Green Tea, I add honey or at least a squeeze of lemon to make it's otherwise bland taste drinkable. When iced, I like some papaya juice to sweeten it up. But, I was at work here, and had no special flavorings to add. I'd have to be satisfied with the little quite on the tea bag tag. Weirdly enough, the flavor kind of reminds me of fruity pebbles. And I like it! I actually finished the bags I had, and bought a new box because I can have a taste of my childhood with the bonus of restoring youthful energy (not sure if that's true) and rejuvenating. It at least fights off a little afternoon drowsiness when coffee can't be found. Check out their varieties here, and maybe you'll discover your inner tea lover (or liker) too.

Need

Stripes have been a must have clothing item for a while now. I have my standard black and white horizontal stripe tank that I frequently toss on under a blazer for a comfy/cool work outfit. But for the weekends? Well, I haven't been able to find a striped top I love yet. They were either too fat or too skinny, the tops were too fitted or too short. Until today. This one is juuuuust right.  The perfect length, perefct comfort level all around.

It's the Quicksilver Sea Stripe Henley Top in global red. I just might have to stop by the store on my way home and pick one up. What trend have you been searching for, and unable to find the perfect fit?

Punchy Pouts

After a lovely long weekend of relaxing (and slacking on blogging--sorry guys!), to ease back into the work week, I spent a little time perusing the interwebz. I found all of these delightful adorable and artistic make up tricks. You know what they remind me of? Being bored in class, and drawing little people on your hands with your friends for entertainment. Happy 4 day week!

 Panda Lips

 Hippo Lips

 A multitude of cute animal lips

Angry Cheetah Lips

TGIF

It's approaching that point in the day when the attitude of the 9-5 office crowd collectively changes from fuck this to fuck yea.

Borders is BANKRUPT?!

I wrote about book stores going out of style all the way back in August in this post, but I never thought it would really truly happen! I love a good book store: wandering the aisles, looking at the cute stationary, getting a coffee and reading in the wonderful quiet. Yet just this morning I happened to notice that on the train to work, there were more people reading e-readers than real books. I had my paperback, but the lady to my left had an iPad, and the lady to my right had a Nook. Then I get to my desk and BAM in my email inbox is the letter below from the CEO of Borders explaining how they filed for bankruptcy yesterday. All I can say is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I hoped this day would never come. And if a large corporation like Borders is struggling, I can't imagine the impact all this e-reading is having on smaller, local merchants.I feel like Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail. Go buy a book, and save a literary tradition!

Pedestrian Aggressiveness Syndrome

It’s true, side walk rage is REAL guys. I wrote about it here, but Gothamist has made it official with today’s article. And it’s official, tourists are slow and in the way.

Though, if you live in NYC, you most likely already knew that. I feel a small amount of rage bubble up nearly every day when people cut me off, push their baby carriages next to each other and totally block the path, or just generally walk too slow, typically dangling some sort of small child off their grasp. Each day during my evening commute, I take a couple deep breaths and remind myself that if I get a little less annoyed, and walk at a normal pace, I will get home only minutes after a frantic race walk to the apartment door without having to sigh loudly and glare at the a-holes who don’t think they can make it across the street once the orange hand starts blinking. Sound familiar?

It all started for me when I was studying abroad in Madrid. Yes, this would have to bet the first time I recall first puzzlement that people were blatantly disobeying the unwritten code of the road, followed by confusion when I was nearly pushed down several times by people who just refused to yield to other pedestrians, to sheer and utter annoyance that these silly Spaniards have no idea how to walk anywhere.

In Europe, I noticed that firstly, there is no left side, right side rule to where you should walk on the sidewalk. Could be attributed to the FACT that they don’t even know which side of the road their cars are supposed to go on, but that’s another story.

And, to make it worse, people like to stroll. There is no urgency to get where you’re going, might as well enjoy the sights. New Yorkers will be gasping, appalled right about now, and imaging the SHEER CHAOS that would ensue if everyone lolly gagged along zigzagging willy nilly across the entire sidewalk. Add the third element I observed: a complete and utter lack of understanding that if someone is walking toward you on the exact same strip of sidewalk, one of you has to move out of the way to avoid collision. It’s madness I tell you, madness!

One day I was sprinting along to class from my apartment near San Bernardo to my school near Moncloa. It’s a far walk, and I was late per usual. It dawned on me that on the way, not a single person coming towards me moved to make way for this person who was obviously in a rush. I was perplexed. On my way home that evening, I decided to test my theory, and not change course when a man was walking towards me, on the wrong side of the sidewalk I might add, and to stay the path. The result? I was nearly knocked off my feet as he did not seem to think two people couldn’t go in opposite directions in the same space. This happened time and time again.

Thankfully in NYC, people who suck at walking are mostly the aberration (tourists, and new comers), and those who get a pass (old people, the physically disabled, and people with dogs I can pet). Even when it’s raining, we develop a complex system of lowering and raising our umbrellas, and quickly going around people on our sides of the sidewalk to avoid (insert aghast look here) actually coming into physical contact with another New Yorker all while getting to our destination as quickly as possible. There may not be an actual handbook that lays it out for you step by step, but they go something like this.

1. Walk to the right hand side (Yes, like cars)
2. Pass to the left (Again, like cars)
3. Do not stop suddenly in the middle of the sidewalk (8 million people live here, someone is probably behind you)
4. Do not walk more than 2 wide
5. If it’s rush hour, you shouldn’t be walking next to any one (or smiling)
6. If you have a child, for goodness sake, keep it out of all the happy childless peoples’ ways (strings of 2 or more children holding hands holding your hand are not cute, they are an obstacle)
7. That goes for baby carriages too (Just because you have an infant does not give you the automatic right of way)
8. If you are standing, waiting for someone please make sure it is off to the side next to a solid unmovable obstacle (like a wall or road sign) that people will avoid anyhow so you are not in the way
9. Hustle. We all have somewhere to be.

Is that really so hard to understand?

Capelli Brand Boots

Check out my new boots! A couple weeks ago, during all the extreme ice, sleet and thunder snow we’ve been having in NYC, I wore my rain boots out. Typically I wear my fur snow boots this time of year to keep my tootsies warm, but I just got sick of having to step around the GIGANTIC pools of slush and water around each corner and decided that I wanted to be able to wade right through them. So, I put on a couple pairs of thick socks and headed out in my trusty fire engine red galoshes for my morning commute. Fast forward to my first puddle, I suddenly have the sensation not just of cold, but terrible wet on my left foot. My boots had sprung a leak!

I can’t blame them. I had them all through college--so long that I can’t even remember where I bought them, or what brand they were. I’d been wanting to upgrade to some cool new boots for a while, but just couldn’t justify the expense when I had a perfectly good pair in my closet. I’d save the splurge money for more fun shoes like red high heels. Now, I was forced into getting some new ones. Yay!

I initially heard of Capelli boots through a friend of mine who got a pair for Christmas. They are so cute, and look almost like normal boots that you would wear all day, not just in the rain. I found out the details for someone else who was in the market for boots, never expecting to buy a pair myself.

I had quite the back and forth between Hunter boots, or the adorable bright yellow DKNY boots with a cute little lady with an umbrella on them, or these. Finally I opted for the big girl boots, with the quilted top. Often, when it’s supposed to rain in the morning, but stop by evening and I plan to be out all day, I don’t want to wear my rain boots because I don’t want to be stuck in their silly bright rubber after the rain is over. These Capelli boots are so fashionable and non-rain-booty that I wouldn’t mind having them on all day. Hence, I wear them more often, and at only $30 for the pair, they’re a bargain compared to Hunters. Success.

JewelMint in Review

This is the bracelet I just received from JewelMint. I completed a style profile when I first read about the site in Lucky magazine (and blogged about it here), and have been receiving emails with personalized style/jewelry selections ever since. I was intrigued by the whole concept of the site, jewelry at “drastically reduced” prices for only $29.99 a piece with free shipping. Seems like a deal! I got an email from the site with this piece, the Bella Bracelet a couple weeks ago, and bought it instantly on impulse. You know those jangly anklets that hippies tend to wear that make a slight bell noise with every step? I have 3. I don’t know why, I love a musical piece of jewelry. This bracelet is pretty much those anklets for your wrist, and slightly prettier.

It just screamed me. The suggestions are to pair it with a bohemian flowy top to shop with your girlfriends. SOLD.

So, I joined, and read the fine print. After you make your first purchase, they automatically charge you for one credit ($29.99) between the first and the fifth of every month, unless you log in and decline the credit for the period. You can then put this credit towards any jewelry item. To unsubscribe? You have to call customer service. No big deal, I knew what I was signing on for.

This bracelet was normally marked at $109.99, and as a member, you get the discounted price of $29.99. Yea right it cost over a hundred bucks is all I have to say. I don’t know anyone who would ever pay that much for this little bauble even if Kate Bosworth wore it before shipping. I like it, don’t get me wrong, but the trick of showing a slashed price to make you think you’re getting high quality jewelry for a song? It just makes Kate Bosworth look a little dumb. Let's call things what they are here.

I like the bracelet. Was it worth $30? Sure. Will I continue my membership for now? Yep. Do I still love the concept and Kate? Of course. But, one of the O rings already came undone in the velvet bag  it came in, and I had to use my own jewelry pliers to close it again. I haven’t even tried it on . High quality jewelry? I think not.

Redonkulously Cute

In case you were wondering, this is the actual puppeh I had the pleasure of dog sitting this weekend. His name is Max, and he loves to snuggle and cuddle onto any lap he can find. Yes, his tongue is a little too long for his mouth, leading it to stick out adorably like that at all times. I'm pretty sure he made friends with the entire Upper East Side while we were out walking. I have never heard so many New Yorker's stop and gush about what an adorable little thing an animal was. It was a treat to see this cute little face all weekend long. If you have a puppy that needs watching, feel free to get in touch!

All you need is love (and appreciation)

Ok, so it’s Valentine’s Day. Probably one of the more controversial “holidays” (just saying, the post office isn’t closed), on the books. People love to hate V Day, and I just don’t get what the big deal is. Ladies, really? How can you hate a day that’s whole object is to get you candy, flowers and jewelry. It’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me.

If you’re coupled, go have some fun, enjoy the one you love. Stop griping about being burdened by the commercialism of it all. If you don’t want to go out, don’t go out. If you hate big stuffed animals and heart shaped candies, go get some fancy pop corn or a new set of headphones instead. No one is forcing you to wear pink, or red, or to buy kitchschy gifts. Wear brown if you please. Just appreciate your US by doing something the two of you genuinely enjoy. It’s a “holiday.” It’s supposed to be fun. If you don’t want to celebrate, I’m pretty sure it’s optional just like going to church on Christmas.

If you’re single, please don’t let me hear you whine about how the universe is against you and you’ll be alone for the rest of your life. You don’t go getting all upset on Veteran’s Day because you’ve never served in a war. This holiday is not for you, but there are plenty of other holidays designed for special groups of people (Grandparent’s Day, Groundhog’s Day, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, President’s Day) that you are perfectly capable of coping with. Try to keep it in perspective.

Instead of complaining and being grumpy at work, you could take a couple minutes to just appreciate the spirit of the day. It’s all about love, happiness, and feeling good that you have it in your life. If you can’t appreciate a significant other, what about a pet, or a relative, or a coworker who really gets you, or a really awesome BFF, or your amazing boss? Or what about giving yourself a little pat on the back, I mean, you’re pretty hot, pretty successful, and pretty smart right? Obviously it would take someone of your caliber a little longer to find a Mr. or Mrs. Right who is equally awesome. Maybe you should reward yourself for all that greatness with a little indulgence that you wouldn’t on a normal day like chocolate for breakfast or that video game you’ve had your eye on.

If V-day is making you that unhappy to be in the relationship you’re in, or to not be in a relationship at all, then that should signal something to you. Maybe today’s the day you take a step towards changing that before getting all “Poor Me,” drinking too much wine, and leaving loving messages to all your exes on Facebook. That’s not getting you anywhere but embarrassed and hungover.

Let’s save all the melodrama for the real tragedies in life. It is Monday after all. Who has the energy for all that hullabaloo when you could just take an easy excuse to eat a lot of candy and be happy?

WANT

Doesn't this dress look perfect for flowing from room to room in an open air villa whilst living on a tropical island somewhere? Or for flouncing through the park on a lovely spring day? Or for pulling on over a fresh tan with rafia wedges to dance at a luau?

It's part of the spring Chinoiserie theme seen parading down runways all over NYC this week with an emphasis on Asian inspired florals. Made by Patterson J. Kincaid, this creamy white chiffon number retails at Saks for a cool $198. It's the deep plum sash that really sold me. Though I have always been a sucker for kimono style shapes. Pick up something flowery, belt it with a pretty silky tie, and you're in business. This one's mine.

Saturday Matinee

I know what I'll be doing every Saturday morning for the rest of the time I live on the Upper East Side. I love the movies. Even when its movies that got terrible reviews, or I'm not sure I'll like that much. It's one of my favorite things to do. Every Saturday at the AMC Loew's theatre on 3rd and 86th any movie shown before noon is only $5 for the first showing. I'm on it. What else am I ever really doing before 12pm on the weekend?

Natural Nut Butter

Do you love the idea of natural peanut butter, but get a little grossed about by the fact that you have to stir it to make it look like peanut butter? Me too. After reading the ingredients on the back of my trusty Peter Pan creamy one day, I decided to switch to natural peanut butter, and not go back. It was a commitment, but after eating the natural stuff for a couple weeks, I actually grew to like it's nutty salty, peanuty flavor even more than the jelly bean version of it packed with sugar and chemicals. But sometimes it just gets annoying how much oil separates in the fridge. Sometimes I miss being able to spread a thick coat on my English muffin without it dripping all over the counter. Enter the answer to my prayers. My mom sent me a jar of the stuff pictured above, Organic American Once Again, and it's pure heaven. Where most natural peanut butters turn into an oily mess when you let them sit, and have no added sugar, this miracle of science has sugar and stays creamy! The secret? They mix it with organic palm oil (which is actually quite healthy) to give it the glorious consistency of Peter Pan without all the gross stuff. Yum! It comes in peanut, cashew, and various seed butters. I can't wait to try them all.

Puppy Love

I'm dog sitting my Aunt's Yorkie this weekend. I could not BE more excited to have a pup to hang out with all day today and tomorrow. I want a little puppeh of my own, but I'm just not ready yet. The next best thing? Borrowing other people's dogs! While I'm out having the time of my life in the small dog park, here are some of my dream pooches to oogle.

 An overly fluffy little pom

 Have you seen a cuter brindle pitbull?

A soft coated wheaton<3

Krause's Candy

I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Ok, that’s not totally true. I love really ridiculously sugary beverages like slushies and all kinds of sodas. But baked goods? Well, I just don’t crave them that often. Cake? I don’t really like it that much. Candy? Every now and again. Yet there are some sweets, no matter what my mood, that I simply cannot resist.

Nutella is one. I can’t keep it in the house, or it goes from buying yummy things to dip in it, to eating it on toast, to spoonfuls for a snack to just dipping my finger in the jar. Don’t judge me, you know you’ve done it too.

Another? Krause’s homemade chocolate. It’s a local delicacy from near where I grew up. They’ve been in business since 1929, when the original Krause brought his chocolate making skills over to the U.S. from Germany. All of their candy is homemade and delicious. It’s a little taste of heaven, and home at the same time. And it just keeps making its way into my life. The candy fairy is really looking out.

First, I come into work to find a giant bar of Krause’s on my desk as a thank you from a co-worker. Next a big package of chocolate and gummy candies arrives in the mail. It just keeps finding its way to my door, and shortly thereafter my belly. It’s been a treat.

I used to think that Krause’s was only something I could indulge in when I was home for the weekend, of if I conned my parents into sending me some. But guess what? They deliver! Check out their website here. I recommend the sour pucker ups and anything milk chocolate (especially the turtles!).

Office Worker's Lament

Today is one of those gorgeous winter days when it just seems like a crime not to be sitting in a sun room feeling the heat of the sun on your face, ice skating, or sliding down a hill on skis or a sled. The sky is a sea of blue, and the air is crisp---outside my window that is. At my desk, instead it’s the stale over circulated blast of the radiator and the glow I’m taking in is from a computer monitor. Sigh. Some days I would give anything for a flexible schedule, and some daytime hours to be outdoors. Here are some pictures for you to gaze at and daydream yourself into if you’re stuck behind your cubicle walls too.

Tree's so green. Air so piney.

Snow covered

 Skating to the Sunset

Frozen Lake

Solitary Skier

Become your dream and all the crap

 Every week, around trash day, or all the time when it snows, and the garbage collectors don't come, I'm subjected to this crap, or motivational message, or graffiti, or ART as some people call it. I live on the Upper East Side, and someone has run rampant with this pithy little saying, and writes it all over whatever discarded furniture/large box/piece of junk they can find. It's been getting on my nerves for a while now, and so I finally did a little googling.

Apparently, the mantra is attributed to James De La Vega, an artist who lives in Soho, but has worked in NYC, Paris, Italy, and Tokyo (thanks Wikipedia!). Though with the frequency of his message in my hood, I'm not entirely convinced that he hasn't relocated to the slightly less artsy locale of the UES, and just hasn't told his hipster friends yet.

Vega is well known for his semi-permanent art. He does chalk murals, and other "art" that technically (and by technically I mean legally) classifies as graffiti around NYC. He also has a store/museum on St. Marks where he peddles his wares in the form of small drawings, and reproductions of art on coffee mugs and the like.

De La Vega doesn't take credit for every sighting of his signature phrase on the UES, but uses its prominence to insist that he has started a movement, that people are looking at trash in a different light. In other words, it's not just useless garbage, it's a form of artistic communication.

Personally? My interpretation of this expression? I find it annoying.

And every time I see that stupid little fish, I wonder. What's with the fish, is it a Jesus Fish? Is De La Vega really really religious? Am I swimming in the sea of life towards my dreams? Then I wonder, was this the best the guy could come up with? A less interesting version of Thoreau's, "Live the life you've imagined" quote? Why is this guy I don't even know bossing me around?


The constant vision of trash written on in permanent marker doesn't brighten my day. It makes me think, MAN, someone ruined a piece of furniture that otherwise someone else may have taken home and re-purposed. It makes me think, GEEZ I really wish they would collect the trash more often. It makes me wonder, who has the time to run around writing on trash? And lastly, it just gets on my nerves.

Generally people who are ambitious, and going after their life goals, aka dreams, are taking forward steps and moving towards achieving them. That's probably a big part of the reason they live in NYC. They're not just aimlessly meandering the streets, looking for a sign from a mysterious bandit armed with a writing utensil to point them in the right direction. I'm just saying.

A Day of Rest

Not feeling the SuperBowl? Still feel like being a couch potato, but your roommate is hogging the tv?

Now would be a perfect time to start a free trial of Netflix streamed to you computer. In my Instant Queue?

• Sunshine Cleaning
• Frida
• Defiance
• Being John Malkovich
• The Science of Sleep
• Blade Runner
• I Am Sam
• Law Abiding Citizen
• The Motorcycle Diaries
• Up
• Big
• The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Or you can check out the show’s you forgot to DVR on your laptop. Hulu doesn’t have what you want? Try FastPassTV.com for recent shows. They have current seasons, and episodes are sometimes posted the same night the show is on! Chose WiseVid as the site to stream from. For old episodes of Gilmore Girls, check out SurfTheChannel.com. They have a huge library of shows, even back to season one. But beware, they cut you off at the 90 minute mark, so don’t get too into a show without planning a couple hour break before you can watch again. Also check out TV-Video.net for catching up on the oldies but goodies.

Sunday Funday

One reason not to let the fact that it's a Sunday keep you from having a grand old time this Superbowl.

You might as well live it up.

And, let's be serious. EVERYONE will be hungover at work tomorrow.

Because I'm Reading Atlas Shrugged

A Night at the Museum

The reason why that movie was so popular? For some odd reason, kids always seem to fantasize about getting to stay in a museum, or a zoo for that matter, over night, after hours. There's something a little bit magical about being in a place which is typically flooded with fellow spectators when no one else should be around.

Well, guess what? It doesn't go away as an adult. Hence, the plethora of night time events held at cultural institutions all over NYC. There's First Fridays at the Guggenheim. Art with drinking, dj's and dancing, and no children? It's a museum experience, BUT BETTER. Much, much better.

I recently discovered that the American Museum of Natural History has a similar event called One Step Beyond, a monthly dance party for exclusively the over 21 crowd in the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Cocktails will be served. Tonight the event is featuring The Scissor Sisters with Lauren Flax and Activaire DJs. I will be attending, and I could not be more pumped to dance the night away under the stars of the Planetarium.

A Girl's Best Friend

Do you like to ogle jewelry you may never be able to afford? Good, me too. Van Cleef and Arpels, the legendary Parisian jeweler, responsible for the easily recognizable clover motif, is having an exhibition at NYC’s Cooper Hewitt Museum starting February 18^th going though June 5^th. Just in time to take your Valentine’s date and show him what he could have bought you. Van Cleef and Arpels has been a jewelry landmark in NYC since WWII. The exhibition will show over 250 pieces with themes of innovation, nature as inspiration, exoticism, and fashion and celebrity. Famous ladies including Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor loved the brand. Imagine yourself floating around New York in furs and diamonds. Oh, and try not to drool on the glass.

To the A-holes that Ruin my Commute

Dear Loathsome Subway Rider,

The weather we have been having lately is bad enough. I’m not going to complain about it. We’re adults. We don’t get snow days anymore. Mother Nature does what she feels like. It sucks. We can all agree on that. Let’s stop ranting about it, and making it our facebook status.

What I would like complain about it the jerks who have to make it worse by being obnoxious on the subway. It is a slap in the face to trudge through snow and ice, to successfully make it to your subway destination only to be confronted with hordes of wet people waiting for the trains that, due to an earlier service disruption are all effed up.

However, it is completely unacceptable to yell out and direct your fellow New Yorkers (who happen to be equally as annoyed and late because of this crap) to move in farther into the train, make more room, and just announce that you are coming on, even if there isn’t space. It’s OK if the subway conductor asks you to make more room. That’s his job. It’s OK if you would like to ask me nicely if I could move. I will tell you if I can or not. Blindly bossing me around just pisses me off.

I am not going to lie and say I’ve never slipped onto an overcrowded train. I have. However, I can say with honesty that I have never forced myself on when there was absolutely no space for another body and pushed to do so. There is a line between really crowded and extremely uncomfortable and these terrible people just keep crossing it.

Today a man was yelling, “This is New York! Coming On!” in response to my death glares at him shoving me into the train and twisting my arm in the process. No, sir, this is not how New York behaves. New York is a city full of people who walk around looking mean so that weirdos and crazies like yourself don’t fuck with them. We may appear unapproachable, and that’s just because we don’t want the Green Peace peddlers on the sidewalk to feel like they can stop us, or the homeless man to hit us up for money.

However, when you actually talk to New Yorkers, and ask them questions nicely, most tend to be very friendly and helpful individuals. Are you lost? We’ll give you directions and maybe a hand drawn map. If there was actually any room on the train, we would want to move in so that more people can get to work on time. We would have already moved in because we’re just that efficient, and because everyone knows the spots near the doors suck.

It’s obviously amateur hour when people just don’t get that. So, keep your mouth shut, and wait for the next train if there’s not room.

Thankyouverymuch.

In a Mid-Winter Rut?