It is 11:15 on a Saturday night and I am alone in Andrew's apartment. I'm having fun by myself--Captain Morgan and The Prince and Me are keeping me company. But that's probably a lame Saturday night by most standards.
I've had a busy few days though, so I'm ready for the relaxation. Worked all week, then last night I worked at Uno's til about midnight. Then I practically ran 21 blocks in 15 minutes to make the Ram Van, only to find out that the Ram Van stopped running about 30 minutes before. On to the subway, then the security shuttle before finally making my way into bed around 2 am. Then today I spent apartment hunting.
I visited one place on Roosevelt Island that was terrific. It was a two bedroom, but in a luxury apartment building--free gym, roof access, concierge, awesome views. It took about 10 minutes to get to my subway stop for work. I mean, it was pretty much ridiculous. I can't decide if its totally a great deal, or if, as a 23 year-old transplant from Maryland I should be living in a crappy walk-up in Harlem. I've always been kind of a romantic when it comes to that sort of stuff--you know, struggling artist type stuff, where you spend a few years working your way up, on the career ladder and the apartment hierarchy. Am I too young to live on a residential, luxury island in a building with a pool and concierge?
The second place was a one bedroom in Inwood. I've never spent too much time in Inwood but I've heard it's up and coming. It felt a little bit like Fordham Road, but a little bit safer. The building was older but the apartment was in fine shape and a really good space for the money. Plus I'd be taking over someone else's lease, which ends in October, so after 5 months I could move if I wanted. Basically, I've got a lot of thinking to do, and a lot of talking with my potential roommate, in a very short amount of time. Both of these places will go really fast. Ah, New York, and its ridiculous real estate market!
To sum it all up, any advice would be greatly appreciated because I really don't know what to do. I'd rather live in the luxury apartment building, I think, but if my roommate doesn't want to, I need to go for the one bedroom. But if that's gone by the time she decides, I'm in a bad way. In a city filled with apartments, why is it so hard to find a decent place to live?!?!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Wedding Events
A month and a half ago, I took Emily on a surprise trip to Nashville as a last "sisters' weekend" before she got married in June. Two weekends ago, I traveled home for the bridal shower. My mom and I threw the party, which was kind of stressful for me, because I have rarely been able to throw a successful party. With the exception of my "Prohibition Party" (for those of you were weren't there, just trust that it was legendary) no bash I have ever planned has been a success. This is mostly due to the fact that I don't like a lot of people, so the guest list is always small. Luckily, I didn't get to choose the guest list for the shower, so out turned a nice sized group and a lovely afternoon.
Usually, I try to avoid bridal showers like I try to avoid drunk or stupid people. But this one, I got to plan, so it went the way I wanted. Of course, there was the requisite ooh-ing and ah-ing over muffin pans, griddles and sheet sets, but it wasn't even so bad. Maybe because it was Emily, or because I knew anything she unwrapped that she already owned meant I'd inherit some sweet kitchen swag, or maybe I'm just growing up (though it's probably not this last one) but I didn't even hate that part. And everything else was great. My mom did an excellent job with the food. We came up with an awesome theme (garden party) so we decorated with paper lanterns and flowers and the house looked great. I also got a chance to wear a super cute Banana Republic dress I bought back in February that I paired with silver heels, so I looked like the consummate hostess. My mom helped me make adorable favors (cupcakes in mini flowerpots with seed packets tied on with ribbon). And everyone said it was a lovely afternoon, we did a great job, and Emily enjoyed herself, so I count it as a success.
The next weekend was the bachelorette party in Baltimore. Again, I feared my old party-planning habits would bring me down. But we had a great group--five in total, which I think was the perfect size. I bought some props--a pink feather boa for Emily and Hawaiian leis for everyone else--and our cousin Megan provided a tiara veil and giant sparkly pink "Bride" goblet for Emily to drink from. We stayed at the Admiral Fell's Inn, right in Fell's Point, so we were able to walk everywhere.
We all got ready in the hotel, and we convinced Emily to wear a new, tight, purple dress that she felt "conspicuous" in. She looked amazing, but all through dinner she complained of being self conscious. But I was wearing a peacock colored dress and Megan was wearing bright blue, so we convinced her that we were way more conspicuous.
We started out with a nice dinner at Alexander's Tavern. I got pulled pork sliders which were fine, but we split the pretzel crab dip app--amazing. Warm crab dip on pretzel bread--ingenious. After dinner, the party started and we walked down to the Horse You Came in On Saloon. Some of you may remember this as the place where I (soberly, albeit clumsily) fell of a barstool. Thankfully, no one remembered me as that "drunk girl who fell off her ass" back in December, so we were good to go. The bar was packed out--all these rugby guys were there. Now ordinarily, I wouldn't like that, but for our purposes that night, it was just fine.
Back in the hotel, we gave Emily a "scavenger hunt," or list of tasks to complete throughout the evening. After a quick warm-up in the form of a chocolate cake shot, Emily was feeling a lot less conspicuous and a lot more adventurous. Her first task: get a guy to explain why she should dump Mike and marry him instead. We all expected some lecherous remarks, but she managed to pick the one guy who gave a serious, thought-out response. "Because I own my own house," he said, "and I have a dog. His name is Kooper. And I teach kids karate in my spare time." Too bad there were no single girls at the party. After that Emily was immediately ready for another. so she had to "sneak into a place she's not supposed to be." Photo op behind the saloon doors marked "employees only." Next up: get the DJ to dedicate a song to you. Well, there was no DJ so Em and I fought our way up to the band. They played Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl." So of course we danced, and the other girls came up to join us.
We danced for awhile, and were the life of the party. Everyone wanted to talk to Emily, to buy her a drink, have a dance, wear her boa. She kissed a bald guy's head and got a 19 year old to buy her a drink (or rather, got a 19 year old to get his friend to buy her a drink and then take the credit for it). Basically, everyone in the bar wanted to party with us. And most of them did. When Emily went to the bathroom, all the guys clamored for her to come back. It was exactly what a bachelorette should be, and way succeed my expectations.
The next morning we roused ourselves for brunch. I accidentally planned the party for Mother's Day weekend, so my mom joined us for brunch. We went to a place called Pierpoint, which was completely empty, despite my not being able to get a noon reservation. Also, they didn't tell me mother's day brunch was a buffet and we couldn't order off the regular menu. Since I'd picked the place based on their menu, and was really looking forward to an omlette, I was a little miffed.
But in all, it was a very successful weekend. And so far, all the wedding events have been successful. This week I am getting my bridesmaids dress altered, and putting the finishing touches on my toast (I'm very nervous). I took two days off work, so I get to go home on June 1 and have a couple days to help set things up, get a manicure and so on. I am so excited!! I can't believe it's in three weeks!
Usually, I try to avoid bridal showers like I try to avoid drunk or stupid people. But this one, I got to plan, so it went the way I wanted. Of course, there was the requisite ooh-ing and ah-ing over muffin pans, griddles and sheet sets, but it wasn't even so bad. Maybe because it was Emily, or because I knew anything she unwrapped that she already owned meant I'd inherit some sweet kitchen swag, or maybe I'm just growing up (though it's probably not this last one) but I didn't even hate that part. And everything else was great. My mom did an excellent job with the food. We came up with an awesome theme (garden party) so we decorated with paper lanterns and flowers and the house looked great. I also got a chance to wear a super cute Banana Republic dress I bought back in February that I paired with silver heels, so I looked like the consummate hostess. My mom helped me make adorable favors (cupcakes in mini flowerpots with seed packets tied on with ribbon). And everyone said it was a lovely afternoon, we did a great job, and Emily enjoyed herself, so I count it as a success.
The next weekend was the bachelorette party in Baltimore. Again, I feared my old party-planning habits would bring me down. But we had a great group--five in total, which I think was the perfect size. I bought some props--a pink feather boa for Emily and Hawaiian leis for everyone else--and our cousin Megan provided a tiara veil and giant sparkly pink "Bride" goblet for Emily to drink from. We stayed at the Admiral Fell's Inn, right in Fell's Point, so we were able to walk everywhere.
We all got ready in the hotel, and we convinced Emily to wear a new, tight, purple dress that she felt "conspicuous" in. She looked amazing, but all through dinner she complained of being self conscious. But I was wearing a peacock colored dress and Megan was wearing bright blue, so we convinced her that we were way more conspicuous.
We started out with a nice dinner at Alexander's Tavern. I got pulled pork sliders which were fine, but we split the pretzel crab dip app--amazing. Warm crab dip on pretzel bread--ingenious. After dinner, the party started and we walked down to the Horse You Came in On Saloon. Some of you may remember this as the place where I (soberly, albeit clumsily) fell of a barstool. Thankfully, no one remembered me as that "drunk girl who fell off her ass" back in December, so we were good to go. The bar was packed out--all these rugby guys were there. Now ordinarily, I wouldn't like that, but for our purposes that night, it was just fine.
Back in the hotel, we gave Emily a "scavenger hunt," or list of tasks to complete throughout the evening. After a quick warm-up in the form of a chocolate cake shot, Emily was feeling a lot less conspicuous and a lot more adventurous. Her first task: get a guy to explain why she should dump Mike and marry him instead. We all expected some lecherous remarks, but she managed to pick the one guy who gave a serious, thought-out response. "Because I own my own house," he said, "and I have a dog. His name is Kooper. And I teach kids karate in my spare time." Too bad there were no single girls at the party. After that Emily was immediately ready for another. so she had to "sneak into a place she's not supposed to be." Photo op behind the saloon doors marked "employees only." Next up: get the DJ to dedicate a song to you. Well, there was no DJ so Em and I fought our way up to the band. They played Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl." So of course we danced, and the other girls came up to join us.
We danced for awhile, and were the life of the party. Everyone wanted to talk to Emily, to buy her a drink, have a dance, wear her boa. She kissed a bald guy's head and got a 19 year old to buy her a drink (or rather, got a 19 year old to get his friend to buy her a drink and then take the credit for it). Basically, everyone in the bar wanted to party with us. And most of them did. When Emily went to the bathroom, all the guys clamored for her to come back. It was exactly what a bachelorette should be, and way succeed my expectations.
The next morning we roused ourselves for brunch. I accidentally planned the party for Mother's Day weekend, so my mom joined us for brunch. We went to a place called Pierpoint, which was completely empty, despite my not being able to get a noon reservation. Also, they didn't tell me mother's day brunch was a buffet and we couldn't order off the regular menu. Since I'd picked the place based on their menu, and was really looking forward to an omlette, I was a little miffed.
But in all, it was a very successful weekend. And so far, all the wedding events have been successful. This week I am getting my bridesmaids dress altered, and putting the finishing touches on my toast (I'm very nervous). I took two days off work, so I get to go home on June 1 and have a couple days to help set things up, get a manicure and so on. I am so excited!! I can't believe it's in three weeks!
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