Christmas in the City

Everyone has told me that Christmas in the City is the best time of year. This month, I made it a point to experience as much of the holiday spirit as possible.

We kicked off the season in true festive fashion with a holiday tacky sweater party hosted at our apartment. Most everyone came dressed to impress, but I don't mind saying that I may have taken home the most creative prize. While the City offers a number of fabric stores, after searching high and low, I couldn't find any Christmas fabric. Instead, I purchased a plastic and velvet table cloth, complete with burgundy Santa Claus prints and made a tunic dress....best described by my fashion editor friend, "so holiday couture!"














This past Tuesday we did the most tourist thing possible: Radio City Christmas Spectacular! We luckily found discounted tickets, so a group of my closest City friends met for dinner and drinks prior to the show. Now, in its 49-year-stretch, this year the producers remade the show to include a 3D set incorporating a video game (hello millenium)! I wasn't crazy about the show and could've settled for just the Rockettes...they were amazing! I joked during the show that I should've never given up tap dancing, but unless I can grow another two inches to meet the 5'6"-5'10" height requirement, I don't think I'll ever make it to that stage.












Other than the Rockettes, the show included 14 scenes, such as Santa Flies to New York, The Nutcracker, The Parade of Wooden Soldiers and one of my favorites, The Living Nativity. This scene ended the show, and what a finale-- there were live camels, sheep and donkeys! Who knew Bethlehem was so urban?!












Post show we were able to stop by and see the Rockefellar tree. Thank goodness because a week earlier I battled the crowd with a friend to try and participate in the Lighting of the Tree Celebration, only to be practically stampeded by the thousands of onlookers and turned away before I could make it close enough to see the tree. Thanks for the early announcement of your performance at the event, Justin Bieber!

Additionally, I've strolled through a number of pop-up street markets, also known as holiday markets. They're located all over the City (Union Square, Bryant Park and Rockefellar Center), and they feature local vendors with Christmas trees and wreaths, home goods, gifts, jewelry and clothing. They're a great thing to check out after work or if you are going out for a coffee with a friend.

Overall, New York City did not fail me this holiday season. In most recent years I feel as though I've missed the season, lost in the chaos we sometimes call life, but this year, I remember the joy that Christmas brings. This truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

The "Civil"ized War

For those of you who aren't aware (and if you weren't, it means you haven't been following my blog), I moved, again, after three months in my studio apartment on the Upper East Side. I've been holding off on this post, as I was avoiding stepping on toes too soon...it's the holidays- I needed a returned security deposit!

You may be wondering why on earth I would be moving again, especially in the City, and it all boils down to customer service. As a PR professional, I can BS the best of anyone, but who I can't BS are those I work with and those I work for. Taking care of clients is (or should be, if it's not) any professional's top priority.

When I moved to New York, I could count on one hand the number of professionals I knew, therefore, I trusted. During my relocation, I experienced the harsh reality of being forced to trust people prior to knowing them. In the South, we have a little thing we call "southern hospitality." What this means is that strangers will bend over backwards to help you (and no, that's not just referencing the fact we'll stuff you full of fried chicken and biscuits). It's really a way of life- treat people well, and God will treat you well.

With this being said, I moved into an older brownstone, hoping the management would take care of me as much as I planned to care for my new home. Five days into my lease, I came home to find that all cooking gas had been turned off in my apartment. I was notified that a leak had been found in the piping in the street, and the gas would be reinstalled within one week. Ok, no worries (I thought), these things happen.

At the end of the week, I received another notification saying a new leak was found within the building, and the gas wouldn't be turned on until it was fixed. Over the next three weeks, I repeatedly called my management company to inquire the status. During one particular call, I explained to management that I had spent hundreds of dollars on eating out and expected restitution. It was received with a swift "It's not our fault. We aren't going to give you a rent cut. Get over it and stop calling" followed by a dial tone. Beep beep beep beep beep.

Well, I never! My appall at being spoken to with utter disrespect, lack of sympathy and no offer of apology turned from shock to anger to vengeance (yes, we Southern belles have a mean bone in us). I took to the phones, I took to the computer, and I took to my "attorney" (this was a 5-minute call through a reference, in which I was told I had the right to sue and to set up a $100 consultation...thanks for the advice)! I drafted a letter outlining the events that had occurred over the past month, and formally asked for a discount in the following month's rent. Management quickly responded that the leak was not their fault, and they would not give me a discount (little did they know I had already received a copy from the gas company confirming my management had not properly maintained their piping system- resulting in a leak).

I then drafted another letter, demanding a break of lease and a new contract confirming I would be reimbursed in full for my security deposit (assuring I wouldn't lose a dime to these jerks). My grounds were that the management breached the habitability clause in my lease, and an attorney advised me to stop paying rent for six months in order to be evicted, in which I would counter-sue. And of course I referenced the document I had, proving they had disclosed false information. Additionally I documented the conversations I had with management, classifying it as "harrassment."

With my confidence at an all-time high, I pressed 'send' and sent my prayers up to the Big Guy. Within 24-hours I received a break of lease contract, complete with each requirement I demanded (I also received my security deposit two weeks ago). Well, that sure was easy...but I was still angry, and I still wasn't satisfied. What about all my elderly neighbors they treated no better than the flying rats (pigeons). Hmmm....

Since moving from this apartment, I have helped draft two requests for neighbors, whom have each successfully broken his/her lease with full security return, obtained a verbal agreement from my brokerage company (the second largest in Manhattan) to blacklist this management company, and now....I will be sharing this post with thousands of social media contacts.

I've learned over the years to pick and choose my battles, and it looks like I picked the right one to fight, while simultaneously helping others. I now live two subway stops from my office (as opposed to the former eight), in a new, luxury building (complete with a doorman, gym, laundry and southern hospitality-like neighbors) with one of my best friends....oh- and I'm saving over $200 a month! Cha-ching!

So, here's the moral of the story: follow what you believe is right, and NEVER let anyone treat you like dirt, especially when they rely on your business. And if you do go into battle...go all the way. I did...all the way to a beautiful rooftop view of the Hudson River.