Happy Birthday 'Merica!

I'm a bit partial to boating and beaching on July 4th, so I vowed to make this year's birthday celebration a success. In my last post, I mentioned how the City comes out of hiding for day events, and this holiday was no exception (especially since it was a free vacation day in the middle of the week).

As you know, I live in a building with a spectacular view of the Hudson River from our rooftop terrace.  The NYC fireworks shows really take place around the Island's circumference, so no matter where you are, you can easily see a light show. This year, we invited a great group of our friends over to watch the fireworks.

Most of my friends tease me for the amount of dinner parties I like to throw (but never once have any of them who've attended complained). In good Southern fashion, this event was no different-- by gawd we were gonna have a dinner party too.

When we went up to the rooftop to stake out a spot (three hours in advance) all seating had already been taken. I refused to let this deter our celebration, so if there wasn't furniture for us to sit on, we were just going to move our own up. Literally: four chairs, coffee table bench (equals three seats) and our kitchen table. Quite frankly, once of the best decisions we've made in awhile.

We had a great time! The food was great: pigs in a blanket, caprese salad, potato salad, dips, flat bread pizzas and an American flag cake-- needless to say, all our neighbors' guests wish it were us that invited them to watch the fireworks.

The show did not disappoint. I always feel like a kid when I watch fireworks, and can't get the stupid grin off my face. I did notice, though, that dozens of boats staked out a spot on the Hudson River, right below the firework show. Hmmm, maybe I'll just step it up a notch next year and rent a boat?

To be continued....

I Wear my Rainbow Glasses

I recently attended my first parade in NYC—and what better parade to attend than the most colorful of all: 2012 Gay Pride Parade.

I cannot begin to tell you how much fun this event was, and much more moving than I had initially expected. Warm weather brings New Yorkers out of the wood works (concrete works?), but a parade brings them in swarms.

Case-in-point was the fact that it took my friends and I ten blocks to find a space in which we could actually see over the crowd. Specifically, I shamelessly broke the law and crawled up scaffolding in my mini dress just so that I could see everything happening.

Of course the overall parade is a sight to see. From the performers to the supporters, the entire event really represents how far the LGBT community has come over the decades. More importantly, it represents how far society, as a whole, has come.

I was amazed to see some of the various organizations that walked in the parade to support the gay community. The NYPD and FDNY joined in the festivities, synagogues and local businesses. Bystanders held signs that read in support of family and friends.

 

Best of all was the LGBT community. No one cared who or what you were, but the community just wanted to celebrate pride with everyone and have fun. I was doused in glitter from performers and danced on sidewalks with strangers.

If you’re ever in the City for the parade, it is a must-attend event. It restores the faith that sometimes the mass can come together in support of others, and learn to look beyond our differences, and simply have PRIDE in who we are.

MAYhem in the City

Summer must be here because the month of May has been nothing short of wild and crazy. For the past four weeks, I have hosted company (only to be followed by out-of-town trips during the next couple weekends). I'm happy to say that May has brought me the renewed friendship of an old acquaintance, confirmation of another's soon-to-be residency, a shared love for NYC by my family, and now, at least one visit by each of my girlfriends.

I'll start with my parents' arrival just a couple weeks ago-- their first time visiting me here, and my mom's first time in the City since childhood. Anxiety kicked in before they got here, because while I know they are happy for me (/happy I'm no longer on their dime), I was worried they'd be concerned after being thrown into the chaotic mix of the City.

Surprisingly, their visit confirmed none of my fears. In fact, I could almost see them purchasing a weekend home here! I'm fairly certain that we conquered basically every tourist attraction here. We started off the week with my parents' first experience riding in a car-- driven by me-- in NYC! My dad's exact words were, "Well, one thing that definitely hasn't changed are your driving skills" (I'm sure you KNOW he was talking about what an alert and amazing driver I am)! I then treated my parents to see Spiderman on Broadway (also doubling as my mom's Mother's Day gift). It was really a great show-- considering I'm not a Broadway fan-- and the theatrics were really what made it. I loved that the stage crew was able to create a set that was in line with the comic itself.












We spent one entire day in Central Park, riding bikes, "hiking" and picnicing. My parents say it was their favorite thing about the City, and as you know, I completely agree. That same night, we went to my favorite Indian restaurant in the Lower East Side. I don't know the name, but it's at the corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue. You can't miss it because it's the only restaurant on the block with horribly fashioned blinking lights encompassing the front window and inside ceiling. Besides the point-- go there because it's an awesome experience!













Another day we went to Chinatown to get a bag for my aunt. Now, I've had some scary experiences in that neighborhood, but nothing like what happened to us. After tracking down a "legit knockoff" seller on the street, we were led down back alleys and side streets to a hidden door (mind you the entire walk our guide is signaling various people on rooftops). Once we get to the door, we are signaled into a smaller room where the door is automatically locked behind us. Of course, my dad is in panic mode, wondering WTH we got him into, and my mom is on cloud nine that we hit the jackpot! After selecting our bags, we were (luckily) let out of the room...without being tortured, burned and slashed into a million pieces.

The rest of our trip was a bit less dangerous. We toured Little Italy, Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, the High Line, ate on Stone Street and Shake Shack, as well as a lot of shopping. When my parents went back to the airport, the cab took them the Brooklyn Bridge way...so yeah, I'd say they hit every major hot spot.

Last weekend, three of my very best friends were here visiting (the second time for two of them and first for the other). Now, our trip was not PG-rated, so I'm going to keep this paragraph short and sweet. We treated the weekend in true holiday weekend fashion, and we'll just say the four days are memorable for not being able to remember. The highlight of the trip was definitely our Sunday booze brunch at Il Bastardo (ummm, hello, how could it not be amazing with that name)?! The spot is known for its 2:00 PM dance party-- yes, this is real life. We had brunch and $20 bottomless mimosas underneath strobe lights with a DJ in the background. I must say, our dance moves still translate in the daylight hours.

I loved this trip especially because my out-of-town friends got to meet all my girlfriends in the city...and what would you know, but everyone loved each other! I'm pretty sure I'm one of the luckiest people in regards that my undergrad, graduate and NYC friends all get along. Hot dog! It was really the perfect weekend, and I'm happy to say that at 25, we still have it in us. Until next time ladies-- gypsies and Ethiopian royalty ('nuff said).

While my month has been a first for many reasons, and jam-packed, I'm ecstatic it's now June. But in the words of Al Berstein, June may be just as filled with excellence.

"Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June."