Hello New York!

I HAVE ARRIVED.

After all of the apartment madness, I'm now nestled into a fantastic little nook of Gramercy Park paradise.  I have a lovely little shoebox studio (pictures to come when I get around to cleaning.. erm, cough, yea...); I live right across from a staple New York diner, and I'm a block away from Park Avenue - really, there's nothing I haven't come to love about my new digs.

My first day as an intern was everything and nothing that I expected.  I was literally thrown to the wolves, so to speak - no introductions or instructions, assignments left and right from various skinny girls in fantastic heels and short skirts, and relentless hours pouring over excel spreadsheets completed with a couple of quick trips with samples in hand from the showroom to production and back.  Exhaustion at the end of the day came only from a sense of being completely overwhelmed and getting lost for an hour finding my way back to Central Station to take the 6 train home - a skill I'm still struggling to learn.

The morning of Day 2 was no different than the first, but in the afternoon I found myself working the sample sale in the flagship store along with the other interns.  My hard work sorting, organizing, and tidying clothing racks paid off - I'm the proud owner of a new blazer courtesy of a+o.

  For a better view: http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/Shopbop/pcs/media/images/products/alice/alice2095912867/alice2095912867_p1_v1_m56577569831889446_254x500.jpg

On my 3rd Day I was back in the office editing spreadsheets for our buyers for the Fall installments.  It is going to be an incredible season.  I'm so looking forward to my first full week tomorrow.

Certainly, I worked much of the time in my first week here in the Big Apple, but my time has not been without a little bit of fun.  Tuesday, I was fortunate to meet up with a friend from my alma mater who took me on a grand tour of my area.  I'm completely indebted to her for showing me how close I am to Union Station (Whole Foods and people watching galore!) and the many delicious restaurants on the way (Olives, Sushi Samba, Japonais --- all right all you salaried friends, wine and dine me please?).  Friday evening I went to the Bryant Park Cafe for cocktails with a coworker and we ended our evening with dinner and margaritas at Benny's in the Village.  And Saturday my uncle came to visit.  I spent the day being a tourist and seeing Le Cage Aux Folles on Broadway.

Yes, that's many many hot men in drag plus Kelsey Grammer... need I say more?


It's been a whirlwind experience so far and I've only just begun.

Apartment Hunting

Friday I'm apartment hunting with my parents.

Wish me luck!

The Rents Attempt to Apartment Hunt

"I found the perfect place for you!"

"Really?  Sweet!  Where is it?"

"Oh you're gonna love it.  It's right across the street from Letterman!"

"Um, how cool!  Is there a grocery store nearby?"

"Ummmm, I'm not sure."

"Dry cleaning?"

"Uh..."

"Um, Mom, I think you might be taking the wrong approach to this..."

"Hold on, let me talk to your father..."

"Dad says you should take a day trip with him in May."

"I think that's a good idea."


I love my parents.  Love them so hard.  I know they're attempt came from the right place.  And while it would've been great for them to find the perfect place and sign a lease and be done and all that, I'm overjoyed to get the opportunity to look for myself.  I think it's important for me to see the spaces firsthand, at the very least to get an idea of what I need/should bring with me and what can be stored away until I get something permanent.  

Sooooo NEW YORK, here I come!

Getting My Big Girl Drink On

No, not that kind of drink.  I'm talking coffee.  Well, not coffee anymore.  I've graduated.  Just yesterday while I was in Georgetown I stumbled upon a little coffee shop and I was instantly reminded of Costa Rica.  Mind you, Costa Rica is known for their coffee plantations (and, in effect, their espresso) and I took serious advantage of that fact while I was there.  I remember waking up every morning to the delicious aroma of espresso brewing in this strange metal contraption on the stove. And my first time seeing it I just thought it was a glorified teapot.  But no.  It was something much better.

The Bialetti Moka Espresso Maker.  When Sarah explained to me how the Italian made piece of heavenly machinery worked, I quickly became an expert and was churning out three, sometimes four, pots of espresso every day.  The maker comes in all different sizes (seriously - 1, 3, 6, 9 shots - probably more).  I, myself, purchased a 6 shot maker just yesterday at that little shop.  And this morning, I put on my big girl pants and brewed myself some Costa Rican espresso in a designer Italian maker.  It just felt like a New York thing to do.

I GOT A YOB

I'm thrilled to be hired and heading to New York in May.  The relief of finding a job is only replaced by the burden of finding an apartment, however.  I just wanted to take a moment and thank my family for their unending support in this momentous step of my life.  Their encouragement, guidance, and enthusiasm is wonderfully overwhelming in assuring me that I can do this. 

So without further ado, what shall it be?

Which neighborhood should I live in?
	Chelsea
	SoHo
	Midtown
	Lower East Side
	Greenwich Village
	Other (Please Comment!)
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