Strawberry Fields

On December 8 1980 a 40 year old John Lennon was walking back to the Dakoda, the New York building in which he lived, when he was shot five times from behind. The killer, Mark David Chapman, then waited for the police to arrive. When the doorman asked him if he knew what he had done he calmly replied that he had "just shot John Lennon."

On my second weekend in New York I went to Strawberry Fields, in Central Park, to visit the John Lennon memorial. As I stood in Strawberry Fields, looking up at his apartment I was struck with sadness and a realisation - any crazy person can carry a gun. Should the time come when that crazy person wants to shoot it - whatever the consequences - then there is nothing to stop that person.

As I keep reminding Pants this is not Kansas... I mean Australia. The reality is that people carry weapons - and relative to what we are used to, the regularization of this is insignificant. Before the NBC tour we were required to go through a security check and to place our weapons in a plastic container for collection after the tour "Matches, lighters, knives and guns - this is New York after all". What could anybody possibly be doing with a weapon on an NBC tour?

So, in a city I absolutely adore there is something that plagues me. Guns. For a place so peaceful and beautiful it is strange to think that these horrible things could be lurking beneath.

Slam Dunk!

This evening Pants' better half, N, took us all to a game at Madison Square Garden. It was a college game between University of Alabama and University of Wichita. It was a final, but still not very crowded - the top 16 college teams have a championship as do the bottom 32. We were there to see the final of the bottom 32.

Basically we were sitting at the back... then there were about a hundred empty rows.... then there was everyone else. People had signs and were dressed up in team colours. They were cheering and screaming and booing!

The cheer leaders were a bit lazy to be frank. But still cool to see.

I was cheering for Alabama (because I'm practically a local over there, right?) N was next to me and had his Wichita ON. Fair enough given 90% of the stadium had their wheat yellow t shirts on and were ready for business. Yes - I said wheat yellow. The strangest thing was the Wichita mascot which appeared to be a walking piece of wheat. It was either that or a Bega Stringer Cheese stick...

R bought everyone hot dogs or pretzels. It was wonderfully disgusting.

The game was close, but in the end, Alabama lost - which is hard for me to repeat. The score was 55 to 66 from memory... may have added a few points here or there.

Anyway, while it was loads of fun and a fantastic experience I'm all depressed now because I lost. Guess I'm just to used to winning....

I Think You're Crazy

Last week somebody gave me some brilliant advice:

"There is always a crazy person in the subway - if you can't see them then it must be you."

This knowledge has improved my subway trips ten fold. Now every time an obviously mad person gets on the subway (we are talking about people singing, rocking aggressively in their seats, shouting and just plain stinking up the place - sorry for outing you K) I laugh think - Look on the bright side - at least now everyone isn't looking at me thinking "what a nut case!" 


Just as with any place, in New York crazy people seem to be everywhere. My usual tactic is to avoid eye contact and keep walking (happens everytime I look in the mirror). On Sunday morning I went for a walk and stopped for a cupcake break (needed to refuel any calories burnt). I was sitting on some stairs in a park munching away when a scruffy looking man approached me. He had a set of messages written on cards. I ignored him in the hopes he would leave me be and he did (after some grunting and stammering)... I was glad that he was gone, but being a little crazy myself I was super curious as to what the cards said.

I know most people hate me for my love of reading over shoulders... but I couldn't help it, when the man moved on to another innocent person I read over them. His cards said:

Card 1: Who is a slut?

Card 2: Charlie Sheen

Card 3: Could I have a buck?

Best part was - the message was working. He was racking in the dollar bills. Got to love New York.

On Top of the World

On Sunday afternoon I went to the Top of the Rock - an observational deck on the top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The experience of being on top of 30 Rock looking down at the whole of Manhattan and beyond was incredible....

It was amazing going up so high and looking down at the world below that I live in. Everything looked so built up... yet eerily quite. Almost frightening to see the city in all its grandeur, yet comforting to see all of my familiar haunts.

Now I understand, like never before, why New York City is called a concrete jungle. But for all of the built up intensity I could still see the gorgeous city that I know.

.

So that was my Sunday on the top of the world.

Checkmate!

Basically the point of this post is to brag about my chess playing prowess. Basically Leonard forced me against my better judgement to play against a random person on the street... but I came out on top... shocked? Let me explain.

Everybody who knows Mr K (pictured above) knows that he is mad for Chess. An addict, the King of his own board, all time greatest mastermind etc. Basically I thought the problem had reached an all time high when he got his chess board out and started challenging people at Union Square (also above). I was wrong.

Yesterday night on the way out to one of the Melbourne girl's Birthday celebrations he stopped in his tracks (not the best idea in NY.. you will be knocked down.) A wide grin came across his face and he started urging me to follow him as he changed directions away from the group.

As we walked he told me the story of the Polish man who waits for people to challenge him to Chess outside the Polish embassy. He wanted me to verse this guy. No, no, no, no! No way was I playing chess with a random person on the side of the street. I mean I know what the pieces are... but that is about the extent of my chess knowledge.

I tried to stop K from making me play as we walked towards the embassy: Why don't you just play him? But the answer was shocking I already have. This was looking bad.


When we arrived my fears subsided. I'd take on this guy - a worthy opponent. See me out smarting my opponent below. Too easy!

Of course Potato wanted to jump on board (literally) given his heritage and asked for a picture on the Polish man's lap...

(Before you call the bullying hot line Potato requested that I post this picture...)

Anyway I think I'll retire and put away my bishop safe in the knowledge that I am the grand master.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn Version 2.0

You may have read in an early post about my attempt at a night out in Williamsburg Brooklyn - well on Friday night it was time for a second try. This time I was not going to go unprepared. M and I decided that actions had to be taken before leaving Manhattan to ensure that we fit in with the cool kids.

Step One: Google

Step Two: Research

Step Three: Time to go

So we headed off to Williamsburg - ready to hang with the cool kids.

First stop was R's choice for dinner. Nice spot - old warehouse, cool lighting, impressive decor and a live DJ. But not too many (other) hipsters.

We chose tapas food which made it quite easy for me to people watch (no time wasted concentrating on things like knives and forks). On one of the tables next to us there was a hipster who looked exactly like Russel Brand. On another table (and this was quality viewing) there were three people. In the centre sat a girl (who we think must have a been a dancer). On each side she had a man (named the man in the black shirt and the bearded man). Each man seemed to be vying for her attention. The man in the black shirt was playing harder. He was leaning in, his arm was around her. Bearded man was quickly becoming a third wheel... then boom... bearded man goes in for the kiss. The two make out while Black shirt man sits there, visibly awkward, with his arm still around our dancer. I was quite sure the man in the black shirt had conceded defeat when he pulled out his phone and started texting: Mum, can I leave yet? Why did you set me up on a date where I had to compete with another man??

Anyway the response must have read Don't give up Son, you can do it! Because as we were leaving the black shirt man went in for another attempt..... I will forever wonder who got the girl. Williamsburg is the best.

After dinner it was M's choice for drinks. She took us to a small bar in the middle of a suburban street - Pete's Candy Store

Inside it was so tiny and crowded we nearly caved and left... until we found the back room - A converted train carriage cram packed with cool kids and hipsters (the two aren't mutually exclusive) and a band playing live music at the end of the cart.

It was fantastic and we stayed inside bopping our heads and tapping our feet until the end of the night. The first band was AJ Phillips - An Indie Disco Country band from the heartland (Brooklyn). They were incredible and M and I spent some time pondering the hipsters who all sat there with dead pan expressions.. How did they stay so aloof?

Next up was Madam Trash - a dark acoustic rock trio. Less music to dance to, and more music to sway to. Very cool and very spacey. Still cool (and seeminly favoured by the hipsters) but you know me - Indie Disco country is more my style......

After the bands had packed up we couldn't leave quite yet. We spent some time enjoying watching the band members sulk around the bar followed by a trail of older male "hipsters" with beards and ponytails. Hmm not the best groupies ever - but made for fun viewing.

So we left (and I accidently joined a random group of people outside - it took me a while to realise it wasn't my crew). A very sucessful night (I even managed to gain the affections of a very loverly young lady

Can't wait for Williamsburg Version 3.0 - it just keeps getting hipper. 

Star Spotting

In New York City time was made to be spent star spotting... oh wait... maybe that's LA. Regardlessly I haven't seen anyone yet! Maybe I have, but my head has been in the clouds so I missed it. I did see JLo at the social security office, but let's face it - probability that it was actually JLo collecting welfare? Got to be quite low. Then again, she did say she was still Jenny from the block.

So when I say I haven't seen anyone yet, since Saturday, I can't be certain that that is the case anymore. I may have seen two of the most famous celebrities in NYC (getting carried away again).

I have become hooked on an MTV show called My Life as Liz. It is a drama about a girl who has moved from Texas to New York to study art history at NYU. If a little whinny she is very cool. It's fun watching her settle into NY while I do the same myself (minus the Texas/NY love triangle).

Anyway, the point is I think I saw her New York love interest, Louis, on the subway (pictured below). At first I was 100% certain it was him. E was with me and I quickly pointed him out. She wasn't too sure though. He didn't seem as happy as the character - and the fact that he didn't flinch at two girls giggling madly beside him was a pretty good indicator that he had no idea we were laughing at him. If he really was famous he would have known what we were up to. Conclusion: I am only 65% sure I saw Louis from My Life as Liz on the subway.

Later on the same day I was wandering alone through the Village. I was walking down a very quiet street. Standing outside one of the townhouses were two men in tuxedos smoking and looking extremely proud of themselves. One of them was a blond with an Australian accent. The other was shorter, brown hair. A spitting image of Eric Van Der Woodsen from Gossip Girl. He knew that I was trying to discretely figure out who he was (which made it very difficult to get a good look). He also sounded exactly like Eric. And let's face it - he must have been someone to be standing outside a secret club (I may or may not be making that part up) in a tux on a Saturday afternoon. Conclusion: I am 83% sure I saw Eric from Gossip Girl in the Village.

* Update April 2 - I found out that the guy who plays Eric goes to NYU in real life and is often seen in the area I spotted him... sounds like 83% can be corrected to 100%!!

An Exert From My Notebook (dated Saturday 03/19)

This city is a gallery. Every corner, every street, every apartment building, fire escape, park, yellow taxi. All of it.

Today I got lost. It was my own fault. Tired of the subway I tried to walk from 14th Street to Washington Square Park. I didn't get lost because the park was difficult to find (I mad a map after all.) Rather, as I walked, I became absorbed in the city and I allowed it to carry me away.

It all started at the subway station where a group of street performers had attracted a large crowd of onlookers as the danced to hip hop music. Everybody in the audience was bopping their head, or grooving and cheering along.

When I finally left the subway I was quickly distracted by a market set up on Christopher Street. Vendors sold Tshirts, jewellery and prints of their own painting and photography. It is such a wonderful and special opportunity to speak to the artist before purchasing a print.

As I walked aimlessly about the Village (or I think that's the area I was in) I passed what looked like an abandoned plot. Hanging from the barbed wire fence that surrounded it were tiles in memory of September 11, 2001. Each tile had been created by a different person and had words or drawings dedicated to the people who died.

The overwhelming theme of the tiles was peace and love. This city is not about anger or revenge. Rather, the people and the place have been in mourning and are trying to move forward in peace.

That's why I love this city. It is a city that appreciates beauty and love - in painting and photos and music and life. This is a city of art and the people that live here are a part of that. People hidden behind dark coats, hats, umbrellas. Heads down. Or basking up the summer sun. We are New York. Street performers at every corner. Vendors selling hats, candied nuts and hot dogs. Artists creating work right here on the streets. Rubbish that people have left on the curb as it over flows from the bins.

Even the subway stations are beautiful in their grime. They send steam shooting up onto the streets to remind us that they map out the ground bellow. In the stations there are mosaics, photos and other art scattered between advertisments. Everything is covered in dirt and grime - stained by all of the hustle and bustle that passes through.

Earlier today we walked the Chelsea Highline** and saw the city from above in all of its grandeur. Yellow taxis, abnoxious billboards and restaurants attempting to hide from those of us not cool enough to know how to find them. Seeing the city like this transformed me into a dreamlike state. No wonder I became so lost.

**My original notepad did not include a link to the Chelsea Highline website!! To describe the highline briefly it is a walkway the spans above Chelsea. The overpass was originally a train line, but now there are flowers planted between the tracks. Day beds are scattered along the path and there is a fantastic view of the city.

As I spent the afternoon wandering aimlessly about I heard two young kids talking. Kid A: I've never been to this part of Brooklyn. Kid B: Wow! You know where we are*

*This was in the Village - which is most definitely not Brooklyn

 What a perfect day. There is no magic like being lost in New York.

A Morning at NYU

As I write this I am sitting in Washington Square Park** - in the heart of New York University. It's sunny and warm and a man is playing classical music on a piano. The music fills the air providing a backdrop as people lie in the sun, sip coffee and study.

**Whilst this was posted after the fact, I wrote everything below while sitting in Washington Square Park this morning.

I'm not joking by the way - people really are basking up the sun. The day is gorgeously sunny. Freezing cold - but it's wonderful to feel and smell the sun.

When I first arrived in the area I was intending on grabbing a coffee and wandering down to the park. I thought it would be easy to find good coffee in an area inhabited by students. No luck. I managed to find one place that looked super funky and was branded at "Faye's at the Square". It seemed hip and there were people inside with Macs. Had to be good, right? But alas! It was a cleverly disguised Starbucks. In absence of any other options - and because everybody insight was sipping on a Grande, I caved in.

I am so glad I did - It is fantastic. Best coffee! Strong, bitter. Everything a latte should be.... and from Starbucks! I guess I'm not in Kansas anymore. 

So here I sit - in the sun, sipping coffee. In the middle of the park there is, what appears to be, a fountain, turned off for winter. Children are playing inside with skateboards and other toys. The two men sitting next to me are arguing loudly which sounds strange with the piano music in the background.

I cannot describe how tranquil yet bustling this moment it. Its like a form of peaceful urban that is only experienced on a university lawn - only this is grander. The Washington Square Arc towers over the Sunday afternoon crowd. A few tourists are snapping pictures with it.

A girl just squealed out "I dance to this song" and has started to dance ballet to the piano music. Her friends are sprawled along the edge of the fountain and lazily cheer her on. It's a magical moment.

Carnivale (at the Office)

I spent the first part of Friday night at the World Financial Centre (better known as work) but lucky for me, it wasn't to work - it was to see Aphra Behn’s 17th-century Restoration comedy “The Rover.”
The play was in a style called panorama. Basically the idea is: "The actors move from spot to spot, and the audience trails along behind them, led by guides." For more see the New Times Review

So as we watched the play we trailed after the actors around the buildings. It was lots of fun. The play itself was amusing and dramatic. The actors and costumes were fantastic. Bold, bright and lots of fun. I felt like I was part of the play because we were moving with it. None of the areas were blocked off and workers wandering through the middle of scenes completely unaware of what was going on. Likely questioning the outfits and loud voices though!

Basically the format was perfect for the impatient - it kept us moving and excited. Can't wait till the next production!

A Night in the 80's

Saturday Night and it was time to live it up in New York City. But where to? I found a recommendation for the Canal Room in a magazine - we wanted dancing and it seemed to fit the bill. So we decided to hit it up! We arrived and it looked good. Another "Garage Door" type of establishment. Waiting in the freezing cold queue was not easy. The wait killed weaker men than us and we lost half our party (who shall remain unnamed in this post)... Only Pants, Potato and were left in the queue to wait it out.

Pants: The wait is going to be worth it! <Dances>
Me: <Practises washing machine and shopping trolley moves>
Potato: (To bouncer) Hey mate, can we go to the front of the line? We're Australian.

When we finally made it into the club (the Aussie accent didn't do us any favours) it was unbelievably crowded  - and such a tiny room. Everybody was packed in and all smooshed up. Could we handle it? The reason for the crowd became clear quickly, it wasn't a club as we had imagined. It was a concert featuring 80's tribute band Rubix Kube (trust me to pick a band called Rubix Kube...)

So back to my question: could we handle it? Answer: Try and stop us. We put down our drinks and pushed, shoved and smooshed our way to the front of the crowd, Pants leading the way.

It is the best feeling hearing the band on stage shout out "Come on New York put your hands in the air!" I'M IN NEW YORK CITY!!!!

The band were absolutely fantastic. Helped along by a super funky 80's play list and a high energy audience with side ponytails, fluro sunglasses, hairspray and neon glow sticks. The Today Show was also there (I did promise Mum I'd go and see the Today Show being filmed.... tick!) And Sarah, one of the reporters, was up on stage dancing and head bopping to Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer.

There were lots more shout outs from on stage - New York City - We love you! Hands up if you were born and bred in NYC! Oh yeah!... whoops.... hands down, got carried away there.

Everybody was dancing like crazy kids from the 80's. There was pushing and shoving - and squashing. Balloons, streamers and bubbles were shot into the audience. There was cheering and screaming and our hands kept going up in the air.

Of course, as the lead singer announced, nobody - nobody - sings Don't Stop Believing - Journey like New York City. Um... I already knew that - right? The night finished with the entire audience singing the song karaoke style. The year of the song - 1987 - was plastered on the big screen. My year!

As we lined up to get our coats Pant's summed it up in one word. Intense. We left the Canal Room, grinning and feeling pretty cool - while we waited for a cab - Me: Is that music blasting from our place? Potato: Yep - we're cool. Me: Oh yeah.

Then to get to sleep.. Put your hands up for NEW YORK! Love this city!

Downtown Girl

I had a request from the New Lara for a post on accommodation. So here goes.

I live in a shoebox. Not because I have so many shoes that my apartment is mostly just acting as a shoe storage zone...ok maybe a little bit because of that...And not because I consider shoes an integral part of interior decoration....ok maybe a little bit because of that...

What I am trying to say is that I live in a rectangular studio apartment. Bed. Galley kitchen. Table. Ironing board. Pile of clothes. I should have put the ironing board and pile of clothes away before I started describing the place...

But I love it anyway. It's cute and easy to clean. Helps that they send a cleaner over once a fortnight! There is a television that I rarely use (except for Gossip Girl and My Life as Liz). I have decorated a little. After my MOMA adventures I was inspired to buy some prints off the side of the road. I picked up 9 for $35 from two different place.

My apartment is Downtown. It's technically the Financial District... but the words Financial District make it sound quiet and boring... so let's stick with Downtown. (Actually I discovered today that Downtown isn't a place on Yelp.com, have to go with Financial District. How dull.)

American: Where do you live?

Me: Downtown

American: Where Downtown?

Me: Er in the Financial District

American: You can live there?

Me: Umm yeah...

Can you tell I'm becoming a bit of a New York snob? Next thing you know I'll be saying "I wouldn't live anywhere but the Upper East Side"

One of the advantages to living Downtown is that my apartment is only two blocks away from work. Two blocks! That means I can wake up half an hour before I'm working. Of course the biggest disadvantage is that its only two blocks away from work. That means work is only ever ten minutes away.

My building is newly constructed... Quite frankly, it is still being constructed. The 30 something guests share the 25 floors with construction workers (who do strange things... like start drilling outside my door at 8am on a Saturday morning. Got to love the neighbours.) However because there are only 30 something guests the door people are our BFFs. Last week E and I were asked if we had made any friends outside of work and E said "Oh yes, the doorman."

Our building is only new because it is on the doorstep on Ground Zero. We are literally across the road from the site. Its strange watching tourists gather outside trying to catch a small glimpse of the sight when I can see it everyday looking out of the window.

On the other side of the building there are views of the Statue of Liberty - defiantly something to keep me amused while waiting up to 10 minutes for the elevator. The elevators are a force to be reckoned with. There are two options:

• Elevator One: Still in construction. Gives an extreme electric shock when you press the button. I'm not exaggerating, I once saw a six foot tall seven foot wide construction worker scream when he was shocked. You can actually see the spark. The walls are falling down and people have graffittied them with phrases like "I love Taby"
• Elevator Two: The "guest" elevator. You can only use it when elevator one is busy. It is a mirrored room with dance music blasting so loud you cannot talk over it. I keep suggesting it as an option for a Friday night party...

But for all the special quirks to the place - overall it is very special. I have been for a month and it is my home. And lets be honest, even if it was a cardboard box it would still be in NYC!!



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Five Star Dining in New York

This evening I had the best meal of my entire life. OK maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit... but it was pretty good. Essentially, my Mum and Dad made dinner for me in NYC!

When I arrived back at the apartment this evening there was a package. I thought it was my social security number... In hindsight that was a bit silly, the box was far to big.

Inside were the three foods I miss the most!

• Vegemite - I didn't think I'd miss it because I rarely eat it
• Nescafe - I didn't realise I can't live without it!
• Maggie Mie - I didn't realise I wouldn't be able to find this dietary staple!!!

(Oh and also a large quantity of hairnets... probably to help support my career in the food industry.)

It was time to cook (Ok I admit it wasn't really cooking) up a feast!

I had purchased frozen vegetables a couple of days ago - but when I got home and realised frozen vegetables have absolutley no use if you don't have Maggi... But now I had a chance to use them. See below the greatest meal in the entire world.... Maggie Mie with frozen vegetables and instant coffee. So good.

The Chef would like to thank her Mummy and Daddy for making me the best dinner ever. I only wish I had the little vacuum from home to clean up all the noodles I spilt on the floor!! Can you please send that over in the next package? 

Actually what I should make next is Tuna and Pasta... they have tuna and pasta here too.... The hairnets may just come in handy.

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

Wow. Just wow. Such a fun Saturday at MOMA - I could keep going back and back and back. I only managed to see three and a half of the five levels today.... but even what I saw was worth seeing a thousand times more.

First exhibition I entered was Music 3.0. There was a music video montage playing of three 80s hip hop songs. The rest of the exhibit was a combination of sound (headphones), video clips and pictures. There were also interactive stations to get hands on with the music. The hip hop theme reflected what I'm discovering to be a part of the sounds of New York.

Next up I saw Project 94 by Henrick Oleson... Basically a breakdown and build up of the "machine". Whilst R (who went through separately to me) hated it I couldn't have loved it more. A unique exhibit, but very suited to my taste. At the start of the small room is an empty printer box... followed by a plain piece of paper with letters randomly placed. Over a number of different artworks the letters begin to make words - "teeth", "mouth", "knees" etc until they make the body, and the "body is the machine." This was all combined with disembodied computers and printers. As well a few randomly placed candy bar wrappers.

There were lots of more quirky pieces of art were on this first floor of the museum... I could have stayed there for hours. I liked the combination of sculpture, paintings, text, videos and sounds.

The below piece by David Wojnarowicz gave me shivers every time I read it.... To see in more detail: Untitled (one day this kid)

Next floor was the photography exhibit... very disturbing. Made me question: when does art cross the line into socially unacceptable?

Running out of hours in the day I skipped a few levels to head for some of the big name pieces.

I spent a while wondering through the paintings looking for a Dali piece (The Persistence of Memory)... which I expected to be much bigger. Whilst I was surprised it was tiny it was better in real life - absolutely mesmerising. It was like dreaming while being awake...

Another famous painting (perhaps the one that drew the biggest crowd) was Starry Night by Van Gough. I've always admired this picture, but it blew me away in real life. When I saw it I didn't have to think, or even turn my imagination on. It just swept me up and into it. And around and around and around.

Of course there were others too... Matisse's palette made me want to dance... His paintings looked like Colours grooving out on paper. The one below is called The Red Studio.

The museum is famous for its Picasso collection. Something about the angles and lines confused me, but appealed to my love of maths... I really liked his angular pictures with people, like the one below called The Studio.

Running out of time before I had to meet the gang I did a quick 15 minute dash around the Andy Warhol Motion Pictures exhibit. This exhibition is of a number of silent black and white films of faces. Almost like moving portraits. It was interesting to see how people behave when just sitting there as a live portrait. Can't wait to go back and watch more...

A note on pricing... It's $20 to visit the museum, however, as an international guest membership is only $60.00 and includes unlimited yearly access and $5 guest tickets. So if you want to come and visit me I'll get you in for cheap!