hoping I would see the world with both my eyes

{I notoriously overuse favorite quotes, lyrics, songs...I'm guilty of it, and I admit it. So here again, in this blog title,  I am stealing the words of John Mayer's 3X5. When other people say what you're thinking, why not say it again?}

Not to contradict myself (and the previous post) but rather to shine some new found joy to my life here in New York City: I have had a great past two WEEKdays (and today it even rained!) God answered my prayers to help me see His purpose for me throughout the week. Work has picked up and I feel like I'm doing substantial things that help the magazine. And that feels GREAT. 

Now to be perfectly honest, maybe my good mood has a little something to do with the fact that... Friday I get to see Jonathan. After 6+ weeks apart (longest time yet) we're spending the 4th of July weekend together in Boulder where he's interning. Yeah, ok, so that has a huge impact on my cheeriness. But the first reason does as well!

Tonight after work I was literally craving a good read. But I have yet to finish the book I started at the beginning of the summer (David Sedaris' Naked---which is not a testament to the book's quality, I just have rare instances of being in the reading mood). So I bought New York Magazine at Borders and can't wait to curl up with it after dinner. I need to learn more about this summer home of mine if I'm going to label myself a temporary non-tourist. 

(But speaking of tourist: Sunday night I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge with my two roommates and a friend. It was absolutely perfect weather for it and a very memorable "touristy" thing to do while here.)

It's sad how drastically my mood and feelings toward the city change once it's 1) the weekend & 2)sunny. Every weekend I re-fall in love with this place I'm calling home for a summer. It's because during the week my routine is redundant: go to work, come home, sleep (I sound like I'm way too old for my age). So the weekend finally gives me those moments to discover things, explore, soak in beautiful and exciting things. Not to mention that when it's not raining you can see more than when your umbrella is hovering over your view.

Today I explored Chelsea. Last night I mapped out some galleries to visit after brunch with Deborah. We ate at Empire Diner, an authentic diner that was converted from an old Pullman car (aka train car). Delicious French toast. And great company:)

From there we visited the waterfront of the Hudson River which was beautiful with sunshine and warmth.

I read an article in the New York Times this week about an apartment that faces the new High Line park that has occasional live performances on its fire escape. I was intrigued. And once I looked up the High Line, I was even more intrigued. It was a railway constructed in the '30s to lift freight trains off the streets. Now, it's a mile & a half long elevate urban park. It's amazing how people dream up alternative uses for rundown spaces. It was a really unique experience-I can't say I've ever been on an elevated park. 

so you have a sense of where it is in reference to the street.

i call this 'growth among the rundown.' to me it kind of symbolizes the entire park: reclaiming natural beauty from something that hasn't been in use or appreciated in decades.

this is the fire escape from the New York Times article.

Then we visited countless art galleries along 10th & 11th avenues and from 22nd Street to 27th. When I say countless, I'm serious. Galleries pretty much exist back to back, door after door. It's amazing. Here are just some of the favorite things I saw in a few of them:

what are people waiting in line for inside of an art gallery?

this. lights hanging from the ceiling in a small room surrounded by mirrors and an inch of water around a standing platform. it was a bizarre feeling seeing these lights going on forever every which way around you.

yes, i like tree paintings.

and glass bottle collections.

and dogs in galleries! :)

and wings with a cool light effect.

and giant pumpkin sculptures on the side of the street. 

We concluded the afternoon with gelato at Grom Gelato farther uptown. (And then I had gelato again after dinner with Ashley's parents tonight. I might as well be in Italy).

p.s. I've said this before, but the random interesting architecture I stumble upon in this city is breathtaking. 

I've been itching to blog for days now but either didn't have a moment to do so or was to tired when the moment rolled around. So here comes a recap, I hope it does the days justice.

Friday, June 18

*My editor was gone from Good Housekeeping but I had the neat assignment of looking through decades and century old copies of Good Housekeeping. Next May will mark the 125 year anniversary of the magazine (let that set in for a second...125 years) so they'd like to do a special feature for next Christmas that involves past crafts. I wish I could spend days looking through every single issue, especially from the years surrounding WWII. The assignment reminded me that there's truth in saying that newspapers and magazines are records of history. You can be told about how people lived in WWI & II, but it's a completely different, tangible thing to be able to look at the advertisements and stories that were relevant and important to people at the time (ex. "Won't be able to have a real Christmas tree this year?" "It's harder to plan meals these times"). This is where I would insert images of pages I scanned, but I hear my communication law teacher's voice in the back of my head talking about copyright laws...so I'll refrain.

*My parents were in town for my dad's cousin's wedding. Friday night we went out to eat at Pipa Tapa's Bar in the Flatiron District which is next to a huge furniture store I need to check out some other time named ABC Carpet & Home. The food was great. For dessert, I finally tried a place I read about in my guidebook called Max Brenner: Chocolate By the Bald Man. DELICIOUS. (Abby & Sarah, prepare to eat here :) ).

The crepe I had.

Great finale to the night.

"Oh love, when it rains it's sure to pour..."

Saturday, June 20

*I love New York, really. But the rain is starting to get to me. I heard this will probably be the wettest June New York City has seen in quite a few years. Of course. Saturday my parents took my roommate Amanda and I to lunch. I wanted to show them my beloved Brooklyn, but the rain managed to even ruin my romanticized perfect view of Brooklyn. I suppose it's for the best. I can't have it on too high of a pedestal now can I? I still love it, no worries. Then we attempted to escape the wet crowded streets (that really were making me wish I was anywhere but here) but going to see Whatever Works, a new Woody Allen movie. It was funny, also predictable at parts because it played upon a lot of stereotypes, especially about the south. But overall, it was something to keep us indoors, entertained and dry.

When you're here, you're family

Sunday, June 21

*Happy Father's Day! We had brunch at one of my new favorite restaurants in NYC which changes menu/name/decor with each season. So currently, it is Park Avenue Summer. We had brunch with my brother's good friend and his family. It was a really great early afternoon and further developed my love for New York's brunch tradition.

The menu featured Fruit Loops as an appetizer option. My brother felt the need to try it. He said they were good. What was special? Lemon grass milk and fresh fruit added.

*The rest of Sunday was spent in Queens. My dad has an aunt and two cousins who live there. Ester was the one getting married. 

My attempt to capture our adventurous walk to the church. Queens is not very pedestrian friendly in its roads. But thankfully we found a woman who went to school at the church we were trying to find so our sixth attempt at getting directions was successful.

The beautiful bride and groom. And the fella in the right corner is who I will stereotypically Jacques. He is a French photographer Ester specially flew in for her wedding. He was a riot though. The things he did to try to capture moments just couldn't be taken seriously. Here he asked the groom to toss the umbrella down for "wonderful picture." The umbrella flopped down on the ground. 

These two were high school sweethearts, broke up, and found their way to each other after so many years. So sweet. Their first dance was to "At Last," so fitting:)

My lovely mom.

Beautiful Manhattan skyline from the restaurant in Queens where the reception was held, Water's Edge.

My parents. Such good-looking people.

My dad dancing with his aunt. 80 years old and she couldn't stop saying she wanted to get out there and dance.

Goodnight, Manhattan.

oh, it is love

[[Sorry if this post seems scatter-brained and not following one direct line of thought. It's because I am and it doesn't.]]

I spent another lovely (most overused word in this blog? perhaps) day in Brooklyn. I went to the Brooklyn Museum of Art after brunch with Kelly. I think because a) I didn't really know what to expect from the museum & b) it was the first time in a while I paid a ticket to visit a museum, it was pure bliss. Pure bliss, I tell ya. 

I think the biggest "Oh my gosh moment" came when I realized that the museum housed Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party." I've studied this work in practically every art history class since high school. It's a key work in feminist art, as she creates a figurative dinner party seating mythical women as well as many of history's notable women. It's a room-size triangular table, with 39 place settings on each of the three sides. The tiles underneath the table have 999 signatures of other great women from history. Or should I say, "herstory." Chicago went so far in making her point about feminism that she refers to the heritage of women from the past as "her"story rather than "his"tory. It's a huge work of art (literally and figuratively) and I'm so glad after years of discussing it in classrooms I finally saw it in person.

An example of a place setting: a frilly little thing for Ms. Emily Dickinson.

Next, there was a wonderful exhibit of Gustave Caillebotte, now a new favorite Impressionist artist. 

There were too many unexpected jewels I found, too, but I just absolutely loved the museum as a whole. It had so much variety, for one thing. Its exhibits ranged from modern, to Islamic, from jewelry to sculpture and architecture.

[[Here's where the train of thought goes off on it's own.]]

I feel like God's hand was tapping me on the shoulder and saying, "See how you're happy right now and full of thoughts and a million questions about people and life? THIS is what I have planned for you. THIS is what I know you need in your life, in your future. So stop being so worried about what it is you want to do. Because I know your heart and where your gifts can be used." 

At least that's what I hope he was telling me. Because when I'm surrounded by art, or reading about art, or studying it, or writing about it, I just think about the world more deeply, more creatively, in a hard-to-describe kind of way that gives me an excitement and peace like no other thing. I think so much can be learned from a work of art--I fall back on this quote time and again but I find it to say so much of what I think: "Through art alone are we able to emerge from ourselves, to know what another person sees of a universe which is not the same as our own."-Marcel Proust

Until next time, Brooklyn. You never disappoint me.

Birthday + Hip Hip Jorge

When I got out of work today I took a deep breath and smiled: Ah, it's the weekend :)

Last night was a good enough start to a weekend. We went out to celebrate one of roommate's 21st birthday. The place was called Vento and it was decently priced great Italian/American food. With wonderful cocktails called Persas (mystery what's in them). I had a few tasting sips, or dabbling my tongue as Graeme said. Though I could have ordered 10 drinks without a care in the world--carding is like a foreign concept here.

Amanda looking all grown up.

Me and Ashley with the birthday girl.

Then right after work today I got to go to my first Yankees game. It was lovely weather for it, the first time we've seen sun since Sunday. I felt so special to get to go to the new stadium for a 'big' game -- Yankees vs. Mets "The Subway Series Game." A hot dog, diet Pepsi and a swirl soft-serve ice cream cone have never tasted so good.

Here's my artsy shot for the game.

Sam, me, Ashley and Hannah being such big fans with no Yankee memorabilia. 

And then we came home tonight to free books! Amanda noticed a 'free books' stand by the dumpster downstairs so she snagged me the bottom two art books : ) One has a sweet dedication in it from a mom to her son hoping the book inspires him to be the artist he wants to be. Aw. Then I went back and grabbed a few others (the knot book is for Jonathan :) ) and the top book had $10 in it! Yes, thank you.

Such a great start to the weekend already. Tomorrow I'm getting brunch with Kelly at this cute looking place called Shiller's Liquor Bar (yes, brunch at a liquor bar) and exploring my beloved Brooklyn some more, which might mean going to the Brooklyn Museum of Art or stopping by the flea market. Or simply admiring all of the design stores there.

++I booked a flight to Colorado for 4th of July weekend to visit Jonathan :)

++Abby and Sarah are getting/got (sad that I don't know which?) tickets to come visit me in July :)

free museums, what were they thinking

I need to start remembering that free often doesn't equal good or enjoyable.

I need to start remembering that 9 museums that open their doors for free to NYC do not draw the same amount of people as 9 galleries that open their doors to Columbia, MO residents on Artrageous Fridays. 

I need to remember that an eight-hour workday shouldn't be followed up with a trek to upper Manhattan to claw my way into art exhibits that are full of people budging and nudging by me. 

Museum Mile was a really lovely idea in theory. It's just not my cup of tea, though. At least not my ideal 'enjoy art leisurely' cup of tea. But I've lived and learned now, and next time I go see a museum here (aside from the galleries that are free to the public on a daily basis) I will purposely avoid free days. 

From the Guggenheim Museum Web site:

Tuesday, June 9: One day a year, for the past 31 years, nine of the country's finest museums on Fifth Avenue have collectively opened their doors to New Yorkers and visitors for a free mile-long block party and visual art celebration. This traffic-free, music- and art-filled celebration fills the street and sidewalks of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Street, the strech of pavement now officially designated as Museum Mile. Over 50,000 visitors attend this festival annually. This year's festival kicks off at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum with an opening ceremony, at 5:45 p.m., on the steps of its landmark building on Fifth Avenue at 89th Street. The festival will run from 6 to 9 p.m. that evening.

Well I know what I'll be doing after work tomorrow night. Please don't rain, please don't rain. It won't keep me from seeing free art, I tell ya.

"Through art alone are we able to emerge from ourselves, to know what another person sees of a universe which is not the same as our own."-Marcel Proust

Brooklyn is lovely.

Where to even begin...

Well my editor told me about the Renegade Craft Fair this week and I knew I had to go.

Oh what a fair it was. First of all, I was excited to explore Brooklyn more. I love it there, absolutely feel like it's somewhere in between Columbia and Manhattan. And that's just the right combination for me. 

So this fair. It had over 250 booths with all kinds of vendors selling jewelry, clothing, suitcases, cards, posters, ceramics, soaps, purses, the list goes on and on. A lot of the vendors were people who sell their stuff on etsy so it was such a great place to see them all together.

All I kept thinking was: What can I do for a career that enables me to do this every day of my life? I was simply elated looking at everything people made and blown away from the amazing creativity in some pieces. For example, one woman made silver and gold rings from apple seeds she'd sewn together then (what I assume) dipped in silver and gold. Others were lace dipped in silver and gold. Brilliant, just brilliant.

I bought a few things, not nearly everything I fell in love with, though. Here are some pictures from the day to partially get across the beauty of it all. I'm excited to see the coverage on design*sponge, I'm sure she'll have better pictures.

these clothes were imprinted with different types of leaves. you know how I love leaves.

green. pearls. enough said? I couldn't buy them because this booth only accepted cash, but I might shoot the artist an email and see if she'll sell them on her etsy site.

just a neat vendor sign.

this dog had it made. his owner carried him around on his shoulder.

inspiration for my next craft: finding old hard suitcases at thrift stores and painting them or modge podging pictures on top. if I find a few, I'd like to stack them and make a side table out of them.

such a great day with the roommates.

Penny Licks. Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream even tastes lovelier in Brooklyn

MIZ-ZOU. Kind of.

just love the buildings in Brooklyn.

how could you not take a picture of these two?

not even all of the business cards I picked up along the way. cutest business cards ever.

my splurge necklace-green pearl! this picture doesn't do it justice

other purchases: stitched pouch for my purse and four cards that I plan to frame.

hard to describe this ring. it's plastic outlined in gold paint with trees drawn on the inside.

goodbye Brooklyn, I hope to see you again soon.