Jeffery's & Red Mango

Yesterday I went out with one of my fellow interns, Julia, after work. I wanted to go check out this fun little store I found online so she came along. Whilst walking we happened to pass this retail store called Jeffery's. She mentioned that her mother shops there and absolutely loves it. Of course, I have never heard of it so she decided to show me what it was all about.
We step in the door as the doorman holds it for us, we proceed to the Chanel makeup counter. The very nice gentleman behind the counter talks to Julia about makeup and he convinces us to let him "freshen up" our faces. We looked like movie stars. Julia bought a mascara and eyeliner. Then we go further into the store to look at shoes. We of course browse the sale racks. $400 as the average price, and at 70% too. What a steal! (cough)
Upon leaving I glance at Julia and she asked me what I thought. I told her I had never even touched shoes that were that much! She laugh with glee. She says she is going to corrupt me with designers and high priced fashion.
On to the little store where I bought nothing but really like it. Very cute and hip. This was apparently a very ritzy place to be. Next came Red Mango.
If you have ever heard of Pinkberry, this is basically the same thing. It's all the rage here and lines are out the door at Pinkberry no matter when you go. It's not frozen yogurt, but yogurt that is frozen. Are you understanding the difference? So it's healthier for you. I had strawberries and dark Ghirardelli chocolate in mine. She had mango, gramcraker and something else I can't remember. I must say, I now totally understand what all the fuss is about. I highly recommend it for the tummy, but not necessarily for the wallet.

Gabe's Visit & Subverting the Empire!

On Monday night I hung out with a friend of a friend. His name is Gabe. His brother lives here and he has family all around this area in upstate New York so he's here for a few weeks. It was fun to see someone from back home. We grabbed some Starbucks and walked around the park for a bit. We tried to go into F.A.O. Schwartz (which btw he had never heard of!!), but alas it was closed. So, we took a really strange photo instead....

We're going to open mic night at a famous jazz club next Monday. It's gonna be awesome! No I will not be partaking in the singing portion.

Yesterday was defiantly one of those days where you just feel God.

For lunch I went and got food with two of my fellow interns and we went and sat in a park. We were discussing about our evening plans and I told them I was to a discussion about being an artist and a Christian in a secular world. Little did I know that this was going to open whole bunch of questions. To my surprise, the two were very interested in what my faith was and how it affected my decisions. We touched on everything from abortion, to gay marriage, to drinking. I know it's strange, but no one has ever actually asked me questions after I casually mention church or that I'm a Christian. I have many nonbeliever friends, but they have just never been interested like this before. Overall I think our conversation went well. They didn't always agree with what I said, but they listened. It was very cool and I'm glad I got a chance to talk with them about my faith. One of them had actually never met someone who lives their life by their faith.

On my way home from work, I got the text message from Josh saying how his father's cancer had spread through his brain. Operating is no longer an option and chemo is the next step. All the mean while construction has stared on their home. This family has been through so much and my heart just breaks for them and I don't like that I can't be there. But God is sovereign and His plan is perfect. Now we just have to wait and pray.

After dinner I went to the artist discussion. I heard about it on Sunday at church. It was called Subverting the Empire Through Art. I thought about not going. Thinking I was tired and little sick, but I forced myself to go. Saying I need to meet more believers and I need good fellowship. As I went to the building, I didn't even think about the location of the address off 5th Avenue. Until I approached the building and it hit me, this is 5th Avenue. There was a door man dressed to the nines, a gentleman at a desk inside, and gentleman in each elevator. Once we reached the 38th floor, he showed me to the door of the apartment. As I walked in I felt so out of place, but you know, acted like I belonged. Said hi to a few people and to JR (the pastor who I met on Sunday). I noticed a few people looking out the panoramic windows so I went for a glance. You could see central park and up around the whole city. It was amazing and beautiful.
There were about 14 of us who went. For almost two hours we talked about what we as artist could do, to help send a different message to the city then all the negative ones we see everywhere. We talked about the city needs and what contradicts the norm. We picked a central theme of Hope and Relationships. Each of us is now to brainstorm how we can use our gifts to spread this message. We're going to meet in two weeks and see what we came up with.
It was great to meet some new people and have fellowship with believes. I left so encouraged and with the names of people. Now I'll have someone to sit next to on Sunday. I'm glad God put it on my heart to go.

Last Weekend

You know how when someone asks you about your weekend and what you did you indubitably forget what you did? And it's not like it was last month or even last week, but just one whole day. The mind plays tricks I tell you. Well I was asked this question a few times since Sunday and I all I could remember was the stomachache I got Sunday night and hasn't really gone away. On a more exciting note, however, I did attend a photography conference for a good part of my Sunday.

PhotoShelter is a third party stock photo website. They also hold random things that bring photographers together with professionals in the field of photography, photojournalism, and editorials. So we bascially met for an event called "Shoot! The Day". While professionals and amateur (what I went to) met for dialogs, lectures, and a trade show, photographers all over the world were putting together pictures of "much needed shots" for stock photos. The idea was to improve the quality and art expression of stock photography. It was free and I got a free tote. I learned a lot about editorials and what kind of website you should have and not have. Plus free snacks and flavored water. All in all, a good Sunday afternoon.


Then I went to a try a new church. My friend Kerry and her roommate attend. It is called Apostles Church. It is much smaller than Redeemer and has a bit of a younger crowd. I like it a lot and the girl who I sat next to actually talked to me after the service. I went and got a cup of lemonade and a tiny cupcake and went to sit in a nearby park. The weather was so nice. As I was walking, I ran into Vincent D'Onofrio (one of the detectives on Law & Order CI and he was Edger in Men in Black), well almost ran into him. I was looking at my cupcake. I started to smile because I recognized him and I quickly looked down at the two dogs he was walking. I said hi to his cute little jack russell terrier.

From YahooTV.com

John Eichleay and Cupcakes

Last night I went out with a friend, Eila, to she one of her friends, a guy who I met at a bbq, play at this bar on the lower east side. His name is John Eichleay. See movie clip below for tidbit of the show.


Visit his website for more songs and to buy his CD!! http://www.johneichleay.com/

After the Eila and I went to grab cupcakes at Sugar Sweet Sunshine. They were delicious. But I forgot to take a photo. Next, we proceeded to walk to St. Marks Square to grab food for Eila. There were a ton of people out (as if you were expecting anything else than from NYC on a Friday night). St. Marks Square, Eila informed me, used to be more punkish. Now it has turned posh with a ton of little expensive food joints and shops. However, there are, on occasion the surprising places.....



No, your eyes do not deceive you. Those are burgers from a vending machine. There are actually three types of items from the vending machine. Red, yellow, and green. Red are the burgers, yellow are the side dishes, and green are the healthy alternatives. Everything is made fresh from the back, and then slid into each little slot through a door in the back of each window. When you put your money in, the window opens and presto! We did not eat here, but continued on to an Israeli restaurant. It was 11pm and they had just opened and are open till 4am, when the bars actually close.

PS- Thank for all the letters! My mailbox loves to be fed:)

Different city, same absentminded girl

Things that will make you laugh, but make me look like a dunce:

1. It took me one week living in my apartment to realize my window can go up, and the top windowpane can come down. It was down about two inches for that entire first week. I no longer sleep with earplugs.

2. It took me two weeks to realize that even though my curtain holders don't open so I pull my curtains shut, I can actually pull the curtains out of the holders to close them. My room is substantially darker in the mornings now.

3. I've been here three weeks and have now just realized that my backyard is actually about twice its size. There is a very tall wall on one side that has a opening. On the other side is whole other area with benches and a garden and even a little birdbath.

4. Today I spent the whole day in my room watching movies and playing online. It took me till 3pm to realize my fan had been on low all day and that is probably why it wasn't as cool as I thought it should be.

Day 21: New E.D.

So today we had a cocktail reception to introduce our new executive director to our patrons and people in the art community. I got to borrow someones digital rebel and photograph the event for Aperture. This was a private event but unfortunately there was a gallery opening on the 3rd floor, so we had some unwelcome guests. Including a guy who threw a cup on the floor and mumbled obscenities when i asked him to leave. We also had a group of four who lied about knowing someone at the event, but they bought a book from the store, so we forgave them. I'm sure they drank more than the cost of the book though. People are strange.
Now in anticipation of a long night, I traded my dinner meal ticket for a lunch one and this way preventing having to purchase both lunch and dinner. Ad of course in do so, forgetting today was my day to watch the front desk. Well not so much forgetting as writing down the wrong date in my calendar. Yeah, so I ended up buying lunch and then grab a totally greasy gyro from a street vendor on the way. The two owners were such nice guys. I think I'll buy from them again.
During the event, I got a chance to meet a lot of our patrons and members of the board. This one man, Celso, I am absolutely in love with. He is about 80 years old and has been with Aperture for a very long time. I've met him once before when I dropped off some papers for his signature at his residence (Upper East between Park and Lexington thank you very much). Tomorrow him and his wife leave for Paris on vacation.

(See slide show for photos)