Sweet Summertime

It’s been some time since my last post. Sorry about that! Life has been busy and hectic. I work in the theatre industry, so the spring and early summer is consumed by all things Tony Awards. If you’re not familiar, it’s the Academy Awards of Broadway and is a night of glitzy glamour and, hopefully, huge wins and star-studded parties. A few coworkers and I managed to take some pretty shots on an empty street. Don’t we look classy?

 

Now that we’ve past the July 4^th holiday, summer in New York City is in full swing. This means sweaty, stinky subways, tourist filled streets, and most importantly, outdoor drinking and weekend trips to beachy destinations. I started the summer a few weeks ago out in Southampton with a group of my best friends—visiting some of our favorite places. During the summer, it’s essential to get out of the city and relax, laugh and breathe in some fresh air. The deck of one of my best friend’s house has a view that can put any stress out of mind. Whether having morning coffee and conversation, or a dance party at 6am after coming home from a night out, it always provides memories.

While in the Hamptons, we made a trip to town, where I snagged a great summer case from C Wonder on sale for $24. It’s bright and patterned, and a welcome change from my regular purple cover. I love it….and C Wonder! Everything is beachy and preppy and not budget-breaking. Totally my style.

Fun summer accessories from C Wonder

Hoping to update more as the summer continues. Up next: affordable group dinners that won't break the bank.

Enjoy your July 4^th weekend!

No Place Like Home

The good thing about living far away from your friends & family is the time you get to spend catching up while you're visiting. For Easter, I made the trip home to Rhode Island for a long weekend. I love going home to Rhode Island, not only because of the people there, but because it is such a welcome change of pace from the city. Not to mention, it's a beautiful place no matter what the season.

After a busy day of shopping with mom, I headed to a new hibachi restaurant in Slatersville, RI, a few minutes away from my childhood home, with some friends for dinner. We spent the night laughing over our very fun hibachi chef, grilled veggies, and of course, sake! It was a great end to a really wonderful day....and to top it, definitely didn't break the bank.

If you're in the northern Rhode Island area be sure to check it out. It's the perfect night for a group night out.

Yama Fuji

Seeing family and friends always reminds me how difficult relationships are to keep as you get older, and how rare it is to have such special people in your life. It's only as I see the people around me experience things in their lives- new jobs, marriages, children, loss- that I realize how lucky I am to be able to be a part of those moments. And even more amazing, is knowing they will be there during mine.

When City Living Gets You Down

Some days I get in a funk where I start asking one of the following questions: When will things get easier? Is all the sacrifice worth it? When will this hard work pay off? Will I ever catch up? Would life be better if I left New York?

Well today was one of those days....

Now, I'm quite certain I'm not the only New Yorker sitting at my desk at work asking this very question, but that doesn't make it easier. Living in the city is hard, and that's a part of what makes it build such strong people. I've lived so much life in the 4 years I've been a resident of Manhattan, and done so many things some people will never come close to experiencing. So, in the moments I question if I made the right move, I like to remind myself of the reasons I'm so lucky.

Oddly enough, one of the things I do when I get in these moods is read lists. Maybe it helps me relate to other people and not feel so bizarre for having these crazy thoughts. It could be anything-- from "30 Things to do before you turn 30" to "25 Things not to say on a first Date." (ThoughtCatalog.com is great for this, by the way.)  But I think my favorite list, and one I needed to read again today, is a list from the Village Voice: "50 Reasons to be Pretty Damn Euphoric You Live in New York."

Check it out:
50 Reasons to be Pretty Damn Euphoric You Live in New York City

Some of these reasons aren't ones I think about every day, and sometimes they're things that really don't apply to my life at all at the moment. It does, however, remind me how lucky I am to have these opportunities at my fingertips. I can hop on the Jitney to the Hamptons for a weekend. I can have Chinese food delivered at 3am from my iPhone. I get to walk through Times Square every morning on my way to work. The next time I say "Ugh, my life sucks," I will try to remind myself of the these little gems.

I love knowing that every time I go to the deli the cashier will call me Jenny instead of Jenna, and that my wine-guy across the street will question when I don't buy a magnum bottle of red. In a city where you can feel so annonymous, it's funny how often you can feel connected just the same. And anyone who lives in New York City should know that they are lucky, and while it may be really tough, and you may struggle, it's always worth it. Even if it may only be for a short time.

What do you do when the city brings you down?

Endless Brunch at Regional

When you're living on a budget, having a social life can be a challenge. You also learn to add the words unlimited, endless and bottomless into your vocabulary. After 4 years of living here, I've discovered hundreds of deals and specials throughout the city, but I've fallen in love with brunch most of all. So yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised to wake up to a sunny morning, and immediately made brunch plans with my friend Katlyn.  

Our destination was Regional, an Italian cucina on the Upper West Side. I've been here a handful of times for their popular brunch, and it is always a good experience.Their brunch includes bottomless refills after purchasing one mimosa. Tip: In the summertime, they have a great outdoor seating section, which is perfect for people watching. 

RegionalNYC.com

2607 Broadway (btwn. 98th and 99th St.)

I'm not usually a burger kind of girl,  but I've been craving one, and Regional's angus burger with melted fresh mozzarella did not disappoint! Katlyn opted for the egg pizza, which looked DELICIOUS, but I didn't try it for myself. Also, unlike many unlimited brunch spots, they let us sit at the table, sipping on mimosas and catching up, for nearly 4 hours. (We spent the afternoon watching "Like Crazy" and napping in bed.)

Total bill: $24 with tax and tip! For 4 hours of mimosas, a yummy burger, and good conversation with a friend, Regional was worth every penny. 

Manhattan Fairytale

Last week I celebrated the 2nd anniversary at my current job. Times like this always make me nostalgic, and sometimes a bit sad. I've spent the last week reflecting on how different my life is than it was two years ago. At the time, I felt this sense of adventure, of accomplishment. I was so proud of myself for landing my dream job, and I had done it all on my own. So without looking behind me, I kissed a good paying job goodbye, and embarked on a journey into the unknown. And although I may not have as many pennies as I had two years ago, I sure have made up for that in other ways. And I may not have the love of a man in my life, but I am certainly loved. And for all of this, I am infinitely lucky. So I've decided to share my thoughts and experiences, tips for cheap living and search for love in this big city and hope that others can learn a little from my tales and adventures. 

In my state of melancholia, I found something I had written the day before I started my new job. Things aren't always what they seem. Sometimes they're more scary, but sometimes, they surprise you and are even better. 

The song "Nolita Fairytale" came through the office loud speakers. There's a line in the song that always strikes home: "Nolita flat on rent control/That's the life I chose." I've often been criticized by friends and family members back in Rhode Island for choosing to move my life to Manhattan. They don't understand why someone would want to struggle, move from job to job, and be away from the people who they've known all their life. And maybe that's what makes this city so special. We all have a different relationship with it that's so personal, no other can fully understand it. Well, I came here in the summer of 2008 in search of a dream. Until about two weeks ago, I thought I'd never reach it, but I did. I have my first real job in New York City theater. The best part? I did it all on my own. It's times like these, as I'm sitting here sipping a Skinnygirl Margarita at my desk, I remember why I came here. People come to New York to be insipired. To fall in love. To find something. So on Monday morning, I'm exchanging my beautiful Hudson River view  for touristy Times Square. While I'm not excited to dodge picture-taking visitors every day, I could not be happier. Things are just as they should be for once....at least where my work life is concerned. With a sigh, I can honestly say that I'm happy. I am lucky. 

Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I'm in love. Maybe I'm a New Yorker.