That's all folks!

The statistics...

NYC Favorites:

• Grocery store: Trader Joe's (reasonably priced food, and man did mom geek out when she saw the cart escalator system. To view 40 seconds of fun, click here)
• Park: Riverside park along the Hudson. Hands down.
• Hole-in-the-wall eatery: Pommes Frites (I will miss those fries dearly)
• Museum: Natural History (I like dinosaurs)
• Market: Chelsea Market (Give me some sweet jazz music and trendy indoor shopping on a rainy day anytime!)
• Cookie: Levain Bakery (I told my mom this all I wanted for my birthday was one of these hurkin monsters)
• Cupcake: Brooklyn Blackout - divine goodness - from Two Little Red Hens (Mom said it was worth the Guggenheim museum flop to make the trek up there)
• Shopping: I should say H&M, but I'm going to say Chinatown (dang! I can haggle:)
• Show: Do I really have to just pick ONE? Can't do it. I liked em all!!

The past three weeks...

After signing off at Coltrin, I quickly did my laundry, packed and got ready for my sisters and mom to fly in to the city for a girls weekend. And it was the BEST WEEKEND EVER! Despite the constant rain Sunday and partly Monday, we had a ton of fun. I was their all-inclusive pro tour guide, food guide, subway guide, potty guide, and a whole freaking suitcase full of fun. :) Here are some photos for proof...

After all the fun and a lloonngg flight back to the west, we took care of some business in Utah. AKA: Wrestling Rugrats and attending my brother Riley's Kneaders Grand Opening. And after a week of bouncing around from place to place and feeling homeless, I finally made it back to Washington where I've mowed the lawn, ate raw corn on the cob, frequented Wally World, visited good friends, canned peaches, went to the rodeo, enjoyed Columbia Basin sunsets and was severely depressed about the shopping choices.

Next stop? Rexburg! BYUI University Communications, you better be ready for me. Cause I NEED to be put to work.

Chicken and Waffles

Yes, you read that right. Chicken and Waffles. And no place better to eat them than at Sylvias in Harlem. After a quiet Saturday Brooke and I went to Sylvias in Harlem to get some good ole Soul Food. We've been waiting all summer to go to this place, and we finally did. A great last hoorah!

For dinner I had fried chicken and waffles. I could feel my arteries hardening... but it was sooo yummy.... I just couldn't stop eating it.

So. If you ever go to Sylvias, this is how you do it right.

First off, enjoy the delicious cornbread to start. Then, order chicken and waffles. Skip ordering your lemonade though... It's 2.50 and Country Time. When they bring out your meal, cover your waffles with syrup and pour some of their famous hot sauce in a saucer on the side. Then, proceed to cut your chicken, dip it in hot sauce, then get some of that yummy waffle on the same fork. Put it all together and what do you get? Soul food....

Harlem

Home.

Two weeks from today I'll be closer to home than I have been since April 15. I'll be livin it up in Utah for a week, back in Ephrata for a couple, then onto Rexburg. Here's what I'm looking forward to during that time... in no particular order.

1. FAMILY
2. FRIENDS
3. Kneaders Bakery and Cafe
4. Riding in/ driving a car
5. Sleeping in my own room - might very well be for the last time... ever.
6. Barb & Eds
7. Leavenworth (hahahahah)
8. BYU-Idaho
9. My new job with University Communications
10. All my clothes I left back at home (I had to think of a #10)

Favorites.

I've had a spectacular summer. It's been everything I could have hoped for and more. I'm grateful for all my new friends, experiences and the growth I've experienced this summer as an individual. Here are my top ten from this summer (no particular order).

1. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
2. Shakespeare in the Park
3. Billy Elliott
4. The beach
5. WA D.C.
6. Delicious bakeries
7. Fox & Friends concerts... Plain White T's, Sister Hazel, Augustana, etc.
8. American Ballet Theatre
9. Monday movies in Bryant Park
10. Delicious food

What I won't miss...

This is horrible to say, but there are a few things about this city that I won't miss after I leave here in a couple weeks.

Can you believe it??

Two weeks from today! Flyin' out for Utah.

Here's my three least favorites about New York City...

One. The smell... dirty city streets are definitely not my thang.

Two. Hot summer dayz... I'm confident in the fact that I've perspired (it sounds more lady-like than sweat) more this summer than I ever have in my entire life.

Three. Metro Cards... I've had three go out on me this month. Don't ask. It's a touchy subject.

I was going to do ten, but I couldn't think of anymore past number three... See following posts for what I'll miss most, my favorite summer events, and what I'm looking forward to when I go home.

weekend.

Saturday Brooke and I ventured down to the Financial District to go see a few sights. We ate at the Sandwich House for lunch, visited Trinity church, the Wall Street Bull, The Smithsonian National Museum of the Native American, and Battery Park. Afterwards we headed uptown to enjoy some Baked by Melissa - unbelievable small cupcakes that aren't particularly worth the cost - while sitting in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. We acted like we belonged, therefore people assumed so. We also made a pass through Tiffany's to pick up some jewelry brochures.

This weekend we also enjoyed the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens as well as some Venezuelan food (Arepas Cafe) and french dessert (Balthazar).

No big.

Photos below.

Trinity Church

Yoda

Movie Makers Paradise

Arepas

Balthazar

This is Amateur Night!

Ever heard of Ella Fitzgerald? Smokey Robinson? Michael Jackson? Then you have the Apollo Theater to thank.

The Apollo Theater in Harlem is one of the most famous music theaters in the United States. And last night? Brooke and I went! We got to Harlem around 7:00 p.m. and got our tickets for the show. The theater was soon jam packed with people.

They started out with their opening show - the house band and a soul train dance off.

Then came the kids division of the competition. My favorite was a number with two kids - "Alter Ego" and their rap routine. "Put your hands up! SQUEEZE! Move your muscles to the beat!"

Last was the adult division. The audience has ultimate power over who gets eliminated in this round. And sadly... one got booed off the stage. Oh well! That's why they call it amateur night.

If you ever have the chance to, go to a show at the Apollo. It changes lives.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best. Night. Ever.

I could have died then and there. Fifteen feet from Dan Radcliffe? Yes, please.

Saturday morning Brooke and I got up early to go get rush tickets for How to Succeed in Business Without Really trying featuring Dan Radcliffe and John Larroquette. We got to the theatre around 8:30 a.m. and the line was already down the block. I thought for sure we wouldn't get tickets! Brooke counted and there were 98 people in front of us. Each of which would be able to purchase 2 tickets per person. But the line continued to form behind us, so we stuck it out. Finally when the opened the doors at 10:00 a.m. it took about 30 minutes for us to reach the ticket booth. I was shocked when they said there were rush tickets available for that nights performance. Box Tickets! So stoked!

We made it to the theatre moments before the play started that evening. The orchestra played the overture, a harness was lowered into the orchestra pit, and minutes later, Dan Radcliffe was raised in a harness onto the stage. The crowd went WILD! And when I say they went wild, that is THE understatement of the year. We kind of all grew up with this kid watching him on the big screen. And now? In person!

The play was so amazing! I'd recommend a trip out here just for that play alone. Radcliffe and Larroquette made the perfect team to make the play what it was.

Harry Potter, Thank you for an awesome evening. :)

Expelliarmus!

Saturday Eats

While wandering around Saturday, I tried a few new eating places - Beecher's Handmade Cheese and Milk and Cookies.

At Beecher's Handmade Cheese I had the Flagstaff grilled cheese which is cheese and whole grain mustard. Oh my goodness... delicious! And good news? There's one in Seattle! Not that it does me any good that I'll be in Rexburg for the next year, but for all of you back home? Try it!

I've actually been to Milk and Cookies before, but I don't think I wrote about it before. Milk and Cookies is located in the West Village. It's tiny - sits about eight people. I got a salted oats surprise cookie, a dark chocolate mint cookie and a glass of milk. YEUM! Not as good as Levain bakery cookies, but still very good.

Time is ticking

Time is becoming short here, so Saturday I took some time to wander the West Village and Soho area and took photos. Enjoy!

Locksmith in West Village

Sand artist in Washington Square

Bouchon Bakery 2

In addition to the original post featuring Bouchon Bakery, I have some new recommendations.

In ranking order, I recommend:

1. Bouchon Chocolate - the best brownie you will ever have. You will only need one of these little guys to get your fill of sweetness.

2. Pistachio Macaroon

3. Vanilla Macaroon

4. Vanilla Eclair

All. Delish.

El Rincon Del Sabor

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this place.

For lunch about a month ago, Celestyn wanted to get tacos. So Barry, the witty Irish man I work with, went to work finding a local taco place for us to try. He found El Rincon Del Sabor just around the corner. It's an authentic Ecuadorian restaurant above some cheap jewelry stores down the street.

So we headed over.

Went up three flights of stairs and entered what he thought was the restaurant.

I said, "Barry, I don't think this is it." I could see Arabic writing around the restaurant...

"Sure it is!" he said. He picked up the menu. "Nope! It's not."

So we exited and went up further in the tiny building.

Destination met. Mission accomplished. Best, authentic latin american food I've ever had.

Update.

Posts have been sparse lately. My time here in NY is shortening. I better get my list out and get everything checked off! Five more weeks! So here's what's happened this last week that is noteworthy. It's not much.

Number one: I was offered a job by University Communications at BYUI to work in their department full time this fall. I'll be working as a web content and print manager along with other responsibilities they feel inclined to give me.

Number two: Harry Potter marathon. In preparation for Saturday's IMAX showing of the final Harry Potter, my roommate Hayley and I watched bits and pieces of the Harry Potter series.

Number three: I discovered really clever subway station artwork. 14th and 8th off the A,C has these little guys scattered about.

Subway Figurines

Number four: Explored Chelsea Market with Brooke. Ate at the Green Table. Delish! I had grilled cheese with blueberry chutney and tomato soup. All of a sudden, I realized that something as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich could be considered "gourmet". Chelsea Market is kind of a hidden gem of NYC. Next time around I will be trying the crepe stand.

Chelsea Market

Number five: Discovered the Maritime Hotel's rooftop pool. They didn't say anything when we walked in. We are considering bringing swimsuits next time. Yes? Yes.

Maritime Hotel Courtyard

Enter. Harvey.

A new man has rolled into my life recently. And this is how he came to be.

The creative side of my brain has been itching to be put to use lately, so Celestyn and I created a little friend.

Enter.

Harvey.

You can follow his story at www.harveyrolls.blogspot.com.

Bouchon Bakery

Looking for Macaroon cookies? Go no further than Bouchon Bakery located in Rockefeller Plaza! We tried the pistachio and chocolate. Pistachio was my favorite and the teller also recommended the vanilla.

American Ballet Theatre

Saturday I was able to attend the American Ballet Theatre's production of The Sleeping Beauty with my friends Celestyn and Kristina.

My first and only impression of ballet previous to this was The Nutcracker in Provo. Let me tell you, don't judge the ballet until you've seen the REAL DEAL. The performance was breathtaking. The costumes were beautiful and - forgive me - sparkly...

Girls, remember when you were little and dreamed of being a ballerina? Yeah... I'm back to that.