New blog, new life!

Started again with a new blog… Being a NYCdrifter in California just doesn’t make sense! Goodbye to this blog… I shall turn you into a book one day for memories. =)

Love you, New York.

2008 – 2012

New chapter: http://dramaticmelodies.wordpress.com/

Goodbye New York

So I’ve been a little behind! I’ve been in California for 2 weeks already and New York already feels like some fantasy that never happened.

Just to explain in a nutshell, my last week in NY was filled with goodbyes and lasts of my favorite places. I also wanted to leave on a good note, so I was glad that my last 2 Broadway shows/plays were a hit! (How to Succeed & Wit.)

We also had one last really great party to say our final goodbyes. People were so sweet! They brought the very best of New York’s finest treats and desserts:

Cake from Two Little Red Hens, an adorable homey cupcake shop on the UES!

A gazillion little treats from all over! Momofuku milk bar is in there somewhere….

So my very first meal as a New Yorker was chicken & rice, so I figured it would only be right for my last meal to be chicken and rice!

Then I decided to nerd out to the max and go to Times Square before I went to bed. I realized how ugly/nasty I looked in this picture… but again, it did seem very east coasty. What do I mean? Ugly = east coasty? Umm… sorta??? :) How about I say that east coasters aren’t as into their looks in a certain way, and especially during a certain time of the year? It was freaking cold and I wasn’t wearing any makeup, and I didn’t give a crap. I just wanted to enjoy my city.

Here we are, in the last home we’ll ever have in Manhattan! 161 E. 89th Street.

Our subway stop.

During an episode of Mad Men, Don Draper is painting a wall. His friend is dying of cancer and he writes their names with the dates on the wall, as like a signature/statement of them being there. I asked D to do the same to our wall at home since he needed to paint.

2008-2012

Ok so what has California life been like? Well I DOVE into work, so it’s been hectic. This past weekend was the very first real weekend I had to party and play with my girlfriends.

My 29th birthday just passed, so my high school best friends drove down from SF to celebrate. We partied at my sister’s awesome bachlorette pad. She was conveniently away for the long weekend so we had the whole place to ourselves!

For any New Yorkers or non-west coasters, here’s a little taste of a typical day in California. The crystal blue skies are the best part about CA, I’m telling you. I cannot stop staring at the sky! The sunsets make me tear because it’s just so gorgeous. It’s been a LONG TIMEEE…. AHHH….

I’m home!!!!!

What the What kind of winter is this?

Where’s all the SNOW?! Today was a ridiculously warm 60 degrees or something. Not that I’m complaining but I do love winter crispness!

It made it all the more difficult to not fall in love with my walk around the city today. After ordering my usual bacon, egg and cheese on a fluffy roll with iced coffee, I headed out to watch WIT – a Broadway play that recently came out starring Cynthia Nixon. (AKA Miranda from Sex and the City!) I actually really do believe that all 4 ladies of SATC are great actresses. Watching this play made me realize it all the more! She was amazing.

Sitting in the not-so-full audience, I figured I should maybe swing around the back door and see if I can catch her. I did come at a 2pm show on a Wednesday, so this would probably be my best chance! Luckily, I only saw about 20 people crowded around and only after a few minutes she came out to sign autographs and take pictures. It was so easy! I’m always so shocked at how easy it is to meet famous people in NYC.

The crazy thing is that she’s ACTUALLY bald! She freaking shaved her head for this role. She plays a professor that is going through cancer. It was so great seeing her act in real life, she’s truly amazing. I think it’s so crazy when you get to know a certain role in an actor, and then you see them in something else and their mannerisms are TOTALLY different!

She’s also much smaller and shorter than I expected. In the SATC episodes, she always seemed to tower over everyone, but she is barely taller than me in real life! She probably lost a lot of weight for the role too, because she seemed really frail. There were people who were really bald (probably had cancer?) that were wanting to greet her. I’m sure a lot of people were touched by her role.

I’m such a dork when I meet famous people. The more I like them, the more I freeze up. I did not say one single thing to her, except when she asked me “what’s your name?” I just said “Carol.” The END. UGH. I didn’t say “I LOVE YOU, YOU WERE AMAZING, ETC.” Nope, I just stood and smiled like a huge Asian nerd. OH WELL.

Ok now I need to go backwards in time.  A few days ago, I strolled through the areas where I spent most of my employed life in NYC — 5th Ave. I love this area, even though it’s super touristy. I enjoy the window shopping, the bustling streets and the beautiful view of buildings that go on for miles.

Then yesterday, I had a day at Central Park where I walked around, listened to music and just soaked in the very strong feeling I get from just being HERE. It was bittersweet. CP is definitely my favorite thing about NYC!

So beautiful.

Then tonight, D and I had one last fancy meal. I leave in 3 days and then we won’t see each other for 3 weeks, so we’ll be missing Vday and my bday celebration. We ate at Eleven Madison, which was listed first in the recent NY Magazine issue about NY’s best restaurants.

And lastly… We finally packed all of our stuff tonight! It’s crazy that our little NY life fits in 30 boxes, 3 portrait boxes and 2 bike boxes. Time to start a new life!

The movers are coming tomorrow at 10am, so we are just NOW packing the very last thing — our TV. It’s 1:00am!! Time to sleep!

The first of the lasts of New York

It’s starting! The realization that I only have about 1 week left of New York before I officially become a Californian again. Here are a few of my “Lasts.”

My last time at Katz:

 

My last time at the Brooklyn Flea:

 

My last amazing snow fall:

 

My last UES girl meetup. (Thanks to these alcoholics lovely ladies, my tolerance for wine has improved from 1/4 of a glass to 2 glasses!)

 

My last time at my favorite neighborhood place, Via Quadronno for hot salami sandwiches and the best cappuccinos in town. Every single person I’ve taken here has LOVED it. Unfortunately I think it has officially become a touristy hot spot :(

They have the best tiramisu in the world! (Even for people who don’t like tiramisu like me!)

 

My last Weddingbee east coast meetup at Bosie Tea Parlor. The image below is a book where they placed our bill!

Mrs. Thimble, Mrs. Dahlia, Mrs. Caramel and Mrs. Lovebird!

Dahlia and I devoured this. T’was expensive but at that point I didn’t care!

Also, last night I had one more epic NY transit situation. The trains were running SO SLOW and people were PISSED. After 25 minutes of waiting for ONE subway to come, I decided to take the risk and try getting a cab outside. But of course, yesterday was RAINING and your chances of grabbing a cab at 7pm on a weekday is incredibly slim. But with rainfall on top of that? It’s INCREDIBLY slim!  There were about 8-10 other people on the same 53rd and Lex corner, trying to hail a cab.  It’s funny because whenever this happens, there is a very palpable awkwardness and competitiveness in the air.

There was a girl right next to me, so I asked where she was going. She was heading towards a similar direction as me, so we decided to grab one of those illegal “black cabs” because we were both running so late! We finally caught one and decided to split the bill. Unfortunately, this girl did not have any cash so she said she would pay me via PayPal on her iphone! Oh my gosh, this was such a weird situation! I have no idea if she’s really going to pay me, but I figured I was in a bind and it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever if I was out $15.

This is not the first time this has happened to me. One time, I needed a ride to the airport during a snowstorm and I shared a black cab with a MAN. I was nervous but he obviously had been trying to hail a cab for a long time and had all his luggage with him. He was a TV producer from LA so it was kind of interesting sharing your life with a complete stranger.

I’ve enjoyed many encounters with complete strangers in New York. That is one thing I wish could happen more often in LA, but people are too secluded in their enormous cars and cell phone conversations. Oh… The grass is greener ….

Become your Dream

There’s an artist on the UES that goes around writing this on sidewalks, walls and furniture:

It’s a very cliche thing to write on stuff, but the artist seems pretty adamant about it. It’s everywhere! I think one time D saw the actual guy writing the phrase on a couch.

What does that even mean? I’m not even going to answer because I’m so very tired right now, but I just wanted to document this so that I remember that I would often walk by and see this randomly. =)

Oh California.

I just spent the last 2 weeks in California. It was a glimpse of what it’s going to be like for the next stage in my life, which is NOT in New York.  It’s the weirdest twist of emotions. I’m so happy to be in the sunshine, around my family, driving in a car, eating with people I’ve known my whole life. New York was like my dangerous, hot fling… Basically your parents worst nightmare! (My version of Mr. NYC) Smart, fast and makes you look good.

Mr. New York had me for 3.5 years. “He” created a distance from my family, my school friends and made me see and experience really weird things. I saw psychotic bums and witnessed the wrath of Upper East Side grandmas, which is still the scariest thing I’ve ever seen. My dad keeps saying what a waste of money it was for us to come to New York and basically spend all of our money living in the most expensive city in all of the U.S. It’s funny how their generation will never understand how our generation NEEDS these types of experiences. It just doesn’t seem right to have never experience something so refreshingly DIFFERENT and eye opening. It’s sort of like gambling– you’re spending money for the experience and not for the sake of having the most amount of coins in your pocket. Some people are OK with never having to do that, but as for me — a very free spirited and curious person — I absolutely did. I’m so grateful that God paved a way for us. Even in the midst of the dirt and garbage, there were beautiful things and moments.

I’ve started my new job working for my sister and it feels good to be working again. Working as in being in a workspace around people, bustling and making phone calls. I really do enjoy busywork and I’m glad to see that my life will be full of interaction.

The best parts are spending time with my family, and it’s taken me a lot of time away from them to really appreciate them. I especially am looking forward to being with my grandparents more, who seem to have aged a LOT more quickly in the past few years. =(  My grandma, who used to be the most chipper and happiest person ever, is now saying crazy things like how she’s prepared to die. The saddest thing I had to do was chop up apples and food into tiny little pieces so that my grandparents could eat them… it’s like they’re children again! It’s so sad… but she gets soo happy when she sees me that she tears up! I should definitely visit her more often.

My grandpa is really funny. He’s the typical Asian type that cannot stop working, even when he’s over 90 years old. He always makes inventions, and these are a couple of his latest works. A massage chair made of these random little balls?!

One thing I love about my parents house is how SPACIOUS it is! They recently renovated (due to a flood) and it looks soo bright and happy. Their entire backyard is full of lemon, orange, banana, apple and avocado trees!

I picked some fresh lemons for my friends and they seriously looked like the healthiest lemons I’ve ever seen. I cannot wait to have fresh produce from my parent’s backyard!

A small but happy moment… As I came home, a warm kitty was sunbathing in our front lawn. She sprawled out on her back for a tummy rub while I walked up… what a cute little suburban kitty!

I only have 3 weeks left with my badboy fling. Then, it’s time to breakup for good and go home. “It’s not you, it’s me.”

So bittersweet!

New York, New York.

*Post intended for Weddingbee’s Honeymooning In My City series.
New York City is an amazing city and I think it’s a great place for honeymooning, even for a quick pit-stop on your way to another destination! (That’s what we did!) Here are my personal tips and recommendations that I think has worked well for all the dozens of visitors I get every year.
For starters:
UWS = Upper West Side
UES = Upper East Side
LES or East Village = Lower East Side
Alphabet City = lower VERY East Side
Midtown = generally 40′s to the 60′s streets
West Village = lower west side (but don’t ever call it that!)
Taking a cab:
*If you’re not exactly a “walker” or have never used public transportation, then I highly suggest taking cabs to get around because a lot of time is wasted on thinking about how to get places. This is assuming you’re in NYC for a short period of time and it’s a special occasion!
- If the cab’s middle numbers are turned ON means it’s available. If the side lights (which says “OFF DUTY”) are also on, then obviously it means OFF DUTY. They will not stop, so stop wondering why they are ignoring you. Sometimes they might stop and ask where you’re going, to see if you happen to be along the way home. If no light on, someone is in the cab.
- Tell them the cross streets that you’re going to. Street name first, then the Avenue. Don’t give addresses, cab drivers are not computers!
- Do not take the black “cabs.” We would be supporting their illegal services. Only in case of emergency should you take those! (And they’re a rip off!)
- Good luck finding a cab on New Years Eve or any holiday in the winter where people drink/party late at night!
- Note that traffic is fierce during rush hour during weekdays and other major holidays that involve parades or ceremonies.
Directions:
Bronx bound = Uptown
Queens bound = East/Astoria
Brooklyn bound = Downtown
- Metro cards can be used for both bus AND subway.
- Subways are much slower on the weekends.
- Subways are constantly under construction so keep your eyes and ears opened for signs and announcements, especially on the weekends. When in doubt, ask someone.

Where to stay: 

Assuming you’re on your honeymoon and want to stay in a somewhat convenient area, I highly suggest being near a subway — ANY subway. It’s not imperative to stay in Times Square, although it is convenient. The Uppers have Central Park and museums and downtown has all the bars, clubs and restaurants. There are generally no tricks or great deals for the city where everyone wants to live, dine, work and play. What you pay is what you get! If you know someone with hotel hookups, then I suggest you look them up because hotels run $200+ per night on average for a decent hotel. Besides the regular Travelzoo and Trip Advisor websites, a popular source is Airbnb. You can rent out an apartment and feel like a real New Yorker!
If you stay outside of Manhattan, you have much less chance of getting a cab. I’ve seen a lot of tourists get frustrated because they can’t get home via cab because no one wants to drive them there. Remember that Brooklyn is far. (Far for you non-NY people.) And New Jersey? Just forget it even exists. (Sorry.) To maximize your Manhattan experience, you should try staying IN Manhattan!
Where to eat:
Wow, do I dare? For a city that has new fantastic restaurants opening every minute, it’s very difficult to not make a list 100 pages long. Everyone has a different opinion, but these are my general “must eat” places:
CHEAP, DIRTY, GHETTO EATS:
- Katz Deli for pastrami sandwich on rye bread. You don’t like pastrami? YOU WILL HERE. This is also where they filmed that orgasm scene in “When Harry met Sally.” Cash only, don’t lose the little ticket they hand you when you come in. Also, if you smooze and tip the guy cutting your beef, they’ll give you more!
- Shake Shack. It’s just the thing to get if you’re looking for a solid, juicy burger that is a NYC tradition. Their cafeteria style cheese fries and root beers are also my favorite! The most popular location is in Madison Square Park, but the long wait and unavailable seating is pretty annoying. (2+ hour waits.)  I much prefer the bigger and more spacious UWS or UES locations. I’m not sure if it’s mental, but I swear the burgers taste better in those Upper locations! Their signature burger is the Shack Stack, which includes a deep fried portobello mushroom filled with gruyere cheese… yummmm…
- The chicken & rice halal cart on 53rd and 6th Avenue. (Southwest corner) It’s open almost all parts of the day, but is most typical for an after clubbing type of thing. Just remember some VERY important things! 1.) Go EASY on the hot sauce! So many people don’t listen to me and ruin their dish because they think they can handle it. Just 1 drop at a time! 2.) Make sure you go to the right place because there are a lot of wannabes. The true halal cart has people in yellow t-shirts and YELLOW BAGS. For people who like to mix it up, try their combo which has chicken and lamb. You will want as much white sauce as freaking possible.
- You MUST get a New York lox and cream cheese on an everything bagel. I actually do think it makes a difference which bagel  place you go to, so just browse on Yelp for the most popular locations. The difference with NYC bagels and lox is that the bagels are super fluffly and their lox tastes incredibly fresh! It’s one of my favorite things to eat!

NICER EATS:
- Ippudo for pork buns and ramen. Delicious but insanely popular. They don’t take reservations unless you come in person on the day of. I suggest one of the people in your party does that because otherwise you’ll be waiting a good 2 hours.
- Jean Georges/Nougatine. If you want fancy, go Jean Georges. If you want Jean Georges but don’t want to be as fancy pants then go with Nougatine which is their casual dining experience. (They are just 2 rooms right next to each other.)
- Grimaldi’s for Brooklyn style pizza. Pepperoni and mushroom… don’t like pepperoni? YOU WILL HERE! Cash only, 2 locations.
- Doughnut Plant for specialty doughnuts. They have an amazing creme brulee doughnut that will rock your world!
- Momofuku anything. There’s a Momofuku Ssam, noodle bar, and milk bar. All are delicious! Their CEREAL MILK IS SO YUM.
Don’t hate me, but I think these are OVERRATED: 
Magnolia’s bakery for cupcakes. But if you happen to be there, you must get their banana pudding!
Just ignore all Mexican and Korean food. Trust.
Lombardi’s Pizza. Now that Grimaldi’s is in Manhattan, I’d much prefer that for the same style pizza!
Grey’s Papaya. It’s in all these movies but I have no idea why there’s so much fuss over these salty dogs!
Where to shop:
Soho is great for shopping but during the nights and weekends it can be a nightmare! Imagine being elbow to elbow with tourists that are just as lost and confused as you! Feel free to get lost on the outskirts of Soho, which is where I prefer to browse. There are adorable boutiques and cafes to relax if you get tired. There are also random sample sales that happen throughout the year, if you’re lucky enough to spot one!
5th Avenue in midtown is very cool if you want to window shop and see fancy displays. The most expensive stores are all right next to each other: Tiffany’s, Bergdorf’s, Dior, Juicy, etc. *Note: A very popular store named Uniqlo just opened right on 5th Ave and is worth checking out! It’s basically like a Japanese style Gap.
Chinatown is great for cheap souvenirs, fake watches, hand bags and t-shirts. You can haggle with them but beware of the hardcore, illegal purse sales people. Police are constantly on the look for them and there’s usually a show down.
The Brooklyn Flea Market is amazing and totally worth the trip to Brooklyn! There are so many interesting booths, treats and unique “shops.” They even sell fine art, furniture, jewelry and start up bakeries!
Fairs. If you’re lucky and if it’s summertime, New York City has HUGE street fairs! They are almost like a huge carnival and it goes on for 20 blocks or so. You can buy sunglasses, scarves and bags for cheap. Keep checking the web for updated street fairs!
What to do:
Musicals! You cannot come to New York and not watch a Broadway show. My favorite musicals are Billy Elliot, In the Heights, The Book of Mormon, Spring Awakening, Les Miserables, West Side Story, Jersey Boys and of course WICKED! Not all of these are playing right now, but they will all come and go. Plays are also incredible and also come and go often.
Museums for Dummies:
The MET = suggested donation, you can give $1 if you really want. Big. Has everything.
MOMA = $25 and admissions is free on Fridays from 4-8pm. Modern art and beautiful space.
The Guggenheim = $18. Modern art, beautiful architecture from the inside and out.
The Natural History Museum = suggested donation but you need to pay additional for their shows, which are awesome. Dinosaurs live here.
Central Park! It’s enormous and FREE. Visit the beautiful reservoir, which is the huge body of water smack in the middle. When it’s warm, people often grab sandwiches and wine to picnic and relax. Ask people how to get to the “mall” to see scenes from many movies. My suggestion is to enter from 59th street and 5th Ave so that you can see the beautiful Plaza hotel, where Kevin McAllister from Home Alone 2 spent his lavish evenings.
Take a water taxi to see the Statue of Liberty and get a view of the city. I honestly don’t think you need to get INSIDE the Statue of Liberty, since the lines are long, but it’s nice to take a cheap water ride around Manhattan. This is especially nice and romantic during sunset!
The Highline in the Meat packing district is renovated and absolutely gorgeous. Great spot to chill and fun to walk in the cute, cobblestone streets! *This is probably where lots of people take their engagement photos!
Sit on the “red steps” in Times Square at night. For some reason, sitting on those steps and looking down at Times Square is magical. We used to grab an ice cream cone and just people watch on those steps. Epic!
Going across the Brooklyn Bridge is very nice but can get chilly in the fall and winter. It’s great to see parts of Wall Street and the Financial District on your way to the bridge. The best part about not being in Manhattan is being able to SEE Manhattan’s skyline from afar.
Just walk! My favorite thing about Manhattan is getting lost and walking around to discover the city. If you aren’t used to walking, wear comfortable shoes! Don’t get fooled by what you see on TV. The only people that can wear stiletto heels are the ones that can afford cab rides 24/7. The rest of us have to take the mountain of stairs to the subway.
Pros for visiting during the Summer:
- SO MUCH free stuff! There are free concerts and plays at Central Park. Plus since the sun is out longer, people are really into picnics and talking walks. Restaurants open their doors and you really get a sense of being in Europe. Since the fancy people all went to their Hamptons, the city tends to feel emptier at times. It’s also gets dark very late so the outdoor activities are available longer.
Cons for visiting during the Summer:
- So. Hot. And. Humid. This is when the city starts to smell really bad and you’re constantly sweating. The subways become an intense stinky, sauna so that’s really fun! I recommend taking buses in the summer to avoid going underground.
Pros for visiting during the Winter:
- The holidays are on crack in NYC. There are Christmas lights, carolers, Christmas plays and of course the awesome Radio City Music Hall has their Christmas Spectacular show! (Still one of the best shows I’ve seen!) The feeling you get by walking around the city is indescribable! Union Square and Bryant Park have these amazing Christmas fairs where you can buy unique treats and gifts.
Cons for visiting during the Winter:
- It can get pretty cold, especially during January – March. Also it’s the most expensive and most crowded times of the year! Be prepared for long lines and intense crowds, particularly around the Rockefeller Center tree.
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