Free Stuff Always Tastes Good

Tonight I got to experience my first free concert in NYC! They happen all over the place in the summer here, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra plays every year in Central Park. A few girls I know sent a Facebook invite out and the turn-out was a good size group--about 20 people or so, I'd guesstimate. As I mentioned in the last post, it's been raining a lot here lately, and today was no exception. We brought various forms of plastic to put down on the ground to keep our blankets from getting wet. Someone brought an extra shower curtain they happened to have lying around her apartment, I brought two large garbage bags and a few park/concert pads to sit on, and my friend Karene brought this huge plastic sheet thing she bought at Home Depot for $2! That turned out to be the life saver, as we had plenty of seats for everyone. The rain stopped long enough for the concert to happen, which included fireworks at the end of the performance! Everyone kinda chatted and socialized the whole time, because, ya know, we were in picnic-like form, and it was like the orchestra was providing background music. We were too far away from the stage to actually see the performance, but hearing was the important part, anyway. I forgot my camera, but I borrowed this image from elsewhere, and it is pretty much exactly what it looked like from where we were sitting:The NY Phil. sounded sooooo good. I learned from the program handed out that it's the oldest orchestra in the United States. Not surprising. And I think it said there are 108 members. For the last part of the performance they played some of the music from Romeo and Juliet, so I actually recognized some songs! That was cool. Yes, I like classical music and such, but I only recognize the popular stuff. Don't judge me. Needless to say, it was a lovely evening spent with lovely people in a lovely park with lovely music.

Frozen Beauty

My last free day before school began, I spent a good part of it in Central Park. See for yourself...

Artistic Weekend-Part 1

Ok, so it's been awhile since my last post. Basically, that translates to school is kicking my trash. I'm reaching midterm point, and THAT translates to lots of writing (which I should be doing now, in fact, instead of posting on this blog). But I guess I'm not that worried. I have till next Thursday to complete one that I'm already half way done with. So yeah, I should be ok. Here's hoping.

This weekend was the first in several weekends that I actually went out and did fun stuff with my friends, and it was full of wonderful art, which is why I am going to break this post into two parts. Last night I did two amazing things. I met up with my friend Jess to visit MOMA (Museum of Modern Art),which is free on Friday nights. The first and only time I had been to that place was my first time to NYC, back in 2001. It was well overdue. The place was hoppin', with tons of people everywhere, thanks to the "free"-ness of it all. People LOVE free stuff. And not just Americans or Mormons. Ha. The visit was a little hard to enjoy fully because of all the people, but it was good to see some great art. And I was sure glad Jess was there to point out the technical details and stuff to the photography (her specialty) and other art.

After MOMA, we went to see this movie:And I LOVED it. I want to go see it again, that's how much I loved it. I could see it tonight, THAT'S how much I loved it. I'm just sayin'. L-O-V-E. I was enthralled in the story, in the world of "wild things", the entire time. The acting was phenomenal (where did this little boy come from?!), the scenery/imagery was beautiful, the storyline (that is only like 10 sentences in the children's book) was deep and meaningful (I even choked up a bit). I'm no film critic (I'm fairly easy to entertain), but man, that was good. Oh, and the soundtrack? Forget about it. So stinkin' good. Everyone MUST go see this movie. I really have loved the name Max (short for Maxwell) for some time now. It may just be my first born's given name, girl or boy. I'm claiming it now, just so you know.

A Note from the Underground

I didn't do much over this weekend. I stepped out for a visit to the Subway or Transit Museum. It's here in Brooklyn. I've been fascinated from the day I descended my first step into a subway entrance (back in early 2001) to today, when riding the train is a part of my every day life. The layers and intricacy of this public transportation system for the masses is mind boggling. One of my questions was, how do the trains get back to the beginning of their run? And simply enough, my question was answered yesterday by the nice tour guide (who happened to be from London), "they just turn around". Apparently there is extra track at the end of each subway line, where these stainless steel beasts can make a U-turn. Or they switch tracks and run service in the other direction. Anyway, still confusing/amazing to me. Subway cars used to be a lot nicer looking. An old photo during construction, obviously.

Lots of men died while building these underground tunnels. And some where sucked through riverbeds and shot into the air while working on the tunnels that go through water, due to air pressure! Yes, there are some trains that go underground through water tunnels (you don't see the water...you just know you are passing through water at one point, coming from certain parts of Brooklyn and Queens, due to Manhattan being an island. I rode through one yesterday). My biggest question was how did they build tunnels through water, when the water was already there!! Looking at this photo, and upon explanation by the tour guide, I still don't get it.

I also learned that the NYC transit took the most recent discarded old subway cars down the coast and submerged them under water to serve as artificial reefs, where fish and sharks can dwell!! The tour guide said it's been very successful. Crazy.

I googled "subway artificial reefs", and behold! It's true!!!

Needless to say, I'm glad I ventured out on my lazy Saturday for this place. Below are just a few photos I took of actual old trains.

Perfect Day for a Cab Ride

Or two cab rides, to be exact, because that's basically all I did today is ride in a cab. Of course, this is not normal. Today was "getting my room in order" day. The boxes my parents shipped out to me arrived today, so I went to pick them up at my roommate's work (they were sent there in case I wasn't home during the day). Here's where cab #1 comes in. There were five boxes, all of which I could not carry alone, nor drag down the streets, down the stairs, and into the subway car. A cab, it was. And an expensive cab ride, too. Manhattan to Brooklyn is not cheap. Getting around in Manhattan is not that cheap either, but it's not as bad as going from one borough to the other. And apparently I like to get to know my cab drivers. I ended up chatting a bit with each of them. Driver #1 is from Haiti, works part time as a driver, full time as a school bus driver, and just became a preacher and started a church! I failed to get the name of it, though. He was super nice. Driver #2 is from the Dominican Republic. He has two kids and lots of family that live in here now. I spoke my pathetic Spanish with him, but prefaced it with "I only studied Spanish for four months...not enough to know it well! Entiendo mejor que hablo."

Oh, and both drivers have lived in New York City for about 24-25 years. I told them both that I was going on one week, and they both said, in the same exact tone of voice (which I'm sure you can imagine), "One week?!" They got a kick out of that. :)

Cab #2 took me home from picking up a free IKEA 6-drawer dresser, given to me by a friend (thank you, Suvi!) I love it, it's perfect. It was just the finishing touch I needed to make my room complete. I put up the wall art, and wah-la! I have a wonderfully furnished and decorated room. See for yourself!

The cat likes the dresser, too!

I just figured out probably why I was so chatty with the cabbies. NO ONE TALKS TO EACH OTHER ON THE SUBWAY! You just don't do it. You do it, everyone knows you're new in town. You only talk if you are with people you know. It's kinda crazy, being surrounded by tons of people every day, but not talking to any of them. Sometimes I am tempted. I smile at babies sometimes, when their guardians aren't looking.