So it's raining and you're stuck in Midtown...

MIDTOWN of all places! No, it's not charming, pretty, or pleasant. There's trash floating where the pavement dips at the corner, and poncho-wearing tourists still plague the sidewalk. This was precisely my dilemma today. And I had planned to give you all a sparkling, classic New-York-style blog tour of my old neighborhood. Bummer. Thankfully, I have had my fill of rainy days in midtown and have developed a list of things to do despite the weather. 

The New York Public Library 
This is where I was headed today to do some research for a paper, and I guess I was glad the weather gave me a reason to stay indoors, otherwise I would have had no motivation whatsoever, to study. While this is not the branch to visit if you are looking for a "fluff" novel, it's the perfect scene for photographers, as well as a fascinating site for historians. Note to the gutsy: do refrain from sliding down the banisters, no matter how tempting it looks... the security guards are not interested in allowing you to fulfill any childhood dreams.

The Rockefeller Center

30 Rock has been my favorite place to steal away for an hour or two to study or just people watch. It is essentially an underground labyrinth filled with shops and restaurants. I have come here dozens of times and still cannot claim to have explored it all. If any of you manage to get farther than I, i.e. into any "Staff Only" areas... I'd love to hear about it! You can also pull up a chair and watch the ice-skaters go around on the rink while staying warm and dry behind the floor-to-ceiling windows. If you're looking for a good meal, Tri-Tip has salads and Philly cheese steaks that are to die for.

The Plaza Hotel
Can someone please draw the definitive line where midtown technically ends? I'm not quite sure if the early 60's counts as midtown... but it's not the park yet and not Hell's Kitchen so... who's to say? The plaza holds a special place in my heart... I hope one day to spend a week or two there when I have a couple thousand or ten to burn. Mostly, I just lived (and still do) vicariously through Kevin in Home Alone 2. Also, did you know there is a completely pink, tutu-festooned room in the basement completely devoted to Eloise everything? It would be my dream-come-true if only I was about 14 years younger... That's totally not me in the pic btw...I don't even know that person...

So next time it rains, it's not the end of the world... Go somewhere random and push the envelope. Don't let the weather stop you from exploring anywhere and everywhere! 

Stay classy, my friends.

-H

New (York) Stage of Life

The hard concrete under my feet, the sound of traffic and people around me, the smell of the nearest food stand in the air.... Yes, it must be New York city. MY city.

I have been here for over a week and it feels as though I have lived here all my life. I'm not getting lost anymore, I know the trains by heart, and I know exactly where each borough is and where not to be past ten at night.

It has taken a week, but I am now properly settled in my new apartment. It is the largest apartment that was available to freshman this year, and Lord willing, we will be able to keep it for the entire year or longer! This is the view outside my window:





Although New Student Orientation (Referred to as NSO) was absolutely exhausting, I enjoyed every minute of it. First with move-in day and the welcome ceremony which was held here (second picture down on the right. The one with the vaulted ceilings!) and ending with Convocation which was held here (with a whole bunch of information fairs, meetings, curriculum assessments, and presentations in between). I promise, as the semester goes on I will probably touch back on the details and stories that made up my NSO.

So, how much exploring have I been able to do since I got here? Well, whenever I have a spare hour or two I will leaf through my "Not For Tourists Guide to New York City" pick a close-by spot on their must-see for cheap list, and take off with metro card in hand. Thus far I have seen:

Grand Central Station

The New York Public Library



The High Line

Trinity Church

Other places I have been to, of which I have failed to upload pictures would be Central Park, F.A.O. Schwartz, Macy's, and The Rockefeller Center. (I will put them up as soon as my homework allows!)

As you probably gathered from the lateness of this post, I have been drowning in classes and homework. Again, I promise that I will post here whenever I have a spare minute, but it will have to come after classes, homework, eating, cleaning, and calling my mother every once in a while!

And so, I bid adieu to you all as my mountain of homework has just tightened its grip around my neck. I will try my hardest to post here at least once a week and when I have a particularly interesting story to tell. Also, I will eventually give you the specifics of NSO week and I will attempt to upload a video tour of my apartment!

Au revoir!

xoxo

-H

P.S. I will be covering Fashion's Night Out and posting many pictures, so stay tuned!