It's been a busy holiday season, and things are just beginning to die down a bit. I'm so excited that it's a new year and I'm trying to grasp at every moment of it, to experience living in this City more fully than I did in the past six months as I've been getting settled. And now that I truly am in at least some senses "settled" I am enjoying New York so much more.

Whenever I think of last year, 2008, I cannot even comprehend what happened. Last year was a bit of insanity for me and for my family... the transitions that we made were crazy! So many moves, so many goodbyes, so many new experiences, and a growing number of new friends. I don't know what 2009 is going to be like, but I know that it must be somewhat calmer than 2008. I can only hope.

Other than that, I've tried to make some New Year's resolutions, but I'm beginning to think more and more that maybe I should actually make some longer term goals that are more tangible than the sentiments of New Year's Resolutions. I'm contemplating making a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days... mainly focusing on doing things in New York and the surrounding area as well as a few self improvement deals, etc. I was inspired by my friend James... I'll let you know if I ever actually have time to make a list, but I'm hopeful.

Posted by Heather Grace at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments

On a cold day in Central Park, one can almost feel alone. There's a low rumble of the city when planes or helicopters pass overhead, but other than that one mainly hears the soft chirping of birds and the sweet melody of a troop of family singers by Bethesda Fountain. The leaves are almost all gone now and the trees stand still, revealing their intricacies against the blue sky and allowing bits of glorious buildings to peak out in the distance.

I sat beneath one of those trees this morning, slowly breathing in and out, watching my breath float away. Every once in awhile I'd sip my already cold mocha, as I watched blue jays fly in the trees. The cold only really hit me when the wind blew, and I'd pull my hat down further over my ears, cherishing the moment and hoping that my coldness threshold would carry me for at least 45 minutes of solitude under the tree. When my fingers were thoroughly frozen, I stood up and walked through the park, discovering bits and pieces that I hadn't seen before and reveling in the fact that this place is in my neighborhood.

On Saturdays now, I mainly stay in my apartment, taking a break from the city noise to read and enjoy my room. However, on Sundays I am trying to make a new ritual of going to Central Park in the morning. I can already tell that it's going to be one of my favorite times every week, something I look forward to. I want to know Central Park like I knew Vanderbilt last year in Nashville. It's such a beautiful expression of New York and New York culture, and the trees are so old and so beautiful! What a lovely place to live!

Family Singers by Bethesda Fountain:




Bethesda Fountain all dried up for winter:


Trees near the Lake:


Trees lining the Mall:


A knobby tree:


Tree growing out of a rock:


Strange statue:


Happy Thanksgiving!


Model sail boat on the Conservatory Water (near Alice in Wonderland Statue):




Egyptian Obilisque covered in heiroglyphs, erected in 1600 BC and later transported to New York. It sits behind The Met:


Guys playing flag football next to The Met. Right past that glass stands an ancient Egyptian Temple:




Not in Central Park, but everywhere in the City there are heads of lettuce planted instead of flowers... such beautiful purple!

Posted by Heather Grace at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments

There is still an air of celebration in the City today over Barack Obama’s victory. I can feel it when I walk down the street, when I catch the eyes of strangers as they smile at their newspapers. One can sense the victory that African Americans must feel and the pride we all feel for them. And although the problems on Wall Street aren’t fixed, there was a joyful spirit about the City as we all shuffled to work today.

This morning as I headed to the subway, I saw a white man in his 60s or 70s come out of the gym. He grabbed the hand of a friend of his, and smiling from ear to ear he proclaimed, “Today is a wonderful day to be an American!” I couldn’t have said it better myself. I have felt so much pride in my country today, and in the man that will be my next president.

Last night I took a cab home from my friend’s apartment. As I opened the door to the car, my cabbie greeted me happily. He was driving down from Harlem, and it had taken him a long time to get through because everyone was dancing in the streets of Harlem, he said. The streets were so crowded he couldn’t even drive through. Oh how beautiful! Oh what joy!

Below are photos that I took early on in the evening at Times Square and then at Rockefeller Plaza (MSNBC):

Times Square:




MSNBC:

Posted by Heather Grace at 9:51 PM | Permalink | Comments

EDIT (October 30) --- Since originally posting the below update, several crazy and unimaginable things have happened. First, we were broken into again... this time our living room window was shattered. Our management company has had no sympathy and refuses to take proper security measures to ensure our safety in the apartment. Therefore, my roommate and I haven't been staying at our apartment and are moving out this weekend. We are sad to leave the apartment, my first real apartment in New York, but it's really a matter of risking our own physical and emotional safety and well-being and that's just something that we cannot risk. Being broken into twice in two months is exhausting... absolutely exhausting. Please pray that as we move we will find peace and rest and that there are no other major roadblocks to us feeling settled. Until then... enjoy my perky little New York story and the photos from my old apartment. The new apartment will be beautiful too, I'm sure.

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If a picture is worth a thousand words... then I'm about to give you 39,000 words! All in an effort to make up for my lack of updates since moving to the Big Apple. But before I do that... I'm going to give you just a few real words.

Almost every day I have a moment or two where I think to myself, "Wow! I live in New York!" Without fail, I am in awe of this city! People talk about it having an energy, having movement, and I suppose that's a good way to describe it. It's a sort of crowded movement though... a frenzy of energy that can be exhausting, but then something happens that's just magical and you think to yourself "Only in New York!"

For example, a couple of Saturdays ago I was walking down from the West Village to the East Village and I happened upon a street fair where I proceeded to buy a very messy, very good chicken pita kabob. As I was walking happily back toward the subway to go uptown, I stopped at a stop light and noticed a beautiful dog looking up at me, wanting my food and with the beautiful dog was a rather nice looking man. He took his headphones out and began chatting with me, walked me to the subway (about a 10 to 15 minute walk), and as he was shaking my hand goodbye asked if I ever hung out with strangers I met on the street and if he could get my number. Which, of course, he could. (This sort of thing has never happened to me before, I must add.) And then... it gets even better... when I went down into the Subway there was a guitarist down there who came up to me and asked if he could sing me a beautiful song. He sang me three love songs while I waited for the train... absolutely fantastic! And, just in case you're wondering, that guy did call but our plans fell through and we never rescheduled. Alas...

Another New York moment happened yesterday when I walked to Central Park... yes, I can walk to Central Park from my apartment. When I arrived at the Fountain, there was a crowd gathered around to watch some street performers who were hilarious and wonderful! I love that in New York one can just happen upon things... it happens all the time! I also got served cupcakes from Joan Rivers by Radio City Music Hall!! Ha!

Anyways, enough of me gloating about living in the most amazing city ever... I know all you really want is photos! So... here they are... starting with some Central Park photos from yesterday and moving on to my little apartment and a party on our terrace.








Onto the Apartment... You may notice a theme... we love birds, and other animals. We're getting a dog soon. More photos will follow :)
























I see you...


Party with my roommate's friends from grad school... a bunch of foreign architects! They're amazing! The first picture is of my highly adorable roommate, Stephanie...









And that's all from New York for now. There are so many things I could say or write about, but overall... I'm feeling more settled. And, yes, I LOVE this city!

Posted by Heather Grace at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments