What have I done in NYC? I think the better question to ask is "What DIDN'T I do in NYC!" This really is a great city, and if my income allowed it, I could definitely live here. I think the best part is the diversity of people. I've met great people from all over the world. Since my co-worker had family in town visiting, I spent my two weeks in NYC hitting the city solo...and I had a blast! Practically everywhere I went I met great, friendly people that I spent some time with..whether it be at a concert, walking around the city, at a bar/lounge or standing in line for an event.
I think the highlight was MTV's Video Music Awards! Since they were held in NYC and I had that day off, I decided to head to Rockefeller Center early to check out the scene and see where I could stand to see some stars. I got there about noon and stood in line by an area along the pre-show stage that looked like a place where fans were going to be allowed to stand. After four hours of waiting and meeting plenty of people, we were told that people were "casted" to be in certain areas. Not really knowing how it all works, with no one giving much information to help, I started to scope out a new spot. I figured I could see the stars walk into Radio City Music Hall so I camped out there. Then I started noticing people with different colored braclets on their wrists and started asking questions. Turns out, you had to find casting staff that had the bracelets in their pockets and then talk your way into getting one while also fitting a certain demographic to..so I started hunting. I met some new friends during the day so I told them to save my spot and I'll search for bracelets. I was able to find a pink and a purple braclet, and come to find out that purple gets me along the red carpet next to the podium that all the stars stop at for their MTV interview! The girls I met were ecstatic that I got these bracelets for them. We were able to watch the preshow as well as the red carpet! I got to either see or meet EVERYONE who came down the red carpet. Here's a few that I can remember: P. Diddy, Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, Real World and Road Rules Cast, 50 Cent, Nelly, Kelly Rowland, Good Charlotte, DMX, Simple Plan, Kim Cattrel, Jason Biggs, Hillary Duff, Kelly Osborne, The Olsen Twins, Snoop Dog, DMX, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Mya, Donald Trump, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, Nick Lache, Carson Daly, Gideon, Sway (MTV veejays), Serena and Venus Williams, Tony Hawk, LeBron James, Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit, Avril Lavigne, Sean Paul, Black Eyed Peas and some others. BUT..in order to get access, MTV had to take my batteries from my camera...so no pictures were taken. I only have these from before the red carpet.
I also had a run-in with 50-cent twice before the VMA's. I was caught in the middle of a fight in the NYC streets between a guy in a car and a guy in a suit that claimed he was almost hit, so he punched the guys car. Cops came and wanted to talk to me since I was there..and once I was done I turned around and 50-cent walked out of a jewlery store...you know he was there to buy some bling-bling! ha!
I also had another celeb sighting at the Yankees game. I was fortunate enough to witness the Sox kill the Yankees 11-2! I had my Cubs visor with me and made sure I wore it to the game and got quite the attention. It was a great time. I had great seats close to the Yankees dug-out and a few times I ran into Bobby Bachala (Steve Schirripa) from the Sopranos! He wasn't as big in person...but he was very nice to the fans. He stopped for a picture for me, but it didn't turn out! Again, quite the tourist!
Picture me, in NYC, with 5 different maps navigating my way around the city. I did most all of the tourist things there are to do! I hit the spots including Empire State Building, Central Park, Ground Zero (very eerie, by the way...couldn't stay long), Staten Island ferry out by the Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, saw the Broadway show "Rent", went to the Christina Aguilera/Justin Timberlake concert with Carolyn, went to see the John Mayer/Counting Crows show at Jones Beach, hit the Bowery Ballroom to see The Damnwells and the Ben Taylor Band, learned to salsa dance from a French guy, met up for dinner with a friend, did some shopping in Jersey and Chinatown, went to Atlantic City in New Jersey to meet up with Jen Sanders, Kelly Varga and Kristen Lenda who were in town from Chicago, and surprisingly my former boss, Hertha, was in town the first weekend I was here so I went out with her and her friends. Overall, a fantastic time! But I'm broke..I've got to leave soon!
I know I rambled a lot, but I've done so much, that if I went into detail about all of it, this would be a novel. Just trust me, that if you haven't had the opportunity to spend time in NYC, to get out here and do it! I love it. Each city I compare to Chicago, and the only ones to come close so far are NYC and San Francisco...but Chicago still tops my list! I'm heading to Hartford, CT for the weekend and then back to NYC for a few days. I'm hoping to get a run in at Central Park and also go to the Metropolitan Art Museum.
Here's some pics:
(Ground Zero)
Love it, love it, love it! But, I'm still missing Chicago and you all! 2 months and counting! I've got an apartment all lined up in Wrigleyville and am living with Lee Abdella...and starting to think about what exactly I want to do when I get back!
I hope you are all doing well! I can't believe summer is officially over!
Love,
Kari
