Broadway | Priscila Queen of the Desert

During my stay in New York City last spring, I attended a CD signing for the soundtrack release of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. (Learn more about that event HERE). Ever since then I've been dying to see the show. While walking through Times Square with my friend Lisa last weekend, I saw the Palace Theatre and had a great idea. It was about 5 minutes of 6:00PM on a Friday night, and if any of you are big broadway fans you know that means we had literally 5 minutes to enter the lottery at Priscilla. Lisa and I entered our names and about 20 minutes later we were holding in our hands front row tickets to see one of the biggest shows currently playing on broadway. We couldn't believe our luck! Not only had Lisa never been to a broadway show before, but this was the first time she had ever entered a lottery. We were definitely meant to have those tickets!

As 8:00PM rolled around, Lisa and I sat anxiously in our seats with our newly purchased pink boas. When the lights went down, the magic of Priscilla began. The story revolves around three drag queens that take a road trip from Sydney, Australia to Alice Springs so that Tick, played by Will Swenson, can meet his son for the first time. Their journey west is sometimes rough-- their bus breaks down, they get lost, and they're even tormented for being gay. Yet the serious moments of the show only compliment the rest of the lively and upbeat music and dancing. If you enjoy disco and eighties music, this show is for you! From Girls Just Want to Have Fun to Like a Prayer, you will definitely be dancing in your seat. I know we were!

Priscilla also features some amazing costumes. They're brightly colored and change throughout the entire show! I would love to have the Barbie jacket that Nick Adams wears. And speaking of Nick Adams, the cast of this production is one of the most talented I've seen. Tony Sheldon, Will, and Nick are such a wonderful team. It also doesn't help that all of the boys in the cast are extremely good looking. If you're not drooling simply by looking at Mr. Adams, there are plenty of other lovelies for you to stare at! By the end of Priscilla, our cheeks hurt from smiling so much, our voices were sore from cheering, and our hands a bit tired from clapping so hard. What was left for us to do besides run to the stage door?!

For those of you that haven't been to this theater before, the stage door is located to your right once you exit from the left side of the theater. Barricades will be set up. This was definitely the best organized stage door I've ever experienced! The security people had a bag of black sharpies for the stars of the show so you don't have to worry about bringing one. Also, the performers were out the door signing and taking pictures within 10-15 minutes! I would say that Iusually have to wait a half-hour before anyone comes out. Considering all of the make-up and fancy costumes this cast is getting out of, I was really surprised when they came out so soon. 

 

All of the stars were so nice and gracious. Tony Sheldon told me he liked my sparkly pink nail polish, one of the chorus boys asked us how the lottery seats were, and one of the divas, Ellyn Marsh, even recognized us from the front row! Apparently our big smiles and wide eyes let the actors know how much fun we were having. Of course, I had to snap a photo with the gorgeous Nick Adams and a few of the other performers. They were all so great both onstage and off!

If you're looking for a fun broadway show to go to, make sure to get tickets to Priscilla! The lottery begins 2.5 hours before each performance, and they stop taking names 2 hours before, as that's when the lottery takes place. You must have $40 cash only for each ticket. Although the seats are partial view, I would not have traded my front row ticket for anything! The amount of action you miss is minimal, and being up close is always exciting. Besides, the closer you sit the more likely it is that you'll catch a ping pong ball! Believe me, you do not want to miss Priscilla Queen of the Desert!

Getting Around in New York City

After living in New York City for four months as a student intern, I learned a lot about how to navigate through the city streets using public transportation and, when necessary, taxis. It isn't always easy, but with a few helpful tools anyone can get where they want to go even if they've never been to NYC before. Whether you're visiting the city for a short time, or moving there to stay, below are some tips to getting around in NYC that I picked up along the way. 

Tips on Traveling in NYC:

• Always know where you are going ahead of time if you can! I liked to get detailed directions to every location so that I would not stick out as a "tourist" on the subway. Here are two very helpful websites that will explain step-by-step how to use public transportation--

1. HopStop.com is the first place to turn to. It will give you detailed directions on where to pick up the subway, which lines toget on, and how many stops there are before you get off. Additionally, it allows you to customize your trip with a number of different options. For example, if you would prefer to only take the bus and not the subway, you can change your preferences.  HopStop will also give you the estimated taxi cost of your trip as well, if you decide you would rather take a cab.

2. If you are more of a visual person, Google Maps will show you the exact route you will be taking. Using its satellite imagery, you can virtually make the trip. Sometimes I liked to see how far away the subway station was from where I was going. This is especially helpful if you are going to an area that doesn't follow the "grid" of NYC.

• When traveling, do not bring a map with you! Try to memorize the directions, or write them in your phone as a note. That way you will blend in with the crowd and no one will notice that you're unsure of where you're going. Of course, if you have a smart phone, you can be looking at HopStop as much as you want! 
• If you get lost and need to ask someone for help, try to ask an MTA employee, or someone working in a store. They are more familiar with the surrounding area, and more likely to give you the correct answer.
• Another helpful website is MTA.info, which will tell you if any of the busses or subway lines are currently experiencing delays or undergoing construction. 
• When in Times Square or another tourist hotspot, do not stop in the middle of the road or sidewalk! It is annoying to everyone around you. If you want to take a picture, or you just want to stop to look around, move over to the side to allow others to keep walking. 
• Taxis can be very expensive (my trip from the city to the Bronx was literally ten times more expensive than public transportation). However, they can be very useful if you are traveling at night, or if you made last minute plans and you don't know where you're going. The yellow cabs you see mainly in Manhattan accept both cash and credit cards, but I recommend having around forty to fifty dollars in cash with you, as some cabs won't take plastic. 
• Overall, when you are in NYC, be safe and have fun! Enjoy being in the greatest city in the world!

Missing NYC Life

I can't believe that I've already been home for a month! There are definitely a lot of things I miss about NYC, but it is great to be with my family again. I also started working, which is such a relief considering NYC drained my bank account an unbelievable amount. As soon as I can, I want to visit the city, though. Here are the top five things I'm missing the most.

1. Broadway shows: I loved waking up on the weekends and traveling into the city to stand in line for rush tickets. I was so fortunate to see a number of amazing performances during my semester in NYC. Now I feel like I am missing out on them! There are so many that I haven't seen, and I don't know when the next time I'll be able to see another. Hopefully very soon!
2. Public transportation: Sure, busses and subways are not glamorous, but you can get anywhere you want to go just by swiping your Metro Card. During the hour commute from the Bronx to the city, I had plenty of time to read. Even though it is the summer and I have a lot of free time, I don't take time out of my day to read as often as I should. The subway was the perfect opportunity to relax with a book.
3. Arthur Avenue: More often than I should have I found myself buying pizza at Full Moon just two blocks from our house. Other times I ended up at the smoothie shop. Only once in a while did I end up in a bakery. No matter what treat I was enjoying, all I had to do was stroll down the street and the best foods were available to me. Believe it or not, I haven't had any pizza since I've moved back home. Ordering take-out requires more effort than walking down the street!
4. Random moments of awesomeness: One never knows what's going to happen in New York City. While walking down the street, riding the subway, or even just surfing the internet for NYC events, the unexpected will happen. During my first week, Mary and I ended up on an MTV show. While shopping in Macy's with friends we spotted Clinton Kelly. I even rode in an elevator with fashion designer Christian Siriano! These little moments are exciting enough to brighten up a day and make for great stories. In the city that never sleeps, there is always something out of the ordinary going on!
5. Forever XXI: I know, I know. I can shop at Forever XXI pretty much anywhere in the country, but in NYC the stores are bigger, better, and EVERYWHERE! Times Square? Check. 34th Street? Check. Fifth Avenue? Check. Union Square? Check. You get the picture! I would go after work and on the weekends to score cute clothes at reasonable prices. I could literally spend over an hour in the Times Square location. Even with all of the unique clothing shops in the city, I somehow always ended up at Forever. 

Stay tuned for more entries! 

Broadway | Twice as Nice [Wonderland & How to Succeed, Part II]

While there are currently a great number of broadway shows to choose from, during my last full week in New York City I decided to see two of my favorites a second time-- Wonderland and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I honestly didn't think I would see Wonderland again while I was here, but when I heard that it was closing I knew I just had to see it one last time. I tried for the lottery on Thursday evening, and I won! For $30 I was sitting second row center. During the entire show I was sitting there having a wonderful time, but I was also so disappointed. How could this great show be closing?! It is filled with catchy songs, great choreography, fun costumes, and some of the most talented actors on broadway. It's a true shame Wonderland won't entertain any more audiences. 

Not only was I lucky to win the lottery that night, but after the performance Janet Dacal (Alice) and Darren Ritchie (Jack) held a talkback session to answer questions from audience members. For those of you that haven't seen the show, Ritchie's character in Wonderland is the lead singer of the "boy band" The White Knightz. Their main number "One Knight" was definitely my favorite part of the show. It's an amazing song, but it's supposed to be funny, and I die of laughter watching these guys. Click here to watch their "music video." 

Anyway, at the talkback session, an audience member asked Darren if he tries to act like any certain boy band member in particular. His answer? "Football player Justin Timberlake." I have no words! To view the entire talkback, check out the YouTube Video:

On Saturday, I woke up bright and early to head over to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to stand in the rush ticket line for How to Succeed. I got there two hours early, and got a great spot in line (about the 16th person or so). I politely asked the lady at the box office if I could sit on the right side of the orchestra, and she searched to get me the best seat there. My motives? I just HAD to get  a decent spot at the stage door! Last time I was seated on the left side of the orchestra and I nearly got trampled just walking out of the theater. I was going to leave as soon as the curtain call started, but didn't want to be rude and push the other girls sitting next to me out of the way. Instead I waited patiently, and as soon as the doors opened, booked it out of there. I got a good spot in the second row with enough room to stick my Playbill out to be signed. The problem? Daniel didn't come out! Apparently he doesn't come out at matinee performances. Understandable, since he has another show to do in a few hours, but I was still disappointed.

Even though Dan didn't come out I was still hoping to get some other autographs, but it seems the other actors have grown accustomed to just walking through the crowds as fast as they can. The smiled and waved, and kept right on going. I knew Christopher Hanke who plays Bud Frump sometimes signs, but he didn't even come out! Alas, I saw another great performance, but have another naked playbill. Hopefully my friends and I will be able to road trip it to NYC this summer so I can see the show again. 

Broadway | The Lion King

As many broadway fans know, getting tickets to see The Lion King at an affordable price is nearly impossible. Thankfully, my internship program gets the opportunity to do one "cultural" event during our semester, and we talked our residence director into bringing us to see the show. The Lion King is definitely what I would call "broadway royalty." The show has been playing forever, and since it's a product of Disney, you know it's going to be a lavish production. I was blown away by the intricate costumes and beautiful set. They were definitely the best I have seen so far. What I found shocking, however, was that I wasn't truly amazed by the performers.

During the first act, I felt a little disappointed. Many of the actors including Scar, Timon, and Pumba, had speaking voices that perfectly matched their respectable characters from the film version of The Lion King. The vocals, however, were certainly not broadway material. Likewise, I wished Young Simba and Young Nala had stronger singing voices as well. Sure, they're just kids, but a lot of broadway kids have amazing voices (think Carly Rose Sonenclar from Wonderland). I was much happier during the second act when Simba and Nala came out with great voices. 

All in all, I'm glad I got to see The Lion King without spending any of my own money! We were seated in the back of the center orchestra, and our tickets were $142! Outrageous! If you can afford to drop that much (and more) on a ticket, you won't be disappointed. Of course, this show is great for families with children of any age.

Can't afford tickets? Hakuna Matata! There are plenty of other shows that offer discounts at TKTS and have rush policies. Make sure to check out my other blog entries for more information. You can also view a great blog called Broadway Informer for more in depth info.

New York to L.A.

After my internship ended, I had about two weeks free to relax before my final exam on May 16th. After my class on Monday night, I left for Los Angeles early Tuesday morning to visit my brother and sister-in-law. It was a great trip, and we got to do so many fun things! My traveling was smooth, too, which is always great. Below I'll outline my trip with each day's activities.

May 3, 2011

I arrived in Los Angeles at around 3:00PM on Tuesday. After settling in my brother's apartment, we all went out to eat at a great Italian restaurant called Micelis. Not only was the food delicious (especially the bread), but there is a piano player and the waiters sing. Although it was a bit weird that the pianist was playing Christmas tunes a few times, the music was fun to listen to during the meal. 

After Micelis, we went to Scoops for dessert. It's a small ice cream shop that makes its own ice cream in flavors you've never seen before! I wanted to try the Earl Grey Tea, but they were all out since we went at the end of their business day. Instead I tried chocolate hazelnut and chocolate vanilla. Both were really delicious. 

May 4, 2011

For my first full day of the trip, my brother and I went to Disneyland. I had been once before, but it's always fun. Since we went on a Wednesday, there were barely any lines! The longest we waited was for the Indiana Jones ride, and we had gotten a Fast Pass for that one, too. We pretty much went on everything in the park, except for a few that we chose not to ride. I loved the Captian Eo Tribute show with Michael Jackson. It's a 3D film made in the 1980s that they brought back after he passed away. Definitely check it out if you're in Disneyland. You can also meet Mickey Mouse if you take the tour of his house in Toontown! We took a picture with him for fun:

May 5, 2011

On Thursday, my brother and I went to the L.A. Zoo. The heat was quite tiring, as the zoo is huge and you do a ton of walking. The animals and exhibits were really cool, though. The zoo was doing a lot of construction when we were there, so some of the animals weren't out. I still think we got to see a lot while we were there. Here are some photos I took:

 

 

May 6, 2011

When we went to the zoo, we purchased a combo ticket that gave us a discount price on the Aquarium of the Pacific, so we headed over on Friday. Although not as big as the New England Aquarium, the Aquarium of the Pacific still had some cool exhibits. You could pet sharks and sting rays, and feed lorikeets. Here are some photos from the aquarium:

 

 

After the aquarium, we decided to stay and look around the Long Beach area where it is located. For $12, we took a 45 minute cruise around the harbor. It was so nice outside, and the cruise was a great time to relax and learn more about the area. We got to see the Queen Mary, sea lions, and more. Check out the pictures:

 

May 7, 2011

On Saturday, my sister-in-law was off from work so she could come do fun things with my brother and I. First we headed to Olvera Street, a Mexican area with lots of cool shops and restaurants. For lunch I had tacos with rice and beans, and a churro filled with chocolate for dessert. Olvera Street is a great place to walk around and look at a different culture. 

Later on, we went to Melrose, a shopping district. There were lots of little boutiques and a creepy store called Necromance. My favorite place was called Crossroads Trading. Crossroads is a store that buys and sells gently used clothing from great brands. Sometimes you can even find new clothes hidden in the racks. I got a new shirt from Urban Outfitters, a new shirt from Naked Zebra, a Betsey Johnson t-shirt, and a scarf for under $48. Not only was it a great deal, but my sister-in-law and I had lots of fun shopping together. We even got our nails done while on Melrose. My poor brother was so bored!

We ended the day by having Indian food for dinner. I had never had it before, and I admit it was quite good. I really enjoyed it. The bread was great. My favorite part of the day was going to Menchies, though. It's a frozen yogurt bar. You pick whatever flavors of fro-yo you want, put on whatever toppings you want, and then pay by weight. They have unique flavors, and lots of toppings to choose from. Please come to the East Coast now!

May 8, 2011

Sunday was my last day in Los Angeles before my travel day on Monday. My brother, sister-in-law, and I went to a couple antique malls to look around. It's always cool to see what old treasures you can find. I didn't end up buying anything, but it is fun to look. We also went shopping in another store much like Crossroads called Buffalo Exchange. The prices were a little more expensive, but I did find a cute top for around $10. 

After shopping, we went to an awesome mini-golf place. They had three different courses, and we played them all. The weather was nice and it was great fun. My sister-in-law even got 3 holes-in-one! The place also had a pretty cool arcade, where my brother and I played air hockey. Overall, it was a great end to a wonderful vacation. I hope I can visit again soon!

Broadway | Rock of Ages

Today I had every intention of seeing the new broadway show Baby It's You! Unfortunately, after waiting an hour for the box office to open, there were no rush tickets for the matinee show, only the evening performance. Luckily, Rock of Ages was directly across the street, and I was able to get a student ticket for $27. The man at the box office told me I was sitting in the last row, but that I would have a great seat, and boy was he right! Okay, so I didn't get to enjoy the flyers, guitar picks, and glitter being whipped at my head like the people in the first few rows, but I could see everything perfectly. I also got a cool plastic lighter that only the first few people in their seats received. I'll admit, I was too embarrassed to actually use it in the show, though!

Basically, Rock of Ages is another rock opera that takes a bunch of music and tries to mold it into a story. This time it's 80s rock, and although the story is kind of shady in how it fits together, I was having too much fun to care! The narrator, played by Mitchell Jarvis (or Keith Stone, for those of you that watch TV), is absolutely hilarious. His funny moves had me cracking up. That's one thing I loved about this show-- not only was the music catchy and fun, but the actors had me laughing constantly! They interact with the audience so well. I left the show smiling.

One thing I did notice about Rock of Ages is that it is not your typical broadway experience. Instead of serving wine in adult sippy cups, they sell mystery shots in test tubes and jello shots. Let's just say that you could tell which audience members bought the shots! It was cool to see which audience members have been to this show before, too-- and there were quite a few that had! They knew when to shake their jazz hands, start the slow clap, and even yelled out things at the actors. While this behavior is not acceptable for most broadway shows, at this rockin' show it fit in perfectly. 

I definitely recommend this show to anyone open to it. No kids under 16, though! Lots of scandalous outfits, and plenty of crude humor. Oh, and the main actress becomes a stripper, too. Otherwise, adults will have a great time! If you want to do student rush you only need to go about 30 minutes before the door opens. The one drawback of this show? You will not be able to stop singing "Don't Stop Believing." No, really. I'm still repeating it in my head.

Goodbye, Internship!

Today was the official last day of my internship. It feels good to not be an intern anymore! I had a great job and the best boss, but I am honestly glad it is over. The biggest drawback of the entire semester? The commute! The more-than-an-hour long commute from the Bronx to Manhattan completely sucks-- especially during rush hour. Almost every morning trip had delays. Last week I was even stuck between stations for an hour. Needless to say, being an intern in NYC is not glamorous.

I am very lucky to have gained so much experience as an undergrad, though. Not many students are able to intern at a law firm before reaching law school. I also learned a lot about what it takes to be a sports agent (one of the fields I would like to enter as a lawyer). It's much more than contract negotiation-- marketing and personal relationships are the keys to your clients' (and your own) success. I'm even thinking about watching some of the NFL Draft on Saturday to see if any of my boss' guys get drafted. I have a new respect for football, but I would definitely want to work with basketball players. Basketball is much more exciting and enjoyable for me, and I need to be interested in the work I do.

Moreover, for my last day my boss took me out to lunch at the restaurant that Justin Timberlake co-owns, Southern Hospitality. I had been wanting to go there all semester! We went to the Hell's Kitchen location, which is easier to get to from where the office is (although, I met him in Grand Central because my train was delayed... surprise, surprise). The food was absolutely delicious. I love southern-style stuff. I got a caesar salad and a BLT wrap, plus we got spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer. There were so many options to choose from, though, that I want to go back and try more! I definitely recommend it if you're in the city. This location is just a short walk from Times Square, and there is another on the Upper East Side. 

On my way home from lunch, I had a really cool experience on the train. When I first moved here at the beginning of the semester, I was taking the train home with Mary. I'm not sure exactly where we were coming from, but a man came on and sang "Lean On Me." He had such a beautiful voice, and now every time I hear that song I think of him. Today, he was on the train again singing the same song. In a weird way, I felt as if I had come full circle. I'm going to miss the NYC community. We all come from different places, but we're all in it together. 

Here's a great version of "Lean On Me" with Steven Tyler. The video quality is crappy, but it's the music that's important:

Broadway | American Idiot

American Idiot is a rock opera on broadway that takes the music of Green Day and attempts to mold it into a story. The show is closing on April 24th, and since I will be home for Easter during the weekend, I knew yesterday would really be my last chance to go see it. At 5:00PM, two hours before the show, I entered the lottery in hopes to win one of twenty-five seats in the first two rows of the orchestra for only $27. Unfortunately, there were literally at least a hundred people there (if not more) and I didn't win. However, I did end up paying $37 for a "partial view" seat. A little more than I would have liked to spend, but my seat was actually pretty decent. There were only a few moments where I missed part of the action. 

I'm not sure why I wanted to see this show so much. I only knew about half of the songs performed, and while it was really cool to see Billie Joe Armstrong perform live, I'm not the band's biggest fan. While the plot of the story definitely needed some work-- it's difficult to make a cohesive story with a bunch of songs that weren't written to relate-- the music was a lot of fun. If you have a chance to see it before it closes, definitely go if you like rock operas or Green Day. You'll see a great concert if nothing else. Just do me one favor-- no kids under 17! The audience was filled with little, punk teens (and even some young children!!), but this show is really not appropriate for them. The language is strong, and let's just say it sticks to the phrase "sex, drugs, and rock and roll." 

American Idiot has had a great run on broadway, but after seeing it I can understand why it's to close this weekend. Once you've seen a Green Day rock opera, you don't need to see it again. 

Don't do drugs, kids! 

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IN OTHER NEWS:

If you would like to see a video from the Priscilla Queen of the Desert CD Signing I attended, click here: http://www.broadway.com/shows/priscilla-queen-desert/videos/ Bonus points if you spot me in the video!

If you would like to know more in depth information about Student Rush/General Rush/Lottery for broadway shows, check out: Broadway Informer. She does an amazing job at giving you all the info you need to know! 

Broadway | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

This morning I waited in line for two hours to get a $30 rush ticket to see How to Succeed on broadway starring Daniel Radcliffe. I normally only arrive at the theater about 30 minutes ahead of the box office opening, but after seeing the line at Catch Me If You Can yesterday when I got there an hour early, I knew I had to get there way ahead of time to see DanRad. Imagine my surprise when I show up and there are about 15-20 people ahead of me. I was so nervous! Should I wait? Should I leave? Three people in front of me bailed soon after I got there. Luckily, when noon rolled around I had my ticket in my hand. I was sitting in the fourth row, and although it was stamped "partial view" I could see everything just fine. 

As the show was about to begin, I could not have been more excited. I was literally trembling (of course, the air conditioning was freezing in the theater). I had no idea that the show I was about to see would leave me smiling for hours after I left the theater. How am I supposed to sum up for you how amazing this show was? Let me put it this way-- Harry Potter who?! Seriously, Daniel did a phenomenal job. Okay, so he's not the best singer in the world, but his voice is pleasant enough. Everyone knows he is a great actor, but now he has proven he is one outstanding performer. Daniel and the cast of How to Succeed with entertain you to the fullest.

Daniel plays J. Pierrepont Finch, a young window washer who quickly rises to the top in a powerful corporation thanks to a how-to guide. I cannot stress to you how fun this show is. The dancing, the music, the extravagant set-- it all is put together so perfectly. I keep asking myself, "Would I still love this show if Dan didn't play the lead?" And you know what, while it would still be fabulous, it just wouldn't be the same. He is made for this role. Daniel is so charming and talented. He interacts wonderfully with the rest of the cast, his dancing is rather impressive, and, most of all, he is really enjoying myself. My absolute favorite moment in the show was during one of the last numbers called "Brotherhood of Man." This scene in itself is a huge, powerful moment, but I caught something that made me see that Dan is having the time of his life up there. Dan did a fancy maneuver (not sure if it was a somersault or what) but he landed facing the actor who plays the chairman of the board of the company he works for. When those two made eye contact, Dan was absolutely beaming. He wasn't just smiling for the sake of the show-- he was truly having a blast. 

I really do not want to put Dan's performance on a higher lever than the rest of the cast's because that is definitely not true. Everyone-- from the other lead actors to the members of the ensemble-- is so talented. I can't begin to explain the amazing time I had at How to Succeed. If you go to see one show this season, make it this one. Just remember to get there very early if you want rush tickets. No matter what, it will definitely be worth the wait.

This Past Week in NYC

I realize I haven't updated much this past week or so. I've been keeping busy with work, school, and, of course, fun! I'm running out of time here in NYC, and I'm trying to get as much out of it as I can. Below I'll recap some of the more exciting moments I've had recently.

CD Signing: Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Last week I happened to come across by chance an awesome event happening at Barnes and Noble on the Upper East Side. Thanks to Twitter, I headed to the bookstore after work for a performance and CD signing with the cast of the broadway show Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The event was very cool. All I had to do was buy a CD for about $14 and I got to hear members from the show's Original Broadway Cast sing some of the songs for a select group of people. The music was tons of fun, and it was nice to get my CD signed as well. I'd love to check out this show-- the music features fun stuff like "I Will Survive," "Like a Prayer," and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." There's also drag queens involved, so you know it's gotta be good! Unfortunately the only rush tickets they offer are $45 for Sunday evenings. A bit pricey for me right now, but I've got to say this CD signing was a great way to get a sneak peak of the show. Here are a few photos I took:

This is the show's orchestrator. Hopefully my brother will be doing these events one day!

These are the Divas:

And here's one of the guys singing:

Lastly, my signed CD:

Dave and Busters

Last weekend my old neighbor in the house Jason came back for a visit. On Saturday he and I went to Dave and Busters in Times Square with Mary (my other neighbor) and her boyfriend Matt. While I can always go to D&B back in Boston, I had never been before. We didn't go for dinner, but the arcade was really fun. Of course, you're spending a little bit too much money for the "tokens," which are actually on a plastic card much like a credit card. That probably explains why it's so easy to just swipe it and run out of points quickly! The experience was really fun, but I would definitely not go there too often because you'll end up spending a lot. The good thing, though, is that your tickets are saved on your card so that any time you go back they're still available for use. If you're looking for something fun to do with a group of friends, Dave and Busters is a cool place to hang out. 

Off-Broadway: Love Song

After getting a late start on Sunday, I decided to get a ticket for an off-broadway show on my new favorite website StudentRush.org (seriously, you NEED to check it out). That way I didn't have to be in the city all day after waiting in line to get a ticket. I had been hearing praise for Love Song at the 59E59 theater on Twitter, so I decided to give it a shot. My ticket was free with the exception of the $5 I paid for a reservation fee with the website. I was pretty excited when I had a first row seat, but then the show started. Don't get me wrong-- the actors were amazing. All of them did a great job in their roles. The story, however, was not for me, and not what I was expecting. I wasn't the only one who felt this way either. The lady sitting two seats down from me fell asleep, and for the parts she was awake she shook her head at every swear (which there were many) and checked her watch literally every 5 minutes. I'm not mad that I went, but I definitely would not recommend this show to anyone. The story, in the end, was a good one, but getting there was a little painful. You can click the link above if you'd like to learn more about the story. 

That Championship Season

Thanks to StudentRush.org, I was able to see the broadway play That Championship Season on Thursday night for free (again, just the $5 to reserve the ticket). I was sitting in the center orchestra pretty far back, but still an awesome seat. The cast of this show is enough reason to see it-- Chris Noth, Jim Gaffigan, Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric, Brian Cox. Who wouldn't want to see these guys in person?! The show was really good, too. The story revolves around four guys who are visiting their high school basketball coach to remember their infamous championship win when they were kids. What starts off as a happy reunion brings out a bunch of dark secrets. Things get pretty serious when you find out what the guys are hiding. In the end, they learn that life goes on, and sometimes you need to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on. My only complaint about the show was that the intermission definitely does not split up the evening very well. The first act is over in about 40 minutes, but then the second act is about an hour and 15 minutes. By the end of the night I was ready to get out of there! I'm really glad I went to see this show, but I wouldn't go again. Once was enough for me! I recommend this those who are college age and older. It's really geared toward 30s and up, I think. 

Catch Me If You Can

One of this season's hottest new musicals is Catch Me If You Can. Today I went to the matinee by getting student rush tickets for $27. I got to theater an hour early thinking that since it is such a new show I'd need to get there early. Boy was I right-- there were already about 17 people ahead of me in line when I got there! Luckily I still got a seat in the boxes (not my favorite, but still great). I was unsure of how a musical rendition of the story would be, and let me tell you, it is tons of fun! The gorgeous Aaron Tveit stars as Frank Abagnale, Jr. Not only is he easy on the eyes, but he is one of the best performers broadway has to offer. The rest of the cast is to die for as well. Catchy songs, fabulous dance numbers, and, of course, a story that doesn't disappoint (but you already knew that part). Catch Me If You Can is the perfect musical adventure. Go see it.

Lesson 5: You Don't Have to Spend a Lot of Money to See Broadway Shows

Think you can't afford to see shows on broadway? Think again! If you're a student like me, or even just a bargain hunter, seeing the world's best theatrical performances can be quite affordable. In the past four days, I have seen three broadway shows for the combined total of $64. By taking advantage of student rush offers at the box office, and a great new website that actually found me, I was able to get amazing seats for Wonderland, Memphis, and Rain. 

Wonderland

On Saturday I got student rush tickets for Wonderland. For $32 I had third row seats in the orchestra on the left side (a seat that normally costs $125). This new musical is a take on the classic Alice and Wonderland. The story was a bit different than I expected. Alice is not a young girl, but a mother who lives in New York. She begins have problems with her husband, and she and her daughter move in with her mother-in-law. Taken to Wonderland by the White Rabbit via her apartment complex's elevator, Alice meets the regular cast of characters, but with a modern spin. The cheshire cat, for instance, is known as El Gato, and while he still has his famous grin, he can no longer turn invisible. 

There were two parts of this production that I absolutely loved. The first was the reference to the Tea Party as an evil group. The audience roared with laughter. Of course, they were really speaking of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, but the message was quite clear. I also loved the boy band moments. That's right-- boy band! The White Knight, Jack, has a group of four other guys (back-up singers, if you will) that join him with classic moves made famous by those guys I know and love. Of course, it is meant to be comical (and believe me- you will laugh), but what girl wouldn't love Jack and his guys? 

If you're looking for a fun show, this is certainly the one to go to. It is great for families, but adults will love it, too. In fact, much of the story is meant for adults. Plus, the music is fabulous, and the costumes are out of this world (literally). If you're a student, definitely take advantage of the rush program. I recommend getting to the box office about 30 minutes early for this one. There was a line when I arrived. 

Memphis

I also got student rush ticket on Sunday to see Memphis. This time I paid only $26.50, but I had box seats. My seat was in the back of the box, so I couldn't see about 1/3 of the stage, but for the price I paid I am definitely not complaining. Of all the shows I have seen in the past few weeks, Memphis is definitely my favorite. There is something about the story and the music that is so captivating. Set in the 1950s, the story of Memphis brings together people from different walks of life. A poor, white man wanders into a black club simply because he loves the music they are playing. He promises Felicia, the sister of the club owner and a singer, that one day he will play her music on the radio. The story that follows is the struggle that Huey and Felicia go through both together and apart. Huey becomes a famous radio DJ, and then television show host, that breaks the norm and plays "race" music for his white listeners. With his help, Felicia becomes a well-known singer. While there is a "happy ending," there are moments when the characters go through extreme hardships. The audience will literally laugh and cry during the show.

Another one of the reasons I loved Memphis was for the amazing dance numbers and powerful songs. The entire cast is extremely talented. If you're in the ensemble in this show, you do not fade into the background-- ever. It is easy to see why Memphis won the Tony for Best Musical in 2010. It is truly one of the big performances that people equate with the word "broadway." The mix of the powerful story with the talented cast was really moving. I recommend this show to everyone and anyone. It is even worth it to pay full price if you have to! If you are doing student rush, definitely get to the theatre about 45 minutes before the box office opens. I happened to get the last student rush ticket of the day, and I was about the 10th person in line. Also, if you get there early you may have a chance at the front row instead of the box seats.

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles

Last night I went to see the show Rain for free. Yes, for free. Okay, technically I paid $5, but that was for the reservation fee. How did I get such an amazing deal? I joined a free website called StudentRush.org. This website actually began to follow me on Twitter when (I'm assuming) it saw my posts on me getting rush tickets to shows. I am so glad it did, because it is such a great site! It offers students tickets to broadway, off-broadway, concerts and more through its Will Call Club. Tickets are free, or sometimes discounted. If free, members pay a $5 reservation fee that helps keep the website in business. I'll be honest, I thought this was a scam at first. But when I was sitting in the 5th row of the center orchestra, I knew it was the real deal. That's right-- for $5 I was sitting in a seat worth $213. Amazing.

The show was great, too. I have seen a number of Beatles tribute shows before, but this is broadway, so you know it's going to be big. Basically, this is a Beatles concert mixed with historic video footage. The band changes outfits (and wigs) to match the time period of the music. The video clips allow them time to change. What was great about this show was how interactive it was. Before the show begins, Beatles trivia appears on the video screens (and, believe it or not, I knew more answers than the older couple sitting next to me who was alive when the Beatles were popular). During the show, the band asks the audience to sing along, to stand up and dance, and to clap along. Not so typical of broadway, but definitely a lot of fun. If you love the Beatles (and really, who doesn't) then go to this show. As the advertisements say, it's the closest you'll ever get to the Beatles.

Lesson 5: If you find great deals, Broadway shows are quite affordable. By finding out rush policies that shows offer, and using discount websites, you can get amazing seats for a small price. 

Broadway | La Cafe aux Folles

Today I traveled into the city to get student rush tickets to another broadway show. This time I chose La Cage aux Folles. For those of you that have seen the movie The Birdcage, this is the show it is based off of. Basically, a gay couple owns a drag club and their straight son wishes to get married to a girl that comes from a very conservative family. When the girl's parents are coming for dinner, the son pleads with his family to act "normal" for the meal so he can get married. (As I'm writing this, the story is actually quite similar to The Addams Family...). But conservatives beware! If you are not okay with drag queens this show is not for you! If, however, you are as liberal an open-minded as I hope you are, you will love this show as much as I did. 

The show opens with the funniest drag queen ever. She interacts with the crowd asking couples how long they've been married, telling older women to "shake it" and even sat down on some guy's lap. Then, once the show begins, you'll be amazed at how much you'll fall in love with "les cagelles," or the chorus line. These boys (girls?) can dance! And they're stunning, too. Absolutely flawless. The rest of the cast is full of big names that you won't want to miss. The one and only Harvey Fierstein plays the "mother" and Christopher Sieber (whom I love from Mary-Kate and Ashley's Two of a Kind) plays Georges, the dad. I was most excited about seeing Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who is famous for playing Angel in RENT. I was thrilled to meet him after the show. He even let me take this picture with him:

With such a talented cast, great music, and fabulous dancing, La Cage aux Folles is an amazing show experience that I definitely recommend! Although I wouldn't recommend bringing students younger than high school age. Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I had box seats, too! For only $36.50 I was sitting in one of those cool boxes above the stage. I had a perfect view, and was extremely close to the actors. Being a college student definitely has it's perks! 

Book Signing | A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel

I've been a fan of Bravo reality shows for a long time now. My favorite is the Real Housewives of New York, followed by its spin-off series Bethenny Ever After (formerly Bethenny Getting Married). Last night after work I headed over to the Barnes and Noble at Union Square to meet Bethenny Frankel and have her sign her newest book A Place of Yes. I got there around 4:00PM, with the book signing scheduled for 7:00PM. I am so glad I got there so early! Not only did I get second row seats at the event, but if I showed up even an hour later I probably wouldn't have been able to sit! The place was absolutely packed. Bethenny tweeted later that 900 people showed up! Thankfully I didn't have to wait long at all to get my book signed after hearing her speak. 

Bethenny's book signing was a bit different than JWOWW's. Before she got to signing the books, she talked a bit about it, and held a short Q&A with the audience. Wondering if she's just as hilarious in person as she is on the show? Well, she definitely is! Here's a video clip I took of her speaking about living a parallel life to Chris Brown:

Bethenny also seemed to be a really nice person that cared so much about her fans. She almost cried when one of the fans in the audience told her it was her upbeat personality and lifestyle that helped him through cancer, and she teared up when reading the dedication page of her book out loud (which was also to her fans). I'll admit, when she was on the Real Housewives, I was not really much of a Bethenny fan. Once she had her own show, however, I couldn't get enough of her. She's always funny, and now I know how much she truly cares about her fans. Even though I was one of the first people to get her book signed last night, Bethenny greeted me with a huge smile and seemed like she truly was happy to meet me. Here are a few other pictures I took:

I didn't even have to zoom in to get a great shot!

She is a human barbie doll! Tiny waist, and check out those shoes!

Of course, her signature in my book.

I'll end this entry with a fun fact: David Yontef, who was on the Bravo show Millionaire Matchmaker, was sitting right behind me at the event.


This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. 

Broadway | The Addams Family

Today I made my way into the city to buy student rush tickets to a broadway show. On Sundays the box office opens at noon, so I figured getting there at 11:00AM would mean a good spot in line. I was very surprised when I got there and found no one waiting at all! In fact, there were only a handful of people behind me when the box office opened. I had prepared a small list of shows that I was interested in, and got my first choice of The Addams Family. For only $37 I got a seat in the mid-mezzanine! All I had to do was show my student ID to get the ticket. 

The show was fantastic! Besides sitting behind a really tall guy (of course) I had a great view. It's was weird to think that when I saw Beauty and the Beast in the same theater (the Lunt-Fontanne), I was sitting in the fourth row. The music was very catchy, and the story was funny. Grandma was particularly hilarious. Another cool thing about the story was that it took place in the current time period, so references to pop culture were made. The one-liners were great!  In this take on the Addams Family, Wednesday falls in love with a "normal" guy, and his family comes to dinner at the Addams' residence. While Wednesday pleads with her family to act like everyday people for just one night, that isn't of course what happens. There are fights, games, and so much more. Uncle Fester even finds himself falling in love! I would definitely recommend this show for a fun family comedy on broadway. Just be aware that if you bring young children there are some obscenities. 

After the show I stayed at the theater to get my playbill signed. I usually have the cast sign the program book that I always buy as a souvenir, but since it was all black I figured the playbill was a better idea. Here is a picture of the program and signed playbill:

I had a great time at The Addams Family, and I plan on seeing a lot more broadway shows while I'm here! Many of them offer student rush tickets, and some offer general rush tickets. If you're looking for a show to see, check out this website for the shows playing and the discounts you can receive: Link

Lesson 4: It's Okay to be a Tourist Sometimes

Yesterday was a great day here in New York City. The weather was bright and sunny, and a warm 70 degrees. My boss gave me the day off to enjoy the day and explore the city, and that's exactly what I did! I usually don't like to make myself stand out as a tourist, mainly for safety reasons, but sometimes it's great to experience the city as one. My housemate Jason and I started off the day at the Empire State Building Observatory. For $21 you can go up the 86th floor, which has an outside observation deck, unlike the 102nd floor that costs $15 more. Besides being a bit cold and really windy, it was great! Jason even paid for the audio tour, so he was able to point out some cool landmarks for us to look at. Here are some of the many pictures I took. The city looked amazing!

That brown building is where I work! 

If you look closely you can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance! 

 

After the Empire State Building, we shopped a little in the Macy's at Herald Square. I've been here a number of times since it's just a few blocks from where I work, but this was an exciting visit because we saw Clinton Kelly from What Not to Wear! He was busy filming, so we weren't able to meet him, but I snapped a couple pictures of the back of his head. 

Next we headed off to some of the fancy shops on Fifth Avenue. The only thing I purchased was a shirt at Armani Exchange (for only $13.88 might I add), but I enjoyed the area. We saw some landmarks along the way as well. Here are pictures of the Trump Tower and the hotel from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (one of my favorite movies!). 

The last big adventure of the day was a trip to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Jason and I met up with my friend Bri from school, who happened to be in the city for a week-long externship. I had been to this museum before during a visit with my dance class back in high school, but it's always something to check out. It is a little pricey (I paid $35 with a student discount of $3), but it includes a cool showing of The Wizard of Oz in 4D, complete with smell-o-vision and bubbles. Plus, there have been many additions to the museum since I've been last. The figures are also rotated every 2-3 months, so you have the chance to see different ones every time you go. I was just happy to see that *NSYNC was still there! Here are some of my favorite pictures:

Kim Kardashian

Bri and I with the Spice Girls

My favorite boys, *NSYNC

Lady Gaga

Lesson 4: While it's usually good to blend into the crowd while New York City, going to tourist destinations and whipping our your camera can be a lot of fun. Just remember to stay safe and be aware of your surroundings. 

Long Island & New York Bagels

This week, my college back home is on spring break, so I traveled up to Long Island to visit my friend Kathleen. The trip took me about a total of two hours, but half of that is on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) which is a lot nicer and more comfortable than the subway that I'm used to. It was really nice to get out of the city to a suburb, and to meet Kathleen's family. On Saturday night they made me a really nice dinner of lemon chicken, brown rice, and green beans. It was absolutely delicious! For dessert we had chocolate fondue with bananas and raspberries (also delicious). I really liked having a sit-down, family dinner with them. Her parents and brother are really nice. I also really liked the setup of her house. It had cool levels in it, and lots of great colors for the walls and carpeting. I kept thinking of how much my sister-in-law would have liked their antique style lamps and green furniture! 

After dinner, we met up with one of Kathleen's friends from high school and went to see the movie "No Strings Attached" with Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. The movie was pretty cute. It's still weird to see Ashton play someone else other than Kelso from That 70's Show, though. I was also pretty excited when we saw the preview for The Hangover II. I cannot wait to see that movie!

When we got back to her house we played some Wii sports before going to bed. I was lucky and got to sleep on a pull-out couch in my own room!  I also thought it was really funny that the comforter I used was the same patterned Minnie Mouse one as my bedroom set that I have at home from when I was little. 

This morning, Kathleen took me to have my first New York bagel experience. It wasn't too much unlike other bagel shops I've been to, except in New York you don't get your bagel toasted because it's hot from just coming out of the oven. I had honey whole wheat with cream cheese. After bagels, we hung out at her house for a while before I had to take the train back to the city. Although it was a quick visit, I really enjoyed Long Island. Thank you to Kathleen and her family for having me!

Off-Broadway | My Big Gay Italian Wedding

Last night I went to see the Off-Broadway show "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" with my friend Patrick from high school. I had heard about this show because it is produced by one of the Real Housewives of NJ, Dina Manzo, and last week tickets were on sale at Groupon.com for the amazing price of $42 (regularly $70+). I didn't want to pass up such a great deal! 

Although I have been to a handful of Broadway shows in the past, I have never seen one Off-Broadway before. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The theater was rather small, with just chairs set up for the audience. The great thing about that, though, was it made the show more personal. The actors often interacted with the audience. At one point (during the wedding scene), the mother of the groom even yelled at Patrick for wearing jeans to her son's wedding! It was hilarious! 

If you are looking for a show to see that is cheaper than Broadway and in a more intimate setting, I would definitely recommend My Big Gay Italian Wedding. The show was so funny, and it had some really great moments in there. Something that made me laugh a lot was the cast's version of the Italian Ducky Dance that my family does. I couldn't believe it! The wedding reception was definitely my favorite scene, but I don't want to give too much away. 

Of course, I also found it touching that a Catholic, Italian family loved their gay son enough to throw him a wedding (okay, with a little begging involved). Civil rights is an issue that is extremely important to me, and plays like this one help to show people that gay marriage really isn't so bad after all. If two people love each other, that's what matters. While Anthony and Andrew could not get legally married in My Big Gay Italian Wedding, I hope that one day down the road they can rewrite the script because New York has made same-sex marriage legal. 

I also hope that I can go to many more shows, both Broadway and otherwise, while I'm here in New York City. They aren't always the most affordable form of entertainment, but they are worth every penny! 

Exploring the Neighborhood & the Downfalls of Fordham

This past Sunday I went with my next door neighbor in the house, Jason, to sample some of the food that you can find in our neighborhood. For lunch we went to this pizza place called Full Moon Pizza, which is located in the Little Italy of the Bronx just a couple blocks down. I had heard from a bunch of people that I just HAD to go there because they have the best pizza. Well, I'm not sure if it's the best, but it's definitely delicious. The slices are huge, about twice the size of a normal slice, and even though the price tag is a bit high (anywhere from $2-$5 for a slice) it's worth it. I also got garlic knots which were dripping in garlic and butter. Not the healthiest meal in the world, but a good experience.

Here's a picture of the pizza slice that I found on slice.com. It gives you a good idea of how big one piece is:

After stuffing ourselves with Italian food, Jason and I went and got Chinese for dinner. The place is called Nice Food (heh heh) and it's only a block away from the house. For $9 I got this huge container of chicken and broccoli plus white rice. It lasted me three meals! I wouldn't go there often, because the food is pretty bad for you, but it's good once in a while. Plus, there are a bunch more restaurants around that I need to try, including the Italian bakeries in Little Italy. 

On Monday, my day off from work, I decided to study for the midterm I had later that night in my class. I spent my free time on Sunday making this awesome 10-page study guide, but I had one problem-- I don't have a printer this semester! In order to print my study guide and the homework assignment that was also due, I made my way to Fordham's campus. What I thought was going to take about 10 seconds to accomplish took me a half an hour! First, I had to locate a computer lab that actually had working computers (the first room I went into had lots of computers, but they had no programs on them!). Then, when I went to print my document, nothing happened. Why? Because you have to PAY for your printing at Fordham! This means I had to trek downstairs and load up my student ID with some cash, and then enter it into some weird machine to print my documents. Yeah, I only paid 50¢, but the printing wasn't even double-sided, so I felt like I had killed a tree or two. A big difference from the usual "green" culture I'm used to. Not so much a big deal, but just a couple of the areas where Fordham can improve.

P.S. In case you were wondering, my midterm went well!

Back to New England

This weekend I made my first trip back to New England since being in New York City. I went back to school for some College Democrats events, but also to visit my friends who hadn't gone away for the semester. It was a bit weird being back after living "city" life for the past month, but it was really nice to see everyone. Despite the long travel (I left my house in NYC at 7:15am on Friday and made it to school at 3:00pm) it was definitely worth it to go away for the weekend. On Friday night, the College Democrats and I went to a dinner at Tufts University to meet Governor Patrick of MA. We had the honor of attending as we placed in second during a voter registration competition in the fall. The only downfall to the evening was the traffic- it took us two hours to make a 45 minute drive! Nonetheless, it was great to be recognized for all of the hard work that our chapter does throughout the year, and to meet the Governor. Here is a picture of us with him: Saturday it was brutally cold outside (thanks, Massachusetts!!) but my friends and I decided to do some shopping at the Wrentham Outlets. Despite the cold, we each found some great deals.  I got a new Guess peacoat valued at $200 for only $43! My friends each got a pair of boots for great prices as well. To top off our purchases, we stopped by the candy store and got some chocolates. Who could pass up 4 bags of Lindt truffles for a total of $10?! Then, back at school we had one of my favorite meals "pastabilities" and went back to our (or, I suppose, "their") dorm for a girls movie night complete with our favorite dessert- fro-yo. I tried a new flavor, York Mint with chocolate. It was delicious! For movies we chose Valentine's Day (very cute!) and the Italian Job. I unfortunately fell asleep during the middle of the Italian Job, as my sleep schedule is now opposite the average college student's. I'm not used to staying up past 10 or 11 anymore! Today, Sunday, we went to the cafeteria for brunch, and before I knew it again I was hopping on the shuttle so I could catch the bus back to NYC, where I'm actually writing this from! I was lucky enough to catch the 1:30 bus even though I payed for a 2:30 ticket. That way I won't be getting back to the house too late tonight. Tomorrow I have the day off from work, and I don't even have to go to class because it's President's Day (although I have to go on Tuesday night instead). I'm looking forward to relaxing and working on some publicity stuff for one of my internships. I also have to do some grocery shopping as I haven't gone in a while thanks to the large amount of food my parents mailed to me. I also want to thank the lovely ladies of Suite 103 (and Kathleen, of course!) for housing me and letting me use their HillCards, since mine is currently frozen. Hopefully you'll be able to visit me in New York sometime soon!

Lesson 3: Keep Calm and Carry On

Let's be honest, things are going to happen that we're not all so happy about. If you're me, you are used to freaking out and getting pissed off at a lot of little things. When living in the fast-paced city of New York, there is no time for freaking out no matter what happens. I've noticed during my morning commute that a lot of things tend to go the opposite of how I would like them to. It begins with the small annoyances, like the computerized "Ladies and Gentleman, we are delayed because of train traffic ahead of us. Please be patient." I hear these words almost every morning (sometimes multiple times!) but there's nothing I can do about it. I have to sit (if I'm lucky enough to get a seat) there and wait for the train to keep moving. 

Then there are those things which for me at least are a pretty big deal. The first occurred a few weeks ago. The guy standing next to me on the subway started throwing up on the people sitting down in front of him. For any of you that know me, I do NOT deal with vomit! I don't even want to know when other people have a stomach ache! But what was I to do? The train was moving, we were underground, all I could do was put as much distance between him and me as possible- and believe me I did! I pushed my way through everyone to the other end of the car, took some deep breaths, and tried not to freak out. For the next few days, I was so afraid that someone was going to puke on me on the train. Of course, it can happen at any time, but there's no use worrying about it.

And then today, a bird decided to poop in my hair just as I was getting on the train. The funny thing is, I had just taken a shower and thought to myself "Hey, my hair looks good today." Not for long! When I felt that "plop" I just knew what happened. It was too late to go back home to wash my hair again, so I took the tissues out of my purse and wiped it the best I could. After the hour ride on the subway to work, I went straight to the bathroom and used a combination of paper towels, soap, and water to wash my hair the best I could. The smell was still there a little (and oh GOD did it reek), but I moved on with my day until I could get home and take another shower. Fun, fun. 

Lesson 3: Things that you don't like are going to happen to you. There's nothing you can do about it, so do your best to hold your composure and move on with your life. 

Korean Food: The Experience

Tonight I was lucky enough to meet up with one of my good friends from high school, Fay. She and her friend Lilly had interviews in the city, and we got dinner together. They brought me to K-town (Korean Town) and we went to an amazing restaurant. I ordered chicken with fried rice off of the menu (safe choice for this first time eating Korean), and imagine my surprise to all of the appetizers we got! In Korean restaurants, they bring out little bowls of a bunch of different appetizers for you. There were vegetables, potatoes, even some egg soup type of thing. It was really cool! I was proud of myself and tried everything but this one dish that was really spicy. 

Then it came time for my actual meal (that also came with miso soup!). It was huge, and so delicious. When I thought fried rice, I was expecting something you can get at the mall. Not here! It was more of flavored rice, with vegetables, egg, and the chicken. I was glad it was a lot healthier than I thought it was going to be. I was even so full that I took half of it home. Another day of not cooking for me!

The best part of the meal was the drink they bring you at the end. It is a cinnamon iced tea kind of deal. Sounds weird, but it was so amazing. I wanted to buy a whole gallon of it (which you can't, of course). I guess the drink is supposed to help cleanse your palette after the meal. For me, it was a wonderful dessert treat believe it or not! Another great thing? I only spent $17 total including tax and tip. What a bargain for all of the food we got! 

Of course, it was also nice to spend time with Fay and to meet Lilly. I'm glad they took me somewhere I had never been, and introduced me to another culture. Good food, good company, wonderful evening! 

Book Signing | The Rules According to JWOWW by Jenni 'JWOWW' Farley

Today after work I headed over to the Borders at Columbus Circle to attend JWoww's book signing. It was a great experience! I got there at about 4:30 and the event was to start at 7:00. I'm so glad I got there when I did... I was near the front of the line, but some other people were NOT so lucky. While waiting, what else was I to do but begin reading the new book I just purchased. I'm actually impressed with it, too. So far The Rules According to JWoww is quite entertaining, and it's not leaving me totally brain dead. 

Of course the real reason I waited in line for 2.5 hours was to meet Jenni! She showed up only fifteen minutes late (rather good for a big name), and the frenzy began. The media was allowed to take photographs first. Then the line started moving quickly as Jenni started signing books. The guidelines were as follows: no personal messages in the book (only her signature), you could only meet her if you purchased a book, and no photos at the podium. When it was my turn to get my book signed, I was so excited. JWoww is absolutely gorgeous, and she was so nice. Definitely worth the wait! 

I tried to take some pictures, but with the fast-paced setting, most of them came out blurry. Here are a few of the good ones:

When she first came out and everyone went crazy:

She's signing away:

And, of course, the autograph signed in pink:

This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own.