Snapshot Sunday | When Neighborhoods Collide

This week's Snapshot Sunday features a corner that I see quite frequently on my walk to school. With the TriBeCa Film Festival right around the corner, banners are popping up throughout the city advertising the event. One of the banners just happened to be hanging on the same light post of one of Little Italy's signature decorations. This exact spot is right on the edge of Little Italy in SoHo, right before crossing into TriBeCa. I love the intersection of neighborhoods, and had to capture it on the bright, spring day we were experiencing. 

You can get full information about the TriBeCa Film Festival on its official site here: CLICK

Book Cake Tag!

I've recently added a new element to OpenLetter2NYC, and that is books! I thought the Book Cake Tag (see original video HERE) would be a fun way to introduce you to some of the books I love. This tag bakes a cake out of our favorite books! Each ingredient has a meaning, and a corresponding book. You'll see what I mean when you start reading more, so let's jump right into it!

Flour 

a book that was slow to start off, but picked up as it went along

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling [BUY]

J.K. Rowling seems to be an expert at starting books off slowly. I remember Harry Potter being painfully boring at the start, but I always raced to the finish once we got to Hogwarts. I did end up enjoying The Casual Vacancy, but it was definitely a slower read. I do recommend it despite its mediocre rating.

Butter
a book with a rich and great plot

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb [BUY]

I've not read this book for years, but it is one of my all-time favorites. To this day I am still amazed at how a male author was able to develop such a deep female character. She's Come Undone follows the protagonist throughout her life, and doesn't skimp on any details. It's hyped for a reason! 

Eggs
a book you thought was going to be bad, but turned out to be enjoyable

The Rules According to JWOWW by Jenni "JWOWW" Farley [BUY]

I only purchased this book because I went to JWOWW's book signing. In fact, you can read all about it HERE! While this book is no literary masterpiece, I found it quite fun to read, and I was surprised at some of the great advice JWOWW gave her fans. If you're a Jersey Shore fan, make sure to grab a copy! 

Sugar
a very sweet book

In the Bag by Kate Klise [BUY]

I recently read this book, and it was super adorable! You can read my full review HERE, but I will say that if you're looking for a fun and quick read filled with non-sickening love, this is a great choice.

Icing

a book that covered every element that you enjoy

Panic by Lauren Oliver [BUY]

My taste in books has changed a lot over the years, but Panic definitely sums up everything that I love: a page turner that is easy to read, and filled with action-packed surprises, complete with a solid ending. Those elements may not make up the best book, but since I read hundreds of pages a week for school, something light is great. Otherwise, it takes me forever to read a book, and I end up forgetting the story each time I pick it up again. 

Sprinkles

a book series that you turn to for a pick-me-up when you're feeling down

Sweet Valley High [BUY]

Growing up I used to love getting Sweet Valley books from the library. If I'm in a reading slump, or just want something I can whip through in a few hours, I pick up a Sweet Valley High book. Each can be read as a stand-alone story, so there's no need to read them in order. I own a few books from the series, and I've loved them all!

Cherry on Top

your favorite book so far this year

Something Real by Heather Demetrios [BUY]

You already know how much I love this book! If not, read my full review HERE. I'm so glad I picked this book up, and love that I have a signed copy! I'll definitely be reading it again at some point.

That's it for the Book Cake Tag! I hope you enjoyed it! Please make sure to follow OpenLetter2NYC – just check out the sidebar for details. Also feel free to leave me a comment with your answers to these questions! 

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Confusing NYC | On Line vs In Line – Where Do You Stand?

It's time for another new series here on OpenLetter2NYC! Ever since I made the move to the city from the Greater Boston Area, I've found myself puzzled by certain NYC things. I never expected a huge cultural shift, but life here is quite different than what I was used to experiencing on the daily. Confusing NYC will discuss those things, big and small, that I just don't get about NYC. Please feel free to join in with your thoughts!

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You're at a store, ready to purchase your items. You head to the cash register, but you have to wait. Where do you stand? That is the question. 

I've always stood in line, but suddenly my fellow shoppers are asking, "Are you on line?" Well, no, I'm not online. I'm shopping here, not surfing the web. And then it hit me – the cultural divide. One simple word change and my mind is blown. In fact, all that's different is one letter, but that one little letter causes a divide. 

At the end of the Starbucks line, where you'll find me too often.

For the past two years now, I've wondered why. Why do New Yorkers use the phrase on line to signify when they are standing in a line? Perhaps there is historical significance. To me, the phrase "on line" means that one is physically standing on a line. Today, the majority of locales where one must wait his turn do not have a line on the ground on which we must stand. Every once in a while, I'll spot such a line, or arrows designating where to stand, but that is rare. And so, there is no physical line.  

The line is in fact our bodies. We form the line, standing behind one another in a sometimes personal bubble-invading manner. If I called that standing on line, I would have to be standing on a fellow human who has formed the line, and I don't think that would pan out too well. Instead, I am standing in the line we formed together. It's a magical thing. 

I know this seems petty, to argue between in and on. But to me it's fascinating. A single letter change can confuse tourists and cause a debate about who got there first, and who is to be served next. Despite my love for New York, I plan on using my personal preference of in line in perpetuity, but I want to know – where do you stand? Please tell me in the comments if you use the phrase on line or in line, and where you're from. 

Book Review | Something Real by Heather Demetrios

Shrek tells Donkey that onions have layers, and so too does Something Real. You can take it at the top layer – a teenage love story. Or, you can peel those layers back to reveal the core – a comment on our reality TV obsessed society. The good news is that each layer tells an amazing story in its own right, and author Heather Demetrios does an amazing job of giving the reader all the feels. 

Join protagonist Bonnie™ Baker as she continues her senior year of high school, trying to live it as normally as possible after a life in the limelight. Her family is the subject of popular reality show Baker's Dozen. You guessed it: Bonnie™ is one of thirteen siblings, and the only one birthed by her mother. The show was cancelled a few years back, after some serious family drama. Bonnie™ is finally creating a life for herself, though she must lie to her friends to keep her fame a secret. Something Real is told through Bonnie™'s perspective, and readers begin to understand what life is like for those surrounded by cameras 24/7. 

I normally wouldn't purchase a brand new hardcover at Barnes & Noble, but I had a 15% off coupon and headed to the Union Square location to use it. With it's vibrant cover and "Autographed Copy" sticker  I knew Something Real was going to be mine. Plus, as a reality TV junkie, this book called out to me as soon as I read the dust jacket's summary.

My signed copy! 

The story is one of the first of its kind – a fiction book that goes behind the scenes of the reality TV phenomenon and shows the reality behind "reality." I find this story beyond intriguing. I couldn't figure out where Demetrios was guiding the reader. In fact, the ending was unforeseeable to me, yet I was compelled to keep turning the pages despite my blindness. Something Real is definitely one of those books that I'll be reading again, as there is so much to grasp between the words written on the page. I highly recommend this book whether you're a lover of young adult fiction, a fan of reality TV, or simply looking for a unique book to read. You won't be disappointed! 

Purchase Something Real on Amazon or Book Depository.  

The links above are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Snapshot Sunday | Brooklyn College

Time for another new series on OpenLetter2NYC! This one is short and simple, and called Snapshot Sunday. I love taking pictures in the city, and thought it would be fun to share one with you each week. Sometimes I don't do anything mega blog-worthy, but Sundays will be all about one photo. Ready for my first Snapshot Sunday?

I ventured to Brooklyn College earlier this week, as I had to take a test as part of the New York Bar Exam requirements. I did a practice run to the college so I wouldn't get lost the day of the test (we weren't allowed to take our cell phones... ugh, I know). I was pleasantly surprised with how beautiful the Brooklyn College campus is, and had to stop and take a quick picture. 

That's all for this week's Snapshot Sunday! I hope to share a new photo with you every week, so stay tuned! 

Book Review | In the Bag by Kate Klise

It's time for my first book review here at OpenLetter2NYC! While this blog is predominately for NYC attractions and events, I am also going to use it as a place to share my love of reading. As a full time student, it's quite difficult to find time to read books for fun, but this year I am doing my best to always make some time for it. I hope you will enjoy my thoughts on the books I read, and don't fret - more NYC posts will be updated on the regular!

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Last week, I stopped by Strand Book Store (see that haul HERE) and discovered In the Bag by Kate Klise on the outdoor racks for just $1. The cover looked really cute, and when I read the story's synopsis I decided to give it a try. 

In the Bag focuses on four main characters: a mother and daughter who travel to Paris, and a father and son who travel to Madrid. While the trip overseas begins with a few mishaps (a spilled drink and mixed up luggage), the characters soon discover the connections between them. The book is told in rotating first person, giving the reader the opportunity to get inside each character's head. Klise does an excellent job of keeping the story alive and putting the story together one piece at a time.

I thought this story was really cute and fun. It's a quick read, and perfect for a day at the beach. The story is replete with romance, but nothing explicit. In fact, I liked the innocent nature of the romance in this book. I'd recommend In the Bag for anyone who is looking for a fun read, beginning with teenagers through adults. 

Overall, I gave this book a rating of four out of five stars on Goodreads. It's not a literary masterpiece (in fact, I found a handful of grammatical errors throughout the book), but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Purchase In the Bag on Amazon or Book Despository and I'll get a small commission. Thank you!

Macaron Day FAIL 2014

Yesterday was Macaron Day here in NYC, and I couldn't have been more excited. A lot more shops were taking part this year, and my friend Gina and I decided we would do a loop of six locations after school. Last year, we were able to grab two free macarons (read all about it HERE), so we couldn't wait for things to get bigger and better this time around. As you can guess by the title of this blog post, we were not so lucky!

• 4:00pm – Before we left on our sweet adventure, I checked the social media sites of the locations we planned on visiting. Unfortunately, two of them were already sold out. We knocked them off our list, and headed out. 
• 4:45pm – We arrived at our first stop: Mille-feuille Bakery. The crowd both outside and inside this tiny bakery was large, but we headed in and waited in line. Once we got to the register we were informed: "We're out of free macarons, but you can buy one at a discount." Disappointment. We left for stop two.
• 5:00pm – We crossed our fingers as we entered our second stop: Spot Dessert Bar. Guess what? They were out of free macarons, too. Man, this wasn't fun! We checked in on the other two locations – our third still seemed promising, but our last was down to 50 macarons.... 20 minutes ago. We decided to just go to the third place and hope for the best.
• 5:15pm – Our last hope. We arrived at the Macaron Parlour where we'd been last year. Thankfully, they still had some left! While sold out of some flavors, we were able to choose from a few macaron varieties. I scored the hazelnut, which was beyond delicious. At this point I was also parched from our grand walk around lower Manhattan, so I ordered a peach iced tea. Hey, I didn't mind spending $3 at Macaron Parlour – they saved our trip! 

• 6:00pm – Gina and I spent some time relaxing at Macaron Parlour, and we got there just in time. Crowds of people arrived after we did, and soon enough they were sold out. 

While our Macaron Day adventure was not as epic as we'd planned, I still had fun walking around the city in the beautiful spring weather. I'm very thankful we got at least got one free macaron! Of course, I can't be too disappointed about not getting something for free, but it was definitely frustrating that shops were selling out of the free macarons at such an early time in the day. For those of us who work or are full time students, we miss out on the goodies. It seems only logical to me that shops would have a larger inventory of macarons on Macaron Day. I'm more inclined to make a purchase at your shop or return in the future if you give me a sample, especially during an event that only happens once per year. 

If you're planning on taking part in Macaron Day next year, make sure you head to the shops early in the day. I even saw posts online about people who waited outside shops before they opened. Crazy, right?! And for the shops, please do us a favor and step up your game next time. People are hungry at the end of the work day, and if they take the time to come to your shop for a free macaron, they should get one. 

For more information on Macaron Day, visit the event's official website here: http://macarondaynyc.com