There is a great xkcd comic that says, “I’m happy to grow up. But I won’t pretend that fun things aren’t still fun out of fear of looking silly.” As a newcomer to NYC living – check out my previous post on life as a commuter – I’ve found the Big Apple provides many opportunities to embrace this motto.
Most recently, a flock of young-at-hearters descended upon Union Square for a pillow fight flash mob, with thousands of people participating. And if you’re looking to grab a drink in a place more reminiscent of your childhood friend’s basement than a bar, look no further than Fat Cat in the West Village, which offers rows of ping pong and foosball tables, among other games.
But my favorite childlike exploit in the big city so far infuses my life with a weekly dose of youthful glee – Skee-Ball. Last month, I joined Brewskee-Ball, the first ever league of its kind, and every Monday night my team rolls at Williamsburg’s Full Circle Bar, whose parody of the Old Spice Superbowl commercial was a recent hit on YouTube.
With more than 400 teams in NYC, San Francisco, Austin, Charlotte and Wilmington, NC, Skee-Ball is quickly becoming the next great American bar sport. It’s even caught the attention of mainstream media: NPR’s All Things Considered covered the past “skeeson” championship, ESPN.com posted a video tutorial from one Brewskee-Ball star roller, and The New York Times was rumored to be mulling about at this past Wednesday’s match.
If you can’t make it out to Brooklyn to watch an official league match, Manhattan plays host to two great Skee-Ball bars as well – Ace Bar in the East Village and Crocodile Lounge on East 14th Street, where you can get in touch with your inner child while earning a free slice of pizza with each beer you purchase. And, if all else fails, you can always download the iPhone app.
It’s only February and I’m dreaming of Spring! Like Paris, Springtime is famous in New York—the city is beginning to wake from the cold winter, Park Avenue streets are lined with tulips and people can be found picnicking in parks across the city.
As we head into February, the Rockefeller Tree is a faded memory and the temperatures are continuing to drop. Many New Yorkers go into a period of hibernation during this time, catching up on their favorite movies or enjoying new episodes of Lost or Modern Family. I have to admit that I, like many New Yorkers, can fall into love with my television and Netflix account during these months. However, this year I’ve challenged myself to make the best of the season and have found a new hobby to keep me active—skiing!
My boyfriend and I have agreed to ski the slopes at least three times before the snow melts. This is quite a goal for us, since he is a CPA and works most Saturdays, January through April. However, you don’t have to travel far from the city to find a few great slopes. To date, we have been to Butternut Ski Lodge just three hours north of the city and Big Boulder in the Poconos Mountains.
Although I’m still dreaming of the green grass in Central Park and jogs around The Reservoir, I have to admit I’ve found a new love this Winter and although it requires three layers of clothing, it’s making it much easier to leave my cozy upper east side apartment.
What are you doing this winter to stay active?
I got my wings this weekend with a few friends from the office. I’m feeling pretty sore; I can feel it in my back, legs and definitely my arms. On Sunday we took flight and soared into the new decade thanks to Crunch gym’s Antigravity Yoga “Wings” class.
Have you tried this hybrid of yoga and cirque du soleil? The Antigravity Hammock becomes your wings and it allows you to attempt positions only thought to be done by skilled circus performers. A straddle 5 feet in the air? No… But yes!
The class started off slow with a warm up for my muscles and a chance to get familiar with the hammock. But soon enough I found myself upside down (head rush!) practicing my inversions and backward flips.
But the class wasn’t all tricks, as traditional yoga postures are modified to take shape with the hammock. Downward facing dog, warrior one, cobra – all found with the antigravity hammock. While it won’t replace my regular vinyasa, savasana in antigravity yoga took me to a different place. The hammock becomes a cocoon and it cradles you until all tensions are let go.
For a new experience in 2010 try the Antigravity Yoga “Wings” class at Crunch. Watch a class here.
To be honest, this is not the perspective from which I thought I would be writing this blog entry just four days ago, but it is likely a more valuable lesson. This past Friday, I, along with my fellow MMC Gators Danae Danta and Marissa Berlin, were discussing our alma mater’s pre-game strategy, captivated as always by the media coverage surrounding our beloved quarterback, and finalizing plans to watch our biggest game of the year at one of NYC’s six University of Florida alumni viewing bars. The SEC Championship match-up against the University of Alabama brought together the two best teams in college football, and we with two football championships already under our belts in just the past three years were confidently supporting our team’s run for a third, knowing it would be the hardest test of our very capable team’s skills this season.
I awoke Saturday morning to Gator pride updates splashed across 95% of my Facebook news feed. I too posted my support, donned my favorite game day gear and joined hundreds of Gotham Gators, and the hundreds of thousands in the Gator Nation, to watch what we hoped would be the game that took us to Pasadena. Every emotion I imagine the players were experiencing, we were too but as the game wore on, anxiety and nerves overtook our excitement as the points were piling up in the wrong direction. By the end of the fourth quarter, we looked on as the opposition celebrated and our Tim Tebow cried on the sideline.
In that moment, my heart went out to him, but I was also so frustrated with the subpar performance of my team. It would have been so easy to retreat to Bama-bashing or playing the blame game but Tebow took to his post-game interview like the leader and class-act he is. With tears in his eyes, he gave credit where credit is due to Alabama, recalled the memories he’ll take away from his college football career and ended, as always, with “God Bless.” My fellow Gators may put Tebow on a pedestal for many reasons, and those in the SEC may hate him for many others, but Saturday night he displayed the type of grace, humility and character I will personally always look up to and respect. On and off the field, Tebow is an example of how to be a true leader. Though we are alike in that we both wear our emotions on our sleeves, I only hope I can become as inspiring of a leader as I find him to be.
Ok, I admit it. I am head-over-heels crazy about the holiday season. For me, it’s all about the build-up: smells of sweet spices from steaming beverages, songs you know by heart even though they only come around once every 12 months, the crunch of leaves beneath your feet, and how your cheeks flush as you rush from shop to shop in the increasingly colder air to find the perfect gifts for everyone on your “Nice List.”
Here are just a few ways I celebrate every year. Try one, or all of them, but most of all, have a very happy season!
1. I make a playlist of my favorite holiday tunes for my iPod and whenever I’m dreading that trip to the crowd-packed streets of the city (always in the rain!), it picks up my spirits. Here’s what I’m loving right now:
“Frosty the Snowman” by Fiona Apple
Hotel Café Artist Medley of “Auld Lang Syne” (various artists)
“Silent Night” by Priscilla An
2. I send a little “care” package out with my holiday cards. Whether it’s a copy of the holiday mix CD I made for myself or a small bag of homemade peppermint bark (so easy to make), it makes me smile thinking about my friends and family opening up that little something:
Peppermint Bark
Ingredients
Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white or dark chocolate
Peppermint flavorings, optional
Directions
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)
3. I squeeze in some extra work-outs so I won’t feel as guilty helping myself to that second piece of pumpkin pie. Because let’s be honest, it really is worth it.
4. I don’t wait until crunch time to pick up gifts. If I’m out and about and I see something I think someone might like, I get it! And boom cross that one off the list. I wrap as I go, too. There’s nothing better than seeing a stack of festively wrapped presents every night when you come home!
5. I make a list of the things I loved about the past year stand-out memories, risks I took, friends I made, things in my life I’m grateful for and a list of things I wish may have gone a little differently. I’m not into New Year’s resolutions (mine always seemed to fade away by February), but reflecting on the year, writing it down, and then getting to spend time with everyone I love is a great reminder of the things that truly matter. And after all, isn’t that what this season is really about?
I just returned from the trip of a lifetime and am now in the process of analyzing how the experience has changed the way I think. Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that my vacation destinations have shifted from urban/art oriented trips to more outward bound/test your limits excursions. Surrounding myself with nature and endurance challenges gives me a renewed self-confidence that bears fruit when I return to my New York City life and work.
My 16 days in the countryside of Ecuador and diving the Galapagos Islands, has inspired me to think differently about beauty, communication, taste and possibilities. I let go of the control and order that rules my life and melted into the framework of independent travel.
My High Water Marks:
On a waterfall trek at altitude near the Cotopaxi National Park I hit my cardio vascular limits and questioned my sanity and safety. I persevered and was rewarded with an amazing sense of accomplishment and a new take on natural beauty.
I spent half my time with young backpackers from around the world who wanted to see the real Ecuador. We shared the excitement of a sunrise view of a volcano, racing toward a bottomless green lagoon, a duckling sale at a village market, meeting an elementary school class in the country, soaking in communal thermal baths under a waterfall, but more importantly we talked about these experiences. New perspectives on environmental protection, education and quality of life were mixed in with the new food and drink we tried every day.
The marine life in the Galapagos Islands was perhaps the biggest thrill of my adventure. Following in Darwin’s footsteps, I had hoped to be inspired by the environment that changed the way we view ourselvespretty lofty goal for six days underwater. Fortunately, the adventure lived up to my expectations. We had over 30 encounters with whale sharks, swam with schools of hammerheads and were able to play with baby sea lions. I learned so much from the more experienced divers on my luxury liveaboard “Sky Dancer”, and it feels wonderful to reach new heights in a sport that I love.
After volcano trekking, repelling through waterfalls and diving with sharks, I am recharged and inspired to take on new communications challenges for my clients! And, it’s awfully nice to have a long, hot shower.
As my MMC blog description states, I’m an “Obsessive University of Michigan Fan.” So it’s not surprising that every year since I’ve graduated I’ve traveled back to Ann Arbor. This year, I braved the cold and rain to stand outside and cheer on the Wolverines during this weekend’s Michigan vs. Penn State football game. Despite the bad weather and embarrassing game, I still had a fabulous weekend surrounded by great friends, good food, a gorgeous campus and lots of laughs. Even though years have passed, new stores have opened and buildings are always under construction, the overwhelming feeling of happiness and contentment is constant. I’m so grateful for my amazing college experience filled with a high quality education, unbelievable friendships, exciting sporting events and great memories
all of which prepared me for the real world.
As I sit in a cube surrounded by Michigan paraphernalia (including a coffee mug, mouse pad, calendar and newly acquired water bottle), a little bit of my passion for the maize and blue is brought to MMC every day. Engrained in my personality and fueled by four years full of school spirit in Ann Arbor, is an enthusiasm and excitement for everything I do. Whether changing the way society views feminine care or increasing awareness for serious health conditions such as heart disease, I take each task at hand as a challenge that, similar to Michigan defensive lineman
.I can’t wait to tackle!
I’ve always been a type A personality and definitely someone with a lot of determination, but I recently stopped to think about how my work in Consumer Public Relations these past few years has really changed me. At MMC, I really value the hard-working people who make our agency successful, and even better, produce great results for our clients. The energy in the office is addictive and inspiring and we all tend to joke about our knack for perfection. But what I really have learned from my PR colleagues is the extreme dedication we all come to exhibit whether it be securing a media feature, providing smart counsel to our clients or executing a flawless event. This commitment to dedication even begins to transcend our work at the agency and starts to seep into our out-of-work lives.
Case in point: my colleague, Danae, and I decided to test our fitness (and early-morning) skills by enrolling in a group boot camp class through New York Road Runners. Every Thursday I grudgingly hit the snooze button at 5am and contemplate the choice I made to sign up for this 8-week program. “What was I thinking? Is it still dark out? I can just miss this one
..”
But each week I push that internal struggle aside, get up and meet Danae at the bitter cold Subway stop to head up to Central Park. By the time we arrive to meet the group we’re almost awake and by the time it’s 7:15, we’ve already completed drills, lunges, squats, sprints and more and we feel great!
So although the boot camp class will come to an end next month, I feel proud that I’ve grown as a person through my profession and my personal life, exhibiting great dedication and a drive to succeed that I know will help me in years to come.
For my birthday, my husband Jake surprised me with a twelve week French course at NYU. I am looking forward to my fourth class this evening. Once upon a time I spoke French fairly well. I was able to carry on lengthy conversations and read simple written materials but my French has lapsed. I was always “planning” to get back into classes but with my busy schedule it just never happened.
Recently I received the push I needed when Jake accepted a new position at L’Oreal. In his role he will be taking many business trips to France, so he has a renewed interest in studying French himself. He will be taking beginning classes while I will be in the accelerated course. Honestly, I think he just wants help with his homework!
Here are my top 10 reasons pour etude française:
1. I will properly be able to order a pain au chocolat at Claude, an amazing West Village bakery
2. I will be able to watch Breathless without subtitles
3. In case I find myself at La Grenouille I will be able to handle the dessert selections
4. When I finally meet Christian Louboutin I will be able to discuss his latest collection
5. Once I have children I will be able to teach them my favorite French nursery rhyme, Il Ya Un Rat Dans Le Grenier
6. I won’t miss my stop on the metro in Paris (this has happened many times)
7. I will be able to understand the snarky comments made by the shop girls at Collette
8. I will read French Vogue by the Seine
9. I will haggle over the price of copper pots at E. Dehillerin
10. While I don’t know much about wine if I order in French people will assume I know what I am talking about
.and all that after 12 weeks I better get started!
One of my most favorite times of year is fast approaching the kick-off of fall TV season. Sure a few shows have already started the reboot of Melrose Place, episode two of Glee, but the real fun starts next week with back-to-back-to-back new shows.
For me, gearing up for fall TV is a ritual. All summer long, I devour spoilers on various TV gossip sites: EW’s The Ausiello Files, E! Online’s Watch with Kristin and Zap 2 It’s Korbi TV. I love reading about what’s to come on my favorite shows and which shows look promising after the initial views at the Upfronts. And then, in mid-September, the best magazine of the year comes out Entertainment Weekly’s Fall TV Preview, which I read from cover-to-cover and plan out which shows I’ll try out. Thank goodness for DVR, as this looks to be a busy TV season!
One of the returning shows I’m most excited about is Fringe, a J.J. Abrams sci-fi drama focused on a series of unexplainable phenomena called “The Pattern” mixed together with some off-beat humor. This show continued to improve last year and by the finale, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. From what I’ve read, critics are expecting next season to up the ante, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. I would never have called myself a science fiction fan, but I absolutely love this show!
In terms of new shows, oddly, I’m most looking forward to another sci-fi series called FlashForward. The show has gotten great early buzz the world gets a glimpse of their future due to a mysterious event and the central group of characters try to figure out whether they can change their destinies. Only time will tell whether the show will live up to expectations; ask me in mid-October whether I’m still watching.
What shows are you excited to watch this fall?
