Fall is coming :)

Two weeks can fly by when living in the city that never sleeps. There are many stories to document, so if this post seems slightly disorganized I apologize.

Our semester here in NYC started with a lovely “food and culture” gathering. Basically we ate cheese, drank good wine and talked about our semester goals. It was a grand evening. Leading to silliness and candid moments, rather than school work.

FSU in NYC 2010 + Alumni


Disco Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune


First day of class at Lincoln Center


Ok, when you have seven dancers living under one roof you know there are going to be some very “graceful” moments. Let’s take cooking…I should say “cooking”. Aimee and I are emerging as the house hold gourmets, Aimee the chef and I the side kick. Think Pinky and the Brain but with flour on the walls. Our repertoire currently includes lasagna (a 2 hour epic event) complete with garlic bread and tiramisu (purchased). Follwed by homemade tortillas for enchiladas, and waffles that were not so successful. I am no longer allowed to read or convert the recipes, or be incharge of the salt. The waffles were dubbed “pretzel" waffles for a reason, and let’s just leave it at that.

Tortillas pre-rolling (we used the salt holder for lack of rolling pin)


Checking the lasagna recipe. Not that we really followed it.


Into the oven…


Roomie taste testing the VERY HOT garlic bread


We also now know that if pasta sticks to the wall it is al dente. Yes, we tested this theory. We recommend doing this ONLY with spaghetti noodles. Trust us on this one.

Pasta removal


My roomies and I ventured out to the Brooklyn Museum on our Saturday off. Andy Warhol and Mummies. My fascination of Egyptian culture was satisfied. It was absolutely incredible to see mummies that have been preserved for thousands of years. BTW they wore plugs in their ears…Punk Egyptians. We shall be returning for the Norman Rockwell exhibit!

Brooklyn Museum


So, the subway system here in NYC is usually an interesting experience of sorts. Again, when you have seven dancers, all traveling together and there are trains not running (MTA doesn’t always inform you correctly) you will somehow end up in the wrong section of Brooklyn at 1am, have to back track back to the city, jump around different trains until you finally find yours, only to find that’s running local because of it being 2am on a Thursday evening…just saying. However, when you get the very rare chance to have a subway car to yourself (including the other dancers in your party) you would not believe how quickly you turn into a 5yr old. Swinging on bars, racing each other to the end and just plain hilarity ensues!

Entitled: Two Fingers Two Leaves, we thought this was extremely funny at the time.


Personal Subway Playground



HOME


P.S. The leaves are hinting they might turn soon :)

Summer Ends!

Currently is it a cozy rainy day here in Brooklyn (content sigh).

School nears as this adventurous summer draws to a close. We have had many more little escapades throughout the city since I last posted.

NJ Transit Art

Hoping on the beloved NJ transit, I took a small hiatus to York, PA for a friend’s family’s wedding. Let me just say I should NOT be allowed to travel the NJ Transit alone. I somehow confused Newark with Trenton, don’t ask me how, it just happened. I managed to get the conductor to take pity on me and allow me on the next train. He was a nice gentleman. Commenting on my accent, he noted I was not from around here. I quickly concurred with his observation and we proceeded to exchange life stories till my stop in Trenton.

The wedding in York was lovely. They are an absolutely amazing family, with fun as their middle name. I really enjoyed the trip. In fact, I enjoy it still :) I made it back to NYC without a rail mix up. HALLIEHUAH

Yeah... a Lambo in York, PA

Moondancer Winery, where the reception was held.

Back in New York…The Battery Dance Company hosts the Downtown Dance Festival every year. For ten days lots of companies perform at One New York Plaza for free! There were some genius and not so genius works. However all the performers were top notch. It is now a goal of mine to perform in the Downtown Dance Festival in the near future.

Lori Belilove, Isadora Duncan dancer performing a solo in tribute to Duncan. Captivating, Eerie, Ethereal.

Almost everyone has arrived for the program! All my house mates are accounted for except one, she will arrive tomorrow. Those of us that are in the city gathered to see the final show of the festival and then trekked from the financial district to china town (yes… we are still walking) for Dim Sum!!! Amiee and I did our research and found cheap and awesome dim sum (thank you Google). If you are in Chinatown NYC hit up Buddha Bodai, we recommend the sesame and coconut steamed buns!

After our fabulous foreign lunch we headed uptown to the Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library to obtain our library cards. We took a detour into Little Italy so I could make my pilgrimage to the Ferrara Bakery. Still full from our adventurous meal we looked in the window, ogled at the beautiful things behind the glass, and vowed to make a definite return trip in the future.



The Library is an amazing facility, with dance resources on two floors! There are rows and rows of DVDs and Audio for your viewing, listening and research pleasure. I feel very proud to have my little key chain library card. It’s ligit.

What you see walking out of the library door. New York City Ballet is to your left.

We finished the day by heading towards central park. One of my favorite elements of the park is John Lennon’s memorial. Imagine, I believe, is one of the coolest words in the English language. Unfortunately our arrival coincided with a battle between two hippies… only in New York.

Walking x10 and Art

OK so...we do not begin work or school for a few weeks. To occupy our time my roommate and I have spent the past few days exploring our little hearts out. I have been here before, living and dancing during the summer of '07, however this is my roomies first trip! We have a tendency to become conveniently lost, this leads to excessive walking and much exploration!
We have picnicked in Central Park, found the statute of Balto, walked the length of midtown (not kidding), relaxed in Bryant Park and found an amazing Thai restaurant which we have decided to keep a secret…for now. We located an AMAZING Trader Joes in Brooklyn, and yes the first item in my basket was coffee! We found Prospect Park, and the Brooklyn Public Library.

We have also seen two dance performances! Monica Bill Barnes and Company performed with Kate Weare Company at the Joyce Theater. Seeing this performance reminded both Amiee and I why we are dancers. These artists are absolutely phenomenal. Earnest, visceral and humorous all describe the work shown. Looking up at the stage I realized one day this will be me, both an intimidating and motivational thought. We sat next to a rather pleasant gentleman who was very curious to hear a dancer’s perspective on the work. We also discussed the current commercialization of dance on television. I am happy to report we were able to give him an enlightened perspective into the dance world.
The next day we traveled to the financial district, One New York Plaza, to view a free dance work. This man, Paul-Ander Fortier, has traveled to 12 cities performing the same 30 minute solo for 30 days in each location. Totaling 360 performances to date, his next stop is Belgium. After the performance Aimee and I went to introduce ourselves, we were pleasantly surprised when the first thing he said was “ah… you’re dancers”. We felt pretty legitimate after that!
More Pictures…
Prospect Rock
Art Installation in the Warren Center, Columbus Circle
Prospect Trees

Just Call Me City Girl

I'm here! After not sleeping for 36 hrs, packing extremely last minute, and an experience with a taxi driver that could have possibly ended up in marriage I have arrived!
My new home is beautiful. With character and intrigue this 100 year old Brooklyn Brown Stone is an amazing place to call home. This is our room on the third floor... its huge!

As soon I arrived I unpacked, and left for the city with my wonderful new friend B(he wishes to remain nameless, if you met you him you would understand lol).
Meeting my other roommate Amiee in Bowling Green, we proceeded to walk what felt like the ENTIRE island of Manhattan! Remember I still have not gone to bed since Thursday night. We visited the Pier, walked the Village to the High Rise (AMAZING), and meandered through Chelsea, The Chelsea Market, and the Meat Packing District. We then walked the length of the Brooklyn Bridge, and explored DUMBO. We ended our journey at a tiny beach, I’m not kidding about TINY! The sunset was beautiful over the city.
Enjoy some pics shot from my blkberry!

Beautiful architectural moment on the High Rise...



...Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge from DUMBO...

Soon it all begins...

Hello Everyone!

I’m glad you have found my little blog! If I don’t know you, Welcome! This is where I intend to chronicle my adventures throughout the Big Apple. I am to spend fall semester here in the city interning, working, dancing, networking and having the time of my life! I will not be naming my place of internship or work; this is simply to remain professional.

I thought it would be a fabulous idea to start a blog for my friends and family to view. You can see what I am up to, and all the interesting adventures I am sure to have come my way.

My hope is to post weekly. Pictures will be an integral part, for there is never a dull moment captured in NYC!

I move up August 7th so check back around then. I am sure things will already be in full swing!

Kat