NYC apartments: Jetsons Style

I came across this very interestingly-designed apartment building on my way home from work tonight. As I was walking on 71st street between 2nd and 3rd, I looked up and saw one building that was quite different from all the rest .

It kind've looks like something that belongs in a space city. I wonder how the neighbors felt about this remarkably different building being constructed on their block...

Signs of the Recession Part 1

I've decided to start a little ongoing series entitled, "Signs of the Recession" because I've encountered many images that so perfectly capture the spirit of the times. For now, I'll start with actual signage, but I may branch out later to other images, so stay tuned.

To start with, I've chosen this quite poorly-photographed, but perfectly exemplary image you see here.

This was a sign posted on the outside of a dry cleaning establishment on E 72nd st and it reads, "If you are unemployed and need an outfit cleaned for an interview, we will do it free of charge." 

I thought this was both awfully magnamimous and also such a powerful example of how deeply the troubles of the economy are hurting the city. It really made me stop and think and so I was compelled to share it with all of you. Hopefully, you're all doing okay and are gainfully employed, but for those of you who are on the job interview circuit, this place is on 72nd street between 1st and 2nd.

Some things are worth leaving New York for

And sleeping next to my three-year-old sister is one of them :)

On NYC hiatus until Wednesday!

When the evil Shredder attacks...

Only in New York can you run into these sorts of things as you leave the train station on your commute home...

Belated Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from Times Square!

Living and breathing NYC

I apologize for the lack of entries as of late. The camera in my phone hasn't been working, so I haven't had a good way to share pictures. Hopefully it will start working again soon.

Anyways.

I was thinking today about how New York City really has a strong presence in my life, as if it were a close friend or family member. And I treat it that way. I can sense its moods and its feelings and its needs. I feel like I can talk to it and like it either has it out for me some days or is in my corner on others. I can feel its pulse and appreciate its diverse neighborhoods, like they were birthmarks or a unique eye color.

I've never felt this way about the place I lived before, and I'm not sure why that is. I don't think most cities have such a distinct personality or such a strong personified presence.

By the way, New York is definitely a woman. Just in case you were wondering.

Callback trifecta

I have three separate callbacks this weekend...wish me luck!

Packed like purse-less sardines

Yesterday, while waiting for the correct train to take me home from an audition in L.I.C. Queens, I witnessed an instance of train crowding that truly made me laugh.

One woman was so insistent upon getting on the front car of this Jamaica-bound A train, that she shoved herself into an already-packed train that was literally so full that she couldn't get her purse inside with her. The doors closed and the straps of the purse were caught in them, leaving the woman on the inside of the train and her purse hanging outside. It was quite a sight; I really wish I had been able to get a picture.

She seemed pretty unperturbed, considering her valuables looked destined to make the trip flapping in the breeze. I had to laugh and wonder A. how often does this happen? and B. did everything she owns make it to the next stop in one piece?

Props to her for not caring what happens to her purse, as long as she got home from work on-time.

Urban treehouses

Has anyone seen the urban treehouses in Madison Square Park? There are something like a dozen of them, scattered throughout the trees, along with little signs explaining that they're somehow supposed to be considered art.

Now, I'm not sure how treehouses = art, but what I do know is that, come spring and summer months, those treehouses could fetch quite a premium rent. Throw a rope ladder out the door and you've got yourself quite a little financial investment there.

I mean, really! They look like pretty spacious studios for Midtown and they're in a great location. Park views, right across from the Flatiron building, no upstairs neighbors, a little private deck...I bet they could even have pets there!

I like to think of them as the new "it" summer places for all those investment bankers who can't afford the Hamptons this year.

How Typical!

I had such a typical day in the life of Kate today. So typical, that it struck me as particularly typical. And so, of course, I thought that I would share.

My day began with a morning trip the the UES to play with two little kids for a few hours. Not a bad way to make a few bucks. Then, I hopped on the subway to make an appearance at Ripley-Grier (my second home) for an audition. Afterwards, I made a stop at the Midtown Library to check out some books, which is the easiest way to keep an avid reader entertained for free. Happily for me, my library is on the same block as Jack's 99 cent store, which is just about the only place within my budget these days, and I love shopping there because you never know what amazing deals you can find for a dollar. Some household supplies, some wedding craft stuff, even sometimes some brand-name food...all in all, I managed to spend $13, which is a pretty good haul for a dollar store.

So let's see: nannying, an audition, free entertainment, and a trip to the dollar store. Sounds like a pretty typical day in my life, and probably a pretty typical day in the life of many young actors. And a good one, at that.

Maybe the groundhog wanted a little salt on his corn-on-the-cob

I just read this hilarious article in the Times about how a Staten Island groundhog bit Bloomberg yesterday as he tried to lure the little guy out of his cage with a piece of corn.

My guess is that he was mad because the corn had NO SALT. Who eats corn-on-the-cob without butter and salt?

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/why-chuck-the-groundhog-bit-the-mayor/

Happy accidents

I'm pretty sure that one of the best compliments a girl can get is to have some random guy on the street stare at you so intently that he walks right into the side of a building. While pushing a handtruck. Loaded with heavy boxes. It really made my day.

My fiance later told me that this incident makes me a real geisha. Whew, my life is now complete.

So, thank you, random man with the staring problem, you really did make my day. I couldn't stop giggling, and this day really needed that.

The only thing better than coffee is FREE COFFEE

Just FYI for all you fellow Midtown-ers (or those of you who work/play here):

Seamless Web is giving away free coffee at a bunch of Midtown locations for the next two weeks. Here's the website that explains the whole deal: http://www.seamlessweb.com/coffee/

A big thanks to the Midtown Lunch blog for scoping out that deal for me.