This first 6 months in film...

There are few moments I've had to reflect on how much fun the last 6 months in New York have been and how lucky I am to have found a little family away from home...this video pieced together by the fabulous Miss Hanby brings it all together in one emotional 3 min video (well it made me emotional anyway). 


Watch this, then tell me that I'm not the luckiest girl in the world:

XOXO

Tell me about the High Line....

On Thursday evening I power walked down to the Lower East Side to catch a talk by Joshua David and Robert Hammond, founders of The Highline at the Tenement Museum.

This relatively new museum is particularly lovely destination in the cool part of town. It runs free talks in evenings and although I've wanted to attend many this is the first one I've actually managed to make...I was late and it was standing room only, but it was still brilliant to here these two amazing men speak. 

Anyone who knows me and has had to listen to me blab on and on about how the Highline is my absolute favourite thing to do or see or place just to hang out in New York will know how much I enjoyed this talk.

It took you through the founding of Friend’s of the Highline, the original competition entries with ideas on what to do with the space (urban rollercoaster or bathing pool anyone?) to the architectural highlights, the planting philosophy and really interestingly...what will come next.

The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line. It opened to trains in 1934 and was designed to go through the center of blocks, rather than over the avenues (lwhich gives it amazing views). It connected directly to factories and warehouses, allowing trains to roll right inside buildings. In the 1990s, as the line lay unused and in disrepair it was slated for demolition under the administration of New York Mayor. 

Whehn someone tells me they haven’t visited the highline I am always shocked. And last night I was reminded why...it’s a park conceived and run by New Yorker’s for the people of New York. Yes it’s full of tourists at the weekend but go early morning or on an evening and you will have the run of one of New York’s finest offerings. It offers such an amazing perspective on the city that it is impossible not to fall in love with it all over again!

And if this wasn’t a gushing enough review then I have attached just a couple of personal photos to help you on your way... 

The Art of Grafitti

Sticking within a theme...art & Queeens I would like to introduce you to 5 Pointz.

5 Pointz is a building...and abandoned warehouse to be exact. It has been adopted as a mecca for the world's graffiti artists! It's a pretty incredible sight in general but if you look at some of the individual pieces it's incredible the skill that goes into them. Banksy has nothing on these guys...not that it's comparable.  My personal favourite was the yellow taxi cab image, amazing!

Best thing about 5 Pointz is that it's completely free to visit & admire!

Ski Bunnies

I love New York, I'm addicted to the constant pace and the throbbing city lights but sometimes you still need an escape and in a moment of inspiration last week I decided to hit the slopes with 3 friends. 


Having gotten up at 5am we hightailed it to Union Square to jump on a coach heading all the way up to Hunter Mountain. 2.5 hours and a million miles away...it felt so good to be back on ski's and powering down a mountain. 

Getting Cultural in Queens...

When I say New York you think of Manhattan right...the gleaming glass and shimmering steel of the downtown skyline, or the Empire State Building standing proud in Mid-town or even the green of Central Park. But there are 4 other boroughs and I've only explored one of them...so this weekend I decided to rectify this fact...quickly!


First stop: Queens!


With a couple of free tickets to MOMA PS1 in my pocket and no plans on a Saturday I was joined by my fabulous roommate for a trip to Long Island City in Queens.


Firstly we stepped into the retro styling of the Corner Square Diner. I loved it...obviously it's a diner!

Then we hit up MOMA PS1 which is officially the coolest art gallery in New York. It is everything a gallery should be...even the stairwells are exhibit spaces. 

The outside space - in summer I will be living here!

A room with a whole in the ceiling. Feels like walking into Narnia

Art in the stairwell

A room that plays classical music - the positioning of the speakers make it sound amazing!

A room of wool

The exhibits are so well put together I will be back again without doubt but for the moment these are a few highlights...they will make no sense but are so incredibly good!

XOXO

President's Day

According to every single person I speak to we have been experiencing an unseasonably warm winter in NYC this year and I for one will not be complaining. Particularly as this weekend was a bank holiday in which to enjoy the sunshine. 


Having no plans...and no real understanding of what Presidents Day actually represents I decided to make the most of the good weather with a relaxed wonder to Hoboken and enjoy the views of the Manhattan skyline with my flatmate. We had Starbucks followed by Dunkin' Donuts...how very Middle America of us.


I also thought it was the perfect opportunity to test out some of the new settings I have just discovered on my camera (despite owning it for 6 months) so please forgive some of the more 'arty' shots!

Pancake Days...

I know, I know...It's been a while! I've become an official Yelper which means I've neglected my few friends who actually bother to read this site...but there is good news, I've got some updates!


Firstly I will cover the most recent activity that I undertook...creating pancakes for a room full of people on a day that the American's don't even bother with. I mean seriously?! They bang on about pancakes the rest of the year like they're a bloody religion and have whole restaurants dedicated to the creation of and consumption them...yet say pancake day to an American and they stare at you blankly! What is wrong with this adopted country of mine?


So anyway in the US, Tuesday (afore mentioned pancake day)was Mardis Gras day...so in honour of our home land and current location we decided to mix the two and create Mardi Gras pancakes! This essentially meant adding plenty of cinnamon, coloured sprinkles left over from halloween and some pink sugar to the pancake mix. It might look awful but it tasted...well just sweet!


Luckily I also made a lot of plain batter (an awful lot) so there was a proper pancake spread. 


If I was to take up residence in the US...Pancake day would  definitely be introduced to the country.