Friday, February 26, 2016

Rainy Days in NYC

Rainy days can only be enjoyed from indoors, preferably under a tin roof and preferably at night. If we're going to be specific, wine should be in hand, fireplace should be crackling, guilty pleasure TV show should be playing, and godlike man should be near, pretending to enjoy said show. They absolutely cannot be enjoyed three days in a row in the middle of winter during the work week in NYC. I sit at my desk, peer out the window at the dismal world beyond, pout, daydream of summer and repeat. And once I've realized that I've forgotten my rain boots, the depression really sets in. Dramatic, I know, and exactly why I did some planning ahead for these very soggy days.





Combat again the rain began on Monday with a visit to the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. I hadn't been in three years, and was pleasantly surprised with the new exhibits, most notably, the Titanosaur. At 122 feet long and weighing 70 tons, this thing was a beast. Its front tooth was literally the size of my torso. My favorite exhibit, however, has always been the fuzzy animals. There's nothing like a little taxidermy to lighten the mood. After the museum, I ended the night with great friends, good beer and free candy at Dive 75, and no thoughts were wasted on the rain.


Adventures on Tuesday came next, with a long overdue visit from a best friend. She was visiting with her boyfriend, so we started our double date night at a tapas spot, Donostia, in the East Village. The dishes were small, but the food was exquisite and the wine affordable. The Chorizo Picante Banderilla and the Plato de Charcuteria y Queso deserve a special shout out. Just say the words "salt-cured meat" and I'm sold. The real highlight of the night, however, came later. After a good two hours of eating and drinking, we headed to a comedy show in the West Village. The Comedy Cellar, on the corner of MacDougal and West 3rd, might be the best comedy club in all of NYC. While it's the only one I've been to, I have nothing but praise for both the venue and the performers, and mine seems a shared opinion amongst New Yorkers. The club seats up to 200 people in its cozy underground location, and it's slightly tiered tables guarantee all parties a great view. The brick walls, stained glass accents and the close proximity of the viewers and comedians help create a perfect ambiance. And then there are the comedians. Each show is comprised of roughly six acts, big names and rising stars, and every performance we saw was absolutely hilarious. Additionally, famous acts that aren't listed on the line-up frequently drop in. These surprise acts include Louis C.K., Amy Shumer, Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. We were lucky enough to have the host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, unexpectedly make an appearance. Thank you, Comedy Cellar, I've officially been charmed.


To conclude the week of bad weather, Max and I went to see Aladdin on Broadway. I have never seen so much glitter, and extravagant doesn't even come close to describing the show. The actors were phenomenal, the set beautiful, and the performance over the top in the absolute best way possible.


Here's to hoping this weekend can compete.




Beasts.







Unfortunately (but understandably) taking pictures inside the Comedy Cellar isn't allowed, but here are a few from their website:



Bill Burr 


Louis C.K. 
Judah Friedlander

Robin Williams


Jon Stewart



Also no pictures allowed within the theatre, but here are a few of Aladdin I found online:












Wednesday, February 10, 2016

The Last Pieces of 2015

It’s been one month since I’ve been back from my perfect, parka-worthy adventure and I’m still day dreaming. Shopping in Milan, Christmas in Tirano, skiing in the Alps, festivities with new friends in Freiburg, day-tripping to Strausbourg, fairytale explorations in Rothenburg ob der Tauber and New Year’s in Berlin. Who knew I was such a lush? Don’t answer that. It really was the most magical vacation, and I'll be going back soon. Maybe for a while longer next time...



Day and night at the Duomo, Milan
Glitz and glam in Milan

Christmas market at the Duomo and Porta Sempione, Milan
Monumento a Sandro Pertini, near our hotel in Milan
Tirano, Italy, where we stayed at the most amazing and hospitable B&B, La Vita in Campagna
Morning run at dawn in Tirano and skiing with Max's family in Aprica, Italy
Scenic views of the Alps from our Rhätische Bahn ride from Tirano to Freiburg, Germany
Freiburg from the bottom and the top
Freiburg, the cutest city and Sir Henry, the cutest cat
Freiburg, Germany
Strasbourg, France
Kurfürstendamm Christmas market and view of Fernsehturm from Klunker Kranich in Neukölln, Berlin
East Side Gallery, Berlin
A tour of the Reichstag after a lavish breakfast at Käfer, Berlin and S-Bahn tracks
The Fernsehturm and Rotes Rathaus, Berlin
Kurfürstendamm Christmas market
Last day in Berlin (view from Max's apartment in Charlottenburg) and Kreuzburg kicks