Kathleen's space

Lunching like a lady

Last week I went to Bergdorf Goodman. I never go to that store because it's outrageously expensive. But I went.  A friend from Spain was in town recently and said there were good sales and she got a Marc Jacobs purse for $200 or something like that. I need a new purse, so I went to check it out.  It was kind of dumb for me to go because sometimes, you're just not in the mood to shop. I wasn't in the mood. And, I wore some shoes that I thought were going to be comfy...they weren't.  By the time I got home I had cuts on both feet.  Loverly as my mama says.

Anyway, what I found there were Marc Jacob purses for $3,000, not $200. Maybe the $200 purses were the littly tiny clutches. I don't need a clutch.  I need a bag.  damn. So, I walked a bit more (before I realized my feet were cutting up) and found the restaurant.  Outrageously priced, but I had a nice little steak salad and pretty views. Check it out:

Mannequins

I don't know if this is a new store or I just never noticed it...or maybe it's just that I never actually walked down this side of this block before. But, I thought it was fun that there were stores FULL of mannequins.

NY Knickerbockers

I think I mentioned in one post that I'm taking a class this summer on the History of New York City. If not, well, there you go.  It's at Baruch College and is taught by a young whippersnapper, Ph.D. candidate.  We're learning about a lot of great things that I thought would be great content for this blog of mine...But, a lot of his stories are intertwined and therefore very long.  So, I haven't shared all my new knowledge with you, my fair readers.

And now that's changing.  Lucky you!  I received an email from whippersnapper professor about a photo show on NY Times' website focuses on Knickerbockers (something he's covered in class).

Basically, Washington Irving wrote a book, back in the way hey day. It was a made-up history of NYC.  The author used a pseudonym, Dietrich Knickerbocker.  That's where the NY Knicks comes from among a lot of other things called Knickerbocker in this grand city.  The book was also the source of "Gotham City" - you know, Batman, shady NY, etc.  Kind of neat. Hope you enjoy!

Not a pretty sight

Squirrels going at it in Madison Square Park. There are so many of the little rodents and they're fearless....worse than ever.

I had to adjust my bag on the way to work the other day and I swear one of them was going to come on over and bite me. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous. A lot, I guess.  I yelled at the sucker. 

Then, the following day, I saw two of them going at it - one on top of the other and then switching. They were fighting for the top position. ugh.  We need NO MORE squirrels!   I tried to take a picture but wasn't quick enough.  Otherwise, you'd be enjoying the picture vs. my little words.

temporary marketing

NY is a favorite location for marketers around the world.  Not only is NY one of the largest cities around, it's also a magnet for tourists -- so your message not only gets to NYers but to the world.  The other day, walking home from work, I found this display. It's temporary which is the only bad thing...wouldn't it be nice to have these year-round?

Egoism

I had a call, for work, the other day with someone who is quite famous in his community -- a large community. I can't say names because I don't want him to Google his name and find my post!  He's an author, networker, consultant, pretty famous.  He's been on CNN and other national media outlets -- he's an expert if you will.  I met him via the phone.  It was a pleasant conversation.  He's looking for sponsors. I asked that he send us his presentation with all the information we need to know about the one event he's interested in working with us on so we can evaluate.  I haven't received the presentation. What I have received are megabytes of data on HIM.  His speeches, 10 things to know about him, pictures of him, fun facts about him...get the drift.

At first I was amused -- on the call he kept saying that he didn't want to sound 'arrogant' but I kind of think, after this deluge on information about him is that he IS arrogant so just BE arrogant.  Don't pretend you're not and say you don't want to sound it, you ARE arrogant. Either be proud or change but don't pretend you're something you're not.  And for cryin' out loud, stop sending stuff about you (I only do that to my Mom!!!)

NYC is thin

In the NY Times there's an article on how thin people are here. It also notes that there are a lot of fatty fatties.  Read the article. I don't know how some of the people are that thin. I, for one, have gained 20 pounds since living in NYC!

High Line

A few weeks ago I took a tour at the Museum of Modern Art’s In Situ: Architecture and Landscape exhibition. Museum tours fascinate me because the tour took over an hour and we focused only on a few items. When I went to the same exhibition on my own, I spent maybe 30 minutes there, looking at each and every item. The back story, the untold story, is the interesting story and that’s what you get to hear during tours.  At the end of the tour, the guide brought up the new and much needed practice of reworking old buildings and spaces in unique ways that essentially recycles the space for a different function. We were talking about this due to the increasing number of superstores (i.e. Wal-Mart) that are abandoned for new and even bigger spaces.  The guide brought up the High Line as a slightly different – but very good -- example of recycling space and improving communities. The High Line is also one of the newest examples of this.

While High Line isn't a building, it's true architecture. It's gone from vast space to raised railroad track to abandoned wasted space to what it is today – a beautiful public space designed for simple pleasures without losing key aspects of its past. The elements the architects kept include pieces of the railroad, like railroad wheels, on the wooden lounge chairs, the pebbles often found near railroads, wooden beams for sitting and of course the overall shape of the High Line – long and narrow right along the railroad tracks. And from the latest phase, they've kept the flowers -- lots of wild flowers -- with signs to let visitors know that they are wild and they want to protect them. I believe the planners struck a close to perfect combination of utility with beauty in the High Line.

 

 

Oh deceptive night

Yesterday I went out with some friends. We started at a place that's quickly becoming a new standby on the Upper West Side - Cafe Ronda. It's good, not great - the patatas bravas aren't that great, for instance. The sangria, on the other hand is a bit too good. Last time I was there I went with a group for happy hour. They go often.  So last night I showed up and the waitress gave me a big smile. Dinner was fun, a bit too loud for me, but fun.  When dinner ended, the inevitable question came up - where should we go now? And I was supposed to have an answer! I came up with one which I thought was GREAT - The Boat Basin. I'd never been but had heard all about it  - a cute little place on the river - it was a perfect night for it.  Warm, clear and we were close. Even so, we took a taxi -- one in the party had some blisters going on and I'm never one to not take a taxi! 

We got there and the deception of it all sunk in.  No wonder I hadn't been there!  While I had heard all these great things and imagined it from the little bit I had seen of it from my infrequent walks along the river when I lived in that part of town, it was all wrong.  The picture isn't the best but what you can see (or maybe not but I'll tell you!) is a whole lot of plastic tables with plastic chairs and plastic tableclothes. 

While the architecture is pretty, this place is vast and the clientelle - while varied - edged on frat-partyish.  There was a bachelorette party there - veil and all.  The pitchers of cheap beer were flowing. This was a place for 20-something year olds with some other older folks thrown in for the mix. I'm thinking this might be a great place for sunset -- if the sun sets in that direction!? Maybe it's a question of mid-week vs. weekend?  But I can honestly say I won't be heading there anytime soon on a Saturday night. 

And so we left.  We headed back into the city (vs. on the edge) and while we passed outdoor restaurants which looked lovely and calm and ideal places for good conversations, the group moved past them. We ended up at another bar. This time the music was so loud my throat started hurting from trying to be heard. I stopped talking much, unless necessary. By the time the team agreed to leave, I left my bad wine with delight and moved on. Why do bars think the music needs to be louder than loud - they're not dance clubs? And why or why don't all bars have a good bottle of wine on hand for me to have a decent drink?

Final try? The Irish bar I was trying to avoid. It was the best one of the night.  We actually had drama with a bachelor party -- the friends were trash talking the groom -- he wasn't in love, he was after the fiancee's multimillion dollar trust fund. Lovely.  The groom told us he loved her. He also told us that there were so many things he hated about her but despite it all, he loved her -- I find it amazing that you would say this about your wife-to-be-in-just-one-week.  Was it the money? I don't know. But I think that would be the ultimate deception. I guess my little night of deceptions won't compare to that bride's life of one big one. 

NY Times Customer Service is the WORST

So, I can't tell you how many calls I've made over the last few months for missed papers or papers left outside vs. at my door...but mostly just missed papers.  Two weeks ago I said I wanted to cancel my subscription and all of a sudden I was transfered to a supervisor. I told her I wanted to cancel and of course she didn't want me to.  I said I'd give it one more chance.  That was this weekend.  Both days my paper was delivered -- shockingly good for them! -- but they were delivered outside.  What really irks me is that my next door neighbor's NY Times was right at her door both days - so they can deliver to her, but not to me!?  Whatever.  I have officially canceled my NY Times subscription.  I'll go to NYTimes.com from now on - for free, at my desk (even better than my door) and not have to call that speed dial NY Times number any more.