2nd day on the job and Halloween!

Today was my 2nd day at the new job. Not too much to report back since it's only been a couple days, but I did get to attend a client meeting at the impressive Sony offices on my first day. Still learning the ropes, but so far it's been a good experience. The only thing that has been a bit tough, is fighting for a seat on the train in the early morning hours. It's about a 40 minute ride from our new sublet to 34th Street (Penn Station) my stop.. which really isn't too bad if you have a book or an iPod.

In other news... tomorrow is Halloween, and we don't have any plans as of yet. Brendan suggested the Halloween dog party in the East Village. I would just die if I saw this...



Sorry to keep this so short, but it's been a long day. Will post more this weekend. Until then, Happy Halloween!

Updates

Hey everyone! Seems like a lot has happened since the last I wrote. My parents dropped into town, I got a job and will be starting next week (yay, we will have insurance again!) and the weather has dropped down into the cooler 50s. We also found more great places to eat at and we took ourselves on a little shopping spree this week since clothes and shoes are tax-free in the city. You learn something new everyday!

Here are just a few photos...


Somehow, we always end up in Chinatown when my parents are around... here's where we ate at -not once, but twice- while they were here. Big Wong is located on Mott Street, and is a pretty typical Chinese restaurant that has the roasted ducks hanging in the windows. Try their specialty, BBQ roasted pork and the Congee... it's a savory-fest!


This was inevitable... we had enough Pastrami to feed an entire army... so so full after this.


One of the many great views from our free IKEA water taxi ride from Wall Street to Red Hook, Brooklyn. Drops you off right at the IKEA doorstep. It was way too convenient!

Surprise

I cannot believe it, but my parents, they did it again. They unexpectedly flew into New York and surprised me! So, I'll probably have to take some time away from blogging since we'll be entertaining my folks for the next 2 days... yes, more tourist photos to come, but that's okay since they are my parents and I never get to see them but maybe once or twice a year if that. Write/post more soon!

Bites in Brooklyn

It was another beautiful day in the city. Hung out in downtown Brooklyn today, and strolled around Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill /Carroll Gardens. To our luck, we stumbled into a Trader Joe's and this cute little French bistro called Bar Tabac. We had heard about this place and how great the mussels were, so we tried out their lunch menu which was quite satisfying. For less than 10 bucks, you can get a large plate of mixed greens, frites, and a generous portion of hanger steak on a toasted onion bun. There are some tasty bistro bites that you can order A La Carte too. I highly recommend the baked clams with butter and parsley. We'll have to try the mussels for dinner sometime. Definitely going back.. http://www.bartabacny.com

Tasty city bites

Found this great pizza place in Midtown... I think it was on 7th and Fashion Ave. Can't quite remember the name but I'll never forget the pizza.. it was seriously the best pie I've eaten in a long time. I'll have to take Brendan over there so we can try the calzone.
Today's lunch on the corner of Washington and St. Mark's: Tempura Udon... best I've had in a long while actually. The Maguro Tuna was extra fatty too. Yum.
Aw, this picture is from one of our first nights in Prospect Heights. We found a great Carribean place down the street that had curry and jerk chicken. For $7, you get this circular pie plate filled with black beans, boiled cabbage, brown rice and tasty morsels of Jerk chicken.
Evidence of me tearing into one of the tastiest slices in the city

Alarm clock

Other than waking up to the usual car alarm or ambulance sirens, here was another noise that made us rise and look out the window on Saturday morning...

Not sure where these kids were heading off to, or if this march was even organized, but I thought it was kind of a delight to see and hear something new in the AM.

Now, if we can just catch that ice cream truck that keeps passing by...

Need a trim?

We saw this the other day while walking down Prospect Place... this is why Brooklyn is so great.

Tourist photos

Riding the big red double decker bus around the city... I've always wanted to do this!

The New York Palace Hotel

Just a few pics from our stay at the swanky Palace Hotel... Brendan's aunt was in town and she was so kind enough to put us up in a room on the 18th floor. We had a grand view of the city and our window looked right down onto St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was breathtaking. We could also see a barrage of teenage girls waiting in line to get an autograph from one of the Gossip Girl actors. They were filming in the hotel bar the day we checked in. Quite the welcome to the big city eh?

No rain

Another beautiful day in Brooklyn. Didn't even need to bring a jacket because it was 75 degrees and the sun was shining. I keep waiting for it to rain, but I forget, I am no longer in the land of torrential rain and overcast skies and I'm liking this!

This afternoon was quite nice. Strolled around Park Slope and Prospect Heights and admired all the lovely old Brownstones. Then we grabbed some lunch on 7th and hit the pavement with our skateboards for the first time. A few pics below and some others from this past weekend...

Typical Brooklyn Brownstones, Prospect Heights
Posing on Park Slope
Skaters weaving around cars in Prospect Heights
lovin' the sun
Walking home through our 'hood

Random Brooklyn/Manhattan cell phone photos!

Greetings! Today was a crisp, cool yet sunny day in New York so I decided to go for a morning jog around the Brooklyn Art Museum which is just a few blocks away from our apartment. Lots of wide sidewalks and perfect ledges for skateboarding. Speaking of, there is such a diverse mix of skaters out here which is awesome. Usually I'm the 1 minority skateboarding in Seattle, but here it's all the African American kids from Crown Heights and Bedstuy grinding the ledges. I haven't seen any female skaters yet, so maybe I'll get out there once I get a job and some insurance! (So wish me luck on my interview tomorrow)

Alas, here are a few pics from the past couple days... enjoy!

Strolling around Midtown last Sunday; not sure if this happens every weekend but it was cool because there was tons of food vendors and tents selling clothes and other nic nacs.
The 37th Annual Pulaski Parade down 5th Ave on Sunday... lots of marching and Polish pride
Brooklyn Art Museum... not the best picture since I was using my cell while jogging, but you get the idea.. this place is usually packed on the weekends so Brendan and I will have to check it out during the week sometime.
The tree lined streets of Eastern Parkway which is quite lovely in the Autumn. This is what I see on my way home.
Francisca taking it easy as usual

Training day

Today was a good day. I got into Midtown within 35 minutes on the train - I feel like celebrating! Yesterday it took me nearly an hour and 15 just to get to 59th and Lexington. Then again a lot of trains were out of service on Sunday, but still!

We're learning more shortcuts though which is making life easier; we discovered a shuttle train (to 2 & 3 lines) about half a block from our apartment and tonight we took a 5 minute bus ride over to Atlantic Center, where all the stores are like Target, Old Navy, Marshall's, grocery stores, etc. Next adventure, finding the nearest IKEA!

Now for some pics taken at the Grand Army Plaza (about 5 blocks from our apt) and the lovely and gigantic Prospect Park...

Settling into our new digs in Brooklyn

The Jewish Hospital, a condo conversion and our temporary home. I was so happy to find that there was a functioning elevator in the building with wide hallways. Hauling 6 bags of luggage was a cake walk this time! Let's just hope there are no ghosts here...
Our new pal Francisca, she likes Bumble Bee Tuna
Meow gimme more 
Lots of space here, soaring 15 foot ceilings, and there's also a piano on the other side of the apt. I've also been doing yoga in the living area. It's weird having an audience though (Francisca likes to glare at me while I'm stretching)
Here's where we sleep. Right in front of the flatscreen with bunny ears? I know, weird. I guess there isn't a cable outlet in here.