Empire State

Last Saturday Nate and I went to Manhattan to look for specialty paper. We are working on the invitations, and have been delightfully geeking out on the design.

As we were walking on 6th Avenue, I saw this awesomely ironic patriotic moment.

Lately, I've become interested in how the Empire State Building fits into the city fabric, but from an experiential point of view. It has a strange visual relationship; it's such a lonely high rise. The greatest density of skyscrapers is downtown in the financial district, near the twin towers site. The Empire State is out of context surrounded by the mid rises of midtown, the height difference is jarring. This is partly why it's visible from so many parts of the city; it acts like a lighthouse providing an anchor to orient oneself when lost. I look at it, and I get a sense if I'm walking uptown, west/east. In contrast, it's almost invisible when one is standing near it. The surrounding buildings block the view, and even if you can see it, it's so tall that you don't even notice it after a while.

I have been taking photographs of the ESB for a few months now, trying to capture it from different angles, location, and light conditions. It's a fun ongoing project.

Prospect Park Memorial Day Picnic

I remember one Saturday afternoon last summer, when Nate and I were being lazy in Prospect Park, I had this feeling of social isolation. We were still new in town, and our social life was still lacking. I was looking wistfully at crowds of people our age having big picnics, and wondering how long it would be until I knew enough people to have a picnic of our own.

What a difference a year makes. This Memorial Day, Beth invited us to join her at a picnic in Prospect Park. Of course, since she lives on the other end of the park, we took the subway to meet up with her. We could have walked, but the subway was much faster. The Park is huge, after all.

It was a good turnout, about twelve people total. I had met about half the people in previous social occasions, so we felt right at home.
I find it curious when you get a group of young professionals in their mid to late 20's having a picnic; we are all just practical these days. We had vegan pasta salad, hummus, italian sausage, homemade brownies, cucumber dip, cheese and crackers, wine and beer. Also, besides the food, everyone brought blankets, plates, napkins, trash bags, and games. If this had been 7 years ago, we would have ended up with a couple of cheap six packs, and maybe some chips and salsa, but we would have definitely been laying on the grass with no cups.

Jesse brought a watermelon, which looked hilarious when he was carrying it in his messenger bag. He hacked slices with a machete, in which looked like the best way to release pent up stress.
We played Cranium, the Express Edition. I'd only played the old Cranium before, and this version was as fun as the old one, with some added fun activities such as team spelling, marionette charades, and a faster pace. It's about time we met fellow dorks who carry board games with them.
Here is Beth, our fearless organizer, without whom the afternoon would have been impossible Everyone wants these fun events to happen, it just takes a strong willed person to be decisive and pick the time and place. It's a field of dreams situation - "if you plan it, they will come". I often wish I could plan more social activities, but I end up stressing too much over silly logistics. I'll overcome it someday, probably when I have to plan my kids' birthday parties, and they depend on me.We also took a walk for a bit to the nearby pond. Next time, we should rent paddle boats; it looked like a nice activity. And I chatted with a kid as he fed ducks, but just for a bit, he was very methodical in his bread throwing technique, and I didn't want to throw off his concentration.

BKLYN Yard

It feels like the Gowanus area is becoming quite trendy. Just a couple of weeks ago I went there to watch the Lost Finale, and then last Saturday, Kevin invited me to go to BKLYN Yard along with some friends.

I have a soft spot for the Gowanus Canal. I know the general consensus is that it's polluted, and the area, currently full of warehouses and industrial activity, ripe for redevelopment. But I always feel like I am in a little piece of Holland whenever I walk by. The density lowers, the canal is lined with moss, and there's a certain quietness that is remarkable considering this area's proximity to busier parts of Brooklyn. From a very selfish standpoint, I want to Canal to remain as is. It feels like a safe haven, much like people see Prospect Park. I also realize that I like if because of the Netherlands connection, it's like a little piece of childhood right in front of me.

From what I'm gathering, BKLYN Yard is an open lot, along the water, that is undeveloped. This might be site related (flood zone, brownfield, etc), or simply that gentrification hasn't gotten to it yet. In any case, right next to the Carroll Bridge, this site opens up as if from nowhere, full of motley chairs and tables, and filled with people.

The event had Red Hook vendors selling food, along with a DJ keeping entertainment. The lines were ridiculous, and the only food choices fajitas and organic pizzas, so we saved our energy and only had PBRs. Curiously, the beer line was incredibly short. Apparently, similar events happen every summer weeend, so I am curious as to whether the crowd was the typical one, or if everyone was out because of Memorial Day weekend.

I'm glad Kevin called me up for this. He seems to be really good about knowing events going on through the city, specially the "cooler" variety. His friends got there much later than we did, so I fear that I might have been affecting his game for a bit there. Then again, it could also be his very peculiar sunglasses.


It seems that summer is finally here, though it thought its coming in spurts a few days at a time. It's pretty standard, I guess, I'm just glad that this weekend happened to coincide with the 80-degree weather.

230 Fifth Rooftop Garden

After a long and brutal winter, it's finally warming up. Sure, the trees bloomed a few weeks ago, and I haven't had to whip out the winter coat for a while, but it was only relatively warmer, it wasn't quite nice enough yet. Now skirt and tank top weather is starting up, and personally, it's my favorite time of year.

Last Wednesday, Sabrina suggested we go to the Rooftop Garden Bar at 230 Fifth. Seems there was some type of happy hour with a NY Wine Group. I remember seeing this rooftop last year, when Nate and I were atop the Empire State. We were looking at the city below us, in awe of it's sheer size and structural beauty, and we spotted a roof top nearby full of teeny tiny people who looked like were having a great summer evening. At the time, I dismissed it as a private location, a hotel or health club, and put it out of my mind. I really shouldn't have, because it turns out it's just a bar, open to all so long as you are well dressed.

The Wine Group turned out to be a bit of a letdown, as they had no specials or freebies. They had just reserved a gigantic area of the bar, and we were free to sit where we pleased. The thing is, no one checked our ID or confirmed that we were affiliated with the group, so I'm not sure if it made any difference that we went on that specific Wednesday as opposed to any other day.

Nate and I were the first from our friends to arrive, and since we were relatively early, we were able to get a table with reclining chairs. It was still daylight out, the sun was shining, we had white wine, and we just relaxed for a while. Good times. Also, because our friends hadn't arrived yet, we were free to geek out and look at the buildings.It's interesting, one gets used to the constant presence of tall structures in Manhattan - they are everywhere except Central Park. But here we were, on top of a 20-story building, and when we looked up, we could see the sky uninterrupted by buildings. I don't think I had realized just how used I've become to the sight of skyscrapers. The only buildings that were still visible were the true high rises. Like the ones in the picture above, which Nate and I have helpfully nicknamed "The Aldo Rossi Building", because it looks like it was designed by Aldo Rossi, and the "scary super skinny building" because it looks like a structural impossibility. I'm sure they have real names, but we like our nicknames better.

Eventually, Sabrina, Jen and Jae showed up, and we stayed on the roof garden until dark. Service was terrible at 230 Fifth, but I get the sense that with that view, they are not at risk of loosing customers anytime soon. The crowd wasn't my scene; too many Wall Street types in expensive suits, but we had a good time. It was pretty windy though, my hair was at serious risk of becoming a fro.

The most amazing sight from the rooftop: The Empire State Building. This is the best view I've had of it yet. Usually we see it from the ground, where you can't even see the spire. Or, to have a complete view, you have to get so far away that you lose all sense of detail. Here we could see it, all evening, up close, and watch the light change on its facade.

9th Avenue International Food Festival

I've been to a few street festivals in the city by now, and sometimes I don't really get them. I mean, they have great food stands, curious things for shopping, and restaurants set up tables on the street to sell beer, but after a while, there isn't anything to do. It seems that all of them have the same vendors, repeated every weekend of the summer somewhere throughout the city. Then again, after typing the description of a festival, I think I've talked myself into liking them again, no sense in thinking so much about it, just enjoy a nice Saturday afternoon with food, trinkets and drinks.

Maybe I just need to embrace the fact that almost every weekend of the summer, a large street becomes pedestrian-only with a European-style open-air market. And as such, they aren't meant to be mind bogginl exiting, just a good healthy way to do some shopping, get food and spend time outdoors. Come to think of it, I had a lot more fun at this Festival since we were with friends, rather than just me and Nate.

It was also a good way to see the restaurant selection at Hell's Kitchen, an area that I don't frequent too much but seems to have an active lifestyle.

Another great element is the homemade and artisan products on sale. These soaps smelled good, and we almost bought some oatmeal soap (it's supposed to be very moisturizing), but ultimately I opted to wait and see if we could find a local brand at the Food Coop.

We bought crepes filled with nutella, strawberries and bananas. I introduced Nate to crepes with nutella at a similar festival in our neighborhood last year. Needless to say, he really liked them. I was glad, crepes rock, though I really should start looking for a Dutch panekoeken place in the city, I haven't had Dutch style crepes in a while.

Temi and Brian ate crepes as well.

For myself, I was excited to find a Peruvian food stand that had pork tamales. I was a bit disappointed with them; they just weren't spicy enough. No, that's not it, it's that the seasoning wasn't quite right. They were still savory though, and it's always good to have a tamal Peruvian style. In Texas, all I could find was Mexican tamales, and though many were quite tasty, they weren't the "right" type.

Duck Tours

Last Saturday my friend Temi came to visit, and she decided that she wanted to play tourist for a day and go the Duck Tour, also known as the Splash Tour. It's curious, Temi's family is from the Philly area, and as such, she comes to NYC with them rather frequently, to catch shows and the theater. But this time she was coming with the beau, and we were also meeting up with some friends of theirs who live on the Upper West Side, and we felt like having a fun activity to anchor the day.

The Duck Tours leave from Times Square, in the middle of all the action. The tour guide informed us that soon their departure location will change, as they are closing off Broadway to buses. I've been reading about the pedestrian reclaiming of Broadway and was very intrigued by this. I guess I have to read up on it more.

The bus took us through the main parts of Midtown. It was curious, we saw many of the great tourist sites, but we didn't see Central Park, the Museum Mile, or any of the Village/Downtown areas. I'm okay with this, this tour was about getting a brief Manhattan overview, and getting into the water, and as such, it was successful and fun.

Chrysler Building, the most majestic skyscraper in NYC

That's the Empire State Building. The fog covered up the spire, which makes it seem like it's truly disappearing into the sky. Breathtaking.

Gorgeous view of the city from the East River, at approximately the same place where US Airways 1549 landed some weeks ago.

Temi and Brian in the Boat

Ilana and Etan (sorry about the total phonetic butchering of your names)

Me and Nate enjoying the afternoon in the water

Lost Season Finale at the Bell House

For some time now, watching Lost has been this thing Nate and I do together, we usually see it online on Thursday, over a couple of beers, and then I geek out and go to the forums at TWOP and discuss all the logistical plot implications, specially the cause and effect of time travel (are they changing their own fate, or are they so intertwined in it that by actively choosing to interfere they inadvertently cause the very events they were trying to avoid? We will find out, I guess.) Point being that this was a private endeavor, not a social engagement.

But then it turns out that my new volleyball team has some fellow Losties. Enough, in fact, that we named our team "The Others" (they were the badasses, after all). And Kino suggested we go to a Lost Finale Watching Party in the Bell House, within walking distance of me.

This party went all out, Dharma cheese-puffs, Dharma Beer, leis for everyone, a Lost Cake. And for future reference, Dharma beer is stroooong.

We were delighted to see Previuosly on Lost, a local band whose mission is to recap previous Lost episodes through song. And they are a total musical powerhouse, the audience joined in a chorus of Waaaalt!!, and lyrics included gems such as Be my Constant, Sawyers snark, smoke monsters, and the like.

We then watched the two hour finalie on the big screen. It was distracting watching a show so intricate with so many people in standing room only, but the audience was engaged, and hooted and hollered at the exciting moments. My camera ran out of batteries early on the festivities, so I'm posting a link to Geekanerd Blog to capture more images of this awesome event.

Shake Shack

I've been meaning to try the Shake Shack for quite a while now, and I constantly admonish myself for never seeming to make it. Essentially, Shake Shack is a permanent food stand in Madison Square Park, and it's burgers are so deliciously famous that a daily line of 45 minutes (at least) takes over the south end of the park. So, in a way, it's much more than a mere burger joint, it's some type of institution. It has to be if people are willing to stand in line for so long.

The irony is that I used to have lunch at this park all the time. Back when I worked in midtown, when the weather was nice, I'd buy food from a nearby deli, sit on a bench and people-watch my lunch break away, feeling the sun on my skin. It felt wonderful to be outside, enjoying urban life at it's finest, and having a direct view of the Flatiron Building. And often I would see the line for Shake Shack and wonder who had time for this, and also, could the burgers really be that good?

Finally last Sunday I had the chance to try it for myself. I'd joined Sabrina and some of her friends to see a Comedy Show, and afterward we found ourselves in Chelsea and looking for food. And since it was a nice evening (not that warm in all honesty, but basically only the second short sleeved weekend of the year), we decided to try out the burgers at Shake Shack. Most of us hadn't been there before, being rightfully afraid of the lines, but we reasoned that it was Sunday night after 9 pm, so it couldn't be that bad. And, in the worst case scenario, we could have a nice walk and go to another restaurant. No shortage of food establishments in the Flatiron area.

The line was the shortest I've ever seen it. A friend once told me that the best time to try Shake Shack was when it was raining, and I'm glad it didn't come to this. We waited about 10 minutes tops, and grabbed one of the many outdoor tables while waiting for our numbers to be called. I liked Sabrina's friends a lot, and we had a pleasant conversation. Then again, I think it's hard to not have a good vibe with people when you are in a relaxed outdoor environment.

I ordered the Shack burger, which is basically a cheese burger with shack sauce, (whatever that may be) and it was delicious. Tasty, tender, fresh, and I finally understood why people are so excited about them. The fries weren't crispy enough for my liking, but I'm inclined to believe that it's because they might actually use fresher potatoes.

I'd like to go when it's warmer and try one of their shakes. It is in their name, after all.

In the end, I'm glad I finally went. Still, even though the burgers were delicious, I'm not sure if any food item is worth a 1 hour wait in line. Supposedly, they've opened a restaurant location uptown, so that might be worth checking out.

My burger

Shake Shack
Madison Sq. Park.
5th Avenue & 23rd St.

St Augustine Roman Catholic

The wedding preparations continue (which makes it sound much more hardcore than it really is). Like proper family folk, Nate and I have decided to have two separate celebrations: one to address his Texas family and US traditions, and one in Peru for my side. And the Peruvian one, as custom suggests and dictates, will be a catholic ceremony.

Which sounds great and all, but I haven't attended church regularly since... uh, my first communion? I have a lot of catching up to do. I have to get confirmed (which includes classes, finding a sponsor and doing the ritual), and Nate and I have to attend the Pre-Cana workshop and do some premarital sessions with a priest. We are doing all the preparatory bureaucratic paperwork here in Brooklyn, which will then be sent over to the Archdiocese in Lima. It seems to be a pretty standard process. I hope.

Well, today was our first meeting with the Priest, and he was very nice and welcoming. I decided on St. Augustine Church mostly because they are located a block from my apartment, but based on how they've been so far I would have picked them even if they were THREE blocks away. Everyone has been nice and welcoming, and specially, so willing to work with us through this process.

Not confirmed? No problem, you are welcome to the classes. Had to miss the first two sessions because you were in Texas? No problem, you can make them up, no big deal. Nate is not Catholic? No problem, this is common, just need some proof that he is baptized. Don't have a certificate? No problem, we can work it out with you as needed. I really get the sense that they are on my side, and happy to be helpful.

If more churches had been like this when I first moved to Austin (St. Austin's, I am looking at you and your wretched school), I might not have had such a negative reaction to the Catholics in the US. It turns out, maybe it was just St. Austins that sucked, because so far St. Augustine seems to be very much like what I remember churches being like in Lima.

The building is old, and, well, it reminds me of a church. I sound like an untrained layman, because a deeply rooted part of me wants Church to look old and solid, like the stones have been around longer than my grandparents. This must be the same deeply ingrained part of me that remembers all the prayers in Spanish, and knows instinctively when to stand/sit and answer the priest while in mass. The architect in me considers this ludicrous and wants me to fight my baser instincts. But there you go, I like St. Augustine because it looks like what a proper Catholic church should look like.

It's curious for me to have a church a block away, and Park Slope is filled with churches, of all sorts of denominations. I know Texas is a god-fearing state, but I have never felt so surrounded by places of worship than when I moved to NYC. Must be the density, because every two blocks, there is another church popping up, happily reminding me that Sunday is coming up, and uh... god is watching? The cultural catholic guilt is a hard one to get rid of.

Nate and I went on a walk this morning after our meeting with the Priest, and I decided to embrace the day and take pictures of the churches we saw on the way. We must have walked about a half hour or so, went to get coffee and enjoyed the pretty weather.

The seemingly excessive amount of churches, which I had noticed before, must be part of what makes this neighborhood feel so authentic. I am not saying that a place of worship is necessary for the longevity of a community, but rather, a diversity of services is what makes a neighborhood sustainable. We, as residents, need to know that there is a church within a walking radius us, just like we need a library, cleaners, doctors, daycare, gyms, shoe repair, electronics, groceries, cafes, etc. And even though I don't patronize many of the aforementioned services , it matters to me that they exist. The day that I need one (like say now, when I am going through the wedding preparation process), I can walk five minutes and be there. I don't even have to leave the neighborhood. And that's part of what makes Park Slope such a sustainable piece of urban fabric.

Austin Visit

They say that one of the great things about living in New York is leaving New York. I don't really get it, why would you want to leave? This is great!

But that's also because I'm relatively new to the area and I haven't had the chance to feel claustrophobic yet. And, also, I keep going on little out of town trips, visiting family mostly, so it's always great to leave and come back, but for reasons totally independent of the city.

Last week I went back to Texas for my mother's 50th birthday. She had a full week of celebrations: dinner in Houston, a small get together at the house, and a weekend in Port Aransas with the family. All in all, she was happy, and it gave me another chance to visit Texas and stop by Austin to see my friends.

I miss Austin so much sometimes. Such a chill, fun, place. But mostly, I miss the sense of community I had established there. Years of school, work, socializing, shopping, living... you get to know people and places. I always had a sense of where I was, I'd been to many bars and restaurants, and at parties I would invariably run into people I'd met before. In a way it makes it sound like a been-there done-that type of vibe, but I relished in the familiarity, the quotidian nature, and the way it never felt like a stifling routine. I want to try and devote a few blog entries to Austin places, just because they mean so much to me, and because I find myself making parallels between the Austin of last year and the NYC of today.

In contrast, my life in NYC feels like a constant adventure, always going somewhere for the first time, often feeling like I am in a new part of town I don't know well. In a way it's invigorating, I am really living. On the other hand, I get nostalgic for the familiar. Paradox of life, I guess.

For now I'll embrace the new.