I remember.

The above photo was taken in Chelsea on the north side of the street on 22^nd between 7^th & 8^th Avenues. 

When I first heard of the 9/11 attacks I was sitting in my 10^th grade Algebra class at Belleview High School seated by friends. I was 15. My teacher received a phone call from a family member and immediately turned on the television to witness the horror of the attacks. We didn't understand the gravity of the situation at all. I didn't. We were just glad to stop learning math and get a chance to socialize. The school didn't allow our parents to pick us up early for fear of an enormous panic, I suppose. Living in Florida, following that day life went on as relatively normal but we learned more and more of the significance of the attacks and the devastating aftermath. The most poignant visual for me was watching footage of people jumping to their deaths out of impressively high windows to avoid burning alive or being crushed by the waning metal structure.

Since then, I lived, worked, and went to school in New York City from 2008 to 2010. I had always dreamed of living in The City but never thought I'd be so fortunate to see it happen. I'm proud of my time there. New York City grew me in those two years and lent me so many of its wonderful features. I am not the same person now, I am better. I went there to blossom and I did. I met some lifelong friends in The City and felt it's warmth. There's nowhere like New York City. You can be who you are there. There's always someone weirder or more eccentric than you so no need to worry. I learned to express myself again there. I recovered from heartbreak there. I learned how much my family meant to me. I evolved. I lived my dreams. It will effect my whole life.

I'm not a New Yorker by any means but I do love and miss NYC. Not a day went by in my two years there that I didn't see reverence and remembrance for the tragedy of 9/11. Today and everyday I am so proud of my country, proud to be a citizen of The United States of America and enormously grateful for the brave people who have kept and continue to keep us safe and defend us on our land and abroad.


In all seriousness, God Bless America. Be proud and thankful.
jayteewo.

New York ♥.

Today I thought I'd show a little New York ♥. I come across all sorts of items relating to my fondness of The Big Apple. Here are a few of them.

This image is one I've admired for a while but just haven't gotten around to purchasing. I don't really have room for it presently so I might a wait a while. But it's real cute. I may have recolored it the way I want it to be.. 

Somewhere I really love in Manhattan is Chelsea Market (a whole other post on how much I love this place). In Chelsea Market is a yummy place called Fat Witch Bakery which makes brownies. Like, the best brownies you've ever had in you life. Holy moly. Luckily one can buy these brownies online by either having the finished product sent to you or by buying the mix. I have made the mix before and they do turn out wonderfully. However, there is something to receiving an individually wrapped parcel of deliciousness. I want one right now.

This vintage NYC/MTA subway token necklace is really cool (I'd request a longer chain). I love the retention of the old token and the asymmetry of the bead addition. Very cute!

hasta pronto,

jayteewo.  

NY, I miss you.

Since I don't feel like dropping a lot of dough on hardware recovery right now, I am presently without any photos taken before July 2011. F. So that means I have nothing in my Keep NY weird folder :( Instead I thought I'd drop some knowledge on you and divulge some of the restaurants in the city that I daydream about. I'll just tell you about three for now; three restaurants and one bakery, actually.

The first is called Five Points. Ohhhhh yeahhhhh.. Um, what? I LOVE brunch at Five Points. FANTASTIC smoked salmon benedict and mimosas with fresh squeezed orange juice. I have a hell of a time at that place. I took all of my guests who visited when I lived in NYC and never had a bad experience.

At one time I lived in Murray Hill (I know) so I was right around the corner from Madison Square Park AND Shake Shack. God almighty, I love me a Shack Stack (see menu) and some frozen custard, possibly of the flavor of the day. It's so good. Now they have more locations and even one in Miami, not far from me, but it's not the same. Truly worth the mile-long line one must wait in nearly every single time you go no matter what day/hour/time of year. Luckily, they have a Shack Cam so you can plan ahead!

The best grilled cheese of my life is from Westville on W. 10th in the West Village. Gouda and a Portuguese muffin are involved. Sure it's a hole in the wall and kind of a rip off, but they know their way around a grilled cheese (I've also heard their other food is great, too). They've got a few locations in the city and a new one in Chelsea. Yum! 

City Bakery is muy delicioso (y caro). Personally I'm into their homemade marshmallows and killer hot chocolate. They always have a variety of flavors. I ain't mad at their cookies, either. Easy to spend a pretty penny at this joint but it's worth treating yourself every now and again. Mac & cheese!

I'm hungry,

jayteewo.

Keep NY Weird.

Hilarious. These were condoms being handed out in Union Square, I believe. I had a shoddy photo so I had to find this one online. I was not fortunate enough to receive an Obama condom- this belonged to my friend TB. The asterisk at the bottoms says, "*For Hard Times." Get it? I doubt you do.

bye,

jayteewo.

Keep NY Weird.

This was taken on some wall on some street in some neighborhood of New York City. Cool, huh? The way I see it, it's the insignia of an all female gang. Each member has sweet ninja moves but all they really do is sneak up on people scaring them and then, of course, quickly spray paint this logo somewhere before slinking back into the darkness. I'm not a member or anything.


later,
jayteewo.

Keep NY Weird.

This was taken in the back sale room at a store called Fishs Eddy on Broadway and 19th Street. It's a really cool, affordable kitchenware store with a personality, as you can see. Pretty funny.

(Made the deadline this time. Thank goodness, my boss was getting pissed.)

regards,

jayteewo.

Keep NY Weird.

What is it with me missing the Friday deadline for this series of posts? I mean, for Pete's sake (who is this Pete?), I make the deadline for myself.

This is just funny and you can't tell me it's not. This is on the bathroom door at a (obviously) gay bar in the East Village called Eastern Bloc. My friend KS finally took this picture for me. Aside from the 70s porn playing on televisions above the bar and go-go dancers in white socks, this is the best feature of the place.


adieu,
jayteewo.

Keep NY Weird.

I was supposed to post this yesterday. Oops.. I'll work on being better at keeping a schedule. One must have goals.

The second installment of "Keep NY Weird." This is a weird little drawing in the 23rd street station of the 6 in New York City. I can't remember which direction, but I imagine downtown.


take care,
jayteewo.

Keep NY Weird.

When I lived in Manhattan (why does that sound snobby? if someone lives in one of the other boroughs they say so and it doesn't sound as bad. I digress), I kept a folder of photographs I took while out and about of what can only be described as weird things you'd only find in New York City. So. I'm gonna post them here for your enjoyment because I'll know you do just that.

This particular item is a ghost-y skeleton decal that I saw all over the city for while. The one in the crosswalk was taken in the West Village walking across 7th ave to the 1.


best regards,
jayteewo.