On the platform

Hi Mom,

Look at the fabulous opportunity the subway platform provides for artsy photo-taking experiments! Not a rare sight these days, me on the platform en route to something or another. But this weekend there is no subway service out to where I live. They're doing repairs, so we're being tossed into the great shuttle bus adventure. Buses replace trains, the signs tell me, between where I live and well, anything I'm trying to access.

On the bright side, you get to see all the exciting stuff that happens above ground. On the other hand, less snack huts, less people-watching, and more snow slowdowns. But who am I to complain, I guess--I live in a city with 24-7 transportation.

Love,
Karen

Free Sunday

Hi Mom,

Went to the Frick today. It's a big house full of some rich guy's art. He had very good taste. Tried to get there in time to pay-what-you-wish, but I wished too late. I had no idea there was good reason to be picky about that sort of thing, but they're sticklers to the T.

Saw a few El Greco paintings, some other nifty stuff. I have a list of what galleries are free/cheap when. I should probably put them on rotation. Tell me which ones you want to see for next time you're in...we can go even on full price days!

Love,
Karen

And mo' snow

Hi Mom,

They're selling snow brushes at 7-11 these days. I haven't owned one since I lived in Michigan (no car) but they were at first a surprise to see. Then I passed this parking lot.

Makes me a little homesick, actually. I think of all those hours I spent freezing cold, brushing off the car, de-icing my windshield, and then, as I turned the car on, having a pile of snow start the process over again.

These days I just walk places. Maybe I should buy a snow brush for old times' sake.

Love,
Karen

Gone Fishin'

Hi Mom,

Happy Valentine's Day! A bunch of us went out for dinner, and on the way to the train, my friend made a comment about how many fish there are in the sea. We got to the platform and it seemed appropriate to take a picture of these fish. Fish on the subway. Same idea, New York-style.

Love,
Karen

Yoga Train

Hi Mom,

Yoga mats on board! The people to yoga mat ratio increases dramatically when we hit the top of Brooklyn. Coming from where I live, there's nae a yoga mat in sight for a good 20 minutes. Then they strike--purples and yellows and greens all tied up, tucked under some good looking 20- or 30-something's arm. There's even probably dog yoga somewhere around here.

Disclaimer: I have nothing against yoga. It even looks fairly worthwile. I have no interest in doing it, nor carrying one of those mats around with me, but I know enough people who swear by it not to knock it.

Love,
Karen

Reasons to play the flute

Hi Mom,

There's always music in the subway. Sometimes it's someone on a violin, other times, a guitar or two. Very rarely do we find an entire piano on the platform.

It was a rare sight--so rare, in fact, that I let my train go by to stay and listen to him play. He was pretty good, too. The guy with the steel drum even stopped to give him airtime. That's how you know people respect you in the subway.

Meanwhile, I couldn't help wondering how he got the darn thing down the stairs. I can barely make it with a suitcase.

Love,

Karen

Snow sticks

Hi Mom,

The streets are still covered in snow. People are braving the weather and snowmen are out in full force. I stopped by Central Park to see their handiwork and watch people sled. More people are on foot than on the roads though, it seems. I think they could use a few more salt trucks out here...

Brooklyn got a lot more snow than Manhattan did, and much like back home, they actually need the roads to be plowed. Wonder how long it'll last.

A friend of mine called this morning to ask if I knew how to shovel a sidewalk. Of course, I do, but this is one of those times when you don't want to be too quick to volunteer your expertise...

Love,
Karen

Blizzard

Hi Mom,

They started covering the snowstorm three days ago. It was going to be epic, they promised. The city would be shuttered. People went to the grocery store to get extra cans of beans. And then it snowed, a little.

I mean, it wasn't just a dusting, but it wasn't snow armageddon, either.

Schools were closed, people didn't have to go to work--all good things, mind you.

I was called a "snow snob" for not properly appreciating the scope of said snowstorm. And that's how I know I'm from Michigan.

Stay warm!

Love,
Karen

Watch out, Dunkin' Donuts

Hi Mom,

Dunkin' Donuts may be in danger here in the city. Slowly but surely, Tim Hortons is taking a bite out of the Big Apple. I'm starting to notice them around town, and once these kinds of invasions start, it's usually only a matter of time before they're everywhere.

Apparently they're even taking over stores that USED to be Dunkin' Donuts.

I personally like Dunkin' Donuts' coffee better, but like many things in the city, this one isn't really up to me. I'll give it a try--stay tuned for the coffee comparison.

Love,
Karen

An owl?

Hi Mom,

I've been spending a lot of time in Barnes and Noble lately thanks to their free Internet. When I'm taking a break from drinking their coffee or reading their books, I sometimes scope out their merchandise. Last time it was Barnsie the Bear, this time I think I've found stranger.

Meet the Owl.

I don't know why they're selling ceramic owls. I really can't even tell you what their utility is in particular. What I can tell you is that it's one step short of selling scented candles.

If it were edible, that'd be one thing, but this is just very odd.

Love,
Karen

High utility

Hi Mom,

So this is a picture of the front counter at Think Coffee, where they have plugs and free Wi-Fi. When picking coffee venues for long afternoons to do work and write to you, I have to keep multiple factors in mind. First off, what kind of plugs do they have available--Barnes and Noble took all of theirs out, for example--and secondly, if their Wi-Fi is spotty or reliable. I also have to take into consideration if their snack food will be up to snuff, and what my odds of getting a seat might be.

The spots here are very coveted, such that if you're sitting by yourself, you're sure to have made a new friend by the end. And you sit right across from each other, ignore each other, and do your own thing. Well, that's not entirely true. Sometimes you actually get to talking, and that's always exciting in its own right. They also have excellent chocolate chip cookies.

I've written many an entry with my computer balanced on my knee here while I wait for a spot. Today I'm lucky--I found a chair!

Love,

Karen

Blockbuster Box

Hi Mom,

I walked into my local Duane Reade and there in the front was this box. It's a Blockbuster box. Apparently they're going to be all over the place. You use them like a movie vending machine--well, except you also return movies to them.

I was waiting in line and watched a guy kick the heck out of the thing.

It seems much worse than having your M&Ms get stuck, though I guess at $1 a rental, you could always just put another dollar in and get two?

I'll check it out and let you know.

Love,
Karen

Take the cake

Hi Mom,

I had to take a picture of this cake case. I'm not even sure if any of these cakes taste very good, but they sure LOOK great. I asked the lady what it was and she nodded at me. Maintains the mystery I guess.

And that seems like half the battle.

Hung out in Chinatown tonight, marveling at all the pretty colors and seemingly tasty treats.

In the end, it was vegetarian dim sum for me.

Love,
Karen

Wig wash

Hi Mom,

So I went from having a laundromat a few blocks away to having a dry cleaner a few blocks down. All my neighbors live in houses now, which presumably have their own washer/dryers. One day I will achieve such greatness.

In the meantime, I'll continue to be confident that my neighborhood dry cleaner can handle most anything I could throw at them, in case I ever had objects that needed such services.

They dry clean suede and leather, and also do wig washes.

Now if I could just find somewhere around here with machines...

Love,
Karen

A clever bag

Hi Mom,

Today I saw the world's classiest diaper bag. It was trendy, it was sleek, and it was totally not obvious.

The guy with the baby looked totally in control of the situation. And confident that nobody would know he was toting pacifiers, elmo diapers, and other baby paraphernalia.

Talk about a multi-purpose bag.

Love,

Karen

Bag o' bass

Hi Mom,

Well, now that I'm on the subway more, you're likely to get more subway adventures. Here's one now--the guy with the bass. I cart a lot of stuff back and forth from Brooklyn these days, but this guy really puts it all in perspective. I saw him come in from the street and drag this nearly effortlessly down the stairs and across the platform.

Guess this is why you wanted me to play violin and not cello. Good call on that one.

Love,

Karen

Best Boots Ever

Hi Mom,

Time once again for the best rain boots ever.

These puppies got me through an entire rainstorm today in Manhattan without a single wet sock.

Again, a very commendable purchase, and a definite fashion statement.

Love,

Karen

A very Brooklyn wedding

Hi Mom,

Tonight my roommate's brother got married. I was there to watch it happen. He's 21, his wife maybe 19. The place was packed with girls in long, black dresses and men in big hats. Apparently it was doubly packed because she was one of the first girls in her class to get married.

There are a couple places--halls, that is--right near each other in Brooklyn that host these kinds of festivities. I've been to a couple, they go like this...

The bride-to-be sits on a giant chair, flanked by the women in her family and otherwise surrounded by women who are there to wish her well. The men dance in the groom, who puts the veil over her face. Then the ceremony happens, with traditional blessings recited by really respected men.

Then more dancing, food and fun. Here's a picture of me at the wedding.

Love,
Karen

New York Trendy

Hi Mom,

Saw this sign while walking through Brooklyn today.

I don't buy it exactly, considering all the restaurants are still full and the rents are still high.

That said, it is easier to get a table at a nice restaurant, and to convince your landlord to bring the rent down a hundred bucks versus sending it skyrocketing, but isn't that really just the way it should have been from the get-go?

Classy times in New York City.

Love,
Karen

New Kicks

Hi Mom,

Check out my new shoes! I went to the Sketchers outlet and got this pair of fabulous orange kicks. They're sneakers but shiny, they come with both white and orange laces...and now they're mine (at a very reasonable price).

The only downside--people don't really wear sneakers in New York unless they're going to the gym. Or unless the sneakers are Converse. I'm not sure if it's an East Coast versus West Coast thing, if it's because people here just like to dress up for no reason at all, but they're very comfortable, so I'll give them a go...

Love,
Karen

Paint by number

Hi Mom,

Went exploring San Francisco today. They have a ton of great street art out here. This is one of my favorites. Times like these make me wish I had a panoramic lens. Though it would make my cell phone harder to fit in my pocket...

Love,

Karen

California Karen

Hi Mom,

Here's me drinking coffee at Isaac's house. It's beautiful out today, and three hours earlier than it is in Michigan.

It's almost time for me to get ready for my friend Michael's wedding, which is, other than the snow back in NYC, one of the main reasons I'm on this trek. I'm going to wear the blue dress with black lace, as it survived travel in the belly of a plane so well!

Love,
Karen

PS One more quick comment on that whole first-class ticket thing--you don't have to pay to check your bag. $25 savings!

Memphis?

Hi Mom,

Today I had the pleasure of the Memphis airport, my stopover en route to California. I took pictures of Elvis, sniffed out some excellent BBQ beans, and made my connection even though the plane was running late.

Added bonus: I traveled in the big seats. I booked using miles, which somehow resulted in my being able to pick a first class ticket. More on that later, but I have to tell you, it's possibly the only way to fly. I know, this presents some problems for future travel (including my coach return ticket), but wow. The food was tasty, the stewardesses were friendly, and nobody was sitting close enough to fall asleep on my shoulder.

Onward to California!

Love,
Karen