We've Moved.

Although it was sad to leave New York City and move to Philadelphia, in cyberland it's really not that far.  Just click here for our new location: Sh*t Philadelphians Do.  Yes, Philadelphians do cool sh*t too, New Yorkers. Don't be a snob.

See you there!

We Leave.

I did it. I left New York City. I am now a resident of Philadelphia as we speak.  Wowza...It's offish!

With my first two weeks of Philly living behind me, I realized I have neglected the land 'o the blog for quite some time. I knew it was bound to happen since Fiance-Matt and I were so wrapped up in moving, but my apologies nonetheless.  To fill you in on the gaps of the past month, here's a quick run-through of the events that occurred. 

My last weekend in Manhattan was awesome. Long-time Bestie Paige came to visit. Though we were supposed to spend most of Saturday packing, we ended up eating macarons, shopping for extra large Michael Kors rose gold watches, dining at Lord Disick's restaurant, having "drinks" (and by drinks I mean watered down juice with a splash of alcohol) at a bar filled with fresh post-college-grads (we felt old), and attempting to get into a gay bar.  'Twas a good way to end my 4.5 years in New York :)

A little arm party. Paige on top, friend-Matt in the middle, me on the bottom. Woop!

Matt & Paige at Ryu.

Our chopstick-wands for the evening :) Best part of the night. 

Cab fun.

The last week at work in NYC was hectic, but I had a fabulous work happy hour. Bunches of my dear co-workers and friends came to see my off. Sadly I didn't get any pictures so you will just have to use your imagination to visualize accountants at a bar being happy for an hour.

As for the move itself, my awesome sister Meg and bro-in-law Jeremy, my muscle-man fiance-Matt, and his parents came to help us move.  Matt, Jeremy and Matt's dad did the heavy lifting and finished the move out of the NY apartment in just over an hour... amazing! Of course Meg and I did important things like watch over the U-haul, secure parking spots and galavant to the local deli to pick up cold beverages for the men-folk.  A few images of Meg working hard....

Meg holding down the parking spot. She's a wo-manimal.

Providing the workers with a little entertainment.. a song and jig, if you will.

Work it, work it! That's her jammmmm, y'all.

Oh yes, we were moving, too.

Oh what, you were trying to lift heavy furniture? I'm sorry! I don't care.. I need a hug!

Men men men, me-men me men men. Mennnnnn.

And the last picture of this blog... My parting image of New York as we drove away. But no fear my friends: I will be starting a new Philadelphia blog shortly and will link this one to it.  Stay tuned!

Puffin: Fact or Fiction?

This one looks like a swanky old man. Photo courtesy of puffinpalooza.com.

Do you know what a puffin is? I didn't... until last week.  Well, that is not entirely true. For most of  my existence, I had never even heard of a puffin.  Then, in my 19th year of life (2003... Lord, I'm getting old), when I saw the film "Elf," I heard of a puffin for the first time. Still, I thought these so-called puffins were merely magical creatures of the Arctic created just for the movie, and that they didn't truly exist.  Do you recall the scene in "Elf" when Buddy is running through a snowstorm, and a cute little bird asks him a question, and Buddy yells, "Not now, Arctic Puffin!"? Well that was my first puffin encounter (youtube video clip: arctic puffin from elf.). 

Now, 9 years later, I have had yet another puffin-epiphony: during a visit with Fiance-Matt to Bar Harbor, Maine last weekend I learned the truth that these animals are in fact REAL.  The realization was gradual, though.  When Matt and I first arrived in misty Bar Harbor, I saw a building with a sign that read "Whales & Puffins." (The sign is pictured on the building below, but difficult to see).  When I first saw this sign, my wheels began to spin.  "Are puffins real? I thought they were made-up and only in Elf?" I pondered to myself.  But then I got distracted by the beautiful scenery surrounding us, and didn't think much more on the subject.

After a lovely stroll through the town, we made our way back to the main street in search of some sustenance.  En route, we passed the "Whales & Puffins" sign yet again, and I was once more forced to confront my seemingly solid beliefs about the puffin.  As we passed the sign for the second time, I was thinking that it was quite odd that a whale-watching adventure company would adverstise real whales with some mythical animal. Yet once again, I didn't get hung up on the issue, but rather suppressed the thought to the depths of my subconscious.  I moved on to more important things, like tracking down clam chowder and a lobster roll, which we ultimately found at Geddy's, and adorable establishment right in the hub of Bar Harbor (clam chowder was delicious, the lobster roll, not so much). 

However, the issue of the puffin was not to be avoided that day.  Just as we were finishing up our meal, I saw yet another trace of the puffin --- a Maine license plate with a drawing of two puffins, and motto on it that read "Home of the puffin" (see below).  This confirmed it. The puffins were real, in all their cute, fluffy glory.  I exclaimed to Matt, "Look! The puffins are on the Maine license plate. They are real!" Immediately following this revelation, my eyes began to well up with tears at the thought of this beautiful creature which once only existed in my mind, yet was actually real all along.  And not only was it real, but it was adorable.  "I want a puffin," I declared, as my face scrunched up into a cry-shape.  Matt couldn't resist calling attention to my emotional reaction, "Your'e going to cry, aren't you?" he probed (while also laughing at me). Yes, yes I was. I cried. A soft, gentle, keep-it-somewhat-to-yourself type cry, but I cried.  About a puffin.

The puffin license plate -- the cause of my tears.

Post-puffin meltdown.

Perhaps the best part of all this was when on Friday night, at our final apartment party, I was recalling the story to one of my dear friends, Paige.  I was telling her that all along I thought that puffins were fake, just like the Narwhal which was another imaginary creature in the movie "Elf."  Paige just about began to crumble with laughter.  "Narwhals are real, too, Jenny!!!"  Oh my. Apparently I have some brushing up to do on my animal science.  And apparently I'm now also in the market for a puffin.  Please let me know if you gotta guy.  

snuggly fluffy puffin :)

Pre-puffin revelation.

Top 8 Google Searches

This is how I feel when I check blog stats. 

One of my favorite parts about blogging is checking the stats (i.e., number of views each post gets, and the relevant traffic sources).  However, apparently one of the blogging commandments is that you shall not check your blog stats obsessively. I guess I have blasphemed the blogging gods.  I love checking the statisticals. Even if they are depressingly low, I cannot resist.  I even created an Excel spreadsheet that includes the total views per post, and the number of days each post is in existence, thereby allowing me to calculate the average views per day, and rank each post accordingly. I now give you permission to call me a nerd.  

Anythewho. Not only do I take strange delight in checking the stats, but I also particularly enjoy seeing what Google searches have led readers to my writing refuge.  Below is a count-down of my Favor-Eight (do you get it? Do you like what I did with that??) searches:

8) "Is making collages crazy?"  I don't know.  Is your face crazy?

7) "Do new yorkers talk to strangers?" Yes, yes we do! I'm glad my post was able to answer this life-altering question.

6) "Gay fashionista marries boyfriend" Apparently this led someone to one of my fashion forward posts, though I don't believe I addressed any such subject.

5) "How do new yorkers dress?" I must say that I am quite honored that my blog is a result for such a search.  I feel so fames! 

4) "How do new yorkers say hi to each other?"    Sometimes we say, "hi." Or "hello."  Or, "step off, birtch!" (JK - I never speak in such a manner). 

3) "Hide drinking from conservative roommates"  The real question here is who searches this and expects to find legit advice on the world wide web?  My post really has nothing to do with the topic, but whatevs.

2) "Am I going to meet Tim Tebow?" Can I tell you that I LOVE the fact that my engagement post is the NUMBER 2 search result for this?  Also, to whomever searched this, the internet is not a magic eight-ball.  Please consult your local psychic.  Or your common sense.  The answer is probably "no." Unless of course you're a gator.  Chomp Chomp.

And lastly, my absolute favorite....

1) "Carlos bakery nude"  Oh my. Whoever performed this search, please stand up.  I must know who you are.  Were you wondering whether you could go into Carlos' Bake Shop nude?  Do tell.  This one is just simply amazing. 

And on that note.. Good night!

New Philly Blog Name - Accepting Ideas, Please.

In case you haven't heard the news yet, Philadelphia will be my new city beginning in t-minus 27 days.  Fiance- Matt and I are moving to the City of Bromance in just under 1 month.  Woop Woop (and tear, tear)! Anyway one of the largest dilemmas I face with regards to moving is deciding on whether to change the name of this blog, and if so, to what?  I am taking suggestions! I've had a few ideas: some involve keeping the title to "Sh*t New Yorkers Do" and just adding a Philly-reference sub-line, and others are changing the title completely.  However, none have jumped out at me yet, so I need your help.  Please and thank you!

Photo courtesy of Urban Eye Blog

Photo courtesy of PRSA Philadelphia

We PARTY

Last night we had our final 9J apartment party.  Three of us are moving out and Jill is staying and moving on with new roomies. Although I'm incredibly excited to be making a change in location (Philadelphia, if you didn't know) and life, I am more than sad to be leaving the life I've had for 3 years of coming home every night to some of my best friends.  I could get really mushy right now, but since I don't want to cry at the moment (I already cried this week about puffins -- did you know they were real?!), I'll keep this upbeat! Here's a glimpse of some of my favorite parties over the years.  :)

*******

Halloween Pumpkin party. Pumpkin carving, hot apple cider, roasted pumpkin seeds, banana bread, apple cider donuts. Need I say more?

Mmm yummers. Pumpking gook.

Some sweet carving.

One Shady Night (my 25th birthday party).  There was only one requirement for this celebratory evening: everyone wear sunglasses.  Our night began with a 22A pre-party with dancing, strawberries & champagne & pretty headbands for my favorite ladies :) We then migrated to our ultimate destination, Pheobes NYC, for the main event.  The night closed out perfectly when "Sunglassess at Night" played just for me. :)

Pre-party. Jaclyn flew up for the occasion. :)

Sissy flew up, too, the night before. So spontaneous! 

Strawberries & champagne @ the preparty.

Sporting our sunglasses. At night.

The original 22A: Jill, me and Kelly.

Shaking my groove thang.

Party essentials: champagne, shades, chocolate, flowers.

Plaid party.  Though I wasn't the host, it was one of my fave NYC house parties hosted by my then-new friend, Fred.  One night Jill and I suggested we have a plaid party, and Fred ran with it.  Awesome time.

Me and Fiance-Matt. This was one of our first hang-outs as a couple. Early signs of a bright future :)

Roommate Matt and Jill (with long hair!)

Randomonium. Just a fun night of dancing on the town with the original 22A girls at Pheobe's (apparently the hot spot that year).

Jill's infamous straw.. perfect for getting free drinks!

Me proud of my catch.  Also quite sweaty.

Party @ the Pier (Jill's birthday).  Picnic, games, friends. What more could you ask for?

Fiance, me, Heather and Jeff. Love my peeps :)

22A (version 2)

Master piece!

Egg toss. Bringing it back old school.

Halloween Party (Numero dos). Soooo this was a fun one. We intended on having an open house to meet our neighbors. What ensued was an adventurous night of Jill and I recruiting neighbors via knocking on doors and singing them a Halloween rap, and handing out flyers in the lobby. Shameless I tell you, shameless.  Don't be a jelly-bean.

Sexy skeleton. 

Devising our recruiting strategy.

Flyering.  They only thought we were a little cray cray.

Taking a break to get our scare on.

Inter-floor traveling in between rap performances.

Pink Party (my 26th birthday).  Perfect celebration with everything PINK! Pink balloons on the wall served as the guest book.  Mini pink cupcakes with pink sugary sparkles. All topped off with a pink wig from Heather (I may or may not have used the name "Candy" that night).

Fiance showing his support by wearing a pink polo. Thanks BAYYBBB!

Me and Els. Dancing it up. 

Me, Erica and Eleanor enjoying the mini pinks. 

Love at first hair-grab.

9J Housewarming/My 27th birthday. Most rambunctious festivities I have ever partaken in.  We got shut down at 2AM by a grumpy neighbor lady yelling at me for acting like we were in an "F-ing dormitory." Woopsies! (it was worth it though :)

Miami vice. Bronze and loving it.

Collage of 9J roomies made by Matt :)

Surprised by a cake straight from Carlo's bake shop. 

Matt's bday at Stout.  More cake and friends!

And last but not least...

Our Final 9J party (last night). Sprinkles cupcakes, dollars flying everywhere, and dance party central. Such fun :)

Hand crafted Facebook ads by Matt. 

Showing Jill some extra love.

Paige came! 2 of my longest time friends :)

And that's all, folks.  My time here is almost a wrap, but you can bet your bottom dollar the party will continue on in PHILLY! WOOOP!