wow

My manager is leaving to go back to grad school...big drama! 2 weeks left to soak up all the answers to every problem. sigh.

Long week

It's been a long hard week. In addition to my full time job, I squeezed in 20+ hours catering in the last three days. And it was not glamorous. It was hard and dirty and now I'm really tired. Last night I realized ten minutes after my bath that I had only shaved one leg- and this was at 2am. And today at work everything feels overwhelming- find myself on the verge of tears. I need to slow down I guess.

Last night could have been cool. It was the Apollo's 75th anniversary and they decked out the back parking lot in a completely white tent with white carpeting, huge chandeliers covering vines, gothic white mirrors: such a 70s vibe. But the party was teeming, the trays were huge and heavy, and I just wanted to sleep.

Sigh...

Deja Hood

So I have this thing in NYC where I won't go to a certain neighborhood for weeks or months, and then I go there three times in one week. It happened to me with the world trade center- I hadn't been there in a year and then I went there to cater, for an event and with friends all in one week. It's like NYC has a weird flux movement and certain places don't exist all the time- or maybe the city is just too big!

Dollhouse is renewed!

And Joss Whedon strikes again! Dollhouse picks up another season, which means I get more of my butt-kicking Faith/Echo/Buffy character and all the delightful Whedon-esque comedy, camp, wit and action. YAY! finally a good show makes the cut. Fox said it agreed to renew the show because Whedon picked up the pace and made the show more thriller-ish and actiony. well, whatever you have to do to survive :)

On set

Today I woke up and walked 10 blocks from my apartment to visit the set of Electric Company, a PBS Kids show. My department was offered this opportunity because we are in contact with their production office. It was a beautiful warm day in the green Jackie Robinson park, and I enjoyed watching them film a musical number involving a basketball dance, a Cyrano-like love song, and lots of pre-teens in bright clothing. It was nice to realize a perk to my job and be on set at a production again.

Real Esate Buzz

I was never really interested in real estate until I moved to NYC. But here in the city, people talk about real estate as a matter of course. In the same breath that they discuss the best subway routes or the best bars, or the newest movie/scandal/current events, New Yorkers talk real estate. They discuss the boundaries and flavors of different neighborhoods, the accessibility and benefits of living near different transit systems, the deals and the rip-offs, the social life and the quiet, landlords and supers, rents and fees, Chelsea & Hamilton Heights & Chinatown & Williamsburg. I find it fascinating- one particular, multi-faceted doorway to understanding this city and how it works.

Today in the NYT there was an article about how Hamilton Heights in Harlem is a good place for value (duh!). It was insultingly titled "Not a Dive after all!" as if anything that isn't below 96th st is baseline terrible. That's my hood now and where most of my friends have congregated because we can have nice, spacious, amenity half-filled apartments at a reasonable price and a reasonable commute. But the NYT just had this attitude like a secret had been discovered when in fact it has been a long buzzed about 'hood among people my age -less of a commute than Sunset Park, Astoria or Bushwick; less pricey than W'burg; and a twenty minute ride to the heart of the West Village for as much night life as you can stand. Their example was three girls paying $750 each for a fifth floor walk up three bedroom with a dish washer and a washer/dryer. I pay $750 for a fifth floor elevator building with laundry in the basement and only one roommate! And it wasn't particularly hard to find, either. And one of my friends pays $800 for a three bedroom in Hell's Kitchen at 43rd st and 11th Ave- fourth floor walk up with a nice sized living room. Another pays $900 total for a studio on 137th st on the BC line- and it is so cute with pre-war detailing and a great fireplace.

Endlessly fascinating!

No longer waiting for Godot

So this week has been pretty awesome! NYC's really letting me have it with all the culture/arts/celebrity funtastic city times. Bring it on NYC. bring. it. on.

The fun continued last night when the BF & I had one of our great date nights. We went to see Waiting for Godot through Roundabout Theater. It just got nominated for 2 Tonys, yay! Starred Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman & John Glover. Really well acted and interesting and intellectual and funny and uncomfortable and weird and sympathetic- well everything this play is supposed to be. Then because we are Hiptix members we went to the after party at the Iguana club with free wine, dinner and a cool band. It was just a blast. :)

Time 100

When I found out I was catering the Time 100 most influential people party, I flipped through a copy of the magazine. I thought to myself, it's too much to hope for Michelle or Brad- but just give me one or two minor celebs and I will be happy.

Then I arrived at the Time party to find out that secret service was there because Michelle Obama was the guest of honor. We all had to wear catering security badges. I got my assignment and found out that my partner table was the VIP (and I mean V-I-P with emphasis) table. So they took the four waiters aside and gave us golden apples to pin on our uniforms. This signified to the secret service that we were allowed to approach the table with Michelle. Any other waiters were not allowed past the golden apple zone. That golden apple is now one of my treasured mementos :)

The evening just got better from there. While I was manning coat check, OPRAH strolled in with Gale and Baraba Walters and went over to hug Diane Sawyer. The photogs went wild and I just stared in awe. Oprah was also at the VIP table apparently with Lorne Micheals (who I never saw). After her I saw Tavis Smiley, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Dan Barber, the Twitter Guys, Somaly Mam, JJ Abrams and Suze Orman (at my table).

But then...MICHELLE OBAMA arrives looking stunning in a tight fitting black gown with a black satin corset and long dangly necklaces. She gave an amazing speech about giving back to one's community and was gracious and very compelling. Love!
Michelle and Oprah on gawker. This was my view if I turned my back to the stage.

But then...A.R. RAHMAN (also at the VIP table) comes on stage- which is literally five feet from me- and performs two songs! Amazing. 

Then they did spotlight toasts and Oprah spoke, and STELLA MCCARTNEY spoke, and the Twitter guys tweeted. Stella brought LIV TYLER AND KATE HUDSON as her girl posse and they spent the night playing with each other's hair and rocking dagger like stilettos. (Liv in lacy black and Louboutin, Kate in all white with gold heels). 

But then...freakin' JIMMY FALLON runs onto the stage with his guitar and hilariously roasts the guests. He said that Michelle was in a new comic book fighting her arch nemesis- sleeves :) 

But then...JOHN LEGEND took the stage with a full band to end the evening with a four song set. Amazing! His girlfriend was there and didn't pay attention most of the time he was singing but I sure did and so did Whoopi who was mouthing the words to some of the songs. 

Amazing night and I got paid to attend!

check out the red carpet video from time.com  time 100 red carpet