"Welcome to New York... NOW DIE!"

The NY Post never fails to grab my attention with their headlines.


This one was particularly sharp and no doubt reflects what's on most New Yorkers' minds when someone like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed comes to town to stand trial for his part in the most deadly attack on American soil.

While on the subject of the NY Post, here are a few more memorable headlines...

Greenpoint, Mermaids, and Football

Over the weekend I found myself crossing the Pulaski Bridge from Queens to Greenpoint Brooklyn, looking for an artist's studio where my friend Natalie (pictured above) was told she could get an excellent mermaid costume (typical Sunday, why do I even blog about these things?).

Here are some pictures from the bridge:



We trekked across the bridge and wandered through the industrial riverside streets of Greenpoint looking for Carri Skoczek's studio, which we found in a beautiful old building on the northernmost part of Greenpoint.


As it turns out, Carri's mermaid costume skills were quite impressive. Last year she provided Harvey Keitel with his costume when he was crowned at the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade (pictured below).

Natalie's costume (which I didn't think to snap a picture of for some reason) did not disappoint.

From Greenpoint, we rushed to Fort Greene just in time for Sunday football.

Here I am reviewing some plays:


It was a wonderful afternoon in a part of town I had not seen before and I look forward to the next chance I have to further explore it.

Meet Me in Montauk...

For the Labor Day weekend this year, Gina and I decided to do a simple day trip to Montauk, the farthest part of Long Island. Personally, I never knew anything about Montauk but for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.



As a native Californian, there was something very odd about being at a beach, with all of the familiar smells of the salt water, barbecues, sunscreen, and surf wax, but being surrounded by pasty New Yorkers - like a weird collision of worlds.

In any case, Montauk was beautiful and it was great to again feel sand between my toes and a cool ocean breeze on my face. Great way to spend a day.

Gina on the train ride to Montauk (about 2 1/2 hours each way...)


Literally the end of the track...

We had a beautiful walk along Fort Pond from the train station.



A busy and beautiful afternoon along the shore...


Action shot!


A local told us these things were harmless jellyfish. They were everywhere...


Me and Gina enjoying the sunshine



More cool macro shots from Gina. One notable difference between Montauk and the beaches in California was the abundance of crab carcasses all over the beach (not pictured...)


The shoreline properties were so beautiful - but wouldn't it be terrible to be right on the water for the 4 months of winter?





There were long stretches of undisturbed beachfront punctuated by busy coves like this:


Here's a very short video Gina took of the waves that day. I'm sure that in the coming months, as summer turns into fall and fall into winter, I'll be playing this on repeat.



Happy Labor Day!

High Line, The Frying Pan, and a Recap

Turns out, this blog is still breathing.

It has been way too long since I've written anything. I blame it on wrapping up law school and taking the bar - two things I did over the last few months and neither of which I am going to write about. I'm happy to be done with school and the bar (well, fingers crossed on that one) and I'm looking forward to returning to a the normality of living and working in the city and posting more great experiences.

This summer Gina and I had the fortune of having two of our brothers (Vincent and Charles) in town together for about a week. If this week has reminded me of anything, it's how incredibly satisfying it is simply being out and about in New York City during good weather. A meandering afternoon through a neighborhood or two somehow becomes one of the best things you've done in ages (again this may have something to do with my 3 months in a library studying for the bar).

As the sun was going down last Sunday, Vincent, Charles, Gina, and I decided to take a stroll through from the West Village, through Chelsea, to The High Line - something Gina and I had been meaning to see for the last 3 years but never seemed to get around to. Turns out, it's a fantastic place to be as the sun comes down.

From the left, me, Charles, and Vincent (who knows how to not ruin a picture)

Sometimes I forget how magnificent the Empire State Building is.










The High Line happens to be near one of my absolute favorite places in New York City (during the summer anyway): The Frying Pan. When I think about my favorite summer moments in New York City, images of sitting out on a dock in the Hudson, with a cold beer and good friends, with the city skyline as a backdrop, all come to mind.

Another wonderful August sunset along the Hudson River with good people...



A nice view of Hell's Kitchen and midtown.

Charles and myself discussing the pros and cons of supply-side economics (or The Simpsons, whatever...)

Since my last blog entry in November, Gina got a new camera with a "super macro" feature - expect more of these cool pics...


More of Gina's super-macro skills...


The new camera also has a cool panoramic feature too...



Vincent with another pitcher...




Come to think of it, since the last blog I think Gina and I have brought a few people to the Frying Pan. If I don't sound like a broken record yet, check out the Frying Pan...

Here with my older brother Miguel...

...And here with our good friends Erin and Misha. Sweet.


The blog entry before this one was in early November and it is now late August. During all of those months there were many things that happened that certainly were blog-able (consider that last word coined). Here are a few highlights from those months:

Tamales

In December Gina and I threw an epic tamale party where we (somehow) packed about 50 people into our modest apartment. We hope to do another tamale party for the next holiday season...

Let the cooking begin!


A bit of the ingredients...


La Casa, just beginning to burst at the seams...


Yes, the tamale pot is so glorious (so glorious) that I have to use a stepladder to use it...


Food!



Until next year, friends...


Winter Football

Coming from southern California (where the temperature hovers around 72 degrees all year), playing football in the snow sounded like the coolest idea ever. Some friends of mine, via Zogsports, organized a team of half-serious young professionals to compete for charity. Well, it was cold...really cold and, as it turns out, I can't remember football plays to save my life (I know, I know, we had 5 plays). Still it was a lot of fun and I think I might do a second round next year.

Robert Repino, the "Oxford Commas" coach and fearless leader, blogged regularly about our season. Check it out HERE.

Pre-game huddle. Go team!


Me and Daniel...


Yeah, the whole snow thing did lose its novelty after a game or two...


Singleton Show

As some of you may know, Daniel and I have been trying to play shows here in the city ever since we've both lived here. In April, when our good friend and drummer Mitch was visiting, we practiced for a few days and played in the West Village at Kenny's Castaways (a venue that hosted Bruce Springsteen's first NYC gig and has seen the likes of Aerosmith, Patty Smith, and the Ramones).

The band (myspace page HERE) is still working out its kinks but there will definitely be more shows in the future.

Daniel Gurzi on lead guitar, Ben Fliegel on mandolin, and yours truly on bass...






From left: me, Mitch Talavera, Daniel Gurzi, and Ben Fliegel...


Graduation

I moved to New York City to go to law school. Everything up until last May had been about law school. It is fair to say that many of my associations with this city had to do with the fact that I came here and continued to be a student here. When I graduated last May, it really did feel like the end of an era. (Where does the time go? Wasn't it just the other day when I was a terrified 1L writing the first blog entry?). Wow.


Well here was the big day...

With my parents...


...And Gina, Brooke, and Daniel....


Whoo hoo!

Thanks for reading. I promise to be a responsible blogger from here on and keep this posted.

Celebration in the Streets of Harlem

As I'm writing this I can still hear people in the streets outside shouting "Obama" and honking their car horns. Obama won the presidency and I had the fortune of being able to run through the streets with good friends and ecstatic members of the community on this epic election night. The historical significance of tonight is palpable and I'm so grateful to have been able to celebrate in Harlem.

Obama / Biden 2008!

Really?

So I guess the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle sells Ostrich Eggs... Yup.


Is this a high-class indulgence? What on earth do you do with these things? I am incredibly curious and would love to buy one, but at $40 a pop, my cheapness is going to keep me from trying what would have been an epic omelet...



The above ostrich shares my confusion...

Capsized in the Hudson...

"Hey Alex, what did you do Wednesday?"

"Wednesday? Oh, that was the day my kayak capsized in the Hudson... twice."

So I'm not a very good kayaker. But it was actually a lot of fun. Gina and I read (in our Cheap Bastard's Guide to NYC - thanks Becky) about this place at Pier 96 that lets you take a kayak out on the Hudson for free. Wednesday nights are reserved for free kayaking classes, which is when we showed up. Everyone there was really cool and the water was full of people of varying degrees of experience and skill.




Gina, as it turns out, has superb paddling skills and surprised everyone when a game of kayak-polo developed (I was just struggling to stay afloat). Here she is post-game...


Here are some pics of the waterfront at 56th Street. Beautiful part of town (despite the salty "freshwater"). These grainy blackberry pics don't do the scenery any justice though...



Despite the capsizing, I'm pretty sure we'll be back next week. What a great city.

[The New York City Downtown Boathouse has more kayaking info...]