To Date Or Not To Date...

Ever heard the saying, those who can't do, teach? When it comes to the relationship aspect of my life, that about sums me up. Growing up as everyone experienced the heartbreaks and drama of "falling in love", I was the one waiting with a tissue box ready to fix a friend's relationship problems. Dating was just not a priority and I just never had time for that sort of "distraction". After moving to New York, I was finally starting to settle and get comfortable with my new life, when my pushy mother insisted that it was time to start dating. As I tried to convince her that I was open to dating and the right guy just hadn't come around, she was quick to point out I only spend time with fabulous gays and work on weekends not leaving much time for any sort of dating life. It was comfortable, no feelings involved and just fun, well apparently I was missing this whole portion of life. So I opened my mind to the prospect of dating, and something very strange happened, the next guy I introduced myself to asked me out. Interesting how the world works. After stumbling through a first date and second guessing every word I had said, I was told by some seasoned pros that this is how it works. As someone who doesn't deal with not being in control of my emotions well, the idea of feeling nervous or unsure overwhelmed me, I had entered the dating zone. This parallel universe where complete strangers basically give their resumes to each other, while flirting and looking cute of course. I had been putting this off for a reason, because its very stressful! Fortunately there is a light at the end of the tunnel, after a shaky beginning, I started to enjoy myself and have fun, while getting to know someone. I have never had someone take me to fun, new places in the city or just call to see how my day is, and I have to admit, I really like it. To a new part of my life, who knows where it will lead...

Yaffa Cafe

So imagine a time warp to a 50's diner plus leopard wall paper and hot pink decor. Looks like a fun scene, but its just to distract you from the bad diner food. This is probably one of the only restaurants that I cant find a positive. This is not somewhere I will be going back anytime soon.

Spring on Stone Street

For anyone who lives downtown, this is cutest Wall St. hangout. On Stone street you can sit outside on the cobble stone street and grab a pizza and a drink. We had so much fun sitting outside and checking out the crowd. Now on the food, we had a pizza that would make any lettuce hater like me, rethink that green waste of time. We ordered a prosciutto and arugula pizza and also a four cheese pizza, so good! Then when we finally thought it was summer, we were freezing and quickly order cappuccinos and a little tiramisu, because why not. Try any restaurant on Stone Street, you will have so much fun.

Passover: An Excuse to Get The Family Gossip

Happy Passover! A holiday where you are suppose to drink at least four glasses of wine by the end of the meal and no one can get mad at you. I know every jewish family is big, but every year my family seems to multiply and the seder table gets longer. Here's how I sum up family time, it makes me grateful for my friends. Forget websites like TMZ and Perezhilton, I've got Nona Lucy, my great-grandmother, who is the sharpest woman I know, not only does she know whats going on with every member of her immediate family of 35, but she always has time to put on lip-liner and lipstick before a picture. My cousins have better networking skills then facebook, being strategically placed at different schools all over the city and all a few years apart to cover all their bases. Now its fun, but growing up I hated it, everyone knew everything about everyone, which my parents loved. Even living across the country my family knew about every roommate fight, night I went out, and snow storm I battled. Although it can be overwhelming, I honestly don't think I would have it any other way. I kinda feel bad for all those people with quiet, some what normal families, they miss out on all the stories. I could write a novel on just my relationship with my mother and grandmother, the three of us together are crazy, but we can't go a day without calling each other. Even though they drive me crazy sometimes, I love them all, I wouldn't fly back and forth just for weekends if I didn't. My family is my number one priority, which I have to explain every time I am half asleep in class tuesday morning after a weekend at home. To which ever relative is reading this right now, your my favorite, don't tell anyone! Sending out some family love on this holiday, have a good one.

Hanging On Bourbon Street

ITS FINALLY SPRING!! So we chose to go to a fun restaurant where we could sit outside. Bourbon Street Bar & Grill has such a fun vibe, with a huge bar and balcony with a DJ playing some fun music. We chose to sit outside and listen to all the street noise, because it was the first night we could! Since it is a southern style restaurant we started with hush puppies and then my friend Dave order a great filet and I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. Of course we finished with pecan pie and donuts, which were amazing! We sat for hours just enjoying the beginning of spring. We will be going back very soon!

Weather Teaser

After a beautiful week of sunshine, not wearing boots and being able to walk through Central Park again, the weather decided to abruptly turn. The monsoon outside had me fighting to get to work on time and still looking cute and kept me inside my room the size of a box during the night. I finally got to watch "When Harry Met Sally" and to everyone who told me this is my life in a nut shell, I got the message Deej and Jess, thanks . It also gave me some time to think about how I feel about New York. I've been so busy with school, work and flying back and forth. I have no idea what I want to do, I know the things I enjoy, but how do you choose just one thing? My biggest passion in life is music, but I don't know what to do with it. Its just not a reliable career choice to follow. I grew up going to work with my grandfather and being surrounded by the business world, and I think that is why from a young age I always enjoyed being at work. So I have a business brain, but all I want to do is sing, where does that leave me? It leaves me with no answers, and if you haven't already figured it out, I am a complete control freak, and not knowing my next step is makes me a nervous wreck. So after chewing on some Tums and seeing a college counselor to decide on a major, she tried to calm me down and explain how being undecided is okay. After thinking about it, I started to believe her and feel better about the whole thing. I just need to learn that I can't be in control all the time, and just have some fun. There are no consistency in my life right now, but what I've learned the last few months is that I can get through anything and be okay anywhere I go. So even though I don't know whats next, I know that I will be okay and find a way to, as Tim Gunn would say, make it work. Does this mean I'm growing up?

Friday Afternoon Ritual: French Roast

Dave and I go to French Roast every weekend, and basically can't function without it. Not only do they make the best coffee I have ever had, but the food is always perfect and the service is always great. There croque monsieur is out of this world! We always sit at the bar and throughly enjoy people watching. The crowd is an interesting mix of local regulars and tourist who are smart enough to find something amazing off the map. Juan, the coffee barista, always makes me a perfect cappuccino and never fails to make the foam on top a work of art. A visit to French Roast always starts my weekend off right!