Frankenstorm Sandy...

Pitch black Lower East Side of Manhattan and flooded Williamsburg

The last few days have been horrific here on the East Coast.  I was lucky to be safe with friends bunked up in Chelsea during her wrath and had no serious damage.  Unfortunately, many people I know and thousands more weren't as lucky.  Walking around New York is heart breaking right now.  All of the southern part of the island is without power, people are walking/sitting in traffic for hours in order to get to work, visitors are stranded, and young kids everywhere were deprived of their favorite holiday of the year.  This doesn't even compare to the damage throughout New Jersey and other places on Sandra-D's direct path.  In times like this when we need to come together, and keep those sprits high!  One easy way to do it is to donate or volunteer.  Check out the American Red Cross for the disaster relief information or visit Time Out New York to find other available opportunities.  Hope everyone is staying safe... I <3 NY!

{Images from my Hurricane Sandy experience}

Power center at Centro, Kara's Bootcamp at Centro, the crimpled crane, intense game of Scrabble, rising water at the Hudson, making puppy chow, putting together a nice little spread, Naked Cowboy still entertaining stranded tourists, my bell man and I hiking to the UWS

Cause I've Gone to Carolina in my Mind

It was a fantastic weekend in Charleston, to say the least.  We celebrated the nuptials of one of my very first friends at IU and I got to see my best friend from Atlanta and her family. If you haven't had the opportunity to travel to Charleston, you should immediately.  It is breathtaking!  You get the feel of a historic charming Southern city, as well as having the beach at your finger tips. 

Rehearsal dinner, morning snuggs, butterfly and flowers at the farmer's market

The Katzenthal's rehearsal dinner was in the barn at Boon Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant.  It could not have been more perfect.  There was an incredible view overlooking the Cooper river, an acoustic guitarist, yummy Southern cooking, and everyone shared their hysterical and touching stories of the beautiful couple. The wedding took place at the William Aiken House in downtown Charleston the following day.  The garden was the perfect back drop for such a romantic occasion.  Every detail of the wedding was perfect (including the custom cloth napkins that matched the invitations!), thought out, and so Judith.  One of the most gorgeous and fun weddings I've been too.  Congrats Ju-Ju bean and Tony!

The rest of the weekend was spent anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby Gitter, who decided to stay holed up a bit longer.  I got to play with my favorite twin, Caroline, explore the farmer's market, and ate delicious meals at Al Di La, Black Magic and Nirlep.  Lyss lives steps from Folly Beach, so we spent Sunday relaxing and soaking up some rays.  It was absolute heaven. Hope y'all had a good weekend as well!

Folly Beach and the Cooper River bridge

My buddy and me

If you are ever in Charleston, here are additional restaurant recommendations:

Basil {strongly endorsed by Ju and Morgy}

Cru Cafe {Lyss' favorite}

FIG 

Hominy Grill

Husk

Mustard Seed

Tuesday Tunes

If you need a break from the awkwardness of this debate or the hilarity ensuing on Twitter, thanks primarily to Aziz Ansari, check out these tunes!

• Hot Like Sauce by Pretty Lights

• Flesh and Bones by The Killers (Jacques Lu Cont remix)

• Diamonds by Rihanna

• Mountain Sound by Of Monsters and Men 

• Sweet Nothing by Calvin Harris (ft. Florence Welch)

Weekend Snapshots

Here's a peek at what I was up to this past weekend {through the eyes of my iPhone}.  Hope y'all had a good one!

Wine and tapas at Osteria Cotta with mi ladies...

...1st birthday party for this adorable lil munchkin...

...a conversation with Christian Louboutin at the New Yorker Festival...

...drinks and dinner at Vinatta Project and Village Lantern to see our friend yuck it up...

 

...topped it off with a trip to Hoboken to check out the Landy's amazing new home!

Tuesday Tunes

I hope everyone had a nice Columbus Day!  It's another rainy Tuesday here in NYC but it can't put a damper on my excitement for Charleston this weekend.  I get to see one of my first friends at IU get hitched, and hopefully there will be an appearance by Baby Gitter ;)  In the meantime, here's some music to get you through the day.  Also, all of you should go see Perks of Being a Wallflower.  Besides having a killer soundtrack, it relayed a beautiful message about self acceptance and the power of friendship.


New Order by Temptation
 

On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons (This was a hard choice because the entire album is amazing.  For the full album you can listen here)

Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran

Madness by Muse

I Need Your Love by Ellie Goulding (ft. Calvin Harris)

Fall into NYC

There's always an array of things to do around NYC.  With all the different choices, its hard to keep up with everything and then *POOF* you miss the event, concert, exhibit, etc.  To keep track of what I'm looking forward to, and for ideas of things to add to your own list, here is my fall to-do list in the city.

•  The New Yorker Festival {October 5th - 7th}
• Diwali Festival of Lights at the Southstreet Seaport {October 7th}
• Dialog in the Dark Exhibit at the Southstreet Seaport
• Tatzu Nishi's "Discovering Columbus" Exhibit {through November 18th}
• "Regarding Warhol, Sixty Artists, Fifty Years" at the Met {through December 31st}
• Spa Week {October 15th to 21st} : $50 massage? Yes, please.
• New York Comedy Festival {November 7th-11th}
• ING New York Marathon {November 4th}: Watching.  Not running.  Hopefully in 2013!
• "Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture" at the American History Museum {November 17th}
• NYC Ballet at Lincoln Center
• Radio City Christmas Spectacular {November 9th-December 24th}
• Apple picking
• Go to a show at Joe's Pub
• Painting/BYOW class: Paintalong
• MoMA PS1 Sunday session
• Check out a Brooklyn Nets game at the new Barclay's Center
• Cheese tasting at Bedford Cheese Shop

Concerts I'm Jones-ing To Go To:

• Beirut {October 6}
• Ellie Goulding {October 11}
• The Walkmen {October 18}
• The Weeknd {October 15}
• CMJ Music Marathon {October 16-20}: Talib Kweli, Kimbra, Mountain Goats &  more
• Mike Snow {October 19}
• Justice (or Jooooostice depending on your state) {October 21}
• John Legend {October 29}
• Walk Off the Earth {October 31}
• Martin Solveig (November 10}
• Matt & Kim {November 15}
• Kreayshawn Presents Group Hug Tour{November 15}
• Of Monsters and Men {November 20}
• The Who {select dates from November 14-February 21}

Looks like I've got quite a lot to accomplish in the next few months.  I'll let you know how the progress goes, and let me know if you want to join in the fun or have additional recommendations!

{Thank you Time Out New York for many of the great ideas, such a great resource of fun)