Getting Wierd in Austin

This past weekend, I headed down to Austin for Missy & Rob's wedding. Missy was my roommate in NYC for a few years and Rob is her marathon running, Minnesota lovin' now hubbie.


It was my first time in Austin and it was pretty much love at first site. With 90 degree weather, BBQ food trucks, live music, and it's hard to go wrong. I know I'll be back, hopefully just sooner than later.

Queso on the lake

The happy couple

Food Truck Heaven

The W Austin

Weekend Review

It was another great weekend in the city. The super moon, start of spring, mild weather, and Duke win put everyone in a good mood. New Yorkers seemed to lose their edge for a few days and all was right in the world.

Drink

Friday night we hit up the Ace Hotel Lobby Bar a great bar in midtown with a cool hipster vibe. The shamncy cocktails weren't the best I've had, but they did serve Abita Lights and I started getting jazzed about my upcoming trip to New Orleans. But I also pondered the contraction of a bar like this in a hotel in midtown Manhattan. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but is a histper a hispster if they are on 28th and Broadway?

Detox
The main part of the detox efforts this weekend was an hour and 45 min long yoga class on Saturday. On the weekends, Yogamaya hosts master classes that are D.J.ed live; this weekend DJ Hyfi was on the turntables. It was pretty rad and there were some kick ass yogis there.


Drink
Saturday night after some sushi and some basketball, I met up with my cousin at the Macao Trading Company. I'm pretty sure it looks nothing like Macao, but more of a disney-fied version of a generic Asian resto/bar/lounge; it kind of reminded me of an Asian version of an old school TGI Fridays. But, what the decor lacked the mixologists made up for. There were the obligatory homemade bitters and fancy facial hair, but my gin fizz was frothy, not creamy, and there was no trace of an eggy smell.


Caffeine

On Sunday Alison introduced me to Birch, a coffee shop in the Gershwin Hotel. It was more than a coffee shop, with 2 beer taps, a decent wine list and a full(ish) menu. I'm all for sustainable growing, organic ingredients, and hipster baristas but I'm not down with this trend of banning laptops in coffee shops. Why the hate on computers? If these independent shops think that people are going to converse and meet each other, they are forgetting they are in New York.

Nicest day of 2011 (so far)

It's an insanely beautiful day I escaped work in just enough time to enjoy the sunshine and replenish some of the vitamin D that I am lacking. I headed straight to the roof, with my stolen Food & Wine magazine in hand, listened to some Bibio (listen to lover's carvings) and drifted off. My roof is quite nice and I started brainstorming all the different brunches and dinners and hangouts that I can and should have up there this spring/summer. At the top of the list are mimosas and mini bagel sandwiches, Malbec and empanadas, and of course mojitos and guac. You all are invited.

Last night was more mellow than expected. A sign that we are growing old? Instead of drunken debauchery, a plan to detox for all of April was discussed (we will see if it happens). And, I was inspired by the wrong country when I got dressed and ended up in a Canadian Tuxedo. Some pics of the bars and the epic outfit...

 

The Maddness of March

As a Duke alumnus, I am required to at least be aware of NCAA basketball and March Maddness. Although I have no skin in the game or dinero on the line, I made a bracket in efforts to make watching this much basketball bearable/bording on fun (cheerleading is a favorite pastime of mine). I peppered in my commentary and why I chose the team. Clearly I have Duke winning but this is only because BC didn't make the tourney. Just a few justifications:

• My brother gets mad when Clemson loses. I don't want him to get mad but they kind of suck to Sweet 16 it is
• While I don't like the Gators per se, I like my friends who went there.

Coming Out of Hibernation

It has been a while, I know. I've taken a long hiatus after my travels and moving and starting my job and moving again and surviving the winter from hell. But I think it's time to start this blogging thing again. There are no crazy trips scheduled, just some long weekends, so the posts will feature things and events in my daily life in NYC. And this time I want comments. Please :)

So this week has been pretty tame but there are few ridiculous things I want to share. Tuesday, I mastered the side crow in yoga class. My arms are ripped and I often think of Madonna and how she uses yoga to stay in shape. I once wore a Kabbalah bracelet for 2 years and I'm trying to improve my singing by singing along to American Idol. Madonna and I are kindred spirits. I'm ridiculous. *Image is neither of me or Madonna but it is the side crow.

Yesterday I bought a table for my living room and so for the first time in NYC, I have a table to eat dinner at. Thank you to Adam Roumm for carrying it back to my apartment twice (I will spare you the details). Yay for dinner parties. It only really fits two people but it's in my nature to be ambitious. First person to comment on this post gets dinner cooked by me at my new table!

Tonight should be a good time so I hope I have some ridiculousness to report tomorrow.