Ode to a City

               

There are good cities and there are great cities. But the best city of all in my opinion is the one and only New York City. The Grande Dame of metropolises, I have had the pleasure of making her acquaintance on several occasions and each time I crave more. More buildings, more shopping, more museums, more food, more everything. For people that enjoy city life, it is the city. The moment you land at JFK or LGA (or dare I say Newark) you realize you are someplace special. Like, Paris and London, it is one of those cities that transcends even itself. It is so frequently the setting of movies and books that you feel like you know it even when you have never been. But make no mistake, YOU MUST GO! Walking through Central Park on a beautiful day before eating the crab cake sandwich at Sarabeth's is worth the price of the flight alone.

There are a million and one things to do in the city but if you've never been before do all the touristy things first. Because, unlike a lot of other cities, the touristy crap is actually really great. C'mon people, it is THE Statue of Liberty, THE Empire State Building, THE Met, THE Radio City Music Hall, THE Plaza. Don't pretend that stuff isn't pretty fucking awesome.

One of the best ways to figure out what is going on in the city is picking up a copy of New York magazine or looking on their website at nymag.com. I spend an inordinate amount of time on that website even when I am not planning a trip. The content is hilarious and reflective of all the things I like about New Yorkers - smart, informed, and at times unabashedly shallow. Their approval matrix is a highlight of my week.

Three of my favourite things about NY, NY:

1. The three B's: Bergdorfs, Bendels, and Barneys.

2. The music scene: It's unreal. Every artist from everywhere plays NYC, often for multiple nights and on multiple occasions.

3. The New York Times is the local paper. THE LOCAL PAPER!

In the words of Ferris Bueller... it is so choice....

Girls Gone Bike

Ah, biking in the city. Is there any better feeling? Whizzing past the honks and horns of cars, finding new and faster ways to get around town while trying to avoid those nasty hills. Biking in Toronto is always a lot of fun, and while not as bike friendly as Montreal, is still a pretty safe mode of transportation. Whenever spring comes around I have big aspirations for me and my bike. I say "my bike" but I don't actually own one at the moment. For the past few years I have either borrowed one or picked one up for the season but I have yet to find a bike worth holding onto. I am convinced that if I found the perfect bike I would actually stick to my springtime plans of biking all summer instead of giving up around July.

I hate to admit it but I have a hard time sacrificing fashion for biking. If I want to bike somewhere it generally means I have to wear certain clothes (pants or shorts) with certain shoes (closed-toe flats, with good grippy bottoms) and carry a bag big enough to tote around a helmet all day. And this bothers me. And it bothers me, that it bothers me. I just want to be one of those cool girls that hops on her bike no matter what, no matter where. The Sartorialist teases me with all these beautiful pictures of gorgeous ladies riding around town in just about anything. I think I should just stick to my plan of getting my friend Geoff to double me on his bike to all my appointments. Cause nothing looks cooler than two people, one bike.

Sandwich Monday

Hands down my favourite condiment is mustard - and classic Maille dijon can do no wrong in my books. It makes almost any sandwich a work of art and I always make sure to have some in my arsenal. Last year I spent a ridiculous amount of time perfecting a sandwich that has been universally approved by my friends and colleagues. It doesn't really have a name but the flavours come together blissfully.

Ingredients

Chicken breast (sprinkled with rosemary)

Granny Smith Apple (cut thinly)

Brie

Dijon mustard

Caraway rye bread slices

Served with a side of greens, this sandwich is always dressed to impress.

La Musique

While some people associate memories with a scent, I almost always associate it with a song. Or a series of songs. Or a band. In good times and bad, music has always provided me with a sense of "rightness". That is to say, a particular song can make a good moment even better or a bad moment just that much worse.

Consequently, I just don't get it when people aren't into music. They clearly have never had that feeling. You know, the one where you hear a certain song and something inside of you just starts moving. And you're smiling, and suddenly the whole day melts away and it's just you and this song and it is as if the song was written just for you. And of course it is! Because obviously no one in the world could connect with this song the way you are, at this moment, in this place, with these emotions. 

There are three bands in particular lately that rock my socks. Mumford & Sons is a group from the UK who sing with such emotion that you can't help but be reminded that life is to be lived with vigor. Yeasayer is an outrageously awesome group whose clever arrangements make me want to dance every time. And Frightened Rabbit. That voice is the butter on my baguette of life.

Mumford & Sons, The Cave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y

Yeasayer, Ambling Alp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKXujEphWS8

Frightened Rabbit, Swim Until You Can't See Land

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY

Showing a little pomp and pride at Toots & the Maytals, Brooklyn, NY 2009.

The Beginning

There is no better time than the present. After years of trolling the blogging-sphere I thought it about time that I started one of my own. I have a million ideas and no ideas, all at the same time. Before putting them into words I've decided to post some of my favorite images that I have collected over the past months. They all make me smile. Every. Single. Time.