...was once New Amsterdam. Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople. And that's just where we're headed. I love New York but in the summer, I'm always itching for a getaway.
So today, Sam and I are headed to Turkey and new guestblogger, Adam, is trekking to Iceland. Stay bitten and follow this travel bug. In the meantime, enjoy the preview for (500) Days of Summer. Yes, I'm still fixated on this movie and I highly recommend you see it.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
(500-485) Days of Summer
Summer is fleeting and I'm not one of the funemployed so technically my 500 days of summer are rounding out to around 15. Let's not count the days and let's just make the most of it. I'm hoping to catch the summer romantic comedy before my trip to Turkey this Friday.
In the meantime, I've fallen head over heels in love with these Kate Spade shoes.
Stay smitten. Stay bitten ;)
In the meantime, I've fallen head over heels in love with these Kate Spade shoes.
Stay smitten. Stay bitten ;)
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
I was walking home from the bike race for charity this past Sunday afternoon. You know the bike race where I managed to get a flat tire before I even got to the Hudson River Valley? Correction. I got the flat in front of FAO Schwarz and was stopped by a man in a yellow unitard. This is the same bike race where I nearly ran over a squirrel which was shortly after I got pulled over by a cop whilst riding a bike. It would have been ideal if the Hudson River Valley had less hills. Regardless of all the speed bumps, we raised money for a worthy cause, laughed a lot and enjoyed a bike ride outside the intimidating city streets. Afterwards, I was walking around my neighborhood and came across this guy on the street corner painting portraits of MJ.
Had he been working the corner two weeks ago, I could have brought one of these paintings over to my friends' Soho loft for their Michael Jackson Appreciation party.
The Thriiiiiller hosts. It's arguable that Jeff knew the Thriller dance from 13 Going on 30.
For the record, Karla didn't have to buy or borrow anything to make her costume.
She's that good.
Kind of inappropriate but kind of really funny.
Had he been working the corner two weeks ago, I could have brought one of these paintings over to my friends' Soho loft for their Michael Jackson Appreciation party.
The Thriiiiiller hosts. It's arguable that Jeff knew the Thriller dance from 13 Going on 30.
For the record, Karla didn't have to buy or borrow anything to make her costume.
She's that good.
Kind of inappropriate but kind of really funny.
Guestblogger: Ben says Poco-yes to Karaoke
I took "my DJ" up to the Poconos this weekend for a night and day away from the loud city. I’ve been going to the Poconos since my parents got the house, more than 20 years ago. In fact, the first entry in the guest book is something my friend, who got married last weekend, wrote in 1989. We’d always come up with friends or family, and I’d never plan anything, and I’d definitely never experienced the culture which exists two hours west of New York.
The first thing we noticed up there was how bad the economy is in the rural US, compared to New York. We stopped at a mall to see what movies were playing b/c it was raining, and almost every store was vacant. I’m not talking about a lack of patrons, I’m talking about a lack of tenants. It was actually pretty scary.
We stopped at an outdoor (but covered) Italian Tiki bar for dinner. They had shrip parm! The customers had been drinking for hours and the stories they were telling were as "fresh" as anything I’d ever heard. Though DJ and I didn’t mind the entertainment at all, the locals were unnecessarily apologetic, to the point where one of them bought us drinks. I guess if he’s jobless and living off my tax dollars, he may as well buy me a drink. I guess DJ and I stood out like sore thumbs. Right before we left, karaoke at the Tiki bar was just starting up.
Our next stop was the carnival across the street. Due to the rain, but though the rain had stopped, it was empty and thus closing at 9. We walked to the hotel across the street to see if anything else was going on. Apparently, Karaoke takes place at the Fernwood every Friday night too.
Onto the house we drove, but the road was closed, and thus we stopped at a local establishment for directions on the detour. As I stood waiting to ask a waitress, a local asked what I needed (everyone this weekend was so friendly) and of course, asked where I was from.
Of course we had to make 1 more stop before getting to the house, the Log Cabin Bar & Restaurant. They have pizza and wings and beer and corn nuggets… a full service restaurant. I ordered 2 beers, and the absurdly old bartender told me it was $3, and he meant for BOTH. Yes, I’m talking about $1.5/a beer! The bartender was so old, he asked where we were from, twice. Let me make this clear... The man asked for our orders, noticed how much we stood out, and then asked where we were from. No more than 5 mintues later, he walks over, forgets who we are, notices how much we stand out, and asks where we are from, again. Of course, it was karaoke night at the Log Cabin on Friday night.
Saturday was spent:
Hiking to a waterfall
Sliding down a slide
Hitting that carnival when it was open but still void of people
Driving down to the Delaware River where we saw some sort of ritual baptism
Going to a bakery and picking up some chocolate peanut butter cream pie
Blinking and realizing that 2 hours had just passed after an awesome nap
Food shopping for my apartment and office in NJ (Saved so much money buying 20 boxes of cereal)
And eating at a NJ diner
For more bites from Ben, click here.
The first thing we noticed up there was how bad the economy is in the rural US, compared to New York. We stopped at a mall to see what movies were playing b/c it was raining, and almost every store was vacant. I’m not talking about a lack of patrons, I’m talking about a lack of tenants. It was actually pretty scary.
We stopped at an outdoor (but covered) Italian Tiki bar for dinner. They had shrip parm! The customers had been drinking for hours and the stories they were telling were as "fresh" as anything I’d ever heard. Though DJ and I didn’t mind the entertainment at all, the locals were unnecessarily apologetic, to the point where one of them bought us drinks. I guess if he’s jobless and living off my tax dollars, he may as well buy me a drink. I guess DJ and I stood out like sore thumbs. Right before we left, karaoke at the Tiki bar was just starting up.
Our next stop was the carnival across the street. Due to the rain, but though the rain had stopped, it was empty and thus closing at 9. We walked to the hotel across the street to see if anything else was going on. Apparently, Karaoke takes place at the Fernwood every Friday night too.
Onto the house we drove, but the road was closed, and thus we stopped at a local establishment for directions on the detour. As I stood waiting to ask a waitress, a local asked what I needed (everyone this weekend was so friendly) and of course, asked where I was from.
Of course we had to make 1 more stop before getting to the house, the Log Cabin Bar & Restaurant. They have pizza and wings and beer and corn nuggets… a full service restaurant. I ordered 2 beers, and the absurdly old bartender told me it was $3, and he meant for BOTH. Yes, I’m talking about $1.5/a beer! The bartender was so old, he asked where we were from, twice. Let me make this clear... The man asked for our orders, noticed how much we stood out, and then asked where we were from. No more than 5 mintues later, he walks over, forgets who we are, notices how much we stand out, and asks where we are from, again. Of course, it was karaoke night at the Log Cabin on Friday night.
Saturday was spent:
Hiking to a waterfall
Sliding down a slide
Hitting that carnival when it was open but still void of people
Driving down to the Delaware River where we saw some sort of ritual baptism
Going to a bakery and picking up some chocolate peanut butter cream pie
Blinking and realizing that 2 hours had just passed after an awesome nap
Food shopping for my apartment and office in NJ (Saved so much money buying 20 boxes of cereal)
And eating at a NJ diner
For more bites from Ben, click here.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Cola Wars
Blueeyedben sent me a great find today. It's hard to compete with the smile that a can of Coca-Cola gives me, but for today, Pepsi trumps Coke.
Check it out:
Check it out:
Tour de Hudson Valley
This upcoming Sunday, I'll be bike riding the Hudson Valley with other volunteers and friends.
The purpose of this ride is help raise awareness and support of JBFCS (Jewish Board of Family and Children Services). It is the single largest social services agency in the NY metropolitan community. Your donation will help support 175 different social service programs throughout the NY community, ranging from our therapeutic nursery that helps children with special needs---to our doula program where we provide support and dignity for those grappling with end-of-life issues.
Click here to support JBFCS. Much appreciated, every bit helps!
The purpose of this ride is help raise awareness and support of JBFCS (Jewish Board of Family and Children Services). It is the single largest social services agency in the NY metropolitan community. Your donation will help support 175 different social service programs throughout the NY community, ranging from our therapeutic nursery that helps children with special needs---to our doula program where we provide support and dignity for those grappling with end-of-life issues.
Click here to support JBFCS. Much appreciated, every bit helps!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Urban Escape and an Urban Outfitter
Back in April, on a very rainy Friday night, I left the concrete jungle and went on a full moon hike with Urban Escapes, a company that was highly recommended to me by one of my favorite TBB readers. They've been recently written up in Time Out NY and CNN. Wanting to switch things up from my regular Friday nights, I went with her suggestion as she's always one step ahead of the pack and decided to sign up for one of their trips. What a great recommendation as it was just the break I needed from the city- a moonlit hike with interesting new people, capped off with s'mores around a campfire. And the best part (ok not the best part but it made life a little easier), for once I didn't have to plan and recruit. I just had to show up and let the enthusiastic guides take the lead.
Unfortunately, I didn't have an umbrella for that night hike. Rihanna must have been busy. She's recently been spotted wearing these kick a*s shades from a good old friend of mine, Kerin Rose.
From Katy Perry to Rihanna, looks like Kerin picked up a little something more than me in our pottery class in 1992. Sigh. Check out more of Kerin's rockstar designs at a-morir or Patricia Field.
Not up for escaping the city? Here are a few staycation summer suggestions for the upcoming weekend. Put on your wayfarers or your rockstar shades and head to:
Sculpture Garden in Queens
http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/
The Edible Garden in the Botanical Gardens
http://www.nybg.org/edible_garden/
The Frying Pan or Boat Basin Cafe
Shakespeare in the Park
http://splash.publictheater.org/
Unfortunately, I didn't have an umbrella for that night hike. Rihanna must have been busy. She's recently been spotted wearing these kick a*s shades from a good old friend of mine, Kerin Rose.
From Katy Perry to Rihanna, looks like Kerin picked up a little something more than me in our pottery class in 1992. Sigh. Check out more of Kerin's rockstar designs at a-morir or Patricia Field.
Not up for escaping the city? Here are a few staycation summer suggestions for the upcoming weekend. Put on your wayfarers or your rockstar shades and head to:
Sculpture Garden in Queens
http://www.
The Edible Garden in the Botanical Gardens
http://www.nybg.org/edible_
The Frying Pan or Boat Basin Cafe
Shakespeare in the Park
http://splash.publictheater.org/
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
123456789
Right now, it's 12:34:56 7/08/09. This only happens once or twice (if you count am and pm) every 100 years or so. So get excited about numbers, the time and date and while you're at it, enjoy a blue moon once in a blue moon.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Happy Friday?
It's Thursday but it's technically Friday. Happy July 4th weekend. Enjoy some fireworks, listen to some classic MJ, dig your feet in the sand with a popsicle in hand. Don't stop 'til you get enough because before you know it'll be Monday.
Home Improvements
Travel Bug Bites has had some work done.
Read on about the recent home improvements.
1. I was on the fence for a bit but I finally caved and joined Twitter. Follow this travel bug.
2. Not on Twitter? Follow Travel Bugbites by scrolling down on the right side of this blog. Click follow, under the Bitten section to become a follower of this love letter to travel. It'll make me feel somewhat special and I will most likely receive a phone call from my oh-so busy older sister. She's made it a good habit to call me when she notices that I have a new follower.
3. Guestblogger section. Click on *Guestbloggers (under labels) and read about friend's past adventures. If you're interested in guest blogging about a recent or upcoming trip, don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email at lauren@travelbugbites.com. Photos and a sense of humor are always a plus.
4. Travel Guides. Slowly but surely, I will be adding personal travel guides for different cities/travel destinations and NYC neighborhoods. You will be able to click on the image and print the page. You can be ecofriendly and email the post to yourself or a friend. Feel free to leave comments with your own recommendations.
Stay bitten ;)
Read on about the recent home improvements.
1. I was on the fence for a bit but I finally caved and joined Twitter. Follow this travel bug.
2. Not on Twitter? Follow Travel Bugbites by scrolling down on the right side of this blog. Click follow, under the Bitten section to become a follower of this love letter to travel. It'll make me feel somewhat special and I will most likely receive a phone call from my oh-so busy older sister. She's made it a good habit to call me when she notices that I have a new follower.
3. Guestblogger section. Click on *Guestbloggers (under labels) and read about friend's past adventures. If you're interested in guest blogging about a recent or upcoming trip, don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email at lauren@travelbugbites.com. Photos and a sense of humor are always a plus.
4. Travel Guides. Slowly but surely, I will be adding personal travel guides for different cities/travel destinations and NYC neighborhoods. You will be able to click on the image and print the page. You can be ecofriendly and email the post to yourself or a friend. Feel free to leave comments with your own recommendations.
Stay bitten ;)
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