The City Shar :: Yummy Thoughts Written from the Big Juicy Apple

The Wave.

2010-04-12T00:08:00.005-04:00

Ran a 4-mile race this morning with some friends from the Alzheimer's Association marathon team, Team R2R. The sun was shining and it was a perfect day for a run!
If only I could control that hair.

Thanks to Coach B for the picture!

Tricks.

2010-04-05T09:11:00.005-04:00

Went for a quick ride yesterday with Momma C. It was great! It was sunny and beeaaaaaaaautiful out! There were no cars on the road because it was Easter, which led us to stage a photo shoot in the middle of the road. Safe, I know.I mastered the one-arm, one-leg trick long enough for at least one good picture. Not bad, right?

Sunday 15K.

2010-03-28T20:00:00.003-04:00

Today I ran a 15K race, which was hosted by the New York Road Runners. It was a great race! I stayed up last night to download new techno music to run to, and the new beats definitely helped me keep pace throughout the 9.3-mile course. My marathon coach Brian was there to cheer on his friends, and he snapped some photos when I whizzed by ...
Don't be fooled: Despite my happy face ...
I am a little sore. But it was still super fun!

Glitter!!!

2010-03-28T19:56:00.002-04:00

THIS GUY IN PUNTA CANA COVERED HIS WHOLE BODY IN GOLD BODY GLITTER.
He was both frightening and utterly fascinating at the same time. I don't know when I'll ever see a man so shiny again in my life.

Swim.

2010-03-28T19:55:00.001-04:00

This is the pool.
This is where I confirmed my belief that you don't really need to know how to swim to love swimming. That's what holding your nose is for!

Punta Cana.

2010-03-28T19:54:00.002-04:00

I went to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic!!! This is what paradise looks like:
It was perfect. No stress. No worries. No computer. No cell phone. Quiet. Relaxing. Lots of sun. Lots of fun.
Bliss.

Walk, Walk, Fashion Baby.

2010-02-16T03:28:00.008-05:00

Toted my friend Blake to a few fashion events this week. As payback, he snapped some great photos of our escapades. Below is at Karen Walker, where before the runway show, people take off a protective cover that keeps runway all white.
The final lap at Karen Walker.
The final look at Karen Walker.
The setup at Patrik Ervell.
Blake and I in the back of a cab!
We're shady folks.

Team Fashion.

2010-02-14T03:39:00.002-05:00

It's Fashion Week! My friend Ben is a photographer for a photo agency and was working the same event I was, so he snapped these pictures of me working. Here I am interviewing Daniel Vosovic for New York.
Always have that recorder handy ...
Thanks Ben!

Jersey Girl.

2010-02-02T09:32:00.003-05:00

New York sent me out to do some really hardcore video reporting last week. They asked me to venture into the depths of humanity and discover the secrets behind a Jersey Shore Beauty Pageant. Just you watch and see.

Black Out.

2010-01-12T13:09:00.004-05:00

I was in Philly this weekend for a Clott family reunion. Actually, it wasn't really a reunion since there were only two additional Clotts there. But still. Anyway, we were really excited for our dinner party and everything was going really well ... until a fuse blew and the electricity shut off. Fifty houses on the block were without power for five hours. All of these trucks had to come and fix it! And because it's so cold outside, the house turned really chilly after an hour with the outage. Hey, it's not a successful party until you offer your guests sweatshirts, right?

2010!

2010-01-03T22:51:00.003-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Brought in 2010 with a huge smile (with help from a bunch of energy drinks). Let's hope that continues all year long!

Grinchy.

2009-12-29T14:04:00.003-05:00

Visiting the New York Public Library. That blob in the middle of the picture is yours truly. I was moving around trying to knock over the Christmas tree and get the presents underneath. There weren't any.

Squeak Me!

2009-12-29T14:01:00.001-05:00

Christmas Eve with the boys.At the movies! The Clotts were also there, but the chipmunks intimidated them. Oh Alvin. He's such a PUNK.

Missing Reindeer.

2009-12-23T22:50:00.003-05:00

Juiced up with holiday spirit right now, I'd like to show you this animal head I spotted hanging in a bar in Philly.
Happy Holidays!!!

Dance Off!

2009-12-23T22:21:00.002-05:00

I spent the day with Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas a few weeks ago. He was supposed to teach me all about sneakers. He ended up showing me how to dance!

Day 11: Israel to New York.

2009-12-13T23:43:00.009-05:00

We're packing up now and heading back home to the States. During our trip, we met many people who called Israel home, all over the country, and they taught us many things. And now that we're heading back — I'm going to New York and Momma C is heading to Philly — I learned one thing about going home. It's not a place really. It's a feeling. Whether you feel it when you're halfway around the world, down the street, in San Diego, or a few train stops away, it's always in your heart.

OK, I don't have any corny jokes left in me! That's all for this trip, folks!

Day 10: Betar Illit.

2009-12-13T23:34:00.003-05:00

When Momma C and I found out our third cousins lived in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, we wanted to go meet them. So we headed over, passed the West Bank checkpoints for the third time in four days, and went to say hello. Our GPS didn't want to let us go there, but we did it anyway! See all the red roads on the GPS? That's all Arab territory. We drove right through it.When we met our cousins for the first time, we found out ... they are Hasidic! They are so nice. We celebrated Hanukah with them and sang songs and ate gelt. So what did we learn? Disobeying our GPS was well worth it!

Day 10: Jerusalem.

2009-12-13T23:08:00.003-05:00

Today we took a huge walking tour around Jerusalem. Again! We started by walking to the top of Mount Olives. If you look at the top of the big hill behind our heads, that's where we were headed.Along the way, we stopped to look at Mount Olives, a large Jewish cemetery. All of the gravestones are facing toward the Temple Mount.
This is the view from the top! The Old City looks amazing from this angle.
After the walk up Mount Olives, we were on our way to take part in an archeological excavation. The archeologists were working on sifting through rubble that had been illegally removed from the site of the Temple Mount by Muslims.
Momma C and I sifted through rocks and looked for anything abnormal. Honestly, everything looked like rocks! But we were looking for rocks that came from mosaics or bones or pottery ... and things like that.
Victory! We found something! I missed this tiny circle right here at first, until our tour guide, Daniel, found it in my scrap pile. It's believed to be a coin, or possibly a button from the Second Temple period, a few thousand years ago.
After the excavation, we headed back to Old City. This is Tzidkiyah Caves. It's a whole underground cave that goes underneath the city of Jerusalem. It was used during King Solomon's era as a stone quarry. Inside, we could see actual squares cut out of the stone. It was amazing.
We finished up at the Damascus Gate, which leads you right into the Muslim Quarter of the Old City.

Day 9: Hanukah in Old City.

2009-12-13T16:39:00.004-05:00

Momma C and I celebrated the second night of Hanukah by walking around Old City Jerusalem. We happened upon a celebration right near the Jaffa Gate. So we stuck around ... there were free jelly doughnuts and we wanted 'em! Happy Hanukah everyone!

Day 9: Dead Sea.

2009-12-13T16:33:00.007-05:00

By the time we landed at the Dead Sea, the sun had gone just beyond the horizon and it was colllllld. But that didn't stop us from going in! We traveled halfway around the world to get our float on, and no temperature was going to stop us.
And it was so much fun! Not to mention, my skin felt amazing afterward.
I wouldn't mind doing that again someday.

Day 9: Massada.

2009-12-13T15:44:00.008-05:00

Today we hiked up Massada, an old fortress built by the Romans in the middle of the desert.The hike included 700 steps. Momma C loves racing up steps! I thought 700 was too easy for her, so I told her next time we're doing speed drills. Alas! I caught her a few times taking a break.
This is one of the viewpoints on the way up. Soooo pretty.
When we reached the top, the view was unbelievable. The Dead Sea was right before us and the desert surrounded us on all sides.
There are remains of an old palace at the top. (Everything is wayyyy old in this country!) And after a nice hike and looking around, we ventured back down. This time, in a cable car.
We definitely got down faster than we went up. And not by falling off a cliff!

Day 9: Driving South.

2009-12-13T15:23:00.008-05:00

We headed out of Jerusalem today for a day trip to the Dead Sea. Just driving was an experience in itself! First we had to pass through two West Bank border checkpoints on our way.
Just after the checkpoints, the terrain changed dramatically from rolling green hills to dry stark deserts. This is where the camels roam! (I happen to love camels because we both share an obsession with hydration.) The tire that's attached to him is his brake, so humans pull on that to stop him. This is the road we took. It was really windy, and Momma C drove the whole time.
Just look at those curves!

Day 8: Israel Museum.

2009-12-12T16:18:00.005-05:00

We also hit the Israel Museum today. The grounds were really pretty and there was a huge model of the Old City of Jerusalem.
This is also where we saw the Dead Sea Scrolls. Behind me is where the scrolls are housed and kept for studying. It was really neat to see something so old.

Day 8: Western Wall Tunnels.

2009-12-12T16:16:00.003-05:00

Today we took a tour through the Western Wall tunnels, which is where the Western Wall continues beyond the public plaza area. It was really warm and dark and very Indiana Jones. Here I am touching a part of the original Western Wall of the Temple Mount.
The best part was that archeologists are still excavating the area down here, so we got to see new parts of the tunnels. For example, part of our tour featured the cistern pool, and that had been open only two months when we went through it.

Day 7: West Bank.

2009-12-12T02:45:00.010-05:00

Momma C's friend's sister lives in Efrata, a settlement located within the boundaries of the West Bank. They invited us for dinner, so we accepted! And we got to see for ourselves what the West Bank was really like.
We entered through a gate, like the one above, with guards checking at the border. Of the cars we saw on the road, many of them had yellow license plates, which are Israeli plates. But once inside the West Bank, we saw a lot of white plates, which is how you identify Arab cars, and they are not allowed outside the West Bank territory or inside Jerusalem.
The wall on the left, above, surrounds Bethlehem, which is within the West Bank and now controlled by Palestinians. Israeli citizens are only allowed to go there with a permit, and tourists are allowed to go, but it's not recommended.
This is the entrance to Efrata, our friend's settlement. There is a guard as you go in checking to make sure you're Jewish. There are barbed wires and fences surrounding the town to keep the Arabs from coming over.
This is our friend's house!
This is a night view from the restaurant where we ate in Efrata. You can see barbed wire surrounding the land. The fence closest to us divides between Palestinian and Israeli territory. The town in the distance faces east, and the Mediterranean Sea is just beyond the last set of lights, showing how the size of Israel is really small. We learned so much from our friends and ate a delicious vegetarian dinner. Who knew we would have such a fabulous time in the West Bank!

Day 7: Jerusalem.

2009-12-11T17:37:00.010-05:00

Today we hired a tour guide (who was actually Momma C's friend's cousin) and took a tour of Jerusalem's Old City and the City of David. We started by walking the Rampart's Walk, which is the wall of the old city.
We ended up in the Jewish Quarter.
It was really interesting when we passed Yeshivas, loud libraries where men go to study Torah. This picture was exactly what I imagined Jerusalem to look like, with Jews everywhere on their way to learn about Judaism. Plus, it just looks cool. And then we ended up at the Western Wall!
Our tour wasn't over! We headed to the City of David, the original city King David built thousands of years ago. Below are the remains of where a scribe lived. See that little hole on the bottom right? That's a toilet! That means this guy was RICH.
There are also tunnels underground the City of David. The ones we walked through used to carry water through the city. They were huge.
The whole tour of the Old City was so neat, especially being able to stand where people stood centuries ago. By the end of the day, Momma C and I learned so many facts our brains nearly exploded!

Day 6: Jerusalem.

2009-12-11T08:06:00.002-05:00

The night we arrived in Jerusalem, there was a rally going on around the corner from our hotel. The protest looked like this: There were about 10,000 or more people there overall, including my mom's friends, who live in the west bank and called to tell us to meet them there. The rally was to protest the decision (by Netanyahu, Obama, Sarkozy, etc.) to freeze building and construction in the West Bank for a period of ten months. Since our friends live in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, they were there to support the rally, and we were there to support them, and support Israel. At the end everyone sang Hatikva, and so did we!

Day 6: Golan Heights.

2009-12-09T17:37:00.006-05:00

Today it rained. But that didn't stop us from taking a five-hour tour! Jeff, our guide, took us to the northernmost part of Israel, wayyyy up in the mountains, to an area called the Golan Heights. We saw a lot of clouds.But there were a few fleeting moments when we captured some really great scenes to go along with all the facts Mr. Guide stuffed in our brains. Like we saw a bunch of key places in the north, such as Tel Hatsor, Metula, and Mas'ade. We ate goat cheese that had just been made that morning at a Druze restaurant. We also saw Panyas, an archeological site (below).
And we rode right along the Israeli border, too, which you can see in the picture below, taken at Mount Bental. Behind us is Lebanon, and in the distance, just under the cloud ... that's Syria.

Day 5: Tsfat.

2009-12-08T15:34:00.003-05:00

Today we landed in Tsfat, a city in the northern part of Israel. It's a place known for being full of artists and the center for Kabbalah. It's high in the mountains and very peaceful.
Today it was particularly peaceful because we were the only ones here! When we stopped in one artist's shop, he told us that we were the first people that went in, and that was at 5 p.m. But flying solo didn't stop us from taking 116 pictures of everything we saw, from closed shops to cobblestone roads! This is the best shot we got. Not bad, eh???

Day 5: Qaesarea, Part II.

2009-12-08T15:11:00.006-05:00

L'hitrayot (goodbye), Tel Aviv! Today we headed to Tsfat, in the North part of Israel. On our way, we saw a sign for Qaesarea. It looked so neat from the outside yesterday that we figured the inside would be even better, so we veered off the road for a double take! It was open! And it was beautiful! It's the remains of an ancient city that was originally built by the Romans. We learned that on our mini-tour.
It was worth the second trip!

Day 4: Qaesarea.

2009-12-08T01:38:00.003-05:00

This is the fortress at Qaesarea.
We got there right at sunset and after a storm, so the moat outside was highlighted this pretty purple slate blue. Sadly we got there after it had already closed, which was a bummer, because anywhere that has a moat is guaranteed cool. Why doesn't my Manhattan apartment have a moat? WHY!?

Day 4: Zikhron Ya'aquov.

2009-12-08T01:24:00.008-05:00

Today we ventured up to Zikhron Ya'aquov, a town north of Tel Aviv that's home to Israel's largest winery, Carmel Winery. But no drinking for us! Instead, we walked through town and visited two museums to learn things! We started at the First Aliyah Museum, which features exhibits about the first settlers who wanted to make Israel a state. We took this main street to get there. I love the look of it, which dates back to the late 1800s.
This signpost was at the end of the street. It says Buffalo Hamburger on the sign second from the top on the left side, which I can only assume does not date back to the 1800s.
The second museum we visited was Ahronson family home, seen here below.
This was a really interesting place because we learned about the NILI, the secret spy ring run by Israeli settlers during the early 1900s. There was a real secret door in here! It was like a Law & Order episode ... only about Israel ... and REAL!

Day 3: Herzliya.

2009-12-06T16:31:00.004-05:00

We went a little north of Tel Aviv to Herzliya to watch the sun set.
It was so pretty.

Day 3: Tel Aviv.

2009-12-06T16:25:00.004-05:00

We headed to Tel Aviv University to hit the Diaspora Museum. Inside we had to use translation devices to understand what the place was about, and it was really interesting to listen to the different parts of history about the Jewish people and how they spread throughout the world. Sometimes it was hard to hear the little speaker though, because there was a group of 13-year-old boys on a field trip and they were super loud. If only I was a tween cougar, I would have hit the jackpot!

Day 3: Jogging in Tel Aviv.

2009-12-06T15:33:00.004-05:00

This morning, the weather was perfect for running. So Momma C and I geared up and headed out to the path that runs along the Tel Aviv shore.
We even managed to climb a few steps! We lost count after a few hundred since we kept going up and down and up and down and up and down. I didn't get dizzy running in circles, but Momma C did!My marathon coaches would be so proud!

Day 2: Rosh Hanikra

2009-12-06T15:25:00.006-05:00

After Haifa, we hit the road again and headed even further north to Rosh Hanikra. This is the most northwest part of Israel, located right on the Lebanon border. We took a cable car to get to the bottom of the mountain. The view was spectacular.
There are grottoes at the bottom, full of caves with crashing waves. It started to rain, and we were happy about it! The waters got so rough and loud, it felt like we were hiding out in there. And after a bad photo shoot — we couldn't capture anything with the light in a cave, go figure — we headed back up top on the cable car.
Then we watched the sun set over the Meditterranean. Such a great day!

Day 2: Haifa

2009-12-05T16:14:00.005-05:00

Today we went to see the gold dome and the gardens at the Baha'i Shrine in Haifa. So we packed up the car and headed north along the west coast. Just look at the view of the gardens! BUT WHERE IS THE GOLD DOME?!Under construction!!! See that brown cylinder in the center of this picture above? And below, it's on top of my head on the right? Yeah, that's it. Concerned about the state of her pictures, Momma C suggested to the tour guide that the Baha'i people use see-through scaffolding. They said no.

Divas Roll Like This.

2009-12-05T15:22:00.006-05:00

We were given great advice before we left to bring electric-outlet converters. Voltage is different in Israel, and we must have gadgets that work! Specifically ... Momma C needed her hair straightener. And since she'll jump through hurdles for perfect primping, she hit Radio Shack to get the right devices. After spending $53 on a transformer and an adapter that two different stores promised her would work, we plugged them in.They didn't work. Thankfully an electrician from our hotel saved the day by providing us with a converter that did.
So what if it looks like a small generator with enough voltage to power a small city? IT WORKS. AND HER HAIR IS STRAIGHT. Bless her pushiness and determination. True divas don't take no for an answer. Especially at the risk of curly, frizzy hair doom.

Day 1: Tel Aviv.

2009-12-05T14:29:00.009-05:00

First stop: Carmel Market. The place was packed! I knew we had come to the right place right after a small old lady pushed Momma C to get to a roll of challah. Everyone here is Jewish! Besides the speed-talking in Hebrew, we fit right in.
Then we kept walking through Tel Aviv. The place was empty, everything closes on Shabbat. When we passed this mirror store, we filled up on some vanity shots from across the street.
We walked and walked and walked and walked. Here we stopped on the shores of Tel Aviv — where there is a sweet running path — and watched the sun set.
THERE SHE IS! OH HEY, MOMMA C!
By the end of our jet-lagged, four-hour walk, we felt like this:

Shalom.

2009-12-05T00:40:00.004-05:00

We're not in America anymore.
After a 10-hour flight, Momma C and I landed safely at Ben Gurion airport in Israel. We're here for a little adventure, so we decided to rent a car and drive around the country. We were warned by nearly everyone about the crazy antics of Israeli drivers, so we were nervous when we first got the Budget rental. But as soon as we hit the highway, Momma C hit 100 (km per hour) and started tailing people. The most aggressive driver on the road was her!

Stay tuned ... more to come!

Coaches Hit 60!

2009-11-23T14:14:00.006-05:00

The two coaches of the Alzheimer's Association Marathon Team, Brian and Jeff, ran an insane race over the weekend -- the Knickerbocker 60K. That's 37.2 miles! I joined a few of the marathon team members super early on a Saturday morning to go cheer for Coaches B & J as they ran.
Jeff is in the white and Brian, who fantastically finished tenth overall, is in the neon. I was tired just looking at them!

Glamour-ous.

2009-11-20T09:51:00.012-05:00

Last week I attended the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. The whole event was quite inspirational, with women from all over the world coming together to honor other women. The estrogen in Carnegie Hall that night was immeasurable. My favorite part was when Dr. Maya Angelou took the stage, introduced by former President Bill Clinton. I was so wrapped up in Angelou's words and wisdom that I didn't get a chance to snap her photograph. So for consolation, here's Bill: Angelou told the crowd one of the best pieces advice I have ever heard: "Be as beautiful as you can be. For yourself first, and then for anyone else with enough good sense to see it, too."

Old Navy.

2009-11-11T12:12:00.006-05:00

I spent the weekend with a bunch of sailors, and it was amazing.
This is my talented, smart friend from Syracuse University, Tim. He went into the Navy after college. He used to be the head sports writer for the school newspaper, the Daily Orange. Now he's the official public affairs officer for the new U.S.S. New York. The ship was built out of several thousand tons of steel that had been melted down from the old World Trade Center towers, and just the ship itself got commissioned on Saturday, November 7. He is responsible for telling the world about it.
Fellow Syracuse grad Sarah and I reunited with Tim on the ship and saluted him! We also battered him with questions and became our own little firing squad of Annoying Question Girls. But Tim was patient! And he said we asked more questions and saw more things than the guests on his last tour. YES! Who were they exactly? Oh, just Kelly Ripa (my fitness icon) and her husband Mark Consuelos.

We Run This Town.

2009-11-10T12:24:00.001-05:00

This post is simply here so I could use that title.

DONE!

2009-11-01T21:34:00.002-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came to support me!!! 26.2!!!

It's Happening.

2009-10-31T22:49:00.002-04:00

I'M RUNNING THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON! TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 1, 2009! WOOHOO!

Exxxxxpo.

2009-10-31T22:44:00.003-04:00

The NYC Marathon is TOMORROW!!! Went to pick up my number and materials on Friday at the Javits Center.
OH, HEY CROWDS OF 42,000.

Let's get it on!

Nice Buns, Hun.

2009-10-31T22:42:00.001-04:00

When Momma C and I went to visit the Statue of Liberty last weekend for her birthday, we saw the quite a nice view of the Green Lady's backside ...Just look at that ass!

Crown Plaza.

2009-10-31T22:32:00.010-04:00

Momma C came to New York City to visit last weekend for her birthday. And we planned some tourist things to do just for fun. Like visit the Statue of Liberty! We were the only New Yorkers on the boat ride over.
Then we went inside her! And climbed over 300 steps to get to the top. This is what it looks like from the inside:

And then you get to the tippy-top! The crown. You can see the windows, these are right underneath the seven spikes in her crown. Cool, huh? So is this how you get inside someone's head?

20 Miles!

2009-10-09T09:36:00.013-04:00

I ran 20 miles with the Team Run 2 Remember last weekend -- the last superlong prep run before the marathon on November 1. And Coach Brian took pictures!

First we went from 90th Street and Central Park East and headed west. Here we are crossing 72nd and Broadway.
And down the West Side Highway toward the Brooklyn Bridge.
This is somewhere in Brooklyn!
We took a pit stop in Brooklyn, about two miles before hitting Queens.
Erin was stretching ...
And then smiling!
Off to Queens!
This is after the Queensboro Bridge ... back in Manhattan and making our way west on 59th Street.
And up Central Park East back to Engineer's Gate at 90th and Central Park East. Guess what? I'm short.
And finally ... FINISH!
Go team! They say the marathon is easy if you can do 20. I don't think easy is the right word. But doable ... YES!

Blurry Visions.

2009-10-08T13:38:00.003-04:00

This very blurry picture of a subway sign shows an ad for the New York City Marathon -- the one I'm running on November 1!
When did it become almost November? So soon!

:)

2009-09-30T23:58:00.003-04:00

This is the latest picture of my grandmother and me.
Do we have the same smile?

Happy Birthday!

2009-09-21T00:13:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday Poppy!
My grandfather, Poppy Hy, likes to tell me that you're only as old as you feel. In that case ... my grandfather turned 25! Three cheers for the jolly old fellow!

Also: In my house, we don't light birthday candles because my daddio hates the smell. So we only put them in cakes and pretend to blow them out. Notice the candle -- untainted, unlit. Just the way we like it.

Sticky.

2009-09-08T10:25:00.001-04:00

I tried on a custom duct-tape dress at work last week. A few girls suggested it wasn't first-date material, a tourist thought it looked like a tarp, and a bystander thought it was perfect for a black-tie affair. Check out if it's truly party-worthy in the video.

Make It Up!

2009-08-30T07:52:00.000-04:00

I interviewed Christian Siriano, Project Runway alum, a few weekends ago at Victoria's Secret. The rising designer has a new makeup collection coming out for the lingerie brand. Check it out!

Training Day.

2009-08-23T20:22:00.006-04:00

I'm running the New York City Marathon!!! The marathon is November 1, and I'm running to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association on Team Run 2 Remember. (Click here and here to learn why.) I'm a running rookie, so the process of training to run 26.2 miles is all new to me. But that's the good thing about running with a team, they help you get through it. So I grabbed my orange hat, and headed for our 8 a.m. group run on Saturday morning.
We stopped in front of Grand Central Station mid-run. Break time!
By the end of the run, we logged 11 miles! We ran from Union Square to Central Park, around the lower loop of Central Park, back down Park Avenue to the Brooklyn Bridge, then back to Union Square. I had an amazing nap that day.

17 Again.

2009-08-19T22:42:00.005-04:00

So I randomly got the teen mag Seventeen in the mail today, and it told me that as a Virgo, my best matches are Taurus, Cancer, and Capricorn. But my best avoided matches are Aries, Gemini, and Aquarius. Time to Google some birthdays!

Getting High.

2009-08-17T22:04:00.006-04:00

The new High Line park on the west side of the city is gorgeous. I really like these slanty benches. They almost make me want to go near the plants/overgrown weeds and plop my booty down for a good sit. But alas, I'll keep my distance. Because bug bites? Eww.

Lancelot.

2009-08-17T21:52:00.003-04:00

Hope rides again! In the Macy's window! Hey Lance, I have a hope! I hope to ride with you one day. I promise I'll wear yellow.

Superstar Solofs.

2009-08-16T22:21:00.009-04:00

Congrats Poppy Hy and Bubby Rose!On Friday, August 14, Congregation Beth Judah in Ventnor, New Jersey honored my grandparents for their dedication to the synagogue (Bubby was the in-house caterer for many years, and Poppy was the minyan gabbai, which means he opened the synogogue every morning and ran the minyan). Poppy, who is actually the most energetic man in the entire universe, accepted the honor and was awarded a plaque by the president of the congregation and the rabbi. He's the one on the right, looking dapper. Look at that smile ... it's contagious!

Squares.

2009-08-16T22:14:00.004-04:00

Drove to Atlantic City this weekend. Aunt Naomi joined the fam and we had some fun in the car playing around with my digital camera. She's pretty good at taking pictures. She just says, "I need to get your face in the square." So we spent a good portion of the ride trying to get our faces in the square. This is the best from the photo shoot. Love it!

The Last of Barcelona.

2009-08-16T22:07:00.005-04:00

My favorite moment on the trip was going to Montserrat. We had to take four modes of transportation to get to this mountain and it was worth it. Check out the view.Then we took a hike to see some more viewpoints. See the top all the way up there? That's where I ended up. Which is nice, because that's always where I'm intending to go.

Bici En Barcelona.

2009-08-16T21:57:00.006-04:00

Barcelona was full of bike lanes. They were glorious and wide and people were on them all the time, so much so, you could even say there was bike traffic. But my favorite part about the lanes were the bikes painted on the streets. Notice the extra large seat. These people like comfort. So I couldn't wait to go down to Port Olimpic and get my hands on a bike for myself. When I got there, this is the guy who helped me out. He barely spoke any English, but that didn't stop me from barraging him with questions. And he wasn't too thrilled when I snapped this pic as he was shuffling me out of the shop.
But alas, bike lanes, HELLO!
I rode all around town, and happened across the Happy Lobster below.
He was so happy to see me on a bike, too!

Home Away From Home.

2009-08-02T21:00:00.006-04:00

In Barcelona, there is a neighborhood named Clot:This confirms every one of my suspicions ... I am Spanish, after all! Now if only I could find that extra "T" ... it should be around here somewhere.

Art Class.

2009-07-30T10:01:00.003-04:00

Alie and me at Plaza Catalunya. Playing with the camera settings killed a lot of time when we had to wait in lines. And it allowed Alie to express her artistic side. Oooh. Aaah.

Port Olimpic.

2009-07-28T09:19:00.003-04:00

At Port Olimpic in Barcelona. Captivated by the Mediterranean night. Yes, night. It was 8:30 p.m. when this shot was taken.

Bon Voyage Barcelona.

2009-07-28T08:44:00.001-04:00

Just returned from Barcelona, Spain. Lots of pretty pictures coming soon.

Celebrating Spandex.

2009-07-12T23:08:00.004-04:00

Momma C and I rode our bikes up and down the West Side Highway path today. Here is when we landed in Battery Park:Actually, this picture is incredibly deceptive. It looks like no one was there, when there were thousands of tourists bumping around and darting in our way. But at least Momma C was able to capture this moment of exclusivity. Even if did last for only a second, that's OK. We acted like the whole park was ours anyway!

Journey.

2009-07-10T23:45:00.004-04:00

When the lights go down on the city,
And the sun shines on the bay,
Do I want to be there, in my city?Gotta download that song right now.

Steve-O.

2009-07-09T23:26:00.006-04:00

Hey Daddio! Here we are outside a wedding (congrats Sarah & Jud!) near Northeast Philly.
He's so cool he needs shades.

Moving.

2009-06-02T00:14:00.001-04:00

WEST SIDE. That is all.

Bahama Mama.

2009-05-08T12:29:00.005-04:00

I escaped New York for a few days in April and jetted off to the Bahamas. That's right ... just booked a ticket and went. I landed in paradise. Oh, how lovely.
Even better, I met a man!
Granted he was a fish I called Fred. But nevertheless we shared a moment.

Fly With Me.

2009-04-16T23:04:00.002-04:00

Last night I went to Radio City Music Hall to see the Flight of the Conchords. The comedy duo performs silly songs about life observations. Here's a shot of them because the seats I snagged were so amazing: Actually, that's them on the big screen. I'm never that close!

Troop Topshop.

2009-04-05T15:54:00.001-04:00

Check out the latest on-the-street video I did for New York magazine at the opening of the Topshop store in Soho. My Kate Moss spotting is forever captured on video!

This Is How We Kick It.

2009-03-05T14:27:00.000-05:00

Stopped by SneakerCon -- a sneaker convention in New York City. Check it out!

(I had to repost the video because before it gave me an error. Hope you can see it now!)

What happened to February?

2009-03-02T00:04:00.003-05:00

I DON'T KNOW. But it came and went, without ever making an appearance on this blog. (A little thing called Fashion Week got in the way.) Hopefully, I can have March make up for it. It's a month known for madness, so let's hope it delivers.

Leaping Lizards.

2009-01-20T00:05:00.006-05:00

I fed an iguana named Stubby in St. Thomas:This is the extent of my cooking skills right here.

Sore Losers.

2009-01-13T00:15:00.005-05:00

The bro and I tried playing Hide-and-Seek in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico ...
But we got caught.We must have been fools to think Momma C wouldn't be on our asses the whole time!

Why So Serious?

2009-01-12T23:57:00.010-05:00

What's more bizarre: The fact that my brother Stu and I were having a Sudoku contest in the middle of a busy cruise ship, the fact that we actually own a Sudoku puzzle book (let alone more than one), or ... ... the fact that we're dressed exactly alike?

Yeah, that's a tough call.

Ride With Me.

2009-01-05T23:43:00.005-05:00

Just when I thought I met a guy I could ride with ...
He turned out to be an ass.

Oh, 9!

2009-01-01T00:27:00.004-05:00

Happy New Year! To everyone I missed while limbo-ing on the top deck of a cruise ship at the stroke of midnight, hope your year kicks off to a great start. My resolution is to become the Best Limbo-er in the World, and I'm already on a roll since I just told you I kicked ass on a boat in the middle of the Caribbean. What's yours?

Oh, and just to clarify, that shiny man on the left is my bro. Clearly his sweat indicates a post-limbo workout.

'Tis The Season.

2008-12-22T21:06:00.007-05:00

To appease Momma C (who hasn't seen the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in over two years) I took this picture to show that it still exists, and it's not just a figment of her wild imagination. And I'm pretty proud of the shot: One because it shows the whole tree, including a sliver of the Swarovski crystal star up top. And two, because not one tourist managed to ruin it (it only took six tries).
So, to toot my own horn, I rolled over to Mr. Drummer Boy to tell him all about my picture-taking success:
But alas with my lack of both drumsticks and a drum, we were marching to a different beat. He ignored me and my story entirely! Jerk. He's probably pissed because I don't even celebrate Christmas...

To which I say, Happy Hanukkah hotties!

Sit On It.

2008-12-16T15:50:00.002-05:00

Because lawn ornaments just aren't enough ...
Now mini-bicycle ornaments are taking over Momma C's house. And don't let the photo deceive you, this sucker is about the size of a human head. Subtlety is no virtue when it comes to bike decor. And forgive me, but may I point out that the bike seat of this sucker is a little, shall we say, off?

Big Band Butterflies.

2008-12-07T12:51:00.009-05:00

Big band singer Michael Bublé knows how to get the female juices pumping. The Canadian crooner played to a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden on Friday night and -- there's no other way to say it -- he just melted me. And I wasn't the only one! In fact, his rhythmic ballads sent so many 50-plus women in a tizzy of rowdy, dirty-word screaming fanaticism that he actually stopped the show at one point when an overzealous lady in a turtleneck cable-knit sweater and Mom jeans lurched upon him and grabbed his ass. Not a pinch, though -- it was a hardcore fistful. (She was a New Yorker after all, go big or go home.)
So when I had my chance to meet him and attempt to make him fall in love with me within the five seconds we spoke, was I bold enough to follow that woman's ass-grabbing ways?
I'll let you guess.

The Birdfeeder Burglar.

2008-11-29T13:15:00.003-05:00

Stop the world! We have a breakthrough in the Birdfeeder Burglary Case! CULPRIT FOUND.
So, now we know: Bambi's been stealing all of our birdfeeder food. That bitch.

Bikeopolis.

2008-11-29T12:54:00.011-05:00

Returning home from New York City, I expected to find everything status quo at the Clotties. But when I rolled up, this is what I saw in the front yard: Bicycle lawn ornaments!

This poor patch of lawn is pretty sad. First, it was covered in beautiful white stones with a pine bush sprouting out. Then, Momma C trimmed it, excessively, to the point where only a hacked-up stump remained. Oops! She then got a professional to pull out the stump, she removed the stones by hand, and replaced the classy landscaping with lawn ornaments in the shape of bicycles.

You can only wonder how many bicycle lawn ornaments exist in this world. Because if there are more than two, I'm sure they're going to end up in our front yard.

Open This Four-Set, Mystery.

2008-11-22T21:23:00.000-05:00

Last week some of my favorite Syracuse ladies made an appearance in the Big Apple! Just take a look: Ku, Q, JJ, and Shar.
Here we are at a frathole, as evidenced by the metallic blue Bud Light containers (my hands aren't on one, mind you). And it was deliciously fun. Plus, with the crappy music and horny dudes, we thought we were right back on Marshall Street at Maggies. Or actually, Chucks. Or no! Faegans. Or ... wait, that's pretty much any bar. Dammit.

When Squirrels Attack.

2008-10-28T17:37:00.001-04:00

Nothing, dare I say NOTHING, will stop a squirrel from attacking a birdfeeder. Gosh darnit, squirrels! Don't you have acorns or something?

Momma C's Birthday Bash.

2008-10-28T00:29:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday Momma C!The birthday girl came to NYC with BFF Killa Karen (sans bike, mind you) to spark the town with a special level of Momma C energy. And she did just that. After lounging in the Upper East Side, we failed to get a parking space (ugh) and cruised downtown to hit Times Square. And we watched little boys dance in Billy Elliot! She loved it. Killa Karen loved it. I loved it. Go see it.

Gas Yourself.

2008-10-13T00:27:00.000-04:00

New Summit Gas Stoves are ON SALE.Bet you didn't know that, didja?

Only Connect-icut.

2008-10-13T00:12:00.003-04:00

I went to Connecticut for the first time and found it serene. And peaceful. And everyone seemed to be incredibly nice. Everything I thought New England would be! But some things really stuck out...

Like the Corvette show in Mystic, Connecticut:
And, guess what!? They have trees! That change color! You miss those things in the City.
And fresh water!!! Also in Mystic. Almost fell in. Which would've sucked because I don't know how to swim. Wah-wah.
Here's a drawbridge going up to let the sailboats pass through. It reminded me of Ventnor and Atlantic City where Bubby and Poppy live, so I had to take a pic. Shoutout to the grandparents!
Lisa Rothstein: Brie & Bleu was closed. Closed, I tell you! But that's OK. Right across the street was an antique shop and it made me giddy.
And then I went bowling. I would show you a picture of me inside actually throwing a bowling ball down the lane, but the score I received (45) reflects perfectly of why I can't do that. It's utterly embarrassing. And scene. Peace out Connecticut! I can't stay in your natural, grassy, calm state forever. There's concrete, sirens, and crowded subways I have to get back to in NYC!

State of the Union Square.

2008-10-10T00:04:00.000-04:00

Walking to the subway, I passed Union Square, only to find men climbing up the lamp poles to hang a large American flag across the Union Square area on 14th Street.I asked a few people what was going on, but no one could tell me answer (probably because they were all wearing headphones ... losers). More importantly, one of the people walking around gave me a glow bracelet! It blinked red, blue, and green. But then a little kid looked at my bracelet and teared up with jealousy. So I gave it to him. And then left before I could steal it back.

Miss Match.

2008-10-06T23:40:00.004-04:00

About 15 people said we should've won a trophy for Most Coordinated Outfits. Check it out:
Who knew bikers believed in Best Dressed awards? This sport just keeps getting better.

Momma C + Shar = MS Riding.

2008-10-06T23:16:00.007-04:00

Wake up! Momma C and I suited up to ride for the MS City-to-Shore Bike Ride last weekend from Cherry Hill to Ocean City, New Jersey. Yes, it's dark in this picture. That's how early it was.The plan was 75 miles. It's a ride of endurance! And patience! And rest stops!
We finished the ride in record speed. (Really.) And when we got down the shore, Momma C wanted more. Yes, 75 miles just aren't good enough, people! So we bolted back over the Longport Bridge and headed to Ventnor to see my G-rents. Along the way, we passed Lucy the Elephant in Margate. It's a landmark -- let's take a picture!
And then ... we rode the Atlantic City boardwalk. Um, LOVE. That alone was so fun, it was better than the whole ride. We finished tired, but relaxed after a total of 90 miles. Because when you're actually enjoying the ride, you don't realize the miles racking up. Until you stop and your butt hurts.
Stop looking at my sore ass!

Sea More.

2008-10-02T10:00:00.001-04:00

More seagull pictures:

Walking.Throwing.Done!

Feeding Jonathan Seagull.

2008-10-02T09:51:00.003-04:00

Goodbye sins! Momma C and I went to Tashlich down in Ventnor on Tuesday (pic courtesy of Daddio) to throw away our sins and celebrate a new year with renewed spirits and optimism.
Did it work? Jury's still out on that one. However, I will say that it was nice to get to the Ventnor Beach after not seeing it for a whole year. The sand and ocean and seagulls are all still there, if you were wondering.

Just Build A Bridge And Get Over It.

2008-09-21T23:35:00.006-04:00

Momma C and I rode today -- to Brooklyn and back! It was a killer ride. So refreshing. Such beautiful weather. And I limited Momma C to only 20 pictures on the stop we made on the Brooklyn Bridge. She managed to only take 19. Impressive! Here's the very best one in the batch.

Reunited.

2008-09-16T07:06:00.003-04:00

Jenna, my BFF from high school, traveled from Philly to visit me and wake me up from my Fashion Week recuperation three-day slumber. Only a bestie can convince me that staying in your apartment all weekend is not a good idea! Look ... we walked! To a park! In mismatching knee-highs and boots!
Reunited and it feels so good.

Sugar.

2008-09-12T07:17:00.001-04:00

Can one survive on marshmallows alone? After seven days of testing this theory, I'm inclined to say yes.

Kelly Ripa Loves Me.

2008-09-11T07:42:00.004-04:00

Did I ever tell you that I met Kelly Ripa? Proof:I only had three minutes to make her be my new best friend, but I think it worked. We connected over Louboutin shoes and the crazy work skeds and how to do yoga without falling asleep. All the while I made imaginary jokes about Regis in my head and laughed at inappropriate times because no one else could hear my thoughts.

And that's DiDi with me. She clearly needed a drink.