They've cut me loose.

Here I am, way downtown around battery park. My internship had a training at DHS this morning. Instead of going up to the Bronx this morning, I went down to 33 Beaver Street myself. No problem because blackberry is amazing and google maps is a lifesaver.

I have a client who I recently got placed at a safe haven down in Manhattan on Bowery st (think location of the old CBGB). So, the training ends and here is the conversation:

Doug: so you're going over to the Andrews?
Me: um, ya. I'd like to go.
Doug: you know how to get there.
Me: (silence). I can get there. Sure.


Backstory--- I mentioned before, my internship is a mobile unit. I have an office, but we do a lot of stuff using the 5 company cars. I have become a champion passenger since I don't have driving privileges. I mean, I got over my pretty much constant car sickness AND my need to sleep while someone else drives.

Even MORE backstory-- its time for my mid-semester review. Like I've mentioned before, my school is very touchy feel-y and Doug and I have to have an hour long oral dialogue about where I think I'm at, where he thinks I'm at and a slew of other awkward-ass things. Needless to say, I am less that excited. Being evaluated is so uncomfortable. It doesn't help that Doug is a CUSSW alum, he's only 27 and he's someone who, in my real life, I'd want to be friends with/ wanna make out with a little. Hahahaha. I die.

Ok. Back to the real story--

So he cut me loose. And I know this is a "how-independent-self-sufficient-is-this-intern" test. And I am up for it. I just got to the canal street stop and I might jump off and go get me somethin fake right quick....

Actually, just got to my real stop. Wish me luck! I hope to prove myself with Doug and my co-workers...and to myself as well. I do live here now, and I can't hide out in the UWS and Hunts Point forever. Its all about branching out for the second semester...


Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Neighborhood bars

I've been in the city almost a month now, and I certainly am feeling more city savvy as each day passes. It takes a little while to learn the best way to hail a cab, or which train is uptown, or an express. One thing that did NOT take too long, however, was figuring out what my neighborhood bars were. I have yet to venture downtown yet, and cannot wait to do so, but I think it was important that I learned the Morningside/ UWS area first. Here are 3 of my favorite places, all of which are places I'll take you if you call and tell me you're coming to the city.

The Heights Bar and Grill is on Broadway and a short walk from my house. It reminds me a lot of any bar at home (think East Village) that has signature drinks, 1 bathroom, very good dinner, an amazing patio, and a pretty legit soundtrack playing. I went here for the first time on my impromptu date with The Banker, and I again on the night of the most severe SFP of my entire life. The have a seriously dangerous frozen margarita in like, every flavor you can imagine,
The Village Pourhouse is located on 109th and Amsterdam and is a mixture of PB's and Sammys. The have several huge rooms and games on pretty much all day. a DJ spins and night and, get this, they have some of the most creative and fun drink specials ever. I'm pretty much obsessed with this place because the first time I went there, our cocktail waitress noticed we'd relocated to sit with these guys who were literally buying the bar and she took it upon herself to close us out because, in her words "clearly your drinks are on them" That chick knew how to hold another chick down-- and thats reason enough for me to call myself a regular.

Drink nights: Tuesday-- Kill a Keg Tuesdays ($2 unlimited Bud Light) Friday-- Ladies night, flip a coin. If you call the coin right your drink is on the house. Sunday-- Unlimited Mimosas or Bloody Mary's ($10) and also, if you come there in a cab and bring them your receipt they start your tab off with whatever the cab costs. Pretty damn dope.

Suite is also on 109th and Amsterdam, but a little further down. It's a gay bar and seriously the best time to be had in Morningside Heights. Imagine a nonstop stream of club mixes, cheap shooters, and crazy dancing-- all while being told how diva and delicious you are by all the gay guys. They have events like Ghetto Karaoke, trivia, and a drag show on various days of the week, all hosted by different drag queens. It may be a little extreme for some, but, with the right clique of girls and he right amount of drinks, Suite is heaven on earth....

The thing that still trips me up is the seemingly non-existent closing times. I'm accustom to going out at about 11:30, bar closing at 2, and getting home somewhere between 2:30 and 3:30. Here, we meet up at someone's house around 10, finish getting ready, drink, whatever. Then we seriously can be at one place from 11-1:30, head someplace else and before I know it, I'm still dancing, still drinking, and, welp, surprise!! its 4:30 am.... and there is no sign of stopping. It's sort of true, New York never sleeps... and pretty much, I don't think I'm ever leaving....

Learning the Map with the help of pop culture.

I literally had to study the map of the Upper West Side for a couple of weeks before I could effectively apartment hunt. Now that the housing is handled and we're all moved in, I really want to learn the areas I have heard so much about. I remember Samantha Jones moving to the Meat Packing District on Sex and the City, or about the tents at fashion week in Bryant park, as seen on Project Runway and in The Devil Wears Prada. I know the Upper East Side from Gossip Girl, Gramercy is where Whitney from The City lives. I could go on and on. So where do I fit? Up at the top of the map, boarding Harlem(in blue) and overlapping with the Upper West Side is Morningside Heights (in red.) It pretty much consists of Columbia, Barnard, Teacher's College and a slew of hospitals ( like St. Lukes) and churches (like St. Johns). What I've learned (and you have too, after reading this obscure geography lesson) is: I live uptown. I live right by the school of social work, and I am seriously a student. Seriously.