Who needs a bird bath when you live in Brooklyn?

I’m staring out my window at the building next door and there is a bird bath convention in their gutter (it rained last night). First there was just 1 bird and I even noticed him because, well, I thought he was a rat. And then I looked up again and there were five birds all shimmying and flitting in the water. Love it. Love NY.

Sidenote: Went to drinks with pseudo-crush from hs last night. Never fully-fledged al la Orlando Bloom but am thinking could easily umm, fledge?

Children = Giant Gummy Bears?

The Village, Soho, Chelsea, etc... all neighborhoods and all have different flavors and personality. Thinking about it more philosophically it makes sense that like-minded people clump together to form distinct places with common traits. Still, living in the hipster-haven that is Williamsburg, Brooklyn I was shocked (for lack of better word) to see children when I met friends for brunch yesterday. Not that I haven't seen a single child in Brooklyn, I have. There are mini-hipsters wearing cowboy boots and tights (I know. so cute it hurts.) and then there are the mini-hoodrats who attend the middle school down the block (also pretty cute) but when I popped out of the 77th street subway stop it was like walking through the doors of Willy Wonka's factory. I knew what I was looking at, yet they seemed so out of place. Like a tree growing giant gummy bears seems normal in and of itself, but sooooo out of place inside a candy factory. (go with me here...) I discovered all these little people on the Upper East Side. Totally identifiable and cute, American kiddos, but it somehow felt weird that they were in NY. Normal - but bizarre out of context.

Fair Trade Agreement?

My new roommate (Sara) and I are going to trade "talents" - she cooks. Like real fruits and vegetables. On the stove. With spices and olive oil and love. Right?!? She also works for a film company. And knows all about the film industry and hence - which films don't suck. In exchange for cultivating my movie taste and culinary aptitude I will teach her about fashion and home decorating. This trade arrangement clearly violates every article of NAFTA. Still, it was her idea. :)

Does heaven have rats?

I've been doing a lot of pinching lately. Checking to make sure I'm still alive, awake and doing/seeing/hearing/eating the things that I am. Seriously, I have the bruises to prove it. Kidding. NY is all the cliche, juxtapositions of grit and glam that you read about. I saw a rat slink across the subway tracks right after I traipsed through Bergdorf's. And I think I'm in heaven!