Seven Days In Sunny June

It has been seven days since I've arrived in New York City, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and sans wallet. (Yes, I'm still bitter about it.)

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I'm actually embarking on what is sure to be a life-changing summer in the city. Although I am reminded when I see the Empire State Building peeking out over the tops of the other buildings, or spend an afternoon lounging in Central Park with one of my really good friends, I still have to squeal when I think that I could update my facebook "Currently Living" city to New York, NY.

Today was a great celebration of one week of being in NYC! After skyping my GO! Grant Project advisor (if you have no idea what I'm talking about-- I applied for a grant to produce a play at UT next fall and got it!), I met up with my great friend Scott at Crumbs Bakery! Sadly, we weren't impressed. Lucikly, we rectified the situation by grabbing Spongebob popsicles and chatting in sunny Central Park! I was in cat nap mode, but instead we walked down 5th avenue and checked out some clothes, and he showed me Bryant Park. It was great to walk around that area because it exuded the feeling that I love about NYC! Super busy, fast paced, and energetic!

[Scott and I in Columbus Circle!]

[His Spongebob had some plastic surgery mishaps]

[The view from where we sat!]

[Beautiful!]

[Central Park!]

 After, I met up with my roommate Leah (who will get her own blog posts one of these days-- I love that girl) and a few of her co-workers for Inwood's Shakespeare Festival's As You Like It. Performed in a little neighborhood park, we sat on blankets and ate picnic-style as we were entertained by some wonderful actors. I'll be honest, when I was on the train to meet up with Leah, I was nervous I might be underwhelmed after the exciting downtown day I had. But as I sat there, letting Shakespeare's familiar (yet confusing) rhetoric wash over me, I felt comfortable and at home. I felt like I was at UT watching a production, mixed with the summer outdoor concerts Esther Short hosts in Vancouver. It made New York seem a little more real and a little more home-y. I'm always in shock by the impressive and prestigious nature of downtown, but it was great to spend a couple hours in a realm that I knew so well.

My first seven days in sunny (and partly rainy) June have already been such an eye-opening experience, I can't wait to see what the other 63 hold in store for me. (You're welcome for the cheese).

Felicia