Beauty and Love Win, Right? Here’s Hoping.

What a strange week. I can’t recall a time when the contrasts between hate and beauty, fear and hope were so stark.

The media swirls with stories of hate. We anxiously await stories from Boston, fearing for our friends and hoping all stay safe, that there is no more loss of life. The prayers we share and the acts of kindness to those in need show the beauty of humanity. The horrible acts of violence show hate that is hard for most of us to fathom.

Outside, the world world couldn’t be more alive. Alight with color, beauty, hope. A reminder of the resilience of life. Like the first shoots of green that emerge from the frosty, brown ground- we will emerge with light, love, and hope. That is the reassurance I cling to today. While my friends in Boston sit on lock down in their houses, I am off to promote a Moon Walk for breast cancer. It’s all so strange.

Take a break from reading stories of suspects and manhunts, and remember there is good and beauty.

Like the sugar magnolias that are blooming all over NYC this week.

sugarmagnolia — Magnolias in Union Square.

West side highway — Even in unexpected places: beauty along the highway.

gardenNYC — I found this lovely garden in the heart of Chelsea. On a densely urban, city block it was a joyful surprise. Remember, there are so many people who put beauty into our world.

MoonRadiatorFreedom — A crescent moon with the art deco Radiator Building (I think that’s it’s name..) in the foreground and the construction of the Freedom Tower in the back.

Speaking of beauty, I can’t forget the beauty of friendship. There are many people I love who live in Boston. And I am ashamed to say, I am painfully out of touch with most of them. I don’t even have most of their phone numbers, having lost them with my phone in the back of a taxi. In this day and age, with so many ways to stay in touch, there is no excuse for me. I can see good coming out of this tragedy: me reconnecting with friends, people who still hold an important place in my heart. Do they know that? Probably not, I certainly wasn’t thinking about it a week ago.
My heart aches with this realization. Should any of you read this, friends, please know I am thinking of you and missing you oh so very much. Please. And even though you have been out of my life recently, I can not bare the thought of loosing you. That feeling is so clear. Eye opening.

It feels good to speak from the heart. A little dramatic? Perhaps. That’s typical me. But perhaps not, considering the circumstances.

Stay safe. Stay hopeful. Remember the good. Enjoy life, enjoy the weekend.

One Day Without Shoes in NYC

Today, I was anything but a New York cliché. Today, I took my shoes off on the New York City streets.

Okay, not quite. I took my shoes off in Tompkins Square Park and walked its asphalt paths.

The last time I was anywhere in NYC with no shoes on and no grass under my feet, I was 22 years old, it was 3AM, and my 4 inch heels were killing me. Most importantly, I was too drunk to care.

Today, I was sober. Most importantly, it was my job. Yes, it was my job to take my shoes off. In New York City.

Today, April 16th was TOMS Shoes ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES event. This shoe company is famous for donating a pair of shoes for each pair they sell. They give shoes to children in third world countries who have never owned a pair before.

The focus of today’s event was to spread global awareness about the benefits of shoes. Did you know they protect against soil-based infections like hookworm, which affects 740 million people worldwide? Fortunately my barefoot trek was exclusively on asphalt, other wise you can bet I’d hypochondria-the-fuck-out about hookworm.

Not surprisingly, it was difficult to get passers-by to join us. New Yorkers love their shoes. And know this city is Dirty with a capital D. Tompkins Square Park also has a history as a hangout for junkies. This dates back to the 90’s, the park has been mostly sanitized since then. Though yuppies with their dogs and strollers far out number them, if you look you will find “questionable persons”.

Most people looked at me like I was insane when I asked them to join me in taking off our shoes. We did manage to gather a respectable crowd when the time came for the Barefoot Walk.

It was nice to work for a good cause. TOMS is a great company and I’ve been eyeing their breezy, perfect-for-spring crochet collection for months. It was a beautiful sunny day, I really couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my morning.

Especially after yesterday. What a day. My heart goes out to Boston♥

April 10, 2013May 26, 2016

Other NYCs: The Super Cool NY Native

It’s easy, especially as an adult, to think I have enough friends. Or take it even farther, I have too many friends. After a life time of making friends, who now in adulthood live near and far, the numbers add up. I have 900 Facebook friends. What does that mean? Not much, aside from a staggering statistic. It’s New York! Every one is so busy, all the time. Who has time for friends we already have, let alone making new ones? Have you caught yourself in such thinking? I am guilty of it. It took a particularly awesome friend to shake me out of it.

I met Phinestro at an event we worked together in October. I have since worked with him at 3 other events. The more I get to know him, the more I realize how freakin’ cool this guy is. I noticed him the first day of training. And how could I not? Aside from his tall stature and winning smile, the man has impeccable fashion sense. From his signature vintage glasses to his killer footwear. To be notably fashionable in New York City is saying something. So he looks cool, and then he opens his mouth.And you discover the most warm-hearted, open person. Who laughs at all your jokes. I’ve never met any one so friendly and open-minded.

I was a little intimidated, to be honest. I hang out with cool people, but he’s in a league of his own. When he suggested we hang out, I took it with a grain of salt. New Yorkers say that all the time, “Oh we should get coffee sometime!” Nine times out of ten, nothing comes of it, mere small talk. Yet, Phinestro was sincere. I should’ve known, he’s the real deal. Lucky for me (and you!) he was persistent. Now I have a new friend AND a new featured Other New York cliché!

Name/preferred pseudonym: PHINESTRO

Borough and neighborhood: Brooklyn NYC, MIll Basin

How are you a New York cliché? Yes. A walking Cliché. Tourists ask me for directions all the time; maybe because of my glasses gives off a vibe of ” He’s intelligent tall black man with a good smile, he knows where he’s going”. Really, I have a bad sense of direction as well. Also a common cliché- since I have a beard im growing, and my vintage glasses openly gives a vibe, people assume I am muslim.

They say no one who lives in New York is actually from New York. Where are you from? Born and Raised in Brooklyn! Specifically CANARSIE.

Bloomberg is banishing you from NYC. You have 24 hours before you have to pack up and leave for ever. How do you spend them? Roof top, going to roof top, then hitting up my favorite Thai food spot in Williamsburg called SEA. Then I’d do a nice quick errand in all the vintage clothing stores and take a visit at Rouge Music Store on 30th Street to get last minute deals on gear.

So you live in NYC, but what’s one super-touristy thing you secretly love? Central Park always seems to make me wonder: what the heck am I doing here and why am I lost?

Ever had a run-in with a celebrity (A-D List)? OMG so many… including basketball stars… CoCo (Ice T’s wife) & ICe T, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Joseph Marcell (Fresh Prince Bel Air) , Will Smith, Tai Diggs, Malcom Jamal Warner (Cosby Show’s “Theo”), Julia Stiles ( Save the Last Dance), Christopher Martin (House Party “Play”), Spike Lee, Patrick Ewing , Shaquelle Oneal, John Starkes, Steve Akoi, Puff Daddy, Kimora Simmons, Estelle, Angela Simmons, Wyclef Jean, Bill Clinton, Fat Joe.

You totally saw something weird on the subway or street today (you may not have registered it was weird because you are jaded), what did you see? I was in a car parked on 125th street, a lady came to the window and asked for change. I politely declined (as of course I don’t carry money when I got to Harlem *cough cough*:). She got really mad, went to the side of the car, took down her pants, and pooped right there on the side of passenger seat! I was traumatized. And she didn’t wipe or nothing… all I saw was a bright orange substance on the side. I didn’t actually see her in process, just after. And I saw the Oil Scent guy across the way barfing at the sight of the lady doing that. I cringed the whole day after.

What is your favorite fictionalized New York? My favorite fictionalized NYC would have to be Gotham City. I’ve always considered myself the Dark Knight with a nice smile.
How does it compare with reality? No different except the fact that Gotham uses coins and our metro cards are expensive! I’m sure that crimes were a bit more dramatic then the MTA going on strike and raising the fares, and police brutality. Well Gotham has better days I guess.

Plug something! Be it something you are involved in, your significant other/roommate/cat is involved in, or just something you think is extra-special going on in NYC.
Whats going on in NYC is that My band, Broken Chainz Band, is playing at Webster Hall on May 27th at 7pm!! You should definately come to that show!

Also involved in a World Wide Remix Competition Remix of Jamiroquai’s hit song ” Too Young to Die”. You can check it out at https://soundcloud.com/therealphinestro/jamiroquai_dubstep_remix

And featured on http://coast2coastmixtapes.com/audiodetail.aspx?audioid=227082

Thanks, Phinestro for being part of my Other New York clichés feature! I can’t wait to catch one of your shows, and I’m sure we’ll work together on some silly event in the near future!

What do you think of this series? Love it so much you want featured? Fabulous! Email NewYorkCliche@yahoo.com.

April 8, 2013October 22, 2014

Spring Celebrity Sightings (Sorta)

It finally feels like spring! The temperature hovering around 70°, flowers in bloom, and leaves popping out on trees. Everyone in NYC wants to be outside today. Even high-profile celebrities.

Ok fine, celebrity impersonators. On a walk in Central Park and these fellas just kept popping up in where ever I went! They made me smile. Almost as much as seeing the Easter Bunny skating at Rockefeller Center.

It’s a New York cliché: step outside and you’ll see something new. Nothing is ever ordinary in this city. Extraordinary is our routine. Days like today make me want to proudly wear an I ♥ NY shirt. But, cringing at the thought of being thought a tourist, I’m too vain to do it!
And that’s enough computer time- I’m off to enjoy this lovely day! Hope you do the same!

April 2, 2013February 4, 2017

Chinatown Adventures of a “Token White Girl”

Chinatown will always hold a special place in my heart. Growing up in San Francisco, I lived 5 blocks away from the heart of Chinatown. I knew the best places for dimsum (like Chinese tapas) and how to say my favorite pastries in Chinese (cha-shoo-boaw). My favorite Sanrio character was Pekkle (Hello Kitty was too main stream!). My grade schools were 60% Asian. Most of my friends at school were Chinese. I learned a lot of valuable lessons from them. That the phrase “flower bridge” spoken in Cantonese sounds like “fuck you” . That having skinny legs makes you better at Chinese jumprope. And dumplings in your lunchbox beats PB&J any day.

Our friendships formed as little girls, we thought nothing of race. As we became more aware of the world around us and still stayed friends in high school, at times I was jokingly referred to as the “token white girl” of the group. Get ready, I have pictures to prove it!

197622_519016933773_2144_n — I was part of an Asian posse. I love these girls, we went through some painfully awkward times together, as you can see! picture circa 1999

260_528570892585_9955_n — 8th grade dance shot! (Is anything worse than middle school?) I loved that peacock shirt so much and if I hadn’t worn it to the point of thread-bare, I’d totally still wear it today.

10_509923676768_2591_n-1 — Summer after freshman year of college! Slightly less awkward at least! #ewIhatemyglasses picture circa 2005

1714_41423456767_1188_n — Yep, totally ruined this cute pose, and I think it’s hilarious…I promise I fit in better than this picture suggests! picture circa 2008

You might say I was a bit of an “egg”- white on the outside, ‘yellow’- Asian- on the inside.

My maternal grandfather was actually born and raised in China (though he wasn’t racial Asian in the least). It’s in my blood! Here in NYC, I unfortunately do not have the same closeness to the culture. I can count my Asian friends on one hand. I’m still searching for a dimsum place that rivals the dozens I know in San Francisco. Yet, there is still something about Chinatown that makes me feel at home.

When my friend Sage (Remember Sage? The best thing I ever got out of online dating? Who did an awesome feature here?) asked me if I wanted to do a vlog with him exploring NYC Chinatown, I immediately said HELL YES. I put on some sunglasses, asked him to call me “Cliché”, and we took the subway down to Canal Street.

It was the middle of Lunar New Year celebrations. I kept showing off my Chinese knowledge by yelling “Gung Hay Fat Choy!” which means “Happy New Year” in Chinese.

Sorry if that got annoying, Sage. We got a lot of footage which he has brilliantly edited and pieced into a bonafide vlog for your viewing pleasure!

Get ready. In this video you’ll hear my voice and see my (madly enthusiast at times, with -heads up- a positively dorky amount of thumbs ups) body language!

As you can see, we had a blast. It makes me want to do more vlogs! Do you agree?

I gotta recommend subscribing to Sage’s Youtube channel, and I’m not just saying that. He’s been on some great New York adventures, and if you like my blog, they will likely peak your interest! Also, we’ve been talking about collaborating on another one. Any suggestions? Maybe even something totally cliché, like visiting the Statue of Liberty or something. What do you think?

Oh, and I totally found the “weirdest thing” right? I mean, is that even a question? Still, I kinda want to prove this to Sage, so if you comment on the video, it’d be awesome!

April 1, 2013April 17, 2017

NYC Easter Parade: I’m All Smiles

Have you ever wanted to feel like a celebrity? Glamorous attire, the flash of hundreds of cameras, pose after pose; people begging to take your picture, clamoring for interviews. Before yesterday, I believed the easiest way to achieve this was to get on some ~~horrible~~ reality tv show. Now I know this is not the case. There is a way that is much easier, and much, much more fun to achieve celebrity status for a day. Attend New York’s Easter Parade.

The scene. Crowds bottle-necked around especially decorative hats. The whole parade was not this jammed.

This event is deliciously unorganized. The city shuts down traffic along 5th Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets. New Yorkers and visitors, some traveling specifically for the parade, do the rest. The stars of the show are those wearing hats, Easter bonnets, the more elaborate the better. A grand range from crafty to classy, creative to couture. It is a fabulous, milling millinery crowd, with every one admiring and taking pictures. The best hats get an incredible amount of attention and a guarantee of featuring in several publications reporting on the event.

This lady was fabulous and knew how to work that hat, and a camera. Every one wanted her picture.

Yesterday, I was in the thick of it. And cursing myself for not wearing a show worthy hat. Next year! Are you thinking of your hat for next year too? The good news is, we have lots of time, loads of inspiration, and a many options for our asphalt carpet debut.

NYC Easter Parade — That’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the background. Too bad it’s covered in scaffolding, it’s usually so pretty!

The “Classic Easter”. This look will always be a hit.

The “Strength in Numbers & Colors”. The uniformity and brilliant color, multiplied by four is especially striking.

The “Classy”. These ladies were from the Milliners Society, which they proudly proclaimed by wearing sashes.

The “Adorable”. Is there anything cuter than 2 older gentlemen wearing home-made hates featuring rubber duckies?

The “ADORABLE”. Oh right, there is something more adorable. Kids. Duh.

The “Crafty Show-stopper”. These ladies were visible half a block away, which was impressive.

However, when seen up close, they looked uncomfortable. I’m going to recommend a hat that isn’t so cumbersome you have to hold on to it to keep it on.

The “Full Costume That Has Nothing to Do With Easter”. This will get you noticed, for sure.
This was the perfect way to spend Easter morning. The perfect way for a creative, agnostic, New York Cliché to celebrate the holiday. I left the area with a huge smile on my face. Walking through Rockefeller Center, my smile turned upside down when I saw the famous ice skating rink. “It’s spring! Why is there still ice skating!?” I fumed. And then I saw this.

I grinned, so happy I nearly clapped my hands. There was the Easter Bunny just skating along the rink. You don’t get a better celebrity sighting than that. It was perfect.

How was your weekend?

March 29, 2013March 24, 2016

Easter My Way: Beer, Bonnets, NYC Bhangra

flowersspring — Just in time for Easter, spring flowers pop up in planters on NYC streets!

Happy Easter weekend! Are you celebrating?

As a 20-something, agnostic who was raised Episcopalian, I never quite know what to do on Easter Sunday. Were I not 3,000 miles away from my parents, the answer would be simple: church followed by a traditional Easter dinner of roast beef and potatoes. My father made this abundantly clear in the Easter card he sent which arrived yesterday. Some of my friends get candy baskets sent to them, or perhaps a twenty to be spent on Easter brunch. Not me. I get a Hallmark card inscribed by my father, “The joy of this day is in the risen Lord“. That is a direct quote, dear readers.

Perhaps the joy of your Easter is in the risen Lord, I have no problem with that. Mine however, is not, and my father knows this. It was a strange message to receive.
What do you want, Dad? Are you trying to make me feel guilty for my acute lack of spirituality? Make me consider the cardinal sins of my NYC life? Are you trying to passive-aggressively push me into a church this Sunday?
Or, are you trying to tap into the cliché teenage rebel whose remnants still reside somewhere inside me? So that I may proclaim, “Whatever , Dad! Don’t tell me what to do! You don’t know me! I’ll do what I want!” and spend Easter Sunday doing what ever I Damn. Well. Please.

If the latter is the case, you, Daddy dearest, are a genius.

The joy in my Easter weekend is in beer, ridiculous hats, and Hindi celebrations of spring. If my father reads my blog this, no doubt, brings him fear for the eternal damnation of my soul. Sorry, Pop.

Saturday I work for one of the sponsors of NYC Craft Beer Festival. It will be a glorious day of staying just on the right side of tipsy. Remaining flirty, social, and talkative and never crossing the line into drunk. This will be the hardest part of my 11 hour work day. My boss encourages social drinking on the job. Ostensibly, I will be paid to drink beer. Yes, some of my day jobs are pretty awesome. There are still tickets available for the 2nd session! Find out more by clicking the above photo.

Easter Sunday I plan to wake up early. Not for church, not for brunch, but for the incredible spectacle of the NYC Easter Bonnet Parade. Participants go all out, I expect to see some truly incredible things fashioned on people’s heads. Stay tuned for the blog all about it! For now, view this youtube video of last year’s festivities. If you want to check it out, apparently the best place for viewing is around St. Patrick’s cathedral on 5th Avenue and 50th Street.

Then Sunday March 31st from 12-6pm is NYC Bhangra’s Holi Hai. A Hindi celebration of spring, I went last year and it was So. Much. Fun. Check out the blog I wrote all about it: The Sky is Gray So color My Face! Holi Hai! NYC Bhangra has the most amazing staff an members- everyone who runs this event is amazingly friendly. Check out their website and Facebook page. It affects the whole event and makes it that much more enjoyable! The music is great, the food is authentic, and the atmosphere is unique and really special. Don’t forget colors! They’ll be everywhere and you will leave smiling and looking like spring. I guarantee it.

Have a fantastic weekend, every one! I hope I don’t come off as down on Easter. I love bunnies and flowers!

Last week, I walked past Columbus Circle and saw a huge crowd of bunnies. My first instinct was: PETA protest. But it turned out to be a promotion for UNREAL Candy. It’s the most effective promotion I’ve seen in a long time, and oh boy I’ve seen a lot! Being an actor, of course I knew several of the bunnies! They couldn’t speak, but had name tags and were all adept at miming. It was unreal!

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy Holi! Happy Weekend, Happy Spring!