Tonight I took advantage of one of New York’s brilliant free summer activities – a huge concert in Prospect Park. To start, Ryan and I joined some others for a picnic on the grass outside the main music area. It was close enough to snack, drink and chat while listening to the concert – at that point Dan Deacon – …
Read MoreTag / Brooklyn
July 27, 2013
…browsed the Brooklyn Flea
When I was little, Mummy and Daddy Warren always wanted to visit antique shops. My big sister and I would groan as we were pulled into yet another shop cluttered with higgledy piggledy chairs and chipped chandeliers. I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, somehow, I got it. Even though I rarely …
Read MoreJuly 27, 2013
…made soap
I’ve been to the Brooklyn Brainery in Prospect Heights a couple of times now – for a computer hacking course and another for making sauerkraut – but I’ve not revisited the lessons since. Tonight I went back to learn how to make soap, and I can say with certainty that I’ll be using these skills again. …
Read MoreJuly 7, 2013
…bowled at a retro alley
A few weeks ago, I took part in a bowling league with my colleagues at Frames in Midtown. I did very, very badly and wanted to see if I fared any better by approaching the sport in a new way. And as it turns out, I would have been better in the 1970s. Ryan and I …
Read MoreJune 29, 2013
…recoiled in horror at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow
When I went to Coney Island before, I missed out on quite a few treats. Today Ryan, Rory, Jane and I went back for some more of the old-fashioned rides and suntanning with frozen margaritas on the boardwalk. But most exciting of all – we watched the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. This show, which costs $5 and lasts for …
Read MoreJune 26, 2013
…took a life drawing class
Tonight Elektra, Jessica and I headed to 3rd Ward in Bushwick for a life drawing class – something I’ve been meaning to do since I started this blog. And while it didn’t disappoint, my drawing did a bit. The $10 class – named Drink and Draw – is long. With the help of free cans of …
Read MoreJune 16, 2013
…ate dinner at the cinema
This evening, I met my friend Dave at the Nitehawk cinema in Williamsburg. The venue is famous for its midnight showings of classics and also its original take on cinema snacks – you can order and eat dinner while you watch. So it seemed like a perfect Sunday activity sheltering from the threatened rain. We …
Read MoreJune 15, 2013
…made fire
While I’ve done more than 160 new things since the start of the year, there are only a few that have given me some genuinely useful skills. Today trumped all of those. Rachel and I headed to the wilds of Prospect Park for a fire-building class held by organic clothes company, Loomstate. It was led by …
Read MoreJune 9, 2013
…rode Jane’s Carousel
For the last stop of Bree’s New York Bachelorette Weekend, we went to Dumbo. While Smorgasburg visits Williamsburg on a Saturday, on a Sunday it comes to this gorgeous spot across the Brooklyn Bridge. I’ve never been to this neighbourhood before but it’s beautiful – rustic buildings, colourful coffee shops, a beautiful waterfront. While there, …
Read MoreJune 5, 2013
…rocked out at an air guitar competition (and met the U.S. champion)
At the zombie parade on Sunday, I bumped into my friend Darla, who suggested I go to something even more bizarre this week: An air guitar competition. Yes. This actually exists. So tonight Jeff and I headed to St. Vitus, a dingy, divey metal bar on the northern tip of Greenpoint, to meet Darla for …
Read MoreJune 5, 2013
…was in a music video (part 2)
A bonus blog today… Remember when I was in a music video? Well, it’s finally out! The lovely Lindsay Ellyn has released the video of ‘Somebody Love Those Girls’ and it’s gorgeous. The song, which is about women desperate to be loved, is heart-wrenching but beautiful – and watching the video brought back memories of a great …
Read MoreJune 2, 2013
…dodged zombies in Williamsburg
Instead of the bespectacled, bearded arty types that usually swarm the streets of Williamsburg, this afternoon there was a different kind of clone: Scores of bleeding, mangled zombies taking part in the Annual Zombie Crawl. Haha, I love New York. After getting help from make-up artists at the Knitting Factory, the zombies took to the streets with …
Read MoreMay 13, 2013
…went to Madison Square Eats
‘Tis the season for outdoor food markets and because I’ve obviously not done enough food posts recently, after work I headed to Madison Square Eats – a snug food market opposite the Flatiron building. I’d never heard of the market until Meghan, who lives close to the park, told me about it – and promised me there …
Read MoreMay 12, 2013
…took an archery class
Today Noah and I headed to Brooklyn Heights to make good on a Groupon I’d nabbed a few months ago – an archery class for two. I booked us in for a beginners slot – because, well, I’m a beginner, and also because Noah had been pretty modest about his archery skills until this morning. …
Read MoreMay 5, 2013
…rode the Cyclone at Coney Island
New York boasts hundreds of national landmarks – but I never expected to find one among gaudy rides and neon prizes at an amusement park. Today Noah and I jumped on a train to Coney Island, where we headed to the Cyclone, a huge, rickety rollercoaster that was erected in 1927 – and which has landmark …
Read MoreMay 4, 2013
…sneaked snacks at Smorgasburg
The sun is out, which means one thing in the summer: Time to head to Smorgasburg. Smoragsburg is a huge flea food market held every Saturday in summer along the East River in Williamsburg. There are food stands selling snacks to be enjoyed in the sunshine, while others sell beautiful jars and tins to take away. The …
Read MoreApril 9, 2013
…watched Gnawa music
After yesterday’s African food, I decided to complete the experience by bopping to some African music. But this was at an unexpected spot: Union Pool in Williamsburg, a place usually teeming with obnoxious facial hair, tattoos, and tacos. But tonight, Nass Gnawa was welcomed to the stage. The vibrant, fez-topped five put on a performance …
Read MoreApril 1, 2013
…rode the M line
One thing I love about New York is how easy it is to get around – on foot or public transport. The subways are frequent, in straight lines and much, much more reliable than in London. Jaunting all over the city for various events means I’ve pretty much been on every subway line. But until …
Read MoreMarch 21, 2013
…hacked a computer
Faced with the silence of a post-break up social life, I have found a new job to keep me busy: Computer hacking. Just kidding, FBI. (And it’s not been that silent really, fear not.) But I did pick up a few tips at an Intro to Hacking class at the Brooklyn Brainery, a great little …
Read MoreMarch 17, 2013
…broke up with my boyfriend (and then we watched a movie about naked nuns together)
Dylan met me as I landed at JFK this afternoon and, a couple of subway stops later, we’d agreed to break up. We’ve realized that we want different things and that something’s not been right for a while. But after a lot of honesty and a little bit of joking to take the edge off, …
Read MoreFebruary 22, 2013
…watched a latte art competition
A month ago, one of my favourite coffee shops, Oslo, was gutted by a fire in the middle of the day, rocking the small chain, the Williamsburg neighbourhood and the coffee community. As the company battled to get back on its feet after such a massive loss, they decided to make some cash the best …
Read MoreFebruary 9, 2013
…made a snow angel
Winter Storm Nemo dumped a foot of snow on New York last night. For Lower Manhattan – where I live – that means brown slush lining every street for a few days. But for the city’s parks, it means a soft, welcoming blanket – and the opportunity to be a big kid. So I donned …
Read MoreFebruary 5, 2013
…ran over the Brooklyn Bridge
With all these vats of cheese and doughnuts I’ve been consuming, it’s about time I did some exercise. I combined it with a New York must-see by running over the Brooklyn Bridge. Twice actually, if you count there and back.
Read MoreFebruary 3, 2013
…watched the Super Bowl
Tonight I dunked chips in dip, swilled beer, oohed at the halftime show, groaned at the commercials and yelled at the players – just like a true American. And you know what? I still don’t understand football.
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