People always say that it’s such a small world. You go to a city that has 18,976,45 people in it, and at any given moment you will run into practically any of those people. How does it happen that when you’re in Queens New York, at the “Maker Faire”, you happen to run into an old Boston colleague on the science playground, as well as get a text message from your aunt and uncle who happen to be in front of Dean & Deluca in Times Square, NYC? Mind you, your aunt and uncle are from Salt Lake City, Utah…What a crazy and random weekend I just had. It started on Friday, as I was schmoozing with some New Art Center socialite artists for our fall exhibition opening. Waiting for the time to go on, I busted out of work and quickly drove home to throw some clothes into a backpack and drive with George to Brooklyn, where Doug was patiently waiting for us. As we drove the 4 hours from Boston to NYC, we talked about all the fun fall activities we should do, like corn mazes and apple picking, and what we should be for Halloween. I’m thinking fierce female movie character, while George is thinking Caterpillar. :)
As soon as we got to Brooklyn, and after the rush of traffic in the city (yikes!) we finally made it to Doug and Morgen’s simple, yet awesomely quaint one bedroom apartment on Oxford Street. It’s on the 3rd floor of an old Brooklyn brownstone and has a tiny-ass kitchen. Typical, but what it does have is a friggin’ solarium! Yes, one of a kind I am sure. We got to drink beer, sleep on the fold out couch, and eat breakfast underneath the East Coast sky. It was fantastic and I’m so jealous.
The next day, we headed out for a full day of City. First it was down the street to the Brooklyn Flea Market where George got a new colorful belt, of course. Then it was through the tunnels of the Metro to the Museum of Modern Art where we saw Yoko Ono photographs of bums, unique kitchen gadgets and Matisse’s naked ladies! We made wishes on the Wishing Tree and then headed out to get burgers at the Burger Joint, located in the fancy, Le Parker Meridien Hotel. By no means was this a fancy joint however, it is a secret spot that is now not so secret…
After some grub, we met up with George and Doug’s college friend Dave who lives in Chelsea. Then we headed to the “meat-packing district” (I just learned these terms…) where we spent the evening in a pretty awesome and crowded Biergarten! Packed with tables and enormous pretzels, we enjoyed eachother's company as we drank some German bier and watched the frat boys play ping pong and hit on some cougar ladies. I even got in on some of the action by being hit by one of the ping pong balls in my eye! Yeah, gross. I was so startled that I jumped, knocked over my glass and it shattered in front of my eyes. Bummer indeed. We all decided that the dude should buy me another and what does he say to me?
“Ummm, yeah well I totally should. But, I just spent all my money and I can’t buy you another one…here…I’ll give you some of mine!”
He was so impressed and proud of himself for thinking of that idea for compensation. Funny that his shirt said “Boston College”. Hmmmm….
Anyway, afterward we hit up some water and rest before we went back out to Brooklyn for a swanky loft party. It’s always so funny these Brooklyn parties. Same vibe, ladies and gents who are into fashion and design, wearing plaid and sneakers, with their hair styled to perfection and their lips a perfect shade of red. A perfectly laid out shabby chic. Music, vintage, and bicycles…that’s what I always find when I happen upon those Brooklyn swingers.
It was fun, we danced, we had wine and cheese, and as we were walking back to Doug’s we learned that it’s always good to have tools on you in case you find a lone bike that has a valuable bell on it. Good thing Doug is always prepared.
The next day we woke up, sort of refreshed and made some delicious French Toast. George even cooked up some smoky bacon in his smokin’ outfit of boxers and an apron. Yep, just that. I’ll let you imagine away. :)
After a quick jaunt in the city traffic again, we headed out to Queens, where we would take a big yellow school bus to the Maker Faire! I felt I was back in 3rd grade again as I sat in the musty smelly brown seats. I never remembered buses having seat belts…I guess times have changed. We pulled up and all I could see as we were walking in was fire…jet-propelled fire that is! This place was amazing. From a picking locks lesson to giant pendulum swings and sensor controlled bustiers (imagine me saying that with a French accent…); there was anything anyone could imagine! In order for you to imagine, let me compare it to the World’s Fair in 1889, where the Eiffel Tower was introduced. Just think, whatever was radical or crazy back then…the Eiffel Tower must surely have been on the list. Here, you could say these people are those who are inventors, DIYers, or they just take the technology of today and put it to new and creative use. It was quite an amazing sight. If you want to check out something really amazing and one of the things we saw here, check out the guys of ArcAttack:
http://www.arcattack.com/video/vid5.php
Right before we saw these guys, I had the 2 very random and coincidental things happen to me which I mentioned at the beginning of this story. My uncle Rhett texted me with a picture of my aunt Becky standing in front of Dean & Deluca saying, “Guess where Beck is and who she wants to be?”
I was immediately shocked because obviously she was in NYC, unless of course she was at a really good replication of a DD in Vegas or something. I called right away and said the valley girl response, “Shut up! You’re totally in NY!” Indeed they were. Thanks to buddy passes, which by the way…why don’t I have any friends who want to give away buddy passes?!
Unfortunately we couldn’t see them since we were in Queens and on our way out of the city back to Boston. It would have been hell trying to drive back into Manhattan at that time of the day/weekend ending. But I really am glad that I got to be there when I got that happy little text. PS. Becky and Rhett, or anyone in my family/friend circle: Let me know if you’re ever on the East Coast...I just may be anywhere too!
On the science playground is where we saw an old co-worker of mine, who now works and lives in Queens doing art and exhibition design. What a small world indeed. It was good to see him, and I think he was happy that we showed him and his girlfriend the way to the ArcAttack dudes. He said, “I think I may pee my pants, that was so cool..”
The weekend came to an end when George and I battled NYC traffic and long one-lane bridges, stopped in New Haven Connecticut, home of Yale, to have a bomb-ass burrito at Bulldog Burritos. We even got to watch the Hispanic version of Dancing with the Stars! Bueno, bueno. After a long drive home, we passed out watching the rain come sweeping through Boston. It was a completely awesome fall weekend, busy as always, but so much fun.
Hopefully these next few weekends will be just as great. We’ll be 
headed to the Topsfield Fair, which has become a yearly tradition. Gotta love that fried dough!
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