of note:

this is what a real pretzel looks like:

and if you happen to find yourself on the lower east side of manhattan, and not in germany, this is where you can eat one (or three):

i tell you when i stumbled upon cafe katja on saturday amidst gallery-hopping i nearly died of joy. i didn't realize the potential wonder that pretzels could contain until visiting their birthplace last summer, and since returning to the US have been woefully missing the real prussian goodness. but of course, since you can find anything in this blessed city, i would naturally stumble across a hole-in-the-wall austrian bar nestled between little italy and chinatown to indulge in an authentic pretzel experience :)

so everyone come visit me and we'll take a little international tour of cozy little restaurants, galleries, and parks just like this. i mean how can you resist?

me + german pretzels + new york = :)

well there's not much to see actually we're inside a chinese dragon.

my awesome bro lincoln made this video for my awesome mom, in honor of our childhood, in which "what's up doc" played a critical role. thank you mom for raising us right :) and lincoln!!! you're amazing!!!!

america's best invention.

it's true. to much controversy the new york yankees have a new stadium this season. i tell you it's hot news on these city streets - i can't tell you how many conversations in subways i've heard, men complaining of the suuuuper-over-priced tickets or recounting sentimental tales of childhood visits to the original yankee stadium... i love how important baseball is in this city!

and i say hey, it may be a new stadium, but it's still baseball, and so it's still awesome. and so me and a certain german already have tickets for a nationals game in june. because on one's first visit to america, one must go to a baseball game, yes? :)

but p.s. as historic as the yankees are... whatev' - i wish we could go to the angels instead :(

april 18, 1969

mom and dad on their first date :) this wondrous occasion has been celebrated every year as parker day, and today is it's 40th anniversary! so happiest of parker days to all! really, how happy are we all that mom and dad met in mr. brunt's history class at villa park high school? :) love you guys so much.

the local train to etsy

it's true, my official uniform for many years has been a vintage dress with a vintage slip underneath. i promise it's the most comfortable thing to wear ever. SO... to inaugurate the 72 degree weather (!!!), i thought it was time to shop for a few new spring vintage dresses. but. vintage in new york city = WAY overpriced. even brooklyn. i mean seriously - $50 for a dress? i miss LA shops... so instead, i resorted to etsy. huzzah! what do you think?


and i have no face in these pictures because a) my hair is super long and is taking over my head, and b) i'm super shy and awkward when having my photo taken - thanks carlynne, you're the best roommate/photographer! :)

more lunch-break blogging.

i think this is really wonderful. my friend ashmae is quite brilliant, and also a beautiful artist. one of her pieces was lovingly given to me and hung on my otherwise naked wall in oxford. it brought me such joy!

but please take a moment to join her effort! it is just what american women need, truly. huzzah for [non-maoist] cultural revolutions!!!

summer nights

it was a full glorious 63 degrees today in new york!!! a warmness which extended into this blessed night... it seems like my bones have been frigid for the last 5 months straight, and so i took full advantage of the balmy evening, taking an extended walk home through the late-night still city streets after a DELISH deeeeep soul food supper at sylvia's in east harlem. [this place is so good even obama paid them a visit :)]

i find harlem to be oh so beautiful. the victorian architecture is scuffed up and lived in, and nothing beats st. nicholas' park with the dramatic gothic architecure of the city college. walking home past these brownstone row houses, with people laughing and playing out on their stoops, past the endless number of baptist churches and their neon crosses, past groups of old men still playing chess - the rigorous tap-tap of their timers punctuating the otherwise low hum of their concentration - past the chicken and waffle and fish and chips stands glowing in the dark... it was so perfectly warm and home-y and inviting, i was so thrilled to feel summer rolling into the little cluster of islands we call new york city! winter = overrated.

wherever you read this post, i hope had a calm night of simple pleasures as well :)


p.s. just to assure mom and dad: i was accompanied on this walk through harlem by a male-friend, who had also accompanied me to the finger-lickin' good soul food delights - and in any case, i promise harlem is not what it used to be. God bless guiliani! :)