Autumn in the City

Best. 

Hello all!

Sorry for not posting in a while...it seems that as the weather gets colder, I get busier. Just the universe's way of reminding me I chose to go to school in the north, I suppose.

Actually, the weather has been lovely these past few weeks. I've always been more of a spring and summer kind of person, but New York City is really charming in the fall. Blue skies, sunny, with just a little chill in the air. Just chilly enough to crack out the tights and cute boots and jackets.

Despite the blue skies, I don't trust this NYC autumn. I keep waiting for the morning when I'm going to walk outside and be punched in the face with winter. And then I'll be perpetually cold until April.

Floor/fam dinner

That's why I'm really trying to enjoy the city before it gets to that point. Every weekend I've been going someplace new-- Last weekend I visited the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Central Park, and Astoria in Queens, and just today I went back to the Upper West Side to visit the American Natural History Museum.

Honestly, that's been my favorite thing about living here: I have so many opportunities for exploring at my disposal. Even where I'm located, in Greenwich Village, there are so many cool restaurants and coffeehouses and theaters...just last week, a local, indie movie theater held an event where they released the new Steve Jobs movie a week in advance, just for NYU students, for free. It was first-come, first-serve, so naturally there was a line from the door that stretched 4 blocks.

Beaut <3

It also just so happens that I was the last person they let into the theater, which was pretty freaking cool. The auditorium was gorgeous, and my seat wasn't half bad either.

Plus, the other night, my roommate and I were craving cupcakes. So we got up, walked 30 minutes to SoHo, and picked some up. Just like that.

Don't worry-- I'm not just sauntering throughout Manhattan all day and night, throwing my cash in the wind. I am in fact still going to class and doing my homework, and trying to limit my spending to (cheap) food and travel only. I mean, I live across The Strand, the most amazing bookstore in the whole world, and the fact I have not drained my bank account there yet is a true testament to the willpower I am exercising over here.

Hungarian pastries near Central Park

I am still struggling with the food though. I have taken to stock-piling home-cooked food my family brings me in the freezer, and ordering a lot of takeout. I have used our microwave in ways I never, ever wanted to before. I think the real issue is that I've been raised on my mom's food my whole life, and eating takeout, dining hall food, or microwavable soup (ugh), just does not compare. I'm still looking for the right balance. Not all the dining hall food is repulsive, and I've got to learn to take advantage of that food which is essentially already paid for, instead of giving half my tuition to GrubHub.

Anyway, it's almost 6:30 p.m., and that means I have to figure out what I'm eating for dinner. Again. Yippee.

-Danielle