Sunday Street Moment

DAY 13

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

On the day I choose a t-shirt and jeans combo, I meet—and speak with!—the iconic fashion photographer.

When I saw the movie, Bill Cunningham New York back in April, I was so mesmerized by the iconic photographer's life—how simply he lived it—and his decades-long career with The New York Times. I would say that Bill Cunningham brought street photography to the mainstream, if not, invented street-style photo features as we see them today.

Now, much as I would like to be photographed by the man on his bicycle and trademark blue shirt, I know that what I wear on a daily basis isn't fashion-feature or society-page material. I leave that to my more stylish friends like Kat or Happy who have a sort of bohemian-meets-city-chic take on fashion that tends to be photogenic—especially with the accessories they pair with their outfits. Christine of Manila Fashion Observer also comes to mind, for her high-end style. I, on the other hand, am a little bit old-lady-French, or sporty-sleek. Not entirely un-fashionable, but you get my drift.

Every now and then, I think about Cunningham. Just in the last two weeks alone, I can tell you of two moments that I have wondered about the very fascinating photographer. First, I was walking along Lexington Avenue and 57th St., and I thought to myself, "Will I ever see Bill Cunningham in person on his bike, as I walk down the street? Maybe not." The second time, I may have walked past the New York Times building or some other building and wondered, "Who'll take care of Bill Cunningham when he's older? A trusted assistant? The NY Times management?"

So, you could imagine my surprise when earlier this morning, as I was taking pictures by the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building steps on Fifth Avenue, a man behind me started talking and pointed out how nice the library was to shoot today as it was "clean" (or did he say "clear"?). When I turned around, it was Bill Cunningham! On his bike! In his blue shirt! I was so star-struck and to be honest, I can hardly remember exactly what he said about the library. Here are bits and pieces of our conversation (conversation!):

Me: "I'm so happy to see you! I watched your movie."
Bill: "[Smiling. I can't remember what he said, maybe something about it being a very nice day, how it's nice to shoot the library on this nice day.]
Me: "You work Sundays?"
Bill: "Oh, yeah. I'm on my way to the photo lab."
Me: "Okay. I'm so happy to have met you. Bye, Bill. Take care!"
Bill: [Smiles and pedals away.]

Sigh. It took a few moments to collect my thoughts and start walking to the next block. I couldn't believe it!

The ironic thing is, today, of all days, was a day I chose to dress down. I was going to be out and about with family, so I wore a very comfy electric yellow fitted tee, cuffed jeans, and my stripey pink-violet Keds slip-ons. I was also carrying a New Balance drawstring backpack and a black reusable shopping bag next to my handbag (the latter is pretty though). Oh well :)

If you haven't seen it yet, here's the movie trailer that I posted back in April. You may also read the blog entry here.

Bill Cunningham "On the Street" image courtesy of The New York Times.

Reading Room

A must-read!

DAY 12

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

It may come as a surprise to some of you that I have subscriptions to the following men's titles: Popular Science and Esquire. It all started when my husband was promoted to associate publisher and was responsible for launching Men's Health in the Philippines. First, he flew out to New York for training and brought back Rodale titles, including MH editor David Zinczencko's "Abs Diet" book. Next, he started getting US editions of both Men's Health and Esquire in the mail. At the time, I was working at Cosmo in Manila, and reading women's magazines as a form of relaxation had lost a bit of its luster as it would somehow feel like work. Let's say I was reading a foreign women's mag and am impressed by a story or would get fascinated by some photos, so I'd end up checking the gutter for credits, maybe even start poring over the masthead…not the kind of reading one would enjoy doing in the bathroom.

Men's magazines, on the other hand, provided a more straightforward form of entertainment and relaxation. I couldn't care less who shot what story or who did the grooming or who worked in what department (fine, maybe I still did a quick peek at the masthead)—it was pure reading pleasure.

These days, I no longer work as a full-time magazine staffer, which goes to say that I can go back to reading women's titles without internalizing how its pages were, or a particular story was produced. Next to my Popular Science (if you have kids, I definitely recommend having this mag lying around the house for them to pick up; it's a treasure trove of fascinating information) and Esquire are O, The Oprah Magazine, and random purchases of other fashion and lifestyle titles. What can I say? I'm a magazine girl at heart.

Image courtesy of Popular Science on Facebook.

Snacks for the Weekend

DAY 11

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Hi, folks!

Here's another short post for tonight. I have to sleep off this splitting headache, and get ready for a busy family weekend! Anyhow, I will be snacking on Clif Kid Z Bars and Kashi granola bars. If you haven't tried them, I suggest you do. Unlike many energy/snack bars out in the market, these two aren't cloyingly sweet.

Tell me: What's your on-the-go favorite snack? Leave a comment, and I'll draw two winners by end of next week and send a box (or two) of these yummy bars.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Ready for Friday

DAY 10

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Felt a little bit tired today, so ended up napping when I got home and just woke up. So, in lieu of a wordier post, here's something on my playlist this week, Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)." Love her sense of humor and of course, the 80s icons in the video: Corey Feldman, Debbie Gibson, Kenny G. Even the the 90s' Hanson brothers are in it!

Have a great Friday, everyone! Until the next post (later today)!

TV Talk

Lights, camera, action!

DAY 9
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

For someone who doesn't own a television set, I happen to love watching TV. Not owning a cable box and the whole flat-screen-DVR package isn't an effort to seem "cool" or "detached" but rather, a function of limited space. Plus, I'm afraid that if I had a TV in my room, I'd enjoy it too much and that's all I'd do. Come to think of it, I already shy away from big shenanigans of the mingling and drinking kind, and if I start getting glued to the tube, there goes my (modest) social life.

Anyhow, I do get around watching my favorite shows, thanks to online streaming. ABC has an app on the iPad that lets you see their shows, including sitcoms like Happy Endings (super funny!) and Modern Family (I have yet to get on board).

My three faves at the moment happen to be on USA Network and are as follows (I read somewhere recently that they're still in the middle of having their app approved by Apple):

1) White Collar
2) Burn Notice
3) SUITS(!)

If you haven't seen #3, you have to ASAP! It's about two lawyers: one legit graduate from Harvard, and one who passed the bar without having gone to any law school. It's hilarious and entertaining. Hotshot closer Harvey Specter hires Mike Ross, who wows him at an accidental and well-timed job interview. The former covers up for the latter's lack of a law degree and the rest is bromance history. It's TV candy, alright. Both men are handsome—Specter in a dashing-debonair kind of way, and Ross, in a cute-hipster-who-wears-skinny-ties kind of way (the latter's character lives in Williamsburg and rides a bike to work). I love the New York street and office scenes in the show and get a kick out of recognizing areas where they shot.

Here's the trailer of the show. It's on every Thursday night. Happy viewing!

Sweet Beats

DAY 8

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Something to repeat.

 With my blogging and overall love for good food, I may come across as this "foodie" with very evolved tastes (and tastebuds). But, to tell you the truth, I tend to be boring, if not, monotonous, in my day-to-day choices. For instance, I have the same thing for breakfast almost everyday and more or less follow the same sequence:

First, I'll have some steel cut oatmeal (once you've tried it, there's no going back to rolled oats…unless you're baking cookies). Next, I'll have eggs with toast or potatoes, or both, depending on whether I prepare them myself or get them from a deli.

So, yes, I have two breakfasts spaced about an hour apart. From that point forward, I'll eat when I'm hungry, and shoot for small-ish, frequent meals. Lunch can fall between 1pm to 2pm, depending how the oatmeal and eggs were spaced apart, and it's usually something with salmon, arugula, rice, potatoes, or cheese. If I go out to dinner, I'll most likely pick something out from the menu that has any of those items.

For dessert, lately it's been a lot of yogurt—frozen, parfait with granola—oh, and yes, ice cream (gelato if I'm anywhere near the Grand Central food court).

As I'm writing this, a Jon Bon Jovi interview comes to mind. The rockstar has been married to his high school sweetheart for the last 20-plus years. I remember the reporter asking him how he felt about this, given that musicians were notorious for having all these women around, throwing themselves at band members. He said, and I paraphrase, "It's like going to the candy store—at some point, you don't want all that candy inside the store, you have your favorites."

What's your favorite sweet treat?

Take Flight

DAY 7

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Part of flying is landing…with grace.

At a very lovely dinner with old and newly made friends, the subject of taking flight came up. And I paraphrase the words of Miriam, who, at the moment, holds the key to my next bowl of Ocean Don and being reunited with one of my favorite cafés in the world, even just for a moment. "It's easy to burst out and fly. It's in landing that you need grace and control."

In life, it's easy to be impulsive, or justify similar actions, especially when we truly want something, or when that something doesn't materialize nor come to our specifications. Finding ground means literally switching gears. It could mean learning how to react differently, breathing through a stressful situation, or simply being more respectful of circumstances.

When I first moved to New York, I made certain career mistakes—out of naiveness, impatience, or sheer ignorance (or all of the above). In my desire to reach new heights, I fell hard. I thought I'd never recover. But I did. And when that happened, I learned to be more deliberate in my actions, scrutinizing of people and situations, and most importantly, grateful for all the new opportunities that have given me the chance to try again, and try harder and hopefully make better decisions—in life and in career. True, some doors may possibly have closed permanently on me. But whereas a certain ship may have sailed, this plane has definitely landed.

Grand Central Station

DAY 6

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Ciao Bella Triple Espresso Gelato, mmm…

One of my favorite places in New York City is Grand Central Station, which may come as a surprise given how I feel about Times Square. Both tourist spots can get very crowded, but for some reason, with Grand Central, I couldn't care less. Perhaps it's because of the sprawling food court at the basement, or that the main concourse looks like an airport.

Grand Central is where the Metro North Railroad and MTA Subways converge. If you need to go somewhere or find yourself lost, this busy hub would be your "reset" button. If you're meeting up with a friend, Grand Central Market would be a convenient place to wait and browse (the cheese counter is a must-see).

Personally, I love going to GC, again, for the Dining Concourse. Ciao Bella is a regular stopover, for the gelato and blue cheese and mushroom crepe. I've had the triple espresso gelato for two consecutive weekends now. If you're craving something a little more salty and savory, try Chirping Chicken, Brother Jimmy's Barbecue, or Zarro's Bread Basket. If you like warm, pressed paninis, Paninoteca is your place (don't forget to ask for the balsamic vinaigrette to dip your sandwich in). Back to dessert, Magnolia Bakery has an outpost there as well.

If you're hanging out for a bit with your computer/iPad, expect to just find a few homeless people taking a breather in any of the seats. It's a come-one-come-all place after all, and they don't bother you if you don't bother them. And, if anybody gets extra rambunctious, I've seen the NYPD arrive within minutes, after a drunk person started hurling expletives(?) at another person.

So, if you're ever in the city, you know where to meet up :) Ciao for now!

All in a Day's Work

A small, but very functional space.

DAY 5

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

It's no secret that I've experienced job loss before. This happened not once, not twice, but three times (a lady…sorry, had to say that).

The first time it happened, all I wanted to do in the days that followed was sleep, and maybe make brownies.

The second time it happened, I shipped out, and told myself I never wanted to live in New York again, how overrated the city was. Besides, I also had a wedding to plan: my own.

The third time it happened, I soldiered on. It also helped that I had a part-time writing and editing job that paid very well so I could somehow live decently without going flat-out broke. That, and I have a very generous and hardworking husband who can tell when my wallet's close to empty even without my mentioning it.

So, what is the moral of the story? You simply have to look at the big picture, or wait for enough time to pass so you can see and find meaning in the larger scheme of things. I've always said in this blog that there's a reason for every setback. Had #1 not happened—had I not lost my "dream job"—I wouldn't have met my co-author, Marsha Irving, with whom I collaborated on the Freshman 15 fitness book.

If #2 hadn't happened, yes, I would have had a lucrative proofreading and editing job with a popular fashion retail brand, but I probably wouldn't have gotten around having that fantabulous wedding, AND, I would still have undiagnosed lumps lurking inside my breasts. I'm serious.

If #3 hadn't happened, I wouldn't have been able to embark on the Travel Series, among many other "pluses" and experiences that have occurred since so far. (A number of them, leading to the job that I'm doing right now.)

When something sad happens with one's career, it's almost always a jump-off opportunity to pursue a different kind of success, except that the experience is disguised in a very unpalatable package. To me, it's exactly like a break-up, given how I take my jobs seriously. One still has to go through the requisite living-in-pajamas-not-wanting-to-get-up-and-eating-ice-cream phase, but past the pain, heartbreak, and aggravation is a journey that opens up doors to new opportunities.

Meanwhile, the three instances above are partly, if not, majorly the reason why I have three jobs right now—one, I do full-time, while the other two, part-time and at a very languid, leisurely pace. I have a working home office that can accommodate my writing, editing, and printing needs. While I've had to streamline my freelance writing career at some point early this year (I no longer contribute to the newspaper back home) I tend to welcome assignments without much hesitation. I'll take the $400 articles, next to the $5 tasks, next to the pieces that pay in Philippine pesos that my husband wishes I no longer did because they take up time and pay the equivalent of a trip to Whole Foods (not complaining!). Still, I do not discriminate; work is work, and I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing.

PS—
Have you experienced a career slump lately or have just been feeling down? You may want to read/reread the Inspiration Series :)

Friday Night Plans

DAY 4

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

I've just downloaded the Blogpress app for the iPad and I'm typing this at a Starbucks café. This will be a picture-free post as I am still working my way through the app. I will also apologize in advance if you spot any typos because I have yet to really get the hang of using the very flat keyboard of the iPad (at least it makes that crunchy sound I like!). Obviously, I am trying to make good with my 30-day Blog Challenge, so here I am, on a Friday night, tip-tapping away.

Now, I wasn't trying to make that sound like I was missing out. On the contrary, I rarely ever go out on Friday nights. I would rather be home in bed or at my desk, catching up on favorite TV shows like White Collar, Burn Notice, and as of recently, Suits (that show is super duper cool!). I easily get bored going to bars, and the only person I really would like to have dinner with on a Friday night is my husband. It's nothing personal, and my friends may already have come to understand. You see, I like to eat alone so I can quietly—and intensely—savor what I'm eating. Now, my husband finds humor in the way I eat (that's why I love him!), so what normally happens is he'll laugh at the way I "internalize" the very delicious chicken burger from Charlie's, and then he'll watch the basketball game showing on the flat screen TV across the table at the restaurant. And then we'll share a turtle pie and life is good.

Tonight though, is an exception. I'm going to my good friend Kat's despedida/going-away party (sniff!). Kat has been integral to my second move to New York City. Whereas my first move was marked by homesickness and a yearning for the friends I'd left at my old job, this time around, Kat made it feel like we were just Cosmo editors again, maneuvering our way into this big city, and carving careers out of the opportunities that have come our way.

Kat was also instrumental in helping me land the job that I have now, although I'd rather not talk about that here and now. Weird as it may sound, I'd like to keep the details of my day job, private.

Also, if it weren't for my friend, I wouldn't have discovered the beautiful borough that is Brooklyn. Her first apartment was my jump-off point when this second move happened, and her next apartment, also in Brooklyn, became a comforting refuge when I wanted some quiet time to write, or relax, or simply be in positive company. When I found my apartment in the Bronx (another misunderstood borough, if I may add), she helped me load up the town car and carry boxes up the elevator and into my new home.

I have many other things to share about Kat and our friendship, like how the other night I told her that I felt guilty for being such a passive friend and that I never inititiated meeting up. It's just that—I guess—it was enough for me to know that she lived in the same town. She told me not to worry about it, "I know who you are," she said.

So, I will stop here first. Now, Kat's journey is taking her to another country. While I am sad to see her leave, I am happy for this next chapter in her life. So, off I go to celebrate with a dear, dear friend, and with other people whose lives were also touched by her positivity and happy energy.

Take A Flyer

DAY 3

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

I'll take them all!

If you randomly look into my handbag or second totebag (as is customary among New York commuters) it's not unusual for you to find a flyer or two, or even three inside. That's because I've made it a personal policy to accept all flyers that come my way—anybody standing on the street handing out any printed material, no exceptions.

This stems from my early days in the city. My first ever job was in a Japanese restaurant in midtown. For some of you who've read my old blog, Chocolate Soundboard, you may still remember the anecdotes and musings from that time, many of which were deeply personal and humbling. I worked as a hostess and was later on "promoted" to night Maître D'—which simply meant that my boss could leave me alone to seat people and update the table chart without any guidance because by then I already knew what I was doing. Prior to that job, I had never worked in a restaurant in my life. I didn't know how table numbers worked, what the logic behind seating groups of two, four, or more was, and let alone, how to deal with very hungry New Yorkers during lunch break.

Anyway, going back to my "flyering" story, the place I worked at also had a bar, as many NYC restos do. In the evening, there was Happy Hour, and it accommodated many of the workers in the banks nearby. (This was pre-recession/market crash, mind you.) During slow nights, my boss would ask the hostesses to hand out flyers. There were usually two of us in the evening shift so my coworker and I would take turns. Again, I've never had to hand out flyers in my life and this job came right after many years of working in the very glamorous magazine industry as a very glamorous editor. I've actually written about this in an On My Mind piece, "The Comfort Clause" for Cosmopolitan Magazine a while back and blogged about it here.

I did make peace with the flyering somehow and handed out our Happy Hour cards to Park Avenue passersby with a smile.

The big challenge came in the autumn: The weather changed and it became too cold to be standing out on the street. The thing with my then-boss was, the other hostess and I couldn't go back inside the restaurant until we'd finished our stack. Sometimes, relieved that we've finally gone through a stack, he would hand us a fresh pile. It was kinda funny, quaint, and amusing in the beginning (like I've said, I made peace). But, there was no humor in the task once we had to stand outside, shivering in the cold, for even just a couple of minutes.

You can just imagine my relief when I finally got my first publishing-related job here in New York around that time. I couldn't wait to leave the restaurant any sooner. But, the "flyering lesson," I did take and keep with me.

Another thing to consider about the flyer business, is that in some places, the people who do it for a living get paid by the number of pieces they get to hand out. I am guessing, in other instances, they get paid by the hour. Either way, it's not the easiest thing to be standing there, in the middle of a busy street, hoping enough people would take a sheet or two, or three...

So the next time you see someone handing out flyers, I do hope you take one. It doesn't take five seconds to do it, it's not an extra nuisance in your already-busy schedule. Think of it as a way of helping someone do her job.

Times Squared

Walking to Times Square.

DAY 2

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

The funny thing about Times Square is you would rarely ever see native or longtime New Yorkers roaming around. Even the subject of this landmark alone can make eyes roll, especially if you bring it up to a very, very busy, Blackberry-toting local.

To be honest, there have been times when I've adopted this sentiment, and the last place I would ever want to meet up with anybody is midtown West, or Theater District, or Toys "R" Us (unless you work in Condé Nast, have tickets to a show, or are eight years old).

However, the universe seems to be sending a message, because even though I consciously and intentionally NOT plan on being in Times Square, I always end up there, for one reason or another. For instance, a friend whom I haven't seen in a long time may want to try out the new Shake Shack branch. Or, an impromptu West 34th St. H&M shopping trip with house guests may turn into a leisurely stroll up north and a picture-taking session where the bright lights are. Or, my husband may simply want to line up for Broadway show tickets at TKTS. Even on a day-to-day basis, I don't escape this busy hub: My yoga studio is just a couple of blocks up, and there's a Maoz Falafel branch on 43rd and 8th.

During my early days in New York, I took to watching movies in one of the theaters in the district, simply because the area was crowded—ergo, safe—enough to make it okay to see a film alone. Fast-forward to 2011, and taking into account that I was born and raised in the Philippines, I simply akin the mob of tourists and sightseers to the holiday shoppers in SM Megamall, or the weekend crowd in Mall of Asia.

Where the bright lights are.

If you do the math, New Yorkers—migrants and natives alike—should have no reason to be disgruntled by leisurely-walking out-of-towners, clicking away on their cameras.

In 2010, the number of visitors to New York City totalled 48.7 million, up from the previous year's 45.6 million—both record-breaking numbers with regards to the most-visited city in the United States, according to nycgo.com and travel-industry.uptake.com. Those 48.7 million tourists spent $31 billion last year, and the 45.6 million people who came to town in 2009 spent $28.2 billion and generated $16.6 billion in wages. And even for those who didn't work in the industry, each household still "benefited by an average of $1,200 in tax savings as a result of travel and tourism."

I don't know about you, but I am so not complaining about tourists crowding in the city.

Come one, come all!

The 30-Day Blog Challenge, Third Year

DAY 1

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

The 30-day Blog Challenge, Year 3; Big Apple Edition II.

When started the 30-day Blog Challenge here at Ny Minute Now back in 2009, I was actually in Denver, Colorado, temporarily living with my mother and preparing for the wedding. I had my weekly newspaper column to keep me busy, along with other writing and editing assignments, but I needed to commit to something I could do that would produce results as I made my way into the world of "pro" blogging. And, to do the latter, I needed to blog on a more regular basis.

What usually happens when I become preoccupied with other things is that the blogs are the first to get pushed to the backburner. At the time when I did the first 30-day Blog Challenge though, I wasn't working full-time, hence, the need to somewhat structure my day by way of a self-imposed, strict writing schedule. However, in the middle of the second round in 2010, I had started a new job, so that was truly challenging. I had also just moved back to New York at the time, so I named last year's series, the Big Apple Edition.

So, here I am, on my third year of doing the Challenge. (In an ideal world, I would be blogging everyday anyway, anytime of the year. One can dream, right?) I hope you'll have fun reading the posts as much as I hope to enjoy (and discipline!) myself writing them.

PS—You can read the first 30-day Blog Challenge here, and also at 30-dayblogchallenge.com.