Eat, Pray, Fart

November 24, 2011, Thanksgiving Day, will soon be over. In a few weeks we’ll be flying to Florida for Christmas. Where did the month of November go? And what a month it was.

The news this month about being chosen by a few designers for the Fusion Fashion Show was exciting. If nothing else, I’m hoping that this show in March will open a few more doors. In the mean time, I’m just trying to keep my act together and work up the confidence to apply to and attend open calls of major modeling agencies. I just want to walk around in nice clothes and get paid a lot for it, is that too much to ask?

Our wedding anniversary was Tuesday, the 22^nd of this month but we celebrated Monday night since I had to work. We went to dinner at Becco, an Italian restaurant on Restaurant Row which was ah-mazing. We had like six courses, a bottle of wine with dinner, and then a grand finale dessert accompanied by complimentary dessert wine. We wobbled out of there a little dazed and giggly to say the least.  On Tuesday, I brought Jen flowers at work and grabbed some tea with her on her lunch break.  We didn’t exchange gifts, per se, but Jen wrote me another poem. It was sooo funny but R-rated so you’ll have to take my word for it. Shout out and thanks to the family for sending us such nice words and gifts (some still en route) for the big two-year.

I try not to let this blog turn into a food diary but today was Thanksgiving, what do you expect? For the big feast Jen, Pup, and I took a 7 train to Grand Central, a Metro-North train to White Plains, NY, and then rode with family to Connecticut. The host’s were long time friends of the Cappello’s and made us feel right at home. My favorite moment was when “Grandpa Louie” had me follow him to the liquor cabinet and made me a bourbon on the rocks. That man can drink! It was also nice to see little Lisa, although I can’t call her little for much longer. She’s eight now. We are stuffed from our early dinner and just taking it easy tonight, doing some online Christmas shopping and blogging.  

Bonnie and Clyde

Before a Broadway show officially opens it has a soft open, called previews, for a few weeks. This gives creators a way to view the show as an audience would and make adjustments before the grand opening to the general public. It’s really a win/win because shows also extend free tickets out to people like servers who, because we have access to many locals and tourists alike, can create a sales-boosting buzz. Last week Bourbon St. employees were offered free tickets to Bonnie and Clyde, a show now in previews and opening soon. Jen and I went Sunday night with really no expectations but really loved the show. It’s action packed and the voices of the leads were amazing! A few groups of my coworkers went too. Aside from the $5 bottled water I bought for Jen at the bar, it was another great free night out.
Click here for Bonnie and Clyde Broadway website

Jen recognized a guy that was standing out front before the show as an actor from Love Actually (Not surprised. I would guess she’s seen it about fifteen times.) We looked him up on IMDB and he was in fact in the movie along with many other things.

Little, Fast New Yorkers

So I came accross this short film about a day in New York City today while doing some blog reading. It uses tilt-shift photograghy to give everything a really cool miniature look. It kind of made me want to pick things up and throw them like King Kong. You'll see, enjoy!

Blue Steel-by Jen Rexrode

Every year, the two biggest design schools in NY, F.I.T and Parsons, have a competition for students to submit designs to be chosen as part of a fashion show that is attended by some big name people.  This is a huge deal for the students to get their name/work out there.  One of the finalists is Matt’s co-worker Blair (that’s how we know anything about this at all). So, if there are designers wanting to show off their clothes, they’re gonna need models.  Blair (among several others) suggested Matt audition to be one of the models because he has “perfect proportions.”  Matt didn’t argue; he decided he wanted to try out so he prepped by giving up carbs, running a lot and throwing in some extra ab work outs.  After a grueling WEEK of all this hard work (of course he slipped a couple times and had carbs.  I mean who can go a whole WEEK of this ridiculous diet?!), he got himself in good enough shape (he has a freakin’ 4-pack now.  I mean seriously, God?) to feel confident trying out.  

The open call was held from 6-9 in an art gallery type space in Manhattan (pic).  You know Matt, he was there right at 6 and was one of the first in line of probably hundreds of guys and gals that showed up.  He got measured and was asked to walk for the design students (including Blair) who would be selecting models to represent their lines.  As he was walking, Blair called out, “Hi, Matt,” which brought awkward attention on him but, he didn’t care.  Also, one of the directors (a man) told him, “Very nice, very nice.  Do you work out Matt?”  He left feeling pretty confident and we went to Pies N’ Thighs and gorged on fried chicken and biscuits to celebrate.

He found out Monday that he was selected by a student named Simon to represent his line!  He was so non-chalant about it - like it was no big deal - but I was freaking out.  He said he wasn’t really surprised because he had put a lot of effort into it.  The effort he’s referring to is the aforementioned week of “hard” work.  I reminded him that some people dedicate their lives to becoming a model and this was his first audition ever.  Then today, he got another e-mail that explains he was actually chosen by THREE students so he’ll be walking in three different collections!  So of all the people who tried out, he was selected by three designers - amazing.  He said there were several people who were chosen by multiple designers but I said, “Still it’s like you’re one of the elite.”  He said, “Well, duh.”  That Matt. He has to go to two fittings per designer and the show is March 3rd and 4th (Jackie’s b-day!).  

He’s a little embarrassed or something to go around telling everybody so I took it upon myself to write a guest post, if you will.  I’m super proud and excited for him and thought you all would be too!  Hopefully, there will be some scout in the audience and this will be the beginning of something great for my Boo.
Check it out: http://www.fusionfashionshow.com/

Post-Marathon

For many boroughs, The New York City Marathon brings more than just thousands of runners from all over the world to their front stoop. Surprisingly, the race leaves things a little better than they were before it.

I’m sure drivers parking in Long Island City love the fact that alternate side parking, a weekly program requiring cars to be moved so that street sweepers can clean, isn’t required in our ‘hood.  I hear it’s a headache, but for those of us without cars this means little more than dirtier streets. Once a year, though, our very own Vernon Blvd. gets a thorough cleaning before and after the marathon. By six pm Sunday the crews were out sweeping up thousands of water cups, athletic clothing shed by runners, posters, and other trash from the street. Today our streets and sidewalks look as clean as they should be year round.

The marathon is quite the exciting event when the route is right outside your apartment. On Sunday morning a group of us gathered at our neighbor’s apartment instead of trying to go out because it's impossible to just cross the street for hours. We ate and caught up (while tracking our marathon-ing friend’s location online using my awesome new smart phone :) ) before heading downstairs to do some celebrity hunting and cheer on our pals Dan Moy and Louis Thornhill. They both finished the race in good time and are doing all the recovering. Whoop Whoop!

Routes

   



Occupy Wall St Group

Monday night Jen and I decided to brave the crowds and went to The Village Halloween Parade.  We had to walk a few blocks before finally finding an open street that would allow us to get to the Sixth Avenue parade route. With more than 50,000 people participating alone, it was surprisingly easy to get a nice spot on a high curb for viewing the passing freak show. My favorite costume was the Brooklyn Bridge that had at least three people inside (pic). The Pasha Nightclub float stopped right in front of us while DJ Pauly D (Jersey Shores Guido, in pic)made some indecipherable shout outs. The Occupy Wall Street protestors had a huge presence close to the end of the parade. I have mixed feelings about the protests but have to say their signs were pretty clever. Apart from their costumes and signs, they had people wielding giant puppets of the most corrupt and greedy CEO’s and exec’s (pic) being held back by a mock police barricade.


"DJ " Pauly D



 Speaking of police, I’ve never seen more in my life than on this Halloween! A few policemen were stationed at every street corner and every subway platform for what I would think was about twenty blocks along the parade route.  It makes sense but wow. We didn’t go too crazy because Jen is a responsible 9-to-5er but the parade was fun and the night was definitely entertaining.

We have nice, reasonable fall weather this week. The snow has melted and all the downed limbs from the storm in Central Park are being mulched, especially on the marathon path. The ING New York City Marathon is this Sunday from 6-2 I believe and our apartment is right on the marathon route again this year. It’s exciting to have all that inspiration right out our front door. We’re equally as pumped about that extra hour of sleep we get the night before.

Brooklyn Bridge Costume