Walking down Memory Lane

With week 1 of my internship completed, it was exploring long due, and thank God for a 3 day weekend as I have Fridays off every week!

Refreshing Getaway

It seems like the only hint of devastation from Hurricane Sandy were promotional campaigns and signs of "reopening___" on clothing store fronts at South Street Seaport. Strolling through this area reminded me of a rundown town in an old Hollywood production, which also happened to remind me of a place I've been to in San Francisco two summers back. With giant ships parked at the pier and sightseeing boats ready to be hoarded with tourists, the warm, breezy wind and seafood ads recalled Fisherman's Wharf, a place I left a piece of my heart at over a bread bowl of seafood chowder-so kidding haha, but if you want to read all about it you can do so here (my personal/faith blog where I blogged about my trips before starting this blog).

Hello Lobster BLT
Great place to film!
Not only was the recollection a joy to mind, but it was also a great place away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Outside the Fulton Market building, there was a line up of food truck vendors, but here's the catch, there were no "trucks". I assume that due to the popularity and daily operation of these foodie four wheelers, they made a simple set up (think outdoor food market style) that offered the same eats as its traveling counterpart. I was so satisfied being able to try Red Hook Lobster, voted #1 Food Truck in all of the States. I had their Lobster BLT and after trying it I can see why regulars from near and far are "hooked" over their generous lobster portions (mine was overflowing out of my bun) and fresh and flavorful taste -made to order.
  

Endless Sightings

I couldn't believe the vast amount of activities and places in the span of Central Park. Yes, it looks like it takes up a whole chunk of Manhattan being smack dab in the middle of the map there, but I honestly thought it was just pathways, trees, and man made water bodies. To justify, I came here last summer and that was all I saw, so either we were in a rush (because I recalled it was a rainy day), or we didn't take the time to explore all that there was to offer).
Rent a bike for an hour, two, or a whole day, watch free Shakespeare in the park by night, have a massive water fight on The Great Lawn, walk around reservoirs and under bridges, attempt to catch a turtle (which I believe is illegal, but I witnessed this today), take a date boating or else eat and enjoy the sight of others boating at a fancy restaurant named Boathouse, go on rides in a miniature amusement park (a skating rink area in the winter months), enjoy random opera singers, musicians, and dancers perform near fountains and arches made to replicate Rome, and perhaps a CANADA DAY CELEBRATION anyone?!?! I was so stoked to walk through an arch of red and white balloons in honor of my homeland. I was just thinking to myself how strange it be to not partake in any Canadian celebrations this year, but who knew NYC appreciated their fellow neighbors enough to make it a mini festival.
Looks like I've arrived in Rome
Talented Musicians & Singers
Happy Canada Day Weekend Canadians!

Walking out from the park towards Lexington Ave and beyond, there were five-ten blocks of white tents, fair food trucks (I tried a deep fried oreo and disgustingly liked it), pop up shops, and more. There is so much going on in the city that it blows my mind. I didn't even get to find out what this was all for, though I did snag some makeup I needed for a steal at one vendor. We went to Korea town afterwards to pick up some groceries, but I couldn't help but light up as thoughts of my student exchange in Seoul flooded back-even if it was just for a short while.

What an awesome weekend so far of strolling hand in hand with past precious moments and present refreshers.

Tomorrow will be a day spent in Queens, a nostalgic reminder of my stay there last August. I can't wait for Flushing food, familiar faces, church, and reunion fun (again)!

Tip of the Weekend (TOW): Sometimes you don't need to plan an itinerary at all, just let the city surprise you with what they have to offer. 





Markets, Foods, Vintage, and Goods

I don't think it's possible to get bored of this city. From local attractions to pop up destinations, NYC sure lives up to its name as the "city that never sleeps." Great eats, fun finds, and buzzing hotspots satisfy the foodie, the traveler, and of course the trend seeker. Oh and perhaps the spender, though you may not want to admit that.

On Friday, I got to go to The High Line, which is in the West Village area of Manhattan. Basically, its an vacated rail line that runs through the city that is no longer in use. You could never tell that it was a rundown train track as it has been revamped into a public park and has become a popular tourist attraction for its fantastic view of the city elevated above the streets. I would definitely recommend this place as it's such an awesome way to sightsee and be surrounded by architecturally and aesthetically made buildings all around you. There's even a "box" connected to the rail line where you can sit in and watch the cars below you like a tv screen!

The "box" from street view
Insider: If yue are reading this, it reminded me of YEG's "the end of the world", but less sketchy as the wonders are above ground and not below haha.

Next, we headed to Chelsea Market which is within walkable distance. Similar to the idea of farmer markets, minus the outdoor feel and lineup of tables with fresh produce, this was an indie and modern place filled with various fresh food places you can order and eat on the go. Their most popular eatery is known as The Lobster Place where you can get a fresh steamed whole lobster for $15! They also have their Lobster Roll which is a cooked lobster on a bun, but I wouldn't recommend it as it's overrated and not worth the money. I actually got the smoke salmon roll option which I thought was flavorful and super fresh. Other than food, this place was great for browsing local shops and even a pop up market of crafts and designed goods.

On Saturday, there was a special event going on at East River State Park in Brooklyn known as the Renegade Craft Fair. This was the biggest outdoor crafts market I've ever been to. Tents lined up side by side selling contemporary crafts and designed goods from talented artists from NYC and the surrounding area. There was such an upbeat and fun energy to this place, and also an indecisive option of food vendors for the foodie at heart. I had to resist and discipline myself to just buying a bracelet. On the way here we also scouted a local flea & vintage market that intrigued me quite a bit as I couldn't believe the vendors knew exactly what era of fashion their shoes were from. Only in New York would you find such a diverse and unique collection of vintage and walking fashion historics.
view from Brooklyn overlooking Manhatten
Today I got to check out Remnant Presbyterian Church which is a few blocks up from where I live. With Korean roots, it reminded me of my experience in Korea, but with such a short stay, I hope to check out other churches as well that have been recommended to me. After service, we went to a Thai tapas eatery call Reserve. I am still floored at the cheapness and dealicious lunch special we got. Starting at 7.50 (depending on your protein option), you get soup or salad, an appetizer, and a main dish of your choice. It was a small, but remarkable gem-of-a-place I would definitely visit again when I'm in the area. Also, if you are looking for cheap groceries (to those living on a budget like me), look no farther than CHINATOWN! Honestly, there's a place called Hong Kong Market that is so cheap. My friend got 7 drumsticks for less than $2. You got to be kidding right?... not!

Tomorrow I'm officially kicking off my internship, so I expect my eat-see-do adventures to cut back a bit, thus less blogging as well. I'm getting a tad nervous as I write this so please pray for me to have confidence.

Until the weekend readers!

Taking it Sloooooowwwwwww

It's been a tranquil time of settling in, but I find myself feeling so tired. My back and legs aren't use to walking so much so I find those parts, especially the former, tight and unwilling to compromise with the rest of my body.
Panoramic view of Washington Square Park

Yesterday, I got to spend some time with one of my roomies and fellow SIC I met in Korea last year during my student exchange. She was in my Emmaus small group and I couldn't have been more blessed with her friendship as she was the one who helped me to find my current accommodation. We went for lunch at Vive La Crepe near NYU and then took a stroll through the Washington Square Park central to campus where the famous Washington Arch is located. It felt like I had come here before, but it was because I recalled this scene from watching August Rush. We also explore some academic buildings on campus and its like no other campus I've seen before. Since the city is such a busy one, shops and eateries separate school buildings, and I couldn't possibly imagine running from one street to another to get to your next class as everything was quite spread out. Next we headed to St.Mark's Place, which you might think is a 'place' as noted by its name, but instead it's a street area of various Asian eats, with Japanese cafes, restaurants and convenience stores dominating the area. It was made known to me that a lot of cheap and delicious eats are here as its affordability and convenience is catered to the abundance of students nearby.

We ended off the night watching Man of Steel with the rest of the roomies and loved it! There was so much action to it that it kept you on the edge of your seat. When I thought the movie was drawing to a close, another incident would occur.  I was actually really tired when we started the movie and I even thought I would fall asleep, but Henry Cavill kept me watching....haha. Speaking of movies, it's so interesting to me that so many scenes from this movie were filmed in NYC. I mean, what isn't filmed in NYC nowadays? I'm definitely such a tourist-New Yorkers must be use to this.

The World's Largest Macy Store
Today, we started the day later and explored the area we lived in. Fifth Avenue is lined up with blocks of department and chain stores. There were also your typical souvenir shops to cater to the crowds of tourists in this area. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I felt my energy slowly draining with all the busyness going on in this area. However, I did get my sim card from AT&T, so I officially have a working number here! If you don't feel data is necessary, you can get a $25 prepaid plan which consists of 250 minutes and unlimited texting for 30days (with data, plans are $50 here and at T Mobile (the other phone giant).

A floor to ceiling notion & trim store!!
After a short break home (its so convenient living in Midtown), we headed towards the Fashion District to hunt down my placement which starts on Monday (it's also so awesome working close to home). We knew we were on the right track when we passed by never ending fabric, trims, garments, and notion stores. This district is like heaven to the DIY enthusiasts! You can honestly find any shape, colour, or texture of material imaginable. To our surprise, we even stumbled upon a small, but glorious Tim Hortons at an intersection. I guess if I ever miss home, this is where you will find me eh?!




Safe and Sound

Scared out of my mind that the privacy of my "stuff" would be spilled onto the tarmac in NYC after the lady at YEG warned me to never use a ducked-tape-over-a-small-crack luggage ever again (note to self!), I was relieved to see my beat up and well used luggage come out as a whole in La Guardia Airport.

Next came a taxi ride to Fifth Avenue, a buzzing shopping destination I will be calling home these next few weeks. The taxi driver was pretty nice and curious about my foreign background, but otherwise I should've known that he just wanted more tips by the end of it. Though, I didn't know that the courtesy for tips is 15% until my friends told me... no wonder the cab driver was saying how he gets usually 5 US extra.

Anyhow, today I start exploring the area I live in!

Later folks!

You know the drill, Lets Fly!

Now that I'm sitting at the airport, watching soon-to-be travelers walking by with their rolling carry ons and light weight looking bags, I can't help but wonder how people pack so light? I am always within a 5 lbs. range under or over (and thank God I don't get charge when it’s the latter) the baggage allowance.

The airport brings people in, and takes people away, and once again, I am soon to be one of those being strapped to a seat, as I accelerate to new heights (literally). This time, not to anywhere new, but the experience will definitely be a 180 compared to my last trip there as a tourist.

Okay, enough beating around the bush. I’m officially heading to NYC for a six week fashion internship as a production intern with Yoana Baraschi. I am a mix mash of nervousness and excitement right now, but first praying that I get through US customs and border matters as quickly and as smoothly as I can (since I hear they can be very skeptical and questionable about you-even with a visa). Then and only then will I find myself jumping up and down as if I was on an invisible trampoline.

This will be my first abroad adventure with the mindset of a young professional, thus I look forward to the enrichment of insight and understanding into the behind the scenes work of interning for a designer firm. All the while, I hope to see, eat, and do in the shoes of a New Yorker as I’ve accomplished much tourist-esque items here.

Here's to another bite of the Big Apple!


But first…


A short layover reunion in Montreal with a missed friend.

YEG Secrets

This blog has been on hiatus long enough. Before I get into details of my next adventure, I have a surprising, yet beautiful gem of a place(s) I want to share from my hometown.

This past weekend was my last in Edmonton until I come back towards mid August. I decided to have some "me" time during Saturday and discovered some hidden secrets in the heart of downtown.

I love shopping local, so I headed out to the City Market which is open year round, but runs on 104 Street during the spring and summer months. I haven't visited in a while, so I took the opportunity to snack on samples, try out new foods, and browse the lineup of farmers, artists, and local business owners. Some people think farmer market are old fashion, but this is far from true. There's such an upbeat energy to them and you can spy seniors to families and even couples out on a refreshing date.
 104 street is also a fabulous destinations for one of a kind bakeries, coffee shops, boutiques (warning: heavy price tag, but no harm in looking), and unique sightings.

Through one vendor, Cloud and Lolly, (two sisters based in Edmonton who make vintage inspired jewelry), they shared with me that they had another booth at the Mercer building (which is the same building where Roast Coffeehouse is located for those of you locals reading). I was so shocked that something was going on in that building as I thought only businesses ran that place, but apparently its a smaller market located in the basement of the building that supports mainly local artists and the respective goods they make.

Fast forward a few blocks to 104 St & 104 Ave, I found the building and headed downstairs. I was so surprise to found that a place like this existed. It resembled a half finished basement but adorned with partly graffiti walls with entangled pipelines overhead. The Mercer Collective: A Maker's Market was started earlier this year and has yet to market itself publicly throughout YEG. I couldn't help but feel so excited to be there. Talking with local makers, browsing the tables of artwork, and wishing I could make more purchases than my wallet would like, I knew this was a share-worthy place!


On Sunday, I was ecstatic to be going to Cirque du Soleil Amaluna with my parents. Another thing I love is artistic performances of all kinds- from acrobats to dancing to drama. If I had more disposable income, I definitely splurge on the growing art scene here. Pictures weren't allowed, but photos won't capture the beauty of this show. The dramatic costumes and makeup added to the dimension of drawing the viewer into the world of Amaluna. Jaw dropping, flying acrobats putting you to the edge of your seat, contortionists that made you question how in the world they're able to bend like that, life threatening stunts that seem surreal to the non-performer, and a visual love story unfolded near perfection in the midst of gravity fighting balances and leaps.

If you know me, you would be stunned at how quiet I was as my visual and auditory senses were too busy to let my mouth let out even a gasp. As popular as Cirque du Soleil is, they definitely live up to their name. I would definitely recommend watching a Cirque show! I didn't get to when I was in their hometown of Montreal, but I'm so thankful that my heart's intent was granted last night.

It's ironic to me how I'm somewhat boasting about my hometown when I would give anything to leave this city a few years ago and blog about a bigger and livelier destination. Much appreciation has been found lately and I can't wait to keep sharing YEGems when I return. To non-locals, we are much more than what locals (sadly) have coined us "Deadmonton."

Well, what's next you may ask? Keep phollowing for details to come in my next post!