multi-hyphenated-me

Ok, not live.  This post was previously recorded.

Previously lived, recorded live in Chicago tonight.

It has been a busy week.  And it’s only Thursday.

My travels took me to New Jersey this week, as you know from prior.  Despite the rain and threats of tornado on Monday late afternoon, I lived like a Jersey Girl.  Armed with trench coat and umbrella, I took the train from Newark Penn Station to New York Penn Station, a 40 minute round trip ride, a $10 bargain, to get a dose of the Big Apple.

It is no wonder people yell at the top of their lungs, “I love New York!”  I’ve been to NYC several times, but this city never ceases to amaze me. The downside was that it was really humid on Monday, so this city can stink like no other.  Gross.  Once you’re nose desensitizes to the funk, your other senses are overwhelmed with the sights, the sounds and the energy.

NY Penn Station is near Madison Square Garden.  I joined the masses heading up 33rd Street before hanging a left and strolling down 5th Avenue.  Praise be to the grid system and numbered streets and avenues.  What an easy city to get around!

I was on a mission. Remember the Real Simple book list of 50 Great Books That Will Change Your Life? http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/entertainment/great-books-00100000101474/index.html

I am determined to read all of these books by year-end.  You know me, lists and personal challenges.  Who I am, what I do.  One of the books on this list is Apartments for the Affluent:  A Historical Survey of Buildings in New York. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4689278-apartments-for-the-affluent

Let me remind you from my August rant, that this book was deemed a Great Book that Will Change Your Life by Alexa Hampton, an interior designer and author of an interior design book.

The beauty of this book is that it is completely near-impossible to read, unless you want to drop $875 USD on a used version available through Amazon, or, do as I was doing, going to the New York Public Library, Stephen Scharzman Building, Room 121 to view a reference copy.  Since the June publication, Real Simple, I still think it’s ridiculously lame of you to put an unavailable book on this list.  Not every person gets to go to New York. Just lucky ones, like me.

Honest.  That’s why I went to New York City.  To go to the library and read a book.  Not just any library.

Nothing in life comes easy, neither did my efforts at reading this 159 page book.  When I entered Room 121 of the Stephen Schwarzman Building of awesomeness and grandeur, I was informed that I couldn’t view the book without an NY Public Library Card.  envision my eyes welling with tears.  Thankfully, the librarian had no time for my senseless emotion and set me up to register for a library card.  Yes folks, I am a card-carrying member of the NYPL.  Badass, I know.  Can I get a whoop whoop?

With my new plastic, I was told to take a seat while the library aide retrieved the only copy of this book in-house.

Why are books made with turd brown book covers?  Really, don’t judge a book by its cover, but this nondescript turd brown specimen gave me little hope for life changing effect as the result of reading this book.

I should point out here that this list of 50 has GREAT books.  On my flight to NJ, I read Thich Nhat Hanh’s Being Peace. Everybody read this book, right now. Life changing.  Another incredible book on this list is Day of Honey:  A Memoir of Love, Food and War.  Life changing, perspective altering.  Read!

Yet here I sat in an amazing library armed with a skinny book that didn’t give me much hope.  I checked the copyright and title page for inspiration.  1975 was the date of publication.  1975 explains the brown binding.  Before I slumped with “ugh, dated material” I reminded myself that I read Huckleberry Finn and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, also on this book list,  far older material than 1975.  I also commented to myself that these pieces of literature are timeless classics.

I got down to business and started reading.  The book allows two open book pages for each apartment building referenced.  Each building lists the year built, the architect, the contractor, a floor plan, and an exterior photo of the building as well as current status of building. For example, the oldest buildings listed from the 1800’s have been razed and exist no more.  All of the other buildings stills standing have been gutted, remodeled, renovated beyond recognition to their original state.  I totally understand the need for historic preservation of these floor plans, but life changing?  No.  Though I’m certain to cause a stir in my company (a good conversation topic, discuss amongst yourselves), these floor plans are not relevant.  Good historical data, cool but so is flapper slang, but not timeless, not earth shattering, ineffective but good information.

I read the book, cover to ugly cover then took my library card carrying butt back to the streets of New York for a good time.  Headed back the way I came, I ventured to a familiar favorite, Eataly (Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich are co-owners) in the Flatiron district on 23rd Street and 5th Avenue.

I sat at the bar at one of Eataly’s many restaurants, La Verdure, and very much enjoyed Farroto con Broccoli (farro risotto with broccoli puree, leek, garlic, romanesco broccoli florets (the purple ones) and grana prado). Viva Eataly!

Back to the streets, I made my way to Chelsea Market where I sat at the Milk Bar and had an ice cream cone, and watched people pass. I treated myself to some new espresso cups at my favorite little kitchenware supply shop and bought the Chelsea Market Cook Book to add to my collection.

Walking the High Line back to  32nd Street and straight into NY Penn Station.  Thanks to my teenager insight, I logged my walking miles on my Charity Miles App.  My 6 mile loop made a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation.  Check out the App.   Several charities are available.  You select your charity and start running or walking, generating a donation as you go.  My daughter is doing the #80challenge, to accrue 80 miles this month.

My 6 miles were completed in the dark, at night, in NYC.  One block gave me a little concern but I persevered and took my train back to Newark.  Nightwalking in NYC by myself may be the true badass part of my story, but my library card gave me street cred.