NYC BUCKET LIST (FOR NEW YORKERS)

I'm a native New Yorker; however, I'm not sold on spending my whole life here.

I was always jealous of people who ran off to NYC to start a new life.
I thought, where do we escape to?! The romanticism seemed a bit lost running from here to Idaho.
No hate, Idaho. I bet you're nice.

Anyways, that's what I thought--terribly NY-centric, I know. As though the rest of the world has nothing to offer.

The idea of my boyfriend and I finding new jobs in a new place is scary. Plus, we have a big 'ol dog to consider. We like where we are and what we do well enough. Are we foolish to mess with that or are we shorting ourselves by playing it safe? We're happy, but could we be happier? What's behind door #2?

We haven't made any firm decisions on when or where (just agreeing to the possibility was a massive relief).
We want to be ready when it truly feels right to relocate, if ever.
So, to make sure there are no regrets when we do split, we've decided to create a:

NYC BUCKET LIST FOR NEW YORKERS 

RULES:
This starts now.
The list is massive and is open to suggestions (so send some!).
There are four categories:
FOOD
ADVENTURE
ENTERTAINMENT
EXPLORATION/VISITATION

FREE NYC EVENT: The Great GoogaMooga

One of the best things about living in NYC is that there is just about always something going on and it’s even better when those events are FREE.

Check this one out...

EVENT: The Great GoogaMooga

DATE: May 19th & 20th, 2012

LOCATION: Brooklyn’s beautiful and historic Prospect Park

WHAT: Approximately 75 food vendors, 35 brewers, 30 winemakers and 20 live music performances.

COST: General Admission was FREE (if you reserved your tickets as soon as they “went on sale” online. NOTE: There was a reservation cap so you had to be quick about it.) There were about 40,000 general admission tickets that sold out in a few hours.

*You could also purchase “ExtraMooga” tickets for about $250 which got you into an exclusive portion of the event. It didn't seem worth it to me.

Describing itself as an “Amusement Park of Food and Drink” this festival was inspired by New York’s limitless amount of fantastic culinary experiences and backed by some of the best in the business, including Anthony Bourdain (author and host of No Reservations), Tom Colicchio (chef & judge of Top Chef), and Garrett Oliver (brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery).

This was the inaugural GoogaMooga festival and it spanned two days. Reports from friends who attended the Saturday event found it a bit unorganized. The place was too crowded, lines were too long, and vendors were running out of both food and beverages. These ExtraMooga tickets holders are being offered a refund.

Thankfully, I had gotten my tickets for the Sunday festival, and by then they had worked out all of their kinks. For the HUGE turnout, everyone was very friendly and laid back, the lines were reasonable and there were water fountains throughout the area along with free gum and hand towels. It’s also noteworthy that they had the bathroom situation under control. They even had sinks, which is pretty important with all of the food making/eating.

The music was pretty good as well. The Saturday headliners were The Roots and for the Sunday festival we had Hall & Oates.

Since the even was free, I didn’t mind shelling out anywhere from $5 - $11 per stand. It’s a great way to find new places to eat without running all over town.

What I ate:

Wild Boar Sloppy Joe from Georgia’s East Side BBQ

 

I’m no foodie, but this was fantastic and not overly priced for the size of the sandwich. For me, that’s what this festival was all about trying something new that you wouldn’t necessarily stumble upon on your own…

Brisket Taco From Hill Country BBQ Market

So f’n good.

Dirt Cake from Katzie Guy–Hamilton

I got this since it looked like it would be refreshing. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. It does look cool, but the mix of flavors wasn’t for me. Eh, you can’t win them all..

Unfortunately, some things that I already love, or would have liked to try out were sold out by the time I got there (including everything cold). I’ll just have to make other arrangements to try the foie gras donuts from Do or Dine as well as chocolate dipped bananas from The Big Banana. 

Some people might not agree, but based on MY EXPERIENCE, I would definitely recommend this event (for General Admission) and plan on making it again next year. I hope to see you there!

INTRODUCING: MYLO GEORGE COSTANZA

This is my three year old "Golden Doodle," Mylo.

He's super freaking cool. I'm really not even just saying that. He's just about the most chill dog I've ever met. He wants nothing more than to sleep in and cuddle with you and maybe sometimes share your hats.

Being young and poor in NYC and having a giant dog, is not the easiest thing in the world.

Trying to convince landlords that my 85 pound dog is "medium sized" is no task for the light of lying.

My brother's dog had puppies and next thing I knew this guy was my graduation present.

I did the INSANELY HARD, albeit responsible, thing and said that I really shouldn't take on a living thing when I'm just really learning for the first time to support myself.

"Yeah, sure" they said. "No problem," they said. "Just hold on to him while we find an owner," they said.

TWO MONTHS LATER THEY WOULD HAVE TO PRY THAT PUPPY FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS BEFORE I GAVE HIM UP.

Long story short, we make it work and we have a lot of fun together!

THE ORIGINAL DARK SHADOWS

Not to hate, but can Johnny Depp stop ruining everything?

I used to love and respect you, now I just wait around for you to announce what beloved childhood treasure of mine you're bent on destroying with your overacting and terrible accents.


DEEP BREATH.


What I really wanted to share with you, my adoring internet gremlins, is that in case you're unaware, the original late '60s gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows" is genius. 

What I love the most about it is that there are constant line slips and boom mics falling into the shot, but due to their tight soap opera schedule they JUST. KEEP. ROLLING. and it makes for some really awesome mistakes.


The characters are overly dreary and oblivious to their vampire relative and all in all it's just something really silly and fun to watch if you let yourself get into it. 


There's about 1 trillion episodes, but a good place to get started is Netflix since they have over a hundred of them on instant.


I would like to note that the actor, Jonathan Frid, who played Barnabas Collins, in the original did shoot a cameo for the J.Depp version before he died recently, at age 87.


I just don't know if I can bring myself to watch the new version...


ANYWAYS, ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD GOES MORE INTO DEPTH AS TO WHY J.DEPP IS THE WORST, AND THE ORIGINAL DARK SHADOW IS THE BEST, HERE: http://hullabaloo-oflife.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-is-eating-gilbert-grape.html

BUCKET LISTING

HOLI FESTIVAL IN INDIA

The change of season from winter to spring is welcomed in India with the Holi Festival. 

This involves prayers, music, dancing, food, high spirits, a bit of mischief and a LOT of fun with vibrantly colored dyes.

***I just found out that they also hold a few Holi celebrations in NYC once a year. 

Mark your calendar! No seriously, more to come on this...

For more information on how to live my life’s dream, click here: http://www.holifestival.org/

BOULDERS BEACH IN SOUTH AFRICA

If you’re like me, you love the beach but there’s always been something missing. 

Yes, you guessed it. PENGUINS. Not the case at this South African beach… 

To learn more about the colony of rebel African Penguins who settled there in 1982, just go to wikipedia, that's what I did: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Penguin

Camping in a Motherf(*&*&%g TREE

I’m not sure where this is taking place, somewhere in Germany?

Wherever the hell people are camping in trees – I want to go to there.

Like many other New Yorkers, I’m normally hesitant to the idea of spending time in the country surrounded by bugs, dirt and only a thin sheet of fabric protecting me from potential murders. This solves all of those fears! Granted, I guess it causes new ones...

For more information on bringing camping to new heights, click here: http://www.travelettes.net/tree-camping/ 

FULL MOON PARTY IN KOH PHANGAN, THAILAND

So, there is a place in Thailand where every time there is a full moon, there is an all night beach party to go along with it.

FYI TO ANY LOVED ONES READING THIS: There is one scheduled for my birthday in 2013. What's that? Don't get my hopes up? Oh okay. Thanks. Ugh, a girl can dream. amiright?

No, not everything that I want to do in this life involves wild parties with a ton of people in exotic lands. I understand very well that there are amazing things to do in the good old US of A as well. Such as the…

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN DC

Although I have been to (and loved) DC before, I’m yet to make it to, what touts itself as this nation’s greatest springtime celebration.

As a symbol of our lasting relationship with Japan once a year this mostly free and public festival features a smorgesboard of events revolving around art and culture all the while surrounded by the beautiful cherry blossom trees.

THE KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY 

When writing up a list of things that I would love to do and visit in this life I never thought that Kansas City would have made the cut but they played on the fact that I'm a huge nerd when it comes to a good library and great design. Well played, MO.

Aside from just looking awesome, this library is a badass reflection of the community it serves as all of the 22 giant book spines that run along the south wall of the Central Library’s parking garage are suggested by Kansas City readers and then selected by The Kansas City Public Library Board of Trustees. 

Find out more about what might be the coolest looking library ever, here: http://www.kclibrary.org/library-history

AS LONG AS I'M LISTING SOME SHITE.HERE'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE AVOIDING:

INTERNATIONAL CLOWN FESTIVAL

Ever had the urge to live a nightmare? Good. This one’s for you:

Once a year, Denmark sends in the clowns, literally. Clowns from around the world travel to Svendborg's International Clown Festival.

Once there, they do workshops, throw a parade and work together to put on special events and shows. Just some interesting people, clowning around, I’m sure. 

For more information on where NOT to find me, click here:http://www.clownfestival.dk/ 

HOW TO BE AN ADORABLE BAKING GENIUS.

I would like to start this blog off by giving you a gift... A FOOD GIFT.

So, my mother is a cook. Sounds great, right? It was. Thanks.

Until I had to be an adult. Living on my own I quickly realized that I did not know the first thing when it comes to making food. Whoops. 

Because cooking is my mother's passion she never minded doing all of it. always. Even when I tried to jump in and help out, maybe learn something, it was always "just let me do it" from Mom. So, I did.

FLASH FOWARD. I've made a huge mistake and am now trying to squeeze as much cooking knowledge as I can from my mother's mind loaf. Yes, I said mind loaf.

So, I just tried making my mother's ahmaaaazing mini cheesecake recipe. Here it is! 

12 nilla wafers

2, 8oz packages of cream cheese, softened

½ c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1. Line muffin tin with foil liners

2. Place one vanilla wafer in each liner. OR if you're using really small liners then crush up the wafers in a ziplock bag with softened butter and use that to coat the bottom of your liner.

3. Mix cream cheese, vanilla and sugar on medium speed until well-blended

4. Add eggs

5. Mix Well!

6. Pour over wafer filling 3/4 full

7. Bake 25 min. at 325 degrees

8. Remove from pan when cool

9. Chill

10. Top with fruit, preserves, nuts or chocolate Be creative!!

*I found some really cute mini tin liners at Home Goods as well as the little Eat Me signs.

BOOM! It's that easy, and then you look like an ADORABLE BAKING GENIUS.

You're welcome.