I heart NYC

I really love the city.

Some highlights from the trip:

1. Going to Ellis Island on Saturday with my cousins and getting a tour led by Ms. Meaney. I kid you not. That is her name. She was about 5 feet tall and very, shall we say, manly. She also made some of the most dramatic pauses I've ever been witness to. Here's a photo of her in action.

Ms. Meany

2. Central Park. It's simply gourgeous this time of year. We walked around for a couple of hours it seems. We got a couple photos and I got coffee at the Boathouse . It's funny how most of what I've seen of Central Park before is what I've seen in the movies. So, I kept on thinking to myself "Oh, this is the scene where....." I started to say this out loud, but realized quickly that it made me seem like I watch way too many movies.

central park

3. Band of Horses. I can't believe how much I love this band. I can't get enough of songs like The General Specific or The Marry Song or Is There a Ghost? Please check them out here or here
I guess I'd call them alt-country rock. they have a twang, but they can rock it out too. Two bonuses: they recorded their album in Asheville and they live in Mt. Pleasant! Why is this important? I am from Asheville and my family vacations near Mt. Pleasant. Anyway, they do a fantastic job of representing the Drrrrty South.

4. City streets. I love the energy, the life, the buzz of the city streets of NYC.

5. Good friends/family. I saw my cousins Jenny and Matt and then Matt's wife, Nicole. I saw Luke and Monica as well. It was so much fun!

6. Random celebrity sightings. We saw Tina Fey and Seth Myers as they picketed for the Writers Guild.

7. NYPD. I have in hand, a business card of one of New York's finest. He wanted to make sure I had his phone number for my return visit to NYC. How nice. Thank you, Gene. Love ya, mean it.