Well, this is a really special upcoming week in NYC. Most of the family (except Cassie who will be sunning in FL), and many friends are coming to visit here for Jessica’s wedding next Saturday. Cleveland will be well represented in the Big Apple. I’m really excited about the week and can’t wait to see everyone. As far as last week, I have a few interesting observations (interesting to me at least). First, pigeons are disgusting “rats with wings”. They are everywhere and don’t move when you approach. In fact, I’ve almost tripped over them while running in the park. Also, they are filthy and travel in packs leaving a long trail of “waste” in their wake. Mostly an annoyance, at least they don’t attack (think Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”). The next observation is that NYC knows how to put on a parade. The St. Patrick’s day parade is the oldest and longest in the world (even older than those in Ireland). I guess having so many Irish here really helps, but it was a really cool thing to see. I’ve never heard so many bag pipes in my life. One of the best Pipe and Drum groups in the parade was from the NYC Sanitation Department (struck me as funny for some reason). Plus it was snowing hard which added to the aura of the event. It was especially moving when the FDNY (New York Firemen) marched by, each carrying an American flag, behind a banner with the number 343 which honored the 343 fireman lost in 9/11…very moving (see pics below). My last observation was the result of getting the opportunity to attend an “off-off Broadway show” in Brooklyn. One of my co-workers was in the show so several of us made the trip across the river, actually under the river on the subway.  The show was good and it was in a really cool venue, but the thing that surprised me was how cool the whole area was. It was in a part of Brooklyn called “DUMBO”. It’s short for “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass”. This is what really fascinated me. New Yorkers love naming their particular neighborhoods with cool acronyms. In addition to Dumbo, there is SoHo (South of Houston Street), NoHo (North of Houston), Tribeca (The Triangle below Canal Street), NoLita (North of Little Italy), Alphabet City (A Manhattan neighborhood from East 3rd Street to East 14th Street between Avenues A thru D). Theae are the most famous names, others have tried but haven’t stuck. Names like NoBat, NoCal, BoHo, CanDo, ViVa (West Harlem between two viaducts), and, in Brooklyn, BoCoCa (where Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens converge) and GoCaGa (Gowanus meets Carroll Gardens). I love how everyone is really proud of the area of “The City” they’re from and want a funky moniker to try to match the “coolness” of their neighborhood. I’m just glad to have a place in the UWS (Upper West Side)…until next week, TTYL!

This has been a good week in NYC. Mainly because it’s only two weeks until Laura and most of the kids (except Cassie who chose to sun in Florida) come to visit. I can’t wait to see everyone and show them around. In the two and a half months I’ve been here, I’ve become somewhat familiar with the area, at least my part of the Upper West Side (UWS). I have routines now, church, friends, favorite laundry, deli, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. I even have my favorite running trails. In fact, on my run today I was serenaded by an old man singing the Mr. Rogers Neighborhood song (only in NY). Now that my basic needs are figured out, this has culminated in allowing me more time to learn about the fascinating culture of the area. The UWS is a significant Jewish neighborhood, populated with both German Jews who moved in at the turn of last century, and Jewish refugees escaping Hitler’s Europe in the 1930s. Today the area between 85th Street and 100th Street is home to the largest community of young Modern Orthodox singles outside of Israel. However, the Upper West Side also features a substantial number of non-Orthodox Jews. A number of major synagogues are located in the neighborhood, including the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States, Shearith Israel; New York’s second-oldest and the third-oldest Ashkenazi synagogue, B’nai Jeshurun;Rodeph Sholom; the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue; among others (thanks Wikipedia). So the dominant culture of the UWS is Jewish…which I think is wonderful. There is also a significant population of Hasidic Jews, especially in my area (80’s – 100’s – between Central Park West and Riverside Dr). You can feel their presence in every area of life. For instance, there is a Southern food restaurant called Jacob’s Pickles (great food by the way). On the menu, right under “Biscuits and fixins”, “Deviled eggs” and Fried pickles” is “Matzo Ball Soup”. There is a Jewish ambulance network to make sure religious regulations are followed whenever service is required. In the predominantly Jewish apartments, on the Sabbath all of the buttons on the elevator are pushed so they can maintain their faith and not have to use the stairs. But the two areas that fascinate me the most (at least this week) are how empty the streets and restaurants are on Friday nights (Sabbath starts at sundown Friday through Sundown Saturday and the Jewish community are in their homes observing the Sabbath). The second area are the beautiful, cool hats the Orthodox and Hasidic wear to Synagogue on Saturdays. My favorite is the Shtreimel. These are made out of fine fur and can cost up to $5,000. They are typically given to men on their wedding day by their future father-in-law. I’ll post a picture of one on FB. The origin of the Shtreimel is fascinating. A traditional story has it that an anti-Semitic political figure once issued a decree that male Jews must be identified on Shabbat by “wearing a tail” on their heads. Although the decree was an attempt to mock the Jews, the Hasidic rabbis considered the matter seriously, in keeping with the universally accepted Jewish law stating “the Law of the Land in which Jews live is to be upheld so long as it does not obstruct Jewish observance.” They arrived at a plan that complied with and even exceeded the decree by arranging to make hats such as worn by royalty, encircled by a ring of tails, thereby transforming an object of intended ridicule into a crown. Further, they instituted that the number of tails follow Jewish numerology, symbolizing the wearer’s sacred intentions. (again, thanks Wikipedia). Sorry for the length of this post but as you can tell, I am really interested in learning all about my new Jewish neighbors. I love this city! Until next time….”Shalom”.

This has been a good week overall but I have to say, I’m really missing Laura, even more than usual. For some reason it’s been harder this week than most. Maybe the weather is getting a little warmer or something else, but I really wish she were here with me. Every time I see something new, or eat at an amazing restaurant or have any kind of cool new experience, all I can think of is how much she would like it. So everything is still good, but not as good as it could be or will be when she’s here. The good news is she will be here in a couple of weeks for 4 days when Jessica gets married. I can’t wait to see her, the family (except Cassie which makes me sad) and a ton of friends. Sorry to take up so much time, but I thought it was important to tell that no matter how good the new job is and NYC is, it’s just not complete without the love of my life, my partner and my best friend…Laura! FaceTime makes it bearable but it’s just not the same. Also, Sunday dinners with Brad, Nicole and Baker Blackmon really help. Thanks for adopting me!
As far as things I’ve learned this week, there are a couple of topics I want to briefly mention. First, NYC is a runners paradise. Riverside park is amazing in the winter, I can’t wait to see it in the spring and summer. I feel like everyone in NY is a runner, biker or dog walker, which really makes running fun. The only advice I have is when you buy new gear (like I did today, CW-X compression tights), TAKE THE HUGE TAGS ATTACHED TO THE SEAT OF THE TIGHTS OFF (which I didn’t) SO YOU DON’T LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT (which I did) on a two mile run today. Well, hopefully I made a few people smile.
Second thing learned: In a city the size of NY, with over 8 million residents, there are going to be extremes. The vast majority are wonderful people but there are exceptions and I ran in to one this last week. Getting on the subway at 34th Street, there was a man eating jelly beans sitting on the bench talking to himself. He spilled the candy all over the floor and the next thing I know, he was going absolutely berserk. He started screaming, crying and pacing back and forth really fast. Finally, he let out a shout and ran out of the subway. Lesson learned, never get near someone eating candy in the subway.
Lastly, in the two months I’ve been here, I have yet to have a bad meal. Due to my job, I get to go out quite a bit and I have to say I’m getting spoiled.  Food here is on a different level. It’s so expensive, bad restaurants can’t afford to stay in business, so everything is amazing. I’ve put on nearly 8 lbs (which is where I draw the line). So many restaurants, so little time! Until next time….