45 blocks and back for great coffee...

... and it was totally worth it. The NY Times has an article about NYC's coffee, with a list of recommended coffee shops. It is my mission to visit every single one. Today, I ran down to E 7th St to sample the first place on the list, Abraco Espresso, poke around the neighborhood, and run home. Ordered a black drip coffee (brewed by the cup) and a slice of olive oil cake. Oh, man... I will run 90 blocks for coffee any day as long as its for this coffee! Its teeny tiny inside with standing room only, and outside there's a small bench and bar. Since today was slightly chilly, and I was boiling hot from running there, I people watched outside. The people watching is as good as the coffee.


To get there, I ran down 1st Ave, past the UN. There's a cute little park across the street from the UN, surrounded by an equally cute little neighborhood, so I detoured a bit to explore.



Post coffee, I putzed around Abraco for a bit before running home and decided the East Village is magic. Have only been there in nighttime drunkeness, so I've never been sure if it was as interesting and wacky as I remember, or if it was just me. Drunk. It fits my sober brain, too.

Gorgeous Run!

Yesterday, I met up with one of my best friends ever in life (and college roommate/partner in silly crime) for a run, followed by dinner and putzing around. Our run started in the West Village, took us down the West Side Highway and into Battery Park City. It was totally beautiful, and after the 4 miles it took us, made us ravenously hungry. So, we had cheap, delicious burgers at Corner Bistro. Good day.

This guy is just crazy awesome. On roller blades.

Coffee, wine, chocolate & outdoor WiFi?!?!

Its real. Had a meeting with my most fun freelance client in Park Slope at the coolest coffee shop ever. Why is it so cool? Because it also has wine, chocolate and free outdoor WiFi. More points for Brooklyn, as far as finding a real place to live goes! Se llama Cocoa Bar. Le amo.

Crazy busy...

For serious! Here's some fun stuff from the past few packed days:


and, of course:

This life is fake. Right?

I'm starting to feel like I live in a movie... as I sit, doodling and social networking (fancy term for Facebook? yes.) in a mid-town coffee shop (getting super high off incredibly strong black brew) on my MacBookPro listening to a Pandora crooner radio station on a rainy New York day. Even have on my Chuck Taylor's.

A little sore from yesterday's run; have a long walk on the schedule for today, which should loosen my legs up a bit. More photos on the way (should be some fun ones, as the next few days are slated to be pretty awesome as far as fun stuff to do)!

Night Running & Imaginary Friends

There are tons of runners out at 9pm. Also, tons of other people doing other things. Ran 40 blocks up 2nd Ave, then 40 blocks back down Lex. 2nd was bustling, so I bobbed, weaved and dodged like a scared rabbit through a pack of dogs (and I was that fast, too)! Lex was much more relaxed as far as people traffic, so I sprinted every other block. My legs hurt, already.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a single picture. Though, I did spot tons of things to take pictures of... but since most of then were human beings, and stopping a run to snap a photo isn't all that inconspicuous, I decided photog-ing wouldn't be a great idea.

The most memorable thing I wish I had captured would've been impossible, anyways - I accidentally bumped into an invisible woman named "Carol." Carol and her invisible friends, whose names I didn't catch, were accompanied by a visible and irate Archie Bunker look-alike, who, while trying to convince his invisible posse all people are "stupid," excused me from Carol's way. Interesting. Scary. Awesome. I love the eccentrics.

Today is too pretty to be sittin' on a train.

So, I'll just have to take a later one back into the city. On a running note, this movie about running made me pee my pants a little (not really, but it was pee-inducing funny)! I kinda feel like I look like this guy when I run... I know I don't, but sometimes... Also, love the soundtrack, the man fight, the spatula dude and the skivvies.

This has nothing to do with running or New York.

But I'm so super excited about it!!!! Polaroid's back!!!

Missing MY dogs.

Got to run with my dogs, today. I miss them! They can't live with me in NYC, yet, since I'm sleeping on a futon in a friend's studio for the time being... Cannot WAIT to have my own place with my little family back together! Although, I'm pretty sure Izzy will totally hate New York. The rumble of the subway underfoot will completely freak her out. Roscoe, on the other hand, probably won't even notice the location change (he's just that dumb).

Was planning on a 4.5 mile run, but had to cut it short and made it 3. Its super hilly, here, so I'm ok with it. Also, might go for a skateboard at the beach, later!

Found a dog, today!

In Connecticut for a couple of days, and had Easter dinner in Mystic. While walking around outside with a delicious Easter anginette cookie (made by my little chef friend, Rachel), I found a dog. A giant Bernese Mountain Dog. He wanted my cookie. I wanted to cuddle. We made friends. I later found out he was the neighbor's dog and walked him home (have to admit I was kinda sad he couldn't come home with me, instead).

So, tomorrow's run will be in my hometown 'hood, with my dogs! Yay! (They're the best running dogs, ever - well, one of them is. The other one is just pathetically cute at everything, even if he sucks at it.) Thinking maybe a beach run because of this beautiful weather. Have to work off all of that Easter dessert!

Empire State for Spring

The street where I live (for now)...

... is pretty with its karaoke bar and dogwood tree. (Is that a dogwood? Not sure, but its pretty, nonetheless.)

Union Square in the Dark

Walked back through Union Square later that night...

... and found some Ugly Dolls.

Beets. Bears. Battlestar Galactica.

Union Square Market is just the best. Its the super-est super market pretty much ever. Fresh from the farm milk (in glass bottles you're supposed to return to the vendor the following week), eggs, fish, meat, baked goods, flowers, all kinds of seasonal fruits and veggies, ciders, syrups, art, "Rolexes" and crazies can all be found there. And, its got organic beets (though, their farm vendor was disappointingly not Dwight Schrute). Oh! And its got a crazy awesome holiday fair, too. During the holidays. Duh.