The (Not So) Good Neighbor

Turns out, The Fountain House isn't harmless. Before I get into it, I know what you're thinking. I moved to New York five months ago and I can only blog about the loony bin down the street. Fair. I'll work on that.

Anyways, we live in a basement apartment. Over the summer, we had a serious issue with a serious leak. After witholding our rent, we got the response we were looking for and it was fixed. Let's just say I've been less than impressed with NYC Supers. Well, specifically, just mine.

I came back from Philly on Sunday to the renewed leak. This time, it's dripping through the light that's connected to the light in my room. So when I flip my switch, both lights turn on. Fearing an electrical fire (even more so since I cancelled my renter's insurance policy, yikes!), I've had to keep the light in my room OFF all week.

Fear not, I other lamps scattered around my room because I live in a cave. But still, this is seriously irritating.

Finally after threatening that electric fire, our super comes down to tell us it's caused by a leaky AC unit THREE floors up.

And the kicker?

They're overflow from the Fountain House. Their rent is paid for by the city. The AC unit is broken, but they can't afford a new one. The bottom line: the super's not doing anything about it.

Hopefully I'm not crazy, and you all are going "WHAT?!? How is that possible? The super can't tell a tenant to remove something thats causing structural damage to the building and negatively affecting other tenants?!"

Like I alluded to, our super's IQ is on par with the loony tunes inhabiting the 3rd floor.

And as if I have to mention, it's FALL. Get rid of the damned the AC unit that's gonna give me seasonal depression from lack of light.

#*%&$*$*&!*&$%

Thanks for letting me vent. We're taking matters into our own hands. No, that (probably) doesn't mean breaking and entering or assaulting the mentally insane.

The Fountain House

I remember my first visit to New York City. I was 9, and fully convinced I would be a famous Broadway star someday (never mind that my mom outright told me I couldn't sing...whatever). I expected to walk out of our (sweet, sweet) hotel to find the most.fashionable.people.EVER. No such thing. I was shocked to see women in commuting sneakers, the same amount of overweight people, smokers, balding men, and ugly people. I have since re-worked my view of this city to realize that I was both right and wrong.

This city has its fair share of poorly dressed, smoking, dishevelled crazies but only recently did I discover that I might get to see more than usual.

The Fountain House.

Left hand side of the photo. Nice building, this view only shows the entrance, but its pretty big. It's size and condition are a clear indication that its not your normal apartment building. I always had an inkling that it was something different. 

Even in this cutout of the google street view, you can see people out front. There are always people out front.

Once, I overheard a seemingly normal (albeit, a little off) man arguing politely with two police officers. They were offering him a ride to the nearest hospital but he was demanding a helicopter escort and wouldn't take anything less. My "that's odd" trigger went off.

And despite having access to, well basically everything, at my fingertips via Google and my iPhone, I never pursued it farther. Finally, after passing it every day for three months, I caught the name and did google it and,

That's right. There's a world famous mental health institution across the street from my street access, basement apartment. And now it all makes sense.

10036

You'd be surprised at how often people ask for your zip code. Be it at the check out, logging onto the LivingSocial website, or locating the nearest CVS, I can't tell you how often I've had to declare "10036" in the past three months. That's right. THREE MONTHS. Holy ish, I've been living in NYC for a quarter of a year. It's been an interesting three months and I feel as much at home in this city as I do a stranger. New York can do that to you.

As a neglectful blogger, I'm making myself a "TO DO" list, a list of blogs that need written. Hopefully it'll give me the inspiration and motivation that I need.

- RW: Graffit, Delmonico's, Acquavit
- Zumba in the City
- Walking the Brooklyn Bridge
- Chicago
- City Living
- Things About My Apartment

That should be enough to get me back in the groove.

I wish I could say "I've been too busy living my life than to write about it" but it's mostly that I'm lazy. Ha.

Post ya'll soon.

1789

[Disclaimer: I know I know, I've seriously been neglecting my blog and I have lots of backlogged posts. Soon. I promise. What am I doing that's keeping me so busy? Nothing. I'm sitting on my couch. But, soon.]

On Mother's Day, my parents spent the day moving all my furniture and crap out of my apartment and into a UHAUL truck. To celebrate my mom being awesome, and my upcoming move to Manhattan, we dined at 1789 that evening.

First, let me explain. When I was 13, my parents took me to 1789 as my first fancy restaurant experience. They also had a coupon in the mail. So now it seemed appropriate to go there a decade later.

We started with cocktails, and I startled the waiter when I asked for a Dirty Shirley. They brought out delicious bread with different spreads [arugula pesto, sea salt butter, and I can't remember the third but it was red and yummy]. We also had a complimentary mini app - sliver of potato with deliciousness on top.

The menu is laid out by primary ingredient which is a little confusing, but perfect for a multicourse dinner paired with a bottle of Bordeaux.

Below are the courses I ate...

Local Asparagus Salad a sunny side up pheasant egg,  

Everona Piedmont sheep’s milk cheese, toasted bread and lemon  

Gargati Burgundy snails, ramp pesto and fiore sardo cheese

Roast Quail (King George, VA) wild Oregon mushrooms, ramps, and our garden herbs

Strawberries and Cream 

yogurt panna cotta, strawberry sorbet and strawberry paper 

It was fantastic. The portions were all smaller so I didn't walk away doubled over. The quail was so flavorful. I had a great time trading bites with my parents dishes. The restaurant brought me back to my 13 year old self experiencing Georgetown for the first time. All in all, a great experience.

Clubbin'

Tuesday night, I attended my last "A Ladies Book Club" meeting, much to my chagrin. I'm really going to miss our monthly book club meetings and the excuse to over sample all the delicious treats. I know, I could join a book club in New York, and probably will, but it won't be quite the same.

Our book club embodies the quintessential DC woman in her 20s. The group is full of interesting career choices, well educated, so aware of the world, unbelievably well traveled, and even with a hint of modesty. Without fail, our book discussion turn to all kinds of women's health issues - where am I going to get my info from now on?
Because it's my last week at work, and I've essentially got nothing better to do, I'm going make a list of the books we've read. Yea ok I know, basically all of my readers are in the same book club, but whatever! deal!

The Irrisistable Henry House by Lisa Grunwald

In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueeruddin

Big Sur by Jack Kerouac

Lady Chatterly's Lover by D. H. Lawrence

[Michigan for work] The Brief And Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen 

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

Black Swan, The Movie

The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

[Interview in NYC] Play As It Lays by Joan Didion

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

I'll miss you Ladies Book Club.

Bucket List

My mom encouraged me to make a Bucket List of all the things I want to do in DC before I move. It's hard to focus on what I'll miss when all the moving details were up in the air. As the details are firming up, and the my last week of work is actually here, the reality is setting in.

So Bucket List time...

• Bottomless mimosa brunch with my best friends
• Going Away Soiree
• 1789 with my parents
• Crime and Punishment Museum
• Newseum
• A Momunment Tour, or a walk up and down the mall
• Ghost Tour in Alexandria
• U Street Music Hall
• Karma Night at a Trendy DC hot spot
• A whole weekend of DC fun with my best friends
• Ben's Chilli Bowl (just to say I have)
• IMAX movie at the Air and Space Museum
• Old Town Alexandria
• $5 Nationals Tickets - maybe fresh seafood from the SE waterfront beforehand?

I'll be adding to this list, and hopefully blogging about those I check off. Comment with any ideas!!

Georgetown Waterfront and DC Cupcakes

So now that the days are counting down til I bid DC farewell, I'm going to be a tourist and absorb this city. What better way to start than with a night in Georgetown stuffing my face? And lucky that I did - now that the Waterfront is flooded and out of commission.

First gorgeous spring evening

From our view at Tony & Joe's

The line moved pretty fast, and the weather was so nice it was worth waiting.

Nom nom nom

One for dessert, and of course, one for breakfast

The Hummingbird and Red Velvet

Bloody Mary's + Calamari + Caprese Salad + Cupcakes = A Happy, Satisfied Me.