Life and Times of Daniel

New Faces, Old Friends

Move in at 1760! Well at all of the EHS properties :)

 The fall semester has finally arrived and last weekend residents from across the NYC college spectrum (and across the world!) moved into the EHS 1760 3^rd Ave residence.

 Residents range from freshmen to graduate students, coming from nearby long island to distant Nigeria and Dubai! It’s sure to be a year of new experiences for everyone in the building by way of culture and connection.

As an RA, I worked thought the day with my team of fellow RA’s and pro-staff to ensure that move in was as smooth as possible. From 9 am to 9pm we checked in residents, helped move furnishings, answered the questions of excited students and concerned parents and held a welcome meeting. It was an exciting day to see who we would be living, working, and socializing with for the next year. Some old faces were seen as well as some new ones. My team and I are really looking forward to a great year with a ton of great events and parties planned for our peers!

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Hasta Luego (See you Soon Summer)

Adios Summer

Whoa!! It’s August 31 and for most students summer is over. Luckily I still have one precious week left for this sunny season. I look back on the past few months and can’t remember the last time I accomplished so much in one season. I worked almost full time as an RA and I interning, hosted events for summer residents who were mostly interns themselves, took 2 summer courses and still managed to have some time for summer fun (I even made it to the beach several times.)

As an RA I learned how to plan events that fit student’s needs and about what it takes to keep college aged adults entertained. I met amazing people from all over the world. I learned to refine my spanglish (as anyone who knows me would recognize my tendency to throw is a word of Spanish here or there just for kicks.) Being an RA really taught me about team management, working with peers who are also your friends and managing your time between work and play. As a marketing intern I refined my awareness of selling a product by way of endorsement and promotion. I learned the value of online networking and marketing and how important these things are in this tech age. My internship taught me about etiquette in a business office and gave me a glimpse of what it will be like to join the full time work force. One of the most valuable things I gained from interning was reassurance, the knowing that business is the career path which I will follow in the years to come.

Summer really isn’t the same once you’re older. It can still be just as exciting- we finally get the chance to break away from our families, go out on our own, and decide how we will spend our free days. One thing is for sure, the back to school blues are here to stay- no matter what your age.

This closes my entries for summer in the City. NYC Summer 2010’ you’ve been good to me!

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Big Apple Fashion Finds

FYI for all you little fashion Junkies out there~

H&M Is having its ever popular $10 off all jeans Sales Event! Don’t miss this one to stock up on casual and dress jeans alike for the fall season.

Locations: 51^st and Park Ave, 59^th and Lexington, 86^th and Lexington and more.

Urban Outfitters (My fashion Mecca) is having a huge end of summer blowout! Some clearance items are further reduced 50% off. Don’t miss Urban’s great selection of shoes and boots, a new pair of kicks may be just what you need to top off that back to class outfit.

Locations: 59^th and 3^rd, 10^th and 2^nd and more

Zara……Spanish based company Zara completes a feat that few in the fashion industry can claim, requiring only 2 weeks to take a garment from concept to production and in store sale. In less then one month, clothes are designed, produced, and shipped to Zara stores worldwide for purchase. This unique business model allows Zara to stay up to the minute on the latest fashions, concept strait form the runway. Whether you’re looking for an awesome fall trench, a sleek men’s button down, or a new pair of boots, Zara has it all.

Locations: 59^th and Lexington, 34^th and 6^th and more

Haute Couture

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An Environmental Emergencey

I’ve never been much of an Environmentalist, save recycling and conserving energy. I’ve never protested Big Oil, companies that cause pollution or development of natural lands. But one thing that has really concerned me lately (and this is no new issue,) is the Oil spill in the Gulf.

The BP oil platform exploded on April 20 and continued to spew oil for 80 days on end. We are now well into August and relief efforts are still underway. There’s no need for me to get technical-what we are talking about here is a very simple matter. In our never ending quest for oil (read: Wealth and Power) we built oil drilling rigs in the Gulf. These rigs aren’t indestructible, and as we can see their malfunction can be devastating. When the oil rig exploded, 11 people died, millions of gallons of oil spewed into the gulf, floating on the water, coating delicate marine and land animals, and throwing of the delicate balance of the ecosystem. This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be, humanity isn’t doing its part to live in harmony with the earth. Because of our actions oil which stays deep in the earth for a reason poured into the ocean, that’s obviously not a natural course of events.

One thing is for sure, we may be able to clean up this mess in time, but how will the wildlife affected by the spill help themselves? They cannot, and this is where the help of concerned citizens and environmentalists alike come into play.

How can you help you may wonder? The National Wildlife Federation is taking donations for their Gulf Oil Spill Restoration fund. From their website the NWF has this to say

“Please donate today to National Wildlife Federation’s Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund. We’re tracking and reporting on the impacts of the oil spill, and our extensive network of volunteers is on-the-ground, supporting wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts and restoring the damaged coastal ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. We’re working hard to safeguard the treasured wildlife and wild places that will be forced to deal with this disaster for years, if not decades to come. But we need your help to get the job done.”

Follow this link to donate or to read more!

https://online.nwf.org/site/Donation2?df_id=16706&16706.donation=form1

I plan to do my part my participating in a Bake Sale Sponsored by Educational Housing Services. On Wednesday August 11 at 6pm, EHS will hold a bake sale in our lobby, where all donations will go to the NWF Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund. I’ll even be donating some money towards this cause through the money raised by team EHS. Hopefully if you are part of the EHS community you will stop down to help out the animals in the Gulf.

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Metamorphosis

Spending my summer with EHS has been a one-in-a-million experience. I’ve had the opportunity to meet students form around the globe while being an RA, plan and attend exclusive events in New York City, and work with marketing professionals at EHS developing our brand and advertising while interning. So much has been accomplished and I’m confident that these experiences will serve me well in the future.

 In my last post I spoke of the importance of self reflection and personal time… at least these were my feelings; I’m no therapist. It seems to me that I’ve truly matured this summer. In the past I spent my summers relaxing between school years or semesters. I worked part time and spent my free summer hours relaxing on the beach or bustin’ it up with my amigos. This summer was a different experience; I feel that it was a professional primer. I’ve solidified my desires to go into business and I’m more than confident in my decision last fall to declare business as my major.

 I guess a keyword here is transformation. Living in New York City has truly transformed major aspects of my life. Before moving to New York, I had dreams and aspirations, but no strong sense of direction. I knew that I wanted to get a college degree and I was confident that my interests, faith, and creativity would lead me on the correct career path.

 Studying at Marymount Manhattan (my college) opened me up to so many new career ideas through the course of study which I chose. Working as an RA has helped me further develop my people skills and affirm that I’ll definitely have a professional position which deals with the public. Interning with marketing has strengthened my own belief that I will start my own business one day, and I feel like I’m gaining the experience to do so. My business ideas include a bakery/café or a fitness club (but these ideas are for another blog.)

If you’re looking to discover prospects that you would never have dreamed of, maybe big city living is the answer. Maybe New York is the city for you.

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Stop and smell the Roses?

Who really has time these days? We’ve all heard this expression or something like it. These days it seems like it could apply to more people then usual, especially those living in New York City. Between working, going to school, studying, interning, traveling, helping others, texting your girlfriend, face booking your boyfriend…..who really has time anymore to themselves?

Don’t get me wrong, my summer in New York City has been nothing short of magical. I wake up every morning, take a deep breath, and proclaim to myself that the day will be a positive one. But interning, studying for my macroeconomics class, being an RA, doing office work and events, shopping, cooking, going to the gym, and staying in touch with family and friends leaves me searching my schedule for times to pencil “Me time” in. This isn’t to say that my life is hectic or that I am doing too much, I only mean to say that seeking balance in life is important. I know that I personally misuse downtime every once in a while. I’ll have a night to myself and I become non-productive. There is nothing wrong with simply enjoying the moment of “being,” but during this downtime it is important to be mindful of ourselves. How were are feeling, where we are going, and how are we planning to get there? Instead of using downtime to zone out in front of the season premiere of Jersey Shore, use that free afternoon to look inside yourself-think of it as personal maintenance.

As I write this post I’m reminded of how I spent my afternoon. I had plans to go out shopping, but then Ms. Weather decided to hurricane upon Manhattan. I decided to grab a novel I had put off reading and sit on my window sill enjoying the storm as it passed outside. I looked up to the clouds and observed the most interesting thing; as the clouds rushed by blowing to the west, a lighter patch of clouds lower in elevation drifted by to the east. Who really would have thought that clouds blew in two different directions at once! Although this may seem like a pointless observation, when is the last time you took a breather and really noticed a peculiar detail in the chaos of the universe?

At the risk of sounding like a Guru here, don’t be afraid to take a little advice from a friendly RA. Do YOURSELF a favor and Stop to smell the Roses. Enjoy the sunset above the Hudson, take a walk through Central Park and ponder the ages of the trees which surround you, or get lost in a good book as the world outside your window rushes by. When you have some downtime don’t occupy it with senseless tasks like sitting on facebook or texting your friend, just enjoy a still moment and truly exist. The more you do this the better you’ll be able to handle the crazy situations as they come your way.

Comments would be appreciated here kids!

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Have you been to the NYC Highline?

While feeling rather adventurous last night, some friends and I decided to take a spontaneous trip to the NYC Highline. I had never heard of it before, but it’s sure to become one of my regular spots. Check out this awesome shot

The coolest thing about the Highline is that the stretch of path that you walk on used to be  frieght train tracks! The tracks were built in the 1930′s along the west side on the city but then became inactive in 1980. The city decided to reconstruct the area in 2002 as part of the West Side improvement project and the park itself just opened last summer.

While walking along the path I couldn’t believe that I had been missing out on this awesome attraction. You can see for miles along the Hudson and as your walking you pass under architecturally genius condominiums. The city’s best architects literally built new residences on top of the old train tracks(you can see this in the photo above.) As I shared a leisurely walk with friends I passed by strips of grass and garden, people lounging on the highlines wooden beach chairs, and couples embracing as the sun set along the river.

I was surprised to find out that the Highline even has its own website. You can visit it at http://www.thehighline.org/

Here you can find information about events taking place at the Highline like free yoga classes, walking tours and art events. If you want to visit (which I strongly recommend!) the Highline is located at Gansevoort Street between 34th st between 10th  and 11th Ave. You can access stairs to the Highline at 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th streets.

So the next time you need a fresh spot to chill, a cool place to show some friends, or a trendy area to take a date, check out the NYC Highline.

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Whats cookin at 1760?

A few nights ago I held an amazingly fun event at 1760- Cooking with the RA’s. Fellow RA Janey and I both had a blast shopping for food and supplies and then cooking with residents. We all chipped in to help make cookies, decorate them and make an awesome baked pasta dish! Below you can see some photos of this chill event!

Here are some photos of Janey and I shopping

Learning how to cook in college is definitely a challenge for some people. But don’t be afraid to try it out- getting takeout all of the time can get expensive. Gather together some friends and make a meal, it’s bound to be a good time!

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Billy’s Bakery

Tonight while wondering around the Chelsea area with friends I stumbled along a nostalgic little gem of a bakeshop-Billy’s bakery. To our delight they were still open (it was nearly 10 pm on a Sundaynight!) A friend of mine from the area who goes to FIT commented that she had been to Billy’s before andthat it was wortha try. I was both excited and skeptical; having worked in a small Italian bakery decorating cakes and at the infamous Crumbs. We stepped inside and were overtaken by a homemade smell and 1940′s bakery feel. Everything looked freshly and I was determined to pacify my sweet tooth. I split a piece of red velvet cake witha friend and boy was it amazing! I was suprised to admit that Billly’s bakery lived up to its look; this cake was better than those from any bakery I had visited or worked at. Now that’s saying something!

Photo courtesy of Billy’s Bakery

Billy’s has hundreds of awesome reviews online and if you have a sweet tooth it’s worth checking out. You can visit Billy’s Chelsea location at 184 9th Avenue
Between 21st and 22nd Street

For you kids who kick it down in Tribeca there is another location around there, 75 Franklin Street
Between Broadway and Church Street.

And check this out, apparently Katie Holmes fancies Billy’s cupcakes, she named them her favorite treat in NYC!

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My very first Broadway Show!

This past week I got to see my very first show on Broadway- In the Heights! The show was amazing, so much better then I could have imaged! The cast was incredibly talented and kept me entertained throughout the entire show with their top-notch dancing and singing. I really enjoyed the music which featured songs about making it out of the hood, being successful and following your dreams. The latin-flavor of the songs and beats were quite awesome as well!

One thing that really impressed me was how realistic and detailed the set was. On one stage was built an entire city corner, equipped with buildings that had windows, accesable fire escapes, steps and a walkway bridge in the background. Below you can see an awesome picture of what I’m describing!

If you are interested in checking out In the Heights, you can find it at Richard Rodgers Theatre on West 46th st. I got my tickets at a discounted price through the EHS student life office. However you can still get In the Heights tickets for a good price. If you are interested in seeing other Broadway shows and are lucky enough to live with EHS, make sure you stop into the student life office to see which tickets are on sale!

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