Living and working in NYC--regardless of how many times I do it over and over again--is always as insane, exhilarating, overwhelming, nauseating etc. (i think you get the picture) as the first time. I say this with the utmost love and respect for the city no matter how crazy and conflicted the city makes me feel. I mentioned 'nauseating' because there's something about New York that makes one passionately love and hate it at the same time. I wish I could pinpoint what that something is--the people, the culture, the overbearing infrastructures??--so I could give it a good smack (or maybe a firm handshake because that's what New York is all about right...) for all the mixed emotions it makes me experience in just one day.
I suppose I feel that same dichotomy of emotions for Manila, but the fact that my overall answer for how I feel about home would be a 98% positive "I LOVE IT" means that those conflicted feelings are definitely intensified for New York. Among the bazillion other things about New York that gets to me, there's something about the city wanting to impose exclusivity every chance it gets to that intrigues me--from having to snag restaurant reservations weeks and even months in advance to the kind of standards you have to live up to in terms of clothing and mannerisms at clubs/bars/speakeasies and even fitness venues. As a result, people in the city try really hard to keep up and reach those standards. It's pretty alienating. I've never been made to feel 'alienated' but I've definitely seen and been with others who have experienced this...like the family in front of me who was struggling to speak english and was nicely asking a staff member at an infamous bakery if they still had a certain pastry leftover, to which the staff member brashly remarked, "Uh, no. People line up for that hours before our store opens. You need to come in much earlier if you want one." Or that time we had made it up to a really popular rooftop lounge, only to be sent back all the way down to take the 'other entrance' because, "we don't allow shorts through this entrance" despite the fact that my friend's shorts were not even short in length and were stylish/most probably designer...nowhere near close raunchy casual shorts or whatever. The hostess even had the nerve to say "rules change everyday, guys" to my other friend who remarked that he used the same entrance the other day. I get that these people deal with a ton of confused tourists and people in general, but really? You never lose by being kind.
It's not just the 'alienating' standards that get to me but the fact that because the city is so popular and constantly experiences an influx of wealthy and eager bodies, once you're in, you just want to do and see everything and the life of the city encourages you to do so as fast as you can. There are obviously times when I get quite overwhelmed and find myself needing an entire day to just breathe and recuperate from LIFE on my bed. Most of the time, the city gets to me and I'm on a seemingly eternal high that keeps me going regardless of what my body is otherwise telling me to do for the sake of my health and sanity. Then there are off days when I scoff at the city and all its inhabitants. Perhaps that is what is so thrilling --the fact that nothing EVER gets boring because I was on a three-month long roller coaster ride of emotions. If you've ever read "The Unbearable Lightness of Being," it talks a lot about the dichotomy of heavy and light relationships and how being with someone can make you feel either. It's a really complex novel but basically, one of the characters had both kinds but preferred the 'heavier' relationship no matter how crushing it was because it offered more fulfillment and meaning. Bottom line, New York is like my 'heavy' because I am constantly growing, feeling, and thinking in this city but at an uncomfortably rapid speed.
WHEW. I do not mean to sound dramatic and I still have more to say but I'll end this little self-reflection here. In the end, I can say that I appreciate New York. As I was on my way to JFK to catch my flight out of the city a week ago, I was staring out at the skyline and sort of already missed New York even if I was still there. I realized that part of NY's charm is the fact that it challenged me to think a LOT--about how I am as a person, my career and life aspirations, my values, etc--and led me to deeply lose myself in my own thoughts because of how intriguing/confusing/thrilling city life is. Oftentimes, being so comfortable in a city (as I feel in Manila and Philly) can make actions and thoughts quite perfunctory, so I welcomed this change. I love being challenged and conquering challenges because it only serves to build character. Bottom line, I appreciate how I always come out of New York more in tune with what I want out of life and more confident about my capabilities.
SO, I suppose this whole reflection is comparable to a celebration of self-awareness, which is a nice segue into my wonderful fourth of july weekend in D.C. As indicated in the blog title, nothing gets more patriotic than celebrating independence in the country's capital. But with all that talk about New York, why start of with D.C? Well, this was one of those days when I knew I could use a respite from all the hustle and bustle of the city, and D.C. was the perfect getaway.
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| Patron bottles lining the walls of Bar Masa |
We started the day with a boozy brunch at Bar Masa. Since we opted for the unlimited food and drinks menu, we probably ordered every dish and at one point were triple and even quadruple fisting drinks...probably not the smartest start to the day but we definitely made the most of what we paid for.
Then we hopped on over to a friend's pool BBQ and concocted all sorts of interesting drinks for the rest of the afternoon....
...after which, we cabbed back to the Waterfront where half of D.C. seemed to be waiting for the fireworks, too.
Watching ducks and inception photographing each other as we waited...
Until finally....
As soon as the fireworks show ended, we walked to a bar/club on M street as per one of our friend's suggestions and danced our night away al fresco style to chill music.
The best start to every meal is with Le Diplomat's bread basket. It is like any other. Each slice is amazing but my favorite is the cranberry-walnut bread. You see that man cutting freshly baked bread for the tables? We ended up asking for a second one.
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| L-R, Top to Bottom: Duck sarladaise - confit, sunnyside up egg, roasted potatoes Steak tartare - capers, quail egg Eggs norwegian - smoked salmon, hollandaise |
After more walking around, we stopped by my benchmark for awesome cupcakes: Baked n' Wired. To everyone who wastes their time lining up for Georgetown Cupcake, you are very misled. This joint is infinitely better and serves not only cupcakes but also equally tasty bars, cookies, really good granola that they call 'hippie crack,' pie and cake slices, homemade marshmallows, etc. They also have their own coffee bar with some savory options.
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| Leaving our mark on the napkin wall |
If you ever find yourself at the coffee bar, I suggest getting a dirty chai or a personal favorite--their apple chaider, which is only available in the fall. |
| Flapjack and Strawberry |
We spent the rest of our day wandering around Georgetown and enjoying the blissful feeling we all had just being in D.C. It's really everything about D.C that is so pleasant like the suburban town houses you find in the city....
In honor of R, had dinner at one of her favorite college eats...
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| I approve of their bloody mary! |
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| L-R; Top-Bottom: Eggs Benedict - smoked trout, preserved lemon hollandaise Fried Chicken and Waffles - Watermelon salad, arugula Short Rib Hash - olive oil poached egg, horseradish sauce Jumbo Lump Crab Cake - bloody mary broth, celery relish |
