Astoria Life: New York Minutes

Musings from the Queen of Queens, or My 6 years of living in Queens and greater NYC, where I moved to work for the water department and ended up, among other things, traveling the world and appearing on a billboard on Times Square.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

A morning to trump all!

I went to the spa at Trump International Tower at 59th Street and Columbus Circle early this morning to get a book I left there yesterday. While there, I picked up a bottle of Trump Ice water, which has this great photo of Donald Trump on it. I then proceeded to walk through Central Park and down 5th Avenue to the library. At East 57th Street, I saw a girl whom I thought resembled Ivanka Trump, waiting for the light to change so we could both cross the street. We made brief eye contact, then she looked away (I was admiring her bright red coat, wondering where I could get one. I, in turn, had on a bright pink jacket from gap.com. We were by far the most colorful people on the sidewalk filled with camel and black coats.) As we crossed the street and passed the mobs outside Tiffanys jewelry store, girls started pointing at her as she kept looking straight ahead (she is very tall.) Turns out it was indeed Ivanka Trump. She went inside the Trump Plaza building attached to Tiffany's. I noticed I still had the bottle of Trump Ice in my hand. No wonder she had noticed me, however briefly-- I had her family's water bottle.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Staten Island ferry redux

The other day, I had to go to Staten Island for a meeting. I was excited about it, as I was going to ride the Staten Island ferry for the first time. Or so I thought.

I boarded the ferry and realized it looked incerdibly familiar. As I walked towards the back of the boat, I passed the little snack stand and then it hit e .. I had been on this ferry a ton of times back in the early 1980s.

My dad used to take us "to the Statue of Liberty". What he actually did was board us onto the (free of charge) Staten Island ferry, which goes past the Statue, offering a great view.

I called my sister and she agreed, she does not remember actually landing on Liberty Island, and we -- a family that takes photos of EVERYTHING --- do not have a single photo of us at the esteemed Statue of Liberty. Ha.

On the plus side, they ARE still serving the delicious soft-serve ice cream cones on board (see "Soujourn to the Statue, Sept 22, 2004).

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Miss Mediocre New York, Gotta love it --- craigslist

Beauty Contest Seeks Female Contestants (Midtown East)
Reply to: gigs-299721930@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-03-24, 2:56PM EDT

Mediocre New York is holding its first annual Beauty Contest. Mediocre New York is a cable and web show that covers all things mediocre in NY, we are the antithesis of Cribs, Pimp My Ride and Wild-On-E (needless to say it is a comedy show). If you think you have what it takes to be Miss Mediocre New York 2007 then please send us your picture, the talent you'd like to perform during the contest and why you should be considered for the contest. The contest will be filmed in our midtown sound stage on March 31st, starting at noon and ending at around 5pm.

You will be required to sign a release form letting us use your likeness on the show with no compensation. The prize will be a mediocre tiara and the title of Miss Mediocre New York 2007. You will be asked to be in a bathing suit, underwear or whatever you think will let the judges see you in your fullest mediocrity. The goal is to have fun, be goofy and get some exposure. Mediocre New York airs segments on Indigo TV www.Indigo.tv To see a few of our segments search Mediocre New York on Google Video.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

PS 61 -- art in Queens!

I went to PS 61 MOMA today. This is the affiliate of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art out in Long Island City, Queens. It is in an old elementary school (fortmerly known as St Ward School.)

There are 3 floors and a cellar full of some pretty cool modern art. I really liked one called "Popeye", which showed the sailor being chased by a lobster. ha ha.

Best of all, there were plenty of restrooms for both men and women, because it used to have scores of kids needing the hallway pass every single day!

I know that my old elementary school is not doing anything as cool as showing modern art. Mine is still educating schoolchildren, which is cool in its own way.