city from a cab

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Occasionally I’m asked to run work-related errands to places that can’t be easily reached by subway. I love these errands because taking cabs is a chance to zip through the city and see quick New York moments. Something as mundane as a man eating a slice of $0.99 pizza is suddenly in view and then, just as quickly, out of sight. It’s exhilarating. New York travels very fast — everything, fleeting, constantly. In a cab, there are moments when you can almost catch up. Enjoy.

  

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I remember you from the
chin up
two and a half months to divorcing 
because of different opinions
write a business plan
incompatibility
for my pastry shop.
– – –
— A compilation of found words + overheard phrases,  03 • 14 • 12

city soundbytes: the jamaican preacher edition

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T O   P R E F A C E   T H I S   S E R I E S:  
I was about three stops away from my destination when a middle-aged Jamaican woman clutching a bible stepped on the train. The doors closed and she settled in the middle of the car, standing directly in front of me. As we began rolling, she cleared her throat and announced, “GOOD EVE-NING LATIES AND GEN-TIL-MEN,” then began in on what was the most profound act of preaching I’ve ever encountered. She rose to a crescendo and didn’t skip a beat, roaring on even as I stepped off the train. These soundbytes are a collection of phrases from her address — enjoy!
J

weekend wrap-up: ______ is in the air!

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 W E E K E N D  H I G H L I G H T S :

( 1 ) An evening out with my roommates to a fun neighborhood place, The Crown Inn, to enjoy a few drinks and relax.
( II ) An unexpected visit from Midwest friends on Saturday evening (always welcomed)!
( c ) The most gorgeous weather I’ve seen since my arrival, which naturally led to a Sunday stroll in my new favorite Prospect Park, and which I’ve now decided is going to be a tradition. Prospect Park is incredible. There are runners, bikers, walkers, dog walkers, speed walkers, picnic-ers, strollers, people-watchers, book readers, sun baskers, frisbee throwers, horse riders, fishers, sporting events, a gigantic lake (with SWANS), even a zoo! I am in a little slice of heaven when I’m there.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
W E E K E N D  W E I R D N E S S :
• Finding a U.S. passport on the street
• Getting locked out of my apartment
• A Jamaican woman preaching at the top of her lungs on the train
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

I must say, the only thought on my mind today is it feels so good to be alive!
xo

J

daily mail

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This is what I love coming home to. Mail. It makes the whole day worthwhile. Today I received three special pieces — a card from my mom, my sister, and my very own Brooklyn Public Library card (which makes things feel a little more official here)!

Snail mail. Completely underrated.

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Two things from today:
01: We’re moving 

20×200 HQ is relocating from Midtown to a sweetly sweet new office in Soho / Downtown! I’ve been dealing with lots of boxes and bubble wrap this week as we prepare the dozens and dozens of framed artworks that decorate the office for safe landing at their new home.
02: The Armory Show

A kind co-worker passed along a ticket to the preview (“vernissage”) of The Armory Show at Piers 92 & 94, which opens tomorrow. Accompanied by Adam, I got to take in some interesting work as well as do plenty of people watching (the people are just as interesting as the art)! So much is happening in the art world…
xo
jc

of purses

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In my opinion, there are three ways to get to know a woman without ever meeting her:
A  |  Walk through her home and/or bedroom
2  |  Read her handwriting
iii  |  See what’s in her purse
Many women, I feel, won’t reveal the contents of their purse for several reasons. It might be embarrassingly cluttered with Tootsie Roll wrappers and tampons, or too personal an arena. My mother’s purse has always been both a mystery and a fascination; it’s contents are packed as precisely as a game of Tetris. The several glimpses I’ve caught throughout my life have revealed an intricate filing system of coupons and clippings (arguably organized by the Dewey decimal system), a gum and mint section, and a portion reserved for phone numbers, handwritten on the back of business reply mail envelopes since 1981. 
I used to carry big purses, but changed my ways after too many “You-could-fit-in-that” comments. The reality came to light when a security guard doing a routine search through purses came to mine and pretended it was Mary Poppins’ bag (which, you might recall, is deep enough to house anything).
These days my purse is smaller, much less amusing, and certainly no secret. It boils down to the essentials that I carry with me day-in and day-out, these can’t-live-withouts that I choose to lug around the city on my right shoulder. 

01  |  Pepper spray because hey, it’s New York City. And it helps my mom sleep at night.
02  |  Headphones to block out the sounds of baby-momma drama, car alarms, every person on the train that decides to have an outdoor voices conversation about their relationship issues, and the sounds of other people listening to the album Hearing Damage (usually featuring Rihanna).
03  |  MetroCard the amazing little paper rectangle that gets me everywhere, but nowhere in under and hour.
04  |  A book because sometimes you can’t tune out the world enough (see #2) I’m currently reading Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell.
05  |  Something good smelling because the city makes you stink like stank! I bring a roller of Kate Spade’s Twirl with me (thanks to Estelle + Amy!)
06  |  Journal + pen for ideas, inspiration, quotes, doodles, grocery lists, or just to write ‘HOME’ on over and over and over. I’m faithful to Moleskine journals for their ruggedness and practicality. Also, their pocket in the back holds all of life’s little scraps.
07  |  Lip care because a woman can’t be running around these parts with naked lips! I carry Sugar by fresh. 

08  |  iPhone for every step I take. Because let’s face it, I’d be in Malaysia by now if I didn’t have some directional force guiding me through this urban jungle. It also goes hand-in-hand with #2.
09  |  iPad because the power of the iPhone just isn’t enough to keep me alive here. I dress mine in a rigid and classic DODOcase to shield it from the asteroids (not pictured) in my purse.
10  |  Wallet because apparently things cost money, and I’d be wise to carry some (library cards, too).
11  |  Keys to the kingdom so I can keep things on lockdown, or unlock them. (Fun fact: I came here with zero keys and now have six.) Please note my “Cookey,” a key cover that looks like my favorite, the Oreo cookie!
And if you catch me before noon, there’s a peanut butter sandwich in there, too. If you carry interesting things with you, I want to hear about it! Especially if it involves piranhas or household appliances — but anything else, too!
xo
jc