From BBQ to Van Gogh...

I had another fabulous weekend in Manhattan! Saturday I went to the Big Apple BBQ Block party with Tracy and Patrick. We waited in line and got some St. Louis style ribs. They were really good then we sat on the lawn in the park and ate. After ribs we went to the New York Public Library. It was really neat. Their were lots of florists and caterers that were preparing for a wedding so it was neat to see the decorations. Then we went and got a key to the city, which unlocks several different things in all 5 boroughs of New York, which aren't open to the general public unless you have this key. For example, there is a lamp post in Bryant Park that you can turn on and off.

After getting the key and doing the little ceremony we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which was really neat. My favorite part was seeing Van Gogh's work. My favorite is his starry night, that's not there, but it was really neat to see his other works too. I also saw some of Monet's paintings and works done by other artists. We went to the top of the building where they had these bamboo sticks that they used to build a fort. You can buy tickets and walk around in it, but they were sold out when we were there. The view from the top of the museum was so beautiful! It's right next to central park so part of the view is tops of trees. It was gorgeous! Then we had dinner at Spice, it's a Thai restaurant and it was really good. They give you good size portions. Below is a pic of the bamboo sticks on top of the met! You can actually walk around up there! Pretty sweet!

Today, Sunday, wasn't quite as eventful but still great! I went to church again, the same one I went to last week and it was awesome! This time I had 40 minutes to kill and last week I was 15 minutes late. Last week the train that was supposed to stop on 72nd (the street the church is on) didn't so I had to re-route my trip, but this week it stopped there. I hope last week was just a fluke. I didn't even have to ask for directions, instead someone asked me! I feel so New Yorkerish! Church was great I loved the sermon and met some more great people with connections to journalism and the midwest, but I go for more than this. It's just nice to meet people who can relate to you in someway especially in New York. Everyone is so sweet there and there's a strong sense of community! I also love the worship! It's a small church, the pastor is a church planter so they are just getting started, but it's so cool to see their faith and sense of family there!

On the way back from church the most incredible thing ever happened! This is why I love Manhattan so much! I got on the train, then I got off because I had to get out of the subway and go across the street to catch another train that goes uptown. After I got off, this girl asked me for directions, they needed the same train I did so I told them how to go. We were at the crosswalk waiting and I thought I saw this girl at Church. So I said, "Were you just at Grace?" and she said yes. And we just started talking. She's a teacher from South Carolina who is subletting an apartment in Chelsea for a month, it's the South part of Manhattan. Their are several neighborhoods in Manhattan depending on where you live. Anyways.. she's a couple years older than me and she said I just knew I had to find a church or I wouldn't make it. I said yeah I'm the same way. We exchanged numbers and we've already talked we're hanging out tomorrow night!!! There are movies Monday night in Bryant Park on the lawn so I think we are going to go do that! Totally random that we met again, I didn't even talk to her at church, she sat behind me, but I just remembered seeing her out of the corner of my eye! This just amazes me about New York I just keep meeting people and it's so random and fun to talk about life and discuss things! What an opportunity! This is why I love Manhattan so much!

Later in the afternoon I went to the grocery store. I probably go a couple times a week because in Kansas everyone drives to the grocery store, but in the city most people, including me, carry their groceries back home. So you buy less or at least I do. I got tired just carrying them around in the grocery store, that's why I got a basket because I knew I was going to have to walk with them a couple blocks and if I couldn't carry it around in the grocery store there was no point in trying to lug back to my dorm. Also I love honey nut cheerios, but they don't have the huge boxes. Everything is in smaller portions. You can even buy milk in the size smaller than a half gallon. I haven't looked to see how much there is in there, but I figure if you can't even drink 1/2 a gallon maybe you shouldn't be buying milk or they could give it to me! Maybe people don't eat as much or just don't have room. I really wanted to go out, but it started raining after I got back from the grocery store. So I did laundry and cleaned my room. We can receive text message alerts when our laundry is done. Maybe this is normal, I don't know I'm used to having it in my home, but I thought that was neat and I kind of laughed.