One of those nights.

There are New York nights. Then there are New York Nights.

Last night was one of those Nights.

How could it not be when it begins at The Modern (err, my "local") and ends at Blue Ribbon, with TV On the Radio at Radio City Music Hall thrown in the middle for good measure? Good drinks, great food and even better music in one of New York's storied landmarks.

Walking into Radio City you can't help but feel as if you're walking back in time, to a grander era. But when TVOTR exploded on stage, you were right there in the present; immersed in a New York Night.

Radio City 4/13/11, photo courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan.

Spring in my city, my step

Sometimes, when I weather through something - a proverbial "storm," if you will - I remark (yeah, out loud), that I "made it through." Could be the night, day, cold, heat, lunch, conference call. . . whatever. The point being I came out on the other side. Finally. Saying it out loud is all that more affirming. Reassuring, even.

As March winds it's way out of my life (thankyouverymuch), I can resolutely say, "I made it through" the winter. And does it feel good to come out on the other side. The side of spring and new beginnings and the promise of pretty much everything.

Hailing from the South, I'm not sure I ever fully appreciated the change of seasons. To be honest, I'm not sure I ever experienced them. I have now. And I'm better for it. I've now weathered a winter - a couple of them actually. And I made it through. We all did, I suppose.

I started the winter - or ended the summer more accurately - with Florence's Dog Days Are Over. Let's say it more than got me through those harsh days. Now there's spring in my step (and my city) and my ears are tuned to The Black Keys' Everlasting Light as they promise, "The dark days are through." Are they ever.

xx

Paris, October 2010

You know you're overdue when. . .

You begin to type in your blog address and it doesn't automatically come up in the tool bar. Reminder to write more. Just open that vein and write.

And I will.

Soon.

A look, a smile, your daily cup of coffee.

I have learned that living in New York City you find "intimacy" in some of the oddest places. Take my relationship with my coffee man as an example. Of course he knows how I take my cup, but he also misses me when I'm not there and thinks "I'm magic." His words, not mine. He was also quite stunned to see me walk in one night rather than morning, hinting that he knows my routine. Bet he would report me missing if I went an extra-long stretch before returning.

The city is a veritable playground of missed connections (just look online) - people in cabs, sharing a platform, queuing up to gain entrance to a bar, even trains passing on separate tracks. And to think who you meet-or don't meet-could also be influenced by your neighborhood. . . It's enough to send the cosmos reeling.

So intimacy - or closeness - both in proximity and that feeling you get when a spark transmits pops up in surprising and unexpected places, yes. I'm not saying it's between me and coffee man, but I am saying it exists.

I will not. . .

Remember the threat of writing a sentence over and over on the blackboard? Yeah, me either. Too young perhaps. I do enjoy the retro charm of that image and that punishment. However, I prefer to think of it as a reminder - one that could even be positive.

Here's what I would be writing to remind myself today.

Sick for the big sun.

Another gray day. Another gray view. Phoenix on repeat, occasionally mixed with Hot Chip or Passion Pit, or whatever keeps me moving. Dare I say, my day would be infinitely better with these beauties (Alexander Wang Freja boot) on my feet?

Well, these and a few other things.

Family first + firsts.

This is a shout out to my lil bro - E. I met him long before I fathomed he would become my brother-in-law, though I like to think (and maybe did think) I knew he would immediately. When I recalled meeting him later that day/week to my sister it went like this, "I met a guy you need to date. Like now." The next year was pretty much filled with chance - or "arranged" - meetings and more convincing. Then it happened. They met, dated, fell in love, married and I have a brother - a family first.

You see, having a sister is without a doubt the greatest gift my parents ever gave me. Having a brother (via marriage) is one of the greatest gifts my sister gave me. I like to think it's mainly because it's E and he's pretty much fantastic. Eschewing the typical "sister/brother-in-law" relationship, E and I are family, and friends. We look out for each other, check in on each other, update each other and share with each other. On top of all of that, E makes these playlists called "Big Sis" and then he numbers or dates them. When I visited my favorite two in Boston last weekend, I, of course, left with a playlist of amazing new tunes courtesy of lil bro. (It is necessary to note that playlist has pretty much been ALL I've listened to since my trip.) I caught a glimpse of his library, full of playlists and saw the several dedicated to just me. Family first, that's E. And that's me.

From my latest Big Sis list: "Mallory" by Tigercity, "I Feel Better" by Hot Chip, "Something, Somewhere, Sometime" by Ben Solle.