Capitol DC

This past weekend, Katie and I decided to meet up and show each other our new "homes". Just a short four hour bus ride to NYC, she was here before I knew it. After meeting her near Madison Square Garden and grabbing some breakfast, we decided to hit the town! 

First stop: World Trade Center

This being my third time here, the feeling still remains. It is a somber aurora that overcomes you when you walk the streets, past the fences around the WTC sites. Not able to take photos, one can just imagine the people trying to survive such a terrible day in the history of America. 

Next, Statue of Liberty from afar

Katie had been here before but she had never been to the statue. So, we decided to head down near the Hudson River and see the Statue from the distance. We sat there with the sun beating down just gazing at the huge statue that means soo much to America!

Next, Time Square, Rockefeller, NBC, and Time and Life Building

Conveniently located near each other, we dodged the street vendors and advertisers to get a full view of Times Square. After taking our picture with Times Square billboards behind us, I showed her Rockefeller Square with all the flags and showed her the Time and Life Building, which I currently work in.

Being a tourist can be a lot of work, trying to pack everything into one day! So, since we were both tired, it was nap time... at Columbia! (yay for dorm beds...NOT).

Near Columbia, there is one of the most famous cafes in NYC- Cafe Lalo- where "You've got Mail" was filmed. We decided to venture over there for some tasty dessert- a mixed fruit tart and Key Lime Cheesecake.

Before!

After!

Now refreshed and full, we decided to head to Central Park in the heat of the day and sit in the shade and people watch. People were playing frisbee, playing their guitars while a group of zombies were  being filmed! (weird!!).

After Central Park, we ventured back to Columbia where I packed my bags and we left for DC!

getting ready for the bus ride to DC!

9/11 Exhibit

After arriving in DC at 2:30AM, we decided to go to sleep and wake up the next morning refreshed! First stop? Newseum!

The Newseum  is a 250,000-square-foot museum of news and offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. The Newseum features seven levels of galleries, theaters, retail spaces and visitor services. It offers a unique environment that takes museumgoers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made. As a journalist and a communications major, this has to be one of my favorite museums I have been to. It was interesting to see the exhibit of 9/11 with the antenna from one of the buildings. Also, alongside the wall, there were all the front pages from the attacks that happened (pictured above).

After about 2.5 hours in the Newseum, we walked down the National Mall which is commonly referred to as the area between the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol. On the way we ventured inside the American History Museum. The museum includes everything from the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln’s top hat to Dizzy Gillespie’s angled trumpet and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz.” 

Washington Monument!

Just a little brisk walk through the mall, we ventured to the Washington Monument. It was build to commemorate the first president of the United States of America- George Washington. It is the worlds tallest stone structure and the worlds tallest obelisk standing at 555 ft. 

Trudging through the heat in flip flops, we walked over the World War II memorial. The memorial is dedicated to the Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during the war. 

Lincoln Memorial!

Drenched in sweat, we decided to walk a little more and view the Lincoln Memorial, which was built to honor the 16th president of the US- Abraham Lincoln. The building is in the form of a Greek Doric and contains a large seated sculpture of Lincoln and inscriptions of two well-known speeches by Lincoln- The Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. It also has been the sight of many famous speeches, including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"speech. 

Front of the White House!

Just a few blocks up the road was the White House, the home of the President. We decided to view the back side of the White House before walking around the block to view the front. 

After a busy, long, hot day in DC, it was time for me to venture back to the Big Apple. After a great day in DC, I hopped on the bus and left for NYC. Being in DC for the day, makes me realize that I am lucky that I live in America. It has made me think of the core values of this country that I call home. 

God Bless America!

The best memories are the ones you can't explain, you just had to be there!

It has been a while since my last blog and so much has happened over these past few weeks. From a bomb threat at the Statue of Liberty to watching Derek Jeter going for his 3,000 hit to even having my articles published on the peopleenespanol.com website, one can say I have been busy. But where do I start to beginning to discuss the amount of memories I have created...

Shortly after my arrival in New York, I went back to Northern Kentucky to be part of a special wedding- my best friend's wedding. Kevin and Courtney were married on June 25 in the beautiful gardens of the Creation Museum. In her ivory dress, the rest of the party wore blue- girls in blue dresses and the guys in ivory shirts with blue ties.

After the wedding, of course, there was the reception which was held at a place called Receptions (ironic, eh?) Our entrance was us swashbuckling like pirates to Pirates of the Caribbean's main song. Creative, eh? After an excellent meal, it was time for our speeches and let me tell you, I was nervous as can be. However, after a little bit of rambling and two toasts, I delivered my speech which everyone loved. Overall, the wedding was successful and I couldn't be any more happier than I was for them on that day.

When I returned to NYC, I knew I had a month or so to make the best of it. On July 7th, Abby invited Virginia and I to go watch a New York Yankees game. Of course, I couldn't turn down the opportunity so I met up with Virginia and we left for the stadium. That night, they were playing the Tampa Bay Rays and Derek Jeter was going for his 3,000th hit. When Virginia and I arrived at the stadium, Jeter already was one step closer to getting his 3,000 hit but at the end he wasn't successful.

Me after my week of Harry Potter!!

     After the game and a relaxing weekend, I was put to work. I was asked to do an phone interview with Maria Canals-Barrera, who plays the mother in Wizards of Waverly Place. What an experience!! (here is the link Maria Canals-Barrera Interview ). Also, during the week, I was assigned to go to the Harry Potter Legendary Adventure meaning watch all 8 movies in 4 nights and write two articles on the hype of Harry Potter Part 2. I have never been a fan of Harry Potter and I always fell asleep in them whenever my aunt took the kids to go seem them (what can I say?! The theater is a perfect place for a nap..it's dark!!) It was a fun experience to watch them from the beginning to the end and see how the characters developed throughout the series.
Here is the link to each of those articles:
1st: Harry Potter Movies 1-6
2nd: Harry Potter Movies 7.1 and 7.2

In the new issue of People en Espanol magazine, my name is listed:

After a very wizardy week, Hunter was coming up to visit me in NYC and it was his first time to the Big Apple. When he arrived on Friday, we went and saw Harry Potter Part 2 and this time I didn't fall asleep (surprise, surprise). Since it was his first time up to the Big Apple, I decided to be a tourist with him and we did everything that was possible to do in NYC.

Rockefeller Center - Top of the Rock has an awesome view of NYC!! 

View from the Top of the Rock!!

Times Square!

Billboards in Times Square!

Empire State Building!

Entrance into the Empire State Building!

View from the 86th floor!

View from the 102 floor!

Statue of Liberty- Ellis Island!

So not so funny story. As Hunter and I are approaching the entrance to the ferry to take us to Ellis Island, I notice there was a brown bag just laying there. Not paying any attention to it all, I casually walk by it and carried on my way of passing through security. Well, I wasn't able to pass through security and neither was anyone in the area because that brown bag had a bomb in it. So I entered through the entrance and exited through the emergency exit. The NYPD came in and surrounded the area so they can take care of the bomb itself. After about 30 minutes may be a little more, we were able to enter through security and onto the ferry to take us to Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty. 

World Trade Center

I wasn't able to take picture of this place because they had fences surrounding the area but as soon as we walked out of the subway, one could feel the somberness, and hatred and the anger felt by the American population. Just walking around the area, it made me realize that together, us American's are able to unite for one thing... freedom! America will never forget 9/11!

Brooklyn Bridge

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge was probably one of the coolest things I have ever done. The bridge starts in Manhattan and connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. 

(this is not my photo)

The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects New York City to Brooklyn over the East River. It spans 1,595.5 feet (and yes we walked the whole thing!!). The bridge was originally constructed by German immigrant John Augustus Roebling, however, while conducting surveys for the project, he sustained an injury to his foot when a ferry pinned it against a piling. He then later developed a tetanus infection and died. His son, Washington Roebling took over the project but with the help from his wife, they were able to complete the project 13 years later. After many complications and failures, the bridge still stands today and just 3 years ago, it celebrated its 125 anniversary of the opening of the bridge. 

Wicked at the Gershwin Theater-

To end our 5 days of being a tourist, we decided to go see Tony award winning broadway- Wicked at the Gershwin Theater. The Gershwin Theater is the theater located in mid-Manhattan (near Times Square) and has the highest seating of any broadway theater with 1,933 seats. 

Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future wicked witch of the west and her relationship with the good witch Galinda. The two women struggle through their opposing viewpoints and personalities, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the wizards corrupt government, and lastly, Elphaba's fall from public grace. 

Gershwin Theather

Playbill from Wicked

So, I feel like a New Yorker now, since I have explored every aspect of the city. Being able to get around on the subway is really nice and I wish there was public transportation like this in Lexington, Ky. 

I have two weeks left, and let me tell you, this internship has flown by super fast. I remember when I first started and now in two weeks, I am leaving the Big City and moving back home (for now!). But before I go, I have one more visitor coming to NYC.. Katie Oakes will be coming to New York on Saturday and I will show her around NYC and make many memories with her. On Saturday, I will travel down to the capital and she will show me DC. I can't wait for this weekend! I am making the best of this summer, one not to be forgotten! 

"The best thing about memories... is making them!"