Back in the City!

August 15, 2012
I’m loving Season 3, Episode 5 of Louie. He meets this fun woman at a book store and takes her out. First, they go out in a place on Centre. Literally right around the corner from where my dorm was. Now I know where it is, I want to visit. Then, they just walk around the area and there’s scene where they go crazy and eat everything at Russ and Daughters. It’s just orgasm faces and food porn all over.
She’s crazy and spontaneous as fuck and I love the episode. It’s freaking Parker Posey too, I knew I recognized her.

August 17, 2012
Luna is visiting for a few days and I picked her up from Flushing last night. We planned this visit while I was in Europe. In Flushing, we get some noodles and she gets congee. She then goes shopping, which lasts for a bit too long. It goes on for like 4 hours as I just stand around, but I guess patience has grown on me.
We then go back and I eat some leftovers, but we get ready for the Welcome Back party today. I have my Amsterdam bar crawl shirt and Aaron knows to wear his Bollocks, Barcelona bar t-shirt.
We end up going to the station. Rain is not bad during the night, but for some reason, it monsoons the 5 minutes we walk to the LIRR. I’m drenched and up drying off eventually. We meet Jon for the train. It’s great seeing him back so quickly.
In the East Village, I dinner at Baoguette because I’m surely not drinking with a real dinner. I catch up with the girl there as she hasn’t seen Stefan or us in a while. I chomp on that thing and then meet back up with Luna who had to buy a pin for her coat that had a broken button.
We go to Sophie’s and it’s great seeing people. Josh, Bolanos, Toph, Elena, Jeff, Michael, Beth, Aaron, Sam, Candace and Tom. I’m really happy to see so much of the gang out. It’s great catchin up with people. I find out from Sam that after 2 months, my postcard actually came for her! Jeez.
I’m having fun chatting with everyone and having Luna there too. I introduce her to people, but Elena is in a convo. She then says, “You haven’t introduced me to the babe.” There you go.
Jesse and Teddy come late. I apologize to them, catch up a bit, but have to go. I’m driving Candace’s car as she’s had too much. I’m driving 5 of us, including Bolanos and Jon.
When we get to Jon’s car for a ride to my house, Bolanos is not wearing a shirt because of the rain and I’m dying. I bought an umbrella at Penn and Bolanos is too cool for that. Won’t even look up the weather nor bring an umbrella anywhere, then great, gonna get soaked.

August 18, 2012
It’s Smorgasburg today! My favorite thing that I found this summer. We drive in and parking is mad easy. We get some Brooklyn Piggies, which are the best pigs in a blanket I’ve had. Then Bon Choive for some fried anchoives. Then onto Dough for a ridiculously good blood orange doughnut. Luna gets fish and chips from Hank’s, but we can’t finish that. Her friend meets up with us and tells us about a concert.
I want to go home as the heat and sun has gotten be exhausted. However, we go to this free concert in Williamsburg Park that is next door. There are two opening acts. One is Latin and decent. The other is horrible. Good musicians ruined by this African guy with his stupid chanting of African phrases.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is good and fun, but not something I ever fell in love love with. It’s all a bit generic though I do enjoy revival of that sound. I love the old music.
Luna and I end up leaving after a few songs to meet Jon at Luckydog. Michael and Beth are there too. I chat with Beth for a bit, which is fun. We never really talked.
I’m rocking Reisdorff Kolsch, a beer from Cologne. I love experiencing and getting flashbacks of the trip.
Jesse and Teddy end up meeting up when the others leave. We hang out and chat for a bit and then we go to Spritzenhaus, which is pretty close in Greenpoint. It’s a cool ass place and the girls get the “bacon” beer, or smoked beer.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/263/727
It is quite a crazy beer and really delicious.
We play some Jenga, which they have multiple sets of laying around. It’s really a cool place with a great beer menu, but also an old fashioned feel like Schiller’s in LES. We’re chatting. Teddy and I are talking food and his shit in Europe. The girls realize they both do (did for Jesse) cosplay and talk about stuff.
We then decide to go Flushing for food, however, it’s closed and we meet at a parking lot to decide the next plans. Luna is partially drunk and exhausted from the day as we went into the Brooklyn at 2 and it’s 3AM already. I pull her out of the car and she’s just sleep talking gibberish. They drove to Flushing, so I can’t ditch them.
We go to a Korean place and Luna sleeps in the car. She’s passed out real hard and doesn’t even know what’s up as Teddy, Jesse, and I eat. I get to see their dynamic and they’re a funny couple. Always sarcastic and playing off of each other.
I eventually get Luna home to pass the hell out. This was a cool night. It was almost like a double date and worked out really well. They’re still one of the coolest couples I know. Teddy talks about how he actually ended up paying for Jesse’s tuition in school so that she could finish instead of taking forever at school and working too.

August 20, 2012
I had a day with Luna, but there’s also a Yelp Event. I invited Aaron and he agrees, but then backs out last second. No one else seems to be around, so I’m flying solo up in this.
I end up seeing Richard, who Aaron and I had a crazy night with at a Yelp event. I’m drinking their gin and speak to one of his friends, Erin. It’s fun chatting it up with all these new people and finally meeting people at these events. We hang in the less crowded upstairs where we get really strong drinks. Aaron’s missing out on some quality free gin.
We then split and I head back to Penn Station. I wanted to catch up with Tasha, but she ends up passing out. I’m texting with Luna as she’s still on her bus going home or home by now. The ride is pretty uneventful other than this really well dress Asian girl that I keep checking out.
Call me gay, but I barely even get to see her face. She just as a crazy good outfit with a mysterious big black hat on.

August 22, 2012
I could go to campus tomorrow for an APALSA meeting, which I’m on the executive board for, and also pay my tuition on the day of the deadline, but I go to campus today. I’m too active to stay in today.
It’s good to get used to the commute, which takes around an hour, a little bit more when I don’t catch an express 7 train. Bus to Flushing, 7 train to Court, a block from the stop.
It literally is 50 feet from the huge Citibank building in Long Island City. The facilities are bonkers clean and new. It just feels great to be in an actual school setting instead of what we had as an old junior high scohol.
I pay tuition, grab some books, get some reading done, get some Thai food, and then leave campus.

August 23, 2012
I have my meeting and get to catch up with people from the club. We share our summer stories over beer and burgers and then plan events for this year.
I then go onto campus buzzed and meet up with Morwenna. We chat about our summers and I share even more stories while catching up with Tom. After taking food from the 1Ls and their reception, wine as well, I get some more reading done. This is all so I never have to bring books back home with me. They’re heavy and I’d rather not. Instead, I can do my work on campus and then have home for myself time.

August 24, 2012
I make plans in the city. I meet Aaron and Evan and we grab Minca. We then check out Josie’s, the new sister bar of Sophie’s, but they don’t like it and we have to go to Sophie’s, despite being there just last week. Alon, Tom, and Scott end up coming.
There’s an interesting situation where Tom and I are smoking. Scott shows up and then we starts chatting with this girls. At first, I assume that he’s meeting someone here, but then I realize, he’s just macking this girl up. Tom explains that he’s a player like that and he does seem like that I guess. Hannah the next day confirms how he’s a good looking guy, so what works works for him. He ends up spending a good 10-15 minutes chatting up another girl, grabbing her number, and forgetting her name when she’s supposed to be grabbing a pitcher.
We give Alon some unsolicited advice. He’s been on like 7 dates with this girl and hasn’t kissed her?! Dude, gots to make a move. Then again, it’s easier said than done when one does not have the experience nor personality for such a thing. Either way, I wish the best for him and I’m glad he’s hanging with a girl.
People start splitting and I give Scott and Tom a ride home and then go home myself.

August 25, 2012
I’m supposed to get out in the late afternoon for the BBQ and Blues Festival. I get an allergy attack and I’m slow to get out. I’m supposed to take a bus, but it fucking ignores me. Screw this. I’m pissed off as fuck. I quickly run to my house and go for a pis because I know the next bus is going to take 15 minutes. When I walk back to the stop, the bus is running right past because it came early. Fuck the guy that skipped me, I message NICE because it’s annoying as fuck.
Miah texts me that the food isn’t free. Oh really? I asked him if he’s being sarcastic. He says that money gets food. I tell him that’s how money works and if there are free blowjobs there as well. Not to bash, but man needs to learn to be a New Yorker. Shit don’t come free, especially $15 plates of BBQ from Dinosaur. They ain’t giving out Orbit or little cups of Vitamin Water. Shit ain’t free.
Instead, I get there quite late. I meet Stefan, Sara, Miah, and Hannah at the Pony Bar because the festival is over. Aaron meets with us. It’s lovely seeing all of them. Sara looks extremely well despite what she’s been through. I’m happy that she’s doing well.
I get some of their great beers and we split up. They’re all a fun time. I haven’t seen Hannah in a while and forget that she’s a fun talkative blast. We actually split a cab to go to Park Slope. Bolanos is meeting me there because there’s a party there. I end up paying $14 despite splitting it with the Hannah and Miah as we all went to Brooklyn.
However, Evan backs out, fuck that shit. Thankfully, Bolanos is able to give me a ride or I’d be so fucking mad at Evan. I get a ride from him and we go to Murray Hill to Evan’s apartment. However, he’s shitfaced and not hanging out. I get McDonald’s then a pint of Guinness. We then go to Stuy Town to meet Jared and Brandon.
We go to this girl’s apartment. It’s pretty cool, despite how she’s really skeptical about letting Bola and I in. She actually has three originals of Roy Lichtenstein. While they aren’t his most expensive works, I saw them selling on Ebay for $7,500. She says they are her parents’. I chat with people and drink some booze. We then leave. Brandon is quite drunk and we grab some food. We then split from them because it’s almost 3:00AM.

August 26, 2012
Today is a hangover day and I want to make it out to Afrobeat festival, but my headlights are messed up. I check again at night and they’re fine again. I then go to the supermarket and make some food. I decide to make Frank Spuntino’s zuchinni and pasta sandwich, it’s a decent success. Classes start tomorrow, but I have class at 3:00-5:00 only so I’ll be fine and it’ll be easy for me. Tuesday and Thursdays are my hard days.

August 29, 2012
A History of Art in Three Colors, a BBC series. I love watching the wonderful stuff that they put out. The first was on gold, which obviously had one of my favorites, Klimt. Now it’s onto blue with Titian’s wonderful use of ultramarine, a blue pigment that was invented in Italy. Before then, paintings were drab. This vibrant color changed the game.
The other series I’m watching is Sicily Unpacked. Two British (though one Italian born) bros. Art critic and broadcaster Andrew Graham-Dixon and chef Giorgio Locatelli find out that they love Sicily. They decide to do a three part series of it. Forget about Italy, there is so much to just Sicily. It gives me the excited chills of when I’ll find myself there in the future. They see the beautiful architecture, the churches, the processions (which seem to occur everywhere and all the time), and don’t forget about the chocolate, the food, the gelato. Gets me riled up.
I then get in the mood to rewatch Spain, On the Road Again. Gwyneth Paltrow (who has incredible Spanish and a beautiful accent), Mario Battali, Mark Bittman, and Claudia Bassols. It’s such a long 13 part series. It’s crazy that each episode is about an hour each. They hang with a guy as he makes paella, which must be a crazy experience as they watched, smelled, and tasted. Battali then explains Madrid to Bassols because she’s a Barcelonian. Ugh, there’s so much I want to see there. They see the sights, they cook, they eat, they hang with random celebraties like Ferran Adria, etc. Spain in general. I want it all.

August 30, 2012
I have three day weekends now, so it’s a four day weekend with Labor Day. First week of law school is over. I don’t plan on bringing any of my heavy books home with my commute from LIC. In class, between classes, staying on campus after class, I’m at least class ahead of all class, two classes ahead on reading for some. I’m back in mad reading action and it’s going to feel great not needing to do work all weekend. Keeps my sanity.
Lori is this really nice gal that went to CEU during her undergrad, that’s how I learned about it so I went this summer to Budapest. Before class, she’s nice enough to just walk up and chat that we need to catch up sometime about the trip and she went to Budapest this summer as well. Lovely how nice people can be, despite me not being her friend.
After a club meeting thing, it turns out that Lori is throwing a thing. I plan on going to Marissa’s apartment and get a cab up there. I show up late though and just meet people we go down to Lori’s place. She has a nice apartment and it’s a bunch of us law school people.
I’m sober so start having some vodka, with just a splash of cranberry. I chat with Lori’s friend Sammy who shares about her time in Korean teaching English. We then go downtown and I’m on top of things so we go to the East Village. For some reason, we find ourselves in 13th Step.
Neal spends $130 buying us shots of Patron. We’re chatting and having a blast, but then people just start splitting. It’s only been an hour and only 12:00 and half the people leave. After Goodbyes and people slowly splitting, it’s just 3 of us. I take a cab with them to Astoria because that’s where they live and I grab the 7 train back home.
I get some Burger King until the bus comes and get home before 3:00. I give my friend Courtney a call for her b-day.

August 31, 2012
I’m quite hungover, but that’s fine. The actual issue is that I catch a freaking cold. This happens all the time when I start going to campus, even after a short vacation. People are always sick and getting me freaking sick. There are people going to a bar in the East Village, which I would love to go to. Yesterday was a great opportunity to show my face, get familiar with people, and hopefully be in a group of law school friends to go out with.
I keep pushing myself to go out, but I didn’t sleep well, can’t take a nap, and a runny nose just burns me out of energy. My brother is visiting from LA and he’s going into the city too as I drop him off at the train station. In the end, I decide to stay him because I just don’t have the energy to go out. I’m such a miserable person when I’m sick. The worst person around.