Dusk in NYC

11th floor balcony, chilly spring night, camera - and a few of the shots!

I'm going to miss the scenery around this place.  Less than one month left...

We Survived!

April 20th came and went... and we survived.  The M.A. thesis was due this week and I'm so very glad it's done and over.  Now - on to all the other assignments and life duties I've neglected

But - before that - my classmates and I had to celebrate.

Lots of laughs a top the 11th floor balcony of LC's apartment on the UWS.  This is by far my favorite neighborhood.

Website!

I've put my website development plans on hold - for now - until I can complete my thesis. Until then, I'm forced to use Wordpress to create a simple portfolio: anitakissee.com

Anita Kissee - Funny Hairstyles!

While editing all this video I found funny clips of all the different hair styles I've had over the years. Too bad I didn't keep more. Believe it or not - it was even shorter! There also seems to be a huge gap between the short and long. I must not have liked the middle stage! I'll have to go back and find a few more.

Vespa Chicks!

I FINALLY got a few videos up on blip.

This isn't my BEST story, but a fun one!  I also added some others, if you're bored.

Ha Ha... Real Funny!

New York is such a comedian!

It's hard to tell by this bad cell phone picture, but that's snow!

Oh ya - did I mention it's the first day of spring?

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Every time I leave my apartment, I get sad.

My time here's almost over.

Hmmm...

I guess in New York City, it's ok to have a mesh-wearing male belly dancer.  He was quite good, judging by the cash around his chest.

Tah-Tah-Tennessee

Sometimes you have to get out of the big city to really get a "feel" for America.  Patrick and I spent a little time in Clarksville, TN.  His new employer is based in Nashville.  Conveniently, I had several people I wanted to include in my thesis here!  It's a charming town about an hour outside Nashville.

And the "sights" were impressive:

Trip to Toronto

Documentary filmmaking (I just like saying that - you all know it's just my thesis) took me to Toronto, Canada in January.  This was the lovely view from my hotel window:

PDX2NYC assisted me on this trip in exchange for a ticket and hotel.  (good deal!)  With only one interview, we rented a car and played tourist for the day.  Niagara Falls is stunning even in winter.  

The ice formations from the spray were each a piece of art.

And check out the darling gloves she found!  I can't wait to see her wear those on the subway or the vespa!

They grow them big here!

Subway companion at 4 a.m.

Help!!!!

This is the saddest story:

http://www.katu.com/news/40324212.html

I know times are tight. Do whatever you can.
I hate that life isn't fair.

Mamma Needs a New Vacuum!

VOTE 4 Sigmund!!!!

1981 primitive Internet report on KRON

WOW! If we only knew then, what we knew now. We might all still have jobs! (You have to get to the end and hear the last two lines!) BITE YOUR TONGUE!

This is what I've been up to:

Putting my Columbia education and funding to work!

Fun with Photoshop!

(Actually learning to use it so I can create my own multi-media websites!)

NOT Times Square

No - I didn't brave Times Square on New Year's Eve.  Instead, with all the doom and gloom around NYC because of the stock market, we ventured out to one of the city's many 1929 parties.  Fortunately, with the state of my bank account, I was able to repurpose my Betty Boop Halloween costume from 2006 and turn it into a flapper-esque outfit.  The mask is new.

The party was a blast - fun vintage music, fire dancers, you name it.

Welcome 2009!

Christmas in New York

Christmas morning we bundled up and took a beautiful stroll through Central Park.  The remaining snow on the ground made it much more scenic.  

Our Christmas week also included another stroll down 5th Avenue, this time at night.

This is my favorite window at Bergdorf Goodman:

The Star hanging over 5th Avenue:

The GIGANTIC bow around Cartier:

THE tree (at Rockefeller Center):

And various decorations scattered around midtown:

I'm sad the season is over!  Now it's on to New Year's Eve!  (And no - I'm NOT going to brave the crowds down at Times Square!)

NYC Tree - Complete!

I have a slight obsession with pretty glass ornaments.  Check out the one Patrick got me for Christmas!  LOVE IT!

The Christmas Song

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... literally!

NapaChick loves 'em, I'm not a huge fan.

They taste like a bland potato.

Radio City Rockettes!

I KNEW NapaChick would want to see the Rockettes!  (Lucky for Patrick!)

We didn't want to pay the enormous ticket prices, so the two of us woke up early (for us) and made our way down to the South Seaport for some discount tickets.  $50 bucks later we were sitting in Radio City Music Hall, third row, front and center.

Luckily, we had our trusty, and always attractive, three-D glasses!

Why would one bundle up like this, venture out into the snowy night, only to walk 40 blocks?

For these cupcakes, of course!

They're from Crumbs Bake Shop in the Upper West Side.  We were left to share a red velvet cupcake and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cupcake because the ones we REALLY wanted were gone: eggnog, peppermint and gingerbread.  I guess you have to go there for breakfast just to get one.  And the best part is they are not only huge, but only $3.75!!!!

Fried Fantastic

I've discovered Pommes Frites in the Lower East Side.  All they sell are Belgian-style french fries with 25 different sauces.  We went twice in one week (once to take Patrick there) and sampled: malt vinegar, blue cheese, frite sauce, wasabi mayo, and sweet chili.  At least the oil is trans fat free, right?

Christmas Tree

My darling husband couldn't stand it that I would not have a Christmas tree in New York.  So, he bought this cute one for me - just three feet tall!  But because it looked so sad simply covered in lights, he mailed a few ornaments our way.  Much better.  Thank you, Love!

(For perspective on my past tree obsession, click on Pug in the Pearl.)

The BEST in America? Maybe not

Rachel Ray and her viewers deemed this the BEST pumpkin pie in America.  NapaChick's significant other was kind enough to send us one for Thanksgiving.  While it was tasty, I wouldn't go so far as to say it was THE BEST.  It's all hype.