Anyway, last weekend I road tripped it down to Baltimore (as navigator extraordinaire) with Randy to check out his friend's thesis presentation, hang with people, and just get out of godforsaken NYC. We got a room at a hotel that was pretty cheap, so I was expecting it to be run down, but it was actually very nice and right in the downtown area. We could see the top of the huge cathedral from our window, and we were right around the corner from the Washington monument (not that one). The area is really cute, it kind of reminds me of the South Street Seaport area here in NYC. His friend's thesis exhibition was pretty cool and extremely well done, even if you didn't have any knowledge of graphic design. Friday night was fun overall, although a tad too much alcohol was involved. Thus, there's a part of the night I wish I could forget, and a part I wish I could remember (namely, when and where I took out my nuva ring...tmi? I just hope I didn't throw it in someone's drink.).
Saturday was fun, too. It was snowing when we woke up, big wet flakes that looked pretty but hurt when they hit you in the face. After brunch at a super cute restaurant (that was in the same part of town where I saw someone arguing with her father/lover last time I was there), we headed to the 'burbs for some down time with another friend, plus his girlfriend, dog, and other people who hang out at his house. We spent the entire time talking, laughing, listening to music, and eating (beer in the rear chicken!). It was a really nice change of pace frommy usual weekend. Sunday, after a homemade frittata breakfast and me cementing my membership to the exclusive Clean Plate Club, we headed back to the city to check out the Baltimore Museum of Art, which was free and not crowded. They had a great Matisse exhibit, as well as an exhibit featuring works inspired by the writing of Edgar Allen Poe. We made our way through some of the contemporary art portion of the museum, but the museum is huge and we were too hungry to go on. We went to the very nice restaurant inside the museum for some crab cakes. One crab cake is filling!
I was kind of sad by the end of the trip. I really liked it in Baltimore. It was clean, not overcrowded, trendy, culturally diverse, and most of all, AFFORDABLE. I was sad thinking of going to my apartment where I pay a lot of money live with a stranger across the street from the projects. I was sad this morning when I woke up at 4 am not because my neighbor was blasting his metal music, but because I am used to being woken up at 4 am by my neighbor blasting metal music. I was sad when I started to get panic attacky on the crowded subway, something that used to happen every day but only happens every so often. I guess I'm sad because I'm kind of over New York. I mean, I love it here, and chances are I'll never leave. I used to state emphatically that NYC was home and living anywhere else (in the US) was just not gonna happen. But now I'm starting to see that there are other places where I wouldn't mind living at all, and actually might prefer. I know, I know, it's common for people to get that feeling when they go on vacation. I just don't remember getting the feeling so often.
what is this other washington monument?!? sounds like a wonderful weekend!!
ReplyDeleteIt's just another phallic symbol. Apparently Washington had a small (and wooden?!) you-know-what. The monument was strung up with Xmas lights and it was very pretty, and the cathedral was lit up and looked really nice, too. next time i want to go inside!
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