Nothing is insignificant.

This week went by so quickly! I'm still sick, and absolutely exhausted. It rained this entire week, which was lovely. It was so cloudy and foggy, that the Empire State Building wasn't visible from the park as usual. On Tuesday before dance I went to Argo Tea and read a few chapters in "The Inner Game of Tennis" - our required reading for vocal production. There is nothing like drinking a warm cup of tea while it's raining. It was quite comforting. We're currently learning 20's style dances (i.e. the Charleston, etc.) in Johnny's dance class. It's unbelievably fun. I also started piano lessons this week, but I didn't have my music since it was en route from Idaho, so we worked with what I had. I have a feeling lessons are going to be extremely beneficial, and I've heard that I can actually take them in place of Keyboard II next semester... fingers crossed. My goal for the semester is further improving my sight-reading and learning a new Beethoven Sonata. I just can't resist them. 

This week I also checked out The Bean, a very quaint coffee shop very near my humble abode. They have vegan muffins. :) With which I celebrated my Saturday morning. I'm sure I've said it already, but shopping at Whole Foods is extremely overwhelming. It's so crowded and crazy. Academically, not much new is available for report. Except my nearly finished theory homework is resting beneath my elbows as I type... On Friday, my floor had our first artists in development workshop. We were grouped, given criteria and basically told to create. We could perform, write, sing, dance, or draw - anything that somehow met the criteria. Then we had 3 - 5 minutes to present it to the rest of the group. The results were so creative and amusing. 

This weekend was Parents' Day, and our new student chorale was asked to perform at the Steinhardt morning session. It went very well. Afterward, I finally finished Brisingr (with much anticipation for Inheritance). Then Curtis and I met up for dinner and gallavanted around the East Village! We went to Butter Lane and tried their lovely cupcakes. To my delight, they also brew Stumptown coffee. So I bought half a pound of beans. Butter Lane is adorable, and great - they let you choose your cake and pair it with any kind of frosting. Then we browsed the various antique stores and clothing boutiques. My favorite that we stumbled upon is called Tangdance – they gave me a business card, otherwise there’s no way I could’ve remembered their name. Every necklace, headpiece and scarf was my style to a tee. The expression, "to a tee", was first recorded in a satire called The Humours and Conversations of the Town, written in 1693 by James Wright (recorded as 'to a T'). However, the spoken origination remains unknown. It's assumed to be a reference made to either the sport of golf - where the tee is your starting point, or the sport of curling - where your goal is known as a tee. After I used the phrase, it piqued my curiosity, so I figured I'd find out where it came from. Home you enjoyed this small tidbit of knowledge. 

So many sabers.

Saturday night there was a light saber "flashmob" in Washington Square. It was quite the amusing spectacle. 

We were there for about an hour, watching a couple hundred people wave their light sabers in the air. Half of them were Jedi, and half of them were Sith. The Sith broke out some silly string as "Sith Lightning". 

The guy with the red saber won.

Then some groups broke out and began to "fight". This guy with the red saber (left) was pretty impressive. Apparently, he was part of a group that does saber fighting legitimately.  

This morning, Lauren, Curtis and I took a trip uptown and went to the 25th annual Broadway Flea Market! It was very exciting. Every Broadway show had a booth, and there were tons of old playbills, signed posters, raffles, and every sort of Broadway paraphernalia imaginable for sale. Someone was selling maple syrup autographed by Daniel Radcliffe. I bought a few playbills. They had this amazing auction going on, and people were paying insane amounts of money for like, "the corner of a paper from the original score of Hairspray." (Alright, I exaggerate... but not by much). Someone paid $400 for Julia Murney to belt "Somewhere". $400, folks. I felt it necessary to try to capture the essence of how crazy it was - hence the picture to the right. However, it doesn't really suffice. 

We had lunch at an Italian place somewhere on 46th, where we practiced our Italian diction and ordered some yummy food. but I can't remember what it was called. We stumbled upon a signing table - where we spotted Anthony Rapp, Beth Level, and Marin Mazzie, to name a few. After mulling about in Times Square some more, we finally decided it was about time to come home. But not before checking out Colony, a music store that sells karaoke CDs, and tons and tons of Broadway sheet music. It's any music theater lover's dream. They also have a relatively decent classical sheet music section. It was a delightful day. 

Ridiculously exciting news: Christopher Paolini's book tour starts November 8th in Union Square - just blocks away from my dorm. 

Official Inheritance Count: 43 days.

Daniel and Daisies...

I've been sick all week. It's quite unfortunate. For the most part I thought it was just a head cold or sinus infection. Then today, I spent the afternoon nauseous and ended up sleeping. Fall took a bite at NYC this week. It's gotten progressively colder, and I've finally pulled out some boots and sweaters. It cooled off insanely fast. The weather is just as crazy as Idaho, I'm very happy to report.

My first voice lesson went very well, but because of my throat this week, my practice time was cut extremely short. I've started an Italian piece called "Selve amiche" by Antonio Caldara, and the Thomas Arne version of "When Daisies Pied". New Student Cabaret is right around the corner, as well as the Fall shows. I know I just barely said I couldn't wait for Fall, but now I can't wait for Christmas. I'm craving warm fires and peppermint cocoa.

Daniel Radcliffe

This weekend Lauren, Curtis and I went to see Phantom. These Broadway shows will soon deplete my college student budget... but we always manage to get incredible deals. I feel like an extreme coupon-er. Finding the best price for the shows is practically Lauren's hobby. I love it. The show was sadly, not as great as I had hoped. I've seen Phantom both in NY and Vegas, and, while seeing it in NY is worth the experience, the show in Vegas was way better. I keep saying "maybe it was just this one performance", but when Mary and I saw it last summer here, I wasn't impressed either. After the show, we stood at the stage door of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and got Daniel Radcliffe's autograph. His autograph is quite the illegible scribble. There were so many people there. John Laroquette came out of the theater first, and everyone went crazy. My plan is to actually go see the show, so that I actually have a signed playbill instead of a little piece of paper.

My roommates and I were graced with a beautiful sunset the other day. It was the most beautiful shade of purples and pinks. Sunsets in the city are beautiful, but just don't compare to the summer sunsets in Idaho Falls from my backyard.

I know I've already mentioned Strand, but I just can't help bragging about it even more. I spent about a decent hour there today after breakfast. It's incredible. They claim to have "18 miles of books", and they really aren't kidding. There are 3 or 4 floors of almost every sort of book imaginable. I barely scratched the surface of its brilliant treasure trove. It is a book collector's paradise, and any reader's dream. Last night, I went to see "Gainsbourg", a film about a French artist with Mary and Matt. I really enjoyed it. It was very interesting and very artistically done.

Yesterday, a small group of us attended this extra-curricular dance class, where we learned a dance to "Footloose" by a Steinhardt alum who was in Footloose in April. I want to join the ballroom dance club, and I'm hoping either next Semester or next year to start taking regular dance classes outside of school. School at the present is keeping me very busy. I invested in a printer. A word of advice: buy a printer for college. Everything has to be typed. The printers in the library cost money, and it's a tremendous hassle to find anywhere else to print.

My hall is planning on putting on our own version of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. It makes me so excited. Our floor is an explorations floor, called the "Artists in Development" floor. Since we all applied to be on the floor, everyone shares some sort of artistic interest, and actually wants to be involved, so the things we do as a floor are always creative in one way or another. It has been a great way to meet people and find new things to do in the city. Aside from being sick, this week was incredible.

"We are not defined by our talent, but by the choices we make with our talent."

Official Inheritance Count: 50 days.

Silent City...

It's been quite a thought-provoking day. Today, everything seems sacred. In an unnerving way the city is quiet. And though I've been home almost all day, the idea of the events that took place ten years ago are still impacting me. This week was wonderful. Slowly, but surely, I'm conquering my piles of homework. I have way too many pages of Italian Diction to read... instead, I'm devoting my time to a blog post. You should feel special. 

I went to the cutest little bookstore on the corner of 12th and Broadway before class on Wednesday. It's called Strand. They sell new and used books, and they have a great corner of legitimate classics with classy hardcovers. (To Mauri: I'm keeping an eye out for Great Expectations for youuu. Which I'm also reading on my Kindle app.) I bought Gulliver's Travels for $5.00. If I'm not careful, most of my time (and money) will be spent there. This Saturday, my floormates and I went to see Hair on Broadway. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The musical is a 'concept musical' (thanks, Ben) so it contains little to no plot. Just a message. And for me, the staging and choreography was very messy. Maybe it was just for the overall effect of the show, but I was let down. Nevertheless, I have another Playbill to add to my collection. 

Oh hey, Times Square. I didn't see you there.

Twice this weekend, I had the opportunity to hang out with some more of my vocal performance friends! I'm really starting to love our group. We had a lovely birthday party for Kaylee on Saturday night. We ended up listening to each other sing, and watching Breakfast at Tiffany's. Here's Times Square. I had to snap a photo of it for everyone back home. I felt like a tourist while doing so.

The feeling of Fall is in the air... and I'm inexplicably excited for the time of wearing sweaters and boots and hats. Yay, hats! My first voice lesson is tomorrow. And I'm starting a new countdown... the release of Inheritance... which I've pre-ordered to be shipped to my dorm. Dinner and Italian Diction now await me. 

Official Inheritance count: 57 days.  Ha. :)

Rain on my parade...

I was woken by the pounding rain today. It wouldn't let me sleep. 

Today was the first day of classes! I was very excited, before I realized that I owned virtually no dance clothes and dance was my first class today. It made me very anxious for a total of 30 seconds. Then, I stopped panicking and put on clothes. It worked well. 

After my first class, I realized how unprepared for the weather I truly was. Why in the world did I leave my rain jacket and umbrella in Idaho? You're just as confused as I was, folks. The weekend was a very nice time of recuperation. A group of us went to see Memphis on Broadway. It was great. A very interesting story, and I was blown away by the voices. Afterward, we stumbled upon this beautiful piece of art in Washington Square. This man creates vibrant pictures, like the one shown here, out of colored sand. Bags and bags of colored sand, friends! 

The next day I checked out Trinity Grace Park Slope, an awesome church in Brooklyn, that my sister and her husband attend. I really enjoyed it. I loved the worship and the environment as a whole. Very exciting.

On Monday, I went on a Coney Island trip with a group of students. Coney Island was sad. I felt like it was crying. The amusement park is filled with a sense of lost glory... it seems to be a shadow of what it once was. We didn't stay long. My group walked around the beach, ate french fries, and headed home. I collected some shells while I was there, though. To finish the day off, some hallmates and I watched Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. 

I love my course load thus far. My dance instructor is amazing. He's super inspiring. I know I'm going to love the class. He's been in multiple Broadway shows, and is very passionate about what he teaches, which makes me even more excited for the class. Writing the Essay is required for all freshmen, and my teacher seems really friendly. And choir is absolutely wonderful. I was in awe at the sound of our 30-person choir on our first day. This is exactly where I want to be. 

This is the almost finished product of the art. He went around 2 more times with finishing details. Isn't it beautiful? I absolutely love this culture. Also, I got my theory results! Yay! I tested into Theory 1, and Aural Comp 2, so I actually have to wait until Spring to take Aural Skills. I'm really looking forward to Theory. Lesson learned this week: textbook prices are just as painful as you hear they are. Oooh! I also learned that Insomnia Cookies delivers. Who doesn't want a cookie delivery service to their dorm? My roommates and I took full advantage of that offer today. We made tea tonight to keep warm from the rain. Tea and cookies. 

Lovely. :) 

Living in the concrete jungle...

Is amazing.

Life is incredible. Taxi cab drivers are crazy. And there is a coffee shop on every city block. Yesterday, we had our "Presidential Welcome" at the Beacon Theatre, and guess what NYU alumnus was there to welcome us? Alec Baldwin. And some amazing Tisch students performed some great musical numbers about life at NYU. Washington Square is beautiful. I cannot wait for winter.

My roommates are all really awesome and fun to be with. My two roommates are from Jersey, so they know their way around really well, which is helpful. Haha. And I have two suitemates: one from Indonesia, and one from LA. The people on my floor are also very friendly, and my RA is absolutely amazing. She's so chill and fun. I've also met almost every freshman in the vocal performance program, since there are only about 29 of us, I think.

The view from our window.

The thing that I love most is the plethora of restaurants. There is every type of food imaginable. And I've become a fan of the restaurants on campus that take Dining Dollars. Yay! 

I've been placed in Dr. Speiser's vocal studio, and I'm really excited to begin lessons. Classes start on Tuesday, and I'm getting really antsy to start. I love the free time I have now, but I really want routine to kick in. And I want to stop looking like a lost freshman. Every time I pull out my map I feel branded. 

I still can't begin to express how much I love it here. I love having people to sing musical theatre with on the sidewalk, and people that understand why you don't listen to pop music. I love that every building towers over me. I love the business and excitement of the city. 

Sending my love back home.