The Way That Dreams Come True

I spent the night weaving in and out of the roads surrounding Bleecker Street and thinking about the way dreams come true.

I'm not sure how it happened, or even if I was aiming in this direction my entire life, but as I walked anonymously through the waves of sound seeping out of restaurants and bars, I realized that I am living the life I've always aspired toward.

That's not to say that I've always wanted to live in New York City. In fact, I grew up in a tiny California beach town and swore I'd move to a smaller place right about when the pizza delivery man started taking our orders all the way to our house. New York City is a long way off from the country life I'd imagined or the future pirate career I'd envisioned, but somewhere along the way something in life lured me here and now it feels perfect.

Sure, we always want bigger apartments and smaller challenges, but New York City breathes something indescribable. I've stumbled into my the life of my dreams and hopefully within a year I will be able to say that I make my living making other people's dreams come true.

How? That's something I'm starting to figure out. But trust me, this dream will come true.

NYC To Do: The Shortlist

I'm starting to receive multiple inquiries per day regarding the going ons about NYC and I must say, I'm honored. I would like to continue to send customized event recommendations to friends (and would like even more to monetize this hobby of mine...help welcomed), but in honor of a friend being in town from the other coast, I've devised a short list of upcoming events that caught my eye. Rather than leave the events list as a private email, I figured I'd share the love. See the (not comprehensive) list below:

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10

• Fashion's Night Out in various places all evening, free unless you shop - 800 New York retailers are participating in a collaborative effort to get us shopping again. I can't decide if this is going to really be cool, but I'm sure it will inevitably lead to some interesting interactions and worthwhile after parties put on by emerging fashion labels who see this as a perfect opportunity to gain visibility.
• Cimema 16 in Dumbo, Smack Mellon, 7pm, free - A series of silent 16mm films set to music scores. This monthly event aims to recreate the magical atmosphere of the excitement of going to the movies in the era of silent film.
• Manjinga, APT, 10pm, free - DJ Cato and OBaH spin Reggae, Afrobeat, rare grooves and house classics at this head nodding live and let live party.
  

I need to get some shut eye and I'm sure everyone already has plans for Friday and Saturday, so I'll jump to Sunday.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13

• Brooklyn Book Festival - Brooklyn Borough Hall, 10am-6pm - The author list for this festival is enough to make this the literarati's version of walking straight into the real life version of People Magazine for bookish types.
  
• Brooklyn Flea's Superstar DJ Record Fair, Manhattan Bridge Archway, 11am-6pm, free -
• Coney Island Boardwalk Music Series, Coney Island Boardwalk, 3-11pm -
  
• Live in Your Living Room Concert, Helen Engelhardt's house (805 e. 21st St BK), 7:30pm, $15 recommended donation (You must reserve a spot at reservations@liveinyourlivingroom.nl) - Artists Lee Mason and NYC based Greta Gertler finish off the weekend with beautiful, soothing sounds for the soul.
• OBJECTify NYC - I haven't checked out this new monthly event but it sounds interesting. Who could pass up a costume bash for "inteligent technophiles" who are supposed to costume as their favorite fictional character or embody theif favorite book? Bring a bedtime story to read...
  

ONGOING//BEFORE THE WEEKEND ENDS

• Taste NiEuW Amsterdam - September 5 - 20th (Two week) Restaurant Week - In honor of Henry Hudson's discovery and the cheap price the Dutch paid for New York, participating restaurants are offering a $24 pre fixe.
  
• NY400 - More festivities in honor of the 400th year since Hudson's discovery of New York. Scan through the pages of events and take your pick of anything from industrial ceramics to history walks on the "New Amsterdam Trail" and tours of Dutch frigates and Navy ships.
• Live In Your Living Room continues through September 20th.
  

To Do, New York

DATE SPECIFIC

August 12th, Ottos Shrunken Head, 10pm, ottoshrunkenhead.com - An evening of cover songs remixed by DJ Xerox and others.

August 13th, 679 Riverside Drive at the Riverbank State Park Skate Rink, 8-11pm - Robot Chicken on Wheels, a free skating extravaganza with a performance by The Gym Class Heroes and special appearances by Seth Green and Matt Senreich. (I'm not entirely sure if this is my scene, but listening to live music while skating, that sounds like a ball)

August 13 - Borough President Billy Joel Starlight Tribute Concert on Staten Island, 10pm

ONGOING

Exit 9 in the East Village - An excellent place to wander around checking out kitsch and all sorts of items you don't need but would really make your life that much happier.

La Plaza Cultural (E. 9th St at Ave C, laplazacultural.org) - A great place to hang your hat and rest awhile, this relaxing lawn and pond area features scultures by Rolando Politi.

Mogador (101 St. Marks between 1st Ave and Ave A, cafemogador.com) - Their $9 lunch special will blow you away.

Free, Almost Daily Boating in Hallets Cove (liceboathouse.org, 718.228.9214) - Grab a kayak or canoe and push off from the Socrates Sculpture Garden onto the East River.

The Tree Museum, Grand Concourse between Moshulu Pkwy North and 138th St, Bronx all the way to 149th St and Grand Concourse, Daily thru Oct 12 - 100 trees, 100 tales. Dial the numbers posted on the trees to hear different stories about the borough.

Free Hyperlocal Story Scavenger Hunt, fluffyseme.net/groups/entry/hyperlocal, Daily thru Aug 31 - Receive text messages to send you on various missions and save your answers in order to solve the final mystery.

Free Public Tours of the Plaza Hotel (Tues and Sat at 3pm, RSVP required to 212.546.5477)

A Hot Date Or a Future Dentist?

Apparently finding a dentist in New York City is much like finding a date online.  I know of no hygienist bar scene and unfortunately I don't know anyone (or even know anyone who knows anyone) who accepts my insurance, and so I have (gasp) resorted to the internet.

When I started my search I expected to read small blurbs about each of my dental options in the city along with a potential review or two.  Instead I found entire profiles outlining everything from bedside manner to average wait time.  What got me most though, were the dentists' profile pictures.  

Allow me to show a few of the dentists' pictures below, and I'm not bluffing.