Those Ad Men...

Leave it to those advertising men to have a good ad. I saw this in the subway on my way to work this morning and instantly got excited.

No words needed. It's been wayyy too long, don't ya think?

Awesome.
Image from MadMen.com (AMCTV.com)

Broadway & Birthdays

I've always loved to sing, despite that fact that I'm not good at it. My own dog runs away when I belt one tune. Yes, I'm bad but who cares when no one else (besides your dog and maybe your Husband) hears it?

Living in NYC, I'm quite lucky to be able to see a Broadway show whenever I want, though it's probably the one perk that we don't take advantage of as much as we should. I'm always amazed watching the cast members sing and dance. How do they do that for some many nights in a row? I get tired just watching them.

Last night we saw Catch Me if You Can and it was wonderful. Earlier this week, I found out my sorority sister and native North Carolinian, Alex Ellis, would be playing the lead female role (Brenda) this week. We had to go and so we did. I went to many of her shows in college and for a Communications Project my Junior Year I even interviewed her on what it was like being in the Arts. I wish I could find that video tape now...
It took everything I had to not jump up, wave my arms and scream, "YAY Alex!" She was wonderful and during her solo, I cried. It was an amazing experience - one of those New York moments that doesn't happen often. [insert, Go Elon!]

The line was too long to see her afterwards but I did get a note from her this morning saying that she saw me in the audience so I was glad. I wish I could go again tonight. The show is only on for 10 more days, so if you are in NYC, I highly recommend you go!

In other news, a big happy birthday to Sooze and my blog, Southern in the City! As I mentioned last year, it's particularly fitting that they have the same birthdays since she inspired me to start the blog. And the fact that she is probably the only one (besides my Dad) who reads it on a daily basis:)

Happy birthday to you, mom!

Fall TV

One of the best things about the fall (well, to me anyway) is the new TV lineup. I wait all summer, patiently flipping through the horrible reality TV shows (sans, Real Housewives) looking for something of quality to watch. We've been using Netflix streaming mostly and are considering giving up cable when we move into our new place. Shocker, I know. As long as we get the basics I think we'll survived. We are going to test it out for a month to see...

But I digress. This morning on my way to work, I read the AM New York story about the record number of TV series filming in NYC. They reported that almost 25 Fall lineups are being filmed here this season. I guess this means I need to have my camera ready. No matter how long I've lived here, I still get excited about seeing the big white trailers parked on the side of the street wondering who might be sitting in the make-up chair. Bloomberg said that the TV filming brings in about 5 billion (that's B) dollars to the economy each year. That's nuts.
Here's a list of the some of the shows (some you probably already knew about).

I'm going to be on the look-out!

Pan Am, ABC

30 Rock, NBC

Boardwalk Empire, HBO

The Good Wife, CBS

Gossip Girl, The CW

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, NBC

Rescue Me, FX

White Collar, USA

Photo from Bloomberg Office.

The Good Ol' Girls

If any of you in New York are looking for something fun and cheap to do with your girlfriends, then I have the perfect thing for you -The Good Ol' Girls.

This past weekend, Southern in the City ventured out in the much cooler weather, to an off-Broadway show called, The Good Ol' Girls. The musical set in NC, consists of various monologues written by Southern authors including Lee Smith and has some of the best music consisting of country and rock. My mom told me about the show, which stars another Southerner from Raleigh, Lauren Kennedy. And, you don't have to be from the South to appreciate the show. My girlfriend from Boston enjoyed it just as much as my girlfriend from Richmond and I did.

And, the best part - it's only $35! Check out the site to learn more and purchase tickets. I promise you'll love it! But it only runs until April 11th so hurry!

Rockin’ but no Rollin'

Thanksgiving this year was full of many firsts for Southern in the City. First Thanksgiving away from home, first Thanksgiving together as a married couple, first Thanksgiving seeing the Macy’s Parade Floats, and first Thanksgiving cooking.

We all have our must-haves for a Thanksgiving feast and this year I wanted to have my number one must – my mom’s homemade yeast rolls. These delicious rolls have been in our family forever and over the years my mom has perfected the art of roll making. I my friends, have not.

In order to bring a little south (and home) to New York this Thanksgiving, I thought baking rolls would be the perfect project for me. My mom even gave me the essentials including flour, a mixer and six packs of yeast. “Now remember, the water must be hot to the touch, not boiling and not lukewarm,” she said over the phone. These words ran over and over in my head each time I poured the water into the yeast. Three times, I tried, to no avail.

Here sits the dough that did not rise
My mom says it took her many times to perfect the recipe so I’m not throwing in the rolling pin just yet. Fortunately, my mom thought ahead and packed her already-made rolls to New York just in case this very thing happened.

Despite the roll rollercoaster, Southern in the City did manage to make some delicious dishes including squash casserole, green bean casserole and sweet potatoes. The Husband even cooked his first turkey. All in all, I deem our Thanksgiving of firsts a success. Much to be thankful for this year! And a special thanks to our friends in Brooklyn who hosted a great Thanksgiving feast.

I snapped a few photos of the squash casserole cooking and the beginnings of the sweet potatoes...

Here's The Husband with his bird

On Wednesday night we checked out the Macy's Parade floats being blown-up. Check out some of the characters below. They were huge, I mean huge. I've watched the parade for so many years growing up and knew they would be large, but I didn't realize how tall and wide they actually are. I stood looking at the floats for awhile thinking what would happen if they all came alive? Fortunately, they didn't.

Team Edward

Today is the day – well tomorrow actually, 12:01 a.m. You can almost hear the older women, er, little girls scream for Edward Cullen and his vampire clan. Fear not Twilighters, New Moon is here.

Now, for some eye candy to get you through the next few hours: I’ve read the Twilight series, a few times in fact, and I have to say that New Moon was my least favorite book. Maybe that’s because Edward is absent for the majority of the story. Unlike Edward, Jacob just didn’t have that mysterious romantic side to him that me and every other girl in America fell in love with. I found myself skipping ahead, thumbing through the pages until I saw Edward’s name.

The thirteen year-old girl inside of me appeared this morning when Robert Pattinson made his way to the Plaza on the Today Show. So what if I jumped up and down and screamed a little in the living room before I left for work? The husband was sleeping.

Now to the most important question of the day Twilighters, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

As many of you know, Southern in the City and The Husband were recently married in April and we frequently wish that we could go back and replay the day. Thank goodness for photographs and thank goodness for photographers, especially ours – Joey and Jess Seawell.

Hands down the number one question people ask about our wedding is, “Who is your photographer?”

Joey and Jess hail from the Tarheel state as well. They just started their own boutique, Joey + Jess Photography, so check out their site. They also travel out of state for special events (even NYC). If you’re interested in having them capture your special day, just say hello:

sayhello@joeyjessica.com
336.406.2321

And check out some memories from our day:

I Love Beach Music...

I have and I always will. As the song says, I was born with it in my bones.

One of the things I hate most about the end of the summer is the end of shaggin’ to beach music. Now, don’t get me wrong, you can always listen to these happy tunes, but it’s just not the same in the cooler months. I don’t think the Embers were wearing sweaters and puffy winter jackets when they first sang the lyrics, “I learned to shag on the beach with the salt in the air and the sand at my feet.” To me, beach music goes better with a sunburn, a sundress and a sweet tea.

Never-the-less, beach music has a way of making everyone smile and dance – even if it’s just a toe-tap and a head-nod. Not all music can do that. Despite the start of autumn in New York this week, I’m taking a time-out to listen to some good ol’ beach music because before you know it, I’m going to need that sweater and puffy winter jacket here in the city.

Now, ya’ll do the same and go turn on some tunes from Chairman of the Board, Embers and Bill Deal and as my favorite sign says just, “Shut Up and Shag.”

"Shut Up and Shag" and the city from our roof

Some of Southern in the City's favorites to name a few:

- Carolina Girls
- Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy
- Miss Grace
- Part-time Party Man
- More Than a Number
- Hold Back the Night

So Southerners, what are yours?

Oh, and as for the sign, "Shut Up and Shag" - my dear friend Lauren, another Southerner in a different city, gave it to me back in college - cute huh?

High there, High Line

One of the best parts about New York is its many parks. They’re everywhere and if you need to get away from the city-sounds for a New York minute, there is no better way than visiting these great outdoor spaces. Last week, The Husband and I took a trip over to NY’s newest park – The Highline, near the the Meat Packing District.

The Highline is a half-elevated park filled with modern landscape and architecture. In the 1930’s, it was originally made to lift dangerous freight trains off the streets. They’d plan to tear it down but raised enough moolah to maintain and turn the park into what it is today. I recommend going right at sunset since there is a great view of the Hudson River.

The Highline platform also takes you right by the new Standard Hotel, where often times you’ll get a peep show from hotel guests. I’m not making this up ya’ll. Many guests have actually been photographed in the nude doing scandalous things for passers-by's viewing pleasure. Fortunately (or unfortunately), The Husband and Southern in the City did not see any scantily clad folk this time, although we did look.

Check it out - Highline Park

Keep it Wild Ya'll And this is the "landscape" with the old rail-road tracks Sunset and view of the Hudson
The park is filled with these wooden recliners, pictured on the right of Southern in the City The new Standard Hotel The Husband looking up at the Standard Hotel...no peep show today Highline at night - a little creepy huh?

Southern in the City and The Husband

“I Couldn’t Help But Wonder…”

I don’t think there is a single girl out there, or boy for that matter, who doesn’t know about Sex and the City. It's been almost a whole year since our favorite city girls put on their manolos and sipped on cosmos with us. But, alas Southerners, it is now that time again for Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte to reunite for Sex and the City 2!

Filming started today on the Upper East Side; in fact, I’m told at this very moment they are filming at the Met. How you might ask? Well, have a look:

http://www.onlocationvacations.com/category/daily-filming-locations/

You can find out what movies & shows are being shot around the city. It’s fun to check out and see if you are in the same neighborhood as some of your favorite stars. Below are some photos of Mrs. Carrie Bradshaw leaving Mr. Big's place, or now their place, from the first day of filming:

(Photos from People.com)

It'll be a hoot and a half

Hey yall,

Welcome to Southern in the City. I know, another blog. As if you didn't already have enough work to do, eh, blogs to read, about your friend's decorating misadventures, fashion faux-pas or tips for cooking made-easy (a true oxymoron in my opinion), now here's another blog to add to the list.

Though I can't promise that I won't have any of the aforementioned topics in my blog, I hope to give readers some insight on what I have learned in my past few years of living life as a yankee in New York. Someone close to me recently said that you must have a story, a plot, to keep people coming back and reading. So hopefully, you will find one here.

I look forward to hearing from you as well and hope you enjoy reading Southern in the City.

Now, go grab that big ol' glass of sweet tea and join me on this journey. It'll be a hoot and a half!