WTC scenes the day after Osama's death

The news popped up on my screen last night while I was online watching entirely too many episodes of Parks and Recreation back-to-back. 

We got finally him--in his secret palace, no less! Brings to mind that fantastic scene from Hot Shots where they bomb Saddam Hussein whilst he lounges poolside. Only this really happened. And now they're both really dead.

I don't have a lot to say about this (other than a big, southern HELL YES!), but I do have some pictures I took with my phone from the World Trade Center today. I walk by the Freedom Tower's construction site everyday on my way to work. It's always surrounded by rubber-necking tourists and commuters going to and from their lives between NY and NJ. Today, it was even more crowded than usual with both of those groups of people, only it was eerily quiet. 

There was a distinct lack of the usual "bustling." Every one stood around the Freedom Tower, looking at one another, some smiling, some crying, a few holding flags--and several selling flags (gotta love our good ol' American capitalism)!

It was really an emotional place to walk through, even with the incessant drone of the helicopter over our heads and the police dogs panting their way menacingly through the crowd.

Hope you guys enjoy the pictures, and what's left of this momentous day!

Freedom Tower under construction

The Patriot

The Capitalist

Pillow fights are for big kids, too!

Saturday at 3 p.m. in Union Square, a mass of people wielding stuffed weaponry gathered to wage war. When the clock struck, it was every man/woman for him/herself! Feathers flew. People took cheap shots to the faces, backs, and stomachs of strangers. There were squeals and screeches rivaling that of any pack of sixteen-year-old girls. In short, it was an epic event and pure, ridiculous fun (the best kind, in my opinion).

Apparently this awesomeness occurs annually around the globe. Check out this website and mark your calendars for next year's pillow fight in the city nearest you, or organize your own if you don't see you city on the list!


Oh, and the best part is, when you're done you get to donate your pillow to an animal shelter and give some adorable puppy or kitten a super soft, awesome bed. As you can see, there's just no downside to pillow fighting! (Get it?? Downside? Chuckle chuckle....)


Horrible puns aside, it was really a blast. Check out picks below of the event!

Dim Sum--I'll have sum of dim, and sum of dim...

My Dad was in town this weekend and he and Taka took my new roommate and me out for Chinese brunch, otherwise known as the delectable meal "Dim Sum." We went to Jing Fong Restaurant, a place I'm fortunate enough to have two blocks from my apartment. 

Although we arrived at 11 a.m., it was already packed. Brunch in New York is more of an after 12 p.m. thing, so it says a lot that it was crazy that early. When they called our number, we went up the escalator and entered a massive room full of large round tables. They sat us with strangers, as usual. With this place, you can't be too picky. You sit where you fit.

Dim Sum is fun because, much like when Japanese chefs cook your food in front of you, it's not just a meal, it's an experience. Chinese women wheel large carts around the room full of mysterious and delicious things. Dim Sum is primarily small plates of different kinds of dumplings (yum!), and there are other types of Chinese dishes as well. 

Here's how the system works: You have a card. If one of these women walks by you with something that looks tasty, you gesture for it (because, inevitably, you do not speak the same language). She gives you the food and writes something down on your card and then you get to enjoy your plate. But wait--there's something else that looks good! Get that. Oh, and what's that? Yeah, that too, give us that.


And that.


It's sort of like tapas on steroids. And better, because you get to see what you're getting before you order it. Also, you can order Dim Sum all day, have a million items on your card, and when you go to check out find that your bill is under fifteen dollars. Easily.


It's just a lot of fun. I had a great time catching up with my Dad and Taka over tasty Dim Sum goodness, and loved that they got the chance to meet my new roommate. All in all, Sunday success story, I'd say.