New York

New York in pictures

Posted by: Natalie | Aug 09 2010 | Comments (13)

Ah, the Big Apple. I wasn’t one of those people who grew up going to New York or falling in love with it, but every time I go, I can tell why people love it. You can walk down the same street twice and have a completely different experience. Or you don’t have to walk down the same street twice ever because there are a lot of streets.

And to think about how small it is in size just blows me away. You could fit at least 10 Manhattans inside San Diego. We’re so spread out with less than a quarter of the people.

We got into the city early on Thursday morning and I immediately wanted to go to the Today Show. There were a bunch of bloggers there on a tour which was cool. I just wanted to gawk. It takes all of my energy to not quit my job here and beg husby to move to New York so I can be an intern. Seriously. Talk about feeling the quarter-life crisis.

I did shake Al’s hand. Woot. Seriously, I could lament about the crisis I feel about my career but for now I will enjoy that I saw Meredith from a distance. In her 5-inch heels no less.

Then I stopped by Tiffany’s. Well first I took a nap and then my friend Deb and I went for a walk and walked by Tiffany’s and I snapped a picture out front. Because it is the same Tiffany’s in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and I love that movie. I wanted to walk in and say “hey, I have $10, what can I buy?”

Then the conference. Which I shall write about, but later. After I’ve compiled thoughts.

We saw Promises Promises on Saturday night, which was amazing. I really liked it. I left happy. I was drawn to it because Kristen Chenoweth plays the female lead. Total girl crush. I can’t get over her tiny waist and sheer beauty. I really hope she is nice in person. I loved listening to her voice. It got me excited for the premiere of Glee.

Sunday we walked around Chinatown for a bit, and I stopped in my tracks when I saw Zarin Fabrics. How sad is it that I recognized it from Real Housewives? But I had to get a picture. I was surprised it wasn’t in a ritzier area of town, the way Jill Zarin talks about it. I didn’t go inside, but still, crazy!

There was the cutest little park in Chinatown that had all sorts of musical instruments and such. But I loved the little model city. I love seeing parks that blend into their surroundings. Kudos to the NYC for their little Chinatown park.

We ate some yum Chinese food and watched kids in the park in a totally non creepy way, I assure you. The kiddos were quality entertainment in their cuteness and the Chinese food was yum. I dare you to say that store’s name 10 times fast.

Then I saw a mural. And We had to get a picture. No idea why they didn’t paint the middle of the mural. It seemed like a very good topper to the trip though.

And oh my goodness is my hair pulled back in every single picture. New York in August. Mighty Joe Young it is hot!

Categories : jay oh bee, New York, newshounding, travel

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Shout out to the ADA

Posted by: Natalie | Jun 25 2008 | Comments (22)

I don’t travel with my mom a lot, and whenever I do, I’m amazed at what she puts up with. First, this is my mom in action — photo essay done by Utah photographer Davina Fear.

Kudos to thethose businesses who were accommodating in New York. The Gershwin Theater for Wicked, the Grayline bus tour, the Hilton Garden Inn, the Today Show and the NBC Studios.

For those who were rude or made no effort, I got really great at asking “what would you do for someone in a wheelchair?” It was instant association for the employee of the establishment — an aha moment, if you will. My mom is in great shape, but she needs space in front of her for Cricket. Under the ADA, businesses have to accommodate a person with disabilities. They have to.

As for the Times Square ESPN store, one of the 30 Rockefeller Plaza security guards, and a few taxi cab drivers, not cool. Keep in mind that’s discrimination. Yes, Antonio at ESPN, I understand you’re Hispanic, I don’t care if you don’t like being called discriminatory, that’s what your establishment is doing and you will let us in the store. (can you tell I became just a wee bit feisty. Just a wee bit. Hey don’t hurt my momma!)

The award for least accommodating, however, goes to Jeff at Delta Airlines at the Salt Lake City Airport.

My mom called weeks in advance to reserve the front seat of the plane where there is space for a guide dog. We arrived there, and that row was an exit row — thus a guide dog couldn’t sit there. We politely asked him what accommodation would be made, as it was required by law.

He told us nothing would be done, he couldn’t help us. I told him he had to. He started yelling. A stranger stepped in to help — offering his first-class upgrade. Jeff yelled at him too, saying there were no upgrades available. Guess what, there were.

Eventually his supervisor stepped in and arranged for the row we were at to be open.

My mom wasn’t asking for a first-class seat, she was asking to be accommodated, just like an overweight person asks for a seatbelt extender. There’s no difference.

Apparently it’s the new plane Delta has, but they must figure out what they are going to do to follow the law. Someone’s got to speak up. The whole ordeal of being yelled at was humiliating and awful. We didn’t let it ruin our trip, but that’s because my mom is spunky. Other people would have been too shy to speak up.

Look, I know my mom doesn’t “look” blind or “act” blind. Can we step away from the stereotype Stevie Wonder set though? Why does a person who is blind have to act a certain way?

I don’t act a certain way because I have brown hair, and folks, it’s the same thing.

We all have disabilities, whether seen or unseen. It took a lot of courage for my mom to get a guide dog and say to the world “yes, America, I’m blind.”

Everyday she gets treated “differently” for it too. She has to defend her identity when people say “but you don’t look blind?”

Sure, we joke about playing the “blind card” to get to the front row of the Today Show or bypassing the bathroom line at the Broadway shows. But if you gave my mom a choice — I think she’d pick getting to see the stars at night or the pictures on the wall at the theater.

The whole ordeal made me want to pack up my desk, jump the law school bandwagon and become a disability rights attorney. I would do it all probono, because people don’t always have money lying around to sue the people that mistreat them. Sadly, I feel that sometimes the only way to get things done is to use the justice system.

P.S. Working with Davina on the photos inspired my mom to start a blog about what she does everyday.

Categories : family, New York, travel

Comments (22)

Why I love Today

Posted by: Natalie | Jun 24 2008 | Comments (3)

I love that they are so perky at 4 a.m.

I love that they are over 50 years old — it makes me feel like I still have time to make it.

I love that they manage two jobs and families, i.e. Matt and Ann do Dateline. Meredith does Millionaire.

I love watching to see if they make their time cues. It’s the broadcasting major in me.

Last Friday, we woke up early, took a cab to 30 Rockefeller Plaza to wait outside Studio 1A for the Today Show. We were ushered to the front because of Cricket — thank heavens because it was concert day and there were hundreds of 14-year-old girls wanting to see Rhianna.

Most of the show was shot inside because of the concert, but when Meredith did come outside to introduce Rhianna, I felt like my dreams had come true. As everyone shouted “Rhianna!” “Rhianna!” I was yelling “MEREDITH!”

I did the same thing when Matt came out — and he looked over, made eye contact with me and waved.

Ladies and gentlemen, we had a moment.

Was I professional?

No.

Did I jump up and down like a 14-year-old girl?

Yes.

Was I on TV?

Yes, at about 8 a.m. For five seconds.

That’s one small step in the right direction.

Categories : jay oh bee, New York, newshounding, travel

Comments (3)

I heart New York

Posted by: Natalie | Jun 23 2008 | Comments (9)

I haven’t blogged about the trip yet because I’m mighty overwhelmed at where to start.

As an overview — it was a total blast. We saw Phantom of the Opera and Wicked, we walked through Central Park, got lost in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (no, not sounding whimsical here, we got lost), saw friends, and shopped, shopped, shopped.

My dad called twice on two separate days and we happened to be in Ann Taylor both times! In our defense, one just happened to be by Rockefeller Center, and the other one was at the base of the Empire State Building. So we were taking in the sites.

Cricket did great — she was a real trooper. I was so proud of her. The busy streets and lack of grass to do her “business” could have led to a really stressed out dog. She handled it all with a wagging tail.

I hailed a cab. I ate folded pizza. I rode the subway…once.

We took the bus tour, which I recommend for someone who only has a few days in the city. It was nice to let someone else play navigator and the tour guides told great stories about the neighborhoods. She pointed things out, like the restaurant on Seinfeld, that I would never have noticed.

I’m choosing not to blog about the delayed flight home that led to running through the airport like a madwoman, only to learn that I’d missed my connection. Only to be told at baggage claim that I hadn’t, and running through security and the terminal again, to catch a flight — leaving my wallet at security. Then, landing 90 minutes late, and finding out that my luggage was in Salt Lake City.

As were my car keys. And my apartment key. Which caused me to miss an extra day of work.

No, I’m not going to blog about that.

Delta, we kind of like the way you fly,
When you do.
If you don’t lose our luggage!

Categories : family, New York, travel

Comments (9)

New York

New York in pictures

Shout out to the ADA

Why I love Today

I heart New York

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