Brrr...it's so cold!

The past couple of days have been freezing cold in New York! I know it's only going to get colder, but for me, 40s is pretty chilly. I have been bundling up, just like Aunt Laura taught me in New Jersey last winter! :)

I have been to ten auditions since my last post, was seen at eight of the ten (the benefits of waking up before it's light outside, and trekking to the subway on the cold, dark Upper East Side), and was cast in two of ten.  Unfortunately I had to turn down both opportunities due to my work schedule, and some prior commitments. I hate turning down projects because I would love to do as much theatre as possible, but until I book a commercial, theatre alone will not pay my NY rent.

Even after living here for awhile, darkening up my colorful wardrobe a bit, and working hard to kill my southern accent, I still stick-out as a Southerner. Last night in a cab, the driver asked me to remind him which street I lived on, as we were getting close. I said "92nd, please," and he responded with, "You can't be a New Yorker. Are you?" I said, "Yes, why?" He told me I had a much sweeter spirit, and better manners than most New Yorkers. I told him I was originally from the South. :) He said that explained it all. It's so hard to believe I've been here for over two months! Time flies by in the city! The holidays are right around the corner, and I am looking forward to spending a few days in North Carolina.

Marg and me at Alice's Teacup

Highlights from the past ten days include taking the five-year-old I nanny to Alice's Tea Cup because she "wore her listening ears" all morning during our errands, going to a swanky jazz bar with my friends Dan and Roz, and baking delicious pumpkin cupcakes!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Sing Roz!

Dan and me at Sugar Bar

Last week was slow with auditioning, but this week is busier than ever. I’m juggling multiple auditions every morning, which is stressful, but wonderful! Everyone says that auditions get old, but I find I’m enjoying them way more than I did at first! I have a few friends that I often see at auditions, and then of course the usual crazies… I probably shouldn’t blog about all the musical theatre wackos that I’ve come across, but I have plenty of stories.

View of the city from Bumble & bumble

I had an amazing weekend last weekend, during which I realized how truly blessed I am with wonderful friends. It involved trying new restaurants, margaritas with my small group girls, an "Awesome 80s Prom" audition (don't ask), and a new haircut (4 inches shorter, lots more layers)!

Dinner at Tipsy Parson with Will!

Cousins

I had a lovely breakfast after church on Sunday with Sophie and Claire at Le Pain Quotidien! It’s always great to catch up with my awesome cousins! Sunday afternoon, the weather was perhaps the most beautiful weather I’ve ever seen in New York, and Will and I took advantage of it and played tennis at Riverside Park.   I had the privilege of seeing my good friend Dan play “Mary Sunshine” in “Chicago” on Broadway on Sunday night.  We went out afterwards, and had the best time chatting. He is such a special person, and one of my closest new friends up here.

Hudson River at Riverside Park

Relaxing on a grassy knoll after our tennis match in the park.

Sherrie, Dan and Me at Glass House Tavern, after Dan's stunning performance in  "Chicago"

Took the kids to the playground...

Yesterday was Columbus Day. In the South, Columbus day basically means you don't get any mail. Well, in New York it's a big deal. They have a parade, the schools are closed, and it's a total holiday. That means all of the people who are off work near Manhattan come to the city and take over the public transportation. Getting around was an absolute nightmare and the crowds were horrible. However, I took the girls to the playground, to a movie, and to Shake Shack, which basically made yesterday the best day of work ever. 

"Don't you love New York in the fall?" - You've Got Mail

This quote rings so true this week in New York. The weather (post-Monday) has been absolutely lovely! I've enjoyed school pick ups more than ever because I just love being outside on the beautiful Upper East Side. Upper East Siders go all out for Halloween, apparently, as there are several courtyards that resemble this one on my walk home:

Happy Halloween!

Baked chicken, sauteed peas, brown sugar carrots,
and homemade macaroni and cheese!

I'm learning more recipes every day, and am really enjoying the cooking!

love the pink and green apron!

Life is going well overall! Having my roommate leave has been pretty stressful, but I am being presented with other opportunities daily.  I am trying to take all of the transition in stride, as much as I can. I have never liked change, and I feel this is a good opportunity to learn how to adapt.

There have been no auditions this week, and I've actually missed auditioning. I suppose that is a good sign that I'm doing what I should be doing! Next week brings more auditions than ever though, so provided I can knock out this minor cold, I'm ready to go! 

"I want an equity card, a margarita, and some queso."

After waiting at an audition for hours and hours, and becoming delirious from our exhaustion, my good friend Lindsay and I decided that the three things we wanted were an equity card, a margarita and some queso. Obviously margaritas are fairly easy to find in New York, but queso is not, and an equity card is fairly difficult to obtain anywhere! (If equity card is a foreign term to you, ask me about it, and I will explain all about AEA.)

Lindsay and me after an audition, during the horrible rain.
(We have matching raincoats)

Last week was a week FULL of auditioning! On Friday I was running back and forth between three auditions in the torrential rain. Miserable! Waiting on the street in the rain at 6 am is no fun! Auditioning itself is becoming more fun though as I make friends with a few of the non-diva people that I'm auditioning with, and become more confident with my audition material. One audition highlight last week was auditioning for Frank Wildhorn's "Wonderland" and singing for Dave Clemmons, a casting director I worked with when I was fourteen. I realized I've known him longer than anyone else in the city, and it was such a joy to see him!



The weekend has been great! I went to Blockheads with Sherrie, and then celebrated my good friend Geoff's birthday at the Beer Garden in Astoria on Friday night. It was the first time in awhile that nearly all of my UNC theatre friends were together in New York at the same time. I could not have been happier to everybody! What a great night!

Geoff, the Birthday Boy, and me!

Me, William, Bridget

I performed in my play (first NY play!) on Saturday and Sunday. Mom came to the city, so we've had a grand time shopping and enjoying the lovely weather. It's turning into fall here for sure, and I'm loving the crisp cool autumn weather we're having this weekend!

Matt, the guy that played opposite me in "Post Its." He's the best! :)

The building where my show performed.

Bailey!

After I found out the news that Meg was moving, I thought perhaps a dog would be a good idea. I pondered a puppy, and then stumbled upon a pet store at 77th and Lexington when I was walking home. I thought I would just go in and take a peak at the puppies, certain that none of them would be that special... 
Well I met this cute King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, whom I've named Bailey. She's adorable and I've visited her three times. I would absolutely love to take her home, but unfortunately I think the finances and logistics of having a dog in the city are too tricky right now...

I emailed my family a picture of Bailey and me and told them I was thinking of getting a pup. Here were the responses:


Dad - "Cute! But you'll have to think hard about your schedule and if you have time to be home to care for a dog. you are on the go all day many days. Poor alone dog."


Mom - "She's adorable but I have a feeling it would be a choice between feeding yourself and feeding the dog.  They are SO expensive the first year :(...maybe when you book your first commercial???    So cute though!!!"


Ross - "So you have a dog now?!?"


The second day I went into the shop and asked to hold Bailey, the mean man who owns the store grouchily yelled, "Are you looking to buy or just wasting my time?" I said, "Well it's the second day in a row that I've come in here asking to hold her, I'm clearly interested." Just then, another customer came up and said, "So do you plan on taking her with you when you go off to college?" I responded that I had already graduated from college, and I lived in the city. He said, "Oh wow, you look so young." I decided that perhaps that was why the pet shop owner didn't take me seriously. 


For now though, I'll just have to visit her before work each day (5 blocks from the apartment where I nanny), and hope that maybe she will not be adopted before I can take her home! :)

A month and a half!

I have now been in New York for a month and a half and am feeling very settled! Though I personally am more settled in here, my life has not settled down at all! Any mornings that I do not have auditions, I try to go to a dance class or work on new audition material. By 2:00 each day, I head to work, and then run around all afternoon, cook a full dinner for five (myself and the four kids), and do the bed-time thing. By 9:00 I'm truly exhausted!

Here is a picture of the chicken that I stuffed with onion, lemon and garlic, and seasoned with olive oil and spices. For those of you who know me well, may I PLEASE have a round of applause for touching that raw chicken with my bare hands? I washed my hands at least fifteen times afterwards, and disinfected everything in sight.



Despite feeling settled in the city, I am in no way forgetting how exciting it is to live here! I went for a run in Central Park on Tuesday, and was in awe of how beautiful nature can be, but also about how beautiful the city is. The views of the Upper West Side reflecting in the reservoir are stunning, and I cannot wait to show everyone who visits my favorite running trail in Central Park! Unfortunately, I did not have my camera on my run, so I can not post a picture. :( Next time!

I do have a picture of the Nicholas Sparks book signing I attended on Monday after my dance class! Nicholas was incredibly friendly, and we talked briefly about being from North Carolina. It was so exciting to finally meet one of my favorite authors!

Nicholas Sparks and me at the Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue

"Living on a Latte and a Prayer"

This past week was by far the craziest yet... 4 auditions and 2 interviews in 5 days, while also working 32 hours was definitely exhausting. The audition experiences were great though, and the job works surprisingly well with my audition schedule.

Getting ready for my Gossip Girl
 tour guide interview!

One highlight of my week was making it to the final interviews to be a Gossip Girl tour guide. I should find out if I got the job in the next two weeks! It would be a fun little weekend afternoon job to supplement nannying, while also practicing public speaking. All tourguides are actors, and in a way it's like memorizing a one woman show. I love the show, and am hopeful that the job will work out.

Other than those two interviews, my mornings were spent auditioning. Getting ready at 6 a.m. and auditioning is not my favorite, but I try to remind myself that I never know when an audition is going to be the audition that makes the difference. My favorite audition of the week was for Godspell at Telsey + Co. I walked in the room with my 8 bars ready to sing (Yes, that's right, 8) and the lady behind the table started talking to me. She asked me if I went to Chapel Hill, and then told me she was a fellow Tarheel. She could not have been more friendly, and we had a lovely conversation. It was so exciting to meet someone working for such a successful casting agency from my alma mater! Being in the Telsey office is one of the experiences that wakes me up and reminds me that I'm living in New York. Looking at all of the posters from the productions Telsey has cast is so inspiring!

Tonight, William, Geoffrey, Sherrie and I went to Rosa Mexicana. I had wanted to try the restaurant, after hearing rave reviews about their Pomegranite Margaritas, and the food in general, and it was the perfect way to spend a Friday night.

Geoffrey, myself, and William at Rosa Mexicana!

I have a busy weekend ahead, and I'm quickly realizing that weekends do not really exist for actors. There are auditions and rehearsals over the weekends, and if one doesn't take Monday (Actors Equity Day Off) as their day off, a day off does not really happen. Nonetheless, I'm excited to spend time with all of my friends who work normal jobs and DO have weekends off, and I'm thankful to be having the opportunity to rehearse a play as well!