After years of planning (and protests by locals) Ikea has finally made its mark on the Brooklyn waterfront.  Last Wednesday, the weather was gorgeous, I wanted to be outside, and I didn't really have a whole lot to do. I remembered that it also happened to be the highly controversial grand opening for Ikea, Brooklyn. As a NYC dweller who might suddenly need some new punchy sheets or a cute frame, I needed to know what it would be like to not have to go through the God-awful Port Authority to the location nearest the Newark Airport. So, I decided to check out the new inter-borough route from here to there.

Here's my review: getting there on the bus took way too long. I also wanted to experience the layout of the store...hmmmmm, not bad. But, doesn't anyone have to be at work today? The checkout lines- well, they left a lot to be desired. I think even the cash register in my queue was actually shorting out (how do I always seem to have a sixth sense for finding the lamest line?) All in all, the location had a pretty cool vibe to it (across the river from Lady Liberty). And even though there is an emphasis on using public transportation to get there, it even has a multi-level parking garage. It could be the only one in existence in all of New York City!

For the most part, New York is a hard place to live. Getting groceries, doing laundry, getting to work...all these very mundane activities turn into hour-long events and seem to be much harder to accomplish here than in most places. But every once in a while I have one of those days in the city where putting up with all the aggravation feels worthwhile.

Last Friday, I put on a cute summer dress and got an early start and savored the 40-minute bus ride through various Brooklyn neighborhoods to see the Murakami exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. I just wanted a slow day where I could escape the heat that was forecasted. Once I got there, all I could say was "Wow". The work was so colorful and trippy. Just what I needed to get some inspiration for my own art. There was even a Louis Vuitton boutique selling items right in the midst of the exhibition;  I don't mean the gift shop at the end, but right in the gallery!

In the early evening when I returned to my neighborhood, I realized there was an event at the nearby McCarren Pool. MIA was in concert, so I figured, why not...I'll just hang out and take that in.  Last night, as I was walking by on my way home, Death Cab was playing, so I stopped for a moment to enjoy that one too.

I've been intrigued by the Senator from Illinois since he formally introduced himself to us about four years ago with his famous "coming out" speech. Since then, I've been watching him pretty closely. I was never as interested in politics as I am now; opting to stay home and watch historic speeches, announcements, and debates instead of going out with the girls.

I also decided that it might be fun to get to know some more like-minded people in New York City, and if I was lucky, maybe even a cute guy or two. I signed up for all kinds of email lists for the Democratic Party, and also decided to get involved with some local Obama events. I found an art group called Art the Change. Just prior to the official announcement for his candidacy, I attended an event in my neighborhood in Brooklyn. The event was a little scattered, but I met many interesting people. There were lots of artists, musicians, poets, designers, etc. in attendance- even some nice guys. I was even astounded to learn that Obama's campaign is so organized, they've even addressed artist issues on his website. I'm hoping that as things progress towards November, more people will start showing up and lending their artistic abilities. Looking forward to the next event!

It was a rainy afternoon in New York yesterday, so there couldn't be a better time to catch this summer blockbuster. Even the six a.m. showing was sold out days in advance. Six a.m.? Really? Either you're all cracked out from the night before, or you're just a really early riser. Anyway, I've been seeing parts of the filming process all over Midtown over the last few months, so it was great to see it all come together and get caught up in the hype.

I went to a matinee with some gay friends because I knew they would appreciate the fashion and the men as much as I would. Lots of young women all over the neighborhood were decked to the nines for the movie. Cute, but a little impractical given the torrential downpours and tornado watch for yesterday's forecast. 

Afterwards, we all went for delicious afternoon cosmos in Chelsea; a custom I could get used to! Even our waiter guessed that we had just come from the movie, and didn't want us to reveal anything. Then we stopped at Billy's Bakery (an offshoot of Magnolia) for cupcakes. It was one of those great New York afternoons where everyone was happy to participate and get caught up in the madness.

As the movie was drawing to a close, I felt a pang of sadness, that part of my youth in NYC was coming to an end as well. After following the series for many years, and having it speak to me on many levels, it seemed in a way that this marked the end of an era. Maybe there will be a sequel, maybe not. And as my friends and I parted ways yesterday, they thanked me for joining them saying that they had their very own fabulous New York girl to watch the movie with. I couldn't think of a nicer compliment.

As a teenager with a subscription to Interview magazine in the 80's, I sat on my bed thumbing through every issue longing to be in New York City and part of Andy Warhol's downtown scene. Unfortunately, I was way too young to drop out of grade school.

Now, as an artist living in New York City, the art scene of the 80's is officially a thing of the past. But seeing a Keith Haring mural in situ is very exciting even if it is a re-creation of the real thing. The Keith Haring Foundation in a collaboration with Deitch Projects has recreated one of Keith Haring's murals from 1982. The mural is located on right on New York's famous Houston Street (the "Ho" in SoHo) and will be on view through December 31, 2008.

I don't really fancy myself a writer, and blogs intimidate me for some reason. Tonight, I just thought I'd jot that down to get started.

I'm having a quiet night at home to organize my ever-mounting electronic  files: music, photos, documents, and emails. Sometimes it's all just too much for a girl!