Tarrathon

Look Out Madonna

2010-04-13T20:27:00.001-07:00

I'm kind of obsessed with @janemarielynch and am LOVING this video.

Tri Tip Grill Opens in Rockefeller Concourse

2010-04-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

The anxiously awaited Tri Tip Grill opened today in the Rockefeller concourse. If you work in midtown, especially in the Rockefeller area, you know how exciting it is to get a new lunch place in the neighborhood. The same 4 lunch joints (over and over and over) can only sustain a person for so long.

Let me just start by saying that we went last week for a "preview" day in which we got some free food, and it was excellent. Well today's opening day experience did not live up to last week's visit. First of all, we placed our orders and waited approximately 30 minutes for our food to be ready. It's not like we were at a full service restaurant, it's one of those "order at the counter and we'll call your number when it's ready," so 30 minutes to wait is long. Ridiculously long. By the time all three of us got our food and I got back to my desk, the fries were soggy. bleh. I also didn't really enjoy the sandwich as much as last week's either. Maybe it was just poor ordering on my part, so I wont' blame them for that.

Anyway, I'm told I should give it a few weeks and then go back and see if they've worked out the kinks. I think I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and hold off my Yelp! review until then. I mean, it was their first day after all. One more chance guys, get it together.

Snowstorm #2 2010

2010-02-26T13:43:00.001-08:00

This is what I walked to work in

My block

Snow pile by my office

My fire escape

Dominican Republic!

2009-06-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Summer!

2008-08-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been awhile. Summer has been busy with lots of traveling, weddings and work! I hope everyone has had a good one (it's hard to believe it's almost over)! Looking forward to fall in the city though, it is one of my favorite times. My camera is getting fixed (again), but once I get it back, I will post pictures of all the summer antics! Oh yes, my apartment did get broken into a few weeks ago and they took my computer, so some of the pics have been lost boo, but most were still saved on the camera. Luckily I am lazy about downloading and deleting :)

Girls Weekend!

2008-05-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Lins came to NYC and we had a girls weekend of dancing...with a lot of random boys along the way!

It was 80s night. This is Lionel.

Sexy ladies!

Uh...more randoms. I don't know what that face is about.

Another one

And another...

And some more...

This one, I know! My fav :)

Yeah...I don't know what we were doing

This guy is always making weird faces...but look how cute the rest of us are!

Juli's Bachelorette in Chicago

2008-05-09T19:27:00.000-07:00

My first time in Chicago! We had such a blast! Congrats Jules!

Melodie's Bday

2008-05-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am way behind on this because it was MONTHS ago, but better late than never right? I think it's obvious from the pics that we had a blast!!

PEOPLE.com- Website of the Year

2008-03-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

Ohh yeah baby. This is where I work...

Web Site of the Year: People.com

Among a galaxy of celebrity sites, People.com, with its round-the-clock tracking of the triumphs and scandals of the stars, burns bright

Mike Shields

MARCH 31, 2008 -

In a star-obsessed world where Britney Spears' every move is tracked by the prying eyes of camera crews, news helicopters and fast-multiplying Web sites--from Gawker to Perez Hilton, TMZ to Egotastic--it says something that one of the dominant online purveyors of news about the rich, famous and sometimes nutty emanates from the print magazine that helped define celebrity journalism as we know it.

Its amazing growth in a hot-as-fire category, along with its “right for the medium” editorial approach and surging advertiser support, have led AdweekMedia to select People.com—under the guidance of the site’s editor in chief Mark Golin and People Digital president Fran Hauser—as its first-ever Magazine Web Site of the Year.

Despite considerable competition in the blogosphere from an array of newer players chasing celebrity triumphs and scandals, Time Inc.’s People.com—the Web extension of the 3.62 million-circ People, the 34-year-old chronicle of entertainers we love and remarkable everyday people—grew its audience by an eye-popping 48 percent in 2007, adding roughly 1.7 million monthly unique users for a total of 5.3 million as of December, per Nielsen Online. People.com is, in fact, one of the most trafficked magazine-generated sites, up there with the online offshoots of Time and Newsweek. The momentum continues this year, with February racking up still more traffic records. The site recorded 6.3 million monthly uniques in February, per Nielsen Online. Feb. 25, the day after the Oscars, turned out to be the most heavily trafficked day in the site’s history, with 57 million page views, besting its previous single-day record by 10 percent, according to the site.

David Cohen, senior vp, interactive media director at Universal McCann, says his team met with People.com sales execs roughly a year ago and challenged them on the site’s small audience relative to the massive reach of the print product. “We said to them, ‘Why does your site reach only a few million uniques? It should be so much bigger.’ And they delivered.”

On the ad side, People.com reports ad revenue in ’07 grew 285 percent versus the year prior. The site boasts 28 ad categories, including entertainment, auto, apparel and beauty.

Advertisers include Verizon Wireless, JC Penney and Quantas Airlines. New accounts include Tiffany & Co., Chase and Toyota. (Meanwhile, the print edition of People, the biggest moneymaker of all magazines, continues to thrive, its ad revenue in 2007 reaching a staggering $979.8 million, up 12.3 percent year over year, per Publishers Information Bureau. Ad pages gained 4 percent, to 3,889.)

People.com has grown by attracting a bit of a different audience than its venerable, influential print counterpart—a younger, more celebrity-fixated demo for whom the 24/7 news cycle is second nature. Thus, the site has established its own identity—focusing on breaking celebrity news, beefing up video offerings—rather than simply transporting the People magazine formula to the Web. “We live in a medium now where the cost of entry is sight, sound and motion—many magazines have failed at this,” explains Cohen. “Other [sites emanating from traditional media] like cable networks have had an easier transition. People.com has embraced this concept in that it’s not just a translation of the magazine.”

Golin—a veteran of magazines including Maxim (which he edited in 1999, when he was named AdweekMedia’s Editor of the Year), Details and Cosmo who later served as vp, creative director at AOL and creative director of Time Inc. Interactive, where his projects included the ill-fated young-male-centered viral-video site Office Pirates—became People.com’s top editor in September 2006, a move that indicated Time Inc. wanted to take the property to the next level.

Golin acknowledges that the site has undergone a philosophical evolution. “You go back a few years, and we had a lot of repurposed photos [on the site],” he recalls. “In the past few years, we realized that news drove traffic. Expectations have grown. We really kind of upped our offering. It’s much more around-the-clock.”

That news-never-sleeps mind-set has resulted in some major scoops. People.com broke the news that Nicole Richie and Christina Aguilera gave birth, and that Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds’ marriage was kaput. The site has also earned a load of industry accolades, including Web Site of the Year in the entertainment/celebrity category in the Magazine Publishers of America’s 2007 Digital Awards. It also was nominated this year for the Personal Service Online National Magazine Award.

Unlike some of its snarkier brethren, People.com reporters—like those for the mothership People magazine—have built a reputation for getting it right when it comes to reporting on celebrities, Golin boasts, snagging consumer loyalty in an age of blogs, camera phones and Photoshop. “Our news is accurate,” affirms the editor. “That’s a big deal to users.”

And like the weekly, People.com also distinguishes itself by employing the human-interest angle. It’s not all about drunken heiresses in car crashes. People.com recently reported on Patrick Swayze’s cancer battle and director Anthony Minghella’s death.

With celebrity news breaking virtually by the minute, it is important, of course, to be fast, but People.com also seeks to provide the most comprehensive coverage on the Web. With that in mind, the site is prepping the launch of News Storm, whereby People.com, during major breaking news events, will be transformed into a wall-to-wall news source on whatever bomb gets dropped into the celebrisphere. So, if Tom Cruise were to dump Katie Holmes for Brooke Shields, People.com would roll into News Storm mode—launching a homepage treatment aggregating the latest news, archival content and, in a first for the site, links to non-People.com stories. Users will also be able to place comments alongside the news. “This is for big moments,” explains Golin. “In cases like this, what happens is that everybody is thinking, what else is out there? This is the page you wished you’d found if you searched on Google.”

Also in the coming weeks, People.com will launch its first games channel—something of a departure for a celebrity news site. But the channel will stay on topic. Rather than posting the usual Tetris or Bejewled-type puzzlers, People.com will, naturally, test users’ expertise on celebrities.

Fran Hauser, who as president of People Digital has responsibility for business, sales, product development and production functions, hopes the games channel provides the site more stickiness, particularly on nights and weekends when its core workday traffic dips. Games also will present an “interesting” ad opportunity, says Hauser, who earlier was general manager at Time Inc. Interactive and a programming vp at AOL. Another ad opportunity People.com hopes to mine is shopping. Beginning this April, the site will unveil a platform enabling users to find fashions and accessories featured in its hundreds of celebrity photos.

People.com’s sales team gets props for its flexibility and out-of-the-box ideas. “They are one of the few Web publishers who are open for business,” says McCann’s Cohen. “They will hear you out.”

Last July, People.com, teaming with agency Saatchi & Saatchi, launched the channel Celebrity Central, designed around sponsor Toyota in support of its Corolla and Highlander models. The channel served as an ever-growing celebrity database where users could access mini news feeds and bios of celebrities including George Clooney and Miley Cyrus, interspersed with People.com stories and photos. Toyota, looking to connect with young, pop-culture afficionados, weaved ads throughout the section.

It’s not just pushing out the news minute-by-minute and responding to advertisers’ challenges that have spurred People.com’s transformation, says Hauser—it’s programming. Many users visit the site three or four times a day for “their celebrity experience,” as she puts it, with traffic spiking first thing in the morning, then again during the lunch hour and finally at the end of the workday. Thus, People.com has initiated its own version of “appointment TV,” building out several regularly scheduled video franchises.

Over the past year, People.com has introduced five signature series, including Who Looked Hot, a timely study of celebrity style, and They Said What?, a recap of highlights from daytime talkers like the Today show and The View. Then, there’s the popular Monday morning staple What You Missed Over the Weekend. Video will continue to be a major focus for People.com going forward, says Hauser.

It’s just the latest move to make People.com the dependable, go-to destination for gotta-have-it details on Brad and Angelina’s next family adventure or the celebutard of the moment’s latest meltdown—and an example of what makes the player a true standout among magazine sites.

As Golin puts it, “We think this is how you do it.”

Mike Shields is a senior editor covering digital media at Mediaweek.

Link to the full article here

Colorado

2008-03-20T20:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am such a slacker, I know. I went to Colorado to visit Jeff, Becca and JJ back in Feb...I think I only took two pictures of anything but JJ because he is so freaking cute!! We drove through the mountains and saw the snow and all the cute little towns along the way. It was so much fun (until the traffic on the way back that is). Anyway, I had a blast, it was good to spend time with B and Jeff and JJ is the cutest thing ever! I miss you guys!

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-16T20:09:00.000-08:00

Well...I guess it's been awhile. Mostly because the camera is broken and I think the updates are more exciting with pictures, but alas, here I am. The job is still fantastic! Such a good move, I am very happy. I have had a busy month or so I guess. Holiday time always gets so busy in this city. Also, my birthday was this past week. Thanks so much to everyone for all of the fantastic birthday wishes, gifts, cards, snacks, drinks, etc. It was really nice to feel so loved :). Also, just a note for those of you who didn't make it to the festivities on Fri, DO NOT go to Latitude for any reason. It was terrible and ghetto. Seriously don't even bother. Got to visit Tash and Nick in Nashville a few weekends ago, which was a blast! I DO actually have pics from that weekend, but no time to post them now. I'll do it soon! I promise. For all my cali peeps...I'll be home Dec 24-30. Hit me up if you want to hang. Oh and I have seen some pretty fantastic movies if anyone needs a recommendation- Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, No Country for Old Men, Juno, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (but don't sit in the back because you will never be able to read the subtitles over everyone's heads!)

Also, for those of you knew about Movie Trailer boy...it's over. Don't ask, just don't. Let's just say don't ever break up with anyone at their birthday party. It's just plain not nice and really terrible timing if I do say so myself. He was too tall for me anyway. bleh. That said, if anyone has a single friend, well, you know where to find me :)

Alright, it's Sunday night and tomorrow is back to the grind, so I guess I'd better hit the sack. Happy Holidays to all and have a good week!

New Job

2007-11-12T15:22:00.000-08:00

So I've been at the new gig for about a week now and I am loving it! Thanks to everyone for checking in to see how it is going. So far, everything is fantastic!

Best Day

2007-11-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

Today was a fantastic day. Yesterday was my last day at work, and I don't start the new gig until Monday, so I have a few days off to do whatever I please. Although I had the chance to sleep in, I woke up around 8:45 anyway. I hung out for awhile, watched TV, got ready...just kind of took my time and hung around the apt. I met Heather in Soho around 1:30. Let me first tell you how fabulous the weather was. It was a perfect day. Not too hot, not too cold, not too humid (so my hair could stay cute). Anyway, we went shopping, had a "snack" at this little French cafe called Cafe Gitane (Mott and Prince-one of the best places EVER in the city) which I absolutely LOVE. It was fantastic. Good food, super cute place, fantastic company! So then we went back out shopping. We didn't buy anything (go us) then went for pedicures. I think we both could have fallen asleep in a second. After pedicures Heath had to go to work and I had to go back uptown to get ready to go out later, so we had to part ways. It was sad because we had such a wonderful day together. So I go back up to my neighborhood and I'm running to the bank, etc., I'm walking back to my apt and what do I see but a huge movie trailer with all these dressing rooms outside of my apt. Nothing was shooting yet, but you can bet I'll be going back down in a few minutes to check it out! I'm PRAYING that it is Sex and the City. Right on my block. How cool would that be??? Ok so then I'm almost to my door and what do I see, but a friend from work who quit about a month ago! He lives on my block, but I have never seen him before. So we stood on the street and chatted for a bit. It felt so neighborhoody chatting with my neighbors. It was the best New York day ever and I had so much fun! Thanks, Heath, for such a fun time! xoxo (come on, you know what that is referring to)

Today

2007-10-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween to everyone! I moved to NYC last year on Halloween. So, technically, I've been here for over a year. I can't even believe it. It feels like I have been here forever, yet went by so fast all at the same time. I am still loving it, so I guess that's all that matters, right? Anyway, Happy 1-year to me! YAY!

Mom and Dad in NYC

2007-10-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Finally I'm uploading the pics from mom and dad's visit a few weeks ago. We saw a lot, walked a lot, ate a lot, and had a blast! I'm sure they can't wait to come back! Thanks to Chris, Heather and the Upper East Side kids for hanging out with us...

Top of the Rock

My Pals at Vynl!

Mom's Bday Dinner at Tavern on the Green

Bday Drinks at The Stone Rose

Radio City

St. Patrick's

At the bar

Mom and Chris on the dance floor...well not really but they made their own

Central Park

Jersey Boys!

Me, Chris and Healther!

Little Italy

Statue of liberty is in the background, but it was really foggy

Recovered from WTC

The Bull in the Financial District

South Street Seaport

Brangelina

2007-10-15T13:07:00.001-07:00

I forgot to say that the Brangelina's moved out of NYC. And I never got a sighting. boo.

Weekend

2007-10-15T12:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, first of all, I still need to upload the pics from mom and dad's trip, but haven't had a chance (since they are on my home computer and I am at work), but I will try to get those up this week.

So for this past weekend...

It was the first weekend it started to get a little cold here in NYC. It is SO fantastic. Everyone will tell you how much the winter sucks (and maybe I will in a few months too), but for now, I am LOVING it. The fall is so beautiful and peaceful and festive. I love it. Last year, winter wasn't too bad, so maybe I had it easy, but I loved it. I've never lived in snow and I thought it was fantastic to have so many extreme seasons.

The weekend was comprised of a lot of different neighborhoods and goings on. Friday night, I was feeling lazy and I had to clean from the Game Night we had on Thurs, so I stayed in. Heather came over after her show and we just hung out. It was so nice to just relax and wear PJs. YAY. Saturday I ran some errands, hung out in the park and then went to the West Side to see a movie with Heath. (Jane Austen Book Club- don't waste your money- although I think we got our money's worth making fun of it after because I was laughing about it all night long). After the movie, I went home to change and met everyone out for Daniela's Bday. We went to Pegu Club down in SoHo first (good specialty drinks!) and then to Society, where I've never been. It was such a fun night! Maybe a few too many drinks as I was trying to cut back, but whatever. You only live once right? Happy B Day Daniela!

So we got home late on Sat, and then I was meeting the boys for brunch on Sunday. I got to see Chris and Joe's new Chelsea apt (so beautiful!) and we went to brunch in their neighborhood. Then we decided to have an adventure and go to Macy's on a Sunday- I can't believe we did it, but we did. We had fun picking out bedding :). Then had dinner at this little Italian place that was good. I was so tired by the end of the day that I couldn't make it out for another drink and had to go home right after dinner. Oh, also Chris and Joe gave me their extra coat rack that is SO perfect for my apt. I love it!

Now it's back to Monday and back to the grind. My last day is 10/31 and I start the new gig on 11/5. Wish me luck!

PS I'm trying to be better about updating the blog, so if you check back more often, hopefully there will be some new material for you to read :)

xoxo

Game Night

2007-10-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so last night was game night. I have no pictures bc the camera is not fixed yet, but we had a great time! Hyun and Claire tied for the winners of Balderdash (the best game EVER). I somehow took the cake on Apples to Apples (which wasn't as funny as we had all hoped) and they Syracuse girls (Katie, Wendi, Heidi and Marina) came from behind to beat the Media Planners for the Taboo trophy. By the time we moved on to Cranium, I think we had all had a bit too much wine and couldn't really get it together to play the game (especially those of us secretly turning the games into drinking games). The recycling man will be happy with all my glass contributions. Also, we had no spills and no breaking glasses! I must admit that the iPod playlist was a little lacking- that was my fault. Well actually it is iTunes fault because they are processing my information wrong and won't let me log on. Everyone brought great wine and snacks (cheesecake on a stick and homemade spinach/artichoke dip- does it get any better!?). Oh and obviously we went to Baker Street after. Shocking. Thanks for a fun night girls! I had a blast :)

Sex and the City

2007-10-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

FINALLY I saw them shooting. Everyone else in this city has seen them except me. They were just outside Bryant Park/NY Public Library shooting the wedding scene. Unfortunately the camera is broken and I didn't have my phone with me, so no pics, but I did see Sarah Jessica, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon! Just a few feet away. I felt like I was watching TV :) I owe it all to Claire who decided we should go to Zeytins for lunch. Thanks Claire! woohoo!

Think

2007-09-24T08:31:00.001-07:00

think.mtv.com. Go to it. Join it. Do something.

Deleted

2007-09-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

So, there was this guy. I decided today I am deleting him from the phone. Chris asked me "what gets someone deleted from the phone?" The answer is as follows:

probably someone who texts me two weekends ago to go out. I politely respond that I cannot because I am at a wedding out of town. He says we will hang out soon. I text him TWICE last weekend which he chooses to ignore. Randomly texts me Tues night, inviting me out to "one of the best bars in the city" wed night. I reply wed, "sure! what time?" to which I get no response. Later I text again thinking that my original text never went through (or maybe making an excuse for myself to text him again) also to which I get no response. No text, no phone call, nothing. Ever. Why did he even invite me out then? I want to write back and say "thanks for inviting me out and then completely ignoring me. that was awesome," (especially since I didn't like the guy all that much to begin with, and was trying to give him a fair chance), but decided that just saying nothing is better and the only way to achieve this is to delete him, otherwise I will just be tempted to make some comment. AND if he EVER texts me again I won't know the number and I'll be like "who is this?" and he'll feel like a jackass. No more chances for him.

That is what gets someone deleted from the phone.

La Palapa

2007-08-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

We went to La Palapa in the East Village (St. Mark's and 1st) last night for HH. It was awesome. The Apps were wonderful (Chorizo Fondu- amazing) and the margs were great also (try the Pink Cadillac Low Rider Margarita). Plus, the place is really cute. The only thing is that it is apparently considered as more of a restaurant, so it closes at 12- so don't plan on late night cocktails or snacks. Good for after work though. Check it.

Subways

2007-08-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

Not that anyone reads my blog for their morning news, but I just wanted to make a comment on this. So, yes, there was a HUGE storm overnight on the East Coast. There was even a tornado in Brooklyn. Yes, it woke me up (the storm, not the tornado). Yes, it is still really freaking hot in the city and now more steamy and smelly than before. So gross. Also, I am a big fun of public transportation, it is one of my favorite things about NYC (and the roads are probably a lot safer without me on them), but let me just show you how confusing it is when something disrupts the transit routes (not to mention that I was stuck underground for 45 minutes, packed onto the train like sardines, got whacked in the face with an old man's backpack and was an hour late to work only to realize that everyone else is working from home today):

Due to severe flooding throughout the subway system, there are extensive delays on all subway lines. Customers are advised when at all possible to use bus service. The detours are as follows:

There is no V train service in both directions between the 2nd Avenue Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no W train service in both directions between the Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard and Whitehall Street.

There is no Franklin Avenue Shuttle (S) train service in both directions between the Prospect Park Station and the Franklin Avenue Station.

There is no G train service in both directions between the Long Island City-Court Square Station and the Smith-9th Street Station.

The R train is running on the N line in both directions between the Canal Street Station and the DeKalb Avenue Station.

There is no 1 train service in both directions between the 14th Street Station and the South Ferry Station.

There is no 2 train service in both directions between the Penn Station-34th Street Station and the Brooklyn College-Flatbush Avenue Station.

There is no 3 train service in both directions between the Harlem-148th Street Station and the New Lots Avenue Station.

The A and C trains are running local in both directions between the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Station and the Broadway Junction Station.

There is no E train service in both directions between the 23rd Street-Ely Avenue Station and the Jamaica Center-Parsons-Archer Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Jamaica-179th Street Station and the Forest Hills-71st Avenue Station.

There is no F train service in both directions between the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station and the Jay Street-Boro Hall Station.

There is no 4, 5 or 6 train service in both directions between the 125th Street Station and the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall.

There is no L train service in both directions between the Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway Station and the 8th Avenue Station.

There is no 42nd Street Shuttle (S) train service in both directions between the Times Square-42nd Street Station and the Grand Central-42nd Street Station.

Astoria-bound N trains are running on the D or M lines from the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station to the 36th Street Station.

J trains are running with residual delays.

In addition, due to debris on the track at the Church Avenue Station, the B and Q trains are running on the D or N line in both directions between the DeKalb Avenue Station and the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station.

Please expect delays in service system wide at this time.

Oh, also the MTA website was down, so you have to go to a completely different site to get this info.

Matador

2007-08-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I met some friends for HH on Friday (aka Harry and Ron) ;)

Anyway, we went to this fabulous tapas place called Matador. They have half priced Sangria, Draft Beer and Tapas from 5-8. Definitely worth checking out as there were 5 of us and we were there for a good 3 hours or so and the bill was just over $100. And we ate and had drinks AND food. It was great. Anyway, definitely worth checking out if you need a good HH place downtown (Greenwich Ave at Perry St). Additional info here. Also, there is this pub across the street that reminds of Hogsmeade (HP fans!), but I can't remember the name. What I DO remember is thinking "why is it that when you go downtown, a pub turns into a total scene?" I mean seriously everyone was dressed up as if they were going out clubbing or to a nice dinner or something. We are in a PUB for cryin out loud. Please people. Obviously I was in a T-shirt and flip flops-it was Friday work attire. Needless to say that after HH (a few sangrias, a few beers) and the pub (a few more beers, maybe a shot or two) I had no problem standing in the rain trying to catch a cab or singing the Harry Potter theme (or attempting to, rather) in the cab on the way to the NEXT bar uptown. I think I was home around 4am (or so I was told). I love NYC! Mom and Dad, I hope you're ready :)

8 Coupons

2007-08-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, so for now this is only good for the NYCers, but I'm sure it will spread. It's this coupon service where you can go to the site and have coupons sent directly to your cell phone (in a text). This way there is no coupon clipping, lugging around, losing etc. involved. You just show them your phone with the coupon in it and it is a done deal. This is especially interesting for all you Direct Marketers out there...maybe it'll help us put an end to all that junk mail. Anyway, the launch in NYC is tomorrow are there are some good deals listed. Check it out here.
If you want to log in today, use the code "THRILLIST." Otherwise, the official launch is tomorrow (8/8 at 8am 8 minutes and 8 seconds). Why can't I for once think of an idea like this FIRST???? Damn.

New Times Square Lunch Place

2007-07-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, so for those of us who work in the 1440 building, there is pretty much only one place we eat lunch, the one stop shop that has everything and anything you could want, in and out in a matter of 5 minutes and back eating at your desk in no time, yes that's right folks, I'm talking about Cafe Duke. Well after you have eaten there everyday for 15 business days straight, despite the variety, it gets a little old.

Well, luckily for us, we have a fabulous new lunch place called Zeytinz (insert credit to Claire for discovering here). It is awesome. Better food than Duke's for sure. Maybe not as much variety, but still a pretty good number of choices. Today I had the taco bowl, which I would strongly recommend. It was fantastic. The salad bar is also wonderful

So if you find yourself hungry in midtown, check out Zeytinz at 24 W. 40th Street (between 5th and 6th). You will not be disappointed.

Explosion in Midtown

2007-07-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

It was close to my office, but we are all safe. Thanks for the calls and emails.

I am not the only one with mice!

2007-07-02T14:07:00.001-07:00

new employee orientation

New 'Times' HQ Has "A Herd" Of Mice

There's an email circulating today among the ad sales people on the 19th floor of the new Times building—let's just say that it's a good thing it's summer and people aren't eating lunch at their desks as much! Or, you know... eek! Mice! The email follows.

Apparently the mouse control efforts on 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 have been very successful. We know this because a herd (???) of mice have been stampeding on the 19th floor. Building services is on the case, and will address this immediately. Please stay calm.... Help is on the way. An extra sales call might be a great idea...
Also, please suspend any dining on our floors immediately, and dispose of any food or waste in the receptacles found in each mail room. Do not keep food of any kind on or in your desk, this is why our guests have joined us.

Our "guests" indeed.

Black Out

2007-06-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

There is a blackout. It is on the Upper East Side. This is where I live. Hopefully it is not on my block or I will have no A/C in this heat. Here is the most recent Article

Kelly Clarkson!

2007-06-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at about 10 am Chris alerted me that Kelly would be shooting a segment for the Early Show and performing on the stage outside the Apple Store. I ran out at lunch and got to see her! We learned that she loves to wear spangles on her shirt and that Hollywood does not really exist but is a made up place and everyone in America is fooled into thinking celebrities live there (tourists are so smart). I LOVE KELLY!

SoCal Baby!

2007-06-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Alright guys, so I went home to Cali for Vacay last week. I had a great time. Got to spend time with family and friends, see the Padres, do some driving, do some drinking (not together of course!), hang out at the beach, get a little tan... I miss the West Coast! Anyway, I had a great time and thanks so much to those of you who made th effort to spend time with me while I was there, it was so great to see all of you. I miss you! xoxo

Me and Lins!

Schmoops!

How good is that banana JJ?

Santa Monica Pier

Me and Cody!

My toe is a midget

Me and JJ! YAY!

So Serious

Go Padres!

Um the cutest thing ever.

Shane and Rose

Dom, Keith, Cody and little Tristan!

Me and Natalie

Britt and Scott. Scott is the slowest ice cream eater I've ever seen.

Uh-oh time for cake!

Thanks dad!

Sharing with daddy!

Mom and Natalie

Seriously what can you even say?

Me and JJ!

My crazy brother

Me, Keith and Tristan!

Mom, Rose, Me, Grandma, Diane and Aunt Mo!

My girls! Kaite, Lins, Me, Syd and Sandra.

My favorite face ever.

I did the hair for this one!

Chris' Bday

2007-06-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so these are really late and there aren't that many, but we had a blast! Happy 26 CV!

Joey must be drunk...he's kissing all the girls again

Who is that guy anyway?

Again with the kissing...

Birthday boy!

Random Pics

2007-05-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

Some Random pics from the week/weekend. Happy Memorial Day! Also, it was fleet week, but I didn't get any pics with sailors =( Enjoy!

What a great thing.

Central Park! Finally it's warm. Central Park is like the beach in Cali. As soon as it's nice out, everyone goes and lays out, plays games and picnics. How great.

Some random guys couldn't get their camera to work so I told them I'd take a pic and email it to them. I'm so nice.

Juli with the one-nutters!

What we do at work.

Texts During Dinner

2007-05-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Text messaging, by the way, is no better than carrying on a phone conversation at the dinner table or anything else for that matter. Please do not make the mistake of assuming that because you can press those little buttons or that the new track scrolling tool is silent that it is OK to do so.

On the contrary, aside from being improper BlackBerry etiquette, most people look downright silly holding their little machines and struggling to spell words and abbreviate sentences with that little blinking cursor driving them crazy. If the message simply cannot wait, excuse yourself to an empty hallway or room and handle your business there.

Full article here

New Orleans

2007-05-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

So we went to New Orleans for the publisher summit last week. It was a great time. We got to see the city, do some charity work, network with some of our publishers and attend some insightful meetings. New Orleans is still in the process of recovery from Katrina and there is evidence of this all over the city- from broken windows in buildings to abandoned boats randomly on the side of the road. It was an amazing experience to hear first hand from some of the victims and I'm glad we got the chance to help the recovery effort- even if it was only for a few hours. All in all it was a great time. Just watch out for those hurricanes and no, I'm not talking about the storms.

Cafe du Monde

Mississippi River

Geeks with the Cannon

Me and Emily at the cocktail party

The Group at Pat O'Briens

Hyun and Tara. That darn Hurricaine got in the way.

Me and Lisa- apparently I was holding the camera. ha

Claire and Joanna

View of the river from my hotel room

More hotel room views

Troy singing at the cocktail party!

"Networking"

My team! We are so pretty =)

Hi Claire!

Fire in a fountain. So cool.

Emily, Claire and Hyun. Where'd you get those baby blues??

The van ride over

Bourbon Street

The fountain with fire again!

Sightseeing Day

2007-05-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

So for some crazy reason Chris and I decided to be tourists on Sunday and walked all over the place. Literally. We even walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and then to hipsterville. It was a very interesting experience. But we are so funny, so it was a blast. Thanks for tour guiding me CV.

View of the Empire State Building from the Brooklyn Bridge

View of the City from the Brooklyn Bridge

Sign on the bus...for some reason I thought this was funny.

China Town- no mom, I didn't start speaking Chinese

City Hall Park. So beautiful.

City Hall Park again

The Seaport (is that what it's called??)

Seaport again- a ship with some bldgs in the background

St. Patrick's

Tulips on Madison Ave

Martin's Bday

2007-05-01T15:02:00.001-07:00

Katie's Bday

2007-05-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth's Birthday

2007-04-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

90210!

Chris Sandwich

I look like a bald person. I know.

Dining for Darfur

2007-04-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

This Sunday all restaurants on the DFD list will donate 5% of sales to the humanitarian work in Darfur and Chad. All you have to do is go eat. Easy. Click here for info

Juli's Bday

2007-04-22T14:54:00.001-07:00

Got it

2007-04-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Mouse #2- down.

Yet Again

2007-04-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

So as most of you know, the bane of my existence a few weeks ago was this mouse in my apartment. I was back and forth between sleeping at Chris' apartment and staying awake all night trying to live in my own apt. It was a total nightmare. Luckily, we finally caught it and plugged all possible holes we found. Since then I am still paranoid and shooting out of bed every time I hear the smallest noise. Scarred for life some might say. Well I was just starting to calm down, feel better about the whole situation when I wake up this morning to none other than a mouse dropping in the kitchen. "You have got to be kidding me" I told myself. Oh no, I was not kidding. This is where I just about start crying. I even have those really high pitched noise makers that only mice can hear in every room of my apartment. The strange thing this time is that I have not yet heard the mouse, just found these mouse droppings this morning. I am at a loss. I do not know what to do. This is such a frustrating situation for me. I might have to get a cat just to keep the mice away, but I do not particularly like cats and I do not want animal hair all over my apartment. I guess I'd rather live with a cat than a mouse. Any suggestions? Comments? Help? I am so frustrated.

Office, etc

2007-04-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

Pretending we are tourists in Times Square...

View of Times Square from just outside our office. Chaos.

Emily with the Guys on the street...I don't even know what these guys do. I think maybe some MTA bus drivers?

Outside my office...the big flag displaying our address. ha

Free Ben & Jerry's

2007-04-17T09:31:00.001-07:00

http://www.lifehacker.com/software/food/today-is-free-cone-day-at-ben--jerrys-252759.php
Thanks Nancy!

TBS

2007-04-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, seriously Keanu Reeves has been on TBS all freaking weekend long. Movie after move. How do I know this? Because I don't have cable, but I tried to hi-jack it from this cable cord hanging outside my window, so I get a few of the cable networks for free. TBS being one of the few I am actually somewhat interested in watching (mostly for the FRIENDS and Sex in the City reruns). But seriously how am I supposed to waste my weekend relaxing, watching mindless hours of television if the damn Keanu movies make me more tense than I was before I started watching. Not to mention Sweet November has been on every weekend for like a month. I started out thinking "wow, this is actually an ok movie." Now? "This damn movie again!? PLEASE make it stop." It looks like I might have to suck it up and just pay for the cable so I can watch the mind-numbing entertainment shows on E!, VH1 and MTV all weekend. But seriously, someone needs to tell TBS to re-think their movie schedule. No more Keanu (especially Sweet November) please. PLEASE.

Landlord

2007-04-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Alright, welcome to my blog. This is what you get when I am bored at work. The Landlord