Rain boots & more

Yesterday, I saw a man on the subway dressed in a full-size, mascot-style Elmo costume. No big deal. Just another day on the NYC subway.

The pear-brie-walnut crêpe at the West Village's Crêperie is officially my new favorite food. I crave it all the time. Good thing it's not near Columbia, or else I'd be a lot poorer. Seriously though, it's delicious. The next time anyone reading this blog comes to the city, I'm taking you there. You can get whatever you want (full menu of savory [meat or veg] and sweet), but I'll get my pear-brie-walnut. You can try a bite.

I've got my commute to Columbia nailed down to a T. I take the E from Jackson Heights and get in the subway entrance by the old theater marquee, putting me at the front of the car. I switch at 7th Ave/53rd St, go down the stairs, and walk forward (towards the back of the train) a few columns. I get on the uptown B/D and take it to 59th St/Columbus Circle. By walking a bit at 7th Ave, I positioned myself by the perfect stair in Columbus Circle- closest to the 1 train. I can always double check that I'm in the right spot at the platform level because there's a circular opening with a railing in the floor of the level above me a little ways over, and I position myself against it. Then I climb up the stairs, and walk over to the 1 Line. Walk a little to the right, stand by the column, and the train's door will open right in front of me. It'll come in crowded, but a lot of people will get off and I can usually get a seat.

It's this level of comfort in my commute that makes me feel like I really, truly live here.

And oh my, the boots. It's been raining all week, and on Monday I took extra pleasure in making a list of all the different patterned rain boots I saw. It is, after all, New York City. Everyone has to be fashionable, or at least stand out in their own way. I saw argyle patterns, polka dots large and small, pretty printed roses, preppy little whales, and the black industrial style “Hunter” brand. I saw stripes, both horizontal and vertical, skinny and fat, plaid, bright solid colors (teal, red, whatever), grey ankle-length boots, and black alligator skin style. I saw hipster-grunge skulls with roses, high heeled purple boots, and fashionista fur-lined Juicy Couture. There were hearts, houndstooth, checkered, little owls on forest green felt, and yellow boots that laced up Converse-style. I saw rubber flower apliqués, camo print, babies with cherries, graffiti scribbles, blue cheetah print, and zebra print with pink trim.

Like I said, everyone's got something to say (or show, or splash).