Marymount Living

This week has started out rough, as I have a bad cold. Trying to get myself to do work while I’m feeling so bad isn’t fun!

I’ve been thinking a lot about where I’m going to be living next year, and I finally made a decision. I’m going to be at de Hirsch, the residence hall at the 92nd Street Y. Many people I know don’t want to live there because it has communal bathrooms, but I had those at my last college and it didn’t bother me. It’s worth it for the other benefits, like the fact that it’s within walking distance to the Met and Central Park! Who could say no to that? I can’t wait for the fall semester to start so I can move in!

The 92nd Street Y!

I’ve also learned a lesson in finances this semester. My first time at Marymount (fall 2008), my meal plan was gone by December. I was afraid it would happen again, so I spent more wisely – a little too wisely! I ended up under-spending, and I still have a fair amount left, meaning I get to buy a lot of non-perishable foods at the 55^th Street C-Store. The fall will be my test: can I balance it all, without spending too much or too little? Only time will tell.

The C-Store at 55th

Does anyone have any good money-budgeting tips?

Lots of papers, but city fun!

I’ve been really busy with schoolwork lately. The semester started off very slow for me, but I have tons of work in my classes now – oh, the joys of college!

I’m currently working on an oral history paper for my “Becoming American” class (about immigration novels), and I get to talk about one of my ancestors who did some crazy stuff back in late 1800s Italy. I’m also trying to think of a topic for a dance history research paper. So far I’ve considered burlesque and vaudeville dancing, dance in Germany, and dance in the LGBTQ community as topics I might want to write about. I’m still unsure!

Last week was amazing for me in the city. Last Monday, I went to a screening of “Who Took The Bomp?: Le Tigre on Tour” at the Museum of Modern Art. Two of the band members, Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman, were there. They’re two of my biggest idols, and I got to talk to them briefly after the screening! It was incredible. Thursday was even better, though! I saw Stephen Sondheim’s Company at the New York Philharmonic. Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Christina Hendricks, Patti LuPone, and Jon Cryer were all in it. It was the best live theatre I’ve ever seen.

Has anyone else seen it?

NPH & Christina Hendricks!

The weekend was lovely, too. I went to SUNY Purchase, where my girlfriend Amanda attends school, for a zombie prom. It was interesting, and the dressing up was tons of fun! I needed a really long shower to get the fake blood and makeup off my skin, but it was worth the fun. It also made me really excited for the boat dance Marymount has each year! It’ll be my first time going and I can’t wait.

I’m not excited for all the work I have to get done this week, but I’m going to make it happen regardless! Is anyone else going through the almost-end-of-semester work overload?

Spring break fun (and studying)

This week past week has been a lot of fun! It’s nice to be living in the city, because it means I can do a lot more exciting things. On Tuesday, I went to see the autobiographical one-woman show of Daphne Rubin-Vega, Frequently Unanswered Questions, at the Living Theater on the Lower East Side. It was great!

Donald and Gillian, my comedy heroes (not taken by me – I wish!)

Then, on Thursday, I went to the taping of Donald Glover’s Comedy Central special, Weirdo. He’s one of the actors on the TV show Community, and his costar Gillian Jacobs was sitting in the audience right behind me – I was definitely star struck! He was hilarious, and the special should air sometime this summer. I can’t wait to see it and check out if they show me in the audience!

My mother is having foot surgery tomorrow morning, so I will be spending my spring break at home in Connecticut. I’ll be helping her recover, studying for my Dance History midterm, and writing a paper for my Sociology of Race class, all while taking care of a very needy dog. This time next week I’ll be back at Marymount, preparing to take my big midterm. Wish me luck!

Lorelei, the dog

Well, I’m off to study. I hope everyone is having a good start to their spring, even if the weather doesn’t feel like it just yet!

It's finally feeling like spring!

Hello everyone! My name is Erica and I’m a new blogger for City Lights. I’m a sociology major currently living at the 55^th Street residence hall. This is my first semester back at Marymount after three semesters at a college back home (New Haven, CT). I’m happy to be back!

 

Our apartment’s door. I love the fish!

The semester has being going smoothly so far. I’m taking four classes: Dance & Cultural History, Sociology of Race, Marketing, and Becoming American. I’ve been lucky and all of the classes are great. For example, one of my recent Marketing homework assignments was to smile at people throughout the day! There were other more traditional assignments that week, but naturally that one was the most fun.

Getting to re-explore the city has been great. Two of my suitemates and I went grocery shopping last weekend, and to get there we strolled through Central Park. We also had waffles from the Wafels & Dinges truck -- a must-try for everyone! 

Seals being fed at the Central Park Zoo

Someone put grapes & strawberries on it to form a peace sign!

I’ve also been taking advantage of 55^th’s proximity to the 54^th Street Barnes & Noble. You can sit down anywhere, relax, go online, and read some books without anyone bothering you.

 

(You can also take photos of people book-shopping, hee.)

That's all for this week. I'm thinking of going to MoMA on Friday, since every Friday is free from 4-8 PM! There's an exhibit on 80s and 90s music in NYC that I just have to see. Are there any other cool exhibits I should check out while I'm there?

Ciao!