Sorry for the recent delay, but the day to day hustle of my real job got in the way of having the chance for you all to read the finale to the past weekend adventures all about winging it. To recap, the beginning to my weekend was as follows:
- Thursday, March 31st, 2016: UJA Russian Division Signature Event at the The Bowery Hotel, NY, NY (Drive Home post event and sleep at home)
- Friday, April 1st, 2016: Pop Up Mob's Tropicana Black Tie Party at the Diamond Horseshoe, NY, NY (Sleep over at a friend's apartment in the city)
The UJA event and the Tropicana Black Tie Party were fantastic. With two big events back to back, I had planned for Saturday to be a day of rest (as G-d had always planned), before heading out Sunday with the entire family for my brother's wedding anniversary. After only a few hours of sleep, I went to sweat out all the toxins and had a great workout with my trainer. An hour of weights, cardio, and stretching always wakes me up and puts me in a good mood for the rest of the day. After that, what I thought would be a quiet day, turned into another escapade out. I got a phone call from a few girl friends saying they are out for brunch in the city and wanted me to join. It sounded like an innocent afternoon catching up with some of the best girls I know. So, I quickly changed at the gym and hopped in the car. (Thank goodness I always carry spare clothing with me. You should always be prepared for the unexpected.)
It was a nice afternoon spent reminiscing about previous bachelorette parties to upcoming wedding festivities for some in the group. As some of the ladies had other plans later with their fiances and other friends, one of the ladies wanted to continue on with the fun. Who am I to deny one of my friends who doesn't have the opportunity to come out all the time for some good ole fashioned city escapes. I can relate to her as she is also in the healthcare career. It can be demanding hours different from the corporate lifestyle.
So my friend and I traveled over to Williamsburg for some gin and juice (a.k.a vino for me) at a local French bistro called Juliette. (SHOUTOUT: Juliette is a fantastic Williamsburg, Brooklyn institution for some yummy french bistro classics. The decor and vibe transports you to Paris in the Montmartre neighborhood near Sacre-Coeur. In one room, you have vines hanging from the ceiling making you feel like you are in a secret garden. The bar area has a great Parisian feel from the tiled floor to the red leather upholstered bar chairs. They also have rooftop seating for the warmer summer months. The waitstaff is attentive and you can always count on a good time there.)
My friend's husband was out as well with my brother and his wife in the city. So, we decided that at some point of the evening we would meet up with them. We assumed that they would tell us to meet them at a local bar in the UES where my brother lives, but instead I received a text message from my brother stating,
We had no intention of crashing a house party. But in the end, we both came to an agreement, if the party is "no bueno", we can easily sneak out and go back out on our own and take my brother's wife with us. When we showed up to my brother's apartment building, the doormen already knew we were heading up to Tim's apartment. As I always joke around with the doormen, I invited them to come up with us, to which they said, once they are done with their shift, they may come up.
Now, I don't know about you, but, the last time I attended a house party was in my college days. I expected Tom to be a fresh out of college male who is sharing an apartment with his "Bro's" and decided to relive the beer pong days. Well, I was not too far from the truth. We took the elevator up to the 42nd floor. As we stepped out of the elevator I could hear the liveliness down the hall that was coming from Tim's place. I was sure to be walking into a Frat party now. I was curious how the neighbors were ok with this. We knocked on the door to which there was no response due to the noise level. (Typical.) Finally, after a text to my brother, the door swings open. We were greeted by the host, Tim, who was a fit, salt and pepper male, in his early 50's. (Not what I was expecting, but then again, who else could afford a penthouse apartment in this building. I should have known better.) He had just finished renovating his apartment and invited people to come and see his latest digs. The apartment had floor to ceiling windows running through the entire place with a wrap around balcony with views stretching from the Onasis reservoir in Central Park (and beyond to New Jersey) all the way down to the Empire State Building and Freedom tower. The new marble kitchen (which had plastic wrap still on the entire marble counter top) was anointed with every liquor you can imagine to have his guests imbibe all night. Apparently, there was also a stripper pole built in his bedroom. (I avoided that part of the tour.) As I looked through the crowd, the age range varied from the 30's all the way up to 60's. It was interesting to meet the eclectic crowd and how they each knew Tim. Everyone only had high praises for Tim and I could see why. He was surely a great friend to all. He was genuine and just wanted everyone to have a good time.
I met the equivalent of the "Bro's" in one corner of the living room. They were all in their 40's and enjoying the single life still. They spoke about their previous summers of renting homes in the Hampton's and invited me to this summer's festivities. (Score!) Eventually, I was snatched up by an Eastern European fellow who lived in the Sheepshead Bay area followed by a West coast transplant living downtown. We spoke a good portion of the evening about our respective careers in healthcare and how Coney Island Hospital is need of additional funding on top of the recent funding and renovations already put in. (I should know from last years unexpected visit I had in the ER.)
Nothing ever developed from that evening of chats and laughter besides a need for some Advil and coconut water to hydrate myself before bedtime in the wee hours of the morning. When you look up the term "Winging It" in the Urban Dictionary, you get the definition, "to improvise with little preparation". That particular Saturday was truly about winging it. It went from a day arranged to be set with no plans besides relaxation, to just going with the flow and enjoying where life takes me. I think an evening like this helps me work on networking and my social skills. My brother used to call me a "Socio-phobe" My brother has been (and still is) the life of a party. He is always charismatic and can start a conversation with anyone. (And I truly mean anyone!) I would always hide behind his shadows, but with his confidence and his pep talks, I am now able to stand on my own two feet.
So, to those individuals who find excuses to avoid a social gathering out and about, I say, F*&k it! In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take. So next time you get that last minute text from a friend saying come and hang out, do it. Don't revert back to being tired or lazy to commute out. Just go out and have fun. Sleep is for the afterlife.
Besos,
Ilana
So my friend and I traveled over to Williamsburg for some gin and juice (a.k.a vino for me) at a local French bistro called Juliette. (SHOUTOUT: Juliette is a fantastic Williamsburg, Brooklyn institution for some yummy french bistro classics. The decor and vibe transports you to Paris in the Montmartre neighborhood near Sacre-Coeur. In one room, you have vines hanging from the ceiling making you feel like you are in a secret garden. The bar area has a great Parisian feel from the tiled floor to the red leather upholstered bar chairs. They also have rooftop seating for the warmer summer months. The waitstaff is attentive and you can always count on a good time there.)
My friend's husband was out as well with my brother and his wife in the city. So, we decided that at some point of the evening we would meet up with them. We assumed that they would tell us to meet them at a local bar in the UES where my brother lives, but instead I received a text message from my brother stating,
"Guy in my building having a penthouse party. Come by. His name is Tim."
We had no intention of crashing a house party. But in the end, we both came to an agreement, if the party is "no bueno", we can easily sneak out and go back out on our own and take my brother's wife with us. When we showed up to my brother's apartment building, the doormen already knew we were heading up to Tim's apartment. As I always joke around with the doormen, I invited them to come up with us, to which they said, once they are done with their shift, they may come up.
 |
| Panorama shot from Tim's Balcony |
Now, I don't know about you, but, the last time I attended a house party was in my college days. I expected Tom to be a fresh out of college male who is sharing an apartment with his "Bro's" and decided to relive the beer pong days. Well, I was not too far from the truth. We took the elevator up to the 42nd floor. As we stepped out of the elevator I could hear the liveliness down the hall that was coming from Tim's place. I was sure to be walking into a Frat party now. I was curious how the neighbors were ok with this. We knocked on the door to which there was no response due to the noise level. (Typical.) Finally, after a text to my brother, the door swings open. We were greeted by the host, Tim, who was a fit, salt and pepper male, in his early 50's. (Not what I was expecting, but then again, who else could afford a penthouse apartment in this building. I should have known better.) He had just finished renovating his apartment and invited people to come and see his latest digs. The apartment had floor to ceiling windows running through the entire place with a wrap around balcony with views stretching from the Onasis reservoir in Central Park (and beyond to New Jersey) all the way down to the Empire State Building and Freedom tower. The new marble kitchen (which had plastic wrap still on the entire marble counter top) was anointed with every liquor you can imagine to have his guests imbibe all night. Apparently, there was also a stripper pole built in his bedroom. (I avoided that part of the tour.) As I looked through the crowd, the age range varied from the 30's all the way up to 60's. It was interesting to meet the eclectic crowd and how they each knew Tim. Everyone only had high praises for Tim and I could see why. He was surely a great friend to all. He was genuine and just wanted everyone to have a good time.
I met the equivalent of the "Bro's" in one corner of the living room. They were all in their 40's and enjoying the single life still. They spoke about their previous summers of renting homes in the Hampton's and invited me to this summer's festivities. (Score!) Eventually, I was snatched up by an Eastern European fellow who lived in the Sheepshead Bay area followed by a West coast transplant living downtown. We spoke a good portion of the evening about our respective careers in healthcare and how Coney Island Hospital is need of additional funding on top of the recent funding and renovations already put in. (I should know from last years unexpected visit I had in the ER.)
Nothing ever developed from that evening of chats and laughter besides a need for some Advil and coconut water to hydrate myself before bedtime in the wee hours of the morning. When you look up the term "Winging It" in the Urban Dictionary, you get the definition, "to improvise with little preparation". That particular Saturday was truly about winging it. It went from a day arranged to be set with no plans besides relaxation, to just going with the flow and enjoying where life takes me. I think an evening like this helps me work on networking and my social skills. My brother used to call me a "Socio-phobe" My brother has been (and still is) the life of a party. He is always charismatic and can start a conversation with anyone. (And I truly mean anyone!) I would always hide behind his shadows, but with his confidence and his pep talks, I am now able to stand on my own two feet.
So, to those individuals who find excuses to avoid a social gathering out and about, I say, F*&k it! In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take. So next time you get that last minute text from a friend saying come and hang out, do it. Don't revert back to being tired or lazy to commute out. Just go out and have fun. Sleep is for the afterlife.
Besos,
Ilana
1 comment:
OMG...you lead such a fascinating life. I wish I was you, galavanting about NYC so haphazardly. With all the friends and brunch's and parties you go to it must be so much fun! You inspire me to come out of my shell and grab life by the horns. Keep it up, you go girl!
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