Following Rabbits Blog

I've been trying to get out to meet people and make new friends lately. I grew up on Cape Cod and am a huge Red Sox fan. I've been using meetup.com to check out new groups to join and see what people are up to. Despite how much the Red Sox are hated in these parts, there are plenty of us New Englanders who have made NYC our home. There's a Sox meetup for Boston fans to get together and watch games. Lucky for us there are a few Boston bars in the city, and these little pieces of home always help to put a smile back on my face when I'm down. I made some new friends on Monday at Professor Thom's, and we went out again last night to Pat O'Brien's on the Upper East. Nothing like some good ol' beer pong and cheering on my fave team! We're talking about starting a softball team, which would be so much fun!

If you're looking to meet new people and get out more (and who can't use more friends and fun outings?) check out meetup.com and sign up for a group or two that interests you.

The weather has been pretty great here in New York, aside from a rogue rain shower here and there. I work on Madison Avenue near Bryant Park, and it seems everyone has been taking advantage of what the park has to offer both during lunch and after work. The lawn has opened up for picnics and sun-worshippers, and the Cafe at Bryant Park Grill is hopping every day at happy hour. There are several Wichcraft locations spread out over the park for you to grab some lunch at, and there's almost always an ice cream truck nearby. There is tons of seating- both in the sun and along the perimeter under the trees. It's really a beautiful little piece of the city, and must be enjoyed. So pack your lunch, sunglasses and a book, forward your phone to voicemail for an hour, and go take a time out at BP.

Last week I had a wonderful birthday surprise- I won a silk flower pin from Simply Luxurious! This blog is packed with fabulous home decor, fashions, recipes, and little bits of wisdom to help you live luxuriously. I habitually read it for my daily dose of lovely! The giveaway was sponsored by Michele Syre, of The Blue Online Marketplace- a collection of boutique items all curated in one webstore for you to shop.

This silk peony is made by Dulken and Derrick, of SJP fame. It's fixed with a pin on the back, and is a gorgeous addition to a dress or jacket or as a hair ornament. I love having one big accent accessory in my outfit, and this is perfect. I'm thrilled to have won this- BIG thank you's to Simply Luxurious & The Blue Onion Marketplace!

I went to see Kate Nash at the Bowery Ballroom on Thursday night- love her! She's one of a slew of artists who I discovered on Pandora. She has a lot of silly fun lyrics, and her music is very catchy. I wasn't very familiar with her newest album release "My Best Friend is You", but I really love her 2007 album, "Made of Bricks". She opened with a track off her new album, Paris. It was upbeat and fit in well with the style of hers that I'm familiar with. I also liked Kiss That Grrrl and Do-Wah-Doo, which she recently shot a video for. Some of her other new songs, like I've Got a Secret and Mansion Song were a bit heavier than the fluffier pop songs I associate with her. She's definitely one of those songwriters who throw themselves emotionally into their performances- when she sang You Were So Far Away she seemed on the verge of tears. Her band cleared the stage, she asked that the lights be turned down on stage and told the audience to be quiet, and almost whispered the song as she played her guitar. (Kate recently hurt her ankle while on tour, and she did an impressive job of hopping on one foot between her keyboard and her guitar.)

My absolute favorite song of hers is Nicest Thing. Lots of sentimental attachment to that one for me- it's a really beautiful song. (It's probably a good thing she didn't perform that song Thursday, because I know I would have cried.) If you want a lil taste of Kate, here are my fave tracks of hers, old and new:
1. Nicest Thing 2. Foundations 3. Mouthwash 4. We Get On 5. D******d 6. Merry Happy 7. Pumpkin Soup 8. Kiss That Grrrl 9. You Were So Far Away 10. Do-Wah-Doo