Chapter 2: Our Hero Arrives!

Hi folks. Sorry I've been radio silent, but this is the first chance I've had to update. It was a long and arduous journey, but I finally made it to Brooklyn! Well, it was mostly not an arduous journey, except for the near-death experience on I-78 in New Jersey, about 20 miles from the city. You know those big rubber things you see on the highway that are actually bits of tires that big trucks shed for apparently no reason? Yeah, well, I was driving along, minding my own business, when one pops up out of nowhere directly in front of me. Unable to change lanes because of another car, I ended up hitting this stupid rubber thing at 50 miles an hour, which naturally had to break off part of the front bumper of my dad's brand-new-just-picked-it-up-yesterday company car. The subsequent attempt by my heart to forcefully exit my chest probably took several years off my life. Combine that with over an hour of traffic trying to get into the Holland Tunnel, and you have a recipe for a not so happy drive. On the bright side, however, we did discover a great little out-of-the-way restaurant on the PA Turnpike, the Pizza Star III. Not sure how Pizza Stars I and II are, but III is shockingly good, and even makes their own bread on site! 2 exits east of the Sideling Hill rest stop at Fort Willow (or something like that).

Anyway, once through the Holland Tunnel, the drive to Brooklyn was without incident, and Matt and Courtney actually happened to be very near my apartment at the time, which was handy as Matt had my keys. After picking them up (the keys that is, not Matt and Courtney), it was just a short drive to my place. 21st Street and 7th Avenue in Greenwood Heights, just south of Park Slope and next to the Greenwood Cemetary. I got all moved in with no problems, and even met some of my neighbors, Jesus and Minerva (no I'm not joking). The neighborhood seems really nice and quiet, with a lot of families. Not wanting to be cooped up inside on a gorgeous day, we (that is to say, my parents, sister, and I) set off in search of sustenance, which we found at a very neat little bar/restaurant a few blocks up. Then it was off to Little Italy for dessert!

I'd never been to Little Italy before, but it did not disappoint. My fullest expectations of it being cheesy and full of Goombah Guido Wise-guys were met and then some. But the neighborhood is brimming with Old World charm, and does not look dissimilar from what one would see on a street in Europe, lined with tons of restaurants with seating on the sidewalks and aggressive Italians trying to both sweettalk and bully customers to their tables. There was actually a little festival going on at the same time, complete with zeppole, cannole, and a giant shrine to Saint Anthony, as well as a band playing Volare and Mambo Italiano. It was, in a word, perfect. After a long search for a pastry shop my mom and aunt had visited, we arrived at our destination, Ferrara's. I have two words: Pastry. Heaven.

Today, after breakfast at the Little Purity diner on 7th, and a grocery shopping excursion, my family departed for Pittsburgh, leaving me to finish unpacking and to my first job assignment: reading the Off-Broadway Actors' Equity contract. It was actually quite interesting, if not a little dry.

At 5:00, I left my place and headed over to Hoboken, NJ to Matt's apartment for a Memorial Day cookout (or cook-in, rather). It only took me an hour to get there, which was pretty good time for a holiday, I think! Matt, Courtney, Matta, Aaron, Nick, Court's cousin and her boyfriend, and I all had a great time hanging out, which went by way too quickly before I realized that I had to start making my way back. PATH to F Train to B67 bus and I was back in my apartment in an hour and 15 minutes. All in all, an excellent start to my summer in the city.

Ok, sorry for the long post. I hopefully won't let myself get so backed up in the future. I'm charging my camera, so I should have some pictures of my place to put up soon. Tomorrow, I start my internship with Atlantic Theater Company!