Eating My Away Around the Big Apple

Mid-December HealthCorps announced they would be sending all 62 Coordinators to NYC for the mid-year Professional Development training with an option to stay the weekend (on our own dime for the w/e).  Brett and I left for the airport at 1:45 am Monday-and I arrived in NYC by the afternoon. Surprisingly I was full of energy after 3 hours of sleep! We trained in the basement of West Side H.S. of the Upper West side of Manhattan from Tuesday-Thursday, volunteered at the NYC food bank on Friday, and then on our own Friday- Sunday. The training days were long, but a good pump up for the rest of the school year- and awesome to be around the energy of other coordinators. On Thursday we had a surprise visit from Dr. Oz! When not in training- it seems my friends and I ate our way around the city from pizza in Greenwhich village, to a chocolate bar near NYU, Japanese in Soho and Indonesian and Cheesecake near Times Square. 
Highlights and crazy moments:

When getting into the cab to our hotel from the airport- the taxi driver shut the trunk on my head. I’m not sure why, but I apologized and he proceeded to cuss me out… We got into the cab dumbfounded by the situation. He must really have been having a bad day!

Dr. Oz Surprised us and came to our training on the last day.

I had my first USA Hostel stay at the New York Lofts in Brooklyn. Way cheap, free breakfast and fondue night- totally the way to go when traveling to NYC!

Marissa and I scored some discount tickets for Mama Mia on Broadway.

After Mama Mia- we found a hole in the wall Piana Lounge: Don’t Tell Mama. It was small and everyone had to sit close to each other, we made friends with all of the people around us- We now have a place to stay if we ever choose to visit Alabama! 

My friend Chrissy’s, boyfriends jazz show in Harlem- and Ragae show.

My first Henna Tattoo for free as a promo in Saks Fifth Ave for the Superbowl.

Superbowl craziness in Time Square!

Visit to the High Line walkway- an old railroad track that runs along the lower west side that was turned into a park/walkway then exploring the Chelsea Markets.