One Wish

I never want summer to come to an end! Yes it's almost 100 degrees out, but I'll take the sun and sweating any day over cold and clouds.

Also, hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July weekend!! Mine was perfect full of...

Picnics in Central Park:

Going away parties, Nick there on the left is leaving to go to med school:

Roommate's 25 birthday and dinner and cake celebrations. I made a regular vanilla cake, but the icing was amazing!! Can't find where I found the recipe but it was pretty simple:

8 oz cream cheese brought to room temperature

4 tbsp butter at room temperature

1 tspn vanilla

3-4 cups of powdered sugar (depending on how sweet you want the icing and thickness, if using for piping use 4 cups)

1/2 cup cocoa powder

Blend the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until creamy and then add sugar 1 cup at a time. Finally add cocoa powder. Enough for 1 2 layer cake.

Sunday we headed downtown and across the river to Governor's island. After waiting 1hr for the ferry we had a nice picnic lunch with a great view of lower Manhattan in the background:

Then it was time for the "beach" and music:

Beach as in area covered in sand in front of the stage area...

Oakley Hall:

Unfortunately this was the hottest point of the day. The crowd was pretty much a heard of zombies. At one point Pattrick (male vocals and guitar) asked if we were excited to see She and Him, and I think about 3 people responded. When someone asked where they were from and they responded New York, the crowd came back to life slightly to offer a cheer. Otherwise, I feel back for the band having to play to such a dead audience.

Thankfully after a 30 minute or so setup and sound check the sun began to lower in the sky and people rehydrated with ice cold water; the heard came back to life and were screaming for Zoey Deschanel when she ran onto the stage. Men yelling their adoration and girls thinking she's cool, literally heard the girl next to me scream "Zooey you're so cool" which was followed by a guy a few rows back mumbling "and obviously you're not."

They gave a great set and with the encore played for about an hour and a half. Such great vocals and energy which kept the crowd moving and in good spirits (the heat tends to bring the worst out of people).

After the show we headed to Battery Park City to meet a few friends and then headed to a rooftop terrace to view the fireworks.

View from the terrace:

Anna, me, and Yifan after a sweaty day in New York:

Beautiful sunset:
The show:

Unfortunately after being out in the sun all day long the commute home was just brutal. Battery park is a good way from any subway and available cabs were pretty much nonexistent. Then after walking to the train station the escalator was out! Any other day I'll walk up a flight of steps without thought, but that night, really!?!

Yet more steps:

Today I plan to keep it laid back. Some reading both for work and pleasure and a good workout. I look forward to another summer week!

Nicole