la cage aux walking.

Oh hey! It's been almost a week since I've written, and what a week it was. Not really. BUT some fun things have happened! On Saturday, I set out to walk 8 miles (just call me Eminem), which was my longest walk yet. My initial plan was to walk to Brooklyn and subway it back, but plans got in the way, so I ran errands and wandered around Central Park before walking home. I ended up unintentionally walking 11.4 miles! I didn't even realize how far it was until I got home and Google mapped it, but woah! I felt so amazingly accomplished and super delighted. It was such a beautiful day out and I had some great tunes on my iPod so it made it easy! Of course, I stopped to snap some pics...

TURTLES.

Isn't this the gazebo where Carrie gives Miranda relationship advice and is all "You're smart but you don't feel" and stuff? In the movie? No?

This is the reservoir. It is awesome.

Oh I'm sorry, am I hiking in North Carolina?

...Nope, still NYC.

So that was my really exciting 3Day news. 11.4 miles. Holla. Sunday's weather was the polar opposite of Saturday's, so I spent most of my time on my couch until going to this college fair on the Upper East Side and talking to the next cast of NYC Prep about Northwestern University. It was...an experience. I feel for kids going through the college application process right now. It is not easy, especially coming from such affluent areas and high schools. Crazy. Cray. Zy.

Last night I went to a big schmancy Sondheim tribute (hopefully the last of the 80th BDay celebrations...) which was belabored but delightful. By far the highlights were:

1. Nathan Lane coming on with a tuba and a cello (a tribute to the evening's director, John Doyle, who is known for revivals where the cast doubles as the orchestra) and doing a fantastic bit of physical comedy before launching into a medley that included everything from "Comedy Tonight" to "Tonight" to "Ladies Who Lunch" to "I'm Still Here." I swear. At the risk of sounding ancient, young comedians just don't understand comedy like people like Nathan Lane do. Brilliant.
2. Raul Esparza singing Being Alive. I have no words. If you haven't seen it, here's the youtube of his Tony performance. After you watch it, mop up your puddle of tears and remind yourself that this was the year David Hyde Pierce won the Tony for Curtains. Womp.

There were other good things, too. And a really awkward recorded tribute from Julie Andrews that featured her singing a verse of "Not a Day Goes By." It was strange, but hey, she's Julie Andrews.

That's about it, friends! Back on the fundraising trail, looking to get over this 33% hurdle. Oof!

Hope everyone's happy and healthy.

LOVE and Sondheim,

KFine

damn mets...?

This post is just so I can share this insanely pretty picture I took at Citi Field before the Cubs decided to suck embarrassingly.

oh what a beautiful morning

Yup. The cattle didn't move their heads as they saw me walk by, and the corn at the Union Square farmer's market was definitely as high as an elephant's eye. My morning started not with the loud beeping of my alarm clock, but instead with my internal alarm clock saying, "Hey! Hey there! You wanted to wake up 20 minutes ago!" To which I responded, "You know what, body? You're right! Hey thanks! You're not so bad." And promptly got my bootay moving to a great workout with my intellectually challenged but physically fit trainer Christine, who regaled me with thrilling tales of Jersey life...making dinner for her boyfriend's friends (who I imagine look like the cast of Jersey Shore), going out on Saturday, being hungover on Sunday...you know, only the really vital things. But then she told me I looked skinnier, and suddenly all was forgiven. Win #1.

Usually, after training at 7am...that's right friends that's in the morning...I go next door to Think Coffee (best iced coffee in the city) and read for a while before hopping the subway to work, but I'm finished with my book club book and haven't started another, so I decided to stroll to work instead. Now, I've been walking to work for weeks, but when I walk, I walk. There is no dawdling. Hello I'm in training! Today, though, I had some time and the weather is GORGEOUS, so I set out to take the full 50 minutes I had to dawdle to work, instead of the usual 30. It wasn't very difficult to do, as I immediately stumbled upon the Union Square farmer's market. WHAT?! It's ever M/W/F/Sat and I could not be happier about it. In the future, I'll plan out my meals a little better so I can take full advantage of this shmamazing thang, but for today I settled for a taste of homemade raspberry jam and a whole lot of great smells. WIN #2.

Win #3 I guess came before Win #1, but I'm going with it. Serrr American Idiot opened on the big BWay last night, and they released the cast album on the same day (which is insane and AMAZING), so I obvi downloaded it last night. It did NOT disappoint. The album is every bit as kickass as the show, and I love the raw quality of it, as opposed to the over produced albums of today (cough Spring Awakening cough). Anydoodle, this album got me through my workout and my stroll, and occasionally I jammed along embarrassingly. I maybe have listened to it 3 times already. So, it is WIN #3.

Win #4 is best described through pictures....

Oh hey there, Empire State, how you doin?

Tell me that's not the coolest effing thing ever.

A little respite in Bryant Park.

I mean come on, right?! This city, man. It's pretty freaking sweet. Anyway, I've decided to try to make mornings my thing. Even if I don't go to the gym, I think just taking some extra time in the morning can set the pace for a great day. We'll see how long this fight with my snooze button lasts, but it's at least a good thought.

In other news, I haven't fundraised in a week. OOPS. Oh well, this week: mornings, next week: money.

LOVE and sunshine,

KFine

the ladies who brunch

I. Love. Brunch. Moral of this weekend. You can stop reading. But not really.

So I decided Saturday morning to treat myself to brunch at my new fav place, Elephant and Castle (a-thank you Betsy Hogg). I sat in a little corner with my little book and my little coffee, and it was so delightful. I think I've learned to love doing things like that in NYC. Living on the opposite end of the island from most of my friends has allowed me the opportunity to discover the joy of sitting in a restaurant for an hour and a half, subtly eavesdropping on hilarious conversations around me, and enjoying the morning. I think I'm going to make this a weekly thing. We'll see.

After my brunch, I went on one of the longest walks I've been on thus far...totaling about 6.5 miles! I walked all the way down to Battery Park, the southern tip of Manhattan. It looks something like this:

Yup, that's the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was a little cloudy and rainy, which I think weeded out some of the tourists, so it was a delightful time down in the Battery (as opposed to up in the Bronx...).

My walk down there was amazing. I love downtown Manhattan. The juxtaposition between the brand new fancy schmance skyscrapers and the super old historical buildings is just really phenomenal. This idea of past and present living side by side is...there's something magical about it. I think this is best exemplified around Ground Zero. I hadn't been there since I became a New Yorker (am I a New Yorker? I feel like I'd get yelled at for using that phrase, but I live here, right??). I got weirdly emotional walking in those surrounding blocks. Just thinking about that day, walking on the same sidewalks where firefighters had run to the scene and others had fled...I'm getting chills just thinking about it. I finally started to understand how huge these towers were and how much this changed New York. I mean I obviously understood it intellectually, but this was on a completely different visceral level.

Anyway, my whole point...across from Ground Zero is St. Paul's Chapel. It looks like this:

This place opened in 1766. 1766. That is 244 years ago. George Washington prayed there after he was inaugurated president. GEORGE WASHINGTON. (side note: this video is hilarious.) Just seeing this combination of new history at Ground Zero literally across the street from some of the oldest history of the United States...it's really incredible. I tried to get the vibe with this pic...the tombstone closest to the camera is a 32 year old woman who died in 1805...

So that was that. It was cool. Then I walked back up the west side along the river, which I will always love. I learned that down at the bottom tip of the island, there are like a billion parks along the west side which was amazing. I can't wait to make picnic baskets and bring them down there this summer. And dammit I'm gonna do it!!

Last night, my friends and I decided I'm going to become a runner. It's going to be a long process, but I'm going to ease myself into it. So today, I went for about a 3.5 mile walk and ran about .75 miles of it. It's something, right? I dunno.

At the end of that run/walk was another brunch, one that was the exact opposite of yesterday's to celebrate a one Jessica McKenna's birth. Lots of friends, lots of food, lots of laughing. Just as yesterday's brunch was a nice reminder of the joys of solitude, this reminded me that I could not be luckier to have such an awesome group of friends in the city.

Discoveries abound this weekend, and tomorrow...CUBS VS. METS!!!!!! I love baseball.

I'd like to leave you with this photo, and I hope you take its advice to heart:

LOVE and well-fed rodents,

KFine

the tale of the allergy ridden week

...the title is a rough take on "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife." Just go with it.

I have not written in almost a week. I am sorry. I don't know who I am apologizing to, besides my mother, but I am sorry, mom. I have been inundated by these things called allergies. I have never had to deal with such discomfort in my LIFE, but thankfully it has not deterred my training. I've braved the itchy watery eye (which turned into pink eye), the scratchy throat, the nasal congestion, all in the name of walking.

On Sunday, I walked down the East-ish side (on Lexington) and discovered, well, it's a lot like the West side...at least from 57th Street down. I did have this delightful New York moment when I reached Grammercy Park...the MOST delightful of respites in the "teen" streets. I was breathing in the pollen-infested air of the park when I glanced over and saw Jimmy Fallon doing the same thing. It made me happy. He is cute.

Speaking of beautiful things, I think my "NYC discovery of the week" would be the sunset on the Hudson River. I get off work while it's still light out now, so I hustled my butt over the the West side to get there in time, and I was NOT disappointed:

the circle line (isn't that what Leo took in Titanic? Oh no that was White Star. Damn.)

ummmm chello beauty.

Like...right?! And they have all of these delightful piers with jungle gyms and such that you can walk out onto...you feel like you're halfway to Jersey! I also found this inscription thing that read "I can sail without wind, I can row without oars, but I cannot part from my friend without tears." It made me cry. Or maybe it was just the wind. But probably not.

Other amazing things experienced this week...the chef salad at westville (followed by the apple pie at westville, which was a HUGE win), an original 5 Napkin Burger, and some 40 Carrots fro yo (the best fro yo in the city, if I do say so myself). I like food. I also like when friends visit so I can have an excuse to go out and eat food, instead of scavenging through my freezer and ending up with a meal of soy nuggets and frozen edamame.

I've also officially reached the 1/3 mark in fundraising! WOO. 33% down, 66% to go. I'm again in awe of the generosity of my friends and family, and hope I do them proud.

I think my favorite part of this entire experience thus far is talking to people about walking and saying the phrase "It's only 100 blocks..." That felt good. I was proud.

Time to get back to tracking the Cubs game...err....working...

LOVE and sunsets.

anyone can walk

I'm about to leave the office to go see Anyone Can Whistle at Encores! starring Donna Murphy (I die.), Raul Esparza (I come back to life to marry him.), and Sutton Foster (Seriously? Don't even get me started. Dead again.). I AM EXCITED.

In other news, I had a delightful walk up 8th Avenue to work today and discovered that, before Madison Square Garden, it's really a delightful Ave! I always dismissed it because once you get to midtown it's pretty lameo, but before then there are some delightful little spots, including my favorite bagel place (with a $2.75 bagel/coffee breakfast special! chello!) and a place called Better Burger. I swear if I could live on burgers alone, I would love it.

Probably my favorite part of the walk, though, was West 4th Street between 7th and 8th. GAH. Gorgeous. It's so strange...those few blocks are so quiet, so calm...you forget you're in the city. It feels a little like Lincoln Park and a lot like home-y-ness. I love. I can't afford, but I love.

As I was walking in that serene delightfulness of an area, I passed by a group of paparazzi gathered at W. 4th and Charles. I got excited at the potential of a Lohan sighting, but also kind of sad for whoever they were waiting for. I mean I was in my workout pants and hoodie with no makeup and my dorky 7th grade backpack on...I was comfy, but I certainly didn't want to end up as a #snapjudgement on Jezebel. (side note: if you don't read Jez, get on it. it's like a classier, sassier Perez...). I imagined myself in a "Stars! They're just like us! They walk to work!" article and shuddered...then tweeted about it.

All in all an eventful couple of miles this morning. Looking forward to another long beautiful walk in the park tomorrow...hopefully this one won't leave me with one of the most awkward farmer's tans...ummm...EVER.

LOVE and celeb gossip,

KFine

a view from the hudson

Welcome to my new improved BLOG! I like this better. I can post pics, you can "follow" me, which I know everyone was DYING to do...all improvements.

Some highlights (bullet point style....mixin it UP) from the past few days:

• Reaching 27% OF MY FUNDRAISING GOAL. WHAT?! THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE ARE AMAZING.
• My first (and I'm sure not last) step in dog poopy.
• My first (and definitely not last) walk up the Hudson! I walked from my apartment (9th street and 6th ave) over to the water and all the way up to 54th street and 8th ave, which is all in all about four miles. I'll be honest, not a huge fan of this route at night. It gets creepy when no one is around and the walk down the Hudson from my apartment is way prettier and less...citified. Still a delightful time tough.
• downloading the essential michael jackson from iTunes. how have I lived this long without it? It's made this week's walks go by like NOTHING!
• This video:
• Hobnobbing with MK and Ashley Olsen, Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Renee Zel-I-Can't-Spell-Your-Last-Name, Victor Garber, John Lithgow, Julianne Moore, and my fav Jesse Tyler Ferguson, plus tons of other celebs at the Lend Me a Tenor opening. Ahhh so funsies!

I have had a good week, y'all! I want to go back to bullet point on#1 for a sec - I have been fundraising for a grand total of, I don't know, a week and a half, and already have 27% of my fundraising done with 10 donations. WHAT?! I am crying just thinking about how amazing that is. I am so so so lucky to have what I am convinced is the most amazing support system anyone could ever have. I. Die.

OK it is approximately 85 BILLION degrees in my office. Time for some pop.

LOVE and olsen twins,

KFine

wondering about my progress? don't forget to check back here!

saturday in the park with erica (a pre-blogger post from 4/5/10)

i didn't post ALL WEEKEND. i don't think i am very good at this.

you guys. my friend erica and i went on a 2.5 hour long walk in central park on saturday. did you know that central park is maybe the most magical place EVER?! yes, there's the stuff everyone knows about down in the 70s and 80s (street numbers, not decades) - the fountain that's in every movie ever, the baseball fields, etc. - but erica took me up where the tourists don't dare to go. there i discovered a rock waterfall straight out of north carolina, an english garden so pretty it made me momentarily speak with an accent, and the reservoir. OH the reservoir. did you know this all exists IN THE MIDDLE OF MANHATTAN?!?! we were talking about how no one would live on this island if it wasn't for the park, and i really think it's true. the fact that in the middle of this insane, overwhelming, overstimulating city i could sit on a rock by a waterfall and read a book is really incredible. and i'm SO excited i have this incredible cause to get me to spend more time there!

so that is absolutely my discovery of the weekend. well at least of saturday. sunday i discovered red velvet frozen yogurt. which was magical in a whole different way.

i'm growing to love this city through these walks, but don't worry, i still freaked out about the cubs opener.

LOVE and baseball. and red velvet frozen yogurt.

by kaitlin fine on Mon, Apr 05, 2010 @ 4:43 PM CT

walking 9 to 5 (a pre-blogger post from 4/2/10)

Am I going to name every blog post after a show currently (or recently) on Broadway?

I mean...probably.

So I started walking to work, which is maybe the best decision I've ever made. It's such a delightful way to start off the day, and log a couple of miles, too! It's about 40 short blocks (9th St. to 45th St.) which translates to 2 miles, but I try to go out of my way a bit to make it 3. And it is amazing. Spring has sprung here and it is GORGEOUS. Seriously. I hope wherever you are it is as nice as it is here. Cause oh man.

Also I think I might start carrying a little notebook with me so I can write down all of the awesome coffee shops, stores, and restaurants I pass and think "oh I should go back there..."

Wait maybe that's what this blog should be about. YES. Win. I'll add a newly discovered place every day. Omgeezie life suddenly has purpose.

Anydoodle, I'm going on my first long walk tomorrow in Central Park and I'm supes pumped. Still sending those awkward emails, still pumped at the responses.

LOVE and springtime.

KFine

by kaitlin fine on Fri, Apr 02, 2010 @ 2:34 PM CT

promises, promises (a pre-blogger post from 3/31/10)

This post will be short because I am le tired. I just saw Promises, Promises on the big BroadWAY. Actually IN the Broadway Theatre. And, as it is a cliche show, the use the word "promises" a lot. And as my mind wandered (aka during one of the many Burt Bacharach ballads sung by the bobblehead formerly known as Kristin Chenoweth...) I thought about the promise I made to this cause and it was weirdly motivating. I have already passed the 10% mark in fundraising. It can be done.

I cannot even describe to you the feeling I get when I receive one of those "someone has donated on your behalf" emails. Sometimes it makes me cry. And by "sometimes" I mean always. And it's the good kind of crying, not the kind that comes from thinking about how much money Promises, Promises is making every night. Oy.

Love and boobs,
KFine

P.S. Do you have any brilliant fundraising ideas or thoughts? Chello! Throw them my way!

by kaitlin fine on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 @ 10:52 PM CT

and we're off! (a pre-blogger post from 3/29/10)

Well, I've started sending out fundraising letters and training, there's no turning back now! I've been having a hard time with the letters part of it. I know I am beyond lucky to have such an amazing support system in my life, and I just never want to take advantage of them, you know? Since graduating college, I've been struggling with my own financial freedom and balance, and I know how important every last penny can be. I feel awkward asking those I care about to give up any of that moolah, because I know it's not the best of times. However, as my sissy Lauren pointed out, it's not just randomly soliciting money, it's for the most amazing of causes. I've been spending some time here on the 3Day site looking at pictures from past events, testimonials from participants, etc, and it is unreal. These women are incredible! So I feel lucky to be a part of this tradition and this foundation, and when I think of it as sharing my excitement and inviting those I love to be a part of it, too, it makes a lot more sense.

Heyyyoooo heavy first blog entry!! In less intense news, I've decided to use my training to explore new neighborhoods of NYC. On my first long walk, I went south along the Hudson River and found this awesome pier that's so long, you're basically halfway to Jersey! I've also decided to walk to work at least once a week...it's a nice 2-mile stroll and should get my blood pumping early in the morning.

So that's that! Thanks for reading. I'll try to update a lot so you get your money and/or time's worth.

LOVE!

by kaitlin fine on Mon, Mar 29, 2010 @ 12:15 PM CT