Summer Issue

My bicycle is somewhere... on a truck... a moving truck... I hope! 
At any rate, we are in the Summer issue of Momentum Mag. My old Martha Stewart craft project necklace is also in there.

Andrew Hinderaker teamed up with me to do the photo shoot at Union Square in New York City.
I'm thrilled to get a full page and a mention for the necklaces.

These are my favorite photos from the shoot.

Yes! I rode home in these shoes. I went kinda slow, but I took this look all the way home.





And that's my trusty old dress from my original BikeNYC portrait by Dmitry Gudkov.


That dress is Billabong and it was about $40 a few summers ago. Good textile designs live on and on. 

Summer Saturdays are for Living

I had a big, Saturday lady-date with Malaika. We met at Minetta Tavern. She's always wanted to go, and I'm doing all this NYC Bucket List stuff since we're leaving in a few weeks.

Minetta Tavern is old and cute. We had big fat, juicy burgers.




I lied- Minetta wasn't exactly on my NYC Bucket List, but I got the idea when Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls tweeted that their new, summer 2012 location is across the street from Minetta Tavern, and I was interested because of that Fran Lebowitz: Public Speaking documentary I saw on HBO.

What a convenient, wonderful meal plan? I thought. Malaika signed on without hesitation.

And Sno-Balls came after burgers because we are geniuses.


Half pear - half peaches & cream


Then, we biked up 6th Ave... 

...And got rained on a little. 
But we arrived at our third destination - The Museum of Modern Art, to catch one last intriguing glimpse of the Cindy Sherman retrospective. 

We both left feeling full and inspired. Good Saturday!

Met Rooftop - Cloud City

Friday of Memorial Day weekend I met a few friends on the Met Museum's rooftop beer garden/bar. I highly recommend this. We're probably going to go again.



Panorama!


Malaika!


And it's finally summery enough to wear this guy I got at a thrift store in Arkansas last fall for $4.50




Tips: Don't wear a skirt because you can walk in the sculpture but it has a glass floor and don't drink immediately, because they won't let you inside the sculpture if you're getting twisted. 

How to get involved with Planned Parenthood NYC

I volunteer for Planned Parenthood, and often get asked how to get involved. This is the path I took. New round of trainings starts soon and here's the info. 

The PPNYC Activist Council is a great opportunity to make a difference, gain some skills, and build your resume while meeting other fun, like-minded New York City pro-choice activists!

New members are introduced to the Activist Council in 4 trainings. Once trained, members are free to decide what types of projects and issues interest them most. Beyond the monthly meetings, the level of time commitment is up to each person. The training for new members always fill up fast - RSVP Here. 

You have to attend all 4, super-informative, interesting and inspirational trainings. We always had/have Two Boots Pizza for dinner. It's amazing to be around such like-minded, intelligent people. It's mostly young women, peppered with a few guys. The energy of being around such progressive group is invigorating. 

I forgot that I never wrote a post about how awesome it was to march with Planned Parenthood in last summer's Gay Pride Parade. I meant to do a big post because it was such an awesome day and weekend, but I never got around to it. It was just too much, I guess. 

It was extra-specially electric in NYC that weekend, because the Friday before the parade, same-sex marriage became legalized. 

I've been meaning to get a video of Elspeth and me telling the story of how Bill Cunningham took our picture at the parade after I screamed his name right in his face "BILL!!!!" Because I know he's very hard of hearing. 

The picture he took of us would have looked something like this: 

PP went with a Sports theme and our get-ups were like badminton themed and shirts said "Serving up Safe Sex, Pride NYC" something like that. It was fun to wave our racquets of rainbow birdies around while we marched. Elspeth's girlfriend told us that our Planned Parenthood gang was one of the few groups that got cheers from the parade goers. 

We really did hand out high-fives the whole way down the parade route. We felt loved. 

Here are Els. & Allie maxin' and relaxin' after the parade. 

Same-sex marriage got legalized the same day me and Elspeth saw Florence Welch twice in one day. 

Me and Els met at 5am to see Florence on GMA here: 

Then we went back later that night to sit and listen to her concert in the same spot. 

Even Bonnie went! She loves Florence and other red-heads in general. 

Best weekend of Summer, no question. 

Took Myself on a Bike Date

Last night was the last night ever for the sno-ball place.
Wednesday nights are hard for me to motivate in any social or adventurous way. I'm so tired. I fought the laziness and got back on my bike at the ghastly hour kidding! of 8pm and went for a night ride.

I got dressed-up like a cantaloupe.
There wasn't a cantaloupe flavor, but I felt like I was showing them a fruity festive farewell.

This is me at like 10:30pm - this is about as tomboy as it gets.


The weather was gorgeous and I was immediately pleased with my decision to act.

When I realized it was August 31st, I knew I had to go. September means summer is over.

I owed it to myself to take myself on a night ride.


1/2 Raspberry - 1/2 Buttercream (frosting) and condensed milk drizzle on top.
I'm a little too good at picking out amazing snacks.


I was not the only lady sitting in the little park savoring one last summer sno-ball.


And I'm glad I've got clear/fake glasses to protect my cryballs.

Summer Streets

I found out Summer Streets is bad ass. Car-free streets are a real treat and I'll be doing this again next Saturday. I went to give something to Liz (right,) hung out a little while, met Ross and then Sheryl and Amanda showed up.


This photo shows that our little gang is meant to be, because we represent a variety of slut-shirts: We've got see-thru, itty-bitty and choppy-trashy. All the slut-shirt bases are covered.


I got into it at 72nd Street, immediately felt the amazing warm blanket of a car-free street and really enjoyed myself down to 23rd street. I got off here to attempt to see some galleries in Chelsea.


I would never ride here but Summer Streets treated us with this opportunity.
I don't know what this is called - It's the upper-roadway around Grand Central. I actually avoid biking around Grand Central for the most part. 

I found some gorgeous wild flowers in Chelsea. I spent a little time there. There were big bumble bees and butterflies in there! I don't see that stuff much in NYC. I've never been so delighted to see a bumble bee!




I had a power-snack then found out the galleries I wanted to see were on summer hours. Bust!

Yep- I was trying to see the Jill Greenberg show - Glass Ceiling. Luckily, I am on summer hours at work myself and will catch it on Friday.

For the first time I felt the courage to go into Commes De Garcon.

I sprayed my tote bag with perfume! I felt like I was 12 again.

Then I went to get an Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Ball. I had half Peaches & Cream (my mom's favorite) and half coconut cream.


This was a good summer Saturday for sure, and I realized I'm getting much better at navigating the West Village. Maybe I'll get sick of bicycle exploring Manhattan and branch out to Brooklyn more.

Happy Rain Ride

I don't have anything negative to say about getting rained out on the way home because:
I was dying to get out of work like a caged animal. Get me out of here! I'll happily bike in the rain! Yeah! Set me free!

It's been so freaking hot in NYC- It was like a cool-off party surprise! I didn't consider leaving the bike at work and taking the subway for 3 seconds. Not even 3 whole seconds. 

It's also extra-friendly in the rain. Pedestrians just seem more inquisitive to a drenched Julie.

The basil bag is waterproof! It kept my purse/bag dry.

After yesterday's naked bike ride, I felt so civilized in this get-up. Even though I'm channeling Punky Brewster.

I hope these shoes recover from the rain. They were the ultimate in soaked plastic shoes.

My camera may also have some new special effects. She needs a moment to dry out.
I used PhotoBooth to document the damage when I got home.

I look so pissed, right? 

Beauty Injury Day

I had a terrible beauty injury today. I hurt myself doing something I've gotten away with for about 19 years. I thought I was going to permanently be wearing black-out shades like this:

So sad. 
I hurt myself doing this-



My left - your right. I was late to work because I had to sit and let it cry and water-out for about 10 minutes. 
I'm going to pick up a MAC 204 brush - To Avoid this old-fashioned injury. But I know I can't quit the 'pin. It's the best! 


Funny there were safety pins at the self-timer spot I went to in the park this morning! What a coincidence!




Thrifted gold necklace - Forever 21 leopard top - Ribbon belt - H&M dress shorts - Forever 21 bow flats. Really glad I can wear shorts and skirts. Sorry, dudes. 

Yesterday I dressed like Little House on the Prairie and wore sensible shoes.

Target dress & fake keds. Belt from some Charlotte Russe shorts. Wal-mart $5 sunglasses.

Back to today's little top; it had this little bullshit bowtie thing and I cut it off and used a more substantial belt.




Cute tshirt I fawned over pulled the trigger on today.

And I might go to this because I'm a fan.

On my way home- Summertime.

Rear Rack and Basil Rosa Double Bag

My rear rack finally arrived so I got to finally attach my Basil Rosa Bags and take care of some business. 


I put them/it on and ran some errands. I installed them too close to the front of the rear rack and my flip-flops hit them with each pedal. MISERY. I pulled-over and adjusted them.


I got a few Costco items on one side (and a variety of other things on the other side.) Major cargo capabilities.


I love the drawstring- Not sure if I'll ever use the zipper pockets.


I don't love that they're kind-of permanent. They have so many little buckles they are staying on for a while. I'm really lucky my bike doesn't have to park outside where they would totally get stolen or peed on by some rando-dog. I need to see how other people lock these on. Can you lock them on? In a cute way?

That makes me glad they were free.

But they are cute and look great with my pink tires.

-And getting along with my pink tires is what's important, so I guess they can stay.