HMOH #30before30: trace your roots in ellis island

You hear it time and time again, prob cause it's true - you're the worst tourist in your own city.  I've never climbed the Statue of Liberty and I'd never made my way to explore the roots of immigration at Ellis Island.  Being a first generation American, I long thought that my parents were filthy poor and did jigs in the steerage of a boat on their way to America.  I pictured them showing up at the gates of Ellis Island, getting their head checked for fleas and their throats scraped for unknown reasons.  It was very Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic and dramatic, just the way I liked it.


Turns out Mom caught an American Airlines flight over (they served peanuts and beverages) and Dad + family took a luxury cruiseliner.  Part vacation, part let's migrate to our new land of opportunity.  Shattered my history lesson, but I was still excited to cross "visit Ellis Island" off my "30 before 30" list recently. 


In town for a weekend or a jaded New Yorker (if Mary Poppins come to mind here, you are a jaded New Yorker) look up the ferry schedule and see what those who came before you endured to set your roots here!

Visiting Ellis Island
Book your reservations in advance so you can pop on the "Reserved" line with less of a wait.  Expect airport-like security and to be yelled at when you're talking on your phone (done).  Also expect that the security guy will creep on you and say he didn't want to have to restain you (done again).  Pack snacks ... it's what the immigrants would have wanted you to do.  And don't worry, they serve hotdogs on the boat.


 Take the ferry and enjoy the sites.  Lady Liberty is way more impressive up close than from the city skyline.  The ferry ticket allows you to stop both at the Statue (currently closed for renovations) and Ellis Island before heading back to the South Street Seaport.  Deck hands are creepy too.

Once you've arrived, opt for the audio tour (included in your day pass) and prepare to walk around and learn about the way it once was.  The tour takes you through your journey as if you too were just arriving in America - and about an hour.

At the end of your journey you arrive at the spot where families were reunited and loved ones claimed their passengers.  You're also greated by the line to pay to access your family history from the extensive database. I saved my research until I got to Ellis Island thinking it'd feel more authentic if I looked up my family members in the very spot they embarked on their new life in America. They'll charge you $12 to use their commuters, and $5 a photo to print ... OR you can access it for free by registering here. #touristtrap

Here's the passenger ship that my great grandfather came to Ellis Island on.  He made the voyage at just 23 to meet his uncle and see about a better life.  I bet he did a few jigs down in the steerage.  Had to.  Returning back to Sicily, he instead moved the family (my grandmother and my grandfather (then just a family friend)) to Tunisia.  My dad was born there ... and so our history begins.

Miss the ferry? No worries, it comes every 20 minutes and gives you time to take more tourist photos with your friends. 

And to top it off ...  Pearl Street is one of the oldest parts of New York City, located just by Battery Park where you'll be dropped off.  The little alley is lined with bars and restaurants, and my favorite part - outdoor wooden tables and benches.  In the mood for a raw bar, Ulysses Folk House offered us just what we wanted to cap off a great NYC day.  The four glasses of wine and chocolate covered strawberries that followed at Azra weren't too bad either.  Let's just say I did a jig home too.  Hey, my ancestors immigrated from Italy.  They wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

-HMOH

HMOH #30before30: get honky tonk in nashville

I've said it a million times and for those who have questioned it ... you should know better.  I'm like awesome at to-do lists, and more importantly, checking shit off.  So I've been motivated with a few great changes in my life to get to work on what's left remaining on this list.  I've also realized that there's not much time left to accomplish these small, silly, big and real achievements.

Up next was number 30 - get honky tonk in nashville.  It was one of those places I've always wanted to visit ... and there was no better time than CMA Festival to head down.  In celebration of our big promotions and new jobs, Ashley and I hit up Pepsi's corporate sponsor status and got great seats to a weekend long festival of country music and girls who don't know how to dress well.  All I had to do was get down there ...

And so all hail, god bless US Airways.  They never seize to amaze me with their poorly planned connections, awful staff and bad luck to all traveling plans.  With an expected arrival at 6:45 pm (it's too early in the game to be asking for vacation at the new job), I was going to get quickly to the hotel, change into my NY version of down south garb, and head to the concert that had the likes of Carrie Underwood as a headliner.  US Airways and ATC (air traffic control, we're on an acronym basis now) had different plans.  Long story short so as not to relive  ... I missed my connection, got rerouted twice, called my mommy and cried like a not thirty year old ... and arrived in Nashville after two more connecting flights at 11 p.m. where I instead I went straight to the bars.

Ashley and her coworker met me on the corner, but not before Ash stocked the hotel room with Firefly sweet tea, snacks and post-it notes to put me in a better mood.  Yes, my friends travel with post-it notes and I love them for it.

Bummed to miss the night's concert - we made up for it at Legends Corner bar with an awesome cover band.  I pretended to know the words to most songs, jived along and sipped on sweet tea to catch right up.  And so I did ...

The rest of the trip went smoothly - I woke up each morning with "Rock Me Mama Like a Wagon Wheel" in my head.  Saturday we strolled through town in the heat and stopped for a mid-morning Corona to cool down, made our way to the famous Grand Ole Opry concert hall and the Gaylord Opry Hotel (which b t dubs has a full on river running through it).  The Southern boys were cute as could be and surprisingly (pleasantly) there weren't any of the size 00 blondes I expected to see running the joint. The evening's concert was amah-zing due in part to Luke Bryan and the fact that we smuggled Grey Goose minis in my purse and hid them under a tampon so anyone checking wouldn't dare more it aside.  Fireworks closed out the night and brought little girl joy to my heart.  A quick trip, but a great trip ... I'd love to find myself down there again with more time to honky tonk.

Check out the photobook below and my HMOH nashville recos should you too be looking to cross Music City off your list:

Legend's Corner Bar

Printer's Alley:  home to nude karaoke and gentleman's clubs

naturals

Grand Ole Opry

Gaylord Opry Resort

#CMAfest

LP Field for Luke Bryan

my fave: fireworks after the show

  

Stay at:  Marriot Courtyard Downtown.  With only 2 weeks to book over a festival weekend, and limited options the Marriot was clean, walking distance from the scene and super accommodating.

Eat at: Whiskey Kitchen - and get the jalapeno calamari with frickles (fried pickles); 417 Union for a classic American meal; Paradise Park for 3am fried chicken, double decker burgers and I think those were chili fries

NOTE: With limited time in n-ville and no car to get places, we weren't able to visit all the reco'd foodie spots (for next time!).  Here are some others that come highly recommended:  Pancake Pantry, Loveless Cafe for southern food and Patterson House for cocktails.

Get your [tourist] honky tonk on at: Legends, CMA Festival, Wildhorse Saloon (try three floors, three different bands and a great crowd)

Check your tourist stops off at:  Grand Ole Opry house, Gaylord Opry Resort, Vanderbilt University's campus

Songs to download, even if you swear you'd never like it (trust me, this NYC chick did too ... give it a chance): 

• Drunk On You (Luke Bryan)
• Country Girl Shake It for Me (Luke Bryan)
• Smoke a Little Smoke (Eric Church)
• Springsteen (Eric Church)
• Rock Me Mama Like a Wagon Wheel (Bob Dylan)
• Dirt Road Anthem (Jason Aldean)
• We Owned The Night (Lady Antebellum)
• Toes (Zac Brown Band)

-HMOH

With the new summer season comes new beginnings.  Beginning to the sunshine.  Start of the awkwardness when you leave a cab in your shorts and aren't sure if your sticky legs left marks on the leather seats (#nycproblems? #justme?).  Beginnings to short skirts, my best shoe collection and weekly pedicures.

The past few weeks/month have/has been filled with celebrations, new beginnings and doing what I do best ... crossing things off of to-do lists, specifically that infamous "30 before 30."  First check - a brand new gig! A Global PR Director at the world's largest cosmetic company and a check mark on that list in a big way.

Up next, a BFF celebration and check mark next to "Honky Tonk in Nashville."  I head out for the weekend on Club Seat passes to the Country Music Festival so I'm brushing up on the awesome line-up jams and trying to convince myself color-blocking and silk jumpers will be all the rage down south.  I made Ashley promise she wouldn't wear Crocs in my presence, so in fairness I'll try to tone down the NYC in me.

SO only good things as summer rolls in and I enjoy the freshness in my day to day and weekend/week-long travel plans.  Here are some other things I've been digging:

cynthia rowley band-aids - sequins for cuts and scrapes. uh huh, yes please.

nail polish crush

columbia bonehead men's shirt - a bunch of 13 year olds on the SanDestin beaches were sporting these as beach cover ups.  so we clearly investigated and purchased. right.  I was later informed by a saleswoman that you need to wear them big so you look like you just left your boyfriend's place. I'm not sure it's the look any respectable women should be seeking as she nears thirty - but if tweens are into it, it has to be cool.  I'll say ... fantastic breathable back, probably awesome for shark fishing too.

new job, new office supplies (obviously)

So, what are you digging this season?  Anything big or small you're looking to cross off your to-do list?  Here's a few more I have coming up.  If I've inspired you, then I've nailed "Inspire Someone" too:

• See a movie by yourself
• Visit Coney Island
• Meet with a Financial Planner
• Get to Ellis Island and look around

over and out,
HMOH