Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tattnall Takes State

For my fellow Maconites, I'm sure you've realized that TSA won the 2011 Football State Championship.  Well, I was there from start to finish and made my very own broadcast story from the night's big game. 

For 30 years, Barney Hester has been the head football coach for Tattnall Square Academy. During his reign, the Trojans have won 10 state championships. And this Thanksgiving, Hester was hoping for an eleventh. Click here to see me follow the Trojans as they battle the Stratford Eagles for the golden trophy. 

Saturday, November 26, 2011

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas-Macon, GA Style

Mary Poppins was the First Ornament I hung this Year 
Before hitting the TSA State Football Championship, we bought our Christmas trees yesterday afternoon.  After much debate, the family decided on two plump, 8-footers as the base for our decorating.  And today, as we watched SEC football, we've spent quite  bit of time sifting through the ornaments, adorning their branches.  My stepdad, Bryan, just declared the toy room tree is finished, but our Disney tree (yes, my family has an entire tree dedicated strictly to Mickey and the gang) still needs some work.


Like most people, Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year.  I love the lights, the smells, the gift-giving, the songs, the movies, the decorations...basically anything related to the holidays is bound to make me smile.  But, it's those silly family traditions that really set December apart in my mind.  All five of us  pile into my mom's Ford Explorer and make a trip to the local Chick-fil-A to buy peppermint chocolate chip milkshakes.  The South's famous chicken joint decorates the drive thru line with hundreds of brilliant lights that sparkle in time with a selected radio station's Christmas music.  Each year, we catch ourselves pulling into a parking spot to sip our shake and watch the light show.

My little sister heads back to Gainesville tomorrow, and I leave for NYC the day after that.  Obviously, I'll be sad to leave my family, but the great news in we'll both be back December 17th.  Only one journalism piece, two papers, and one final stand between me and Christmas Break.  Let the countdown begin.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Welcome to the South!

I knew I was officially heading home when  the main topic on my flight was college football.  That's right, cute old men were debating Alabama vs. Auburn, so of course I piped in with my very own "Roll Tide."  Southern accents rich with y'alls were blabbing about the SEC's top quarterbacks; it was just what I needed to get me in the holiday mood! 



Then, after I landed in Atlanta, my sweet daddy and baby brother (who's an absolute giant at 6'2") fixed my caffeine fix with a quick Starbucks run and grabbed my luggage-what gentlemen.  As to be expected, the traffic was horrendous and dinner time was quickly approaching, so we stopped off and ate at one of Georgia's best barbecue joints, OBs.  I absolutely loved the waitress; when I asked for tea, she automatically knew I wanted it sweet.  Seeing as how I'm a vegetarian, I can't really comment on their specialities, but their fried okra and crinkle fries were pretty tasty.  But the real kicker was their decorations.      

I finally pulled in the driveway around 8:30, and now I'm sitting in the living room, drinking Amaretto with my momma and sister...life is good.  Happy Turkey Day Y'all! 


Sunday, November 20, 2011

My Latest Package: Macy's Parade Exhibit

For the latest installment in my day-of-air conquest, I covered the opening day of a new exhibit celebrating the 85th Anniversary of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

So if you're in the mood for some pre-holiday fun, be sure to click here to see my take on the opening!

And don't worry, Thanksgiving may be in just a few short days, but this display isn't going anywhere.  The Children's Museum of Manhattan will be celebrating Turkey Day and its famous parade until January 16th.  It's absolutely perfect for little visitors.  There's even a design your own balloon crafts table.

And as for my next piece, I'm quite excited to say that I'll be covering the GISA Football State Championship game this upcoming Friday.  We're supposed to do a story on what best represents our hometown, and I can't think of anything better.  So, for all you Tattnall fans, I'll be in need of some great interviews!

Monday, November 14, 2011

A Night at the Museum

In conjunction with Faculty Fellows in Residents Week, I took a group of Lafayette students to the Museum of Moving Images this past Friday.  Only one word can describe their new exhibit,  Jim Henson's Fantastic World....AWESOME!  The floor featured over 120 artifacts, like drawings, storyboards, and props.  Fifteen iconic puppets (including Miss Piggy, Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, and Bert and Ernie )were also on display.  It sure did make me miss the good ol' days when my biggest dilemma was deciding on whether to watch Barney or Sesame Street.

The second floor is devoted to movies.  Everything from editing to acting has its own special section here. One seven minute exhibit really grabbed my attention;  it's a movie mashup that combines scenes from all of Hollywood's best feature films.  


Overall, I'd say it's a great museum with a balance of hands-on activities and exhibits that will interest youngsters and adults alike.  So if you find yourself in Astoria with nothing to do, be sure to check the museum out.  Tickets will only cost you $5 for children, $7.50 for students, and $10 for adults.  

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Reporting on the Real Quidditch World Cup

For my journalism piece this week, I followed the NYU Quidditch team and their race to  the World cup.  More than 5000 people spent the day at Randall's Island cheering on their favorite of the 93 teams.  Although the NYU Nundus, lost 3 of their  4 games, it was an absolutely perfect way to spend my Saturday.  The only downfall was the  amount of time I had to spend editing.  Literally, I had almost two hours of B-Roll; trying to compress it to just four minutes was quite a challenge. 
 Click here to see my final results! 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Only 43 More Days Until Christmas

This semester's been the quickest yet.  It seems like professors just passed out the syllabus and already they're prepping us for finals.  It's weird to think that Thanksgiving's just around the corner  Then before you know it, the cornucopia will be back in the attic, and candy canes will cover every square inch of the tree.

Even though Halloween was just last week (and today's high was definitely 70ยบ F), Starbucks has officially switched their menu to feature Christmas blends.  Ordering my usual Pumpkin Spice Latte this morning felt a little strange, especially when it was served in a cup adorned with reindeer and snowflakes.

Even Facebook postings already speak of "Jingle Bells" blaring from the loud speaker.

I Can't Believe Today's Really November 10th
One Brooklyn brownstone even has Santa's Official Count Down To Christmas Clock.  As we were walking to Tae Know Do this afternoon, the little boy I babysit starting listing all the presents he receive this year.  

And that’s when I had a slight panic attack....usually I’m so prepared and love finding the perfect gift for every single person on my list.  And as of yet, my only holiday-related-purchase was a cute pair of socks for my baby sister.  I scoured the Urban Outfitters website, and I think I’m on to something for Joseph, my 16 year old brother, but as for my parents, the juries still out.  As per usual, my lack of funds is keeping me from purchasing the perfect present:  two tickets for the Disney Cruise.  Perhaps, they’ll settle for yet another NYU sweatshirt?

Sunday, November 6, 2011

The Bobst Atrium

The moto for my Journalism as Literature class is "Read to Best to Be the Best."  It's one of my favorite classes I've taken at NYU; every week we literally just sit around in a circle for three hours and discuss the literary elements of the 20 or so pages we were assigned for that week.  I know, I'm such a nerd.  But finally, we got to put all the skills we've learned to the test.  For our assignment, our professor asked us to imagine that we are writing a magazine feature about some of New York's most interesting and unusual architectural spaces.  We plan to devote 500 words to a description of the NYU Bobst Library atrium.  Here's my finished piece, but don't let the small word count full you; writing it actually took me a couple of hours:

     Situated on Washington Square South between LaGuardia Place and Schwartz Pedestrian Plaza stands a 12 story, terra-cotta colored building.  Designed by Phillip Johnson and Richard Frost, the Elemer Holmes Bobst Library was completed in 1972.  But today, it is one of the largest academic libraries in the US, housing more than 3.3 million volumes.

     After making one’s way through the swarm of smokers, six swipe stations greet every Bobst visitor.  The library’s atrium is roughly 40 yards by 35 yards.  To the right is the granite book return/check-in service desk, and to the left is the Mamdouhas Bobst Gallery, where New York University treasures are on display.  Eight elevator doors line the back wall.  Above them, are the stairs, which have a very distinct look about them:  every two floors make the collar of a v-neck, with a flattened edge that serves as a bridge.  In total, there are five doubled layers that make up the second through eleventh floors; the twelfth floor has it’s own balcony.

     After two students jumped from the open-air crosswalks inside the library, falling to the stereogram patterned marble floor below, NYU installed plastic, plexiglass on each level to prevent further suicides.

     When someone turns their back to the elevators and looks up, six oversized study rooms are above.  Wall to wall windows let in the light as students cram for upcoming quizzes.

     To see the atrium from a different perspective, one should make their way to the farthest right elevator. Press the up button, and the twelfth floor’s the only stop available.  The doors to the elevator open.  Look over the edge of the railing.  Peer past the metal cross atop each spike, and look towards the atrium’s floor.  It creates an optical allusion that resembles the pricks of a fence post.

     After one’s had their fill of the dreary scene, they should make their way back to the ground floor.  Walk towards either the far left or far right corner, back towards the security desk.  A set of stairs will take them to the lower levels.  Here, in the Bobst basement, Steven Stanzak lived from September 2003 to April 2004.  After finding out that his NYU scholarship, four jobs, and private loans would cover his tuition but not his housing costs, the Bobst Boy (as he’s been nicknamed) refused to drop out or transfer to a cheaper university, choosing instead to live amongst the stacks.  Eventually however, the Washington Square News ran a piece on him, and the dean said he could no longer live there.  However, he was  provided with free NYU housing for the remanding weeks of the semester.

     In total, it’s estimated that more than 6,500 people visit the library each day.  Whether they’re a student cramming for a midterm or a hopeful high schooler on a tour, it’s impossible to go through the revolving doors at Bobst and not be amazed by its grandiose appearance.