The 99%

So unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the Occupy Wall Street Protest. It’s very interesting living in the city during this, because I get to witness all the action firsthand. I went down to Zuccoti Park (the sight of the protest) a few times when it first began back in September and October, but not lately because of the recent violence associated with the police and such. There is something sort of liberating about the dedication and passion that these people have. It is definitely inspiring in a way, to believe in something and go for it, really act on what you want and think is right. Here are some pictures I have taken from OWS:

I also went to an art gallery that was a part of OWS:

A City Symphony

I am currently taking a Sense and Medium class, where we are able to explore the different types of mediums. We are focusing on Video, Digital Media and Sound Design. I have thoroughly enjoyed this class, especially the Video portion. I just wish the sections lasted longer. Because there are 3 different parts to this course we only had 4 classes to complete each project. Our project assignment for the video portion of the course, was to capture video from the 2 blocks that surround our school and try to capture various forms of color, texture, movement and etc. through everyday life in the city.

This is my final product:

Exploration

This weekend, I visited some interesting places I had never been to in New York City before.

Friday I went to the MoMA, The Museum of Modern Art, for the first time. I haven’t been to any Museums in NYC before so I was curious to attend when my friend invited me to go. There were a lot of tourists, and a lot of people in general, which can be a bit nerve-racking, but the I did enjoy the art-gazing. These are a few of my favorite pieces that I was able to get photos of.

Claude Monet Agapanthus

Max Ernst Rendezvous of Friends- The Friends become Flowers

Pablo Picasso Three Musicians

Gustav Klimt Hope, II

On friday night, I went to the Half Gallery for the opening of a new exhibiton from the fashion photographer Terry Richardson (although this exhibit did not showcase his fashion photography). The exhibiton is called “Mom and Dad”. His late father Bob Richardson was a renowned fashion photographer and his mother Annie — still alive and kicking it in Ojai, California — a former Copacabana dancer, stylist and Jimi Hendrix paramour. Although they divorced when Terry was quite young, the couple are brought together again here in these touching, funny, sometimes desperate photographs (http://halfgallery.com/).  It was a very interesting exhibit. If you want to see more photos check the previous website out or this one http://www.colette.fr/#/eshop/article/30811677/mom-dad-terry-richardson/1060/ 

These are a few shots of the photos displayed:

Despite the packed crowd, I was able to snap this picture of Terry at the opening (He’s the one on the left, I have no clue who the other guy is!):

Lastly, my friends and I visited the High Line, which is an old above ground subway line that was tranformed into an aerial greenway and spans about 30 blocks on the West Side of Manhattan.Its a very neat and calm place that has some incredible views of the city! These are some pictures I took from the High Line:

Me, Grayson and Kelsey

Just another day in the life of a paparazzi…

Sorrrry I am so bad at keeping up with my blog. I think about what I’m going to post on here on a daily basis, but somehow the day slips away and I neglect to get a post completed. Well the time has come and I am actually sitting down and getting this accomplished.

Can I just say that time has FLOWN by. I feel like I just moved here like yesterday and now in two short weeks I will be flying home for Thanksgiving Break. I am so excited for this quick trip home. Not only will I get to see my friends and family, but I will get to experience a football game, PLUS it’s the best one of the season!! WOO HOOO I have missed tailgating and rolling and eating and  and cheering and everything else that is associated with Auburn Football. I have been trying to keep up with the games here in NYC, but let me tell you something: NO ONE IN THE NORTH GIVES A CRAP ABOUT COLLEGE FOOTBALL. Period. The end. Its all pro- this and pro-that ….who cares about Pro football…people here that’s who! I am very much looking forward to gearing up in orange and blue and cheering on the tigers.

So my life as lately has been pretty entertaining. I have had quite a few celebrity run ins…And in case you haven’t met me before you should know that I LOVE THE CELEBS!! So that has been awesome! I’ve only gotten some pictures of a few, mainly because I don’t want to hurt my chance of developing long-lasting relationships by acting like a star-struck fan, although I am ALWAYS the star-struck fan.

Today, in fact, I randomly wandered onto the set of Gossip Girl. There were shooting the scene for *SPOILER ALERT* Blair’s wedding to the Prince. They were filming on the Upper East Side right near my school and I passed by on the way home today and BAM…There was Serena and Dan a.k.a Blake Lively and Penn Badgley. So since everyone else was snapping photos I decided to, too. Here are the pics I got:

Hmmm, I also spotted some bachelor/bachelorette contestants at Central Park where they were putting on a charity event for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. The event was put on by Graham Bunn, a recent finalist from The Bachelor Pad 2. His charity website is http://www.46NYC.com–You should check it out, he supports some cool causes!

I also creepily know where Jennifer Anniston lives and spotted her once entering her building, AND YES she is as pretty and fabulous in person. I’ve seen her boyfriend near there a few times as well. And to make myself feel better, I want you all to know that I applied for a job near there and my friend’s sister lives near there so I have been in the area several times and I don’t just stalk her, although I wish I had the time and patience to do so 🙂 I discovered through the be-friending of a few paparazzo that she lived in this gorgeous building in the West Village.

Here’s a (very bad) pic of her hunky bf, Justin Theroux, riding off on his motorcycle:

yeah I told you it was a bad one, probably not going to be able to sell this one to the tabloids anytime soon.

Monday night, my friend and I went to a book reading at our favorite little Bookstore/Coffee Shop,but arrived too late and was unable to hear the author speak. BUT the upside was that we saw Alec Baldwin leaving the book reading, and also Sandra Bernhard, who I recognized but honestly have no idea why she is famous. I’ve also randomly seen Gilbert Gottfried (SCORE!) and Carey Mulligan just roaming the streets. I guess celebrities are just real people after all, haha yeah right!

So thats the latest in Mandy’s life as a celeb magnet. I’ll keep you all posted on any other sightings in the future.