Happy Memorial Day

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Happy Memorial Day weekend!

We are off to the nation's capital tomorrow morning so date night tonight involves the "fun-filled" activities of laundry and packing for our weekend getaway.

It's the fiancé's first visit while I haven't been back since I last (and initially) did back in 2009. Even though we've both been busy of late, it won't be an "Usha" trip without a decent amount of planning. Here are what's on the cards:

MOMA Rain Room Survival Tips

We lost our Saturday to the MOMA Rain Room. 

This Instagram was taken barely halfway through our arduous wait. At the two hour point, we decided to just commit to waiting however long to enter the most talked about exhibit this Summer. Well it took 5 hours dude. FIVE RIDICULOUS HOURS.

The 10-15 minutes we spent inside was glorious though. The exhibit is unique and really fun but I admit the photo ops are the main drawcard than the actual special effects of the exhibit. 

We suffered so you don't have to. If you can't make it during the weekday (the best time to avoid the inevitable long lines), here's how to make your Rain Room visit as painless as possible:

ABC Cocina In Spades

Yesterday's date night saw us at ABC Cocina. Early reports suggest this is the latest hot spot in Manhattan, resulting in the annoying problem of tables being booked out at least a month in advance, I did however manage to wrangle a prime time reservation for Friday by calling the day before enquiring about cancelled tables. A trick we've used many times before with great success. 

Just like its neighbour and sister restaurant, ABC Kitchen, Cocina is decked out in very pretty lighting and high-end hipster decor from ABC Carpet and Home (the place to go if you are ever in the market for $600 crockery and $1000 reclaimed metal chairs). 

I digress. Everything about this Spanish/Latin restaurant was fabulous. The gin coconut cocktail as well as guacamole with peas and sunflower seeds were a great start to our meal (I'm definitely using these additions next time I make guac at home).

Five Things

Happy Mothers' Day everyone! Celebrations with my amma are postponed until I see her next month but I hope everyone is having a grand time with their mums, whether they are near or far. 

I was recently tagged by Hitha to reveal five things you may not know about me. My About page has a bunch of silly facts already so trying to think of 5 more was nothing short of challenging. I may have alluded to some of these in previous posts so apologies if some of these do not come as a surprise:

Flying High

(I have been meaning to write this post for nearly a year but I misplaced the photos and only just found them so here we go)

You know how there is this tiny group of people who can't do really fun things most people can? Like roller-blade, ice-skate, ski or even play freaking ball games? Well unfortunately for me, that tiny group includes me. Though what I lack in skill, I make up for with courage. I will attempt anything ONCE, and predictably, fail miserably at it.  

So when a co-worker (Hey Rob!) suggested we go to a trapeze class with him, I immediately thought right, here we go. let's do this once, I'll say I've tried and then I'll never have to do it again. Which is how we found ourselves at in Chelsea Piers on a BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon last Spring.

There's Rob!

Cinco de Malaysia

The country I was born and brought up in, Malaysia held its 13th general elections yesterday. With the incumbent in power since Independence in 1957, the country was up for a long overdue change. Tired of rife corruption and cronyism by the ruling party, BN and poor economic growth, the popular vote indicated that the Opposition coalition was destined to take over this time around.

Alas, with blatant voter fraud and dirty election tactics - including allegations of BN handing out citizenships to foreign nationals in exchange for votes, phantom voters on the electoral roll, as well as blackouts and swapping of ballot boxes during the vote-counting process - this time was just not it. 

Amidst immense disappointment, there were small, yet significant victories. The Opposition has won more parliamentary seats than ever in history. Most importantly, apathy is no longer the name of the game with citizens voicing dissent at every government wrongdoing. There is no doubt the seeds of change have been planted, I am confident another five years is all it needs to bloom and grow stronger. I am hopeful, so hopeful that change is nigh. 

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Besides being glued to the internet for election updates, I celebrated Cinco De Mayo with an East Village brunch and plenty of day-drinking (drowning my sorrows, you see):

  

NYC Social - May

Hello May (aka the month I celebrate my third anniversary of arriving in NYC)! While I wrote about Spring arriving last month, I didn't mean for it to hide for most of April. Let's cross fingers and toes, and hope May will bring permanently warm weather. Here are a few highlights in NYC this month (hint: SALES!): 

1. Five Boro Bike Ride - 5 May

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Get your bicycle out for this 40-mile bike ride that will see various streets in each of the five boroughs closed to automobiles. Starting at Battery Park, you can ride up through Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and all five bridges, before finishing up at Staten Island. Regardless of how much the spelling of "borough" in the official event title is killing me, it will be such a treat to cycle without worrying about navigating New York traffic (those cabs!). Get more information here.

2. NYCxDesign: May 10 - 21

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With support from the City Council and Mayor's Office, this inaugural design festival takes place in venues all around the city. Over the course of 12 days, there will be exhibitions, talks and open studio sessions representing all genres of design. Having a greater affinity for sartorial design (surprise surprise), I am looking forward to being present at a design talk with Iris Apfel and Deborah Needleman, as well as checking out the FIT Graduating Class exhibition. Head on to the NYCxDesign website for information on fashion and other events.

3. Shanghai Glamour at the MOCA - through September 29

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While part of NYCxDesign above, the Museum of Chinese in America will showcase Shanghai Glamour: New Woman 1910s-40s right through Fall. If you, like me, are a fan of Maggie Cheung's exquisite cheongsams in the movie In The Mood for Love, this exhibit will be right up your alley. 12 outfits are on loan from the China National Silk Museum in Hangzhou which will illustrate early 20th century Shanghai women and their love of glamour. Don't leave without seeing the other fashion exhibit at the MOCA - Front Row: Chinese American Designers. 

4. The Met Costume Institute Exhibit: May 9 - August 14

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"Punk" is the theme of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual Costume Institute exhibit. Preceded by the glamourous Met Gala, the installation will illustrate the growth of punk in the 70s and map its influence in modern fashion. Included in the exhibit are nearly 100 pieces from original punk garments to recent designs inspired by the original movement. Though what is a punk exhibit without punk music - prepare to walk through the installation accompanied by the Ramones, The Clash and Sex Pistols amongst others.