Hysterical for Harry Potter

Well, I think I’ve visited heaven. I mean, if you’re a crazy-obsessed Harry Potter fan (like myself), then I’m guessing being at the NYC Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One may be your idea of heaven as well. Hopefully…or am I the only one? Anyways, I knew I had to pay a visit to the Alice Tully Hall (two blocks away from the Lincoln Center Campus) when some of my Fordham friends mentioned there was going to be a Harry Potter red-carpet premiere in New York this year. Now, there were HP premieres in the city before, but I was always too young to either spend hours waiting for the stars to turn out, or be in Manhattan so very late at night. But not now. Now I’m 18, a college student…things change. And, seriously, I left at like 9 p.m…not that bad at all! So, there I was, waiting and waiting for hours amongst other HP fanatics, who I befriended because we all shared that one HUGE common interest. I met about 13 new people, and caught up with some Fordham classmates. It almost neared 6 p.m. and we were all going crazy at the thought of seeing Harry, Ron, Hermione and company right before our eyes! It was a dream come true! Tom Felton (aka Draco Malfoy) was the first to turn up, and he happened to be the only one who was on time. Everyone was screaming, I mean EVERYONE. We all see the crazy fan girls on T.V., right? But it was NOTHING like live in person. Even I, someone who is normally quiet, screamed and screamed until I thought my voice was going to quit on me…and I still kept screaming! The screams weren’t even annoying as I’d imagine it would be. In fact, when you heard a group screaming in the distance, you knew that meant a star had arrived. I must say, I was a bit disappointed in the trio (Dan Radcliffe -Harry Potter, Emma Watson - Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint - Ron Weasley). Rupert only did a bit of signing for the fans, Emma went straight from her SUV to the press and skipped the fans altogether, and I can’t even remember what Dan did…but I wasn’t keen of it. For goodness sake, Ralph Fiennes, who plays Voldemort, autographed fans’ items more than the trio did. But they all looked lovely. Later on, Emma and Rupert did come back out though, and took pictures with fans who stuck around until the movie premiere was over. I blame the event planners for the Emma, Daniel, and Rupert not standing around signing autographs when they first arrived. Why? The event planners didn’t obtain a permit to shut down the street, meaning the stars would’ve had to dodge cars and NYC traffic to get to where we were standing. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret going at all. I absolutely loved every minute of it. I met new people, saw the HP cast, Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Joey Fatone (NYSNC), Rob Thomas, Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), etc. I even got Tom Felton’s autograph!!!!! Definitely, DEFINITELY one of the best days of my life. Hope everyone enjoyed the movie!

Tom Felton - soo close!
Draco Malfoy's my favorite Slytherin.
He has lovely handwriting...
NYC traffic trying to get in our way!
For Ronald Weasley and all the red-heads out there!
From left to right: Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Dan Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione), Rupert Grint (Ron), and Tom Felton (Draco).

The NYC Trifecta: Sports, Food, and Culture

Don’t get me wrong, I’m beyond excited to study abroad in London in the spring, but after the semester I’ve had, I cannot imagine living anywhere except New York for any period of time. I have two more years to enjoy the city, so hopefully I’ll survive a few months away…

Before Thanksgiving began, I used a bit of my free time for some New York moments. I took my first trip to Madison Square Garden, saw a Broadway show, and ate at one of New York’s top restaurants.. Hey, I’m going away for 5 months…I have to squeeze it all in!

The Rangers play the Bruins at Madison Square Garden.

I am lucky enough to have gone to a high school with an incredibly strong alumni network. Two or three times a year, all the New York area alumni get together at a downtown pub to catch up, network, and meet the new alumni in the area. The October social also included tickets to the night’s hockey game at Madison Square Garden between the Rangers and Bruins. Of course, the Boston boys in all the alums weren’t shy about who we supported! To be honest, I was more excited to go into MSG for the first time than for the actual game. The facility I’ve heard so much about didn’t disappoint, but I was a little disappointed in myself. I have chosen not to buy tickets to multiple shows at MSG, because I thought the venue was too big. But once you get there, you realize that there’s not a bad seat in the house. I’ve missed some opportunities, but now I know better! The game itself was a thriller, with the Bruins taking an early lead, and the Rangers catching up as the game headed to a conclusion. The entire arena exploded when the Rangers got an opportunity to score while two Bruins were out of the game on Power Plays. Sorry Rangers fans, better luck next time! They didn’t score, and the B’s won the night much to our delight. Great seats, great new friends, and a great game…

Kyle Dean Massey in "Next to Normal." credit

I’ve been saying I have to take more advantage of having Broadway right downtown for a while, so I jumped on my chance to see “Next to Normal” last week. Theater isn’t usually my thing, but it was such a phenomenal show! It won a Pulitzer Prize thanks to its groundbreaking subject matter, and the execution on stage was nearly flawless. The story was incredibly written, the cast was talented and dynamic, and the standing ovation at the end was more than deserved. I left the theater, and told my friend Casey I would be going back to see the show again when I got back from London. I was shocked when Casey told me the show was closing, and I would never get that chance. I guess it is all part of the business, but I was disappointed. If you’re going to be in New York, and want to see a Broadway show, I have no qualms about recommending “Next to Normal.” Catch it while you can.

Nobody can deny that New York has some of the best restaurants in the world. I was afforded the opportunity to dine at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole, consistently ranked among the best restaurants in the city. The 42^nd street location is just a short walk from Grand Central, tucked away to the side of Times Square. My friend Jason and I ordered from the three-course menu, deliberately picking very different dishes, including pheasant, duck, ham, and ceviche (not all on one plate). Our meals were phenomenal. Each was a piece of art, and I hated eating it because it looked so darn pretty! I savored each course, not always even entirely sure what I was eating...but it didn’t matter. I will definitely be recommending Aureole to my family and grandparents (it doesn’t fall into most of my peer’s budgets, but I’ll tell them about it too). Just a picture of the desert takes me back, and makes my mouth water. And we got a brief glimpse of Pee Wee Herman out the window (his show plays in the theater next door), so it had to have been a successful night!

Aureloe's dark chocolate tort. Amazing.

I can’t believe I only have a few short weeks left to enjoy this amazing city (for now). I know I’ll be busy, but hopefully I can find time to do one or two more blog-worthy things before I leave!

A Late Night with James Franco

We all watch Bravo, right? Well, next to our favorite shows like Real Housewives and Top Chef, is a little show called Inside the Actors Studio. For seventeen years, James Lipton (the show's host), has been interviewing the most gifted actors and directors in the entertainment industry. Following the likes of Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino, Angelina Jolie, Drew Barrymore, Steven Spielberg, Tina Fey, and a long list of other accomplished artists, James Franco finally graced the Inside the Actors Studio stage at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts on Wednesday night.

We were all introduced to James Franco as Daniel Desario on one of the greatest shows ever, Freaks and Geeks. Later, he appeared as Harry Osborn in the Spiderman trilogy and as Tristan in Tristan and Isolde (which I saw three times in theaters--embarrassing, I know). His critically-acclaimed performance as James Dean in the biopic of the same name earned him a Golden Globe. From Pineapple Express, to Milk, and everything in between, it seems as if James Franco can tackle anything. Oh wait, he's also been enrolled in four graduate programs over the past few years; Franco is currently pursuing a doctorate at Yale, as he promotes two new films: Howl and 127 Hours, and his recently published novel: Palo Alto. Ok, James Franco really can do anything.

My twin sister has loved James Franco ever since his Tristan and Isolde days. When I got an email mid-October announcing this season's Inside the Actors Studio guests, taping dates, and ticket prices, I jumped at the offer. My sister immediately booked a train to New York (skipping her Thursday and Friday classes), realizing this was an opportunity she just couldn't pass up. As a Fordham student, this event was just a quick RamVan and subway ride away.

I am a James Franco fan as well. However, Inside the Actors Studio happens to be my favorite show. I've seen almost every episode, entranced by the honesty and candor of the guests, especially in an industry that can be so incessantly violating and intrusive. For almost three hours, Lipton went through Franco's childhood, his introduction to acting, and his many television shows and films. Thankfully, my sister got to see her childhood crush, in his most honest and vulnerable state, for only $30. I got to stare at him for 3 hours. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Living History: Election Night 2010

The set of "Vote 2010," ABC's election night coverage, under constuction.

I spend a LOT of money on concerts in the city. I get great discounts, but it still adds up...so I have to work to make up for it! Luckily, I think I have the best job in the world, which the last five days can attest to.

One of Fordham's hidden gems is our radio station, WFUV. Anyone who has been on my tour knows I can talk for hours about the radio station, and the great opportunities it offers. In a nutshell, WFUV is an NPR affiliate located on Fordham's campus, but not officially affiliated with the university. We have a staff of full-time, professional DJs, and have full NYPD press credentials. It is not your typical college radio station. We are one of the most respected and well-known stations in the tri-state area, and we are very proud of that. With a full-time, professional staff, WFUV represents an opportunity for a paid internship right on campus in the communications field to those interested, regardless of major or academic preferences. Students are employed in one of four departments within the station: news, sports, production, and promotions. I work in the news department, which has allowed me the privilege of interviewing Mayor Bloomberg, Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, among others. My friends in Sports have been paid to attend Yankees' spring training, and friends from promotions attend dozens of concerts a month to promote the station. No matter where you work at FUV, it ain't a bad gig...

Through WFUV News, a coworker who also interns at ABC News got me a position there helping the network prepare its "Vote 2010" midterm election coverage. For a little over a month, I traveled to ABC News' World Headquarters on 66th St., and immersed myself in the world of the World News Tonight set. I think my mom was as excited for this experience as I was...she told anyone who would listen, and showed the blurry

picture I took of me behind the desk to any unfortunate person who crossed her path. This past weekend, rehearsals really kicked into overdrive, and I was scheduled to spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Halloween weekend at ABC News, 12 hours each day. Luckily, things went more smoothly than expected, and so while I did spend the vast majority of my weekend in the presence of some of the greatest news media minds in the country, it was bearable. Plus who am I kidding...Halloween happens every year; the politics dork in me wouldn't have passed on this opportunity if it was 72 straight hours over Christmas. Once every two years, my politics obsession becomes socially acceptable for a week before an election, and I got to spend the week leading up to this election with people who made my interest look juvenile. I earned such new respect for news anchors, producers, and the entire staff, because you would not believe the amount of rehearsing and adjustments we went through as the process continued.

Friday was the most interesting day, as in the midst of rehearsals for election night, we were promptly whisked off the set. Why? Several suspicious packages had been found in planes around the world, and it looked to be an organized terror attack...and Diane Sawyer had to break into ABC programing with the news. As I gathered my stuff, and walked from the desk, we brushed shoulders. I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't even realize who I had just walked by until 10 seconds later when she sat in the chair I had just occupied. I watched her deliver the breaking news from the wings, awe-struck at her poise and delivery on a moments notice.

I would have kicked myself if I had missed my one chance to talk to Diane Sawyer, but it turns out my worries were futile. Saturday and Sunday, Ms. Sawyer, George Stephanopolous, Cokie Roberts, and the other personalities to be featured on November 2nd's coverage came by to get a feel for the set, and do a bit of rehearsal so that they'd be comfortable. Saturday, I spent over an hour behind the ABC World News desk...with Diane Sawyer. We talked politics of course, but also did a considerable amount of chit-chatting (Pardon this brief editorial: talk about a class act. I have nothing bad to say about Ms. Sawyer. She was gracious, funny, smart, and incredibly impressive. I kind of want to be her....). She even took a few jabs at my expense...

I am fairly technologically challenged unless the technology has an Apple logo on it. As I spent time on the set, they placed a giant touch screen to the right of George Stephanopolous' seat. Upon further inspection, I realized the giant screen was the Christmas present a politics dork like me would ask for for the rest of his life, but never get: it was an interactive map of the USA, with past, present, and projections of races across the country. You could zoom in, learn about the candidates and issues in the state, and examine districts, demographics, and polls from across the country. Basically, as soon as I learned what it was, one thought crossed my mind: before I leave ABC on Sunday, I will play with that...that's the coolest toy ever.

Well, when behind the desk with Ms. Sawyer during a bit of rehearsal, I acted as her co-anchor. She turned to me, gestured to the box, and asked me to "show her...." (I couldn't tell you what she asked me to show her, the minute I realized I was about to get to play with this new toy, I stopped listening...). I looked at her, looked to the box, and then looked back, finally breaking character and breathlessly exclaiming "You mean...I get to touch the box...!?" Boy did she have a good laugh at my eagerness on that one, and told me I could do whatever I wanted. I did explore the touch screen, and it's a good thing I was well behaved this year, because Santa better leave it under my tree. Thankfully a co-worker caught this little moment on camera from a monitor in the studio, which you can see to the left. Notice how fast my hand is moving, and how fascinated Diane Sawyer is. I guess I'm just that interesting... A close-up of the box is below.

Talk about a once in a lifetime opportunity. And only in New York. All I can say is wow...what an experience. Leaving on Sunday evening, my friend reminded me to be sure I watched the election night coverage on Tuesday to see all of my hard work pay off. I told her I wish I could, but I had other plans...

WFUV has given me some cool opportunities, but having press credentials to cover an election has to be one of the best. Last night, three co-workers and I spent the night at the New York State Republican Party Reception at the New York Hilton in midtown. We were each covering the Republican candidate in a NY race. I was reporting on Joe DioGuardi (who ran against, and lost to Senator Gillibrand), and last night would mark the first time I had ever gone on air live for the radio...only a little nerve-wracking. Even though republicans didn't do as well as they had hoped in New York, the mood was still quite energetic thanks to the strong national performance of the party. I survived on-air, interviewed the candidate, and headed back to campus around 1 AM to finish working on my story. A long night? Yeah...but I had just been a part of history. More than worth it.

I got back to my room around 2 AM, and my roommate was awake and kicking, much to my surprise. I was even more surprised when I saw what he was watching: election results on ABC. I jumped up and down like an excited child, and got to catch the last ten minutes of the newscast I had helped work on for so long. When Diane Sawyer signed off, I got a bit of a chill. Maybe someday I can steal that chair. Until then, the pictures from the weekend will have to suffice.

New York Film Festival

Just a few months ago, my Sunday nights were always a blur of studying and last minute preparations for the week ahead. But this past weekend, I spent my Sunday night at a movie premier seeing some of the most influential people in Hollywood.

A 17 day long event, The New York Film Festival showcases a mix of films--from famous filmmakers to indie artists and foreign films. This year, the event was held at Lincoln Center, just a few blocks down from Fordham's Lincoln Center campus! As a avid movie fan, this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

The conclusion to this year's festival was Clint Eastwood's new movie--Hereafter staring Matt Damon. Since the movie has been getting a lot of buzz and has big names attached, there would be two showings--one at 7pm for the press and those involved with the film and a second showing at 10pm for the public. With a quick trip to the box office my friends and I easily purchased tickets for the 10pm show and decided to go down early and spend the evening in the Manhattan.

We took the Ram Van from Rose Hill and arrived in Manhattan by 6:30 and walked the few short blocks up to the theater. We had arrived early in hopes that there would be a place to watch the stars walk in and our early arrival paid off. We got a perfect view to watch Matt Damon arrive and walk the red carpet!

After watching few more people in the film arrive, we grabbed something to eat nearby from one of the restaurants listed in The Passport--Fordham's student guide to New York City. By the time we were finished, it was time to return to the theater for the movie.

While waiting in the lobby to go to our seats, we met Ron Howard--the director of movies like A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vince Code. He was there to support his daughter because she was in the film. As we stood there with him, I just kept thinking how surreal this night had been. We were standing in a theater used by Juilliard students, surrounded by movie critics, actors, and famous directors waiting to see the premiere of a movie that is already getting Oscar talk. Only in New York can this be part of the college experience.

Finally, we made it to our seats and prepared for the movie to start. The New York Film Society said a few words and had a surprise for us--Clint Eastwood! We had not seen him arrive and figured that he left with the other stars, but he had stayed so that he could introduce the film to us. Seeing a Hollywood legend like Clint Eastwood was definitely the highlight of the night--and that is saying a lot because Hereafter was phenomenal! It is moments like this that make me so excited about my next four years in New York City.