Allow me to reintroduce myself...

It's been a while. Blame it on school, life, laziness, the al al al al alcohol. I would update ya'll on what I've been doing but knowing that the only readers of this are the people I force it upon, you already know. So let's jump back into this by going into a few of my favorite thiiiiiiingssss:

Music has been meh this year, in my opinion. Aside from Beyonce dropping my dream come true, I haven't been super excited about any music as of late. I have seen some awesome concerts since my last posting. Beyonce (2x!--The OTR tour, there are just no words. When homegirl went into "ex-factor" by Lauryn Hill, I in (almost) every sense of the word, lost my shit. There are no words), Justin Timberlake (who is King to my Queen B), DMB (who never disappoints), Danity Kane (get it together ladies, your shows are fire), PINK (amazing) and John Legend. But I'm craving some good ass music. 

Broadway  has been amazing this year, and the upcoming seasons looks fantastic. Most of the ones I've seen this year have/are ending but my tops have been:

• Of Mice and Men- Chris O'Dowd was just WOW.
• If/Then- Idina Menzel doesn't even know how to disappoint
• Hedwig and the angry Inch- N.fucking.ph. hotdamn
• Cabaret- Alan Cumming marry me. 

This upcoming season, I am excited to see Hedwig with Andrew Rannells. He's bound to be amazing. I read somewhere about Joseph Gordon Levitt taking over the role. I think this was just a wish-list casting but I highly support it. Emma Stone taking over Michelle Williams role in Cabaret is another that I would love to see. She's almost Jennifer Lawrence level of "I want to be your bff" obsession.  The show that I can NOT wait to see is Hamilton.  Already have tickets to see it in January, that's how excited. I honestly don't know much about it. All I needed was this description: "From the creative team behind the Tony Award-winning In The Heights comes a wildly inventive new musical about the scrappy young immigrant who forever changed America: Alexander Hamilton." I'm Sold. My other to see list (as of today) is:

• Here Lies Love
• The River- HUGH JACKMAN
• You can't take it with you 
• The curious incident of the dog in the night time (one of my favorite books!)
• The Real Thing -because Sam Gold can do no wrong
• A delicate balance- (side note, John Litgow in King Lear is un freaking real)

BOOKS.
Yes lawd, I finally have time to read again. I've been getting through my 2012 to-read list with fervor and have read some goodies.The ones that I finally read that everyone else needs to are:

• Eleanor & Park - read only if you want to finish a book with a giant smile and if you have a soul. My dear friend Jess, I have learned from reading this, has none. 
• Is Everyone hanging out without me? - from reading this, I have learned Mindy Kaling and I are best friends. (Or at least we should be)
• Lean in-  So I have awesome friends (just a reminder). Two of them, Jess and Sara, are their own subcategory of awesome just because we all have so many of the same interests and are very opinionated about them. My emails/texts with them are some of my favorites just because it requires and allows me to think and articulate my thoughts in ways I don't normally get the chance to. Sara and I have read this book and have differing opinions on it, and it's on Jess's to-read list. Yet this has already sparked some really interesting discussions on gender roles and the labeling of a feminist. I wish I could copy and paste some, but I'd rather other people read the book and add their two cents about it as well. 

I love (emphasis on love) book recommendations, so if you have any- bring em on me. Or follow/friend me on goodreads. I obsessively organize and update it daily

Soooo that's that, for now. 

xoxo

Don't tell lies in heaven or an angel will get mean

One of the greatest feelings in the world is discovering new and amazing music. It doesn't have to be recent, just new to you. You're listening to your pandora or radio as background music, and suddenly a song comes on that makes you stop everything and just listen to it. That has happened to me ALOT recently. There is always a correlation between the hours I spend a day studying, and the amount of itunes purchases I make in a day because of this very situation.

This just happened to me five minutes ago when Emeli Sande "Breaking the law" came on. I stopeed everything, went to spotify and listened to the whole album. After realizing I starred three songs in a row, I instantly went to itunes to purchase the album.

A couple of my favorites: Suitcase, Hope, Heaven...everything is actually amazing.

Emeli Sande is very similar to another one of my fairly recent new loves- Elle Varner. (I've played this album constantly since November). Her voice is amazing and her music has such a groove to it; I just love it!

Local Natives is also a new favorite and constant play as of late.  My favorite is You and I, but the whole album is amazing.

Those are a couple of my recent finds--but I've had a bunch of recent loves of people pretty established already.  

• Pink's new album is incredible. When my friend suggested I give it a listen, I scoffed out of habit. Now I play it straight at least once a day--Beam me Up is my favorite just because everything about it is beautiful. 
• "Ass, Ass, Ass, Ass" has been my go-to chant for a couple of months now...but it's only been recently that I checked out Big Sean's album and I"m pretty impressed. It doesn't really sound like any other rap/r&b album out there...at least any that I can think of; but its pretty flawless start to finish.
• The same goes for Trey Songz. He kind of snuck up on me after I realized I purchased most of the album as singles already. It's just so damn catchy. A great listen when you just want some beats while you relax or study.
• Young the Giant came up on my "The Nationals" playlist (another great new band I love). This album is on constant rotation on my spotify, its great!
• The Like is another recent find that I thought were new. Come to find out this album is from 2011. It's really great...hopefully it means they'll release new music soon also.
• I'm also embarrassed by how long it took me to get into Alabama Shakes. I have corrected that wrong, listening to "Hold on" at least once a day.

I could talk about music all day if you'd let me; which is why I'll stop here. Check me out on spotify though if you're interested in some of my other favorites! I also LOVE music suggestions- I like pretty much everything EXCEPT techno, so let me know your favorites!! 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My links of the day:

• Anything on this website: http://thoughtcatalog.com/. I can literally spend a day reading all of the articles (and by literally I mean, I've done it...twice...so far). 
• RORY AND PETE ARE GETTING MARRIED

Title comes from ZZ ward- 365 days

xoxo

"If at some point we all succumb, For goodness sake let us be young. Because time gets harder to outrun, And I'm nobody, I'm not done"

IT'S MARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why so many exclamations points you ask? Because some body (ME) is excited that summer is almost here! Summer, ahh, it's all I've been able to think of lately. All I want to do is sit in central park with a good book, laughing with my friends; or exploring williamsburg during the day, and roof top bars and outdoor concerts and music festivals. I.Can't.Wait.

Take a look at the firefly music festival line up, June 21st to 23rd. It looks like a dream line up (if you have spotify {which you should} search for the firefly playlist and have your day instantly be transformed into an awesome one). Buttttt wait, therreeeessss more: Governors Ball June 7-9. Granted, the line ups overlap a bit--but theres nothing wrong with seeing awesome twice in one month! Amirite?

But day by day, Cherie, day by day. March has got some good times coming up:

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN MARCH

• Girls night in----
• if you haven't been able to  tell yet, my friendships mean everything to me. This month two of my solid groups of friends have made it a priority to have a night of just sitting together with good wine, good food, and lots of laughter. It's what I'm looking forward to the most this month.
• March 16th: St. Patricks day!
• I know, at 25 I'm supposed to be more mature than being excited to day drink and cheer and run around the city like a mess. But dammit, I spend 5-6 days a week studying my butt off and making responsible decisions...I'm allowed to be excited to take this one day off!
• March 19th: NEW JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE ALBUM COMES OUT
• in case you haven't watched it yet today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsUsVbTj2AY
• March 26th...this is a big one
• 1st: NEW STROKES ALBUM COMES OUT
• 2nd: I'm seeing Breakfast at tiffanys on broadway. It's one of my favorite movies so I'm excited to see how it translates.
• March 28th: Taylor Swift Concert

Also included is my spring break, in which I will be doing the all too exciting thing of sleeping without setting an alarm and having 0 cares for 7 days. It will be glorious.

So for now, I guess these are a few of my favorite thinggggssss

(really surprised it's taken me this long to do that)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

lyrics from the title: Westsuit by the Vaccines

"What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow"

I watch a lot of tv...like, a lot a lot, but something I watched this morning resonated with me like nothing has before. On this Saturday morning, while procrastinating on my study plans for the day, I happened to turn on the history channel in which the special "Stories from the Road To Freedom" was playing. Just to give you some background on myself: I was born in Harlem, NY to a father originally from Harlem and a mother from Orangeburg, South Carolina. When I was 6 we moved to Westchester where I always stood out like a sore thumb. I could probably count on one hand the number of black friends I had/have growing up, not saying thats a particularly bad or good thing, that's just the way things were. Although I never really focused on race nor had many instances where me being black greatly affected my day-to day; my parents always made sure I knew where I came from and what to be thankful for. Sitting watching this special this morning, at 25 years old, I think it just hit me; the enormous amount of life I have to be thankful for, and the gratitude for the many who made it happen.

Back in the day, blacks had it rough. This is no new fact or notion- we've all, no matter our race, been taught that since elementary school. But seeing the evolution in the two hour special on the history of what blacks went through, go through, and came to; made it real. When I turned on the special, somewhere near the middle, it was starting in on education differences in the 1950's. They showed the "white schools" where kids were happy and running around seemingly carefree, and then cut to the black schools in the south where the kids had no shoes, were sharing old beaten up books and squeezed into a cramped classroom. The only thing I could think of when I saw that was my mother. Especially because the narrator for that section came from good ole Orangeburg, South Carolina. I always knew my mother was raised in the thick of the civil rights era and saw and lived through unimaginable times-but to actually see, on film of how it was-while sitting in my apartment, holding a B.S and MBS degree, three years away from a D.M.D degree and only a generation removed from those scenes...there just isn't any words. 

My mothers mother mother was a slave, my mothers mother was "the help" who left her 12 babies at home to go up north and care for other peoples babies, and my mother grew up in the midst of a changing world; where she fought for respect and equality, and lived to see me, her only daughter, following every dream she's ever had with little resistance and wanting for nothing. I guess the word to sum up what I'm feeling is pride. Watching the special made me sick and angry of the abuse people faced not that many years ago all in the name of prejudice and racisim; but the fact the some angry people turned into many and that many turned into a movement who chose to fight back and change the norm and create the world that I live in now. The world where I'm allowed to not acknowledge race every day, and dream without boundaries, and see so many people who look like me doing amazing and extraordinary things every day. Beyonce is on top of the world, Jay-Z had a stadium built in Brooklyn, Oprah is a household name, PRESIDENT Barack Obama. This is the world now. I, like many, grew up being able to recite Martin Luther Kings Jrs word by memory, 

"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." 

...but hot damn, the only thing I could think of while watching this special was "I am living the dream". Amazing. Proud. Humbled. Exalted. Determined. Awe-struken. That is how I feel right now.

At the same time, I couldn't help but see the parallels between the civil rights movement back then and the quest for gay rights today. This quote by MLK holds undoubtedly true for me right now,

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality."

History has always been one of my favorite subjects in school. The only way to move forward rightfully, is to study and correct the paths of the past. All is not equal and fair in the world we live in today for many: blacks, whites, hispanics, immigrants, gays, poor...there is still so much to be done. But as our 44th President, a Harvard educated man with English and Kenyan roots, eloquently said:

"What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

Proud and Determined. I have work to do...we ALL have work to do; and right now, I feel beyond ready.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are interested, the special is a dvd sold here for $20: http://shop.history.com/stories-from-the-road-to-freedom-dvd/detail.php?p=442918

A book similar to this special, which I also found incredibile is, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson.

xoxo

Oh keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn

Last night I saw Mumford and Sons prove that they are worthy of all of the hype behind them. Aside from sounding incredible live; those boys just know how to put on a show. I was kind of skeptical about how I would feel seeing Mumford at a large venue such as the Barclays center, but it truly was amazing. They created a stage that seemed so intimate and personal; I kind of forgot I was seeing them from section 211. Another plus was whoever their set designer is, is f'ing amazing. I've never before seen lights incorporated in such a way that elevated the music and the feel of the music- it was truly spectacular. I'm sure if you searched on instagram- you could find endless tags and pictures of this light show---which brings me to: 

Cherie's Concert Pet Peeves

There are unspoken rules about how to behave at concerts, and it's time to say them aloud.

• Don't be a dick- if the band says they are about to perform a special song and you need to be quiet to hear, don't yell "turn your mic on", or "brookkklyn" every quiet time. You're just letting us all know how much you suck while creating imaginations in my head about ways to punch you in the face.
• GET.OFF.YOUR.CELL.PHONE- take some pictures of the stage, record a couple of songs, take a pic of you and your friend sitting in dark seats, whatever- just don't do it the whole show! What's the point of staying on instagram to show people how awesome it is that you're at an awesome show, while you're sitting there oblivious to just how awesome it is! 
• Shut up! Talking during the opening act is something that irritates me, but I let it go because people paid to see the main artist, so there is a chance they don't care or even like the opening act. Fine. But when the main artist comes on--the person you paid $50+ to see--it's time to put a lid on it. Don't continue your conversation about taxes or how "becky said this" or how you want new shoes--listen to the music and enjoy the show.

The obnoxious crowd at the Barclays last night was kind of a downer for me, but they weren't able to ruin my happiness completely. I can, at times, be a pretentious music snob; which makes me slightly embarrassed when I tell people my favorite category of music. "Guys with Guitars". It's so 16 year old teenybopper "omg I love them because they are cute" sounding, (which they are), but I have other criteria for that category.  To be in my "guys with guitars" category, you have to make music with meaning and substance. Your lyrics have to resonate with me and evoke an emotion- be it empathy, sympathy, anger, compassion, appreciation or just plain happiness. You need to be a damn good musician, leaving me in awe of your talent and tranced by just watching you play. Based on this, Mumford and Sons are at the top of my favorite guys with guitars bands, (right below John Mayer, and no I will not apologize for that).

During the show, my friend Sara leaned over to me and said "these guys are their biggest fans" because you could see how much fun they were having playing their own music! They felt it- from the cello player to Marcus Mumford rocking the shit out of his guitars and drums. Seeing them live was even better than blasting their album in my headphones ,because I was physically able to feel the music so much more. The drums and my heart beat were synched, the bass forced my head to move with every note--their music had meaning and I was truly feeling it last night. Add to that to some of the most beautiful lyrics I've ever heard, like those from "Lover of the Light"

And in the middle of the night
I may watch you go
There'll be no value in the strength
Of walls that I have grown
There'll be no comfort in the shade
Of the shadows thrown
You may not trust the promises
Of the change I'll show
But I'd be yours if you'd be mine

It's just hard not to feel in that environment. I have a habit of being at concerts and getting so in the zone that I forget I'm around people, and that it's not just me and the band in the room--and let me tell you, that zone was a fucking awesome place to be last night. Mumford and Sons will also be performing at the grammys on Sunday, but if you ever get the chance to see them live- I HIGHLY recommend you jump at it. Oh- and the lyric from this post comes from "Below My Feet". Another gem.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Links of the day:

I've been slacking at sharing my favorite stories of the day. Mostly because I've been studying during the day which puts a damper on my "search the internet for awesome news time". So today, I'll just refer back to an old theme--showing you all how awesome and talented my friend Jess is. 

Exhibit A and Exhibit B.

xoxo

Oh.My.Beyonce

2 hours later and I think I just calmed down from Queen B slaying it at the superbowl. More on that later.

FUN. I saw them in concert at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday and it was, surprisingly, one of the best shows I've ever been to.

 I would say I've averaged at least 5 concerts a year, since the age of 13. Live music for me just equates to happiness. In high school, my love of concerts had everything to do with my relationship with my friends. In typical small town fashion, we spent many nights just driving around blasting our favorite songs, while singing along and talking about everything and nothing at the same time. We have a lot of "soundtracks", my friends and I. Music and our equal love of it bonded us together and at times, even defined us. It made songs, for me, more than songs; they became instant memories. So of course, we made a lot effort finding when our favorite bands were playing and making sure we were at that concert! Almost all of my fondest memories involve jumping and singing along to every song on an album, and just being infinitely happy to be singing along with the people I love.

 One of "our" bands at the time was Maroon 5. I did/still can listen to every song on the "Songs about Jane" album and smile. I can't recall the name of the venue, but I saw them back in 03' in a medium sized/low budget, standing room only show; and the tickets were maybe $30. I remember so clearly watching Maroon 5 and being captivated by their songs, while singing along with my (soon to be) best friend, Jess. But what made this concert unlike a lot of the others we had gone to was the feeling given off by the band. You could genuinely tell how excited they were to be on stage. It was clear that playing those songs, in that venue, with people cheering for them was a big thing for them--and that energy made me even more excited that Jess and I got to be a part of that. While I've been to many concerts since then, that feeling of being a part of something big did not return until the past Saturday.

In a year, Fun. went from being a fairly unknown band, to playing sold out shows and having 6 grammy nominations. The lead singer constantly jumped up and down and looked like he was pinching himself numerous times during the show. I can't blame him though- imagine looking out at this

and seeing every single seat filled with every person jumping up and down singing a song you wrote back at you.  While some of my favorite bands, Dave Matthews, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga-- all put on amazing shows; it often feels like a "one of many" show.  But this Saturday, it was clear that all of the members in Fun. were having an "oh my fucking god" moment every five seconds; and that energy and excitement made my friend Jackie and I dance even harder and sing even louder with them.

Aside from the atmosphere of the concert, the music was incredible! Their albums are ones I can play on repeat and never get sick of it. Admittedly it is a bit poppy, but it's sad while uplifting and real. Jackie and I often email each other with a "song of the day", and almost all of Fun's songs have made the cut.  Some nights will always be one of their most amazing songs, but Stars, All Alright and All the Pretty Girls are other favorites of mine. Also, did I mention our seats weren't too shabby... 

They are performing at the Grammys on Sunday, the 10th, and I'm sure this performance will be even bigger and more meaningful for them. I hope we can still feel that through the screen!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I still am not ready to talk about Beyonce. I just sat in awe watching her murder it at halftime, and I'm still pretty mesmerized. Even though she made some crazy faces, you could tell that she knew she was killing and how BIG of a deal this was for her. Get it, B! 

 If you, like myself, need more Beyonce to make it through this Beyonce hangover, this is one of my all time favorites: http://youtu.be/oNg9mTiFDq8. I'll throw in this, too: http://youtu.be/wTEGWxxKBVw.

Happy Beyonce day, everybody!

Slacker

Long time, no talk. However- the fact that I managed 4 posts in a month is 3 more than I thought I could do sooo self five. While I'm on the topic of gloating, it needs to be known that I kept the BIG HORRIBLE DOWNTON ABBY TWIST A SECRET FOR 3 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Although it meant crying by myself- I'm super proud that I held out. That was a gut-wrench that needed to be felt by all, organically.

Back to business. Since I've last posted, Jennifer Lawrence won a SAG and a Golden Globe! (She also hosted snl but I'm just pretending that never happened.) Awards season is HUGE for me. The Sag, Emmys, Critics choice---those are all just the play offs for the Oscars!! I am that annoying friend who yells out every single thought I have during the show...but luckily, most (some) of my friends are as well. Here is an example of our Emmy's live-text: 

I also saw Louis CK on Friday! He's really funny but warning: do not drink wine before the show--you will fall asleep. 

On to FEBRUARY! Things to look forward to:

• Feb. 1st- HAWLEY REUNION. (This probably doesn't mean much to you, but basically all the awesome people I lived with for 2 years will be in the same place and that makes me very happy)
• 2nd: FUN. concert!
• I first got into fun. early last year, but this is the first concert I am able to catch. What I did not know was fun is the new tween "it" band, so this concert will be nothing that I expected. (aka i'm making my signs to throw in the air while jumping around-but only so I fit in)
• 3rd: BEYONCE!!! (also known as the superbowl to some)
• 6th: Mumford and Sons concert! (this will not be with tweens, i think?)
• 7th:  Community returns!!!!!
• 13th: Seeing Really, Really...I am really, really excited. (had to)
• 16th: BEYONCE HBO SPECIAL
• 24th: My superbowl: OSCARSSSSSSS

Also in the mix are two special friends birthdays and a day just for love. There is so much to be excited for, it's like I don't even have to say "rabbit rabbit" thursday night. 

My favorite links as of late:

I have a friend who is so much wittier and cooler than I can ever hope to be. Lucky for us, she has a twitter! (<-click on the link to check it. She also has the inside scoop to new and awesome books. She's a keeper)

PBS is making a documentary on J.D Salinger

I was never that teen who worshiped Catcher in the Rye, I was/am more of a To Kill A Mockingbird person. But the fact that this man was such a recluse and it's by PBS-it kind of seems like a must watch.

Why you should watch happy endings, told by the writers themselves.

AMY POHLER IS WRITING A BOOK. It will be awesome

Mattise exhibit at the Met looks incredible. It ends March 17th so fingers crossed the lines won't be as bad as Alexander McQueens. (Though that was so worth it as well)

When Jim Crow Drank Coke . An interesting Times piece on some history I never knew existed. 

I love Sundance and getting ready for next years oscars, almost as much as I love this years oscars.

edit: last minute addition: THIS IS EVERYTHING I'VE DREAMED ABOUT SINCE I WAS 10

Sorry for all the CAPS and !!!!!!!.  I'm just really excited for a fabulous February. Don't forget your Rabbit Rabbit!

xoxo
Cherie

(my friend Joanna thinks this blog should be called "Insides Cherie's Head". It's probably the most accurate description of what this is, hope you like it!)