What I ACTUALLY Did (not just should have done)

So. I was a little scared to do this. Put together the list of interviews I've been on. But luckily I have some good news about job hunting! But first, I want to take a trip down memory lane and list all of the places I interviewed starting back in April.

Here it goes...

Art Newspaper
Americans for the Arts
AIG
Sotheby's
Patron Technology
AIR Gallery
Bryce Wolkowitz
MoMA
Hazen Keay
Black Dragon Society
Paul Rodgers/9W Gallery
White Space Gallery
Spencer Brownstone Gallery
Margaret Thatcher Projects
Craig F. Starr Gallery
Merton Simpson Gallery
Studio in a School
Tanya Bonakdar
Lehman Maupin
Thomas & Associates
Art Assets

(And any others I may have forgotten. Not to mention all the "informational" interviews).

So. About 3 weeks ago a friend informed me of an opening doing Development at the Frick. So I interviewed there on a Wednesday. Then got a call that afternoon from the Jack Shainman Gallery. Got called back for a 2nd interview on Thursday at the Frick followed by an interview with Jack Shainman himself Thursday evening. He was hilarious and I felt like I could be myself during the interview. And the job sounded exactly like what I have determined I want to do after my 20+ interviews. I informed him that I would be going in for a 3rd interview at the Frick on Friday (the truth).

So. Friday I went in for a final interview at the Frick. (Keep in mind that I was also doing temp work in the middle of all these interviews). That same Friday afternoon Jack called and asked me to come in on Saturday for a 2nd interview. I went in at 1:00. Then at 5:00 while out shopping with a friend Jack called me and informed me that he wanted to hire me. I asked him for a little time to think about it. So I called him Sunday evening. He was sick so called me back on Monday. I then called him on my lunch hour and he asked to call me back in 2 minutes. While I waited the Frick called and offered me the job. What the? So I told them I was probably going to take another job. Jack then called. I told him the Frick just called. We talked. Figured out the details. I took the job at the Jack Shainman Gallery. He told me they had a lot of great candidates, but that I was the best. That's nice to hear. I'm still in shock! It happened so quickly after all my months of searching.

It was stressful to actually turn down a great opportunity to work at the Frick. But my dream has been to work with living artists in a setting where I can learn about contemporary art.

Thanks to all those who fasted, prayed and crossed their fingers for me. When I informed 3 of my friends they each separately said to me, "My prayers have been answered!"

Where The Boys Are

This last Saturday I accompanied my friend Alyssa on a shopping excursion for the Holidays. I think we somehow ran into the epicenters for both attractive Indy and mountain men in New York City. Or maybe because we both lived in Hell's Kitchen so long, we aren't used to seeing a lot of straight men out and about.

Anyway. We went to an art exhibit to send off a popular graffiti spot on the lower east side. The building is being turned into condos, so goodbye graffiti. It is actually sad to see it go b/c it has alot of history. Long story short, there was a load of attractive indy/artsy guys hanging out there.

Our next stop was the EMS sporting store on 5th avenue (maybe I shouldn't reveal the location). This seemed to be an epicenter for earthy guys. Both of our jaws were dropping. The ultimate was spotting the darling Julian Casablancas from the Strokes. I glanced up at him as I passed and then my eyes about bugged out of my head. I told Alyssa I needed to get another look just to make sure it was him. So I wandered over and took another, casual gawk at him. What a darling. Too bad he was with his wife. Doh! Here he is . . .



Unfortunately I don't have any stories about how we met a couple of guys. We just saw them. But hey. That's something.

My New Digs--Thoughts on Queens

As most of you know, I headed out to live in Astoria, Queens a few months ago. I found the apartment on the NYU Housing list. So here are a few long awaited pictures. Below is a shot of my living room. This is right before my birthday party.



Here are some pics of my new bedroom. I have 2 closets!







Some of the pros of living in Queens:

Quiet--Fewer Sirens
Alot more space for the money
Families
It is more like a neighborhood
Second-hand stores galore
Speakers on each street corner playing christmas music
Having a yard

The Cons:

Less convenient for Manhattan
Fewer cabs
People don't want to visit because they think it is far away

Conclusion: Moving to Queens is the best move I've made. There is no way I could find this kind of space, peace and quiet in Manhattan. Now I just need to convince my friends to move here.

What I Should NOT Have Done on My B-day

Word to the Wise. Do NOT go to a temp job on your birthday. I've been in my current placement over a month. The guy I'm replacing was fired. And several people have left the department in the last few months. NOT a good sign.

My sister recommended that I bring in treats for everyone. But I just couldn't bring myself to use my precious money for these people who could really care less. So I opted out. Instead I just told a few people. And they would just say, "Happy birthday" and look back to their computers. Sad.

After temping I went to a job interview. Does it get any better than this? It was another interview where they brief me on the position and give me no time to respond and say how I can fulfill those duties. I don't understand why they repeatedly do this at galleries. So at the end I just said, "I know I can do everything you mentioned and am excited about the position." This was pretty much on my way out the door because they were in such a hurry.

I left the interview and walked to Times Square looking for a spot to stop in and cry because my eyes would not stop tearing up for some reason. So I wandered around for an hour. Then I called my friend Michelle who lives in the neighborhood. I asked if I could hang at her place for an hour. I did, and she gave me a foot rub! This was the highlight of my day thus far.

Anywho. Finally I ended up at Dinner at Vynl with my friend Alyssa. I arrived and she was all smiles. She took me to the back of the restaurant and sitting there was a group of my friends and they all started clapping for me. Surprise! I just started crying b/c none of them had called me that day and I felt so sad. It really cheered me up! If Alyssa hadn't done this for me it would have been a miserable day. So thank you to my friends for coming through on my "special" day. Click here if you'd like to read more about the dinner.

So. What should I have done? Called in sick and gone to the Bronx Zoo. One of my favorite spots in the city. Follow that up with a manicure/pedicure. That would have been great.