Hi, Hola, Welcome, Aloha, Welkom, Shalom…..

I’m Jenny and I have been a resident of the Upper West Side of NYC for a little less than 3 years now. This has been the longest permanent address I’ve had since graduating High School… So, I like to think that I am Jenny from the UWS block and I am on the blawg.

Things to know about the UWS are:

• This is a very family friendly neighborhood, so if you’re on the market for a stroller you can get a firsthand look and shop by walking our streets

• We have amazing cultural spots like Book Culture, Lincoln Center and The Beacon

• We have some really great dining

• There are a limited amount of grocery stores on my particular block, but we have a slew of great ones like Zabar’s, Fairway, Trader Joes and Citerella

• Having Central Park and the Hudson River Park is as amazing as it sounds

• And like most of NYC we are losing way too many historic landmarks and beloved places because of the increased rent and this needs to stop

This blawg is not 100% going to be about the UWS but I do want to share new places, some of the best places, interviews with locals and more. I love the UWS and I believe it’s important to be proud of where you come from and support other locals, so this is my way of paying it forward to the UWS and my community.

I also want to use this blawg as a platform to promote me and my website (whenever I get that to where I want it). I’m an interior designer, creator and stylist. Just last year I decided to be bold and go off on my own. Yes, I am scared shitless, and I am figuring out how to navigate life and my career to where I want to be on the daily basis. However, I carry the mantra “why not me.” I also know that I am a beast at what I do so it’s a matter of time and a little luck.

Topics That I Will Be Covering are

My Work

My Block, The Upper West Side

All things Art & Design

Food

Sustainability

Experiences as it relates to design and just going out

Cultural, sociological and psychological conversation

I am passionate about all things art and design. Seriously, I am the most curious and opinionated person some people have ever met. I am an amateur foodie. I can source and find anything in a NY minute, it may not be exactly what you want but if you’re in a crunch it is perfect. I also have been seriously practicing manifestation for the past year and love talking about it. Podcasts like Oprah’s Super Soul and Expanded are my daily cultural dose. Finally, we need to be better at preserving and recycling, So I will be talking about some organizations that are making the necessary change and some ways that we can better our habits to save the planet.

So, these are the topics I’ll be writing about.

Writing this blawg makes me feel slightly silly and I have all the feelings of Julie Powell from the Julie and Julia Project blog. You know what I mean “hello, is anyone out there or even reading this besides my mom?” But here’s to a shot in the dark and I hope it resonates.

Keep in mind that i’m an artist and i’m sensitive

about my shit. - Eryka Badu