little girl, big cities

Every other Monday, The New York Public Library hosts a series called "Mid-Sentence", where various authors come together with other authors to talk about their work, their lives, and what inspires them. The last one for the year, held on December 11th, was one called "Fantastic Fictions" and was a discussion between N. K. Jemisin, a speculative fiction writer, S. A. Chakraborty who just published her debut novel, City of Brass , and Victor Lavalle, author of The Changeling . Since all of these authors live within the world of speculative fiction, science fiction, and fantasy, I wasn't sure what to expect from an evening of listening to them converse. Personally, I'm not normally a huge fan of science fiction or fantasy novels, but I wanted to attend the talk to step out of my comfort zone, to learn more about a type of genre that I don't normally gravitate towards. Victor Lavelle was an excellent moderator, turning the conversation right towa...

"It became a hashtag, a movement, a reckoning, but it began, as great social change nearly always does, with individual acts of courage." A few weeks ago, my dad texted me to ask me about my thoughts on feminism. I immediately asked, "Well how much time do you have?" He laughed. I didn't. I told him about how I can't walk alone at night just because I want to for fear of being followed, or worse, by some strange man, leaving me constantly looking over my shoulder and holding my keys in my fist as a potential weapon. I told him how, when I go out to a bar, if a guy is hitting on me, he won't take "no thanks" as an answer, but he's more likely to back off if I tell him I have a boyfriend. Because guys have a greater respect for another man's stake in a relationship than they do for one woman's personal opinion. And things I didn't tell him include how at bars, I've been grabbed, touched, and had my ass slapped by ...

Well here it is. The most magical time of the year is upon us. It's finally Christmastime! And I am a firm believer that there is absolutely nothing better than Christmastime in NYC. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved coming into NYC to see the tree at Rockefeller Plaza and the window displays at Macy's. I would get off the train at Penn Station, eager to cram all the holiday joy I possibly could into my short visit. But living in NYC is a whole different ball game, one which allows me to soak it all in. Enjoying it all, bit by bit. And just 3 days into December, and I can already say that it has been an absolute dream. Even doing homework becomes a magical affair when one has the chance to do it at the New York Public Library, which has been extravagantly decked out all in the name of Christmas spirit. It's funny though, because while I have graduated from college, I'm still a student, and while so much has changed, so much as remained th...