The Sratty Archaeologist

Perks of being a museum professions student? Field trips to new museums I've never been to. I'm very lucky to say that I live in a close proximity to New York City and have had the opportunity to visit a lot of museums. Even outside NYC, I love finding new places with a historical flare.
I was thrilled to find out I'd be visiting the Museum of the City of New York, a place I'd never gotten a chance to visit before. Founded in 1923, the museum's mission is to connect the public with the past, present, and future of New York City.
First off, the day we visited was absolutely beautiful. It was a solid 70 degrees and sunny in Manhatten. I went in a little early got myself lunch on the Upper East Side and channeled my inner Blair Waldorf as I made my way up to the Museum along 5th Avenue.
The museum is located right along the park on the Museum Mile. Although it seems like the building was at one time a luxurious townhouse of a gilded age socialite, the building was actually constructed to be a museum. It fits the aesthetic of the Upper East Side perfectly. I was particularly attracted to the white marble and brick combination. A few of us waited on the patio of the museum for our professor enjoying the sunshine.
The inside of the museum is all about contrast, which I love. The gorgeous historical interiors in all of its white marble glory contrasted with the modern art installment called Starlight. The three exhibition spaces off the main lobby were all very dark spaces as well.
My favorite exhibit was called New York at its Core. In this exhibition, the 400-year history of the city is documented through artifacts and the stories of the city's "big personalities" who helped shape the Big Apple. The use of technology was awesome in this exhibit. One particularly cool feature was a large touchscreen wall. As the silhouettes of these characters walked across the wall, visitors could touch the screen and learn more about the stories of these people and how they impacted New York City. Notable figures included Jay-Z, Dutch Schultz, and Gloria Steinem.
While the New York at its Core exhibition was very sleek and modern, my other favorite exhibition was a throwback to the how the original museum looked. The Gilded Age was exhibited as a period room, showing the luxurious life of the upper class during the early 1900s. Included in this small but sumptuous gallery were portraits, Tiffany glass, jewelry, opera glasses, and costumes. The room was wallpapered in purple damask and chandeliers hung in the small area. This was such a contrast to everything else in the museum, it made the exhibition really stand out.
Another perk of being a museum studies student? Behind the scenes tours. Since I was with my Archives Management class, we got a chance to speak with an archivist and take a tour of their archives as well as see what kinds of things they collect. Getting a chance to talk to current museum professionals is such a valuable experience.
The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Check out their website. If you're in New York City, I'd highly recommend this museum.

Brunch. Is there a lovelier word in the English language? Didn't think so. Sweet or savory, hot or cold, brunch is whatever you need it to be. In my opinion, there is nothing better than waking up on a Saturday or Sunday morning, having a nice snuggle under the covers, and then starting your day off maybe a little later than usual with a great meal.
I want to share my two favorite brunch spots. These places are in complete opposite locations. One in a big city, the other in a small town. Despite the geographical differences, they serve the best brunch I've ever had.


Let's start off with the big city brunch. Located in the financial district in New York City, 121 Fulton Street has an excellent brunch menu. My personal favorite dish is the 2 egg omelet with bacon, mushrooms, and American cheese. It comes with breakfast potatoes, toast, and a small salad. The serving size is so big I usually have trouble cleaning my plate. Some other yummy items include the Fulton Scramble and the breakfast burrito. If you're in the mood for something sweet, I'd recommend the Banana French Toast.
What's brunch without some mimosas? 121 Fulton Street has a bottomless brunch option. For $25 you can enjoy unlimited Bloody Marys, Mimosas, or Screwdrivers.
121 Fulton is also great for large groups and very accommodating. Despite it being a busy Saturday morning, they had no problem setting up a large table in the side room for about 20 sorority alumnae.

My other favorite brunch spot is located in Williamsport, PA. The Sawhorse Cafe is located right across the street from Lycoming College at 303 Washington Boulevard. The menu changes every week and uses local fresh ingredients in all their recipes. If it's in season, you can bet the Sawhorse is using it to create delicious and wholesome meals.
The Sawhorse is a pretty busy place on the weekends with college students, families, and residents of Williamsport coming in for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or a quick latte. My favorite time to go is on a weekday morning. It's much less busy and I always brought my laptop to get some school work done while I enjoyed my meal and chai tea latte. Another amazing part of The Sawhorse Cafe is the decor. The restaurant is filled with art from local artists and is always changing.

Despite the changing weekly menu, there are some items they always ready to go. One of their staples is The Classic. The Classic is made of two eggs made anyway, a choice of bacon, sausage or ham, potatoes, and toast with an incredible jam on the side. Another regular item is the Beaver Run Breakfast Sandwich, which is my boyfriend's go-to item on the menu.
In order to keep up with the changing menu, make sure to like The Sawhorse Cafe on Facebook.