Giveaway!! Enter to win "Summer at Tiffany"!!

Right before I left for my vacation, I received an e-mail from the fabulous Jennifer Pooley, editor (Harper Collins) of Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart.  She had stumbled upon my blog and she was delighted that I had listed Mrs. Hart's book as one of my "must reads" in my Do It/Did It Rolodex.  She offered up ten brand spankin' new copies of this great book for me to give away right here on this site.  I returned home from Disneyworld this morning and found the ten books waiting for me in my entryway:

If you missed my original entry, here's a brief description:

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more charming little book than octogenarian Marjorie Hart's memoir of the summer of 1945, when she and a friend from the University of Iowa boldly ventured to New York City to work for a few months. Writing some sixty years later, she describes how they found summer employment at Tiffany & Co. as the company's first female "pages," whose job it was to run merchandise between the sales floor and the less glamorous departments (repair, gift-wrapping). With so many young men in the service, Tiffany decided to give these two fresh-faced Midwesterner coeds a try. On salaries of $20 a week, the girls pinched every penny to pay the rent and see an occasional show. They ate at the Automat, dated servicemen on leave in New York, sipped cocktails at Sardi's, danced the occasional night away, and jubilantly crowded into Times Square on VJ Day. (It's not all sweetness and light: there were friends and family members lost in the war. Hart's description of walking into her aunt and uncle's home after the news came that they had lost their son, an Air Force pilot, will chill your heart.) Summer at Tiffany is a little gem worthy of the Tiffany name.

I actually scurried out to buy the book before I left for my vacation.  I'm a bit of a bibliophile, and there is something about the exterior beauty of this book that let's you know that it will be a great read.  Some books just have a good feel.  I breezed through the book in a day, gasping at Marjorie's gaffes and choking back tears as she learned of her cousin's death.  The book is so vibrantly written that you can actually step back in time to a day when women wore heels and gloves, men wore hats and the entire county rallied around the men & women serving overseas.  It made me remember my grandmother's stories of ration stamps and painting stocking lines on her legs.  Marjorie Hart's descriptions of NYC in the summer of 1945 are a literary time machine.  Hop in!

So, here's how you get your copy.  Leave a comment (scroll down to the bottom of this post) to this post, telling us all about your favorite New York City memory.  Everyone has a favorite New York memory, even if you've never set foot in the city.  Maybe you loved the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's".  Maybe you have a passion for broadway plays.  Just give us a memory!  Each person who leaves a comment  before Monday, October 1st, will be entered in the drawing for one of these wonderful books.    I'll post the winners after 12 noon on October 1st. 

To get you started, here's my greatest New York City memory:  I travelled to New York City for the first time in the summer of 1994.  My then-boyfriend's parents had a place in the city & a place in the Hamptons.  Now that's the way to see New York!!  We did all of the touristy things (Ellis Island will bring any Irish-immigrant's great granddaughter to tears...), but my hands-down favorite excursion was our trip to FAO Schwartz.  Right there on 5th Avenue, I climbed the large stone steps, opened the door and, oh my!  I burst into tears.  It was the most heavenly place in the world.  I was 23 years old and crying over a toy store!  I can still clearly remember Kermit the Frog cycling over my head on a tightrope and stuffed animals bigger than me.  Heaven!  I look forward to the day when my 2 year-old daughter is old enough to catch the train up to NYC for the weekend with me & Auntie Suni.  We're certainly going to hit FAO Schwartz (and an ice cream sundae at Serendipity's, of course!). 

So...  leave your memory in the comments section and keep your fingers crossed that I'll draw your name on October 1st!

Comments

[Nancy]

It was summer 2005 and my husband and I were househunting in Virginia but had plans to hit New York for the U.S. Open. We had a house in mind and decided for one last look before we took the plunge and sent in our crazy bid. It was the night before our trip and we walked around the house loving it more and more. This was the right thing to do.

We gave our agent the go-ahead and he drew up the paperwork while we packed. As we trained our way to New York, he was making calls. We enjoyed our first day and woke the next morning to a long fax. We signed our initials while sitting in a bagel cafe across from the hotel. Then we faxed the document back to him and crossed our fingers.

Off we went to the Open, where we had a blast being so close to the players. That night, as we walked to Times Square, my husband's cellphone rang. It was our agent.

We got the house!! Our 50K below offer was accepted! We squeed and laughed under the bright lights and crazy bustle of the city.

I may not live in New York, but it's definitely part of my home.

[charity]

i have never been to NY....but i would love to go and see some broadway shows there. I would like to see the Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, any ballet. Also i would love to experience baseball in NY...that would be amazing!!

thanks for the chance at such neat blog candy!

[nerissa]

I've only been to NYC once, when I was in 6th grade. I've always been a fashion freak, so I LOVED it. I remember going shopping at all the major department stores. Alright, I didn't shop just looked. I'd love to go back one day with my own family now & do all the touristy things.
I also remember, I asked my dad if they came to the US through Ellis Island. He laughed and said they weren't that old. We went to the statue of liberty & I have a pic of my dad & 5 year old brothers doing the pose.
Nerissa

[Janet A.]

I've never been to NYC so hopefully you will bring it to me with a copy of this book:) Like a few previous posters, Sex & the City brought me a desire to some day get to New York and venture on a fabulous shopping spree.

[Amy from Waco, TX (late of LA)]

(Edited by Korie B.: Read the next comment down to understand this entry!) My story picks up in this same place. I was both exhausted and excited after a red eye and thrilled to be in New York! I talked with my best friend who pointed out that he may not even be in town that weekend or even worse, he may be dating someone in NY!! Either way, I figured it would be a great adventure. Turns out he was not dating anyone else and was happy with my surprise visit. Having only a day, we saw the city. And by seeing the city I mean we walked over 100 blocks wandering through SoHo, Washington Square, Farmer's Markets and 5th Avenue. We made it to the NY Public Library, ate pizza at a little dive, walked through Saks and FAO. Lost in time and not noticinig how far we had gone, we ended our day wandering through Central Park watching street performers until we made it to his brownstone in Harlem. I couldn't have asked for a better tour nor a better guide. I still love walking the streets of New York far more than taking a cab or any other way of getting around. I love it even more hand in hand with my now husband.

[Cory, NYC]

A little more than two years ago, I was living in NY and had just gone on a short visit to LA in order to visit some family. During that short visit, I began dating a beautiful woman who lived in LA. For two weeks, we had the time of our lives, pretending that money was no object. At the end of two weeks, I had to fly back to NY to take care of all my responsiblities there. I spoke every night with this woman for two weeks. Then one day, I received a text message from her. It read, "Everything is OK but can you call me as soon as class is over?" That was the day her best friend was due to deliver her first baby. So, after the initial worry that something went wrong, I was intrigued. After I got out of class, I walked down the stairway in the Jewish Center just across the street from Columbia University. While walking down the stairway in this glass-fronted building, I began to call. As soon as the phone rang in my earpiece, I noted that some woman outside answered her phone. I thought, how odd. As I looked closer, it was her! She had called me the night before, then hopped on a red-eye, navigated the city, and found the very location where I was - I had only given a vague description of where the class was. At that moment, I knew. Amy and I have been married for almost a year now.

[Suzy]

I have never stepped foot in the city itself, but did wait for a long while in the JFK Airport. The airport was so busy and swirled with bodies and accents. I loved it. I will always consider that time the beginning of my grand adventure. From there I flew to Europe and Africa, where I hitchhiked across the Sahara and did anthropological research. Trip of a lifetime.

[~ Karen ~]

What a tough question! I've been to the City lots of times - some wonderful memories some not so wonderful (car got towed - what a nightmare!). For me, the City becomes magical at nighttime. From my dorm in college I could see the skyline - wow! With this in mind, I'd have to chose the evening my husband and I went on a cruise in the harbor. The ship stopped for us to take in a special view - and it was magnificent! Imagine your guy's arm wrapped around you, it's a cool evening when everything seems crisp and alive, the sky is pitch black, you're on a ship, right in front of you at the waters edge - all you can see - are towering buildings everywhere, lit up and looking spectacular. My words don't do the scene justice nor can I adequately capture the good company and spirits of the evening. But the view - oh, the view - topped off the evening.

[Pat S.]

Oh, that sounds like a wonderful book! Thank you for offering a chance to win one!

My favorite NYC memory is climbing, yes actually climbing, to the top of the Statue of Liberty. To give you an idea how long ago this was, I was able to climb all the way into the crown and look out the windows that are up there...awesome!

[Cindy Vernon]

I loved eating frozen hot chocolates at Serendipitys and my first Broadway show, The Graduate in my own private box!

[Jill C]

My favorite NYC moment happened this year for my 30th birthday, my dad took me to NYC. Everyday was a magical moment. My favorite though was going to opening day of baseball at Yankee Stadium. It was amazing!!!

[Cheryl Kelly-Van Domelen]

Sounds like a great book!! My favorite NYC memory was when I went there on a business trip. Some other guys at the conference I was at knew NYC and offered to take me out one night. We ate at a fabulous Italian restaurant, walked through the streets, and ended up at the site of ground zero. It was 9 months after 9/11 and they were still digging all night long at the site. It was touching to see all the flowers, photos, and letters that were still hung up of those that were missing. There were two towers of light that shone where the towers once stood....it was very powerful and moving.
Thanks!

[Samantha]

I haven't been to the city in awhile since I moved from CT to NC, but my parents said FAO Schwartz has closed. I was just talking to them about it the other day saying how I want to get back to the city again when I visit CT. I have seen a few broadway plays there which is wonderful. I miss living a short train ride from the city, now I'm too far away. lol!

[rebecca]

I've only taken a quickie tour of NY by relatives who didn't really want to be doing it. My most meaningful memory is landing at JFK airport before heading to Ireland, and realizing what a big world it was. JFK was several times bigger than my hometown. It was symbolic of the world I was to see and all that's happened in my life since then. Thanks for letting me play along.

[Pattyjo]

I have never been to NY. I can think of a something funny I did once though. It was my DD first baby and we were rushing off to the hospital (she is considered a high pregnancy). This was the big night and we were awaken by *The Call* so off we went. I was still getting ready in the car as my DH drove. I reached down inside my handbag and pulled out my lip liner, then my lipstick. I had to do this from memory because it was night and the car was dark. When I reached the hospital my DD started laughing when I enter her room. She told me to go check the mirror out. I was very surprized to see that I had not grabbed my lip liner, but my eye liner. I looked so weard with my lips lined in black sqiggly lines.

rholschen@air-pipe.com

[Claudia F.]

You have a wonderful blog. I've never been to NY but my favorite memory is of the song New York, New York. It give me goose bumps.
Claudia

[Linda SS]

I've never been to New York but have such a fascination with Broadway. I am lucky in the fact that "Best of Broadway" brings 6 major productions to my city every year & of course I buy season tickets. Besides theatre, the city is so lucky to have the Macy's parade, Central Park, and New Year's eve in Time Square which do come to me thru the power of TV. I'm in awe of that amazing city.

[jodene]

I am from Canada and have never been to New York, but so want to go. Broadway!! My favorite memory from New York is watching Sex in the City! I loved watching 'Carrie' go on her shopping spree's. Thanks for the chance!

[Angel]

Wow... I don't have a favorite memory in real life as I have never been there, but I have read books about how immigrants felt when they saw the Statue of Liberty and someday I would love to see the city myself!

[Natalie]

I{heart}NY! I have lots of memories of my trip there (when I was 14) - like a bird pooed in my hair on 5th Avenue - but my favorite part of NY is the simple things... the lights in Times Square, the horns honking, the smells - you can never forget that smell! :) Love that city! Can't wait to take my husband there!

[Angela D]

Autumn in New York, the brilliant display of leaves in Central Park, the hot steamy pretzels sold by outdoor vendors, the majesty of the Statute of Liberty, Broadway, David Letterman, New Year's eve at Times Square.... so many favorite moments.... New York is my kind of town

[Pamela]

This is fun! Although I love wandering around museums whenever I go to NYC, I remember, on one of my first trips as a teenager, coming out of Radio City Music Hall and thinking how grand size was an essential element to the presence of a metropolis. My early sketch books contained a lot of tall elaborate doorways and imposing layer after layer of architectural cornices and so on. It is the BIG apple, after all.

[NancyS]

I've never been to NY but looking at all the pictures and records when the Ellis Island records became available on-line was breath-taking!
Would love the book - belong to 2 book club groups and am always looking for something new to suggest.
NancyS (momsnack)

[Stephanie]

I suffered through 3 cancelled trips to New York before I finally got to go. It was in the Spring of 2004 and my roommate and I went to meet her brother.

I remember landing at LaGuardia and feeling this overwhelming peace about "finally being there." I couldn't tell where we were and couldn't even see the skyline, but the happiness that bubbled up inside me was like nothing I had felt before.

I've only been twice, but I LOVE THAT CITY. So much so that the day we got back home, I saw Rockefeller Center on television and burst into tears.

How's that for dramatic? (I'm going back next year)

[Tracy M]

I've been to NY once....It was a girls trip about 8 years ago. My favorite memory is Phantom of the Opera! I still get chill bumps when I listen to the sound track.