New York is calling my name

As the old adage goes, "Ask and you shall receive," I found out firsthand that when you do ask, the outcome could be just that.

After receiving the Fall 2005 Editorial Excellence Award from the Journalism Club, I decided to put it to good journalistic use and represent the News-Register at Olympus Fashion Week in New York City.

The journey began on the morning of Feb. 5 when Richard and I fl ew out of DFW International Airport at 8 a.m.. After a short layover in Charlotte, N.C., we arrived in Manhattan around three o'clock. Richard made arrangements for us to stay with a high school friend of his, Jonathan Valdez, who had an apartment in Spanish Harlem.

Day one was booked. First it was off to tour New York University's amazing campus, and immediately after that we headed to Bryant Park where the bi-annual fashion extravaganza was already days underway. This day was particularly important to me because it was the day of Betsey Johnson's fashion show. Johnson is a fashion designer who has been creating fun and fancy frocks for females since the 1960s. She is a successful businesswoman who has stopped at nothing to get what she wanted, not even breast cancer slowed this woman down.

Richard and I arrived at the event and went to the press registration tent. Unfortunately, for us small-time Texas college students, our press credentials were not haughty enough to give us professional press status. So we stood outside the makeshift tent, snapping shots of people we believed to be important. Then I decided to give my old friend Brooke a call. We had previously worked together at Betsey Johnson in Dallas. I had a feeling that she may be at the show and could possibly get us in.

Another old adage proved itself to be true here, too: "It's not always what you know but who you know." After scoring two tickets to the show, Richard and I found ourselves fi ghting for our ground to get what shots we could from the side of the runway. The angle wasn't the best, but he did his best given the circumstances, and ended up with a few good photos. Some were of models on the runway and some were celebrities that I recognized. One of the celebrities was another icon of mine, Sex & the City stylist, Patricia Field. After the show, I mingled with some friends and gathered up as much information that I could while we had tent access. After the show we were off to explore more of Manhattan.

This trip was Richard's fi rst time to the Big Apple, but it was not the fi rst go-round for me. I put on my tour guide hat and showed him around the town. Tuesday morning was a late start but we were off to see what mischief we could get ourselves into. We were not so lucky to gain access to any fashion shows. Instead, we walked miles and miles so that Richard could photograph real life NYC.

Wednesday was similar. More miles and more Manhattan exploring. Richard and I ended our last night in the city at a great jazz club called Zinc. It was a place that I could imagine Billie Holiday singing in the old classic jazz heydays.

This trip to New York City was one of the shorter ones for me but overall it was great experience. I enjoyed being able to show Richard the one place that I feel so passionate about, knowing that he would appreciate it for all that it is worth. If there is one thing about the great city of New York, it is the great amount of history and culture to be seen and felt. Pictures are great, but what I take with me when I leave that city is what keeps me going back for more.

For me New York is not just a big city with lots of buildings, lights and people. It is an energy source.