Summer Songs

Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” may be unforgettable, but what other songs have been downloaded the most off of itunes this summer?
Some perfect summer songs to blast out your car window include Taio Cruz’ “Dynamite”. With catchy lyrics like ‘I throw my hands up in the air sometimes singing ah oh/ I want to celebrate and live my life saying ah oh, baby lets go’ Cruz’ single is addictive.
Jason Derulo’s “Ridin’ Solo” and Usher’s “OMG” also contribute to the list, and as far as teen pop, Selena Gomez’ “Round and Round” and Miley Cyrus’ “Can’t Be Tamed” remain popular downloads.
A trait that many top selling artists share in producing hit songs is some familiar vocals. While Ke$ha made the list on her own at number 10 with “Your Love is My Drug”, she has shared the success with artists such as 3OH!3 and Taio Cruz. Ke$ha sings in 3OH!3’s “My First Kiss” and in Cruz’ song “Dirty Picture”. Whether or not Ke$ha will be featured on any more popular songs this summer, I am confident there will be plenty to listen to in the car and on the beach!

Serendipitous lunch

After walking, running to catch a cab, driving, and walking further toward East 60th street, I arrived at the famous restaurant on the Upper East Side, Serendipity 3. Though they began serving ‘Frrrrozen hot chocolates’ in 1954, the restaurant became a curiosity in my life after seeing the 2001 film Serendipity.
The film, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, features a couple that meets in Manhattan while holiday shopping at Bloomingdales, and by a stroke of fate enjoy a casual but memorable evening together, dining at Serendipity 3 and skating at Wollman Rink. Years later, as each character plans to wed other people, they hunger to discover a relationship in each other that never existed.
Having seen this movie enough times to recite the words as they happen, sing and/or hum the entire soundtrack, and still find the movie entertaining, I have always wanted to eat at the restaurant that serves as a recurring setting of the romantic scavenger hunt that is Serendipity. Finally, after dozens of trips to Manhattan, I made it!
A two-story, narrow shop with Tiffany lamps dangling from the ceiling, along with various other objects, the place could easily be misconstrued as a claustrophobic nightmare. The oversized menus don’t help the situation. But somehow the eatery manages to feel cozy and well lit. Having a menu filled with sandwich names such as ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ and ‘High Heel Pump’ the owners reveal an eccentric sense of humor. The selections also include a famous, record-breaking sundae called ‘Golden Opulence’ that requires a 2-day reservation and costs $1,000. While less extravagant, I very much enjoyed my hot chocolate dessert, and my tomato sauce and cheese ravioli, which I ate in that order, and I couldn’t imagine a more traditional ‘New York’ place to eat lunch outside of Central park (though Tavern on the Green closed!). Regardless if you have seen the movie or not, the establishment was open for decades before it grew to national fame, and it will be around for decades to come.