tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68019854650491966722011-07-07T19:44:11.916-04:00Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.comBlogger461100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-21480283736181480032011-01-31T15:00:00.014-05:002011-01-31T20:53:28.725-05:00

The first time I saw B was in my Honor English class on my first day of high school. When she popped up again the next day in my Freshman health class, I started to feel like the fates were pushing us together. B was the type of friend your parents didn’t want you to have and exactly the kind friend I needed, which is probably why the universe brought her to me. Over our four years of high

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-3530333487718850402010-09-22T16:30:00.011-04:002010-09-23T12:17:57.876-04:00

The night I first met Robert was the day before a massive winter snow storm. The skies in New York were calm and blue; giving no hint of their intention. On our second night together, the day of the storm, Robert was clear on his intentions.Robert was in town for a gathering of our mutual friends. We were all packed into a bar, drinking and talking until early in the morning. When we poured out

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-62763719365889359002010-07-19T09:57:00.010-04:002010-07-19T11:16:53.981-04:00

Food is a social event for my friend Victoria. So when I accepted her dinner invitation to Lever House I wasn’t surprised to see we were joined by a cast of characters she had gathered from failed match.com dates. Victoria’s success in turning past dates into current friends fueled her belief that everyone should be meeting people online.There’s something to be said about my MTV generation’s

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-140886010573058132010-05-13T16:06:00.006-04:002010-05-14T10:20:19.390-04:00

Rodeo Bar is one of those establishments teetering on the edge of being a dive. On New Year’s Eve 2006 I found myself crammed into a ratty table with Fay, Parker, Bobes and Fay’s younger sister. I sighed and kicked a peanut shell out of my shoe. My chances of a New Year’s kiss were non-existent. New Year’s has never been one of my favorite holidays. There’s always too much pressure to have a

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-73557395080607452302010-04-14T15:38:00.008-04:002010-05-13T11:31:20.331-04:00

“So do you like this guy?” Victoria asked, reaching for her martini.“I don’t know. I haven’t gone out with him yet.” I shrugged in responseVictoria, Lil and I were enjoying a girl’s night out dinner at Bond St. After out meal I had convinced the girls to scoop out the nearby bar I would be meeting the Super Lawyer at for our first date later in the week.“We’ll if you don’t like him; I have

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-46129552724087157042010-03-31T14:40:00.005-04:002010-03-31T16:08:14.979-04:00

On occasion in my life, I've found myself dating men who seem to have been bippity boppity booed into existence by my Fairy Godmother. I'm mixing my Disney metaphors here, but the point is these men always have two things is common. 1) They are an embodiment of all the these I've always said I want in a man and 2) I have no interest in dating any of them.Now, I'm not one of those girls who

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-76477673732652587312010-03-25T16:27:00.012-04:002010-03-26T12:10:22.908-04:00

Sapa bar is, sadly, no longer in existence, but when it was, it featured one of the best happy hours in the city. With chic drinks and $1 oysters it was a favorite of Victoria. So, it didn't surprise me in the least when Lil and I met her there to discuss my unfortunate roommate situation while munching frog legs.Real estate in Manhattan is akin to musical chairs; when you find a deal you stay

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-2243953499527027852010-03-19T09:25:00.004-04:002010-03-19T09:34:58.830-04:00

When an old friend recently asked me about the dating scene in New York, I summed things up in one sentence: “In New York women outnumber men and douche bags outnumber nice guys”.This imbalance of genders seems to mean perfectly sweet mid-western boys quickly figure out how much they can get away with, and then turn into Tucker Max. Of course the other side of the coin is that some women thrive

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-35298838717270675292010-03-02T13:48:00.008-05:002010-03-02T15:33:13.547-05:00

As soon as Maggie dropped into the seat across from me at Toloache; she was already looking at me expectantly.“Well? Tell me what happened?”After hearing rumors of my recent office reprimand, my co-workers Maggie, Dena and Ruth had offer to take me to lunch. As they looked back at me from across the table it was clear that I was suppose to sing for my supper. There’s no such thing as a free

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-33327449156419550102010-02-23T14:47:00.005-05:002010-02-23T15:06:21.331-05:00

Matchfans,I'd like to invite you all to check out my recent article on The Lost Girls website. The Lost Girls is a fantastic website targeted for adventuresome women who love to travel. I recently had the opportunity to write an article for them on my experiences hiking the Inca Trail. Please check the post out here.The MatchGirl's day job is pulling her away on a business trip for the rest of

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-8951868550769970632010-02-16T11:00:00.007-05:002010-02-17T09:57:32.199-05:00

In New York City, women vastly outnumber men. It’s a fact that can make life as a single girl in the city a bit like playing musical chairs and hoping you’re not the one without a seat. The silver lining in this tale is that there is one week of the year when the numbers balance out. One week when been a single girl in New York is like standing in line at a buffet. Fleet Week.Fleet Week is the

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-22629633788889436612010-02-08T14:53:00.004-05:002010-02-08T15:06:01.554-05:00

On a recent cold February day, I attended an event hosted by my old college friend Erika. I hadn’t seen Erika in more than three year, but my memories of her are decorated with the colorful behavior two girls their early twenties. When I walked into the Chelsea loft where the event was held I was greeted by a poised professional woman; a grown up version of the girl I went to school with. After

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-65905390824621760742010-02-04T14:45:00.010-05:002010-02-04T15:58:12.727-05:00

My job at THE Company was always such a boys club. Perhaps I felt that way because I was a lowly admin surrounded by the egos of self important sales men. Maybe it had something to do with my boss sending me out to find him a breakfast sandwich each day at 11, when every deli in the greater New York area had already stopped serving breakfast. It could have been the locker room talk or the cigar

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-831662883976595542010-01-27T14:51:00.006-05:002010-01-27T15:31:08.725-05:00

I’ve never been good at making plans. I graduated college without one, moved to New York without one and tend to travel without one. Generally the whole seat-of-my-pants thing seems to work itself out okay for me, but in 2008 when Jade and I landed in Belize without a hotel she was doubting my system.We were in the throes of another stifling summer in New York City and Belize sounded just exotic

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-66952619238389381022010-01-11T14:13:00.006-05:002010-01-26T11:31:16.839-05:00

Every month I write a check and mail it off in an attempt to slowly chip away at something many of us twenty-somethings know intimately; student loans. Four years of college gave me a degree printed on card stock and a dollar sign followed by a lot of zeroes. Many years after graduation, I remember little from the classes I attended (often in my pajamas) and more of the memories I made with my

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-21332211980554768452010-01-04T08:59:00.012-05:002010-01-04T13:01:37.601-05:00

Hindsight is 20/20, especially in relationships. After Doug and I ended our brief relationship we made a valiant attempt at a friendship. An attempt that did not end with us becoming friends and in hindsight it all looks much clearer.Doug and I reconnected months after we ended our relationship. After drinks and a therapeutic discussion that confirmed neither one of us wanted to “get back

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-15823561806674750572009-12-22T16:02:00.008-05:002009-12-28T10:30:24.807-05:00

The holiday season brings many special things to New York: snow, tourists, the Rockettes and one enormous tree. But what I look forward to is an event that is not unique to New York alone: the company holiday party. There is nothing that brightens my holiday spirit like hearing the tales of the inappropriate behavior that took place at corporate functions after too many glasses of holiday

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-76381668551097719932009-12-15T10:57:00.006-05:002009-12-18T13:26:00.504-05:00

With Christmas around the corner and Hanukkah in full swing I thought all my readers deserve a holiday treat. Next week, my holiday post will be going up and all of you get to vote on what that post will beYour choices are:Southern Hospitality - a messy work holiday party and JT's BBQ jointHigh Life Lounge - Christmas Eve dinner and the hunt for apple pieFitzergerald Pub - Christmas Day bar

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-57082273627739512532009-12-14T15:13:00.010-05:002009-12-14T15:39:32.766-05:00

When I relocated to New York in the fall of 2004, my sister was the first person to come visit. I moved into my apartment in October and two months later I was attempting to use my elementary grasp of the city to show her around. I was determined to show her some of the magic that makes New York so special. I took her to beer bars in the city, bought her a Serendipity frozen hot chocolate and

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-87781008501249979622009-12-07T20:36:00.016-05:002010-01-26T11:34:14.799-05:00

In New York there is little worse than the C word. It’s unsettling. Ugly. We fear it. We avoid it. We design our lives around it.Commute.After my co-worker Jan moved to Connecticut, commute was a word she spat out like vinegar in her mouth. To lessen the stress of daily train travel, Jan did what many commuters do and rented an apartment in the city as a three day a week crash pad. The

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-68770872474588850702009-11-30T14:11:00.008-05:002009-11-30T14:34:37.748-05:00

Long before Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson got the idea, I created a “bucket list”. I was a teenager at the time, so the list included such lofty goals as #6: drive a convertible with the top down. My days in college also saw many failed attempts at #17: have a drink named after me. The first thing I did manage to cross of the list happened on a family vacation in Maui during my senior year

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-39877546061206541972009-11-23T11:05:00.012-05:002009-11-23T11:55:04.974-05:00

There are certain important firsts in every woman’s life, first kiss, first designer purse, first husband and first Sex and the City movie. Four years after the series ended, it was finally time to “get carried away”, and hundreds of New York woman were doing just that. I was no exception. I took at day off work and joined my friends for a long brunch at Perry Street, followed by a sold out

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-80912915019962243342009-11-17T09:54:00.005-05:002009-11-17T10:35:06.728-05:00

It’s my own personal theory that advancements in technology are ruining relationships. Love letters are dead. They’ve been replaced by emoticons. Breakups are e-mailed and then revealed via Fackbook status updates. I’ve stopped dating some guys based solely on my issues with their poor text message punctuation.When I dated the Superlawyer in 2007, punctuation was not our issue, but technology was

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-42738078134879101262009-11-09T09:42:00.010-05:002009-11-10T12:53:58.270-05:00

In the winter of 2007 my snow boots were mocking me from the corner of my room; daring me to make birthday plans in the midst of a full on snow drift. I found a solution by going online and buying the cheapest possible ticket to the warmest climate I could find on short notice. My spontaneous decision to best an inanimate object is how I ended up in Costa Rica for my 27th birthday.The draw of a

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-78290346284162585612009-11-04T11:13:00.013-05:002009-11-04T16:25:18.010-05:00

New York is one of those “make or break “cities; either you love it of you hate it. Those who love it; flock here from every small town in the county with Cosmo laced dreams developed upon watching too much HBO. Despite the fact the New York is a city made up of transients; people still ask why you chose to move here from whatever distinctively non New York place you’re from. When I’m asked, I

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-52571247889235751162009-10-30T09:00:00.006-04:002009-11-03T09:04:49.492-05:00

Victoria had been dating her new boyfriend David for several months when she decided to throw him 30th birthday party. In support of her party planning efforts, I crossed town and squeezed my way past the unforgiving doorman at Buddha Bar. I found Victoria crammed in with the other party goers on the dance floor and yelled "hello" to her over the deafening beat. After introductions Victoria

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-62819826009560158512009-10-18T22:54:00.010-04:002009-10-19T15:10:50.074-04:00

On my very first day of work at The Company I was ushered in and introduced to all my new co-workers. Among them was Campbell. Campbell was the most successful sales man in the entire company; he also had the mentality of an ADD effected five year old.His fresh of the boat Italian heritage also gave him a “you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours” mentality. This mantra was how in my first year

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-79659128939252385802009-09-17T09:38:00.012-04:002009-09-18T08:46:46.394-04:00

There’s an episode of Sex and the City where Samantha claims that Fleet Week is her favorite holiday. I know how she feels. During my first Fleet Week in New York as a single girl, I was grabbed by a Marine and kissed in a phone booth. I’ve loved it ever since.Fleet Week is one short week in May when US Navy ships carrying thousands of Navy, Marines and Air Force dock in New York harbor. Because

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-82422207116865741602009-09-15T15:20:00.007-04:002009-09-18T08:52:23.727-04:00

My plan for life has always been to live in terms of stories to tell your grandchildren. It didn’t take me long to figure out that those stories were much more interesting if I went out more often. I kept my motto in mind when I accepted an invitation to my friend Candice’s birthday party at an “all male review”. At the party I met Jayde for the first time; we bonded over being the only two

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-7260818600128106012009-08-25T15:22:00.008-04:002009-08-25T16:12:23.066-04:00

I can’t remember my Grandma ever baking cookies. She wasn’t that kind of grandma. She liked Jack Daniel’s, she smoked Winstons and she had a colorful butterfly tattooed on her hip. There was nothing typically grandmotherly about her, other then the fact that she loved having her grandkids around. And despite her atypical qualities she was every bit a grandmother to us.When my sister and I would

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-28881425316102444622009-08-20T09:46:00.013-04:002009-08-20T10:23:40.984-04:00

Men and cigars is one of those things I’ve never understood. It wasn’t until my job with THE Company that I found myself surrounded by men who talked about Cohibas like I talked about Louboutins. Every social outing or every work drink seemed to be punctuated by a cigar being lit. Ruth’s boss, Pat quickly became a stand out as the ring leader of this club. When Pat’s birthday rolled around I

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-67182113226549444732009-08-12T09:10:00.004-04:002009-08-12T10:03:17.861-04:00

My freshman year of college I lived on an all girls floor of the Robbins dormitory at my University. On move-in day the halls slowly filled with the girls I’d be living with for the next year. Brett and Bobes were my neighbors across the hall, Amanda lived two doors down and I first met Shan when I discovered her playing New Kids on the Block in her tiny dorm room.We all quickly became friends

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-39149834727987137122009-08-05T09:43:00.015-04:002009-08-05T10:33:35.777-04:00

“Wait he broke up with you? But you’re way hotter”. This is why I immediately liked Lil.Her comment on my recent break up with Doug was among the first things she said to me as we waited, wine glasses in hand for Victoria and Faye to arrive for our dinner reservations. Lil was a good friend of Faye’s that I met her over that very alcoholic dinner on the Upper West Side. We hung out sans Faye for

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-6734482527886842202009-08-03T09:36:00.013-04:002009-08-03T09:55:45.546-04:00

One way to make a boring work day more exciting is to develop a work crush. In 2007 Hector was hired at THE Company. THE Company had a fairly high turnover rate, so I ignored Hector’s presence at first. Two months later we had one of our many teambuilding events and I finally caught sight of Hector outside of a work environment. I immediately called my friend Lil and asked if getting involved

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-39803976595745208852009-07-29T09:22:00.014-04:002009-07-30T15:42:48.509-04:00

After only a few short weeks at work I discovered my co-worker's "lifestyle" while picking up an office lunch with her at Bella Napoli.Knowing I was new to the area, Ruth invited me to an event hosted by TES an organization she helped chair. Thanks to HBO, I was familiar with TES (the city's oldest and largest BDSM group) and politely turned down all of her invitations and the many that followed

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-91452596766914344782009-07-27T08:41:00.026-04:002009-07-30T12:46:00.406-04:00

In the winter of 2007 Faye’s boyfriend Parker scored free tickets for the screening of a new Naomi Watts movie. Along with myself he invited his friend Hot Cop. Hot Cop was and NYPD officer working a robbery beat in Queens and he was exactly the kind of guy I generally try to avoid. This means I knew exactly what I was getting into when I gave him my number anyway. On our first date he swore

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-1657576386293030312009-07-24T10:45:00.011-04:002009-07-30T12:45:22.059-04:00

The first time I met Victoria was during after work drinks at trendy bedroom themed Duvet. She was already perched at the bar when I arrived. When Faye introduced me, Victoria gazed over the top of her martini glass and asked, “Is your boyfriend circumcised?” Those were the first words she ever spoke to me and it perfectly fit Victoria. She was a girl with a Louis Vuitton eternally draped over

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-1253290677510966282009-07-14T09:36:00.012-04:002009-07-30T12:47:58.208-04:00

It’s hard to explain the kind of motivation that comes from signing a lease, while not having a job. It’s the type of motivation Bobes and I were feeling in the fall of 2004, after moving to New York. To ease our fear of draining our saving accounts, we quickly set about searching for gainful employment. We ended up applying with several temp agencies. Bobes worked several disappointing jobs like

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-57879802123043019742009-07-09T08:40:00.014-04:002009-08-04T13:10:49.662-04:00

Meeting Faye was not one of those serendipitous events. It was completely planned. Faye and I were both members of the boards for an online travel site and as people involved in a travel site do, one of the members was travelling; to New York. Those of us in New York were attempting a get together to welcome him and to meet each other.When I arrived at Beauty Bar, the salon themed pub we picked

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-4383252037199749522009-05-21T10:26:00.011-04:002009-10-29T15:03:53.366-04:00

Six months after settling in New York I began dating Doug. He was a Jersey boy recently back in the city after more then a year aboard, and I was girl recently released from the captivity of a small town. Together we had the opportunity to explore the city. Our mutual love of playing tourist wasn’t enough to hold us together and eventually we broke up. My post-break-up ritual included

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-50663302603845349392009-05-18T15:36:00.021-04:002009-07-28T08:15:23.588-04:00

In the Fall of 2004 I moved to New York. My college friend Bobes and I drove across the country in her overloaded Nissan. We moved into a three bedroom apartment in Jersey City and quickly set out finding work to pay the rent. Several months later we realized that we had found jobs, but had no social life. Perhaps moving to the city in the dead of winter had negatively affected our ability to

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-4918409420635244212009-05-15T12:06:00.022-04:002009-11-09T11:19:28.866-05:00

I’d be lying if I said that my choice of college wasn’t affected by the fact that Animal House was filmed at my university. The school has mellowed since the days of John Belushi chugging Jack Daniels, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have many fine local drinking establishments. Only 20 feet from campus are two bars very popular with students, Taylor’s Bar and Grill and Rennie’s Landing. In

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-1157808890177443252009-05-13T10:47:00.013-04:002009-07-28T08:17:21.328-04:00

I was seventeen the first time I came to New York. It was late December 1998 and I was with a loosely chaperoned group from my high school. I roomed at the Times Square Marriott with my friends B and Gretchen. We spent our days seeing Broadway plays, exploring Chinatown, Eating at IL Palazzo in Little Italy and wandering 5th Avenue. We spent our nights with our noses pressed against the glass of

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-62042180364290130002009-02-28T19:03:00.011-05:002009-07-28T08:21:47.209-04:00

Saying I’m from a small town feels like an understatement. I’m from the kind of place where people don’t bother to lock their doors. There are no traffic lights or sidewalks and you can count the number of stop signs on one hand. It’s the kind of place where nothing bad happens. Or at least that’s what I believed at the time.The heart of the community is a tiny century old school house, complete

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-62840063327673207082009-01-01T19:13:00.004-05:002010-03-31T16:13:29.336-04:00

Check out my CafePress store:http://www.cafepress.com/MatchboxDiariesSee all the Matchbox Pictures on Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/44763193@N08/Check out some of my favorite sites:http://www.midtowngirl.com/http://www.matchbooktraveler.com/http://2blogornot2blog.wordpress.com/http://joeygoesglobal.wordpress.com/http://sybaritestory.wordpress.com

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6801985465049196672.post-65428462744863946752009-01-01T19:10:00.002-05:002009-11-17T10:38:05.714-05:00

About the BlogAt fifteen, I discovered a box full of matchbooks in my Grandmother's house. As a result, I began collecting matchbooks myself. Each one has a special memory and a special story. This is the diary of those stories.About MeThe first thing anyone should know about me is that in the fifth grade one of my teachers handed back a paper of mine pointing out in red ink that I had a tendency

Rachel Huntnoreply@blogger.com