Yoojin Cho

Remember When I Hugged the Stanley Cup?

I think I’m still recovering from this weekend, which was filled with stress, excitement and thrill. Yes, the Stanley Cup made an appearance on Martha’s Vineyard, and as a journalist, my duty called.

It wasn’t easy to track down exactly when and where the Cup go at first. Obviously I knew the Cup would first come to the airport – Right, Cam Neely probably won’t opt for a 1.5 hour bus ride and then a 45 minute ferry ride to get here. But the question WHEN did not resolve until 5 p.m. Saturday.

Basically it went from “Yes, the Cup will arrive with Cam Neely – coming straight from the NHL draft – at around 7:30 p.m.” to “Oh wait, 6:30” and finally to “Can you get to the airport… now?”

I can’t complain though. From exactly 6:19 p.m. on Saturday to about 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, I had many opportunities to simply take the Cup and make a run for it.

Obviously I refrained.

Jeremy Jacobs, the owner of the Boston Bruins, apparently loves the Vineyard, and his son owns a summer house in Chilmark, which explains the Cup’s first official organized public display being here.

From the airport, the Cup took a short ride on a fire truck with police escort to Edgartown, and there hundreds of Vineyarders and tourists lined Main St. to see the trophy.

Unfortunately I left before the Cup went into the Wharf and the Boathouse because I had to edit the video together, but on Sunday at Edgartown School, I had a chance to see the silver trophy again.

Thousands of people waited in line for a photo opp, and at the end, oh yes, I hugged the Cup.

So there, that was my exciting weekend, and I think pictures are worth a thousand words.

Here are my video pieces:

http://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/article.php?id=6363

http://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/article.php?id=6361

Basement to Home

Only about a month after my initial move-in date, I finally feel like I have a home.

From a basement unit to what I would like to call my home…

Sure I still lack furniture in my living room, and I still sleep on just the mattress and no bed frame or box spring. But regardless, little touches like framed pictures, a large shoe rack and my very own puppy-print comforter set make the basement apartment so much more cozy and welcoming.

When I first moved in, I slept on an air mattress, and for about good two weeks, more than half of my clothes stayed in my suitcases. Partially my fault for loving to shop and partially the house’s fault for not having a built-in closet unit. However, two clothing racks from Amazon and a free desk later, my bedroom is… well a bedroom!

Never mind the living room because it sure is a work in progress, but the kitchen, already well-outfitted with a large bar area and spacious countertop, now boasts pictures, a coffee maker (essential) and a vase of flowers.

Take a look!

(My fridge)

(Kitchen…)

(Area behind the bar)

(Desk)

(TV… and yes, I was watching Real Housewives…)

Where the Locals Go

After two-ish weeks on the Vineyard, I am slowly getting comfortable with directions and finding the “spots.” In fact, last week during my lunch break, I even gave directions to a couple of ladies who were looking for Z Burger. When you can give directions, that means you’re becoming a local, right?

Regardless… The island living certainly differs a whole lot from the city living. I still cannot believe people here leave their cars unlocked while they grocery shop, not to mention I still identify more with the mainland than with the island.

What I miss the most about Boston thus far is simply my favorite spots. The fallback places I always go to for games… The bar that all my friends and I go to every weekend… But have no fear, I’ve tried out a couple places on the Vineyard.

Sharky’s in Edgartown serves as a great game spot. I went there to watch one of the Mavs games – by the way, GO MAVS! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! – and last night, went there to watch the Bruins game.

Honestly, if any restaurant has a TX flag hanging on the wall, I am in love.

Sharky’s serves Mexican food and though I haven’t tried any yet, apparently has delicious margaritas.

The other spot I’ve discovered is the Wharf, also in Edgartown. A tiny place, but equipped with two bars and a dance area.

Other than these two, Nancy’s restaurant in Oak Bluffs seems like a good place to try in the near future. I went there on Saturday to cover the oyster shucking contest. Yes, in a search for that one bad motherShucker, fishermen, tourists and other residents stopped by for one-on-one shucking competition.

Actually, here’s my story: http://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/article.php?id=6146

Nancy’s boasts a nice deck that overlooks the harbor – probably gorgeous sunset view in the evening.

But I know there are more places on the Vineyard that I must try, so my search continues…

My Articles Thus Far

Week 1 of full-time grown-up real-life work DONE! It certainly is a strange feeling – finding my own assignments, doing my own research, editing, shooting, producing and most importantly, not anticipating that e-mail with my grade and comments.

I’m still setting up a work routine with the highest productivity and a personal routine that insures I wake up on time for a full day of reporting.

It has been an interesting change of pace, going from a daily grind of breaking news to a weekly community newspaper. Since the Times does not have a deadline of 5 p.m. newscast every single day, the work agenda moves a bit slower. For me, however, the weekly routine breaks a bit since my main role is to fill in the holes that a weekly is missing. Subsequently I have to constantly look for story ideas and produce materials, but even then, I feel like things move a bit slower here, and really, no complaints.

So. Here’s what I’ve done so far.

Hinckley’s BBQ: http://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/article.php?id=5992

Vineyard Arts Preview: http://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/article.php?id=6072

Oil Spill Response Training in Menemsha: http://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/article.php?id=6097