It’s been almost 10 years since I lived in New York, but coming back here ignites a yearning for the city. I still find it compelling, from the old-style radiators, the sheer metal canyons around Radio City Music Hall, the no-nonsense New York attitude you find in everyone from middle-class parents walking their children and dogs to car-service drivers who argue that it does cost $50 to get to Brooklyn Heights from midtown.
I’ve flown in for meetings and some facetime with one of my oldest friends, but I find it hard to put down my iPhone – I’m overflowing with longing for my former hometown and I want to snap, Instagram and tweet every detail.
Yesterday was a microcosm of New York life: we visited my friend’s new apartment and measured up on where to put the furniture, ate a delicious lunch at Siggy’s (frequented by Gabriel Byrne and Shalom Harlow), to Bloomingdales Soho to try on this season’s floral jeans (just don’t), bought some Kiehl’s Silk Groome, visited the Moma to see the Diego Rivera exhibit, shopped for dinner at Gristede’s, then stayed home on Friday night. Because nobody goes out on Friday or Saturday night.
It’s impossible to capture New York life in a day, but here’s how I tried.
As someone who lives in New York and gets to host an excited out-of-town friend, I can say that her enthusiasm for the city helps me take more pleasure in the often overlooked joys of NYC. It’s also heartwarming to discover that the things that you love about your hometown (beef stew at Siggys, for example!) become beloved by others as well. And no, it doesn’t cost $50 to get to Brooklyn Heights from midtown. For the record, it shouldn’t be over $28!
Oh this has made me really miss New York, the most exciting city in the world. When the kids are gone I would love to live there for some part of the year. And it’s really making me crave beef stew with kale. Sounds like you’re having a blast!
Jody, it was fantastic. Sometimes I wonder if I’d love NYC as much if I visited all the time with the family. We’re planning a trip soon, so we’ll see…
This is a like a tasting menu of New York for those of us who have never been. I think I need to address this!