| Page Views: 1,935 Last Visit to New York City: 2003 I Used To Live Here | NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK by Phalaenopsis03 - last update: Aug 5, 2007 |
I've had the opportunity to live in New York on two separate occasions, as a kid and as an adult. The first stay was with mom and baby bro back in the early 80's when we emigrated from Egypt to Jamaica, Queens. Wasn't all that memorable. My second stint in New York began the latter part of '02 and ended in the fall of '03 when I had an "epiphany" to quit my job in Los Angeles and take a year off to "enjoy life" and concentrate on applying to grad schools (ended up applying to only one though = ). It was the most opportune time for me to make such a spontaneous move between two coasts as my then boyfriend (P.G.) was still living in the Big Apple (yup, I said it) and completing his final year of graduate studies at N.Y.U. |
P.G. and I lived in a studio/one-bedroom apt. in Midtown Manhattan on 52nd St. and 2nd Ave. Rent was a ridiculous $1750 a month and our landlord was a total b*itch! We lived on the fourth floor above Clancy's Pub in an old building on a major street that had a bunch of other bars and pubs occupying it. That meant that 24/7, P.G. and I were inhaling cigarette smoke from the folks smoking on the sidewalk below. Man, did our apartment reek of smoke, which meant that we smelled just as bad. Gross!
Anyway, after a few months of settling in and getting use to my surroundings, I was able to acquire a part-time job. Actually, an old friend and colleague of mine from my undergrad days, Cristina, hooked me up with one at the non-prof she was working at. Interestingly, that organization actually operated on one of the floors of the Woolworth Building in Lower Manhattan, which was just a coupla blocks away from the World Trade Center site. |
| Saying goodbye to Cristina and colleagues. |
However, despite the frustrating landlord, the irritating smoke seeping into our apt., the geographic location of my job, and oh yeah, the occasional rude New Yawker I bumped into (sorry, but it did happen), the wonderful memories I had of my Manhattan stay totally overshadow the bad ones. Aside from the fact that I lived in the city that never slept (woohoo!), it's proximity to other cities, states, and even Canada afforded me many roadtrips. From Manhattan, we visited Upstate New York, Washington D.C., and various other cities in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, as well as Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec in Canada.
I really did spend an amazing time in the city and I must thank P.G. for that, as well as Cristina for her enduring friendship, and the Vera folks for all of their support. So, after almost a year of the Big Apple (last time I say that, I promise) it was time for me to return to my roots on the left coast (which I wouldn't have had any other way). Funny thing, but after having had to endure the extreme seasonal temps of the East Coast (among experiencing other things), I knew that I could only apply to a school in awesome SoCal.Notes:
1.) Most of the photos in my New York pages were taken on P.G.'s digi cam.
2.) Admittedly, most of my tips here are of a touristy nature, but I feel it kinda difficult not to give touristic suggestions when we're talking about one of the most touristy travel destinations in the whole world. It's like saying, don't bother with the Eiffel Tower in Paris or bypass St. Mark's Square in Venice or ditch the pyramids in Egypt. Just doesn't seem right somehow. So yeah, while Times Square, the Empire State Building, and even the Statue of Liberty might be considered big "tourist traps" by some, they have nonetheless given shape and character to the city we all know and love today. And if you think about it, the big "tourist traps" of now may very well have its roots as the obscure "off the beaten paths" of yesterday anyway. So moral of the story is, if it's popular, there's a reason why and people will flock to it no matter what anyone says.
3.) Sorry, but can't help using the term "Big Apple". Has a nice ring to it. =)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Things I Liked and Didn't Like About Living in NYC (in no particular order)
LIKES:
musicals on Broadway
Cafe Centosette pancakes (but only when they're prepared crunchy)
roasted almonds from the street vendors on a cold winter's day
discounted tickets from TKTS
excitement and vibe of the city, even Times Square
public transportation
cultural richness
street vendor dogs
Lady Baltimore cake, Angel Food cake, and banana pudding from Buttercup Bake Shop across the street from our apt
Harlem
Vera staff
proximity to other cities and states
ethnic diversity
nightlife
J&R Electronics
Conan O'Brien
the fashions
Central Park
people-watching
discovering Lindemans Kriek beer at Divine Bar
New York One & Sandra Endo (cutest news reporter ever)
street faires
Metropolitan Museum of Art
celebrating holidays, especially Christmas
DISLIKES:
shady cab drivers
heat and humidity
overpriced everything
subways in the sweltering summer heat
lugging our laundry up and down four floors and 1/3 of a mile away to the nearest laundromat
rude people!
drivers honking 24/7
tiny grocery stores with aisles as wide as small push carts
icy and slippery sidewalks in the winter
smoking in front of our apt. bldg.
slow-walking people (you must walk fast in New York)
our landlord (such a mean woman)
missing a train or even delayed trains
Mexican food (really sucks in New York!)
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Phalaenopsis03's New York City Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 17 - Photos: 34 | | | Restaurants
Tips: 6 - Photos: 6 | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Phalaenopsis03's New York City Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Phalaenopsis03 about New York City | | | | |
jumpingnorman Sun Feb 1, 2009 18:19 UTC
I think I will bring my family to Chinatown this June (in NY) - we already booked it...Thanks for sharing NY tips...Greetings from AZ, Norman | Mr.Sparkle Sat Apr 19, 2008 02:08 UTC
great tips and pix, however am surprised you don't have a food tip for pizza/Italian food and bagels. All NYC staple foods. I did note your little Italy tip though. | spgood301 Wed Dec 27, 2006 16:45 UTC
I hope you come back to NY one day. And I hope you find a better apartment too ;-) | Sue08080 Sat Jun 3, 2006 17:22 UTC
Yummy restaurant tips! Thanks! |
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