It’s only been a few weeks that I’ve been away from New York City, and I’ve already begun to miss it. Well, I actually began to miss it two weeks ago, if you want to be exact. Initially, I was relieved to be home from my time at school in the big city. If I’m being honest, I still am relieved to be home. Home is quiet, I don’t have to keep my eyes peeled for pick-pockets, I can walk down to a beach, which I know is clean, any day of the week, and most of all, here I have my friends and family. But there’s still something to be said for New York. It may not be the quietest, or the most friendly, or the cleanest, but there’s more to a place than that.
In New York City, I could do anything virtually any time I wanted to. Businesses there were generally always open later than 9 p.m., unlike every ice cream shop in my hometown (which I know, because I checked last night at 8:55 p.m. when a craving for ice cream struck me out of nowhere), and this was perfect for me. I tend to be more of a night owl, and piles of work that sent my friends and I into late night work sessions almost daily, didn’t help that. Dinner--or at least a snack--at 10 p.m. or later (usually later) became something of a necessity, and that was no problem in New York.
On top of just the pure time-availability of businesses in New York, there was also the sheer number of businesses, parks, and things to do, that made a huge difference. Want to get some fresh air? Head down to Central Park--AKA, one of my favorite places on the planet (I mean, with ponds, fountains, rowboats, miniature sailboats, waffle ice cream sandwiches, a tiny castle, a Shakespeare theater, and about a thousand “Hey, that scene from that movie was shot here,” spots, how could someone not love Central Park?) Want to see some famous and/or incredible art? The Met is just a $2.75 subway ride away--and that’s not to mention all the other amazing museums and galleries in New York (MoMA, the Whitney, the Frick Collection, Cooper Hewitt, the list goes on and on). Shows? Oh, New York has shows. A live-audience taping sort of thing or a concert? And when you say concert, do you mean big or small? See, all these options and more are available in New York. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is a personal favorite when it comes to live tapings available in New York, but you can always hit up others like the Today show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the works. And concerts? Well, like I said, you have your choice of big or small. I mean, there’s always Madison Square Garden if you’re thinking big. Then, there’s smaller venues--and again, this is a personal favorite--like the Bowery Ballroom which might actually convince you that you’ve entered into a cool NYC-based rom com like Hitch or something.
I could list things to do in New York for days on end, which only further proves my point, but at this point I think I risk making myself miss that city even more than I already do. Point is, New York City is one of a kind. Even if you’re not a city person, living in that environment for any extended period of time will get you to warm up to the place--even if you don’t realize it until after you’ve left. There are opportunities in New York City both personal and professional--recreational and educational--that will always call to me whether I’m in or out of the city. It’s those opportunities that made me choose to go to school in New York in the first place. Now, knowing these opportunities from personal experience, only makes me more confident in my choice, and more excited to pursue them once I return. For now, I’ll enjoy a slower-paced lifestyle at home, and recharge so I can seize every possible day once I’m back.
