If there had been a "most likely to never live in New York again" superlative in my high school yearbook, I would have won by a landslide. I spent the last five or so years of my life complaining about how much I hated New York. I hated the smells, the crowds, the dirtiness, and of course, the tourists. So, when I left for college, I knew that I would miss my family and my friends, but the last thing I thought I would miss was New York City.
As it turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. I miss everything about New York (well maybe not the bad smells). I guess there really is no place like home.
2. Food
New York City has the best food in the world. If you think otherwise, don't even bother arguing with me because you're wrong. Tie dye pizza from Rubirosa; spicy tuna rolls from Sushi of Gari; pasta from Serafina; mac and cheese from The Smith; avocado toast from Bluestone Lane; ice cream from Emack & Bolio's; cookies from Levain Bakery; milk shakes from Black Tap; bagels from anywhere. These are just some of the many delicacies that can be found in the food porn capital that is NYC.
3. Walking
I have always been a "walker." I walked to school. I walked across Central Park. I walked downtown. I walked everywhere. Walking is part of the culture in the city. If you prefer to drive, go back to the suburbs. Although I walk to class every day, all I see are the same stone buildings everywhere I go. I miss the varied scenery that walking around the different neighborhoods of New York brings. From the idyllic West Village to the cobblestone streets of Soho to the trendy Meatpacking District to the homey Upper West Side to the lights of Times Square (just kidding! no sane New Yorker would ever go there)—New York is made for walking.
4. Central Park
Central Park is my playground. Having lived across the street from Central Park since I was born, I can confidently say that it is my favorite place in the city. I grew up in the park. My weekends were spent swinging on the monkey bars at the Diana Ross Playground, riding my scooter around the Great Lawn, and ice skating at Wollman Rink. Central Park is always there for me, whatever my mood may be. If I'm feeling anxious, I find a quiet place in the Ramble to relax. If I'm feeling social, I hang out with friends at Great Lawn. If I'm feeling athletic (a rare occurrence), I run around the reservoir. Central Park is always the place to be.
5. Culture
NYC is the cultural capital of America. It has endless museums, art galleries, theaters, and concert halls where you can spend your mornings contemplating contemporary art, your afternoons watching Hamilton, and your nights listening to your favorite artists perform live. Some of my personal favorite cultural hotspots in the city include the Whitney, MoMA, the Gagosian Gallery, the yearly Frieze art fair, and the former 5 Pointz in Queens (RIP).
6. The Fast Pace
Life in the city is fast. People walk fast. People talk fast. Service is fast. As the extraordinarily impatient New Yorker that I am, I am annoyed every day by the slowness of life in the midwest. I miss not having to weave around people while walking so that their snail-like pace doesn't force me to slow down. I miss the quick service in NYC restaurants that prevented me from starving to death while waiting forever for my food. I have a need for speed in my life.
7. "The City"
Every true New Yorker refers to New York as "the city." I often find myself starting sentences with "in the city..." or "the city is..." But, when I say "the city" here, people often ask, "what city?" If you have to ask, I feel sorry for you. I miss saying "the city" and having everyone know which city I am talking about.
