2009 is my tenth year in New York. I came here for school and then it didn’t make sense to go anywhere else. I’ve toyed with leaving the city – most notably this past summer when I was feeling fucked over, heartbroken, and utterly unable to make a comfortable life for myself here. But New York is, truly, one of the great loves of my life. Throughout this year, I’m going to do a series of posts called Love Letters to NYC – I can’t promise a regular schedule because I suck at that on this blog, but I can promise that I will share some of my favorite things about New York. Some of it will be kinda travel guidey; I’ve certainly written enough must-see email recommendations to people visiting the city over the years.
I’m kicking this off with a list of ten things I love about NYC and its people:
1. I love seeing people smile to themselves on the subway or as they’re walking down the street.
2. I love that abandoned papers on the subway aren’t trash, but reading material for the next person to grab.
3. I love the relationship I have with the people at my neighborhood deli.
4. I love that taking a walk around the city is entertainment.
5. I love the handful of people who have rejected the NYC uniform of all-black everything in favor of all-white everything. What is up with that?
6. I love crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.
7. I love that moment headed eastbound on the BQE near the Atlantic Avenue exit when you come around the bend and lower Manhattan is just there, glittering. Makes me catch my breath every time.
8. I love the philosophical conversations I have with cabbies about the best route from JFK or LaGuardia to my home.
9. I love not caring about the weather or my state of drunkenness and knowing that I’ll be able to get home on the subway at any hour (even if it does take me a while when things are rerouted).
10. I love that when I travel, I say that I’m from New York like it’s my nationality.
3:44 pm
this is also my tenth year in NYC.
some love letters from me.
1. I love the relationship I have with bartenders in this city and how they know that I am one of them and not the enemy.
2. I love being able to walk home from a bar.
3. I love being a tourguide to people who are new to this city.
4. I love how when people visit here they suddenly realize why I love this city.
5. I love that it’s hard to live here. It makes makes me feel more accomplished.
6. I love websites like, ohmyrockness, freenyc.net and myopenbar all started in NYC to celebrate how to live here.
7. I love the song “I love you new york but you’re bringing me down”
thanks
kristian http://www.thepunkguy.com
4:12 pm
The people all in white may be Iyawo’s. In Santeria when you make high priest or priestess (Ocha) you have to dress in white for an entire year (bags, jackets, head gear etc.). This may explain some of the white clothing. Otherwise maybe white is the new black.
11:41 am
@krist – thanks for sharing your loves for NYC. Totally with you, especially about 3/4/5
@Katelan – aha! how did I not know this? an excellent possible explanation.
4:19 pm
Tell it to Ta-Nehisi
http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/02/this_doesnt_bode_well_for_me_and_harlem.php
5:29 pm
[...] by Audacia Ray’s post, 10th Anniversary: Love Letters to NYC, and upon only recently venturing back to town myself, I’ve decided to list some things [...]
1:41 am
i’ve only had the pleasure of a week in nyc, but loved every minute of the magnificent city!