Speaking of anniversaries, this time of year marks my 8 YEAR anniversary of moving to New York City. When September 11th happened, I was printing out my college application to NYU. I wanted to be a New York City girl so badly nothing was going to stop me.
So, in early January 2002 my folks drove me to my new dorm in Chinatown. Previously, I had been to midtown or Soho, which are the fancy parts. When we drove down Canal street (not so pretty) and when I saw McDonald’s ads in Chinese I thought that I had pulled a practical joke that went to far.
I didn’t have many friends at the time, so I took long walks around the city. I particularly remember walking up Crosby Street in a snowstorm. Block by block, I learned this town. I’ve lived in 5 different apartments in 5 different neighborhoods in 8 years.
For a while this year, I was really bored with this city. It seemed that I had been on every block, had a beer at every other bar, shopped in this shop and the one that was there before it. It seemed that way because it was true. There was no street I walked on that didn’t have a personal story. It’s been wonderful so see how the city has changed, and what has remained the same (even though it makes me feel old).
I miss The Village Idiot and the original Balducci’s, but I’m so glad for the Whole Foods two blocks away. I’m excited for the renovation of Washington Square Park. I miss the massive B&N on 6th Avenue that allowed dogs. I love that there are bars and restaurants that haven’t changed one bit, and I love discovering new places. Because even though I’ve been a lot of places, I still haven’t been everywhere and it’s probably impossible to do so in this town. According to Sex and The City, you have to live in New York City for 10 years before you can call yourself a New Yorker…so I reckon I’ll stick around for another 2 years!
