An Ode to New York City
The NYC Years: November 30th, 2013 — March 9th, 2020
2,292 days of living in the city I’d dreamed of moving to since I was 9 years old
New York City is my home.
But in light of this deadly pandemic, coupled with moving overseas upon my graduation from Columbia, I’m afraid my time in it has abruptly come to an end.
And so, New York — to thee, I write you my final tribute, now.
From here on out, I know that I’ll live vicariously through memories of my friends and I in the heart of the greatest city I’ve ever known
Memories of the city and me, myself, & I
Riding the Bronx Bx9 bus to Westchester Sq-East Tremont Ave station after spending a weekend in Throggs Neck
Riding my beloved Staten Island Ferry, gazing from afar at the vast, stunning Verrazzano-Narrows
Getting forever lost wandering the dizzying streets of FiDi
Wishfully thinking I’ll end up on TV while catching a show at the Ed Sullivan Theater or ABC Studios
Feeling eternally peaceful at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Reflecting at the 9/11 memorial
Overlooking the New York Harbor and Lady Liberty from the edge of Battery Park
Bowling a strike at Brooklyn Bowl & alleys on the edge of the city
Drinking bizarre cocktails in dimly lit speakeasies — Apotheke & Back Room & Beauty & Essex & Flatiron Room
Catching a nail-biting final at the US Open with Mimi in the ever timeless Flushing Meadows
Watching the Knicks lose again and again at MSG
Eating garlic fries at Yankee Stadium
Living a Manhattan life, forever dreaming of a life in Queens
Delivering a deeply personal speech at Toastmasters on a Thursday afternoon
Grabbing an “international cuisine” meal at the MS cafeteria
Being forever a tourist at a landmark — Grand Central & Times Sq & Rockefeller & Oculus & Freedom Tower & BX Zoo
Becoming a regular at Taverna Kyclades & Elysian Fields & Magnolia Bakery & Dim Sum Go Go & NY Bagels & Cafe & Burlap Sack Potato Eatery & Metro Diner & Waterside Cafe & Cosi & Subway
Taking the uptown 1/2/3 from Penn Station back home after an excursion in midtown or downtown
Scrambling to impress David with a new analysis on GPS
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge with soon-to-be best friends
Boring myself to death at one of the city’s glorious art museums — Met & MoMa & New & Brooklyn & Cloisters & Guggenheim (meanwhile being fascinated at the Intrepid & Bronx MoA & M. Tussauds & NatHist)
Gyming at the MS basement & Waterside & SoulCycle & Dodge
IM’ing MS buds on MS Communicator far too often
Big city livin’ at 44th & 2nd/3rd & 25th & FDR & 100th & Broadway
Grabbing a dim sum platter at my favorite Chinatown spot before walking home up through LES and SoHo
Shooting pool at a billiards spot — Amsterdam & Space & Bleecker Street
Taking the 2 train up to 233rd St in the Bronx to see Jadah
Dancing like no one was watching at The Apollo
Traversing the city with Abs & Gabs & Kels
Getting a facial on Lexington during a far-too-long lunch break
Indulging in the latest workplace drama with the admins
Venturing out on an ever rare occasion to Staten Island
Experiencing a new spot within 60% of Manhattan’s eclectic streets
Walking to Chelsea every Saturday for GRE lessons
Walking across the city’s many magnificent bridges — Brooklyn & Manhattan & Williamsburg & George Washington
Going to indie concerts at the Knitting Factory & Bowery Ballroom
Passing by kids playing ball on one of the city’s courts in Queens
Taking a birthday helicopter ride over the East River
Spending hours finding everything I want at Queens Center & Fulton Mall
Uncovering the quirky, strange, beautiful street art of Bushwick and Bowery
Gazing at the mesmerizing New York skyline on a rooftop — Above Allen & 230 5th & Mr. Purple & Bookmarks & Monarch & Spyglass & Delancey & Salon de Ning
Discovering new food spots all around the city with a larger-than-life best friend
Grocery shopping at the Union Square Trader Joe’s or Fairway when I got too fed up with Gristedes
Exploring restaurants of every cuisine in every neighborhood imaginable — Astoria & Eastchester & East Village & Hell’s Kitchen & K-town & Curry Hill & St. George
Discovering every classic bagel spot & burger spot & dim sum spot & pizza spot & dessert spot & taco spot & coffee spot & Jewish deli the city had to offer
Hanging around new spots in the city with Jadah
Finding a strange, welcoming home in the Stonewall Inn
Grabbing a “plain bagel with egg & cheese” at Subsconscious after a long class
Chasing Pokémon around town for two straight months
Climbing atop the Twin Towers as a kid, looking down at the city’s tantalizing night lights inviting me to my future home
Hookahing at Babylon & Kazuza & La Sultana & Horus on B
Catching a sleepy jazz show at Smalls & Smoke Jazz & Supper Club & Blue Note
Competing in speech competitions at work and 92Y
Taking a spontaneous night bike ride throughout the city with Mr. Wendal
Marveling at a performance at Radio City & Carnegie & Astor Place
Catching a movie in Kips Bay or Union Square or Battery Park
Walking every morning from 44th b/w 2nd & 3rd to work, when I lived at the Indigo
Hopping on the M34A bus to get to the NQR train in Herald Sq, when I lived at Waterside
Walking from 100th & Broadway to Columbia, when I lived at Whitehall
Marching at anti-fascism rallies and women’s marches after work
Taking long walks from Waterside Plaza down to the crazy St. Marks Place
Flash dancing and shooting hoops
Dancing to old school hip hop and R&B at B.o.Bs
Masterfully cooking up an Angus burger or pasta with cheese & marinara sauce
Fighting with a roommate over rent & noise & cleanliness & live-in boyfriends & other cliché New York problems
Missing JFK and LaGuardia terribly while stuck at EWR
Internally sobbing every time someone played ‘Empire State of Mind’ when I was out of the city
Begrudgingly going to happy hours at Hurleys and lunches at Pongsri with work buddies
Awkwardly attempting to dance to EDM in Williamsburg clubs
Stayin’ healthy on Maiden Lane & Lexington & John Jay
Eating a combo platter with extra white sauce at Halal Guys
Ordering takeout from Jing Fong & Bareburger & UNO’s & Aangan & McDonalds much too often
Loitering in the Columbia merch store on my way home after class
Taking breezy walks along the FDR Drive promenade, stopping to look at the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign in LIC
Hitting the beach in the Far Rockaways or Coney Island on a hot summer day
Painfully doing group projects at Lehman or Publique
Studying for hours into the night at the law school or Butler Library
Revisiting my all-time favorite old haunts in 2019 & 2020
Venturing out on ‘The Hangover’-like Halloween nights as Lola B & Heisenberg & Dustin Henderson & Lana Kane & Trump
Checking out the latest weird flick at the TriBeCa Film Festival
Strolling in nature at a park — Prospect & High Line & Washington Sq & Central & Bryant & Hunter’s Point South
Triggering Fox News at a protest at Trump Tower
Stopping to listen to a talented busker at the subway
Apartment hunting with Ed & Mimi throughout the city
Taking the S from Grand Central to Times Square and back
Freaking out over a roach spotted in the kitchen or bedroom or bed
Hitting up Gotham Comedy Club on Tuesday’s at 9:30 after work — my 2nd home
Discovering ever other iconic comedy club in the city — Comedy Cellar & New York CC & UCB & Carolines on Broadway & Comedy Village & The Stand
Just missing my purchased Bolt Bus to Philly and waiting in the cold for the next one
Feeling like I’m back in the suburbs while at Lowe’s & Bed Bath
Watching 42nd Street & Book of Mormon & Les Mis & The Lion King & Hamilton & Phantom of the Opera & Aladdin & Mamma Mia & Wicked & Cats & Chicago & Cinderella & Finding Neverland & Thoroughly Modern Millie at one of Theater District’s glorious theaters
Finally not confusing the Chrysler Building for the Empire State Building
Walking around the windy South Street Seaport before the C&C walk kickoff
Complaining about the pretentiousness of Meatpacking every time I was dragged there
Empire State livin’ in Turtle Bay & Kips Bay & UWS
Singing in the Great Lawn with Baby Too at Global Citizen
Eating my heart out at BK Smorgasburg & Queens Night Market
Infinitely dancing at Gorillaz at Barclays
Walking around on the picturesque streets of SoHo
Arguing with my friends that Chicago Deep Dish > NY pizza any day
Getting in far-too-stereotypical New York fights with people on the subway
Lounging around at Ramzi’s place while he cooked us up a healthy meal, or perhaps just some good ‘ol Vegemite & bread
Listening to Paint It Black or Pursuit of Happiness on a breezy night of reflection
Walking under the bridge on FDR Drive every day home from work
Gazing across the East River to Greenpoint and the bridges of Queensboro & Williamsburg & Manhattan from the plaza at Waterside
Forever living on a New York timeline
I’d dreamed of living in New York City ever since I was 9 years old. Growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I’d tell my best friend Daniela we’d move there one day. I did. I moved there when I was 22, and had been there ever since.
New York City is my home.
No matter where I end up next, it always will be. There’s no escaping it.
I love you, New York. 19 years later, I’m back to dreaming of you once again.
