My first impressions of New York city.
Toasters here only grill one side of toasts. Kitchen cabinets are stocked with four plates, four glasses, tree forks and two dull knives. There are three towels to share between the four of us.
No, okay, this might not be typical of New York, but nothing here resembles my regular life so i thought I should point this out. For example, speaking of not so typical: my husband works all night and comes home at 5 or 6 am. At 7:30 I wake up the kids and we get ready in utter silence not to wake up the man. We creep outside of our very cool, grungy, awesome apartment on 15th street and 7th avenue and there....
KAZAM! It's New York City baby! It's loud and busy, there are cabs and bicycles zooming to and fro, air conditioners everywhere make the whole city hum. Honking is the name of the game, also screaming at drivers when you're on bikes and vice versa. Pedestrians don't scream at strangers because they can't make a quick exit but you know they want to. Their rebellion manifest itself in their refusal to respect street signs; they just advance or stop at busy intersections according to a logic that still escape me, but I'm trying to crack the code.
For us insulated LA folks who live in our cars and only see people we are scheduled to meet, there sure are a lot of interesting and strange looking people in the streets, everyone full of purpose, everyone going, going, going. Women are pretty at all ages and wear summery dresses. Men for the most part are dressed so metrosexual that I have no idea who's gay and who's not (My guess is everyone is to some extent. As I walk with my 17 year old, believe me when I tell you that I'm not the one men are checking out.)
Manhattan is expensive. 5 dollars for a box of Oreo cookies or a box of kleenex? I know this is kind of an island but in Hawai they have the excuse of hundreds of miles between them and the mainland.
By 9 am I have dropped off my 10 year old to his geeky video game design camp at NYU and my 17 year old has walked himself to film camp at the School of Visual Arts. Then I'm free as the wind until my husband wakes up. Today i shopped at a delicious farmers market, checked out the YMCA for some classes, smelled the air, stared at people, took pictures too pathetic to post here and basically absorbed NYC's awesomeness in the hope it will rub off on me.
I don't want to write, I don't want to blog. I want to be in the streets of Manhattan right this minute. I'll talk to you soon.
don't forget pedestrians in ny don't have a right of way. be very careful crossing the street!
have a wonderful time.
Posted by: susan | July 08, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Perfect. You've done such a good job of describing the city. KAZAM!
I hope you're soaking it all in and loving every moment.
xoxo
Posted by: AGirlNamedMe | July 08, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Enjoy!
Posted by: Fressine | July 08, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Thank you for shearing! I hope you will share some photos later
Posted by: Elisa Day | July 08, 2009 at 10:09 AM
---that's the thing i like -- you are always meeting strangers, whom when you meet constantly, same time every day on the cross streets - one does pass off a smile ..
Posted by: anrosh | July 08, 2009 at 11:26 AM
I love it!! Thanks for allowing us to live vicariously thru you.
Posted by: shelly beson | July 08, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Tu te rappelles cette chanson "Un jour j'irais a New York avec toi" de Telephone? Ecoute la si tu peux. New York est le nombril du monde moderne.
Posted by: Isabelle | July 08, 2009 at 04:13 PM
Do it. Then tell us all about it an epic post when you return!
Posted by: alison g. (brazil) | July 08, 2009 at 04:29 PM
Sounds fun. I would love to visit there one day. Great description though -as always!
Posted by: Kelly | July 08, 2009 at 06:19 PM
a day in manhattan with you would be too much fun! can't wait to hear more of your adventures.
Posted by: josephine | July 08, 2009 at 06:48 PM
well stated. do please post your pathetic pictures. i will not judge. when you feel you are ready of course.
xoj
Posted by: my favorite and my best | July 08, 2009 at 07:47 PM
It doesn't matter if they're blurry , post a bunch and tell us the story.
Have you got "Native Newyorker" playing in your head already? It sounds wild, share with us when you've cracked the walk, don't walk rule.
Posted by: Clarity | July 08, 2009 at 08:06 PM
Yer bein' ripped off. Our Oreos only cost $4something. :p
Hey, SO freaking jealous of you right now. My big excitement for today was seeing Hurley from Lost sitting at a little cafe next to wear I got dinner tonight. Woohoo.
Posted by: muralimanohar | July 09, 2009 at 02:29 AM
I guess you just want to be part of NYC . And you are right, enjoy this beautiful city .
Posted by: le petit cabinet de curiosites | July 09, 2009 at 06:13 AM
I love New York--for all the reasons you wrote. I think it's way cool your kids are doing such neat summer camps! Soak it all in and do share the experience.
Posted by: RD | July 09, 2009 at 06:14 AM
Enjoy NYC. It's such a fantastic place!
Posted by: French furniture | July 09, 2009 at 08:29 AM
So. very. jealous. One day, one day I tell myself. Take it all in and enjoy it for all of us dreaming of NYC!
Posted by: Stefanie | July 09, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Love this post... feel like I'm right there with you! :)
Posted by: Zoe, Conversation Pieces | July 09, 2009 at 09:41 PM
I first visited in 1992 and it was noisy and erratic and I loved it. Later when Mayor Guiliani took over it was full of people in uniform asking if they could help you and virtually silent which took away the excitement for me. Great to hear it's back to being crazy. Have a fabulous time and be careful not to trip over a bin bag :)
Posted by: Di Overton | July 09, 2009 at 10:48 PM
*sigh* i'm in l.a. right now and you've made me miss nyc, my hometown. crossing the street is truly an art form -- it's fun and takes practice, kinda like surfing! lol! such cool camps for the kids! enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
Posted by: laura m. | July 10, 2009 at 07:14 AM
Hi there...I just saw this for the first time- I like your blog!! welcome to nyc.. - i live around the corner from you - so enjoy the city and welcome to the neighborhood...here are some tips for the neighborhood...you must see sue for a manicure and pedicure at the nail salon on the corner of 15 and 7th avenue, she is lovely....be sure to walk by the altman carraige bldg on 18 between 7 and 8 - north side of the street - there are tons of sample sales there!!! be sure to check out chelsea market on 9 avenue at 15 street tons of great foodie treats and sweets..and the newest apple store on 9 and 14...walk over to the west side highway.. you can walk to the tip of the island and see the statue of liberty or walk over the raised old subway tracks - beautifully landscaped...the meatpacking district neighborhood which is south of 14 and west of 9 ave ..great area ...old cobblestone streets but sort of b and t (bridge and tunnel??!) in the evenings and weekends is fun.. great restaurants and shopping, spice market is yummy...the list can go on forever with special things to do in this neighborhood...oh and remember that you are in Chelsea - the home of gorgeous men by the buckets...sadly tho !! they tend to date each other - god bless america, new york city and chelsea...enjoy this fabulous city and neighborhood!! bye - your chelsea neighbor!!
Posted by: Chelsea Neighbor | July 10, 2009 at 04:52 PM
hey corine i used to live right across from the school of visual arts...i'm so jealous your son is taking classes there! also, i bet your farmers market was at union square, n'est-ce pas? i used to live nearby at 15th and 3rd. you make me want to move back to NYC. the Wall of Sound (not Ronnie Spector version) is how I describe stepping outside there. you made me smile. try to get out to the hamptons for the summer weekend scene if you can. kiss the sky for me.
katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com
Posted by: Katy Allgeyer aka fishgirl | July 10, 2009 at 06:33 PM
hey corinne,
soak it up....there is no place in the world like nyc.
get out there and live it.
christine
Posted by: Christine | July 10, 2009 at 07:25 PM
Go, see, do, conquer. Blog later we can wait but NYC waits for no one. Have a fab weekend Corine,xv.
Posted by: Vicki Archer | July 10, 2009 at 11:18 PM
a warm welcome to new york. lived on 15th between 5th and 6th. great area. i agree the apple store on 14th is great, my favorite in the city. too bad bodum and barney's stores are gone. no shortage of great restaurants and other shops near you. fishs eddy could help you improve your dish collection, abc carpet and home is awesome too, east of you at 19th and broadway i could spend all day in there. muji and pearl river mart and cb2 a bit further downtown. loud is the new quiet. fun! enjoy.
Posted by: gretchen | July 11, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Oh Corine, enjoy and soak it all up for all of us! :) I love that your kids are doing such cool artsy camps...I need to remember these someday for mine! Have a wonderful time! luv, trina
Posted by: trina | July 11, 2009 at 08:41 PM
enjoy - enjoy - enjoy .... walk...walk...walk...love your take on nyc
Posted by: marnie | July 12, 2009 at 07:12 AM
Boy ! that is one captivating description of your encounters with the new city, and reading this is like seeing the city through your own eyes !
have fun !
PS: and do post some pictures soon !
Posted by: Sarthak | July 12, 2009 at 08:01 PM
I found new york fascinating and frightening & a bit claustrophobic - I am from a small town - and that was some years ago. You make it seem so inviting.
Posted by: pat griffith | July 13, 2009 at 08:24 AM
Don't forget to explore Brooklyn -- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge -- go to DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, walk down smith street, walk down atalantic, go to Fort Greene, Park Slope -- so many great places.
Posted by: Martha | July 14, 2009 at 03:48 AM
If you have any Brooklyn questions -- let me know.
Posted by: Martha | July 14, 2009 at 04:24 AM
Yes, watch you step in Manhattan. Pedestrians have a hard time walking. Still a fun town for sure.
Posted by: Ajlouny | August 05, 2009 at 09:08 PM