Yes, It Is Possible To Get This Lost

You might be asking how lost one can get in Manhattan. It is pretty easy to get turned around, walk downtown instead of uptown, or hop on the wrong subway. We've all been there. Luckily with the Manhattan Grid, you can get yourself back on track. 

I get a lot of phone calls from friends asking "where am I?", "how do I get here?", etc. However, one phone call from a friend meeting me at my office after work was one I wasn't prepared for. 

I told my friend (the name I'll keep anonymous) to meet me at my office, located on 47th and 2nd. Not a terrible walk from Grand Central, only about 10 minutes. Now my friend is from Poughkeepsie, but has only been to the city a handful of times. She's familiar with the Metro-North, but only going home, not to Manhattan. I tell her she needs to be on Track 4 at the Fordham station and ready to take the 4:35. It would get her into Grand Central around 5 and she would walk the rest of the way to where I was. 

However, this could only go so smoothly with someone who is so unfamiliar with the city. I shared my location on my iPhone so she could get directions to my exact spot, making it easier on her. 

But no, I got a phone call that started with, "how do I get out of Grand Central, like how do I exit the building?" I was so thrown off by the question, but I did the best I could to talk her through it. Finally I just said, "find a door, walk out and text me what street you end up on." I couldn't verbally tell her how to exit the building and I was getting frustrated trying to do so. 

Eventually my friend found my office and we enjoyed the evening we had planned, but let me tell ya, I didn't know it would be that much of a struggle for her to get to me. From now on I meet her at a better location, but she proved to me it is possible to get that lost. 

A Rundown: The 5 Boroughs

Anyone visiting New York City should be familiar with the 5 boroughs. For anyone who has no idea what I am referring to, a borough can be defined as:

"one of the 5 administrative units of New York City".  

These boroughs are all different neighborhoods that make up the entirety of New York City. Now since it can be extremely helpful to understand each borough, I figured I would provide a bit of information about each one, so no one is blindly trying to figure it out for themselves.

Map of the 5 Boroughs 

The Bronx: The northern most borough, it is home to plenty of famous attractions such as The Bronx Zoo, Yankee Stadium and The Botanical Gardens. It is also home to Fordham University's Rose Hill Campus, which is so pretty it should be an attraction itself (but I might be biased). 

Queens: Home to Citi Field, baseball fans can come here to watch The Mets play at home. Foodies will also be happy because this borough is full of opportunities to try different cultures' native foods. 

Manhattan: The most well known borough when someone thinks of New York City. Visiting there means you can check out the famous Times Square or see a play on Broadway. However, this borough always has a surprise around the corner. 

Brooklyn: This borough is just as hip as it i depicted on TV, but everyone should experience it for themselves in person. It is the perfect place to find impromptu concerts. But if you're going for something that is in the headlines, The Brooklyn Nets can be seen playing at home. 

Staten Island: Many don't realize, but this borough is just a ferry ride away, and a free one too! It's the perfect spot for families to come for activities of all ages. Plus, the architecture and local gardens are definitely worth making the trip for. 

Hopefully, this helps give you a better idea of what each borough has to offer and can give you an idea of which ones you might want to check out the most. These descriptions are just the tip of the iceberg, so I encourage you to do some more research once you start narrowing down your options! 

How To: Find The Perfect Lunch Spot

One of the first things I do when I get to work in the morning is start thinking about what I'm in the mood for at lunch. Yes, I know, thinking about lunch isn't exactly what I should be working on, but it is an important part of my day!

Here, I will show you step by step how I narrow down my lunch options to find the perfect spot each day- because yes, it changes daily.

Step 1: Make Google Maps your friend... 



Above is what appears based on my location: New York, New York. I have not typed anything in yet- just gone to maps.google.com on my internet browser. 

Step 2: Get Searching! 



Type in "lunch spots near me" into the search bar. You can of course change "lunch" to anything of your choosing, maybe "breakfast" or "dinner" based on what you want. The map automatically zooms in on an area near me, and restaurants automatically pop up.  

Step 3: Do Some Snooping...



Google provides details on each restaurant in your area- so be sure to take the time to check out photos and reviews! 

Google is a great tool that many people might overlook when searching for a bite to eat. However, Google keeps it clean and simple, making your search for the best place to grab a meal as easy as possible!

New York City From Another Perspective

One blogger that I absolutely look up to is Tracy, the woman behind Tracy's New York Life. She focuses her blog around her lifestyle as a New Yorker and the culture within this great city. I recently read Tracy's post, Preserving New York City's Mom-and-Pop Shops and had some thoughts of my own on the topic.

Italian Shop, Tracy's New York Life 

Part of why I fell in love with this city was the culture, which included independent stores and hole-in-the-wall shops. These types of businesses provided something more than the branded chains that we all hear about everyday. Mom-and-Pop shops make New York unique and not just any other metropolis.

Record Store, Tracy's New York Life 

Tracy touches on how shops like the ones seen above (check out Tracy's blog post for more photos), are becoming rarer and rarer. She also got James and Karla Murray, two authors and photographers, involved for this post. Together, the 3 of them tell stories about a selection of Mom-and-Pop shops, interviewing the owners, usually 3rd or 4th generation.

I really like how Tracy included the quotes from the shop owners, I think that putting a story behind these unique stores reminds everyone of what makes New York City the city it is today. Stores like these have history that run deep within New York City, and it is these stores that have shaped the culture that we all know and love. I think everyone should make an effort to try to preserve these Mom-and-Pop shops rather than be so quick to replace them with larger known brands.

Interviewing a New York Native

This past week I decided to include a post that didn't just have my point of view regarding NYC. To tackle this, I was able to get an interview with Kirsten Dolan, a business owner that lived in New York City for over 30 years. She recently moved to Florida for work purposes, but had a lot of good insight into New York that she could share with me.

When did you first move to NYC and why?

I first moved to NYC directly out of college for a job offer.

What were your first impressions of the city?

I was pretty amazed with New York as a whole, I grew up in a rural setting, so the city excited me. It took some time to get used to the lifestyle changes, but I really enjoyed what NYC had to offer.

What were your favorite aspects to living in NYC?

I would have to say the way I could pretty much walk to anywhere I needed to go. I no longer needed to take a car ride to pick something up at the pharmacy or go grocery shopping- speaking of that I really loved the shopping, my bank account would disagree... but anyway. Being able to commute to work or outside functions from my downtown apartment was a luxury I wasn't used to, and heavily relied on once I moved to NYC.

And your least favorite?

Probably the cleanliness, or lack thereof. I'm a bit of a clean freak or germaphobe, so having garbage bags piled up on the sidewalks really wasn't something I enjoyed. Also I definitely could have lived without seeing the occasional rat run down the sidewalk or subway track. I was able to learn to tolerate it though, but I don't miss those things one bit.

Do you have any advice to someone visiting NYC or moving here for the first time?

I would say to remember that it may take time to adjust to new environment. NYC has a completely different pace than those of other cities, the people here move way faster. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to adjust quickly, or else you'll just get overwhelmed. Also, as over rated as they may seem to some people, check out the "touristy" spots. The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Grand Central... they're all things that a person should see if they get the chance. But going off of that, you don't have to do it all in one day, take your time so you can really enjoy it and cross if off your bucket list.

Kirsten had some really great points about NYC, that many of us can relate with. I think she also gave great advice to those who visit or move to NYC for the first time- so keep what she said in mind!

Reason 1 Just Got Better

The first reason I gave for loving New York City was the vast amount of neighborhoods to choose from. In my post, 5 Reasons To Love Living In New York City, I descried how the cultures of each neighborhood vary, and that there is one that would be a perfect fit for anyone. Recently, I have come across new information about the culture of New York City neighborhoods, and what makes each one so unique.

When Europeans were traveling to the United States, their first stop was Ellis Island. Because this was the first stop, many nationalities stuck together and moved to different parts of New York City. By sticking together, people from the same region thus created communities, which can still be found throughout the city today.

For example, Greenpoint, a neighborhood in Brooklyn is known as "Little Poland" becuase many inhabitants come from Polish ancestry. Even many of the restaurants within Greenpoint specialize in and serve Polish comfort food.

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Another example would be Woodlawn, located in the Bronx. Originally, it used to be a mostly German neighborhood, but over the years it has evolved into a well know Irish area. When passing through, you can find the streets lined with authentic Irish bars and restaurants. 

Having such heritage in neighborhoods is part of what gives them personality. Having such tight knit communities makes it easier to find one that is right for you, which only makes me love living in New York City more! 

So Back To Those Statistics

A little while ago, I was researching the internet for tourism statistics relevant to New York City specifically. You'll recall, that I actually had to fill in the statistics table from the Wikipedia page I was referencing.

My post regarding the changes I made can be found here.

Today, I decided to go back to that Wikipedia page to see if anyone had taken away or made changes to my edit of the table. The table appeared to be untouched, which left me reassured that anyone looking at the page had the most updated information.

City Fever

There is so much going on in New York City, sometimes it can be overwhelming. With the vast selection of places to go and activities to enjoy, you would think making plans would be easy. However, it can be just the opposite. Given so many choices, it is often harder than it seems to figure out what to do when hanging out with friends. 

Luckily, there's an app for that. Fever has been my saving grace when my mind goes blank. It's an app that every New Yorker needs to survive weekends and hear about underground events that might not receive as much attention as others. 

Fever 

The app allows you to choose the city you're located in, though it's most popular is Manhattan, and it curates events that are going on during the week. It shows everything from concerts, to rooftop bars, and clubs. Often times as well, by using the app, cover charges for clubs and bars will be free, or you can even get a free drink from a bar. 

Fever has become mine, and my friends', go to app to make plans when we're struggling to come up with our own. It is definitely an app every New Yorker, or visitor, needs on their phone to have the best night out. 

Download it here on the iTunes store.  

New York City Skyline: A Time Lapse

In my last post, I showed how the skyline in Times Square has specifically changed over the course of 100 years. In the below video, you can see how the skyline for a broader view of Manhattan has changed.

This video was taken from the inside of an elevator at 1 World Trade Center. The animated clip recreates the development that has occurred to the New York City skyline, beginning at the 1500's. You can see that the whole of Manhattan, not just Times Square, has made immense progress. Videos like this are always a good reminder that Manhattan has not always been the "City That Never Sleeps". Watching this time lapse is a good way to put such progress into perspective. 

Times Square: A Tale of Two Photos

Times Square is one of New York City's most visited spots. Today, we see Times Square as the hustling and bustling area full of shops, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities.

Times Square, 2015

As you can see, in the present day, Times Square is full of skyscrapers covered in bright, colorful billboards. Shown in the photo above, there isn't much space left, as any empty real estate has been built on. Because of all the exciting development, it has become a huge tourist attraction and a must see when visiting New York City. 

However, Times Square hasn't always been this way. 

Times Square, 1904

This photo dates back to when the New York Times Tower was first built, which gave Times Square it's name. Comparing these two photos can show just how much progress has taken place in 100 years. The area has gone from an emerging business district to a place flocked to by over 300,000 people daily. I find it remarkable how the two photos differ so drastically. However, despite the many differences, the New York Times Tower continues to be the focal point of Times Square.

Packing Right

One of the most important parts of taking any trip is packing. It can get a bit tricky, especially if you're one to over or under pack. To help make life a little easier, I've compiled a list of the essentials you need when traveling to New York City.

• Comfortable Shoes (Many don't realize how much they'll be walking, especially in Manhattan. Definitely keep comfort in mind over style or you could end up with some nasty blisters.)
• Layers (Even if you are traveling in the Summer, layers are still a necessity in NYC, you never know when the weather could get chilly or rainy.)
• Bag that Zips (In addition to your suitcase, you'll definitely need some sort of bag that zips close. This allows you to carry any small items you may need throughout the day, while keeping your stuff protected.)
• Electronic Accessories (It may be obvious that you'll need to pack all the chargers that go to your electronics, but it is also a good idea to keep a phone charger in your day to day bag for emergencies while you're out exploring.)
• Pack Light (You'll most likely do some shopping for souvenirs once you get to NYC, so it's important to remember this before you leave. Make sure to leave some room in your suitcase, so you don't have to jam everything in when you get ready to go back home.)

This is just the tip of iceberg when packing, but these things are certainly considered necessities. It's also important to remember that things like toiletries can be purchased upon arrival, as well as anything that has been forgotten at home.