I Miss NYC

There was a rumor that the city was going to be shut down with no one allowed in or out.

This is when everyone in my circles started thinking about leaving before we were stuck.

Leading up to this, my roommates and I couldn't find toilet paper, paper towels, or soap. The grocery store across the block had lines for literal hours and people all but camping out for a shot at pasta noodles that wouldn't be there by the time they got in anyways. One of my roommates experienced hostility and aggressive behavior in our neighborhood that just doesn't happen normally (we lived in maybe the safest, quietest corner of Manhattan).

As a side note, there is a lot of criticism towards people who left the city and I don't necessarily think it's warranted. There was nowhere I could find to volunteer, resources were becoming scarce and impossible to find, and safety was starting to become an issue.

I left New York when things started to get bad and if you had the option and faced the same obstacles, you might have, too.

I want to be clear in saying that it took extreme circumstances for me to leave.

I love New York. I always have.

I fell in love with the city when I was a seventeen year-old tourist on a choir trip and spent everyday in awe once I officially moved there at twenty-four.

I left when COVID pushed me out and I hope that going back is in my future.

I'm not currently in New York because during the chaos, our lease was ended. I've missed it from the moment I got on a plane to go quarantine.

Pizza

Let's be real- nowhere I've been since fleeing the city has anything that even slightly compares to a fresh NY slice. @StephEatsPizza has since begun rating non-NYC slices but I would trade any of them for a 99 cent cheese slice. For real. My entire experience in New York was debatably centered around pizza. The first place I went on my own when I arrived was to grab some Rocco's pizza and I guess it kinda just set the tone!

Puffer Jackets

My black puffer has been tucked away since I left. It's the warmest jacket I own and nowhere I've been since has been cold enough to wear it.

Walking

I didn't realize how much I walked in the city until I was sitting still in Utah. I miss the freedom of being able to get up, open the door, and walk anywhere relatively fast. It's a feeling of independence I haven't gotten much anywhere else.

Nellie and Biggie

This gets its own category. I spent almost everyday with Nellie and Biggie. I used to go over to Brooklyn to walk Nellie most days, grab a slice of pizza, have playtime, do some homework while she napped, then head back to Manhattan where Biggie would greet me at home with those big eyes and whatever trouble he got into that day.

Museums

I miss having the option to go to museums, rather. When I moved to NY, it was the tail-end of summer, I was aggressively on the job hunt, and trying to find my footing really took up all of my time. Once the winter months hit, it was way more comfortable to stay inside or go over to someone else's home than being out-and-about. I did hit the Museum of the American Gangster and the World Trade Center memorial right before I left, though!

Friends

This is the big one. I made some incredible new friends and spent amazing times with people I consider family.

Playing Tourist

I brought visiting friends to The Vessel at Hudson Yards and took walks on The High Line in Chelsea (which I think is even more magical at night). I even got the change to go to The Edge before it was open! It was just as incredible as it sounds.

Whenever I go back, I will dive even deeper into tourist-y attractions like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Coney Island, and maybe even the Empire State Building! Though I went to Magic Hour near Times Square one time and that was definitely enough for me. Still though, nothing beats playing tourist for an afternoon and then escaping the crowds for your own bed at night.

My Window

Yes, this deserves it's own category. I was fortunate enough to live on the top floor of my building which meant my view was sick. At nights, the moon looked like it was at direct eye-level. Even with the lights off, it was never too dark in the room. And even better- the view from the kitchen window directly faced the Freedom Tower! Crazy thought- had the Twin Towers still been around now, I'd have a great view of them.

The Walk From The L Train

The closest line to my apartment was the L. The walk from the station to my building was absolutely magical for mostly one reason- an incredible view of the Empire State Building. Most nights, there would be some kind of colorful display and if not, the classic white lights were really something. Alicia Keys was right- the lights did inspire me.

Rooftops

There's nothing like drinking on a rooftop. My rooftop was off-limits to residents but being that we were on the top floor, we made our way out there all the time. The view was insane. On one side- Brooklyn, on the other- the rest of Manhattan. On midnight on NYE, it was just Calvin and I on the roof. We heard random cheers from who-knows-where in the city and saw some fireworks. That was a moment I wish I could live in forever.

Loose Beers

I miss buying single beers. Want 2 out of a 6-pack? Grab 'em! That isn't a thing anywhere else that I've ever been so I definitely miss taking advantage of that.

Thrifting

No where beats NYC thrifting. The brands and unique pieces you'll find are unique and the prices are even more unbelievable.

The Subway

This one is weird, I know. I used to take the subway every single day, usually at least two trains (depending on where I was working that day). I miss the ritual of it.

The Ferry

How many times did I ride the ferry? Twice. Was it enough? No. I'd pay anything to ride and drink on it all day long again.

Small Living Spaces

When I moved to Brooklyn, my closet was about the width of my arm. Not exaggerating. I had a tiny closet and a bed. It forced me to get rid of things and I miss that pressure to live with what I needed over what I wanted. Minimalism is much more attainable when you have no space.

Meeting Different People

No one I met was from New York City originally. I can't name a single one (Long Island, sure, but I mean the city). Some from upstate, Jersey, and Connecticut, but also people from Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida, Spain, Turkey, Africa, England, and as far as my home state went- two other people from California. I had never been so exposed to so many other cultures.

On that note- I seriously have never lived anywhere that didn't really have a large Mexican population. I mostly met Dominican and Puerto Rican hispanics so that was a huge culture-shock for me. Also finding Mexican ingredients was so difficult but made making Mexican food so much more satisfying after hunting down what I needed.

Historic Sites

I was ridiculously stoked the day I watched a documentary on Sid and Nancy and then walked over to the Chelsea Hotel to stare in awe. People were just rushing by meanwhile I was staring at such an iconic location! And that's just normal! Every corner of NYC has so much history in it that when you walk by, it's just another building. Really appreciating the history around me was indescribable.

Gigs

I don't think there's anywhere else you can just pick up random gigs as easily as NYC. I was able to dabble in fashion at the OG indie bridal boutique, sold merch for bands I'd listened to since high school, ran shows out of random venues and apartments (including one directly next door to a building Taylor Swift owns. Literally, they share a wall). I will say though, walking Nellie through Brooklyn Heights during the fall was hands-down the best gig.

Traveling

My health insurance doesn't offer services in New York so we took the opportunity to turn a doctors visit into a quick Washington D.C. trip! Bus tickets are ridiculously cheap depending on when you buy them. We drove through Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. We saw all of the major sites and even hung out with friends from college.

Calvin's job sent him to London for training and the night-of, I dropped an ungodly amount of money on a flight ticket to join him. Because it was last minute, my flight went from New York to Warsaw, Poland, then London. I got to spend two days exploring the city on my own, a bit with Calvin, and even ran into family which was the craziest surprise!

Shake Shack

Okay look, I'm from California. Of course I love In-N-Out. But will I compare the two? Absolutely never. Shake Shack has incredible burgers, delicious shakes, and their own beer! I can't even decide which location I liked more- but probably the OG spot out in Madison Square Park. It was ridiculously easy for us to spend $50 on delivered Shake Shack and that definitely became a delicious problem.

Holidays

One year ago, at this very moment, I was very lit in DUMBO at an Oktoberfest with our new roommates and fantastic new friends.
Halloween was so much of a blast that I had to go to sleep before everyone else had even left to the bars. Trust me, I can hang! I went to Chico State! But we really hosted quite the rager.
On Thanksgiving, Calvin surprised me by taking me to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade where I got to see Jimmy Fallon, Idina Menzel, Lea Michelle, and Santa Claus. On our way there, we got a little lost and ended up walking through the Central Park Zoo and saw some seals! Later that evening, we fit over 20 people into our tiny apartment and shared a gorgeous dinner together.
Christmastime in NY is everything you'd see in a movie. It's absolutely magical.
It's also worth mentioning that our roommate, Karina, is probably the most festive human being alive. Seriously. She has decorations for everything and went all out for every party and celebration!

I'm sure there are countless things I forgot to mention in this list but it all comes down to this: every moment in New York City was magical for me. There was never a single day where I didn't say, "holy shit, I live here." I had some frustrating moments like when I missed the subway by just a hair, but I always felt lucky and proud of myself for being there.

I've missed New York every single day that I've been gone but like I said, I hope it's in my future again at some point. With the apocalypse going on, it's hard to say when the future will be more manageable but for now, I cherish the memories and experiences the city gave me and look ahead to the next time I can cross a street while holding a slice and yell to the car honking at me to walk faster that, "I'm walking here!"

New York or nowhere.