March Madness!

I can't believe I have been living in New York City for almost four months. The time has flown and this blog has been woefully ignored. Perhaps it has been all the new experiences ...or perhaps it has been that I have been walking around in a blurr of work insanity and tiredness.

I love New York City! It is the most amazing place.

The Upper East side teams with individuals who (to me) appear to merge real life and fun. This is mixed up wealthy with the poor and students. The life teams at all hours on Amsterdam Avenue and I love the rich mix of ethnic stores / restaurants / bars (from Jewish to Irish). I enjoy Grey's Papaya...and will always remember shaking hands with a homeless man named mark once we agreed that he would pay half the price of the hotdog I was buying him.

To me, Midtown represents 1st Avenue, the UN, bustling businesses and buses. It represents over priced food and over priced houses. It illustrates how easily elite systems of entitlement can be created. I never used to think this way. I always believed that anyone can make it anywhere. But this city is teaching me that appearance matters, connections matter,your educational institution matters and most of all.....money matters.

China town is a constantly discovered insane labyrinth of gorgeous and diverse restaurants that range from Dim Sum to chicken feet. In China town it is possible to enjoy the best and worse cuisine in the city. And prices range from the cheap (4.50 for 5 choices) to the insane.

Time Square represents Broadway, shopping (Macy's), the cinema (Regal, AMC), New Years Eve, tourists, photographers and neon lights. IT is always alive. But my top tip would be avoid the Starbucks on 42 street (across from AMC) they serve burnt coffee...

Prospect Park (Brooklyn) is amazing. I would recommend wondering around there some weekend and just spontaneously joining a bird watching tour....or walking around the park along the pedestrian walk way. There is a lot to see in the park and the netherlands and larger field are both ideal for a picnic. It is glorious on a hot day and it is amazing how much bird life inhabits so little space. The Botanical gardens are right across the road....and if you are an early riser...entry is free on Saturdays between 10am -12am (I think....double check before you go).

Coney Island is beautiful (not at all corny) for a walk at sunset even in the middle of winter. It never fails to astonish me how close to the ocean new york is (logically it makes sense but it still baffles me when I am surrounded by sky scrapers and concrete). The pier is an especially fun place in the evenings. I love the signs that specify no fishing! Warn that eels caught there are not suitable for kids or pregnant women and are surrounded by fishermen. The old deserted fun fair makes me feel sad and nostalgic on behalf of all the New Yorkers who grew up going there.

I still have not managed to explore Little Italy, Nolita, the lower East side or Upper West.