Manahattan: Same Time, Next Year. I think?
Posted: Saturday, June 04, 2011
by Jennifer Cuddy
I love Manhattan. I just spent the last 3 days there, staying in the Upper East side with a tour of the entire city, including a tour of the Statue of Liberty. But I must say, I think the entire island is the epitome of the free market economy. No matter which way you turn, anywhere in Manhattan, you are bombarded with consumption. “Want a NY hot dog? A pretzel? A newspaper? Some flowers? A ride? Some gum? A purse? A watch? A T - Shirt? Some ice cold water on a hot day? You can’t even go to Central Park without being offered a carriage ride, or a hop on some wagon on the back of a bicycle. And then there’s the cost. Money can easily slip through your fingers like a thief who’s robbing you blind, so beware! The subways aren’t the cheapest I’ve seen, and of course, cabs are not cheap - especially when you are reliant on a cab ride to and fro the airport. I think the airports are clearly taking advantage of us through their financial “losses” since September 11. For example: they should atleast send you a notification of all of the type of items that you can not carry on on the plane. I had to throw out a shakeable glass snow blower filled with the skyscrapers of Manhattan away or else I would have had to pay potentially $40 to check in my carry on suitcase with the decorative piece that cost me about $15 at the Guggenheim Museum on 5th Avenue. Who knew? And I got stuck forking out $135 for 3 days parking in the Portland airport! Since when did short term parking become $48 a day?
But other than the above, I believe that the high degree of diversity in the city is by far and away a more healthy way for human beings to live. I only met highly interesting, extraordinarily friendly people all over the island: from Harlem to Battery Park; from the Upper East Side to the West, Midtown, to Soho and Greenwich Village to Little Italy. My next visit, I insist that my friend in the city take me to Queens. I believe that there, I will truly find the heart and soul of the city. There and at least Brooklyn Heights, if not Brooklyn, period.
And last but not least, you’d be wise to wear your best walking shoes in the city. And if it’s hot, it’s extremely humid! So, wear the most loosely fitting, breathable clothes you can find on a hot day in Manhattan. Maybe it’s the crowds, or the exhausts, or the hundreds of years old buildings in the city - incredible architecture I might add - but 85 degrees can easily feel like 100 degrees. No wonder they all escape to the Hamptons!
Manhattan is still one of the best in my book. It’s a must see and experience. I will probably be moving to Brooklyn very soon. At least I don’t have to worry about a car!
It's pretty damn hard to get bored in NYC. But broke? That's another story.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I've never been to NYC but hope to visit there one day. I agree with Greg. Go for it Jennifer!
I love NYC, Jen. Jean and I took our kids there a few years ago for family vacation, and it was one of the best vacations ever.
I agree, the diversity there is amazing. I think in many ways that city is a not-so-small microcosm of the future. Cultural and economic possibilities are almost unmatched there.
It's a place where everyone has to make a conscious effort to get along with their neighbors because otherwise the whole system would collapse. Truth is, that's how the rest of the world is too, but it's collapsing much more slowly.
What I wouldn't give to live in NYC for just 1 year!It would be incredible! Expensive, but incredible!
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