I have been very fortunate in life to visit New York five times (I think?). My first time was 7 or so years ago, at the sweet young age of 21. Things were very different then – I wasn’t blogging and I was clean shaven! I’m always mesmerised how we evolve with time. What drives us and motivates us is ever-changing, I can attest to that. When I first visited New York, I was still playing a competitive level of soccer and enduring studies as an Accountant. Fast forward, and here we are with a face full of hair.
New York – wow. A city that every single person dreams of visiting (and to a lesser extent living.) A place that is never boring, never complete and never feeling any smaller in stature. Whether it’s the first time or fifth time, I still get the same levels of enthusiasm approaching New York. Only this time not as a naive 21 year old, but rather a late 20's with two suitcases full of ‘life experience’.
I was travelling with a friend of mine, Arianna – a Melbourne based photographer. We set up base in an area called Hell’s Kitchen on the west side of Manhattan.
Over the course of two weeks, we challenged ourselves to explore Manhattan in detail and to a lesser extent the other four boroughs. This consisted of early starts, 4 a.m. early and lots of walking! Over the course of 2 weeks, we average close to 25,000 per day. The breadth of area we covered was ridiculous.
In between our heavy schedule, we ticked off some of my favourite spots including the Met and Brooklyn Bridge… so touristy! We stopped at some of my favourite stores include Le Labo, Drake’s and Saturday NYC in Soho.
As we drifted through the avenues and streets of New York it quickly became surreal. Recollections of previous New York visions and experiences appeared. New York, like people is ever-changing and this was evidenced as my previous visit was only a year ago but so much had transformed.
With more free time towards the back end of the trip, Greenwich Village, Soho and Chelsea drew me in. In particular Greenwich Village which I felt the most in tune with. Greenwich is barraged with artistic talents and is commonly referred to as the bohemian capital. For me, it’s the picturesque streets, fluid row houses and ample restaurants, cafes and bars.
There’s just something about New York — the energy, the grunginess, the uninterrupted honking of horns, the endless skylines, the unparalleled diversity and the high price to experience it all in the flesh. It’s unlike anywhere else.
Until next time NYC.
Yours truly,
JR
Cafes:
La Mercerie - 53 Howard St, New York, NY 10013
Té Company - 163 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014
Happy Bones - 394 Broome St, New York, NY 10013
Ludlow Coffee Supply - 176 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Banter NYC - 169 Sullivan St, New York, NY 10012
Bars:
Employees Only - 510 Hudson St, New York, NY 1001
Bemelmans Bar - 35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021
Wythe Hotel - 80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Refinery Rooftop - 63 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018
Pietro Nolita - 174 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012
Restaurants:
Dimes - 9 Canal St, New York, NY 10002
The Polo Bar - E 55th St, New York, NY 1002
Hudson Clearwater - 447 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
King - 18 King St, New York, NY 10014
Atla - 372 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012
Hotels:
The Greenwich Hotel - 377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013
The NoMad Hotel - 170 Broadway, New York, NY 10001
MADE Hotel - 44 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001
High Line Hotel - 180 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Ace Hotel - 20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001
Everything Else:
192 Books - 192 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream - 2 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002
The Morgan Library & Museum - 225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Spa de La Mer - 28 West 53rd Street, Floor -2, New York, NY 10019
Le Labo - 296 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014