Walking Across The Brooklyn Bridge At Sunset

Drenched in the evening sun, we walk east of the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall subway station towards that debris-filled body of water that separates Manhattan from Long Island. Standing on the bridge we see the sometimes intimidating, towering skyline that people have come to associate with New York City and the quaint brownstones of Brooklyn Heights. As we start to cross the East River, another busy day is settling in for the night. Couples walk hand in hand, families, friends, all of them wander down with backpacks, purses and cameras hanging off their bodies walking across the splintered wood marked with a chalk-white running man. Through the metal grating on each side we can watch the cars zoom past below. The air has the soft warmth of August as it blows across our faces. We take a photo at the tower like so many others do, smiles captured in photographic eternity. We continue on foot, reaching Brooklyn some minutes later. As we walk through Brooklyn Heights, we see the lineup for Grimaldi’s snaking around the block, people willing to wait hours for a taste of the most New York of New York Pizza. We turn to look back at the tiny strip of land that I used to call home when it occurs to me that this small space, besides being the inspiration for all those little squares on the monopoly board, contains things that have become household names worldwide – Central Park, Carnegie Hall, the Empire State Building, Park Avenue, Fifth Avenue, Radio City Music Hall, and Broadway among others. It is the home of everything one can imagine – business, film, theater, art – you name it and you can find it within the five boroughs of New York City.

New York, New York

I arrived back in New York today after almost four months away. It is incredible and everything I'd hoped it would be. It's funny, everyone gives the city a bad name for rude people and gruffness, but in my first 2 1/2 hours back I met some of the nicest people I have met in a long time. This coming from someone who just moved to Canada. A stranger paid for my  bus fare because I had two dollars, but didn't have time to get a metrocard without missing the bus. He refused to take money afterwards just saying: Happy Holidays. A subway employee helped me get my baggage through the turnstiles, and a conductor helped me find my way when I got off at the wrong stop in a second of momentary confusion. 

I love this place.

I realize now that I'm back, how much I've missed it. The subways, the streets, the smells, the people. The Duane Reade on every single corner, the street food that is not just hot dogs, but morning coffees, rolls, pizza, falafel, chicken and the most amazing fruit shakes you have ever tasted (47th street between Madison & Park), even the rickshaw drivers. We spent the entire evening doing so much yet nothing at all. There is a spontaneity to this city that exists nowhere else. You need only wander the streets a short time before you find something random to do. It is alive and breathing and it gets under your skin before you know it. 

I also realized that no matter what any immigration law or officer says, New York will always be a home in some way. It'll always be a part of me, and nothing anyone can say or do can take that away from me. I am grateful for the time I had because no matter what, it is mine. 

That said, it'll be very hard to get on that plane Sunday morning. 

For My Friends...

It has been a long time since I last posted - exactly a month! So much has happened, and in a way a previous post of mine fore-shadowed the whole thing. In seven days I am leaving New York. Wow.

This is a place that has given me such wonderful things and surrounded me with some of the best friends I've ever had. They say a city like this grows on you, gets it's claws deep into you and before you know it you can't remember why living anywhere else was so great. Yet when I look back four years ago, to when I first found out I was moving down here, I remember being surprisingly numb about the whole experience. Absence makes the heart grow fonder but as my memories of a place grow weaker will I forget? I have forgotten much of what held me in Montreal, and maybe I'll forget much of what held me here.

But here was different, here was alive, here was full of life. I have met people here that I really care about and that really care about me. I've met people that will let me pour my heart out to them at any opportune moment, and know when a hug or comforting words is the right thing to say or do. I've met people that are sad to see me leave and I'm sad to leave. In a way, it is the greatest gift one could ever ask for. To love and be loved, not only in the romantic sense of the word but to find people who truly understand who you are and what you need.

I am grateful for the friendship and the good times, and to those I'm leaving I say only this - nothing in life is permanent or absolute; you never know what the future might hold. I will miss you all, but I'm not going that far nor am I intending to stay there the rest of my life. But this is what is best for right here and right now and I'm so happy that you understand that so well. Thank you for giving me a fantastic four years.

The Greatest Place Ever...

In the daily grind of getting up, going to work, coming home, working out, making dinner and sleeping again, we rarely get a chance to truly appreciate how great the City is. Granted, the fact that it is freezing outside doesn't help us get out, and we're probably better off waiting a few months, but we tend to get lazy in the summer time as well...

Over the Weekend, we took a little adventure around Manhattan. Walked around SoHo and ate at a cute little French Cafe (which I've heard is amazing for it's crepes but for some reason I was in the mood for Salade Nicoise). Then it got cold which cut our walking tour short. We took the subway to Union Square, where we were going to go into the Cafe inside the Virgin Mega Records for shelter and something warm to drink...but instead we discovered the greatest place ever! It is a restaurant devoted purely to Chocolate! How could I have never seen this place before?!? It is honestly worth a visit even if you're not as crazy about chocolate as I am. There is regular food there, but there's no point in just going to eat a sandwich. You miss out on the entire experience! They have a range of Hot Chocolates - in milk, dark or white chocolate, which you can enjoy on their own or with a variety of tasty treats. They have spicy Mexican hot chocolate, Italian hot chocolate, Toffee hot chocolate and much much more. They have chocolate cocktails, chocolate coffees and serve them in a variety of interesting mugs (I got mine in a "hug" mug, which was (is?) apparently used in the Chocolate Drinking Ceremony - I wasn't told exactly where or when it was traditionally used, but I'll take their word for it!). I recommend ordering a not so chocolately snack if you are going for the hot chocolate - we got banana bread and it was perfect! If you want to go all the way, they have cake, icecream, fondue, bagels with chocolate, Chocolate Pizza and a variety of other delights. They also have a store in the front where they sell chocolates, gift boxes and tons of fun stuff...it is honestly one of the most interesting places I have ever been to. Lets put it this way - I think I know where I'm celebrating my Birthday next year!