The thought has definitely crossed my mind of moving to a new neighborhood once my lease is up next summer. I'll have been on the Upper East (abbreviated UES) for a full two years, and on the East Side in general for two-and-a-half by that point. I've recently explored the Upper West a good bit more, and you can always find me on the Lower East Side and East Village on the weekends. And then there are those glorious summer days spent in Chelsea and Greenwich Village (geographically think...Lower "West" Side, if we called an area that). So you can understand why I've considered that branching into a different neighborhood might be the best way to take advantage of unexplored areas of the island.
However, I happen to have a soft spot for my neighborhood. Even in the hustle and bustle of the big city, the personalization of your neighborhood can still make it feel like you live in a tight-knit community in the midst of it all.
My pretty block.
For example, a day like I had on Saturday is pretty common for me: I stopped into my local optical shop, where they now know my contact prescription by heart without having to even reference my file. Then I popped into my favorite corner video store, where the cranky employee, Fritz, knew exactly which tv series (on dvd) I am currently addicted to, and always-nice employee, Peter asked me if I had been able to relax after my late work night the evening prior. I continued my run of errands, passing by my hair salon as I waved at Oren, the recently divorced, and recently-diagnosed epileptic, Israeli owner, and then stopped into the fluff-n-fold to pick up my laundry that I had dropped off that morning (without me saying a word, Joe, the fluff-n-folder who moved to New York ten years ago from Vietnam, knew I wanted my usual fabric softener). My final stop was the next-door-over at the dry cleaners' to pick up my $50 loot of...4 blouses.
Okay, so the dry cleaners rob me blind, but disregarding that minor detail, do you see why I have a mild emotional attachment to my 'hood? All of those things I just mentioned are within two blocks...and I didn't even go into the fact that my nail salon, shoe repair guy, grocery store, wine store, and coffee place are also all within that range.
And I can't forget one of the best things about the two block vicinity encompassing my apartment: I have a Cheers. Not the Cheers...that's in Boston. I have a Cheers. Where everybody knows my name, literally. SJ and I frequent that joint so much that every time we go in now, we get the warmest of hello's from the whole working staff and a round of drinks on the house...I guess they think we tip better under the influence.
So what do you think - if you've been to New York, what is your favorite neighborhood (or borough)? And not just that, but which do you think you could see yourself living in?
10 comments :
I LOVE Singapore, it's safe and clean and really organized, but I would so love to visit NY one day :)
Hugs and Kisses
Jemina
xoxo
It's nice to feel like you belong in your neighborhood and everyone just gets you! Makes life easier!
I have to say that New York is one of my favorite cities. Your pictures and blog makes me miss it.Enjoy it!
what a lovely block!! i adore Greenwich Village and i love the term lower west side. i'm going to use it :)
in a big city it's so nice to have little local areas where you feel like a community. you can always find that with a move, but if you're content, i'd say stay with your cheers :)
I can see why you'd want to stay where you're at. There is something to be said for familiarity and, in a sense, extended family. Those built relationships are very valuable.
The Chef and I talked just yesterday about moving to NYC. He attended CIA and loves the city...God only knows how we'd choose a location. They all sound wonderful, but we would certainly be looking for a sense of community (and some degree of affordability which I understand is a ridiculous comment in and of itself!)
xoxo,
Carrie
I live in Noho, but have also lived on Washington Square Park. I LOVE being dowtown. I think the most important thing for me is how convient the subway to work is!
What a lovely little neighborhood =-)
Awww, this is how I feel everyday where I live!
aw, that is SO nice. [but yea, you really are being robbed by your dry cleaner! crazy!] i have lived like in morningside heights [when i went to school at columbia] so i have a major soft spot for the upper west side. i think it would be pretty similar! when i graduated though, i really wanted to feel like i was more in the city so i live in chelsea now. i am pretty obsessed. its very neighborhood-y and i actually spend most of my time in the west village like 10 blocks away. i really dont think you can do wrong.. every neighborhood is different and amazing in its own way!
CLOTHESURE
Can you tell I'm getting caught up on all things Google Reader? ;)
First of all, from the previous 2...your conversation with your mom sounds EXACTLY like one I would have with my sister. She used to be so fashion forward...and then she had kids. Sad story, really. But at least she has me around to help her keep it all straight.
And I think "Jerome" is the PERFECT secret lovah name. I bet Jerome has amazing hip action.
Now, on to Manhattan. If I've never told you before, I'm so crazy jealous of you life in Manhattan. Even though we are geographically situated in a way that we can get to Atlanta, Savannah, Jacksonville, and Charleston pretty easily, I still LOVE NYC!! Neal proposed to me at the Top of the Rock and we used to go up for Drama Club trips to see shows on Broadway when I was in h.s. I just love that city. And even though it is HUGE, I know that you have found your place in it...where everyone knows your name. It's hard to leave that, isn't it? Even though you seem to have Explorer's Blood running through your veins, it's always nice to "come home" to people who recognize and address you. Although you would establish that wherever you went, sometimes the idea of starting all over again is exhausting. I'm looking forward to seeing which one you pick. I'm a sucker for SOHO...but that's only because I love looking at beautiful things that I'll never be able to afford.
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