Race to City Hall, Part 2: The Issues
There has been much talk in this mayoral race of the middle class. This is nothing new. Politicians usually like to appeal to those in, or wishing to be in, the middle class because it is on the foundation and the principles of that middle class that this nation was built upon. The American Dream is a simple one, not one of luxurious extravagances. Yet, it is those same politicians that put in place legislation that works to undermine that same middle class they once claimed to be championing for.
Race to City Hall, Part 1: The Democrats
New York City is made up of five boroughs, 8.24 million people, nine professional sports teams, more than 1,700 parks and playgrounds, 20,000 street vendors, 12,000 tons of garbage, 13,000 yellow taxis, and exactly one mayor. That mayor is responsible for all city services, police and fire protection, enforcement of all city and state laws within the city, and administration of public property and most public agencies, including the Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation, City Planning, and the Board of Education. He also oversees the city's budget of $50 billion a year, which happens to be the largest municipal budget in the United States. This mayor is no lame duck.
On Turning 30
It has been two weeks since I turned 30. I’ve been marinating in this supposed maturity and wisdom for 14 days now, and I can say that this time, this birthday, absolutely feels different.
I started preparing for the big day six months ago, declaring that the celebration would extend from the usual week to a full year. This meant that any little trinket or meal or pair of shoes I coveted would become mine in the name of my 30th birth(year) celebration. In addition to treating myself to the mild extravagances I also decided to make a list of things I wanted to accomplish by my 30th birthday and called it my “30 before 30” list.
I started preparing for the big day six months ago, declaring that the celebration would extend from the usual week to a full year. This meant that any little trinket or meal or pair of shoes I coveted would become mine in the name of my 30th birth(year) celebration. In addition to treating myself to the mild extravagances I also decided to make a list of things I wanted to accomplish by my 30th birthday and called it my “30 before 30” list.
Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime in NYC
Something about the holidays creates a shift in people. Maybe the self-reflection that occurs at the end of the year makes people aware of our similarities and all our individual humanness. Maybe other people also believe that the holidays are for sharing the feeling of goodwill. Maybe it’s the eggnog. For this New Yorker it’s the beauty of the city. Come December it seems to transform from the dark, dreary, and gritty concrete jungle I know and love into this magical, light-filled wonderland. The same feeling I had when I first saw snow is how I feel when I walk the streets of New York at Christmastime.
A New Yorker's Guide to the 2012 Election: House of Representatives Edition
For most of my life I’ve managed to avoid politics, never really having an opinion on them because I never informed myself enough on policies and rhetoric. Eventually, though, that part of me that is tremendously opinionated and likes to know things, lots of things, got the best of me. Being a resident of New York City didn’t help matters much either. Or that the policies that are currently on the table with candidates—from Presidential to Senatorial to Representatives—have the ability to affect me so directly. Congratulations, politicians, you have my attention. But I, like most people, have been focusing most of that attention on the Presidential race, ignorant of the candidates that are running for the House of Representatives.
A Few Things to Know Before Coming to New York
People think New Yorkers are rude. I say we're just misunderstood. Part of that is we have unwritten laws that we expect all who enter our tiny island to know. The problem is few guidebooks inform visitors of these laws and they all go and do stupid shit like spend an entire vacation in Times Square or walk while looking upwards in a daze. Ugh. Then you'll get a "crazy" New Yorker saying things like "ugh, move!" or "umbrellas up." Those may or may not be actual things I've yelled at tourists.
Shopping for Produce: summer edition
I live in a neighborhood that is known as a food desert, which means good produce is hard to find. Because of that, I love going to the Union Square market and walking around, seeing what's in season, being inspired by the possibilities of things I could make with all the fresh fruit and vegetables. I decided to ask my friend and chef David Diaz to come with me so I could ask him a little about the produce that's in season, what he loves to cook with, and why the people who think organic food tastes better are kidding themselves.
The Boobs of New York
Breasts are once again causing a big commotion. Why can’t they just stay out of the spotlight? They could learn a thing or two from balls—they’re quiet and unassuming, and when was the last time you heard someone debate on what to do with them?
Unique Brunch
Of the little things I love in this world -- napping during a thunderstorm, people watching, pie -- brunches are near the top. There was a time when a Sunday brunch was something I dreaded, a time when I worked them and tended to the hungover and the hangry instead of sitting down with time on my hands and enjoying them. Now that I've shifted vocations I have the opportunity to enjoy brunch more frequently, indulging in the luxury of sleeping in, day drinking, eating food high in fat and comfort and doing things at an easy pace. Luckily, New York is a big brunch town with an abundance of restaurants peddling pancakes and mimosas.
Movie Scavenger Hunt Tour
It's easy to forget all the wonderful things surrounding us in this city and sometimes it takes a really great -- or at least pretty entertaining -- movie to remind us how visually striking and diverse NY really is.
I'm not a huge fan of coming to New York and experiencing it through a tour group so I've put together my own little tour of New York for out-of-towners -- or people living here looking to rediscover NY -- to partake in. It's a scavenger hunt tour where you have to find where the following scenes were filmed and take a photo at the location as a way to check it off the list.
I'm not a huge fan of coming to New York and experiencing it through a tour group so I've put together my own little tour of New York for out-of-towners -- or people living here looking to rediscover NY -- to partake in. It's a scavenger hunt tour where you have to find where the following scenes were filmed and take a photo at the location as a way to check it off the list.
Ways to Cool Off in NYC
July and August in New York are brutal; the concrete, cars, and people dial up the temperatures and make everybody on this island (and its boroughs) a little murdery. For this reason it is very important to find little ways to cool off and remove the swampy feeling from your body.
Summer Essentials
What to carry, ready and listen to in the hot summer months.
Harlem
I had never been north of 125th Street until last weekend, my disinclination to ever do so stemming from the very common misconception that there really wasn’t any reason to. It was a shame that it took me this long to explore what turned out to be a very vibrant and diverse neighborhood but I’m very glad that it was the place I chose to kick off this blog.
Why I'm Here
New York is one of those cities that reveals itself to you slowly. It’s not like those slutty cities in Italy that dare you not to love them (I’m looking at you, Florence). New York is dark, gritty, stinky, mean and petulant. It doesn’t greet you with open arms, it disdainfully barks, “what the fuck do you want?” Sure, there is plenty to love about New York but it takes time and patience to really appreciate all its bounties.