I Heart NY

#15

I moved to NYC June 1, 2005, right after graduating from the University of Rochester. I spent the previous year taking part in the Take 5 Scholar Program and decided that I wanted to get into the Marketing field, and more specifically Advertising. I spent a couple of weeks at home in upstate New York restlessly waiting to hear back from job applications in NYC, Boston, and Chicago. I had a few interviews lined up in NYC and my sister’s college apartment was available to sublet. So I packed 2 suitcases and took the Greyhound down to Port Authority.

The interviews went well and I was asked to come back for a 2^nd round for a couple of them. However, It took me a couple of months to land a job. In the meantime, I explored the city and patiently kept applying to jobs. Something finally came through in August and I started at a healthcare advertising agency in Murray Hill.

One month shy of 6 years later, I am not only leaving this beloved city, I’m leaving the country to start the next chapter in my life in London. I am relocating for my job and am excited to return to the city I lived in briefly back in 2004. There are some things I’m not going to miss about NYC (crowded hot subways, gross rats, muggers), but there’s a lot more I’m going to miss. So going with my theme, I’ve made a list (in no particular order) of the various memories I’ve had in the last 6 years.

1. Running in 2 NYC Marathons
2. Watching the Yankees win the 2009 World Series at Brother Jimmy’s
3. Attending the Yankees Ticker Tape Parade a few days later
4. Countless races in Central Park, Prospect Park, and all over the 5 boroughs
5. My studio apartment in Woodside
6. Many nights that I can’t remember
7. Watching the sun rise at early races and after late nights
8. Watching the sun set over the Manhattan skyline
9. Many dinners at Dino
10. Too many nights of too-many-beers-after-dodgeball

11. Doing all the touristy stuff (Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty)
12. Going to Broadway shows like Rent, Wicked, and American Idiot
13. Too many Yankees game to count at the old and new stadiums
14. Tour of the old Yankees Stadium
15. The sadness of seeing the old skeleton of the old stadium
16. Day trips to Long Beach with friends
17. Hanging out in Central Park trying to get a tan
18. Weekend trips to upstate, Nantucket, and Philly
19. Many vacations from JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark
20. A very memorable wine-filled, 29^th birthday celebration on Long Island
21. Training runs traversing all over this city
22. Hanging out at the Astoria beer garden in the summer
23. Making great friends through work and running
24. Getting robbed multiple times
25. Seeing A-rod’s 500^th HR in person
26. The 7 train
27. The guys apartment building erupting when the Giants won the 2008 Superbowl
28. Running through Times Square in 3 NYC ½ marathons
29. Lots of margaritas and burritos at Blockheads
30. Snowstorms of 2006, 2010 and 2011 (just in case I needed a reminder of upstate)
31. Lots of ‘Cuse, Rangers, and Knicks games at MSG
32. Lots of concerts at MSG (plus a circus)
33. Going to The Daily Show taping
34. Many a homeless man sleeping on subway cars
35. Cursing at cab drivers, subways, people who cat-called me, and slow walkers
36. Grabbing a slice after being at the bars till 4am
37. Grabbing a whole-wheat everything bagel, toasted with scallion cream cheese the next morning
38. Watching movies in Bryant Park
39. Free Kenny Chesney and All American Rejects
    summer concerts 
40. Wondering around the Christmas Markets
41. Skating at Wollman
42. Halloween shenanigans
43. Runs from Paragon
44. Riding the bull at Johnny Utah’s
45. The views from the Staten Island Ferry
46. The views from Long Island City
47. Spring blooming in Central Park
48. The welcomed fall cool temps in October
49. Book club nights
50. An amazing going away party at the Brooklyn Brewery

With this list of memories I now say good bye to the city that never sleeps. I will take my NYC walk across the Atlantic, and make some new memories in London.