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Occasionally folks ask what my favorite thing about living in NYC is and the go-to response Iāve figured out is āthe peopleā. But not talking to them, observing them. One of the beautiful things about NY is that you can really be somebody and simultaneously disappear all within the same day and all within a 1 mile radius. Take some time to just chill and watch the world go round on occasion (leaving your phone in your pocket is integral).
Nov 11, 2021
Related Recs
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when i lived in NY iād have a random conversation even if super short with someone random most days. like i go into a store or i compliment someone on their fit or vice versa or i hear something and chime in vibe i miss how chill it is london isnāt that way at all here they leave you alone
Feb 26, 2024
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hereās my misc thoughts lol iām no expert but this is from my POV as someone whoās lived here full time a bit and grew up visiting all the time. firstly, youāre def right that it is expensive ā nearly impossible to relocate to if you donāt have a job secured and arenāt rich. even moreso if you have never visited or have only done one super tourist-y visit--itās not just Times Square and Statue of Liberty (love her tho) rainbows and butterflies vibes lol.
like i seriously do not recommend moving here if you havenāt been to other boroughs, and neighborhoods outside of Midtown, SoHo, FiDi, UES etc. iāve never been to england so canāt speak to it bit you might find it helpful to look online for comparisons to cities youāve spent more time in - london and other cities in europe perhaps. consider if NYC would be that much more exciting or ābetterā for you?
also thereās a huge issue of influencers and people who wanna live here impulsively for fun that has driven up rent and driven out lifetime residents, esp working class folks and people of color. (lots of writing out there on the difference between moving to any city vs gentrifying one, and what one can do to not be complicit in the latter). and, my family is from here and i have always loved the city; i did get a job here after graduation but i really wouldnāt have moved here if i hadnāt.
so definitely come here intentionally, and arrive with a willingness to engage with your community! sometimes new residents who arenāt as acquainted with the ārealā new york and canāt afford apts in the more gentrified or historically wealthy areas (most of manhattan, some parts of brooklyn) have a misconception of the city, so they end up feeling awkward or āunsafeā where they live, and thus donāt give back to their neighborhood. itās veryyy weird that some people move here only to go to work, eat out and party on the weekends. (not saying this is you ofc! but just a general note).
the irony is that NYers get a bad rep for the mind your own business culture and realness--and yeah NYers arenāt āniceā, but people are kind. folks care about and actively help out their neighbors. i saw this in my own fam growing up! and as sinatra himself once said: āif i can make it here, iāll make it anywhere.ā it is a tough place to āmake itā for people without roots. but iād never deny that new york, for many of us, lives up to its reputation as the so-called greatest city in the world ;)
Aug 30, 2024
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New York, New York, has to be my favorite place for photography, from the streets to museums, thereās always something stunning. The architecture and the city life craft the perfect environment for the street photographer. Iāll probably start posting one or two of my favorite photos Iāve taken a day.
Jan 9, 2025
Top Recs from @chad-senzel
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If you were to poll a large swathe of people as to whether cashmere is over or underrated, I really have no clue what the consensus would be; but I think cashmere is underrated. I was not a sweater person for quite a while but have become one and culled a pretty decent collection of knitwear that I like to pull from when I want to dress to impress. Anyway, cotton sweaters are a bit too pedestrian, merino a tad too formal and while I love shetland, it can be a itchy and requires intentional layering. Cashmere balances all of the best elements of the aforementioned knits and feels delightful on the skin. I recommend you pick one up and not from Uniqlo (or insert other high street brand) - I like Ralph, Loro Piana, Malo. How pompous do I sound?
Nov 11, 2021
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Not sure what this corner store is called but its asian owned in a neighborhood thatās becoming less and less so. This rec is a bit less relevant now as the temperature drops but their made-right-there-on-the-spot-watermelon-chunk-and-ice-slushies are an absolute reprieve on a hot summer day. Other fruits are available but the watermelon is the certified classic and the first I had, Iāve never strayed since. As a further cosign, Porches casually mentions the spot within the first few lines of his recent track āWatergetsinsideā.
Nov 11, 2021
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WFMU is a guaranteed fun listen for whenever youāre in the mood for whimsical college radio, but I particularly love Radio Ravioli with Olivia every Monday from 3-6pm. Olivia consistently chooses an intentional mix of esoteric but enjoyable tracks and almost never anything that Iāve heard before. Further noteworthy, she has the voice of a goddess whom I want to read me bedtime stories. Come for the good tunes, stay for a soothing voice narrating the track selection (sheāll usually give a brief recap of her weekend too). Also, WFMU archives every single show on their website so you can listen to her old sets on your internet device whenever the mood strikes.
Nov 11, 2021