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how exactly do you live on two different coasts? that sounds unreal expensive. two rents? two electric bills? flights back and forth all year? how much money do you make? jk—how much did you inherit? listen, i’m also embarrassed to be a media type in brooklyn, but the fact that i spend christmas and easter visiting my childhood home does not mean i “live” in louisiana. be for real!
Apr 7, 2024
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here’s my misc thoughts lol i’m no expert but this is from my POV as someone who’s lived here full time a bit and grew up visiting all the time. firstly, you’re def right that it is expensive — nearly impossible to relocate to if you don’t have a job secured and aren’t rich. even moreso if you have never visited or have only done one super tourist-y visit--it’s 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 haven’t been to other boroughs, and neighborhoods outside of Midtown, SoHo, FiDi, UES etc. i’ve never been to england so can’t speak to it bit you might find it helpful to look online for comparisons to cities you’ve spent more time in - london and other cities in europe perhaps. consider if NYC would be that much more exciting or “better” for you?
also there’s 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 wouldn’t have moved here if i hadn’t.
so definitely come here intentionally, and arrive with a willingness to engage with your community! sometimes new residents who aren’t as acquainted with the “real” new york and can’t 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 “unsafe” where they live, and thus don’t give back to their neighborhood. it’s 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 aren’t “nice”, 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: “if i can make it here, i’ll make it anywhere.” it is a tough place to “make it” for people without roots. but i’d 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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(grew up in astoria, did school in jersey, currently in seattle)
if you’re serious about being an entertainer / artist i do think you should probably eventually end up in new york or la (at some point, not necessarily forever)
new york is just unforgiving; it’s cold and wet, half your paycheck is going to your landlord, and even though there’s an active and vibrant art scene there’s zero handholding if you’re just getting started - “getting started” in nyc means you’ve been at it for 5+ years and are finally getting your flowers. it’s harder to build community bc it’s kind of like going to la and introducing yourself by going “i moved here bc i wanna be famous!” yeah, you and everyone else here - too many people have that in common for it to be something to meaningfully connect on, there has to be something more substantive there
moving to seattle put this in perspective for me (and i’m sure I’ll move back to new york bc it’s home for me, but) the smaller the scene, the more excited they’ll be for newcomers, the more support you’ll get on your first project, booking your first gig, etc. if it’s in the cards for you to move to the city, you will, and it’ll be incredible - if you’re not at that point yet you’re living in the most expensive city in the world to be proximal to other artists, but there are already artists in your city, and they’re not necessarily gonna penalize you for being new to it
recently a lot of people move to new york to be consumers or to be adjacent to the “the scene” for their socials which is borderline malicious while there’s a housing shortage; it’s literally taking someone else’s spot, whether they’re *from* there, or at least there for a *reason*. new york has always had transplants so it’s not becoming to say “no one should move there!” but you just gotta ask yourself what you’re gonna get out of it, if it’s worth the bill you’re gonna foot, whether you’ll really be able to give back in a way that’s commensurate with what you’re getting
Mar 22, 2024
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I will never afford a house Im afraid
Home is wherever the music is tho
Nov 14, 2023
Top Recs from @booknotesblog
reading aloud to a friend or husband or partner is truly one of life’s little joys. swapping chapters back and forth is the perfect activity for a day in the park, a rainy afternoon on the couch, before dinner after a long hike on a camping trip, or in bed. i particularly recommend doing this with something silly, like a 1970s pulp fantasy novel or 1950s teen romance from the discount bin of a used book store.
Apr 8, 2024
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it’s fun and you’ll probably fall in love!!!!!
Apr 10, 2024
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the first time it’s an accident, the second time it’s a bit
Apr 8, 2024