A few weeks back, my wife and I took a quick trip there for the
weekend. One might think that as a die-hard Boston sports fan, I have little
regard for Gotham, but that's far from the case. One might also assume that
being born in Philly would turn me against a place a mere 90 miles away which
is often referred to as "The City", but somehow it just didn't. In
truth, I've always had a bit of a love affair with New York. It's never been
the kind of place I wanted to live in, but there's a certain kind of itch I get
that only a visit to New York can scratch.
Like most of us, I first heard about NYC from Billy Joel. He certainly
painted a lovely picture and it only took a few times through my Dad's records
before I wanted to walk 52nd St, see the lights go out on Broadway, and visit
Chinatown or Riverside. The first concert I ever saw was the Jackson 5 Victory
tour in Philly, but the first one I ever chose myself was George Thorogood and
the Delaware Destroyers at Madison Square Garden which went a long way toward
defining my taste in music. It was a fantastic introduction to a building I
would frequent many times over the next ten years or so. From monster truck
pulls to Knick games, to the Big East tournament, I became very comfortable in
the World's Greatest Arena. For a long time, that’s kind of what I thought New York was
all about.
As I got older, I found myself enjoying different kinds of
experiences in The City. Like most of us, I saw Cats and Phantom. I caught Paul
Simon in Central Park. Made it out to Shea, Giants, and Yankee stadiums. Got my
first whiff of pot at The Beacon, where I also met my favorite band, The Black
Crowes. I always loved taking a trip to the Hard Rock back when it was on 57th
St, with that gorgeous Caddy hanging off the wall. Museums, libraries, toy
stores and monuments. NYC had it all.
I remember one of the first field trips I took in school was to
the South St seaport area. I was blown away by the sheer scale of the ships and
the history in the buildings. I was also changed utterly when the teachers told
us we could do what we wanted for the next hour before the buses would take us
home. We were set free in the city, and I think right then and there I became a
city kid. That feeling would repeat itself a few years later in the Faneuil
Hall area here in Boston on another field trip, confirming my initial gut feeling
that city life was the life for me.
A few years later, I would learn enough about driving to get my
license in CT, where I grew up, but it wasn't until a few weeks later when I
drove into Manhattan that I truly became a driver. To drive without incident in
New York takes a lot of lessons that are incredibly valuable in life. You have
to know where you are going, but be willing to get creative in how you get
there. You can't let the people behind you push you around, either. As long as
you know the rules, you go as fast or as slow as you need to at any given
moment. Let 'em honk if they don't like it.
Last weekend my wife and I went with some friends to watch
Ghostbusters in the theatre for the first time since '84. It was great to see
the New York of back then, when I was 10. The one I fell for. That movie still
holds up, and part of the reason why is New York City is one of the main
characters. Just as the lead role in The Wire was Baltimore, New York is the
star of the show in Ghostbusters. The movie takes us on a tour of iconic
locations, and completely nails the attitude of the town. They tried to build
on this in the sequel, but missed the mark somehow, but Ghostbusters is hardly
alone. To walk in NYC is to constantly be reminded of characters and scenes
from real life and fiction, and the fabricated memories blend in and enhance
the things that have really happened to you. Life is hyper real in New York.
These days, however, it doesn't take a blockbuster film, or a
massive concert in the park, or even courtside seats to get me excited about
being in New York. My favorite spot in town right now is Bryant Park, with its
ring of majestic trees swaying in the wind, providing comforting rustle and
shade. Like most outdoor spaces in The City these days, Bryant Park is well
stocked with chairs, and has plenty of options for refreshment nearby. Next
time you are in town, spend an hour there. If you don't enjoy yourself
immensely, I'll personally give you your admission fee back.
A staggering number of things have been written and said about
The Big Apple. Part of what held me back from writing this piece was the idea
that there seemed to be no point in saying something else. What could I really
contribute that was worth your while to read? Finally, I realized that by
taking that attitude I was missing the entire point of what New York City is
all about. The heights that city has risen to can never be topped, and you can
never hope to do everything there is to do in that town. Instead, New York
invites you to make your own tour. Pick your own favorite routes and stops, and
write your own story through its infinite streets. Even better, once you have
done it that story is yours forever. And New York City is big enough and strong
enough to hang on to it for you whenever you want to return.
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