My first experience of Manhattan was on a sub-zero day in mid January. It was so cold, I could feel the winter chill all the way through my ten layers of clothing, my pale frozen face grinning from ear to ear with excitement and anticipation. I even braved The Staten Island ferry, there I was standing and quivering outside in the cold, anxiously clutching my hot chocolate as the ferry glided past The Statue of Liberty. I was in pure ecstasy and vowed that one day I would be back to experience more of this mesmerizing city. Seven years later, I found myself once again on JFK airport, only this time I would build a home in this fascinating city. As luck would have it, I arrived at the start of a heat wave.
For weeks the most significant question people ask me is, “ … so, how is Manhattan?!?!?!”. And it has taken me some time to formulate the perfect answer. Manhattan is an unending erratic city of daily frustrations, occasional unpleasantness, daily tests of will and courage, filled with people from of all over the world. It is a mixture of old and new, past and present, crazy and sane, vintage, contemporary and pure beauty, nostalgia and myth, lore and history all bound together in an individual manner for each person. Everyday you exchange hello’s with people you may never see again, the 24 hour sirens that go off shortly become what helps you fall asleep at night, the taxi drivers anxiously honking their day away become the norm and everyday you find something new, strange and unusual that makes you stop and take another look, it leaves a lasting impression and changes how you perceive things. You can’t help but gaze at this city’s glories; it’s tremendous beauty and all the elements that make it so unique. Its strength and flaws, its irritations and its triumphs, it is so inspiring, so exhilarating and YES, I love every single crazy minute of it.
More than ever, I love Manhattan over the weekends. The city transforms and takes on a casual vibe, you see the beautiful parks more clearly, the wide open lawns are filled with children running around, everywhere you spot lovers holding hands, roller bladders and people on biking trails, dogs taking their owners for walks, old men sitting on the benches reading newspapers, twin babies in strollers and students clutching pencils in front of their textbooks. This city definitely has its own unique charm and I think once you have lived in Manhattan you will love it for the rest of your life.
I find myself to be at a very unique place in my life and I feel extremely blessed. There are so many new and exciting things happening. A new city, a new season, a new apartment, a new way of doing, thinking, eating and living. I think a more appropriate heading for this article would have been new beginnings. Have I mentioned that I have made some of my work live on my website? It was not easy for me to look through all my photos and select my favorite ones, but here they are, I hope you like them and I would love to hear your thoughts. I may be quiet on the blog front, but life is definitely anything but dull for me. In addition to shopping for new furniture for my new apartment and decorating my new office, I have written some articles and recipes for a new publication called Reality Check Girl Magazine.
Reality Check Girl Magazine is an online publication, founded by Nikki Roberti that serves to provide entertainment, knowledge and support for young women of all faiths and demographics. The mission of this magazine is to fight against intolerance, promote acceptance, and empower young women to develop their identities and become open minded with knowledge. The site features young talented and ambitious writers that I think are worth keeping an eye out for. The two columns that I wrote for them are Diva Dinners (stylish, innovative meal solutions on a spin of a stiletto) and On the low down (you know what this one is about, eating delicious, fuss free food without piling on the calories). Articles are updated on a monthly basis so check in frequently for up to date reality information, clips and inspiration. I will also be uploading these recipes to my blog.
On a sunset walk the other evening with hubby and puppy beside me, I noticed that the leaves on the trees are starting to change color. All around me I am also seeing beautiful fresh autumn produce and I cannot wait to get in the kitchen and start cooking. The last few weeks we have been living with family, friends and corporate apartments, but have found a beautiful apartment with a glorious kitchen that I cannot wait to settle into and conjure up new recipes in. You on the other hand don’t have to wait. Make the most of the delicious squashes, abundance of apples and pears.
Until next time, here is to new beginnings for all of us and lovely things to look forward to.
