New York one-liner
They call it “the city that never sleeps” — which at least explains why it’s in such a crappy mood all the time.
Thank you! I’m here all week!
Seriously. Then I go home to Santa Monica.
What Does the Protagonist Want?
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“Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.”*
Does that mean living in Kansas is just right?
How do you fare, swinging from soft to hard and back again? Havent you gone mad yet?
🙂
* from Baz Lurhmanns Everybody is Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
Great line! I’ll remember that.
bah-dum-dum.
Todd! What are you doing here? Call me!
I’m from the south and while the legacy of “southern hospitality” is a bit exaggerated one can expect a certain level of courtesy, especially from service people. I had heard of the grumpy attitudes of New Yorkers so the first time I visited the city I was ready for anything. To my surprise, the majority of people I encountered were pleasant and helpful. Don’t get me wrong, there was the occasional jerk but not nearly as many as I had expected.
Oh sure. Just follow me out to the East coast, then follow me back. I know your game.
Hope you are taking in the art galleries as part of your research!!!!!
And this comment is longer and more personal than necessary. WHATEVER.
So, I was having a really good day on the West Coast today and I thought of this entry of yours. And I can now give you an earnest reply. Choose to read it or not, I’m kinda just blabbing most of the time anyway.
They call it “the city that never sleeps” — which at least explains why it’s in such a crappy mood all the time.
Thank you! I’m here all week!
Seriously. Then I go home to Santa Monica.
When I first read this I thought to say, “YOU COULDN’T HANDLE IT” a la Lucille Bluth from Arrested Development. (See icon.)
Or maybe I was going to say something like “You’re ~so angry~, clearly you fit right in!”
But now, now that I’m currently on vacation in Portland, Oregon, I must say: Holy shit, New York City can be quite oppressive. Granted, I was born and raised there and love its abrasive personality; I love having been brought up in a nursery of sharks, suckled on cold hard facts. New York grants opportunities (financial, professional, artistic, sensual) and diversity and culture that simply can’t be duplicated elsewhere. Iz’a bew-tifuhl ting.
But everyone is so genuinely genial in Portland. The Northwest (and North Cali, where I have family.) Maybe it’s something in this damn moutain air. So I’m sorry if I offended you with my staunch defensiveness, but I feel eternally grateful to be from New York City, though I’m not ignorant to the fact that one must examine all options if they want to be truly robust.
I really do hope you at least enjoyed some of your trip. And though as you said, you lived in the city for some time and doubtless know good places to go, but I can give you recommendations for you if you’d like to experience what the best New York has to offer — which is arguably some of the best anything can offer.
P.S. Hi, I’m Julia.
P.P.S. Good luck on your work. I enjoy your updates. And if you need any more miscellaneous Star Wars info for the kid, just ask.
Re: And this comment is longer and more personal than necessary. WHATEVER.
As I say, I lived in New York for 22 and would not have wanted to live anywhere else for most of those 22 years. As a writer and visual artist, the city is without cultural parallel. And as a young artist and as a successful writer the city was exciting and vital and irreplaceable, in spite of being filthy and barbaric and dangerous and hugely expensive.
Then I had kids and the filth and barbarism and danger didn’t seem so cool any more. What’s more, the huge expense became too hugely expensive.
And yes, there were many places that made New York New York for me. And now when I go back I find that many of those places are gone. Tower Records being a big one, but also things like Sullivan St. Comics or any number of used record stores or Indian Row on 6th St., which is now International Cuisine Row for some reason.