New York City wears me out.
I like to fancy myself a “city girl”, but since I hail from a town of 2,000 residents, I’m really just kidding myself.
I learned this after my maiden voyage to the Big Apple last year, and re-learned it this past weekend.
DC is about as city as I want to get. I like the small town feel with the availability of many bigger city benefits like public transportation, good shopping, museums, etc.
However, my mom decided to take my brother, SIL, Tom and me to NYC as our Christmas and birthday presents this year and I’ll never turn down a free trip.
Mom took care of the transportation and the SIL got us reservations as the Eventi Hotel in Chelsea, which was a million times nicer than any place I could ever afford to stay at in NYC on my own.
Above all, I was really excited to spend time with family for a few days. I’d go to Antarctica if it meant a little quality family time.
Tom and I had a much easier travel experience than our Oklahoma counterparts, sadly. It rained all day Friday and several of their flights got cancelled.
Our train arrived right on time, and after checking in and checking out the neighborhood, we decided to make the most of our fancy digs and relax in the room for a bit while waiting for them to arrive.
I hate sitting in hotel rooms when I’m on vacation, but I knew I would need to gather my strength if I was going to remain pleasant to be around for the rest of the trip. It was probably one of the best decisions made all weekend.
Lots of New York beers were consumed. This one was good, although creepy looking.
There was a free happy hour at the hotel, which we of course took advantage of thoroughly, while watching the Olympics on a giant big screen TV seemingly put there just for that purpose.
Kidding, I didn’t watch the Olympics. But I could have if I’d wanted to.
Friday night, we dined at Top of the Tower at the Beekman Hotel, which had stunning views and great food.
Saturday, we brunched at a random pub, walked around 5th Avenue for about four hours while I bemoaned my financial situation and didn’t buy a single item and then split up for awhile so we could all do our own thing.
Our thing, of course, involved beer.
We walked around Greenwich Village for awhile until we saw a place that had local beer and wine. I have no idea what it was called. I was too busy watching the couple next to us break up. Oh, people watching. The beers we ordered were good though, I had the Sweet Action (smooth amber, not much hop) and Tom had the Brooklyn Summer Ale. Solid.
After that, we showered and gave my brother his birthday gifts and then ate 500 bread baskets and ten pounds of pasta and cheese collectively at some Italian restaurant. Weight Watchers got the finger for a few days, but I managed not to balloon out of control due to all the walking.
After dinner we wandered through Times Square and ended the night at a burlesque show.
The show was not at all what I expected. There were only three breasts shown the entire time, and there were far more male performers than female ones (not that I’m complaining). But the acts were very unique, and provided some of the biggest laughs I’ve had in the past few weeks. I’ve been in need of a deep, belly laugh.
The next day we brunched at Smith, walked around Central Park and then all proceeded to shut down a little bit. No one really wanted to do anything except go home and sleep for a week.
Except for maybe the SIL. She’s a real city girl.
I’m not. It will probably take me the rest of the week to recuperate. But it was definitely worth it.
How city are you?
(Grandparent update: We haven’t really learned anything new. Both grandparents have scheduled biopsies in the next week or so, so I’ll let you know if I learn anything new. All or your prayers, thoughts and support have meant everything to me this past week. Thanks again!)
Sounds like a solid trip to me! I’m still keeping your grandparents in my thoughts. <3
Free happy hour at a hotel? That exists?!?!
Obviously I’m a small town girl as well. But I think, just because we were born there, doesn’t mean we weren’t destined to become “city girls”. I consider myself one. There’s no way I’d ever be able to go back to Mid-MO. I’d never be able to adjust!
Yeah, I could never go back to OKC. I love going back to visit, but I was never meant to live there. I was telling the SIL that I like the feel of Chicago moreso than NYC, but both places are too cold for me.
I’m city all the way. I rarely need time away from one.
I’ve really only ever lived in suburbs of big cities so I’m used to it, but I’m also a very fidgety person and I need all the action. It sounds like you had a fun trip, though!
I never thought I’d want time away, but I do really like weekends in the country or out at the lake on occasion. As long as there are no spiders.
Ahh I love visiting NYC, especially Greenwich Village and Soho! Definitely could never live there, though…glad to see that you had a nice trip!
Yeah, I don’t think I could live there unless I was loaded. It’s just so much work! But I love visiting.
Agreed! If I had some money, it would be an entirely different story
I’ve not been to NYC in probably ten years. For realsies. And then it was prob a day trip with my girls to see RENT (true story – happened at least 4 years in a row).
I’ve never seen Rent – on Broadway or the movie. In fact, I’ve never seen a Broadway show.
I’ve always wanted to go to New York, but I have a feeling it would be a bit much for me too. I’m not a city girl at all, in any way. I live about half an hour away from the actual downtown Vancouver, but I rarely go down there, and sure I couldn’t live there.
It’s a lot. I always feel like DC is pretty busy until I go there, and it’s just overwhelming. Getting anywhere is a production, and there are so many choices for everything. I love it in a lot of ways, but I just don’t like the over-saturation that much I guess.
New York feels like home to me. I am definitely a big city girl! But, it is weird … I grew up on a farm in the middle of no where and also feel at home in the country or while doing some rustic camping. If I had to pick the ultimate place for me to live however, NY wins.
I think I like a happy medium, because I’m not much of a camper either. I like a bustling city area, but not too bustling, and I like to be able to get out in nature occasionally but not without the ability to go inside if I want. I guess I’m just picky and impossible to please?
I love NYC! Eric was not a fan at all. I’m glad you got family and beer time in. Only 3 breasts? What an odd number of boobs and so disappointing.
OOPS. I meant to say so disappointing that the 4th didn’t show up.
Haha, agreed! This one chick kept pulling her tube top down on the right side and just revealing the right boob. I couldn’t stop thinking about the left one!
Well you know I’m more of a suburbs girl, but that’s why I have lovers such as yourself strategically placed in the city to visit. Also I love that you randomly only saw 3 tatas.
And I have my country get away. We really thought ahead with this one.
NYC is too much city for me too. Atlanta is actually too little though. It’s really spread out. I think DC is a happy medium.
I agree, I think it’s the perfect size.
Can you be a city girl and a country girl? I love the city 90% of the time but I still really enjoy going home to my small town of 7,000 for some peace and quiet every now and then. I like having the best of both worlds. As for NYC – I like to visit but I don’t know if I could ever live there. I feel like it’s Chicago on speed.
I definitely think you can. And I feel the same way. I admire those that have the energy to keep up for the long haul.
Ahhhhh I ADORE NYC, almost moved there when I was in my early 20′s but ended up having a change of plans before doing so. Part of me so regrets not doing it! Think I’m definitely a city girl, I love to be on the go alwayzzzz and love the life/energy in a city environment. Just don’t think I could do DC, that traffic kills me every.time. :/
Haha, not having a car helps with that issue