New York

On my last evening in New York I sat at a restaurant in Little Italy, enjoying a beer and watching the maître d’ treat the street to a rendition of the Frank Sinatra classic New York, New York! It was a perfect way to top off my visit to the Big Apple.

I was so excited to visit New York. As soon as I boarded the plane at Heathrow, Alicia Keys’ Concrete Jungle began playing on a loop in my head. I already knew that I wanted to be a typical tourist and see all the main attractions, all the places which felt almost familiar to me after seeing them in countless films and TV shows. But once I had spent a couple of days doing this I realised, as I often do when I visit new places, that it’s the small things that can leave the biggest impressions. I was surprised to find that, although checking off my to-do list was satisfying, what I enjoyed the most was being around so many different people. It really is a land made of immigrants, and all the better for it.

Everyone I met seemed so friendly and helpful, from telling me which side of the subway I needed to be on when I was so clearly lost, to striking up conversations in coffee shops. But as much as I enjoy interacting with people, one of my favourite pastimes is people watching. I love seeing people as they naturally are and how they naturally interact with each other. You can gain such insight into how the world really is when you watch strangers interact with each other. There is such a sense of kindness, respect and compassion in the majority of the people on this planet, you just have to look for it.

It’s not hard to imagine how people get inspired. The classic dream of moving to New York, renting an apartment with a fire escape and becoming a writer definitely appealed to me, as I walked down the bohemian streets in Greenwich Village. There is a part of me that is drawn to that lifestyle, surrounded by so many different and interesting people, artistries and commotions, it would be hard to not to get some inspiration. However, there is also the other part of me that hates noise and crowds; and New York is the physical definition of both. So, in a state of cognitive dissonance, which is often where I find myself, I headed towards Central Park to get away from hustle and bustle and I instantly felt every fibre of my being becoming revitalised. To be honest, I am a typical introvert and as much as I love being around commotion at times, I also have that need for solitude, nature and the tranquillity of the countryside to feel a sense of calm, clarity or creativity. So New York was a challenging place at times, I really could go from loving it to hating it within the space of five minutes.

But I haven’t even gotten to the food yet! Honestly, I didn’t eat nearly as much as I thought I would. Between the general stimulation of New York, trying to keep an eye on money and my not so forgiving high waisted jeans, food was usually at the back of my mind. The places I did visit are well worth mentioning, but the pictures are sub-par – eating the food was, as ever, the priority for me.

On my first night I wandered around the East Village and stopped at a sunken restaurant, called Caravan of Dreams. I’d always heard people ordering Ruben sandwiches in American shows so I decided to try their vegan version. The wait was a little long so they brought out hot soup on the house. I really liked this place, with a bohemian and friendly atmosphere, I would definitely recommend stopping by.

For the best vegan chili cheese fries, check out Urban Vegan Kitchen on Carmine Street. It’s such a cool place, the walls are covered in graffiti artwork and pictures of famous musicians, their music filling the room; and the menu is mouth watering. It took a long time to decide what to eat. I would have ordered more if my aforementioned high waisted jeans weren’t getting in the way.

I’ve spent a while searching for a decent vegan cinnamon bun and I finally found one at
The Cinnamon Snail in Pennsylvania Plaza. They have delicious burgers and coffee. It’s a great spot to stop and refuel when sightseeing.

One other place I would recommend, and is definitely on the pro list of moving to New York, is the Orchard Grocer in the Lower East Side. The best thing I had was a swirl of vanilla and peanut butter soft whip ice cream. Even writing about it is making me salivate.

 
I would go back to New York, and I plan to one day. I would like to stay for a while and see how a sensitive introvert, such as myself handles the day-to-day life of a city so intense. But first, I have so many other places to see!