So a big life update for me: I’m leaving New York City and moving to Minneapolis.
Living in New York City has always been a dream of mine ever since I can remember. After watching movies, seeing pictures, and hearing stories about the glitz and glamour of the city and how much “better” it was than everywhere else. I wanted to live here so badly so I could say I was a New Yorker.
But after reading a book about why people leave New York City and experiencing first hand what living in the city is like versus just visiting for a short while, I came to understand that New York is not for me. Sure, I love all of the restaurants, shops, meeting new people, and being immersed in this culture, but after a while, it’s draining. Paying more money in rent than my parents probably pay for their mortgage is exhausting, especially since how small my place is.
So I knew it was time to pack up and head back to my roots. I was born in Minnesota and lived there for nearly 13 years before moving to Wisconsin. Although I detest the winter in Minnesota and might die during those frigid months (OK, maybe that’s an exaggeration), I think Minneapolis is the right place for me at this point in my life.
I honestly don’t feel like I “didn’t make it” in New York because I did, just maybe not on the terms that society thinks. I came here and experienced just about everything I wanted to, and that’s enough for me. So below are a few of my favorite photos taken during my time in the city.
Everyone knows about the New York City famous landmarks: the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Chrysler Building, Times Square, Broadway, etc. These pictures are more than that. They’re personal to my time here and the bond I built with the city.
A view of my apartment building in Brooklyn.
Some of the best pizza I ate while in New York City was from Fornino in Brooklyn.
Street musicians (or in this case, a train station musician) are really spectacles. So much talent and emotion in their performances.
It wouldn’t be New York City without seeing Carrie Bradshaw’s West Village apartment.
I was lucky enough to get to see the Broadway version of Big Fish with the New York City-area Drake University alumni. The show’s book was written by John August, another Drake alumni.
The Washington Square Park arch. Walking around a park in New York City is a breath of fresh air (literally). It’s one of the only times you’ll see more than one tree at a time.
The view from my doctor’s office in the Financial District. I wouldn’t mind staring out that window every day.
The Prospect Park arch in Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope. I love the architecture here.
My boss, Merissa, and coworker, Laura, and I at Google’s office in Chelsea trying on Google Glass. We picked up a pair of Glass for the New York Daily News team to experiment with.
A view of the city at night from the airplane after I arrived back from Christmas in Wisconsin.