Welcoming Spring in NYC!

I am feeling inspired to blog and a bit homesick today so I decided to write a happy spring post!  There is something to be said about spring time in NYC!  We were never ones to stick around CB in the spring, but NYC is a great place to be in the spring so we will have to get our beach fix in January or February for now.  These pictures are taken in Madison Square Park which lies between the Flatiron Building and Mario Batali's Eataly, a mecca of restaurants, gourmet groceries, libations, espresso, gelato and chocolate all housed in one city block.  If you cannot make it to Italy, I recommend trying Eataly.  Although its insides lacks the authenticity of the streets of Italy, it is no less crowded than the Ponte Vecchio, and since Mario has only perfected the replication of Italian food and drink, you will have to travel a bit northeast to Madison Ave. for some of the shops you would find while walking Rome's Via Dei Condotti.  This guy below is facing Eataly, thinking about gelato.  He also sits just around the corner from our apartment!

 

April showers bring May flowers they say so I am happily sitting at my computer while the skys contemplate the forecasted rain lost in my own contemplation of whether or not I will take the dog to the park.  No place is the perfect place, and I am sure if Bella had her way, she would have chosen to live in a house with a nice grassy yard rather than on the 13th floor of a NYC apartment building.  But instead, most days, she rests at my feet daydreaming about the old days of roaming her own territory of 3.4 acres amidst Crested Butte's native wild flowers and sage brush.  Her days were filled with obsessively stalking just about anything that moved while waiting for me to walk out of the front door.  Fearful of being left at home by chance that I might be heading out for a hike or trail run, she would sprint to the horse pen, bark at Cisco's feet, and run to the back of my Chevy Tahoe waiting for the tailgate to lift.  Ah, the memories of those days are near, but the reality of that lifestyle is completely far away from how we live now.  So, a walk to the Hudson River Park with a first-rate view of the Statue of Liberty will just have to do for her.

As each day turns for us here in the city, we don't forget the days are turning for our friends in Crested Butte as well.  Our old house sits on the highway as it always has, and I am assured by friends that we are thought of each time it is passed.  We chose a good place.  It will take many years of passing trips to forget the family that once lived there.  Hannah and Samuel constantly ask about friends and frequently Skype or chat on the phone with a few of them.  In the meantime, both kids seem to have really grown up over the past four months.  You can see Hannah below just a block from her school.  The flower markets on the corners of the streets make me smile.  The constant of having anything I could possibly need (or not need) at my own fingertips has moved from an anomaly to a common way of life.  We had just run an errand after getting off of the subway returning from a mother-daughter day at the American Girl Store on 5th Ave. and 49th Street.  We have learned out way around and getting to and from has become a breeze.  The city used to confuse me on my visits to my mother-in-law's apartment, but living it daily is like learning another language.  It just becomes part of you with a little practice.

Speaking of my Chevy Tahoe, I don't miss my car or driving for that matter at all.  I never even think about it, actually.  How did I go from relying on a car since I was 16 years old to forgetting its former use as a necessity in just 4 months?  I pretty much handed over the keys and eagerly walked into a new chapter.  I mostly walk where I need to go which has lessened my gym time considerably.  Each day I am sure I regress a bit from my ability to hike a mountain peak, but for now I am learning to throw a good punch in kickboxing, and I have even adopted more and more pieces of black into my wardrobe.  I am telling you, anyone can play the part of living in another place!  Even a family from the mountains of Colorado can take to the high-rises of NYC.  We are more maleable than we oftentimes think, and change will always spark a growth spurt if you give it the opportunity.  

Whether or not you have visited New York City, most recognize it's iconic skyline and buildings.  And most know that there are endless amounts of things to do in this city!  You can see Hannah, Samuel, and Corbin hanging out in an old NYC bus at the Transit Museum in Brooklyn.  We went there last weekend for fun and walked over to the Promenade on the east side of the East River to look back at Manhattan.  We visited the Empire State building (which is also near our apartment!) back in February, and the birds eye view of Manhattan from 102 floors above the streets is quite daunting.  It is nothing but a sea of roof tops directly below you.  Central Park breaks the pattern of development and seems like nothing but long blocks of forest.  In reality, the park is full of streets, paths, mini parks, and lakes buzzing with commuters, runners, and gapers.  The rooftops are only the uppermost level of buildings that are lined with streets full of grocery stores, residences, schools, restaurants, shopping, and life.  Chirping children flying high in park swings, taxis blaring horns in unison creating an orchestra of sound that is proclaiming the hurried way of city life, homeless young mothers holding babies and asking for money, and serious businessmen and women navigating common subway routes are all normal ways of life below these rooftops.  But for a few minutes, across the river on the promenade or on the 102 floor of the Empire State Building, it is quiet.  We are taking our opportunity here with pride, and we have vowed to experience it with full gusto.  Our move to NYC is a bookend on the first 10 years of Corbin and my marriage.  In most ways, our goals are not dissimilar to how we began a decade ago.  And now, we have the memories of 10 years together in Crested Butte, 2 children, and a lot of stuff to carry along with us wherever we go.  We are overjoyed we landed here.

Why I love living in Manhattan!!

When we first made the decision to move, Corbin made it very clear to me that he felt the opportunity for his work should take precedence over the place we would be living.  In other words, if he found a really awesome job opportunity in a place like Little Rock Arkansas, we would go.  I nodded my head when he said, "We can be happy anywhere".  Lucky for me, we ended up moving to NYC.  It doesn't take too much work to be happy here.  Let me share a bit of our new lives:

1.) It is really great having a Doorman.  The importance of whether or not to have a doorman was discussed many times as we searched the city for a new home.  We chose wisely.  We have 3 doorman that rotate shifts.  There duties range from screening our visitors, announcing our deliveries, collecting our packages and dry cleaning to playing with our kids (yes, I have sent the kids down to the doorman, Clyde, when I need a break!).  These men are genuinely happy to see us come and go.   A new friend (introduced to me by the doorman) told me with a laugh that I need to work on toughening my hard NYC outer shell.  As a girl from a small friendly ski town, I seem to smile at everyone on the street or the guys who make deliveries to our apartment, and I usually announce to the doorman where I am going and when I will be back.  I don't think keeping tabs on my day is part of their job. LOL. This is a picture of Hannah and Clyde.

2.) City Apartment Living gets an A.  The amount of effort we were putting into trash and recycling in Crested Butte has been dramatically reduced.  Now, taking out the trash is extremely exciting for the kids and has even been added to the chore chart for a quick and easy star.  Our kitchen trash can is so small, it might be taken out 2 or 3 times on a busy day.  The kids take it to small a trash/recycling room directly next door to our front door and listen to it drop 13 floors to the basement.  This is sheer excitement for a 4 1/2 year old boy who is obsessed with garbage and recycling trucks.  I have no idea which day is garbage day.  There was a time when Corbin would load my car up with months worth of recycling for me to take to Gunnison.  My car smelled like beer for the whole day.  And of course we tried everything to ease the burden of hauling heavy trashcans to the bottom of our driveway, including balancing the trashcans on the back of Corbin's BMW.  No bears to contend with here, either, just bums who sift through the cans on each corner.  But they aren't bothering me.

Believe it or not, living in an apartment reminds me a little bit of living in a dorm at the College of Charleston.  Although, this is an expensive dorm.  The doorman being our RA and the neighbors being our hall mates.  Sometimes we congregate in the hall with our neighbors, Peter and Dante.  Dante really loves our dog, Bella.  Here and there, we will invite each other over, meet each other's friends, and even on rare occasions ask a favor.   None of the apartments have exactly the same layout, but all of the finishes and fixtures are identical.  Very dorm-like.  And just call the Super if there are any problems.  What a concept to a guy like Corbin.  

The only downside to our new home is riding the elevator 13 floors to take the dog out.  Coming from a front door leap to 3.4 of her own acres in a clean mountain atmosphere is quite a hard pill to swallow for Bella.  And not to mention the convenience for me!  She is doing her best having to be inside so much.  We are no longer living on a dirt parcel of land, but here, the rain produces a black filth that sticks to her white legs and stomach.  I guess you just can't win sometimes.  

I also love the fact that my husband decided to get more organized.  I am not sure if it is 10 years of my rubbing off on him or because we are squeezing as much as we possibly can into a tiny apartment.  Whatever it is, I'll take it!

Our terrace is really cool.  We have even been able to enjoy it a few days this winter.  It is totally sun drenched mid-day.

3.) The Diversity is fascinating.  I find this very interesting:  while Crested Butte is a totally unique place in itself, its inhabitants' lifestyles are not very unique from another.  Of course our individual personalities are unique to begin with, but in CB, there are not as many opportunities for us to portray such diverse talents, hobbies, or occupations.  Everyday, I am amazed to find someone is a singer, a fashion designer, or head of  marketing for a large cosmetic company.  I also love the diversity of the kids' schools.  Hannah is definitely the minority in her class.  The teacher is great, and it is a very safe place for her to be with amazing extra-curricular opportunities.  Samuel's school is not too different in size from Paradise Preschool.  He will join Hannah at the Public School for Kindergarten next year.  This school is also within walking distance from our apartment.

4.) Grocery shopping is easy.  Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are within 2 blocks of our apartment.  You can also have anything delivered at anytime (for an arm and a leg, of course).

5.) Restaurants everywhere.  No need to meal plan!  Whatever you are in the mood for is just around the next corner.  Even Raw Food prepared to go!

6.) Year Round Farmer's market that operates 4 days a week, all year round.  Believe it or not, the Union Square Green Market is not any more expensive than the Crested Butte Farmer's Market.  Finally, something I can find comparative pricing in.  These markets are ridiculously priced but I have come up with a concept that makes it all worthwhile.  Really, shopping at the green market or farmer's market is no different that enjoying a beer for $10 at a Four Seasons Hotel.  You are not just paying for your beer, but also for the experience.  The ambiance is fabulous, the service is impeccable, and the drink is perfect.  From the moment it is opened by a world class server to the moment it is taken away with a satisfying sweep and wipe of any condensation left on the table, it is worth every penny.  At the green market, the produce is so beautiful and the local vendors are so proud.  I have found it works to go to the green market with a small list and a small amount of cash so you don't over do it.  

It's all really great.  We are satisfied and confident in our move.  We do miss Crested Butte and our friends everyday.  As I right this, I am sitting below a picture we had Adam Freed paint of our house on a perfect CB summer day.  We are proud to look at it and show it to our visitors.  It is a bit of our history painted so perfectly.

One last photo for now ~ Hannah and Samuel at Times Sq. Yes, we are really living in NYC!

We are here...actually, been we've here a month!

Sorry about such a long time in between posts...my anticipations of writing through our early transitions into the city way of life were met with boxes, friends, family, school searches, and of course, Christmas and New Years.  I wish a very happy, but belated new year to those who I have not spoken with since the holidays!

Ok, no more writing with a box of Kleenex nearby!  I will start out my post with the news of the cat.  He made it to NYC without a peep.  I found I am a confident woman when it comes to sleeping pills.  I think we could have gotten away with just one, but because I had to take him out of the bag at the security check point and our flight was ground delayed for close to an hour, I decided two pills would keep us safe. And yes, two sleeping pills tucked away in a kitty size pill pocket for a hungry cat was much more than Zeke needed for a long nap while we crossed the country.  I am serious when I say no peep and no movement from the bag.  I even caught samuel playing with the bag mid-flight, but the cat was out like a light.  And good for him, because to me, it felt like a long day.

Thank goodness for direct flights.  This is most certainly a perk I look forward to enjoying as we travel to and from the city.   A layover would have been way too much with an hour delay, 3+ hour flight, luggage roundup (note I don't say baggage because a move, I believe, might be a good chance to lighten our yokes), and an hour drive into the city.  All I could see were thousands of headlights and tail lights.  The kids were hungry and tired.  But our anticipation of what was just a few miles ahead made the drive feel like it would never end.

We made it to the apartment I had yet to see and were met by Corbin and my sister.  Our heros!  Once in the apartment, the cat swerved his way out of the bag and went right to the couch and went back to sleep!  Not only was our new home great, but the amount of unpacking and organizing that had been done was unbelievable.  So many people had put a lot of love, time, and energy into getting our new apartment ready for us.

The kids were tired, and we all were hungry so we walked around the block to find dinner.  Now, as I walk the same, familiar block numerous times each day, I remember how strange it felt to me that first night.  I remember thinking how I would eventually come to know all of these restaurants and stores, but I was tired so I let the overwhelming feelings pass and decided I would tackle that feat another day.  And slowly I have.  As I walk Bella or take the kids to school, I look into windows, grab to go menus, and make mental notes of a place I would like to see more about.  After getting most everything unpacked, I am finding more and more time to wonder farther from my apartment and see what else is around the corner.  Even after tens of trips down one street or avenue, I wonder how long it will be before I notice each and every shop or tiny restaurant squeezed in between the bigger spaces I have quickly noticed.  In a nutshell, any and every thing I could possibly need to make life happen seems to be available to me within a 5 or 10 minute walk!  A strange, but welcomed concept to adopt after 10 years of mountain, small-town living.

I really like living in NYC!  Not that I don't think of CB daily and especially of our dear friends.  The change in the daily way of life is nice.  It is a perfect time for it.  Corbin and I are young, and our kids are young, but not so young that I am still packing around a jogger or a diaper bag.  Samuel and Hannah do great with all of the walking.  Having a car and driving all over the place is overrated!  We typically walk or take the subway.  In the past month, I have only ridden in a taxi once, maybe twice.  Once we hired a rickshaw bike to take us a few blocks.  Peddling and dodging taxis and pedestrians while pulling 2 adults and 2 kids could definitely prepare a rider for the single track trails on the mountain.  Walking to school is exciting for us.  The winter has been relatively mild with a few cold days.  One thing I have not escaped is the wind.  I think our old house sits in one of the windiest places in Crested Butte!

In our relocation, I have gained a lot and lost some of the aspects of life that I love.  I have traded the nightly cries of the coyotes for the howl of sirens and blaring horns at any car or pedestrian who is a fraction of a second late at the green light or walk signal.  The leash-less, trail running days are over for now for me and our dog, Bella.  Our favorite thing to do together is run by the Hudson River.  There is a great recreational path there, and it is only a few blocks west of our apartment.  As we run south, the big buildings of New Jersey, the Statue of Liberty and the Freedom Tower being built where the World Trade Center once stood loom before us.  Before I lived in Crested Butte, I lived in Charleston, SC.  I was always amazed by the water.  The city of Charleston is on a peninsula formed by the Cooper and Ashley Rivers.  In the almost 6 years I lived there, I ran many miles back and forth across the bridges that linked downtown Charleston with its neighboring islands.  I never thought I would be happy without the water until I moved to the mountains.  Both extreme landscapes draw me in.  Their beauty addicting and their power frightening.  Two elements of creation that man cannot control.  Running along the Hudson River brings back the memories of what I left 10 years ago, and my heart is happy to have it again.

I know many of our friends are anxious to know more of what life is like living in the big city.  So I have been thinking of a creative way to share our experiences.  I am compiling a list of my top ten favorite things about living in the city.  I hope to have it ready to share soon!