Just a quick update this week from NY. It’s been a crazy week of weather here in the City. Early in the week it was blistering hot, then absolutely amazing with high’s in the mid 70’s and no humidity. Then on Friday, the remnant’s of Hurricane Andrea set records for rain in many parts of the NE. However this weekend has been nice.
With this update, I thought I would give you a glimpse of what a special place NYC can be in the Spring (or anytime for that matter). Let me describe my day today for you. I spent the morning in Madison Park with some friends for the “Big Apple Barbecue” (see the pics below). Madison Park is down in the Flatiron district which is a beautiful old part of NY. The barbecue was sponsored by Southern Living magazine. There was barbecue from all over the south there. My favorite was 4 time Grand Champion “Big Bob Gibson’s Barbecue” from Decatur, Alabama. I spent a while just talking to the workers and soaking up the pleasant accents. I then introduced my NY friends to Pimento Cheese and sausage at “Jim ‘N Nick’s” from Birmingham, AL…noticing a trend here, Alabama feels a lot like home to me. There was some great Blues music from a couple of bands in the park also. All in all, a great start to the day.
On the walk back to the subway, I went up 5th Avenue and spent some time watching the Puerto Rico Day parade honoring the 4 million people from Puerto Rico that make their home here. This has turned in to one of the largest parades in NYC. Great music and lots of energy.
From the parade, I turned down 50th street and passed by Radio City Music Hall where they were preparing for the Tony Awards tonight. I walked right past the red carpet where all of the Broadway stars were starting to congregate.
After making my way back to the UWS, I had time to catch up with another street fair on Broadway that went about 12 blocks. I wasn’t hungry at all but the sights and smells almost tempted me.
From there, I went to a running store to buy some Saucony running shoes that I’ve never been able to find in a store back home.   I think you can buy anything in NYC. After a quick haircut, I made it back to the apartment. All in all, a great day. It just amazes me how much stuff there is to do in the City. I’ve been here a little over 5 months and I’ve just started to scratch the surface of all this City has to offer. I’ll be going on vacation in one week and I’m really looking forward to some extended time away with Laura and seeing the kids. Stay tuned…

Well folks, it’s been a few weeks since I last wrote about my NY City experience. So much has happened, I’m not sure where to begin. So I’ll just share with you in “stream of conscience mode”…basically whatever pops into my head. First, you may get tired of me saying this but I’m counting down the months, weeks, days, minutes and seconds until Laura joins me in NY the end of this year. As I tour around the City, I make notes of places I want to show her, especially restaurants I want to take her. I miss the kids too. You know, family really is everything. Vacation is coming in a couple of weeks and I’ll get to spend 9 days with them…can’t wait.
Speaking of Laura coming, we’ve decided to start looking for the area of the City we want to live in because we’ll need a bigger place. It’s down to the Upper West Side (where I am now) or the Upper East Side. I have friends on both sides but the UES has some really amazing restaurants (all about food for me). It looks like the buildings on the UES are newer (1960’s vs pre war) and you can get a little more for your money. The main issue is how much longer it will take me to get to work. Right now, I’m about 15 minutes from my office via the “1” train. There is only one subway on the UES and it doesn’t go near my office. Moving there could make my commute 35 minutes or so. Not that big of a deal but it is something to consider. Also, the UWS has a more European feel with the architecture, cafe’s and parks. The UES has a ton of restaurants, Madison Ave and 5th Ave but doesn’t seem quite as “cool”.
Running is great on the UWS with Riverside and Central Park. The UES has access to Central Park as well, but nothing quite like Riverside. Well, let me take that back, the UES has the Gracie Mansion area which is beautiful, but just not as big as Riverside Park. Oh well, lots to consider.
Spring in the City is pretty amazing. Every weekend there are street fairs that cover 10 – 15 blocks.

They will shut down one side of Broadway and hundreds of tents pop up out of nowhere.  The vendors there sell some of the best food (I know, I’m obsessed) I’ve ever eaten. Gyros, fresh fruit, mushrooms the size of steaks, all sorts of pastries, baked good, turkey legs, falafel, funnel cake, and on and on. They also have amateur opera contests, and street musicians that are some of the best I’ve ever heard. If you’re ever here in the spring and summer, it would be well worth the trip to find one of these fairs and spend the day with several thousand new hot and sweaty friends.
Due to the weather going from low 70’s to low 90’s over night, I was forced to get an air conditioner (under window unit). I had forgotten how amazing it is to sleep in an air conditioned room. I can’t imagine how people lived pre-AC. Growing up in Atlanta and living in Tennessee for 28 years, I know what hot feels like. But hot in NYC is truly miserable. All the concrete traps the heat. The buildings trap the humidity and block any breeze that might provide relief. Also, in the South, I would go from my house to my car, then to a building…always in Air Condition space. Here, I’m walking so much or in Subway stations (new level of odors being experienced with the heat) that it just feels hotter than I’m used to. 90 here feels like 95 back home. Oh well, just part of the experience. Well, bed time…Until next time…..stay cool!