I Got Shot in New York
I shot myself four times this week during target practice. Granted, I was aiming at my face — using a camera, not a gun. Here’s the story … I’m not sure how much I can divulge about the project, but an LA production company asked me to film myself and send in the tapes for a network TV program. I love the sociology of relationships, and I’m happy to do anything that helps me and/or others understand them better. If I get picked to be on the show, great. If not, I’ll be fine; I’ll simply add the experience to the List of Incredible Opportunities I’ve Had while in New York City. Something else will come along.
NYC. As most of you already know, I’m a Midwesterner at heart. But, I don’t really have a “hometown.” Though I was raised in Mississippi, I was born in Illinois and lived there again from elementary school until university. I’ve also lived in Los Angeles, Florida, Europe and elsehwere. I’ve chosen to live in NY — for nearly five years … the longest I’ve lived in any city as an adult — because I feel like I fit in here. The place is packed with transplants, immigrants and other people just like me — folks who abandoned hometowns and homelands in places that never quite seemed like “home.” There’s quote about how much NYC needs the newbies equally as much as the natives, but I can’t remember the exact text or the quote.
It’s weird. I’m certainly not a tourist. Yet, I’m still more likely to tell people “I live in New York” rather than “I’m a New Yorker.” I feel like I can’t really “claim” NY the same way natives can. For me, recently getting “shot” / “filmed” on the Lower East Side involved a Canon GL1; native NYers remember when people REALLY got shot in LES. Having lived in NYC before it was cool to do so, they remember when crack was the only thing spreading faster than AIDS, Times Square looked like this, subways like this and the outer boroughs like this.
Quite frankly, if 2000s New York was like 1980s New York, I probably wouldn’t live here. Remember? I’m from rural Illinois. The shallows waters of gentrification — safe neighborhoods, clean parks / green space and grocery stores that offer organic options — suit me just fine. For me, it’s only a problem when those tiny droplets of dew build up to a full blown gentrification tsunami. Then again, I wonder: Do I contribute to that by hanging out at Union Square, shopping at Whole Foods and picking up random stuff at Duane Reade? Maybe. Maybe not.
Anyway. Speaking of these “Whose New York Is It Anyway?” discussions, I want to say a very public THANK YOU to the folks over at WNYC for inviting me to breakfast, a tour [video!] of their new and the conversation with Rosie Perez about NYC’s changing neighborhoods.
The live show taped yesterday morning, with: Rosie; Bob Tierney, Landmark Preservation Commission Chair; Nelson George, novelist, Exec Producer for series at VH1 and BET; Damaris Reyes, Exec Director of GOLES (Good Old Lower East Side); Marci Reaven, Exec Director of City Lore as well as Director of Place Matters and other participants. If you wanna hear what everyone talked about, segment airs on WNYC 93.9 FM at 7:00am next Saturday (May 16) and on WNYC AM 820 at 9:00pm next Sunday (May 17).
Okay, so, I know many of you out there live here in New York, but a lot of you DON’T. Curious to find out: “How many of you live in the same town you grew up in? If you’ve remained, why do you love it? If you’ve left, what made you leave?” Feel free to use the comment section to share your thoughts.
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Photo credit: Scott Ellison Smith
May 8th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I’m “from” Glen Burnie. I was born in Hinesville, Georgia and I lived between GA, MD & Germany for the bulk of my life. Right now, I’m in Atlanta and I HATE it. I decided to stick it out for 4 years because my extended family is here and you have to try something for awhile before you can state emphatically that you don’t like it — well, I DON’T like it. Anyway, I have that “homeless” feeling and I wonder where I’d fit in; if I would, anywhere. I’m on a quest to figure that out this year, though. :)
May 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
I’m from rural Montana. Do you even need to ask why I left?
May 8th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I flew out of the nest a looooong time ago. I’ve lived away from the original homestead longer than I lived there now. (I am old.)
May 8th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I have moved around quite a bit, but for the last six years I have remained in Chicago. I love the city, but I am getting anxious. I have been trying to make friends in Philly. After I complete the fellowship I’m in I will probably see if I can get some love out there.
May 10th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
NYC is an odd place: It’s a bubble in of itself, yet represents that ideas of America that thrived a generation or two ago.
It’s bubble in that its so unlike the other 90% of the county; its like old America in that it thrives on people coming from elsewhere, abandoning scrutiny and persecution to make it in a bit more open environment (at least its perceived that way).
As a lifelong native–I’ve lived all over Brooklyn, now in Midwood–I welcome those who are NY at heart. Those who recognize and realize the value and important of the mom and pop shop, not just the big franchises that have spread throughout suburbia. Maintaining neighborhood flavors while build to a common good.
I also follow your pattern: I frequent the Whole Foods, hit up Union Square, and visit Duane Reade. That’s part of the NYC. In fact, Union Square is one of the quinteseential NYC experiences (and perhaps most overlooked), as its the voicebox of the city, especially post 9/11. Whats happening on the other side of US may be a particular negative (we’ll see what happens when that construction finishes).
The one thing I’ve always wondered that may be decidedly “un-NYC” is the roommate situation. There seems to be a pattern that transplants are more likely to shack up as roommates, which may have been contributing to some of the skyrocketing rental prices in the past few years (after all 4 people can meet $2000/month, whereas one person may not). Verdict’s still out.
May 11th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I was born and raised in Brooklyn. Right now I reside in the Greenwood/Kensington area, but only because gentrification has priced me out of my old Bed-Stuy (DO OR DIE!) ‘hood.
Why do I love Brooklyn? Because I can get everything and anything I want on MY side of the bridge. Honestly, when I worked in Bensonhurst I wouldn’t step foot in Manhattan for weeks and weeks, and that was A-OK with me.
Ahhh, Brooklyn… how I love you so…
May 12th, 2009 at 2:00 am
you are sooooo blessed….. not to rant…. but, with you from the Chi-town area
and now living in NYC….. do you know what that makes you……
lamesabassman…… on point … from can see…. to can’t see…….. you can see it coming before it gets out of bed…… roll it like ya stole it…..
May 12th, 2009 at 2:04 am
yo…. Da’ Jaded NYer…… is Nathan’s still open….. and Juniors 2…..
lamesabassman….. and is 2 Steps Down in Ft. Greene still around…. killer place
to grub down…..
May 12th, 2009 at 9:49 am
lamesabassman- I believe Nathan’s is still around (I don’t partake so I can’t say for sure) Juniors OF COURSE (although I avoid that cheesecakey-goodness for the sake of my ever-expanding gut) and Two Steps Down is where I’ll be shaking what my momma gave me in two weeks for my birthday. Gotta love BK- what’s the saying? the more it changes, the more it stays the same…
May 12th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Roger that …… thanks 4 the info….. am planning to return for a few weeks….
need tha’ BKLYN mojo in me again….. Cali is cool…..
lamesabassman…… but Bklyn is hellacool……
May 19th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Cynthia: “Hinesville” ??? :) That’s a great name for a town [says Twanna "Funky Brown Chick" Hines]!! ;) By the way, if you’re anything like me, maybe you’ll never find a place to settle. But, you know what? That’s okay. Did you see the movie Chocolat? There’s a great line in there about the mistral.
Anon: No, I don’t need to ask. ;)
Baba Doodlius: Aren’t we all “old” in one way or another. To live each day is to inch closer to the day of your death.
Pen Pal: Chicago!!!! :) Ah, my beloved hometown. I like it and appreciate it more now that I don’t actually live there. And, believe it or not, I’ve never been to Philadelphia.
Jeffrey L. Wilson: Unlike 90% of the country? Dude, I’d say it’s unlike at least 95%. ;) And VERY good point about the roommate stuff!!
The Jaded NYer: Oooh, another native Brooklynite. You, Jeff and the other die hard BK folks should meet. :)
lamesabassman: Nathan’s hot dogs! I ate one in Coney Island ages ago. :) Good stuff but it’s not the same as eating a hot dog Chicago.