I took a short weekend roadtrip from NYC to DC, and it was soooo good to get away from Manhattan — even if only for a little bit. There are plenty of reasons to hate New York. The pace of life is fast. People seem more interested in where you went to school, who you know and how they can use you / you can help them more than they care about who you are. The weather’s been shitty. Everything’s too expensive. And, so on.
I like New York more when I’ve had a break from it. Being in DC reminded me why I chose to come here nearly five years ago. That’s not a slight against DC; New York just fits me better. People are different here. New Yorkers appreciate the arts and recognize creatives — i.e. actors, poets, writers, authors, painters, bloggers, comedians, bloggers etc. — are adults with real jobs. Not everyone strives for a desk work. I love my apartment and my building. Made for adults, the place is a kid-free zone packed with working professionals. Walking through the streets of Manhattan, you’ll quickly notice there’s no “dress code.” Skin colors, hair shades, make up, style of dress and everything else varies from person to person. Going for drinks in DC, I noticed many more black women had relaxers instead of natural hair. And, I swear each of the 20+ blondes we saw in one bar had the exact same hairstyle: bone straight, shoulder length (or oh-so slightly above) and dyed the same shade of yellowish-white.
I’m not sure if I’ll live in New York forver. For now, it suits me. Anyway. If you want to know more about my roadtrip or the complimentary Ford Fusion, see the pictures on my Flickr (full photostream and the National Museum of American History pics) for details. Now that I’ve got that out of the way, on with the show. Manly Monday post coming soon.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Very cool. Beautiful car color. I know it must have been hard to let that car go. Did you get any compliments about it?
The car looks really nice. Looks like you had some fun in DC.
Although, I’m looking at yoou sitting on that car and the thing that’s running through my head is ” I wonder if she’s wearing underwear…..”
I know its just the naughty side of me, but whenever i see a woman in that type of long dress….I always wonder. LOL
=)
I lived in DC before moving to NY. There’s a lot of conformity in DC. It’s interesting to sit on the steps of the Smithsonian (near the Chinatown or Galleries metro stop) and watch how similar people are regardless of ethnicity. But, I will say that the women do wear fierce shoes out there. I found myself walking around looking at everyone’s feet. It’s a great place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there…again.
you must have looked real cool behind the wheel….
lamesabassman…… have you ever tried the Mini yet….
You know it’s funny, I just had a conversation the other day with a friend who’s a long-time New Yorker, and married to a Native New Yorker, about how people who aren’t from NYC define the “New York Experience.”
The thing about NY, which you appreciate after you’ve spent some time away, is that there isn’t one NYC. The beauty of this city I was born and raised in, is it’s diversity. Not just ethnic or financial diversity, but diversity of thought, mind, temperament, creativity…EXPERIENCE.
For plenty of people, NYC isn’t fast-paced, or superficial or elitist. For many the pace is leisurely, their interactions run deep and people are accepted for who they are rather than for what school they go to, how much money they make or what brand of shoe or suit or purse is seen on their body.
The beauty of NYC, my lovely, wonderful, maddening city is that there are a million different experiences to be had here, and everyone thinks that their experience is the one that defines the city.
re: Reason to hate NYC…
You mentioned that people only care about where you went to school/job/what you can do for them. I agree, but with the caveat that it mostly plagues media, finance, and out of towners with something to prove–which is why I’ve been MIA form many media-related things of late. Kick it with someone who’s not in those circles, and its like a breath of fresh area. No “Are you at still at so and so” or ”have you heard about..?” I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve actually told people that I work at McDonalds and “I’m here with someone else” just to get out of those convos.
Blah.
That is so true about some New Yorkers. I have lived in NY for over twenty years and have had my share of experiences with the mentioned type of people that you spoke about. But I couldn’t imagine living any place else. The sky is the limit when you live in NY!
There are plenty of reasons to hate New York. The pace of life is fast. People seem more interested in where you went to school, who you know and how they can use you / you can help them more than they care about who you are. The weather’s been shitty. Everything’s too expensive. And, so on.
Funny, that is EXACTLY how I feel about DC!!!! Esp the cost of living here…it is ri-damn-diculous.
then dont come to Cali….. tings are getting muy intense up in here….. we are getting taxed
just for living here…. no snow… pay me….. very little rain….. pay me…. warm summer
nights,all year round…. pay me….. gas is becoming a very precious source to be reckoned
with…. we are NYC on Warp Factor 20….. and it’s about to go deep…..
lamesabassman….. from a whisper …. to a scream…..
LexiB: I loved that car!!! :)
dkzone: No, I wasn’t wearing any.
Pamela: Exactly! Extremely similar — and it wasn’t just about ethnicity.
lamesabassman: Thanks.
fatlady: You bring up a good point. When I first moved to New York, I used to ask everyone, “What’s your favorite thing about New York?” I think the best answer I ever got was from a woman I no longer speak to. She said something like: You can have many lives in New York. Just when you think you understand the city, you can move to a different neighborhood and your life completely changes; it’s like living in a different city. I’ve lived in apartments in the East Village, Hell’s Kitchen, Astoria, Carroll Gardens and elsewhere. Each neighborhood was soooo different. So, yeah, I agree with you about that: “There isn’t one New York.” But, I kind of disagree in a different area. Speaking of which …
Jeffrey L. Wilson: GREAT point! Like I mentioned to fatlady above, NY’s neighborhoods are different. But, as you (a life-long NYer) have noted, once you get settled into your career and start advancing or whatever, people here in the Northeast care MUCH more about the so-called markers of “success” (i.e. where you went to school / who do you know / where do you live / what do you do for a living / etc). And, I don’t think it’s just media. Wall Street is likely very similar.
ebwriter: I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, either. At least, not now. Maybe in the future I’ll move elsewhere go back abroad. But, for now, NYC is home.
Dredfoxx: Did you just say “ri-damn-diculous.” :) That’s great! It’s almost as wonderful as ghettofaburidicudonkulus
lamesabassman: Sometimes I don’t understand your comments. :) Totally get it that Cali has too many taxes, but I didn’t understand the “from a whisper to a scream” part?
Ms. Hines, you should take a trip out to Midwood (where I live) for a dose of NYC you probably havent experienced. It’s a totally laid back burb-within-a-city. Very relaxing, very pretty, and infinitely boring lol
when you hear or see stuff about Cali… well, ya just cant wait to get here.. but when you do and stay as long as I have ( 18 years ) then you can very well filter the cheese…..
yeah … we got Magic Mountain…. Disneyland….. and Pink’s….. but also taxes… bad ocean
water…. too many cars and no real drivers ( they all drive like their from JERSEY…. ) and Clear Channel is taking over in a big way…. to listen to anything cool one must have XM sat
radio or bring your own CD’s…. and to find a decent cupcake, pizza or good Jewish food. well, go fish…..
lamesabassman…. thus, the ” from a whisper( come to Cali) to a scream ( you call this a
Ruben sandwich)…. but Venice Beach is an oasis in this desert…..
Ah! IDK what part of DC you were in– but I’m starting to believe DC is becoming a Natural Hair capitol. I HARDLY see relaxers on black women in DC anymore. Dreads is pretty much staple. Basically though, Natural has come back fiercly over here in DC. I’m even natural now lol…
Btw, I think my cousin knows you..