Upper East Side vs. Downtown

I've been a little hard on the UES since I've lived in New York. In the 9 years I have lived in the city,I never saw any reason to go above 34th Street, unless going to Central Park. In a million years, I never would have thought I would be living there. But a year and a half ago, I met the man I am going to marry and he has never lived below 86th Street....and today I find myself living there (and very happy to be there with him). It has taken some time to get used to it but I have found a lot to love about it. First being there is so much outdoor space. To be able to choose which outdoor area I am going to run in on the weekend(Central Park or Carl Schultz Park) is amazing to me. I'm much more used to running through Soho dodging cars and foreign people. I read an article this weekend in The New York Times about how crowded the playgrounds are in the West Village because there are only five acres of open space in a neighborhood with so many families. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/nyregion/thecity/30playg.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=west+village+playground&st=nyt&oref=slogin. While we are not up to that stage of life, I do hope to have a child at some point and how nice that I won't have to fight off the nannies on the UES for my kid to have some space to play.

I found myself downtown in the East Village this weekend. We went to a bar 4 blocks from my old apartment on 9th Street. Walking around that area on a Saturday night made me appreciate the UES even more. The streets were crowded and crawling with 22 year olds looking for the next party. I am by no means ready for the burbs but yet I am far from the nights where going from bar to bar is an enjoyable experience. While I still do prefer the downtown food and drink scene (drink scene being after work), the UES pace is closer to where I am at in my early thirties, about to get married. My fiancee and I love going out for a local bite and being able to just sit in the park on a sunny day. Maybe I was scared to move uptown because I saw it as giving up my youth and my edge? Truth is, I'm not a kid anymore...and really, how much edge did I really have for gods sake? I am sure I will never say out loud that uptown is better than downtown but I can say, in my old(er) age, I am appreciating the lifestyle and my new life up there.

Spring in New York

I heart spring in New York! And I especially love working downtown in nice weather. Today I had my first real taste of spring...ok,it's only about 50 degrees today but the sun is shining and there is no wind chill. After getting off the 6 train at Bleeker, I have a nice 10-13 minute walk across Greenwich Village to my office in the W. Village. Such a different vibe downtown...you have your artists, writers, cafe owners all lingering about, drinking their coffee, happy to be alive (or at least they always seem that way.) Everyone is smiling and saying "good morning." Since moving uptown from the E. Village a couple of months ago to live with my fiancee, I often thought it would now be a lot easier for me to work in midtown--but the truth is, I love downtown and would really miss having some part of my life still there--even though my commute is a total bitch. I happen to love all seasons in New York for different reasons but there is something about spring in New York that just makes everyone, including myself, just seem happier.

Fringe bangs rip-off

So last night, I'm leaving work to go meet friends at Bar Stuzzichini for some drinks and apps (worth the random Flatiron location!) and realize my bangs could use a little trim. Short on time this week, I figured I could squeeze in a trim in the hour before going out. There is a hair salon right by my office called Arrojo. I went in...very friendly...no problem...someone could trim my bangs in a moment. They take down my phone number and name. They see me as a potential future customer and I am happy to play the part. I meet my trimmer, sit down...he proceeds to ask who does my color because my hair is "way dry." Two seconds later (literally) I have lovely trimmed fringe bangs. I go to pay and the cashier says $15.00. All I could say was, "Are you serious?"

I've lived in New York for 10 years. High prices don't shock me. I often pay upwards of $100.00 for a haircut and I am by no means cheap. BUT, for a bang trim? With no brush, no wash or blow dry...they couldn't be serious.

Subway etiquette

I don't ask a lot of people that live, work, or visit this fine city of ours...but I do feel that if you do enter the city and use the subways, you should make it your business to follow a few basic rules of etiquette.

• When using the escalators to enter or exit the subway stations...please stand to the right, walk to the left. You as a visitor may have all the time in the world to go visit FAO Schwartz, see a Broadway Show, or hop on a tour bus to go to the West Village to see the street Carrie's Sex and the City apartment is on, but other folks have to get to work.


• Fashionistas: I know your bag is lovely and you spent two whole paychecks to afford it so people think you have money, but does it need it's own seat on the subway?


• Staring: We live in New York. People are interesting. There is a lot to look at...you've got your freaks, hotties, the homeless, models, your stiffs, transgenders, THE WORKS. But take a peak, maybe two, and look away.


• The center pole. Does your whole body really need to lean against it? Ever consider that there may be some other people that may need to hold on for balance?