To my surprise, this has been one of the most asked questions amongst both friends and strangers about our move to NYC. Strangely enough, it was one I hadn’t given any thought until the first time someone asked me. Sure, I had things I daydreamed about doing once we were here, but they were all smaller mundane things, like walking to get coffee, strolling through Central Park, and the ease of seeing friends on weeknights. I was just so excited to get here, that I hadn’t really thought through the more grand things I wanted to see and do.
After about the tenth person asked me, I put some thought into what it was I’m excited to do (Covid permitting, of course). While we’ve already done a lot of the more “touristy” things during our trips here, these are a few remaining that I’m hoping to knock off my list within the next few months…
– Spend a considerable amount of time exploring the neighborhoods of Brooklyn. I fell in love with Dumbo at first sight, and it convinced us to look for apartments there or in the surrounding areas. I’m excited to explore more of the local shops and restaurants the area has to offer. We even considered moving to the financial district just to be close to Brooklyn… so that is super high on my list.
– Learn more history of the city. Before we moved, I was so fascinated with learning the history behind the neighborhoods and the architecture of the city. Now, every time I pass something that is new to me, I immediately want to look up the history and learn more. This book is one of my favorite reads — spotting the architectural elements on buildings and knowing their history is like a treasure hunt as we walk around the city.
– Visit not only the Met, but smaller art museums as well. Of course the Met is iconic (I’ve actually never been!), and I anticipate we will make several visits in our time here, but I’m also excited to explore some of the less touristy museums. I’m making it a goal to visit each on this list at least once while we are here. I’m also really excited to take advantage of seeing pop-up and temporary exibits!
– Visit the Flower District. Back home in Raleigh, Trader Joe’s was as close as I came to a flower market. I visited the San Francisco flower market years ago, and fell in love with the idea of being able to purchase florals by the stem. I’m so excited to regularly have a flower market to visit to purchase in-season blooms for my home. Luckily for my bank account, it’s just far enough away to keep it from being a daily occurrence.
– Find a regular spot. When we would visit our friends here, I loved how they had their “regular spots,” where the owners knew them by name and come to your table for a conversation. I’m hoping when outdoor dining season comes back, we will be able to find our neighborhood spots we visit regularly and have our “usual” order.
– Get more involved. Both Ryan and I are really looking forward to getting involved in the community and volunteering for a local organization or two. We’re hoping to find one to give our time to that we can grow with while we are here.
– Become a subway pro. I’m setting a goal to get comfortable enough with the subway system in the first few months I’m here that I don’t constantly have to look at a map. I feel most settled in a city when I can confidently find my way around, and the subway system is still a little daunting to me!
– See a Broadway show. This is something I’ve never done and would love to do once it opens back up. I’d love to see either Hamilton, To Kill a Mockingbird or a classic like Chicago. Recommendations welcome if you’ve seen a great one!