Southern Soul Quest: First Visit to New York

I didn’t visit New York City until I turned 30. I’m only 6 hours away depending on traffic; my most recent trip was 7 hours from Boston! Now that I’ve been three times, I’ll keep going. New York is one of the most diverse cities in the world. I love that. It has its problems, as does any city, but the diversity and bountiful activities attract all sorts of people.

Risbo

In any case, I shot up to New York from Gettysburg to spend some time with Will. One of the first things we did was go to Risbo. To anyone visiting New York: go to Risbo! Risbo is an amazing little French-based restaurant and they happen to have some AMAZING mac n cheese! The mac n cheese has nothing to do with the French aspect, but it’s an added bonus.

I had roasted duck, rice, sauteed greens, and MAC N CHEESE. This place was great. Will and I visited again on my second visit a few months later (specifically for the mac n cheese). I tested my French on the kind young woman who took our order. She understood me, so that’s what matters. Although I barely caught a word from her. While we waited for our order, Will enjoyed the hammock. We chatted about life paths and plans for my visit. Once we picked up the food, we gorged. The duck was tender, the greens were just the right amount of salty, and the mac n cheese…was heaven!

Beach and Karaoke

The next day, Will brought me out to visit some friends at Rockaway Beach. We took the ferry from Manhattan. I liked being at the foot of the skyscrapers. Will introduced me to Erik and Cam and all his other buddies. Everyone was super fun to be around. We caught some great waves and dug a hole as dudes do in the sand. We also hung out with one of Will’s coworkers and convinced her and her two roommates to attend karaoke with us. I wish I had captured more videos of that day and night, but we had a blast. It would be rude to post anything without everyone’s consent. So, Emma, if you are reading this, can I share a video? And thanks for singing Country Roads with me! Let’s do that again!

Tenement Museum

Will worked a few days during my stay. I mean, I was there for four days. One of the spots I’d been wanting to see was the Tenement Museum. This museum focuses on telling the stories of several immigrants. My tour revolved around John and Caroline Schneider, a German couple who operated a saloon from 1864-1886. Our tour guide was well-versed but open to acknowledging what he didn’t know. There were a few peculiar exhibit pieces. I’ll have to research them sometime. Let me know if anyone has seen either of these two images before.

The Museum has a great shop where I snagged a book for a teacher friend. When I journey to New York again, I’ll reserve a tour of the Irish, Russian, or one of the other families documented. I recommend checking this institution out. The idea is that you’re immersed in a space where other humans lived and worked generations ago. The narrative is pieced together by scraps of wallpaper, left behind trash, and other bits. Combined with period pieces and a well-told story, the museum is great for history nerds, educators, and the general public.

Little Italy and Beyond

On my day in the city, I visited the tenement museum, Little Italy, City Hall Park, and the 9/11 Memorial site. I enjoyed finding my way around on the subway. I sat in a few different parks and watched people live their lives. In Little Italy, after a delicious lunch, I watched a couple of Italian barbers yammer away in Italian. Some things just feel right in this world – this was one of them. Oh, and I got a free limoncello after lunch. Not as good as what my parents make, but smooth.

I did ponder if I could live in a city like New York. Part of me can see it, but I don’t think I will. The city will be a place to visit. I enjoy the wealth of opportunities and activities. But the peace of the country and having some space to myself better suits my preferences. Yet, alone in City Hall Park and aside from having to pee really bad, I felt a short moment of peace. There was a girl all in black (the goth kind, not the funeral one) writing in a journal. I felt a brief connection as I looked up from my own thoughts and saw her writing passionately.

I didn’t stay in the park long (did I mention I had to pee like Forrest Gump on 15 Dr. Peppers?). I found a shopping mall, used the bathroom, and decided to see the 9/11 Memorial while I was close by. I walked around the pools of the North and South Towers, reading the victims’ names. It is quite the somber area, but that didn’t stop a baby from crying or two kids from running around. I visited on a Tuesday – the one day the museum is closed. I was a little bummed, but noticed that Will would be out of work soon.

Leaving New York

I knew that when I packed my things and said goodbye to Will I would return soon. I played around the idea of moving to the city with him and his friend Cam over bagels. They were all for it, of course. However, I knew that when I left the city I would be more inclined to have a plot of land somewhere. I’ve been to New York two more times since September 2023. When I’m there, I wonder at the possibility of life in the city. And when I leave, so does the thought of staying.

I just took a job that will take me further into the boonies of Maine. On the one hand, I’m excited to be a teacher again. Yet, being far from my friends and family will be tough. At this point, I’ll be nearly ten hours from New York. That means I may as well hop a flight from Quebec. That I will gladly do! See you soon, Will!