Because you find yourself catching a cab to Queens at 1:00 a.m. knowing that in a few weeks you will be able to walk the ten blocks home.
Sean and I had a busy Saturday! I got a haircut, we went out to Brooklyn to visit a friends new baby (so sweet), had dinner with Jocelyn and Cory at Casa Mono (one of our fave restaurants in Gramercy), and then went out for a going away party in midtown. Long day, so we are spending Sunday watching marathon episodes of the West Wing. It's the best.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Sullivans Take Manhattan Part Two: So Long, Astoria
When I began thinking about moving it was difficult to see it as a good idea. We have an apartment that (despite its quirks) we love, that is a reasonable price, and very close to the subway, a bank, a grocery store, a great dry cleaner, and most everything else we could want. Astoria is a certainly not a bad neighborhood and actually has a lot to offer. We have enjoyed living here. There are great restaurants, great bars, and one of the best beer gardens in NYC. It took a while to find the best bagel place, or the good thai delivery places, or the dentist. It took quite a while to be able to give intelligent directions to a taxi driver. It took even longer for our apartment and this neighborhood to feel like home. Now that it does, why would we want to leave, you might wonder. And many people have wondered, as I explained to them what a great apartment we already had.
It's easy to get stuck in a neighborhood rut in New York. One where you hardly leave your own neighborhood (case in point: Sean and I this weekend). Moving to the Upper West Side isn't just like moving to a new apartment, it's like moving to a new city. Lansing to Ann Arbor for example. Commuting time between our old and new place is about 45 minutes. We won't be making it out to Astoria very often and will need to find a new reliable dry cleaner, new dentist, eye doctor, and affordable hair salon, among other things. The change in scenery will force us out of our comfort zone, which is always a good thing. Our time in New York is not necessarily permanent and while we are here, I want to take full advantage of the city that is available to us. The Upper West Side is my dream neighborhood (ok it's actually a close second to Union Square but let's not go there), and if I have the opportunity to live in my dream neighborhood, I should probably take it.
That said, I am going to miss all the best parts of Astoria. The cheap manicures and haircuts. Sweet Afton, Vesta, Il Bambino, Brooklyn Bagels, Petey's Burgers, and all the other delicious restaurants around. The extremely quick (and cheap) taxi ride to the airport. The friends we have in Astoria who we will no longer bump into at the grocery store. The endless supply of Greek cafes and brunches.
Forgive me, it's too appropriate.
So Long, Astoria by the Ataris
It's easy to get stuck in a neighborhood rut in New York. One where you hardly leave your own neighborhood (case in point: Sean and I this weekend). Moving to the Upper West Side isn't just like moving to a new apartment, it's like moving to a new city. Lansing to Ann Arbor for example. Commuting time between our old and new place is about 45 minutes. We won't be making it out to Astoria very often and will need to find a new reliable dry cleaner, new dentist, eye doctor, and affordable hair salon, among other things. The change in scenery will force us out of our comfort zone, which is always a good thing. Our time in New York is not necessarily permanent and while we are here, I want to take full advantage of the city that is available to us. The Upper West Side is my dream neighborhood (ok it's actually a close second to Union Square but let's not go there), and if I have the opportunity to live in my dream neighborhood, I should probably take it.
That said, I am going to miss all the best parts of Astoria. The cheap manicures and haircuts. Sweet Afton, Vesta, Il Bambino, Brooklyn Bagels, Petey's Burgers, and all the other delicious restaurants around. The extremely quick (and cheap) taxi ride to the airport. The friends we have in Astoria who we will no longer bump into at the grocery store. The endless supply of Greek cafes and brunches.
Forgive me, it's too appropriate.
So Long, Astoria by the Ataris
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