"Ahhh... New York... Aren't ya gonna miss it?"
Carrie Bradshaw ushered these very words to the infamous "Mr. Big" in the episode "I Heart NY" from Season 4 of Sex and the City (2001). It couldn't be truer. My love affair with this town spans twenty years now and began when I moved to New Jersey at the age of 13 in January 1988. My stepfather had just married my mother and he was transferred to New York from Atlanta. I wasn't a big fan of Jersey, but I relished the weekends when we'd go into the city. Even the first glimpse of the massive skyline with the prominent World Trade Center would give me chills (I sketched it over and over again...I still have one of the sketches to this day). Of course, these trips would include the more touristy things like Times Square, Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Grand Central Station, etc., etc., etc. I can even remember going to Central Park on a gorgeous Spring day (complete with a sky full of kites) in May of '88 or '89 (I can't remember which), and glimpsing a cute gay couple holding hands. I remember thinking that I'd have a cute boyfriend someday... Little did I know what a challenging enterprise that would be. Unfortunately, my dislike for Jersey outweighed my love for NYC (since I dealt with Jersey on a daily basis), so I moved back to Atlanta to live with my Dad a year and a half later in July 1989. I would only return to visit my mom for a short Christmas visit later that same year. I wouldn't return again for twelve whole years (in the interim, my mom and stepdad moved to other cities).
My next visit wasn't until Labor Day, 2001. At the time, I was 26, and I was going to visit a guy I dated for some seven or so months before he completed grad school at UGA. Of course, by then, I was an avid watcher of Sex and the City, so I had a completely romantized view of New York. We did some touristy things, and some not-so-touristy things. Three places I enjoyed were XL Lounge (a sleek lounge in Chelsea for the boys, which I'm not sure exists anymore). XL had an ultramodern public latrine in the middle of the bathroom with this divider wall with trickling water fall, but you could see the other person on the other side, which was a bit intimidating. They had hot, shirtless bartenders, and I think I saw the SATC girls on a later episode at the same place. Samantha was checking out the latrine and complimenting "the goods” while saying something to the effect of it being “like a diabetic in a candy store.” I also remember a great place for Sunday brunch called Artepasta (I think it was hedging on Greenwich Village and Chelsea). I just remember they had all-you-can-drink mimosas for $10! A great place for shopping at the time was Century 21, which was downtown directly across from the WTC. I remember stepping outside and looking up and asking Jason (the guy I dated) if we could be tourists and go to the top because I never had the chance to do it as a kid. He said no, so I thought there would plenty of other chances. It wasn't like they were going anywhere. I remember my bag being ransacked at the Newark airport by security when I was leaving a few days later. It was a bit scary because I'd never been through it before. I had extreme anxiety on the flight home, which was bizarre because I love to fly. One week later, as I sat in my tiny cube at Wolf Camera corporate, I watched the nightmare unfold with the north tower on CNN.com. I immediately rushed to the break room to find out was going on. I watched in pure horror as the airliner struck the south tower. A sickening feeling of disbelief ensued as I realized at that moment we were under attack. As the towers fell, it was like I living in an alternate universe. I can't even describe it. All those people… Those symbols of New York (and America, really) that I'd sketched so often as a child....gone.
My next visit came almost exactly five years later in 2006. The 9/11 tragedies became even more real when I saw the downtown skyline with the absent towers. My September '06 trip and my July '07 trip were much more relaxed and exploratory. It was time to do some off-roading. My BFF Christina (who moved there in '05) gave me the inside scoop, and I've become more and more familiar with different neighborhoods throughout the city. Over the past six years, I've had quite a few friends migrate to New York...many of which never came back. As Atlanta becomes smaller and smaller to me (while simultaneously growing bigger and bigger to others), my annoyances with Atlanta have peaked, and I've decided to make the move myself. My goal date is June 1, 2009.
Looking for fun places to go on your next visit to New York? Here are some gems in both Williamsburg and Lower Manhattan I’ve discovered over my past two visits. They are written from an Atlanta perspective, since I haven’t really a basis for comparison. I’ve hyperlinked most places to their respective Myspace pages or web sites where applicable. Enjoy!
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN:
Metropolitan (GAY)
559 Lorimer St almost at Metropolitan Ave (there's an L stop right across the street)
It's like a Mary's in Williamsburg. However, there's not really a dance space, but it has a bigger outdoor patio. It's more of a hangout. I guess it could be dancey sometimes, but I've never been on a dancey night (I've only been twice, and I think it was during the week). It's a bit strange how much it reminds me of Mary’s. Still, a fun place!
Union Pool (or, affectionately called "U.P.")
484 Union Ave. at Meeker St.
A great blend of The Earl, MJQ, Lenny's and The Local... Great bar area, great outdoor patio, great live music area, and great dance space. It's the best Williamsburg hangout.
594 Union Ave. at Richardson St.
Cool hangout. Much like The Local. Nice little dance space in the back! Very much like UP, though not quite as many ultra-hipsters. More laid back.
212 Berry St. at N. 3rd St.
This place is very much like The Local (albeit a bit more crowded on Friday nights). The have ten billion different kinds of beer (like, bizarre ones you've never heard of). It's fun. I went there on 4th of July after seeing Japanther and Pterodactyl play at 29 Wythe.
221 N. 9th St., between Roebling St. and Driggs Ave.
We went on a Sunday night. Pretty cool place. Every time you order a beer, you get a free pizza! YESSSS.
70 N. 6th St., between Wythe and Kent Ave's...a few blocks from Bedford Ave.
Live music / indie bar / art space. I wanted to see The Presets there back in '06, but it was the day I left. Still, a great place
285 Bedford Ave., between Grand and S.1st St's
Dance club on Beford Ave. I ran into my friend Carrie White from Atlanta a few years back, and she said she spins there on Sunday nights... However, who knows if she still does... Worth a peek.
29 Wythe
29 Wythe at N. 14th
Cool little live music warehouse-type space. Reminded me of lots of spaces in Cabbagetown. They had a great 4th of July party, and only blocks from full view of the East River fireworks.
388 Union Ave, near Metropolitan Ave
Cool little hangout spot to have a few beers, as well as play some '80s arcade games!
McCaren Park Pool
Lorimer St. between Driggs Ave. and Baynard St. (technically Greenpoint)
From June to August, all the hipsters from Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Park Slope, etc. gather in droves for the Free Sunday “pool” parties. It's literally a HUGE, old drained community pool where everyone goes to watch summer shows. Check here for the free Sunday Pool Parties schedule: http://thepoolparties.com/. Otherwise, shows during the week cost $$$.
PLACES TO EAT:
338 Bedford Ave., between S. 2nd and S. 3rd St's
AWESOME Mexican food. I ate their twice. I mean, you can't find good Mexican in New York, but this is as good as it gets!
Fabiane's Cafe & Pastry
42 N. 5th St at Bedford Ave
SOOOO GOOD! Open Air during summer. Good for coffee and people watching. Try their mushroom quiche... FANTASTIC. Though, don't expect the traditional French fluffy quiche... Since Fabiane's is a fusion of Brazil and France, the quiche is more on the runny side...kind of like a casserole. SOOO GOOD.
Phoebe's Cafe
323 Graham Ave., between Lorimer and Leonard St's
Great little indie coffee house / brunch spot. I had the banana walnut waffles. They were quite tasty.
225 Wythe Ave at N. 3rd
Ever wonder if there's a place like Ria's or Radial is in New York? THIS IS IT. I went there just before I had to go to LaGuardia... YUM. I could’ve stayed MUCH longer.
Sunac Natural Food
440 Union Ave near Metropolitan Ave, between Devoe and Keap
24 HOUR NATURAL FOODS AND DELI!!!! It's great to get hoagies in the middle of the night!!
SHOPPING:
88 N. 11th St., between Berry and Wythe Ave's
THE thrift store to shop in Williamsburg. Some things are pricey...others are shockingly not. I found a quite a few things there.
FOR ALL THINGS WILLIAMSBURG, VISIT: www.freewilliamsburg.com or www.thelmagazine.com
MORE GOING OUT/PARTY SUGGESTIONS FOR BOTH BROOKLYN AND MANHATTAN (sign up for this email updates):
OPEN BAR NIGHTS:
www.myopenbar.com (sign up! a great resource for fun things!)
LOWER MANHATTAN:
Thursdays:
Cheeky Bastard at Hiro Ballroom
371 W. 16th St. (Chelsea)
The creme de la creme of indie dance nights in NYC. :ots of Paper magazine, Useless magazine, and V magazine folks.
Happy Ending (GAY indie dance night, weee!)
302 Broome St (LES)
It's kind of a ghostown before Midnight, but after that, LOTS OF CUTE INDIE GAY BOYS DANCING IT UP!!! If I wasn’t so hungover from 4th of July the night before, I would’ve had a blast.
Fridays:
40 Ave. C at 3rd St. (East Village)
MY MOST FUN NIGHT BY FAR! DJ Jess (who's cute as hell, but alas...straight), plays an '80s new wave-heavy night at this whole-in-the-wall East Village bar... The crowd was good! It has changed locations from Rififi since I've been there, but the music is awesome.
152 Orchard St, between Stanton and Rivington (LES)
An indie rock "scene" night. Pretty much all the NYC fashionista-hipster-scenesters gather here on Fridays. Hint: know the bands that are playing before the actual dance party gets started. A door guy may ask you who you're here to see, and just name one of the bands. This is how they keep the frat boys and sorority girls out...
Saturdays:
Crashin' In at Stanton Public
17 Stanton St. between Bowery St. and Chrystie St. (LES)
Lio Cerezo (DJ Oil) who used to live here in Atlanta and spin the Britpop Video Nights at Mary's with Dennis Millay every Monday hosts this night. It's a great party. It used to be located at Galapagos in Williamsburg. You should go!
Sundays:
Sway (the sign outside still reads McGovern's Tavern)
305 Spring St, between Hudson and Greenwich - a little up the street from Don Hill's where infamous MisShapes party used to be.
It has become increasingly hard to get into Sway on Sundays...more and more people have found out about it. As a matter of fact, Chloe Sevigny has been spotted there a few times over the past two years. However, it's dance-o-mania here. Good crowd as well.
PLACES TO EAT (Brunch and Latenight):
Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant
4 Clinton St., between E. Houston and Stanton (LES)
SOOOO EFFING GOOD!!!!! Southern-styled. The best food EVER. You should go.
Punjabi Grocery & Deli
114 E. 1st St., between 1st Ave. and Ave. A (LES)
Open 24 hrs!!!! Hits the spot after a long night boozing and dancing. It’s Indian take-out. Fast, and better than going to Taco Cabana or Majestic at 4am if you know what I’m sayin’..
SHOPPING:
4 St. Mark's Place, Ste. 4, between 2nd and 3rd Ave's (East Village)
A seminal punk-rock boutique. It's kind of like an L5P or E. Atl. boutique, but they have some great stuff you can't find here in Atlanta, so I really liked it. Their skinny jeans fit like a glove.
