It’s 2:30 in bed and I’m driving to NYC tomorrow at 8
March 22nd, 2005 by Sarin
I’m sure everybody’s seen the movie Spiderman and its sequel. That and the movie’s videogames reminded me that I should go back one day. The former, were action movies that had the best action scenes that New York City will ever see. The latter, a great virtual tour that helped me map the city in my head without ever needing to be there. I didn’t have to ‘be there’ to know how to get to New York’s Battery park from the Flatiron building, but the videogames taught me. For being in the city, 1 and a half times, I should have learned years ago. I guess I’m a slow learner.
Then there was the “Drag Race NYC” video, that totally blew my mind and virtually kicked me off the couch. I wanted to go back to NYC bad, and use what I learned off a video game, to create my own drag race.
Come Sunday, the second day of Spring Break I probably slept enough in the past two days to have a clear mind. Looking forward to the week ahead, I knew I couldn’t do much with $78 dollars in the bank. In the middle of watching TV, I ask my brother how much it costs to park your car in NYC. He quotes me an early bird price that I knew I would never use. He then goes, “So are you going anywhere?”.
Without thinking, I go, “I got $78, I think I’ll try it.” My next problem was finding someone who was doing absolutely nothing like I was, in the greater Providence area.
I stalled the trip for a couple of days, in order for one of my friends to get some money. It worked out for me as well because I was getting paid later that Friday. My original friend who I was waiting for bailed out (ironic, I wait for him to get money, he bails, and I’m richer), but my old friend Adam wanted to join and we were ready.
The night before was of course St. Patty’s day so imagine how I felt when I came home at 2:30 and wanted to wake up for the NY trip the next morning at 7. I didn’t sleep much through the alcohol and just stumbled up a little early. Nevertheless, we left RI around 8, and the slow ass train got us into the city before 1. Getting off the train and hustling through the traffic and into the outside was a good sigh of relief. Only this time, since I’ve been accustomed to NYC, it felt like nothing has changed.
On my list of things to do were to get to the cheapest bike rental shop up on the Upper East Side. Adam & me both got bikes and departed for Central Park. We got a feel for our wheels and stopped at Columbus Circle to plan our route. We would bike along the Hudson, past the Financial District, WTC and bike to Brooklyn through the Brooklyn Bridge.
At the apex of the Brooklyn Bridge, we were treated with the best view of Downtown and its soaring skyscrapers. Even more of a view was realizing how far away the Chrysler building was, which was where we began our walk and is not even close to where we started biking. I felt fine about the ride and it was a good time to finally be outside. It was fairly sunny with a high 50. I ask Adam how he was doing.
“I haven’t exercised in years.”
“Are you kidding me? I stopped biking because running gave me a better workout.”
I felt a little bit concerned, as we were only halfway in our trip and we didn’t ride ‘through’ the city yet. Adam’s back was sweating, but the worse was yet to come. I wanted to ride up Broadway, into Times Square for food.
Ok, major tip for amateur bikers. Traffic on Broadway runs OPPOSITE if you’re heading north. Riding opposite traffic is actually illegal, but we did it anyway. This meant the next hour consisted of Adam & me playing Frogger with opposing cars, taxies, busses. Shimmying through little gaps between cars. Waiting for green lights, cautiously peering over intersections. Finally showing up at Times Square, and thankfully being alive. We made a couple of stops along the way (Union Square, Chinatown), but it was a great ride (roughly 16 miles).
Later on, we had dinner at Virgil’s BBQ off TS (real good home cooking if you’re trying to avoid everything else off TS), dragged our tired feet through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, had a couple of drinks at Jimmy’s Corner bar (nice dive) and were buzzed around 9:30. I was looking for more of young crowd, a place were people were, and then tried to get into a bar which I now think would have been impossible for us.
Bungalow 8, over in Chelsea, is a little hole in the wall bar that doesn’t even light up its door until 11 (we walked past it numerous times). I got a tip that it was hot, but it wasn’t that I got home when I read that it uber-hot (celebrities galore). We didn’t get past the bouncer without reservations, and we probably wouldn’t have considering we both don’t look Hollywood enough. The two of us settled at Brite bar around the corner and I slowly downed a pitcher of Sam’s. Adam though was on his 8th and last Vodka and tonic.
Closing in, we had some late night fast food and took the 1:30am train back home. I wanted to take the 5:40am, but there was nothing left for us out of towners to do. I got home around 6:30 and watched TV till I really felt tired (I took a nap on the train) and slept till 5 in the afternoon.
Overall the trip was fun for a one day getaway. I got to see more of the city than most people do in 2 hours. It stuns me how big and large the city can be until you walk or bike it yourself. You can see for yourself on the videos section. I’d like to move to NYC some day, but I now realize its shortcomings. From what I have seen, NY isn’t a big drinking city, and its people are very reserved. I’ve been to Montreal and other cities where people take their drinking and socializing seriously. Here, I always felt like an out of towner among rich twenty somethings and their $10 martinis. The bartender even looked at me funny when I asked for pitcher. Maybe I should see more there has to offer, but I do know that partying may come to a stop if I ever moved there.
There is a certain feel among the different neighborhoods. There is certain distinction between living in Greenwich Village compared to like Upper East Side or even Chelsea. You won’t understand it from reading out of book; seeing it in person makes the most sense. From watching who walks the streets, who jogs, what businesses are open, each neighborhood has its flair. I have a better idea of where I would want to try looking, when that day comes.
Looks like we’ll just have to wait and see.
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