Journal #1: My attitudes and feelings towards New York City

            Where do I begin to explain how I feel about the magnificent New York City? Ever since I was a little girl I remember my trips into the city. Since I live so close to it, it has always been an easy trip to make. My family loves the city. The many times we have gone to the city and stayed over for a weekend are too many to remember. It was like living in a fantasy world. My family loves the city especially at Christmas time. Every year it was a family tradition to go and see the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall and then walk around and look at the stores decorated for Christmas and look at the tree at Rockefeller Center. I remember thinking how magical and beautiful it all was. Every year felt like it was my first time seeing it.

When I think about the city I think about the yellow taxi cabs weaving in and out of traffic, horse drawn carriages riding through Central Park, The Plaza, Broadway, shopping, and of course the exceptional choices of restaurants that the city has to offer. In taking this class I want to grow to understand the city and what makes it the great New York City. My view of the city is very narrow-minded and kind of superficial in a sense, and I want to explore and love the parts of the city I don’t know exist or haven’t had the chance to know.

My father always told me to look at the architecture of buildings to see how much detail went into making the building so unique. I would look and say “yeah you’re right”, but I never actually took the time to appreciate the workmanship and time that went into it. Now that I am 20 years old, I want to appreciate the buildings, monuments, and museums that the city holds. My parents have taken me and my siblings all over the city from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the World Trade Center. I know I was very lucky to have been able to go to the top of the Twin Towers and that is something I am so grateful to have done.

One of my favorite things to do in the city is to go out and eat! I can’t even count how many times I have gone to the city just to stuff my face. One of my favorites is Carmines’. Their family style dinner was always good for my family to go to and since it is Italian food, it was even better. I used to love going down to Serendipity and finishing the night off with a huge ice cream sundae that was so big I could never finish it.

I love to go shopping in the city. There is nothing like shopping on Fifth and Madison Avenue. The stores that have all of the top designers showing off their latest designs and me drooling in awe over how beautiful everything was. The city is open to the many different styles that fashion has. People walking around the city are free to express and dress they way they want without anyone judging you. I also remember my obsession with Broadway. I absolutely love going into the city and seeing a Broadway Musical. I would go and see a show every weekend if I could. The theatres themselves with their majestic beauty and history, and the music give me chills. The shows make you feel as if you are in them and a part of them. There is nothing like it.

I am very excited to be going to Queens and Brooklyn. I know so little about these boroughs and want to know more about them. I have never been on the Brooklyn Bridge and cannot wait to experience it. I have heard great things about Coney Island and am beyond thrilled to be able to go there.

I am coming into this class with a completely open mind. I know nothing about taking the subway and I hope this class will help me grow and learn the knowledge. The city has so much to offer, and I am ready to experience it all. I want to understand the boroughs inside and out and be able to talk about it with confidence. I know this class will help me learn and understand what New York City is and what it truly has to offer.