I’m back in New York City! And truthfully, though Hong Kong will always hold a special place in my heart, I couldn’t be more excited to return to the Big Apple. Here are 10 reasons why:
1. The arts, culture, and party scene
New York’s got Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, a zillion arts festivals, and a bumping party scene. There are museums galore, cultural parades nearly every weekend in the summertime (last year I hit up both the German-American Steuben Parade and the Bastille Day celebrations), and too many rooftops, bars, and patios to count. Whether you want to turn up, wind down, educate yourself, or enjoy people watching, there is something somewhere for you to do here. It’s one of the major allures of living in the city and I can’t wait to take advantage of it again!
2. The restaurants
I’m not ashamed to admit that the way to my heart is through my stomach– I mean, I plan most of my life around meal times! So the range and abundance of restaurants and cuisines in New York City make my mouth water and palate sing. I’ve already got a few faves that I’m excited to patronize again, like Sage Restaurant in Williamsburg (Thai food), and Ms. Lily’s in the Lower East Side (Caribbean cuisine). I’m itching for some new places to test out.
3. My friends
While I’ve been blessed to make amazing, lifelong friends in Hong Kong, I’m extremely lucky to have my college besties living in New York! I’ve known fellow Canucks Joy and June since our days at the University of Toronto, so we go waaaay back– the love is strong. Moreover, they’ve been living in NYC for last 8 years and know the city like the back of their hands, so are always “in the know’ in terms of fun things to do. (Sidebar: J & J are new to the blogosphere, so be sure to hit up their vegan food and travel website A Dash of Two and show some love!)
4. Proximity to Toronto
New York City is only an hour flight from my hometown of Toronto, which is the perfect excuse to go home to “The 6” for a visit (or alternatively to have my family and friends nip over to NYC to come see me)! I hope to schedule a visit home soon, but in the interim, my mom has already taken advantage– I got back to NYC Thursday morning, and she arrived on Friday! We spent the weekend shopping hitting up New York City’s most salient attractions before heading off on a cruise (yup, I’m on a Caribbean cruise this week, follow me on Instagram or Facebook for real time updates).
5. The parks
The one thing I missed while in Hong Kong? Green spaces, of which New York City has plenty. Being outdoors and having parks to picnic in, get lost in, play sports in, or randomly navel-gaze in really appeal to my inner nature-lover, and sadly outdoor spaces like these are severely lacking in HK. My currently favourites are Central Park (so cliche, but I can’t help it) and Brooklyn Bridge Park, but I’m looking forward to getting to know and love many more.
6. The neighbourhoods
Late great British writer Samuel Johnson famously said that “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life,” but I’d contend that the same could be said of New York. While the Big Apple is comprised of five boroughs that are wholly distinct from one another (Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island), I have been surprised to discover the cornucupia of unique neighbourhoods and areas within each one. The bottom line: there’s no real opportunity to get bored in NYC with so many diverse corners to bop around in. Now that I’m back in town full-time, I’m going to make a concerted effort to get to know my home borough of Queens better– since I live in Long Island City my tendency is to go out in Manhattan, since it’s only one train stop across the water. Instead, I’m going to seek out more entertainment options in Queens itself. I’ve been to Astoria a few times and would like to check out Flushing.
7. The travel opportunities
New York City and New Jersey are excellent hubs for travel, despite the fact that LaGuardia, Newark, and JFK airports are more than a little worse for wear. Hong Kong was an excellent travel hub, also, but where NYC wins out is the number of cheap nonstop flights and also proximity to destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Last year I took advantage of this, heading to places like St. Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, and Ecuador. Never one to pass up a good travel opportunity, I will continue to take advantage in the coming months.
8. The fashion
Undoubtedly the epicenter of the North American fashion scene, NYC is spectacular for aspiring fashionistas or people watching if fashion isn’t your thing. People LOOK GOOD here, are extremely well put together, and are super daring with their style. As a person who is into visuals, I appreciate the eye candy immensely, as well as the scope of shopping options that adorn the city’s streets. As a confessed shopaholic, I will really have to rein myself in!
9. Everybody and everything comes to NYC!
I’ve alluded to this above but New York City is simply the hub for everything: it’s truly a synonym for access and options. What do I mean? Well, I feel like absolutely everything is here: the best conferences, concerts, and shows; the top restaurants and chefs; and the most renowned artists and thinkers. The city is extremely culturally and intellectually stimulating and this excites me. Moreover, on a personal level, I’ve found NYC to be a sort of crossroads for all the international friends I’ve managed accumulate over the years. Whether it’s for a short stopover en route to another destination, a dedicated visit, or an extended stay, the people I’ve met in my travels around the world always seem to find their way to New York! So awesome!
10. Liebling
Last but not least, after 4 years total of doing long distance, I’m coming home to my beloved husband for good! We’re thrilled to begin this chapter of our relationship, together, in one of the most dynamic cities in the world. The best things are worth waiting for, eh?
So there you have it– why I’m excited to return to New York City! Any other NYC lovers here? What do you enjoy the most about the city? And, for those of you living in the city, if I had a reader meetup at some point would you come?
60 Comments
My husband is from New York but we now live in my hometown of Baltimore. I like New York but definitely cannot spend more than 2-3 days there without becoming overstimulated and exhausted. I also noticed that compared to DC or Baltimore, everything in NY is so expensive.
You’re right, lots of people pass through! I’ll be there in August.
Hello Oneika! Welcome (back) to NYC! I’m a fairly new reader of your blog and enjoy it immensely. Would totally be up for a reader meetup! Please keep us posted.
Congrats on your move back! Ohh, so love the food you can get at any time of the day or night…
I am so happy for you! Been following your blog for years! Congrats.
NYC, my home! If you love parks you should check out some of the parks in Queens – Astoria Park (that has a public pool in the summer but is also close to the Bohemian Hall beer garden) and Corona Park (home of the Mets). If you had a reader meetup in NY, I’d love to come!
I just got back to Memphis after yet another fantastic week in New York, and it gets more and more difficult to leave after each visit. It’s such a vibrant place and is so full of life and energy and color, and I love having friends and family I can call on whenever I feel the urge to return. Hope you have a great transition, and I can’t wait to read more about your State-side adventures!
D’awws. Your tenth reason would make any location a good place! I’ve yet to visit NYC (gasp!), but you’ve listed some great reasons why I’m missing out.
Great to see that you all will finally get a chance to spend substantial time in the same city!…………………and with it being NYC it appears that you’re in an ideal situation. Although, I will say this…………..I’ll take Los Angeles over NYC all day. 😉
Amazing! All the best in this new chapter! I will be following as usual..for sure. Happy travels!
Thanks for this post Oneika! Im from South Africa and coming to NY in September. This was a good affirmation that my trip is going to be AMAZING!!! Thank you again.
Yay!!
So I’m probably late to the Oneika train but just discovered your blog after stumbling on your guest column on Adventurous Kate. As one of the fewer women of color travel bloggers – I really love your style and insight and look forward to reading more. Exciting news on your move – I’m a New Yorker myself (I can call myself that after living here for 8 years – right..?) – so welcome home! 🙂
Hi Oneika! (My sister’s name is Onika, wonder if it’s pronounced the same). I love your blog! My husband and I love to travel as well and your “traveling while black” spin is awesome! I’m a native NY’er, born and raised on the LES and raising my kids in BedStuy, be sure to visit we’ve got everything here! My husband (a Queens native) is so over the city and wants to relocate to N.Carolina. Needless to say I’m putting up a fight! Next time we have one of our arguments about why I insist on growing old in my beloved NYC I’m going to quote you “The city is extremely culturally and intellectually stimulating and this excites me”
True that!
Welcome Back!
Oneika, I’ve been following you for a while also and you inspire me to continue moving forward with my blog which I will do asap. I would love to attend a reader meetup. I am based in Atlanta, GA but will fly to NYC for a meetup. All the best and I hope you will see much note. I am a huge fan!
Haha! Love the handsome dudes you captured in the fashion section. LOL! Great read, Oneika. NYC definitely holds a special place in my heart, but London owns most of it. ;o)
Searching your site for Barcelona posts – my next destination. #EXCITED
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