Julie and the City » Cool Stuff & Awards

Reasons to Love New York

Julie — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:23:57 +0000

One of my dreams is to see my name in print in New York Magazine, preferably in byline form. (Two years with my name on the advertising masthead do not count.) This week, I am halfway there. I was quoted in their annual Reasons to Love New York issue, after answering a call for submissions on nymag.com. It’s one of the few reasons that is not also listed on their website, but you won’t hear me complaining.

On page 41, reason number 10 to love New York: “Because sooner or later everybody comes to New York: every band, every friend, everybody I want to see.”

I could go on for ages with my reasons to love New York, but here are a few more reasons to love this city.

The eight-piece brass brand that plays in the concourse of the Union Square subway station. (Have you seen these guys? They are amazing.) They remind me to slow down and listen to the music.

I look around on me on the subway and I see people reading newspapers in Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, and Hebrew, and I marvel that we are all sitting next to each other peacefully.

Five dumplings for $1.25 on Elizabeth St in Chinatown, and lamb gyros at the Halal trucks in midtown.

Ethiopian food at Awash on E. 6th Street, and all the hawkers for the Indian restaurants on the same street.

I love the view of the Brooklyn Bridge, downtown, and the Statue of Liberty in the distance as I cross the Manhattan bridge on the subway. It’s breathtaking, and I see it every day.

New York is really just one big small town. Where else would you constantly run into friends on the street?

Hitting golf balls at the Chelsea Piers driving range. The sun is setting over the Hudson, and the Statue of Liberty is quietly watching the harbor.

With three international airports, I can get a direct flight to anywhere. Layovers are so provincial.

Be sure to check out New York Magazine’s Reasons to Love New York. What are your Reasons to Love New York?

How to Be a Contestant on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’

Julie — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:21:32 +0000

The following post originally appeared on Neighborbee on December 16, 2008.

Everyone, even our own Bruce Springsteen of Queens, is raving about Slumdog Millionaire. While I haven’t yet seen the movie, I do have something in common with the main character. Earlier this year I was a contestant on an episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and now I am going to tell you how you can get on the show too.

One of the 100 Best Travel Blogs!

Julie — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:13:00 +0000

We were recently honored to be included in Travelhacker’s list of the 100 Best Travel Blogs. As it turns out, we are in good company!

Check out the full list.

As the kiwis would say, sweet as!

Officially a Lost Girl

Julie — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:43:00 +0000

Just before I left New York, I exchanged a few emails with Amanda of The Lost Girls, who had just returned to the city after a year around the world. Their hilarious travel blog made me realize how much I had to look forward to on my travels.

Now that the Girls are back in the Big Apple, they regularly profile a Lost Girl of the Week. This week, it’s my turn! Click here to read why I got Lost.