New Year, New York

One of the first things I did in the new year was recently spend a week in New York City. New York City and I have a love-hate relationship, very "Hate That I Love You." There are moments I spend in the City where I absolutely love the aura of the lit-up skyline mixed with the bundles of different people on the streets all wrapped up in the possibilities that await on the horizon. If you've ever been to the City, you know this magic is inescapable.

But like all magic, just a hand wave away is the truth behind the awe of an illusion. Then come the moments where I turn into a resentful, jaded, angry New Yorker where I can't stand the pollution, the crowds, the smell and the stress. It reminds me that while I truly enjoy visiting the City, I am glad I don't live there all the time.

Each time I visit the City, it's a different experience, and that's one of the things I love about it. Everyone has their own "New York" to share with others and I've been fortunate enough to traverse the concrete jungle with a variety of guides.

In the past year, I've been on the bachelorette-party tour, where "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" perfectly evokes the frolicking we did. From dancing at an '80's-themed club to ending up at a karaoke bar after midnight and bumping into a semi-famous actor from none other than Gilmore Girls at a restaurant, we played around in the Big Apple and acted like true tourists.

I have also enjoyed the I-now-live-in-New-York tour, which I experienced going to visit a close friend who moved to the City from DC. On this trip, we spent most of the time outside of the City itself, because, pssh, who wants to be around all those tourists? We went to a food festival in Brooklyn and one night out consisted of relaxing at a wine bar. The view of the City from Brooklyn coupled with a good bottle of wine charmed me into a "New York State of Mind" for the weekend.

There was also the 21st-birthday extravaganza which, for my sister, can only be described as "Glamorous." She wanted the ultimate "Sex and the City" meets "Breakfast at Tiffany's" birthday weekend to celebrate this milestone and delivering this was tricky. She did end up having a great celebration with bottle service at a roof-top lounge in the Meatpacking District, after a day on 5th Avenue, of course, and a special tour of Times Square on The Ride. But beauty is pain, right? And underneath this seemingly perfect event, I was left with the pains of dealing with bribing bouncers, scarfing down dinner, and a burn on my wrist from a curling iron. NYC, you may float in and out of my heart, but you will now forever be on my wrist.

The most recent trip I took to the City was for work. On the train ride up, I whistled (or really hummed since I can't whistle) "Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Work We Go!" I love taking a trip to the City for work and visiting my company's New York office. The majority of our work is inter-office, so it's great to see people there every once in a while. Plus I get a few days to spend time and catch up with friends who live in the City who I don't get to see on other trips. The theme song for this tour was "Everybody's Working for the Weekend," and I worked hard all week to arrive at the weekend where I stayed in the City for a different birthday.

This birthday was my best friend's 25th and she wanted to experience the let's-pretend-we-live-in-the-City tour. Rather than staying in a hotel, she rented an apartment in the East Village where we had to walk up five flights of stairs to get to the apartment. That sure screams "living in the City is fun!" to me. But aside from that thorn in my side, we sure did have fun pretending we live in the City: we woke up in the city that never sleeps to have brunch; we let those little-town blues fade away while we enjoyed afternoon coffee and treats in the SoHo loft of a friend's uncle; and we found ourselves king of the hill, a-number one, top of the heap when we got right to the front of the line at a club. "New York, New York," you never cease to amaze.

Maybe on my next trip I'll get to take my own tour of the City, which would consist of "Giv[ing] my Regards to Broadway," visiting some museums, and trying delicious restaurants. For now, I will enjoy admiring the City from afar and look forward to other tours I might get to take this year. Until next time, New York!