Comments on: New York Limbo

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:47:48 +0000

I live in the NYC area (northern NJ to be exact). I must somewhat agree with a lot of what you wrote. If you saw NYC in the 1990′s, you would probably be singing a different tune before Mayor Bloomberg messed it up and made the entire city commercialized by allowing the rents to go up so high that mom-and-pop businesses can no longer survive. Those small places was what made NYC so special and so unique just 5 – 6 years ago. I have to agree that the subway platforms are a disgusting nightmare during the summer heat, although we normally only have 1-2 weeks in the summer that are really unbearable on average. On the positive side, I LOVE having the subways because it sure beats driving a car in NYC and they run 24/7 unlike most other public transportation systems. Grocery shopping can be an ordeal if you do it in the Times Square tourist area and if you’re buying for more than yourself. Otherwise, there are several fairly cheap grocery stores in NYC that you can easily walk to from anywhere you may live. Speaking of Food…..yes most of the “good food” is expensive, HOWEVER there are a few really good places to eat that are reasonably priced and taste good. My favorites are Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, S’Mac n Cheese, and Grey’s Papaya. Music -wise, NYC really can do much better. I have to agree with you on that one. I actually wish it was more like Nashville with more live bands performing without cover charges. We have very very few dive bars left in NYC, but the ones we do have are excellent!! I really hope things pick up in that department, but that will depend on better rent control regulations to be imposed. NYC was once a place where there was always something for everyone at a reasonable price. However, the politicians screwed up the city mainly by de-regulating the rent controls, forcing most of the “fun places” to shut down. Right now NYC is at a point where it can either go straight down into the gutter with absolutely nothing for the non-millionaires to enjoy OR major changes will be made so it will once again become a fun place to visit and or live.

By: C. Wells

C. Wells — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:27:09 +0000

On LR pizza – don’t forget Iriana’s. And some of the specialty pizzas at Larry’s are really good too.

By: John

John — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:41:07 +0000

For me, NYC is a fabulous resource for new tools to pick up from the many talented people you have access to.

It´s a place where your home or apartment is your own oasis and when you open your front door you go out into the blaring reality of todays world.

So, I would grab as many tools as you can before you head back home.

Here in Veracruz, I am still gathering these personal tools, and just haven´t “gone home” yet.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:21:51 +0000

Interesting insights. Never personally understood the appeal of NYC since going there in high school. Big. Crowded. Loud.

And, yes, it is impossible to find better pizza than in Ark. (I am trying to get Shotgun Dan’s to franchise). I’ve yet to find good pizza in metro Tampa (too much NY-style for my taste).

It is trite, but true that home is where the heart is.

P.S. I cannot belive you did not include Sesame Street.

By: Keath

Keath — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:03:24 +0000

I did two stretches of 6 months each in NYC for work and I agree with all your points. My reason I didn’t want to live there was simple: everything is a hassle. Grocery shopping, running out at lunch to grab a CD you want, buying a shirt, every last thing was such a big ordeal. I suppose if you’re young and willing to put up with the discomforts for the social aspect of getting drunk and hooking up then the city works well or if you’re wealthy enough to afford all the benefits NYC has to offer by living in Manhattan and still being able to afford to see shows, attend events, etc.

And yeah if you don’t want to spend $60 apiece on a meal then the food sucks – especially in the downtown district where I was both times.

So I’m in Florida. I see palm trees everyday. Life is good :)

By: katie

katie — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:50:52 +0000

interesting… a nice change from the “anywhere is better than Arkansas” schtick some people seem to believe so ardently…

joel and i cant find pizza anywhere near as good as LR, either. we’re enjoying the cultural and music stuff, as its unarguably better, but we also miss friends and family. we’ve got a year and 4 months left…

positive psychologists have concluded that the smaller the triangle is between your work, home, and shopping areas, the happier you are. little rock wins there=commute-less ;)

its always easier to be a big fish in a small pond than visa versa.