I lived in Manhattan for almost a year, and I loved everything about it. It’s just as enchanting and charming as I thought it would be, and it’s still my favorite place in the world. I don’t miss everything about it every single day, but sometimes, I really miss the little things that make living there so fantastic. Here are four of the things that I’ve recently been missing the most
1. Halal
A few days ago, I found myself in a deep hole of depression because I was seriously craving a lamb and chicken platter with white sauce, a little spicy sauce, and some barbecue sauce. I ate Chick-fil-A that night and it didn’t even taste good because all I wanted was Halal. The craving really hasn’t gone away, it’s just subsided a little. Only a few months after I moved to New York, I became friends with the Halal man across the street from my building. His name was Ali, he was from Afghanistan, and he didn’t charge me full price. I ate Halal at ungodly hours of the night sometimes, but I’m in college, so it’s totally acceptable. Also, side note: there is often regret involved after eating Halal, if you catch my drift. Ninety percent of the time, though, it’s totally worth it. There’s a long (and growing) list of things that I would do to get some Halal right now.
2. The Staten Island Ferry
New York City has a lot to offer. There’s so much food, there are some incredible shows, and the opportunities to be found are endless. Oddly, though, my very favorite thing to do in the city is ride the Staten Island Ferry. Those of you who live on Staten Island and are forced to ride the ferry all the time are probably laughing at me, so I want to clarify: I don’t love it enough to ride it every day. There is a perfect time to go, though. Check the schedule, but usually the ferries leave every half hour. Figure out what time sunset will be, and leave on the ferry that’s closest to that time. Not too long before, though, or you’ll miss it. Find a spot on the side facing west, preferably on the open-air part. As you cross the water, the sun will set right behind Lady Liberty, and it’s one of the prettiest things I’ve ever seen. You can just stare at it the whole time. When you get to the Island, get on the next ferry back to Manhattan. By that time, it’ll be dark, and the city will be all lit up. Freedom Tower looms above you, its 1,776 feet growing taller the closer you get. If you want to experience New York at its most beautiful, this is the way to do it.
3. New Yorkers
New Yorkers really get a bad rap. Granted, a lot of them are jerks, but so are people from everywhere else! I’m from the South, so people around here get a little salty when strangers don’t make small talk and aren’t overly friendly. In New York City, there is no such thing as personal space, making eye contact can actually be a little dangerous, and they’re all in a huge hurry (even if they’re not late for anything). Saying sorry when you brush someone’s arm on the street or in the subway is totally weird and it can get a little annoying. As that is the case, exchanges between New Yorkers can look awfully hostile, and I won’t argue with that. What a lot of people, especially tourists, don’t realize, is that there are some pretty fab New Yorkers out there, and I’m honored to be friends with a few of them. When you get to know other New Yorkers, you find that they’re often very nice and they want friends, too. Friends aren’t easy to come by in the city, and plus, you all already have something in common. You’re all in New York City for a reason. Not everyone can survive there. It takes a special kind of person to be a New Yorker, and when you already have that commonality, that’s a big step in the right direction. If you think New Yorkers are mean and rude, you should definitely get to know a few. I’m sure you’ll change your mind.
4. My Breakfast Man
I know buying breakfast out is really uneconomical and unhealthy, so I don’t need a lecture after I tell you this. I had classes on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and I usually stopped at the breakfast cart two out of three of those mornings. I never spent more than five dollars, and when I did hit that much, it was because I tipped him really well sometimes. He knew just how I liked my iced coffee, and when I was hungry for food and not just coffee, those sausages, eggs, and cheeses on croissants just hit the spot. I never learned his name because I always referred to him as “the Breakfast Man” (not to his face, obviously). I was always in a big enough hurry that it didn’t really matter. I can taste that iced coffee right now, and it was probably some cheap garbage bodega coffee grounds, but man it was amazing. If you feel like bringing Halal or some of the breakfast man’s iced coffee from New York to Georgia, I will love you more than I love New York (maybe).
I could go on for a while about more things I miss, but for now, I think this pretty much covers it. If you live in New York, or if you’re visiting, I highly recommend street food, riding the Staten Island Ferry, and making friends with a few New Yorkers.
P. S. Go visit Ali on the southwest corner of 34th and 8th, right by CVS. He’s pretty rad.
