Great to see current shots of Manhattan in the snow.
I lived in Manhattan from 1966 to 2016 (50 years) before moving west.
When you're young or "youngish" Manhattan is a great place to live.
And whenever I watch a moving with Manhattan as a backdrop I thank my lucky stars that in 1958 at 12 (looking like 17) I went into Manhattan all by myself and declared "I'm living here!" Moved in at 20 and stayed till I was 70 -- it easily exceeded my expectations!
Wow! What a story Angelina. How lucky you were to squeeze 50 years out of the city. My story is similar to yours, except for the ages (I was 21, fresh out of college during my first trip). This city is pure magic, there's nothing in the world like it. I'm so happy to hear you got to enjoy it for long, sounds like it brought you so much joy!
Part of why the city did bring me so much joy was that at key moments I practiced "Present Time Consciousness."
For example, around 1980 I was Banquet Manager in a French restaurant across from the United Nations where I planned and ran a surprise 50th birthday party for Oscar de la Renta. When he burst on the scene I stopped time in my own mind and took a mental snapshot of the event, reminding myself just how lucky I was to be at that moment in time.
And throughout those 50 years I had many experiences that were that thrilling -- I never became jaded and so I didn't miss out on the moment.
You're kidding me! Oscar de la Renta! I would have passed out from excitement! Wow, it sounds like you truly loved your time in NYC. I'm crossing my fingers that I can stay in NYC for 50 years too, it's hard to imagine enjoying daily life so much elsewhere. What fantastic memories you have!
I also served Jackie Kennedy at Sardi's when I was Assistant Banquet Manager there. She was far more beautiful in person, almost ethereal!
WHY I got the privilege of living in Manhattan so long was that for the first 27 years I had original rent control -- in 1966 my first rent was $98 a month on East 51st Street (between Third and Second Avenue across from my job as a Receptionist in a Mad Men Ad Agency at 845 Third Avenue.) At 20, the first time a male model walked into the agency I was "gob-smacked" by his gorgeousness.
I also had a rent stabilized apartment from 2003 to 2016 in Inwood at the top of Manhattan -- when I left in 2016 my rent was $883 for a one-bedroom!.
By the way, Inwood may be the last affordable refuge in Manhattan and it's served by the A-Train and the 1-Train. BUT, the safest part of it is:
above 200/Dyckman and west of Broadway. The last ghetto on Manhattan island is EAST of Broadway at the top of the island -- litter, graffiti, and crime.
Regarding enjoying Manhattan, I think London and Paris would probably match it -- but nowhere else in the United States!!!
But a word of caution -- Manhattan has around 11 women to every man and if you remain in Manhattan you're far more likely to remain alone -- gorgeous women from around the world arrive there for a career in the arts.
I had my share of dating millionaires and male models but as I type this I am about to turn 78 and I am alone for the past 7 years!
It's something to think about as it's a big price to pay.
Great to see current shots of Manhattan in the snow.
I lived in Manhattan from 1966 to 2016 (50 years) before moving west.
When you're young or "youngish" Manhattan is a great place to live.
And whenever I watch a moving with Manhattan as a backdrop I thank my lucky stars that in 1958 at 12 (looking like 17) I went into Manhattan all by myself and declared "I'm living here!" Moved in at 20 and stayed till I was 70 -- it easily exceeded my expectations!
Wow! What a story Angelina. How lucky you were to squeeze 50 years out of the city. My story is similar to yours, except for the ages (I was 21, fresh out of college during my first trip). This city is pure magic, there's nothing in the world like it. I'm so happy to hear you got to enjoy it for long, sounds like it brought you so much joy!
Antonnina,
Part of why the city did bring me so much joy was that at key moments I practiced "Present Time Consciousness."
For example, around 1980 I was Banquet Manager in a French restaurant across from the United Nations where I planned and ran a surprise 50th birthday party for Oscar de la Renta. When he burst on the scene I stopped time in my own mind and took a mental snapshot of the event, reminding myself just how lucky I was to be at that moment in time.
And throughout those 50 years I had many experiences that were that thrilling -- I never became jaded and so I didn't miss out on the moment.
You're kidding me! Oscar de la Renta! I would have passed out from excitement! Wow, it sounds like you truly loved your time in NYC. I'm crossing my fingers that I can stay in NYC for 50 years too, it's hard to imagine enjoying daily life so much elsewhere. What fantastic memories you have!
Antonina,
I also served Jackie Kennedy at Sardi's when I was Assistant Banquet Manager there. She was far more beautiful in person, almost ethereal!
WHY I got the privilege of living in Manhattan so long was that for the first 27 years I had original rent control -- in 1966 my first rent was $98 a month on East 51st Street (between Third and Second Avenue across from my job as a Receptionist in a Mad Men Ad Agency at 845 Third Avenue.) At 20, the first time a male model walked into the agency I was "gob-smacked" by his gorgeousness.
I also had a rent stabilized apartment from 2003 to 2016 in Inwood at the top of Manhattan -- when I left in 2016 my rent was $883 for a one-bedroom!.
By the way, Inwood may be the last affordable refuge in Manhattan and it's served by the A-Train and the 1-Train. BUT, the safest part of it is:
above 200/Dyckman and west of Broadway. The last ghetto on Manhattan island is EAST of Broadway at the top of the island -- litter, graffiti, and crime.
Regarding enjoying Manhattan, I think London and Paris would probably match it -- but nowhere else in the United States!!!
But a word of caution -- Manhattan has around 11 women to every man and if you remain in Manhattan you're far more likely to remain alone -- gorgeous women from around the world arrive there for a career in the arts.
I had my share of dating millionaires and male models but as I type this I am about to turn 78 and I am alone for the past 7 years!
It's something to think about as it's a big price to pay.
All the best to you!