If you have ever been to New York City, you've been exposed to the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets. There is a different energy in those of the city. Whether it is living in a rush or being so used to the mystic of the city that we are unamused.
When I first moved to the city, I was trapped in the magic of it all. I would spend around 3-4 hours a day in Times Square alone on days off. I would hit every super touristy spot I could find. I wanted so badly to be " a New Yorker". As the years have gone by, I have had some shifts in focus and perspective.
To be honest I'm not sure when the change happened, but I do remember the instant I realized something had occurred. When friends would ask to go into the city, I would avoid time square as much as I could. I am not exactly sure what happened but the idea of spending all day in the same 6 blocks of city drove me through the wall. I believe a part of me just realized that there is so much more than what I would limit myself to.
You will find the best food, outside of the touristy areas. Jack's Wife Frieda, for example, Is a wonderful restaurant on the lower east side. If I am going into the city that's a place I try to go. Another amazing lunch destination would be Mezzetto's , a Mediterranean cuisine, just south of 14th street. Quiet streets are where the real magic of Manhattan comes to life. You see the people of New York. You begin to understand the hustle of the city. It becomes a part of you.
Now that I have ventured beyond the invisible wall, I have become one with the city. Don't get me wrong, I still love Times square, but this time I love it with different purpose: Because it is a part of a beautiful and greater whole. I may walk faster, and I may be a bit more boisterous and ambitious. And I give my thanks to the city I've been chasing for years.
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