Things I Miss About New York City That I Didn’t Think I Would…

Being taken out of my everyday hectic life in the city and quarantining in my hometown for an unforeseen amount of time due to the pandemic, has me thinking a lot, reflecting a lot, and realizing how important it is to never take a single thing for granted. Everything in your life is there for a reason! here’s a list of things I miss about my pre pandemic city life that I didn’t think that I would:

1. Stoop people- I could write a whole book about things the stoop people say. I think the stoop people come from the building next door and they just like our stoop. Anyway, they’re always there and greet me with an “ayeeeeee” every time I pass. Even though they freak out my mom, part of me thinks they’ve got my back. One time, a new stoop person was in the group and he made some comment to me and my roommate as we walked into our building, and I, for some reason, decided to stick up for us and said “woah that was rude.” One of the other guys hit him and he apologetically squealed hahaha. I do not, however, miss their questionable smoke smell that seeps in through my windows while I’m trying to sleep. But, of course, only in New York do you have stoop people who chill there all day, then throw a car party out of their parked car in front of your apartment with the bass booming and dancing at 3 am.

2. TRADER JOES- WHERE I CAN FIND AND AFFORD VEGAN ALTERNATIVES. RIGHT NOW I WOULD WAIT ALL DAY IN LINE FOR TRADER JOES’ VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE

3. Working through exhaustion- I miss going from audition, to work, back to audition, to workout, to take class, to home, to wake up and do it again maybe in a different order. Although I was feeling exhausted throughout the day, I was both working to support my dream and living my dream within the same day, and that’s pretty cool if you ask me. It also makes for a really good night’s sleep.

4. Being able to walk through the city and FaceTime with my wireless headphones, looking like I’m talking to myself and not getting a single weird look- Also doing arm improv/ creating choreography for class, to the music in my ears as I walk down the sidewalk and not getting a single look (although I am sometimes hurt people don’t want a free performance, it’s nice that you can do your thing without affecting others haha). Also practicing my full 32 bar cut with my track through my headphones and again, nothing, not a single bit of judgement! Basically, being able to live my dreams, while others live theirs without caring about what you’re doing. Let’s be honest, we all know there are weirder things that go down on the streets of NYC.

5. Life lessons from Uber drivers. Another post on that later...

6. Walking past the liveliness on the streets of my neighborhood- The man on his old fashioned microphone preaching whatever he feels, giving me a smile. The people who spend all day in lawn chairs behind their blender they’re selling (I think they’re out there for social reasons not necessarily for the sales). The guys who put a table in the middle of the sidewalk and play poker. The random music blaring from someone’s car. All of which make my walk to the gym a heck of a lot more fun.

7. Audition holding rooms also known as social hour –during audition season I dreaded walking into a crowded audition holding room. But in the NY performing community we are all in this together, well most of us are and if you’re not, you really should be. The community is the best thing about living in NY. I miss walking into a room and catching up with so many friends and even making some new ones. And yes... I miss my guilt free naps while waiting hours to audition.

8. Your whole day proving to you that you CANNOT PUT YOUR SELF-WORTH IN EXTERNAL FORCES- New york can eat you up and spit you out, but when you’re left standing there like left over chewed gum, you have to know and believe in your own talent in order to keep going and make things happen. The city is full of “people like you” grinding for their dreams but that’s what’s comforting. YOU ARE ENOUGH.

9. Thinking being number 190 on two different open call sign up lists for the day is lucky -then getting typed out of both auditions by headshot then walking into a random Equity chorus call because you’re already at Pearl, signing on the list late and getting seen and called back to sing. There’s no formula to New York open calls and I miss riding that wave.

10. Riding the subway- before coming home. I took the subway at least 6 times per day and dreaded it - being home in Maryland I am actually missing having multiple new subway stories per day. No I do not miss being shoved into someone’s armpit on a crowded A train. But I do miss the Mariachi band on the train that plays while I listen to my podcast, or the “show time” guys doing their thing flipping on the moving train giving me a fist bump (maybe not the fist bump because we’re in a pandemic).

11. The Upper West Side moms that come into the Pilates studio I worked at- They give some seriously good advice, know where you can get the best iced coffee, and actually look out for you. They are always there to listen, and to talk to you about your adulting struggles. They’ll always hype you up.

12. Sitting on random benches throughout the city - when I don’t have enough time to go back to my apartment but it’s also too early to head off to where I’m going. It can seem like a waste time, but I witness so many beautiful and interesting things during this time. It’s also the perfect time to eat a snack and reflect on the days happenings.

13. HAVING COFFEE AND BAGEL WITH TOFU CREAM CHEESE DATES WITH FRIENDS AT THE CHIPPED CUP- no, let’s be honest, I knew I would miss this.