About New York
There's a very good reason why
so many of my books feature New York these days; quite simply, it was love
at first sight. Back in 2007 I made my first trip across the pond, took one
look at the Manhattan skyline lit up against a night sky, and that was that.
Now, every time I leave there, part of me gets left behind.
So what is it about New York
that brings millions of tourists every year and sees it used as the backdrop
for countless films, TV shows and books?
"Not
much about the city is subtle-it boasts vibrant architecture, world-class
art, fashion and entertainment, snarling traffic, spirited politics, and a
rich and radical history infused with the tradition of immigration that
endures today." ~
The Cities Book
Typical New Yorkers have attitude and they're not afraid to
use it, being swamped with work becoming a a point of pride as they
frequently try to one-up each other with tales of deadlines. Add the
pleasures of being surrounded by an incredible variety of life and the energy on the streets to the adventure of hopping on a subway, wandering
through one of the city's many parks or dining at one of the numerous
eateries and it's difficult not to find a hundred and one things to inspire
a story. That has certainly proven the case for me and with every visit and
new discovery more and more scenes take shape in my imagination.
Ellis Island was the main facility for
immigrants entering the USA in the late 19th to mid 20th century. It was
opened when the federal government took over responsibility for
processing immigrants, replacing the prior New York State immigration centre
located at Castle Clinton in what is today known as Battery
Park.
Ellis
is now owned by the Federal government and is part of the
Statue Of Liberty National Monument. As
someone who has visited Ellis and been fortunate enough to look up records
of family members who came to the country in the early 20th century, I can
thoroughly recommend an afternoon there taking a tour with one of the park
rangers. Another option is listening the voices of some of the immigrants as
you take the audio tour; an incredibly emotional experience which can't help
but make you respect the people who made an often difficult journey to a new
life, ultimately adding to the cultural diversity not only of New York, but
of the entire country.
While
importing everything from people like the artist Andy Warhol and musician
John Lennon (who was famously shot and killed in New York), to The Statue Of
Liberty and foreign cuisines, the city has exported everything from Irving
Berlin and Broadway musicals to hip-hop
culture and TV shows like Seinfeld and Friends. It was once
considered one of the most dangerous places to visit on earth but the murder
rate is down by a staggering 69% since the early 1990's and these days it's
almost impossible to find a Manhattan neighbourhood which is off-limits
after dark. Possibly part of the reason it has 47 million foreign and
American tourists each year...
Eating out in New York leaves
the diner spoilt for choice. Food tours are popular with the city being
considered one of the top culinary destinations in the world. On-the-go food
can be purchased from numerous street vendors selling everything from hot
dogs and tacos to giant pretzels, home-made soups and falafel sandwiches.
Jewish
and Italian immigrants made the city famous for bagels, New York style pizza
and cheesecake.
Some of the best, if not the best cheesecake can be found at
Juniors, a restaurant decorated with
baseball memorabilia, while for the cupcake fan it's off to the
Magnolia Bakery in the West Village,
made famous by its appearance in Sex And The City.
Those who favour a restaurant
that would meet with Willy
Wonka's approval have the
delights of Max Brenner's to look
forward to, the decadent aroma of warm chocolate filling the air the second
you approach the doors. A friend treated me to lunch there for my
birthday a couple of years ago and it is now officially one of my
sweet-tooth's favourite places to visit. Yes, they serve savoury food too,
but when push comes to shove it's all about the desserts and the hot drinks.
Naturally the book lover
in me was more than happy to discover the pastime of reading is very much
alive and kicking in New York.
When the Romance Writers Of
America held their annual conference there in the summer of 2011 they
broke records for their book signing in aid of adult literacy, readers
spending an incredible $47,000 in a mere handful of hours.
In
Bryant Park, beside the New York
Public Library, you can find an outdoor reading room with a
large selections of books to peruse while you're sharing the open air with
the five thousand odd business people who frequent the park at lunchtime
during the summer months or
when,
like me, you're waiting for the free outdoor movie. Then of course there is the
Strand Bookstore off Union Square,
introduced to me by another friend. With 18 miles of books and claiming to
be the world's largest bookstore, The Strand is a great place to spend an
afternoon lost among tall bookshelves or hunting through the 'damaged' book
section at the back of the top floor for seriously discounted bargains. It's
a book-lovers heaven!
Last but not least (and
believe me when I say I could talk about New York for days on
end) there are the parks. As a country girl I was both surprised
and delighted by how much greenery there is in the city. Turns out
New York has over 28,000 acres of parkland and 14 linear
miles of public beaches. The best known, and most visited city park in the
United States, is Central Park. Covering
843 acres of trees, lakes, ponds, hills and massive rocks, at one end
there are popular attractions like the Carousel, Wollman
Ice-Skating Rink (in winter), the Zoo and the Conservatory Garden while the
other end is more 'wild'. New Yorkers and tourists alike flock to the park
and it's a fantastic place to eat an alfresco lunch and rest your feet after a day of shopping, so long as you don't mind sharing the odd
crumb with a few very determined New York pigeons and a squirrel or two.
So have we figured out yet why
I heart New York?
