New Digs on the Upper West Side

We've had a blast checking out our new neighborhood.  We moved into a studio in the Upper West Side yesterday.  We're extremely happy with it.  See pics.  We're in love with the neighborhood. Our street is relatively quiet, but on the west end of it there is a giant park named "Riverside Park".  There is a biking trail through it that goes on for miles along the water.  The eastern end of our street leads to three major thoroughfares - Broadway, Amsterdam, and Columbus.  All our Manhattan necessities are there: subway, indie theatre, a billion restaurants and internet cafes, shops of both designer and knock-off, and street vendors.  Oh- and last but not least "grocery stores".

In reality the supermarkets are quick stops that have been crammed with groceries.  This was an adventure.  Outside they look quiet, picturesque, like they are on display for a travel magazine shoot.  Look at the rows of pretty flowers nestled in their bins, or the crisp ripe fruits stacked tall. What a color wheel. On the inside it is quite another story.  I slipped in to take a picture, and this was one of the more tame areas: see below.  I went grocery shopping twice because I could only pick up what I could carry home.  The first time I was trying to hurry and stay out of everybody's way.  I couldn't find many of the items I'm used to getting, and eventually I just gave up and got whatever I could grab and booked it out of there. The second time I went in, I decided I was a New Yorker and didn't give two bits about bumping into anybody.  I scanned the ails for things I thought we'd enjoy, and even took my time to visualize all the things I hadn't seen elsewhere.   I embraced the chaos of yelling and impatient shuffling around me.  There was always a store clerk pushing a heavy load on a trolly, shouting "watch your butts, I'm coming through!" I made myself stay in the overcrowded box of a grocery store until I had everything we needed.  After all, this is our life now.

Today it's 42 degrees outside so neither of us feel like going out, in some ways we're still Honolulians.  We'll have to make the adjustment sooner of later, especially when winter comes around.  We haven't seen snow in three years.  This will be a kick.  I can't wait!  I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.

Looking across the street from our window.

The eastern side of our street, going up.

Our building, plus the charming and handsome Robert.

Our living area.

Our kitchen, and the four foot tall loft above with our bed.

Outside the grocery store.

Produce section of the grocery store.