Adventure Travel blog — New York City

I returned to New York City to work at the US Open for ESPN for a second year. I liken it to going back to camp and seeing all my camp friends again. Plus, without the anxiety of being a newbie, I was able to settle in comfortably to my work role and focus on being present and enjoying every day there because it goes by fast.

Then just like last year, I shared an Airbnb with fellow runners coming from all over. Two of them I had lived with last year and the rest would become new friends. It was a majority international lot with two from France and two from England, then myself and another American. Last year’s Airbnb was tiny but it was conveniently located near the shuttle we could take to work, but this year we got a bigger (and more expensive) place; however, it was further away in Flushing making it a 35-40 minute walk to and from work, which after walking sometimes 8 miles a day at work (position is runner), was not very enjoyable. Not to mention that I would arrive at work already sweaty from the almost two-mile commute. We also had lots of problems with the place such as outlets not working, water not working, leaking ceilings, general uncleanliness, and more. However, we really didn’t spend much time there as we worked 10 hour days, watched tennis matches after work, and went out socializing with fellow co-workers. [I like to say that ESPN should make a reality show à la, MTV Real World style but with runners. Get a house full of attractive runners working and living together and watch the palava unfold. It would make great television. There’s the pitch, let’s get on that ESPN.]

We went out much more than last year and my low bank account and sleep deprivation is proof of that. But since I live a nomadic life, I rarely have times that I have a group of friends to go out with so I embraced it fully and didn’t mind (too much) getting home at 2-4 in the morning, and then going to work at 10. I was constantly surprised that I could rally even at my age better than the youngins. ;) Some of our night outs were going to a nearby brewery at Citifield that was on our walk back home, going into the city to a fan favorite—Rudy’s, karaoke in Korea town, beer garden for runner’s night, rooftop bar for runner’s night out part dos, and more.

NYC 2019 PLAYLIST*

“Rain” - Ben Platt

“Sarah” - Eskimo Joe

“Just like heaven” - The Cure

“Baby” - Giggs

“Boys” - Charli XCX

“Truth Hurts” - Lizzo

"Mia" - Bad Bunny feat. Drake

“1000°C” - Lomepal

*These are songs that I listened to during my time in New York and when I listen to them they take me back to that specific moment in time and remind me of NY. -I’m going to start including these playlists from now on in my blogs because I love how certain songs can transport me to a certain time and feeling.

In between all the going out I did work. Promise. 10 hour days, moving about constantly, where I would frequently misplace my water bottle or cell phone and not remember where I last laid it down. If you want to know more about my job duties, take a look at last year’s post where I discuss it in more detail. Basically, it’s grunt work: getting folks food, emptying trash cans, and stocking craft services. But it pays well, the tournament atmosphere is exciting, my coworkers make it a fun environment to be in, and it fits perfectly into my seasonal, roaming lifestyle. That’s why when it’s all over I feel nostalgic for it and want to go back next year. Just like wanting to go back to camp. And just days after being back home I miss my time living in the city. It’s such a stark contrast to my normal life here where things move slower and there is less stimulation.

I don’t normally identify myself as a city person and would never want to live permanently in such a big city (I need my wild places and solitude), but during my brief time living there I enjoy tapping into that city-dweller part of me and I try to take advantage of all that the city offers. I thrive off all the energy and during my time there I suppose I fell into the city’s motto—the city that never sleeps.

Then after my job ended I stayed a few more days to sight-see around the city. Working at the Open I sometimes forget that I’m in NYC because I hardly ever make it into Manhattan. So once work is over it is the only time I get over there. And for one of my days in the city I had planned to spend with one of my best friends, Emily, who came down from Connecticut. One of my fellow coworkers and friends told me about Broadway Week and that some shows were 2 for 1. I then found reasonably priced Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets, told Emily (who is a major HP nerd as well), and we made it happen. We met oh so romantically on a subway platform at Grand Central Station and then went to Greenwich Village so I could mark off some locations on my to-go-to list. (See, over the course of the year I see things in passing on social media and then I screenshot them and put them on my to-visit pinterest board.)

So first on the list was a bakery that I saw had chimney cakes. Sadly they did not have any there so I settled for coffee and a focaccia. Then we went to Big Gay Ice Cream cause I had seen a picture a friend posted of some ice cream that I wanted to try. After a good bestie cry in the ice cream shop we made our way to midtown to see Part I of Harry Potter @ 2PM. During the break between parts I took Emily nearby to Rudy’s to share with her our runner’s go-to bar in Manhattan. It was weird to be there while it was still daylight but we partook in 2 rounds of All-Americans (shot of whiskey, a pint, & a hot-dog for $5. minus the hot-dog for myself —fun fact: hot-dog is one of my favorite words to say in French and you’ve got a killer distraction of a French person in a game of beer pong; I know from experience). And we made it back for Part II @ 7:30PM. Some may say that 2 shows in one day, back to back is too much, but I would say bring it on. I could watch 5 hours of Harry Potter all day, every day. Afterwards, we sat in Bryant Park with a view of the Empire State Building lit up red, white, and blue in honor of 9/11, while discussing our favorite magical scenes and characters from the shows. 10/10 would do again.

The next day we found a Cuban cafe near Grand Central Station for lunch and said our goodbyes. I headed off to the Guggenheim Museum where I met up with a couple roommates. I ended up taking a free one-hour tour learning about how six curators picked pieces for their different exhibits. But I mostly wanted to visit the museum because I had heard that there was a Basquiat exhibit there and I had never seen any of his work. The exhibit focused mainly on his piece, The Death of Michael Stewart, which was originally painted onto a wall and then cut from the wall and framed. Basquiat’s piece and other artists’ pieces after Stewart’s death touch upon violence against black bodies. It was incredibly powerful and I was honored to have been able to witness the pieces in person.

Later on I met friends for a misty disc throwing game in Central Park, and I steered them to Seasoned Vegan in Harlem for dinner. But before we sat down for dinner a random meeting took place when a man approached me asking me if I used to be a ridgerunner. Turns out he recognized me because he was a ridgerunner on the Appalachian Trail last year and we had the same ridgerunner coordinator (I worked as a ridgerunner in 2016). That coordinator told him about me and my Mississippi River Rowing Adventure last year and he recognized me from that. What a small world. Furthermore, we found out we thru-hiked the AT the same year and finished just two days apart but never crossed paths. Or maybe we did and don’t remember. How crazy is that. …As for dinner, I splurged on a passion fruit and prosecco drink, a Harlem chopped cheeseburger, and an ice cream cookie dessert - all vegan of course. After dinner we walked nearby to Archer & Goat, a bar where a former runner works.

My last full day in the city I decided to go on a vegan foodie tour inspired by an Instagram account I follow called, Howtobeveganinthehood. The account’s owner is owner of Rip’s Malt Shop, a vegan restaurant in Brooklyn, but he also posts pictures of different vegan food around the city. I had taken screenshots of various places he shared over the past year and marked them on google maps to visit. But first I had to get to Brooklyn. ..It may surprise you that even though I was living in Queens, one of the city’s 5 boroughs, it still takes about an hour to get to Midtown Manhattan, and even longer sometimes to get to nearby Brooklyn. ..First on my list was Toad Style in Brooklyn. I had a spicy California Burrito made with jackfruit there, and would have liked to stop in across the street at a vegan coffee shop, Familiars, where I had seen they had unusual bagels but the shop was closing for the day. So then I walked to nearby L Train Vintage, which is a thrift store that a coworker recommended. From there I hopped on a CitiBike and rode 3 miles to Brooklyn Navy Yard to check out Rip’s Malt Shop. I went all in and got a vegan coney dog complete with chili and onions and a vegan ice cream float with black cherry soda. I didn’t end up making it to that many vegan places, but I’m glad I did my little tour.

Afterwards I tried to coordinate with friends to meet up and ended up going back downtown to check out the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. I walked slowly with the throngs of people past pizza and pasta food vendors. And before leaving I grabbed two mini cannolis (original & pistachio). Then I took the subway back over to Williamsburg where I met friends at Radegast Hall and Biergarten where a friend’s roommate was playing in a brass band. From there we moved to a quieter scene at Clinton Beer Hall where we played Jenga and Cards Against Humanity. On the way back to the subway we stopped for pasta pizza and said goodbyes to those we most likely won’t see for another year.

The next day I said more goodbyes and made my way to the airport for a quick, direct flight back South thus ending my almost-month long whirlwind of a time in New York City. In reflection, I feel so grateful for the opportunity to work at the US Open and that I get to experience such an amazing event and work with people from all over. It truly is a highlight of my year and I always cherish my time spent there working and going out with friends. There’s certainly nothing else like it anywhere. …Till next year, perchance..