I’ve been a Manhattan resident for almost three whole months! Three months may not grant me the “local” title just yet or qualify me to post restaurant recommendations (my Beli account says otherwise), but it’s given me a plethora of new experiences both good, and not so good.

One of the many perks of living in what some may say is, “the greatest city in the world” is that your friends from all over want to visit. Luckily, my friends don’t mind the cramped accommodations I have to offer. I think one of the most fun things you can do with your long distance girlfriends is make a reservation at a place you’ve always wanted to try (bonus points if it’s candle-lit) and catch up on each other’s lives over a bottle of wine. Obviously the cheapest bottle the establishment has to offer because although you are all post-grad, this is still New York City where an $80 bottle is “normal”. It’s also important that any friends who visit are aware of Manhattan’s less glamorous, more gritty exterior and are ready to embrace it. The other weekend when my college girlfriends stayed for a night, we were ready to head out for brunch the next morning. We stopped in our tracks when a homeless woman was sitting right outside the door to my building. How were we supposed to get out?! We devised a game plan which involved Elle tapping on the door in hopes of prompting her to move. She proceeded to tell us through the door that she is blind, and very slowly crawled away while dropping her unopened can of Bushlight. We gave it a few more moments before making our brisk exit out onto the street. This experience, though slightly scary, added to the true New York experience for my friends’ visit. Had they not been prepared for this other side of Manhattan, we may have missed our brunch reservation altogether.

I’m still trying to cultivate some sort of schedule here. It’s not my strong suit after a year of spontaneity, but learning to enjoy the simplicity in a routine is pretty comforting in a city where you can do absolutely anything at any time. My proclivity towards cozy coffeeshops have become a weekly staple. Not only can I sip on an overpriced latte while I work remotely, but New York City coffeeshops also offer some of the best eavesdropping. Getting a peek into the lives of others that have taken a completely different trajectory than your own is refreshing in a way. These people may only live a few blocks away from me, but their lives are vastly different. I see it as kind of a reminder that there are so many paths we can choose to try out in this life. And that is how I justify spending $7 on a latte more than once a week. It’s a part of my new found routine here now and I’m okay with that.

Another thing my almost three whole months have taught me is that Manhattan likes a 23+ bar. This would’ve been helpful to know prior to my 23rd birthday last week. I came across a new bar that opened up not far from my apartment called Waiting on a Friend. It looked like the perfect mix of classy and fun so I was itching to try it out. I handed my ID to the bouncer and he turned me down. I even pointed out the fact that I would be turning 23 in a week but no luck. The silver lining of all this was the discovery of another cute bar just down the street where the bouncer wished me an early happy birthday. Update to come on whether I try Waiting on a Friend now that I’m of age.