Originally published April 25, 2020, this post may have been edited for clarity or updated with additional information.
Fact: I’ve never lived in New York City, but I would love to one day—even if for a short while.
Why?
Many reasons lure me to live and work in New York City, but it comes down to two things.
Nothing rivals the New Yorker’s need for speed and artful grit.
The entire world, including the City That Never Sleeps, might be moving a bit slower at the moment, but that grit—the determination to make it through anything with the eternally optimistic American spirit—persists more than ever.
Maybe I’ll be fortunate to have some of that magical New Yorker grit rub off on me one day.
Until then, New York City, I can’t wait to walk through your streets, wander around the next museum exhibit, struggle to flag down my next cab, and eat dinner at my favorite place with my favorite people.
At the time of writing, the United States is experiencing a lot of division and confusion during the COVID-19 pandemic. People are struggling to stay together within their communities and their states—and stay sane while staying in their homes.
Although most states are making the best decisions for their constituents, the leadership from New York state has been the most reassuring to Americans across the country. New York has experienced the highest number of coronavirus cases, yet, at the same time, it is the brightest beacon of hope in the United States.
It only seems right to reminisce and look forward to revisiting some of my favorite places in New York City.
- Central Park
- The Museum of Natural History
- MoMA
- Times Square
- New York Public Library
- Bryant Park
- Grand Central Terminal
- 28th Street Subway Stop
- Meatpacking District
- Greenwich Village
- Soho
- NoLiTa
- Bowery
- City Hall Park
- More New York City Memories
Central Park
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (Upper East Side)
Wollman Skating Rink
The Bow Bridge
The Bethesda Walk and the Bow Bridge are my favorite parts of walking Central Park. The previous winter, it was beautiful to see the lake frozen.
The Museum of Natural History
MoMA
Times Square
New York Public Library
Bryant Park
Grand Central Terminal
28th Street Subway Stop
Meatpacking District
The High Line
Greenwich Village
Washington Square Park
La Maison Française at New York University
The West Village
Délice et Sarrasin
The beloved French vegan restaurant has relocated from its original location to a new address at 178 W Houston Street.
Soho
The Little Prince SoHo
Chef’s Club Counter
Unfortunately, Chef’s Club Counter closed during COVID-19. Jack’s Wife Freda, has expanded into the space.
Ramen Hood, a vegan ramen concept based in Los Angeles, had a longtime residency at Chef’s Club Counter before closing.
Van Leeuwen specializes in vegan ice cream, but also offers conventionally-made flavors. The New York City-based ice cream chain has expanded its retail presence across the United States and is available at most major supermarkets.
Balthazar
A favorite from one of the top New York City restaurateurs, Keith McNally, Balthazar is a Francophile lover’s dream in the heart of SoHo.
Seamore’s
Mimi Cheng’s
The Taiwanese dumpling spot now has one location in the East Village and is no longer in SoHo.
JIMMY Rooftop
The Standard High Line
The Standard has evolved from a single hotel location in New York City to a global hospitality brand. Before COVID-19, Most New Yorkers remember waiting in line for Le Bain on the weekends.
NoLiTa
Mother’s Ruin
Bowery
Sel Rrose
Another unfortunate post-COVID casualty. The Lower East Side oyster bar and institution had expanded to Montauk, but would eventually close down operations at both locations.
City Hall Park
More New York City Memories
Effy’s Kitchen
Williamsburg
Summers Brooklyn
I really enjoyed this playful café and was sad to discover that they closed post-COVID and changed the concept to Leon’s Bagels.
We treat whatever our normal is as a given. Our routines. Our habits. Our surroundings. Our access to whatever we simply can’t imagine not having access to.
Normal looks different for each person. Many elements compose your sense of normal—who you are, what you do, what you believe, how you live, wherever you live, where you want to go…
There is nothing normal about what is happening right now.
We’re redefining our sense of normal by the hour. We don’t know when we’ll be able to fold back into our old normal—or if we’re ever going to get back there again.
We could panic. We could try to ignore the facts. We could run around our homes screaming mad, alone, or in the company of the people in our home. And now that we’ve been experiencing the historical moment of COVID-19 for nearly two months, we’ve probably done all of the above.
The truth is that we’re left with one real choice—adapt to a new normal with grace and look forward to a better future with hope.
New England Parisienne 
Thank you for Sharing honey. Beautiful photos. Love you XO
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