Hello #NewYork: My First Time in the City

Sometimes, life throws you for a loop and all you can do is hold on and enjoy the ride. This is a little story about how my first time in NYC turned from a 2 day trip to a 14 day trip.

I've spent the majority of my life on the West Coast, save for a few years in Texas, but there has always been some sort of attraction to New York. It spoke to me... whispered to me in my sleep even. One of my very special friends happens to live in the city, so I decided it was adventure time. Time for this little cub to get lost in the Big Apple.


*insert random traveling montage*


7 hours of traveling, 6 beers, and half a season of Modern Family later, I find myself in New York City... or as the East Coasters call it; "The City." Met by my friend, she proceeded to drag me around the city, giving me the grand tour. It's a lot to take in, especially for a California boy. Cross walks are more of a suggestion and if you don't keep up a decent walking pace, you're going to get run over by an angry business man running late for a meeting on the other side of town. Everyone is constantly on the move... it's like the city was alive and I LOVED IT.

Having friends in the city is nice because I didn't get stuck doing the touristy stuff. It's all about submerging yourself in the local culture. Sure enough, one of the first nights out I found myself in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Skinny jeans, Cons, t-shirts with cliche sayings, and Ray-Bans knockoffs. Oh yeah, hipsters galore. My kinda place. A few drinks and some good music, people couldn't even tell I was from LA. I think hipster is a universal language. Definitely a memorable evening.


Alas, it was Sunday and time for me to leave. I huffed, I puffed, I pouted, but alas my flight was going to leave and I had to get aboard. All was well, as I was going to come back the following weekend for some more NYC fun and the NYC Meet-up. This is where the story gets interesting. As soon as I got to the airport, it started raining. This isn't the drizzle us West Coasters are used to. It was pouring and my flight was cancelled. YESSSSS... wait, I mean Oh No! With my return trip to NYC only 3 days later, I made the executive decision to stay... for another 7 days.


I got to spend some quality time roaming the city and seeing/experiencing all kinds of crazy things. Between earthquakes and hurricanes, there was nothing I didn't see. That's including this character...

This guy was totally boss. My hero. This has to have been one of my best trips ever. Between shopping in SoHo (and finding SpiritHoods at the Quiksilver store), sushi in St. Marks, bars in Hell's Kitchen, and meeting old and new fans, it was a blast. My 3 day trip to NYC turned into 14 days, and I loved every second of it.


My body is back in Los Angeles, but my heart very well might still be on the East Coast. New York, I'll see you again soon!

Originally posted on the SpiritHoods Blog 9/2/11