Once More Unto the Sleet

What a fun way to wake up! Is this what it's like to live in Chicago? 

Harvey's intrigued ...

Empire State Human

 

It dawned on me as I traipsed through a snowy Central Park this afternoon that it was exactly 40 years ago that I first visited New York City as a teenager. If you had told me then that I would end up living a stone's throw away from where these "before" photos were taken I would have totally believed it -- this is where I have wanted to be since I first laid eyes on Buffy and Jody, who were lucky enough to have their parents die so they could leave the Midwest and move in with their sophisticated Uncle Bill! 😜

To my travel partners Greg and Nina: For the past three or four years I have dreamed about having us get together again in NYC in 2025, yet somehow it completely slipped my mind now that the time is here. So in lieu of what would have been a great reunion, I decided to try to recreate a couple moments, with my husband(!) standing in for The Greg. ❤️

‘Winter’ Wonderland

 

Bryant Park is ready for Christmas ... even if you're not. 

UPDATE:

The Upper West Side is ready, too! 

'I Really Miss the City, and There's Nowhere Here to Cry About It in Public'

I have a recurring dream (aka nightmare) where I've moved away from New York -- usually to "finish" my college degree (that I already have).

 So this StreetEasy ad campaign I saw on the 1 train en route to work this afternoon really touched a nerve -- to say nothing of my funny bone!

This one's my favorite! ☝

Moving Day

 

Just when you think you've seen it all! For more fun, follow me on Threads and Instagram. 

Let It (Sorta) Snow!

It's not exactly the Blizzard of '96. But it's always fun to see the city blanketed in snow, even if it's more of a chenille throw than an afghan! 

WSJ reports that the storm dropped nearly 7 inches on parts of New York City while parts of Long Island got about 9 inches, according to the National Weather Service. More than a foot of snow fell in Connecticut and about 9 inches landed in areas of New Jersey. About 3 inches of snow fell on New York’s Central Park, less than initially forecasted but still the most since January 2022.

Live from my bedroom HERE!

My snowy Valentine

(These Are a Few of) My Favorite Things

The first time I ever visited New York City was during Christmas -- and nearly 40 years later it's still my favorite time in the city. While the tree and ice skating at Rockefeller Center, seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall as well as the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue are timeless classics, don't miss the lights at Pete's Tavern, the Christmas market in Union Square or a visit to at Rolf's, a German restaurant on Third Avenue that has floor-to-ceiling Christmas decorations! If you can't get a table, I recommend nearby Molly's, followed by spiked eggnog at the bar at Rolf's! xo 

Union Square Christmas Market 

Pete's Tavern

Dinner at Molly's 

A festival of lights!

Visit Rolf's online HERE. 

Summer in the City ‘85

My first reaction when I saw that these pictures were supposedly from 1985 -- the same year I first visited New York -- was that my photos from that era sure don't look this ancient. 

Then I looked at mine AGAIN. Yikes. 

Any doubts about the timing were quickly erased, however, when I noticed the films on the Criterion Center marquee: “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” and “Cocoon,” which showed at the movie theater where I worked my senior year in high school -- Dobson HS Class of ‘85 -- as well as “Day of the Dead” and “Fright Night,” playing around the corner from HoJo’s in the top image.

My friend Scott in San Francisco says: Things have changed so much. 1985 is a time when cities were being rediscovered after a mass exodus to suburbia two decades prior. In many ways, the cities were exceptionally older than the times because nothing happened for so long. It will be interesting to see how today's cities recover.

Indeed. I suppose my only regret about that fateful trip to NYC is that I didn’t catch a screening of “Cat House,” being the feline lover that I am. 😻

UPDATE:

I'm reminded that the famed Gaiety Theatre was on the side of Howard Johnson's, as seen in these photos from around the same period. Happy to say I was (reluctantly!) taken there a couple of times by my old doubles partner (Eric) when I moved to the city 25 years ago! 

Shopping From Gay to Z

You can't beat retailing on Fifth Avenue, where I began by saying a prayer at St. Patrick’s that I would be able to find some decent summer shirts and shorts to accommodate my post-pandemic girth! 

Although sizing up wasn't fun, it was a glorious day out -- and sure was nice to see Rockefeller Center decked out for Pride.

"Prometheus, teacher in every art, brought the fire that hath proved to mortals a means to mighty ends." 

And what better way to celebrate being gay than with roller skates? 

P.S. This ad caught my eye!  

View to a Thrill

I must confess that even after all these years, it still gives me a thrill to look up and see a view like this when out running mundane errands. Now if I could just get rid of all the annoying people!