NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Life Changing Sound Waves, Shoe Swaps, and Upgrades!
Last Friday kicked off my NYC return in classic fashion. The moment I landed in the greatest city on earth, I made a beeline for the New York Public Library, 2008 membership card proudly in hand. Since I’ll be in town for about a month (give or take), I wanted to make sure my ID still worked in order to “work” from there on occasion. Spoiler: it doesn’t. Sigh. If you can even imagine (ha) they’ve kept up with the times (this is New York after all) and no longer use an out-dated paper card for entry. So, no checking out books this go-round — just a cool place to use my laptop, work a puzzle (yes there are up to five, 1,000 piece, jigsaws going at once on festival size tables!), and browse the new releases.
While there, I realized there was no way my feet were making it from Bryant Park (the library) to the West Village (lunch) in what some call my “heels” — clogs. So, right there on the steps, I popped open my suitcase and pulled out my flats. I figured no one would care — or if they did, I wouldn’t.
A true New Yorker spotted me mid-switch and came over, grinning. “Oh, I’ve been there too many times!” I responded with… “Hasn’t every woman?!”
With that, she settled in and launched into a story about the time changing her shoes on the street actually landed her a job. She’d been running late to an interview, swapping shoes outside the building (sneaks to pumps) when a beautiful gazelle of a woman walked past her and into the lobby. Flustered, she half-laughed and muttered to her, “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, right?”
This is wild! Not 10 minutes later, guess who was sitting across the table when she walked in for the interview? Yep — same woman. The shoe moment was a sign of commitment to showing up to every situation prepared. By the end of their conversation, she was hired on the spot. “Because,” gazelle said, “we girls know what it takes, and do it. We lug our whole lives around just to make sure we show up looking the part.”
I loved it. I’ve had way too many shoe-change situations before chic events, dates, interviews, parties, you name it, in every city I’ve lived in — But no job offers becuase of it. Embarrassing? Sometimes. But necessary? Absolutely. Because hey — as the woman said — a city girl’s gotta do what a city girl’s gotta do. Swapping those shoes.
PLANES, TRAINS, AUTOMOBILES
Since arriving, I’ve already been on quite the transit tour: a flight into Newark, the New Jersey Transit into Manhattan — where I met the loveliest stranger, Nico. He gave up his seat so I wouldn’t have to ride backwards and risk turning green, scaring the other patrons. He also told me that he’s still in the “honeymoon phase” of living in the U.S., having just moved from Switzerland. (Switzerland! Why would he ever leave there!?) I understood exactly what he meant. When I lived in Paris, I used to think of the phrase: “Once you teach a child the word ‘tree,’ they’ll never really see a tree again.” Because, that’s how the honeymoon ends. The wonder wears off and you stop experiencing things as they are. Instead, reducing them to labels: trees, street, trash, bird, gothic cathedral, timeless artifacts. The magic fades into familiarity. Which is not the case yet for me on this NYC tour. Because from there…
…I’ve taken two taxis to and from Brooklyn, one subway ride from 57th to Delancey & Essex, and today, I’ll take an Amtrak from Penn Station to Hudson. On top of all the transits? I’ve also already logged over 20 miles on foot — no shoe changes this time, regretfully. Because my longest walking day (8.5 miles) was spent entirely in dressy loafers. Ouch. A rookie mistake I should’ve known better than to make — but hey, vanity sometimes wins over lugging around the sneaks.
RANDOM FACTS AND THE BEST RUN-INS
There’s something so comforting about being back in a city where I once lived. I love it! I once read that if you ate out for every single meal — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — in New York City, it would take 22.7 years to try every restaurant... assuming no new ones opened. Of course, new ones open every day. But yesterday, as I walked up Bowery, I caught myself smiling. I’ve been to umpteen of them and it only took me 10 years! Bring on that challenge! I’m here for it.
So far, this trip, Mắm has been recommended to me three times already! I plan to go when I’m back in the city this coming weekend. Stand by for a review.
One of the people who gave me this suggestion came to see me the day I got in! Last Friday, en route to Fiona’s place, I called Steven to ask what I always ask him when I land — “Does the city feel particularly sunnier right about now? Because… drumroll please… I’M HERE!” He was one of my best friends, a true Manhattanite, and my fellow co-founder of our very exclusive two-person club: EMC (standing for Exclusive Movie Club of course). He happened to be on Bleecker, on the east side, while I was on Bleecker, on the west. So I walked with my luggage and he biked until he spotted me. We met in the middle and then strolled the rest of the way to Fiona’s apartment on the Lower East Side. Gabbing, laughing, reminiscing.
And, right on cue, the skies opened up for a classic summer-in-New-York rainstorm. In true city fashion, we ducked under an awning with a bunch of strangers, all waiting it out together while watching the drunks take full advantage of the sudden city stillness. They turned the street into their stage by attempting to stir up trouble, loudly, with whoever happened to be perched on their block.
Oh, New York! How I’ve missed your wild, funny, unpredictable (and yet somehow so predictable) chaos!
OUT OF THIS WORLD
Saturday night was something extraordinary.
I came up specifically for a sound meditation with Alexandre Tannous. I’d had it circled on my calendar for six months and even with that much anticipation ... It still was more than I could have imagined. An upgrade to the nth degree.
Fiona, one of my besties, and I met up with Eve, one of her besties, on Allen Street. We flagged down a cab, tossed our blankets, pillows, mats, and eye masks in the back, and headed to Brooklyn for a full day (and night... and morning) of immersive sound.
When we arrived, Alexandre welcomed us with a long, thoughtful talk on the transformative power of music. How it connects to the brain, can transform epigenetics — the emotional weight we carry, sometimes unknowingly, passed down through up to as many as 14 generations — and how we can change these inherited experiences by reshaping our thoughts, reactions, and even the language we use to describe what we felt … by way of music.
He offered tools for reflection as we slowly settled in, lying down in the space. Then, for nearly seven hours, he played all of his instruments — layering sound, rhythm, and silence.
Life changing upgrade! If you ever hear of him coming to your town (or a flight away, like me) GO experience it yourself!
After it was over, someone announced, “This past month has felt like an active play in my head … but tonight? Tonight was the best show I’ve ever seen!” I felt the EXACT same!
I have never — never — felt that much compassion, love, and understanding radiate through me in one space. It was like being cradled by sound.
Another out of this world experience (not as ‘out of this world’ as that, but still…) was the MET!
I made my way there by walking up Fifth Avenue, eventually landing right in front of the Plaza. Of course, I had to duck in and say hello — it felt only right. Then it was on to the Park… my absolute favorite place in Manhattan. No matter how many times I see her, her vastness still makes me light up and clap with joy the moment I step inside.
I took her paths all the way until I reached the 79th Street crosstown exit. Passing the Rudolf Steiner School, where I would take miss Sunny Melet every morning for years, brought up the BEST memories!!
Then I reached the steps!
On exhibit? Sargent & Paris. I couldn’t believe my timing. It felt serendipitous that that show was on while I was in town. As if the city had saved it just for moi. A two year Parisian (can I call myself that?) now back in NYC. Because, as it turns out, it’s ending on August 3rd!! When I’ll be upstate. Did I mention? Serendipity! I loved every single moment. His story, his art, his art of other’s art was inspiring and so uplifting!
I also got to marvel at the Costume Institute’s Spring 2025 exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. SO cool! And the jazz that was playing in the background? It made me buzz! Although, now that I’ve gone to the meditation, ALL music has me happily hearing the harmonies differently. The exhibit offered a powerful cultural and historical exploration of Black style across three centuries — all through the lens of dandyism (what the MET Gala’s theme was this past year). It was stunning!
On my way out, I stopped off to pay respect to all of my favorites: Cy Twombly, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and the medieval “Gates.”
I love this city so, so much. Home to over 8 million people, a mysterious population of black squirrels (yes, they were hopping all over Central Park yesterday), nonstop energy that never quits, buildings that are miles high, and every type of cuisine you can dream up. It’s alive in a way nowhere else in the world is. Every time I touch down here, I have to pinch myself. Truly. I feel incredibly lucky to have lived a life that’s allowed me to call this place home — even if just for a chapter. New York is one of the most powerful, complex, magical cities in the world.
This afternoon I’m leaving her for a few days in her countryside. At 5pm I’ll be meeting my boo, Marissa, at Penn Station to catch the train to Hudson. With a snack picnic in tow, we’ll get to have a little train-date en route to see Erica and Will!
Erica — a renowned chef and best friend — will be there to pick me up. She’ll whisk me away to her new home where we’ll be catching up with her husband, Will, one of my original best NYC friends. (Sidebar… I introduced these two. Thank you very much! Just before I left New York in 2017, I insisted that they meet – knowing that they’d fall in love! And they did. They got engaged within nine months after meeting. And as a thank you for being their cupid, they granted me the honor of being their ring bearer at their wedding. Precious!)
Also awaiting us? Their two sweet pups, Ellie and Lou Lou. I can’t wait for a few days in the open air, in a state that I love, surrounded by people I love, in a town and new home that they love!
Until next time, I will absolutely be in my New York State of Mind.
Xx ac
❤️
I was JUST thinking of you and then this popped up! Kismet