I love New York…sometimes

/ J. F. Riordan

I recently wondered whether art museums are the secret to long life. Lately, I have had the urge to visit New York City again. I didn’t like living there, but I love to visit. I love the buzz and hum of the city. I love the concert halls, with the murmuring of the audience and the expectation of something beautiful about to happen. I love the museums with their echoing quiet, and the inner peace they instill while outside their walls the world buzzes on. And the restaurants. I love the subway. I love the main Library in whose Rose Reading Room I finished writing one of my books…so many things…including people I love and encounters with my past.

I love the shopping, too, although the great stores are considerably diminished. And the restaurants…did I mention the restaurants? Oh, how I miss them. In any big city I will always want to go to the best French restaurants, but there are so many restaurants of all kinds to choose from in New York it can be overwhelming. Last time I was there I went to an Italian restaurant twice because it was so good and in the neighborhood, but of course I went to a French one, too. Often, because it is near the home of a friend, I go to the famous and charming Cafe Luxembourg.

This past week I read of a new restaurant in New York, the province of a well-known chef: Café Carmellini. It is in a two-story atrium with full-grown trees, and it sounds like exactly like my kind of place, with “a formal, European style of service” and creative French food—although I’d go just for the trees.  The chef is an alumnus of L’Arpège in Paris, and is said to have a deft touch that shifts from French to Italian, sometimes on the same plate. I long to go there. I long to go to Paris, come to think of it.

The irony is that I detest travel. At least, I detest the beginnings of it. Just this morning, when I arose before dawn, I was thinking about the anxiety of early morning preparations for travel, with all its last minute domestic details, like packing toiletries and emptying garbage, and comforting soon-to-be abandoned dogs. And once I leave, even when I’m having a wonderful time, I miss my dogs, and my snug house, and the bucolic peace of my days. So, I took extra pleasure in my leisurely bath and my complacent pups. Sometimes it’s nice not to have to be anywhere…and yet, I long to visit New York.

Maybe soon. But first I have to finish the novel.

22 thoughts on “I love New York…sometimes”

  1. As a New Yorker here we welcome you! If you travel here in the summer a fun thing to do is take the ferry from 96th street going downtown. Wonderful views of the city and refreshing to travel on the water when it is so hot 🙂

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  2. This morning, in the dark, I rushed through preparations for a day trip and tumbled right into a panic attack (I’m okay, though!) triggered I think, by childhood memories of enormous and exciting (but stressful and high stakes) trips across continents.

    Once I am near the airport for a big trip, though, and smell the jet fuel, passport tucked into my clothes, while walking into the terminal –that’s one of the most glorious feelings in the world. The soft lurch of my stomach as a jet lifts off the tarmac melts all the stress of departure away.

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  5. I’ve only been to New York twice, to attend a concert each time. They were weekend trips, and although I didn’t get to visit as many places as I would have liked, I loved every moment of it. And, saw some famous faces, too. It was great fun and I loved the atmosphere of the city.

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  7. While traveling, I always felt the way you described above, until I learned the secret to totally happy travel. We travel with all the dogs! I realize it is domestic travel only and one must have the time to drive long distances. I do dream of winning the lottery just so I can rent a private jet to cart us all around. Since traveling with all the dogs, I don’t miss “home” anymore because home is with us. It’s tight in our 20 year old minivan, but we manage and we are truly at peace with travel. Okay, there may be the inevitable breakdown of the minivan every single trip, but who cares? We’ve got the family with us!

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  8. My former husband is a musician and back in the day we were there every weekend as he played in all the hot clubs of the late 70’s and 80’s.
    The best part of it all was going to the after hours blues and jazz clubs where the older black musicians were playing. Playing well I might add. Smokey clubs, (couldn’t deal with that now)whisky straight up and fascinating characters. I felt like we were in a Billie Holiday biopic.
    Walking out of the club at 4am into the Village morning with barely another soul around, lights glistening on the wet pavement from a brief shower, it was a magical scene. That particular morning’s sights and sounds have stayed with me for decades! Thankfully not that husband but yes, I love NY too!

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  9. 🎵”Some folks like to get away
    Take a holiday from the neighborhood
    Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood
    But I’m taking a Greyhound
    On the Hudson River line
    I’m in a New York state of mind.🎵

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  10. Was just there a few weeks ago for a whirlwind 36 hours (thank you cancelled flight and red eye🫣). Did everything we wanted/planned though! I think my favorite visit was to the main Library! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked by, but never ventured inside!!

    We’d just seen Gutenberg The Musical the night before and saw an actual Gutenberg Bible the very next day!!

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  13. Right there with ya, sister. Love having all those choices in NYC. Would adore a return to Paris so I can appreciate more of the food and the history. In my case, when I’m away I miss my cats and apartment. Also loved reading others’ memories in this entry! ✈️

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  14. My first trip to NYC was when I was 16 and saw the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade and Cabaret and Man of La Mancha. My spouse and I went in 1986 for the Van Gogh exhibit and Big River. The hustle and bustle and diversity is exhilarating.

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  15. J.F., first, I can not WAIT until your novel is in my hands. This is such exciting news. I’m waiting for any clues coming our way about it.
    And second, it makes me happy that both you and Charlie are released from your previous crushing schedule. Congratulations. He mentioned that you were eyes on his daily news letter, making sure things looked ship shape. Thank you.

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  16. I have similar feelings about New York although I love the hustle and bustle of a big city and would happily live in New York. My husband, however, hates it but he loves to visit New York as you do.

    Completely agree art museums (indeed all museums) are the secret to long life-

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