I'll start with my parents' arrival just a couple weeks ago-- their first time visiting me here, and my mom's first time in the City since childhood. Anxiety kicked in before they got here, because while I know they are happy for me (/happy I'm no longer on their dime), I was worried they'd be concerned after being thrown into the chaotic mix of the City.
Surprisingly, their visit confirmed none of my fears. In fact, I could almost see them purchasing a weekend home here! I'm fairly certain that we conquered basically every tourist attraction here. We started off the week with my parents' first experience riding in a car-- driven by me-- in NYC! My dad's exact words were, "Well, one thing that definitely hasn't changed are your driving skills" (I'm sure you KNOW he was talking about what an alert and amazing driver I am)! I then treated my parents to see Spiderman on Broadway (also doubling as my mom's Mother's Day gift). It was really a great show-- considering I'm not a Broadway fan-- and the theatrics were really what made it. I loved that the stage crew was able to create a set that was in line with the comic itself.
We spent one entire day in Central Park, riding bikes, "hiking" and picnicing. My parents say it was their favorite thing about the City, and as you know, I completely agree. That same night, we went to my favorite Indian restaurant in the Lower East Side. I don't know the name, but it's at the corner of 7th Street and 2nd Avenue. You can't miss it because it's the only restaurant on the block with horribly fashioned blinking lights encompassing the front window and inside ceiling. Besides the point-- go there because it's an awesome experience!
Another day we went to Chinatown to get a bag for my aunt. Now, I've had some scary experiences in that neighborhood, but nothing like what happened to us. After tracking down a "legit knockoff" seller on the street, we were led down back alleys and side streets to a hidden door (mind you the entire walk our guide is signaling various people on rooftops). Once we get to the door, we are signaled into a smaller room where the door is automatically locked behind us. Of course, my dad is in panic mode, wondering WTH we got him into, and my mom is on cloud nine that we hit the jackpot! After selecting our bags, we were (luckily) let out of the room...without being tortured, burned and slashed into a million pieces.
The rest of our trip was a bit less dangerous. We toured Little Italy, Wall Street, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, the High Line, ate on Stone Street and Shake Shack, as well as a lot of shopping. When my parents went back to the airport, the cab took them the Brooklyn Bridge way...so yeah, I'd say they hit every major hot spot.
Last weekend, three of my very best friends were here visiting (the second time for two of them and first for the other). Now, our trip was not PG-rated, so I'm going to keep this paragraph short and sweet. We treated the weekend in true holiday weekend fashion, and we'll just say the four days are memorable for not being able to remember. The highlight of the trip was definitely our Sunday booze brunch at Il Bastardo (ummm, hello, how could it not be amazing with that name)?! The spot is known for its 2:00 PM dance party-- yes, this is real life. We had brunch and $20 bottomless mimosas underneath strobe lights with a DJ in the background. I must say, our dance moves still translate in the daylight hours.
While my month has been a first for many reasons, and jam-packed, I'm ecstatic it's now June. But in the words of Al Berstein, June may be just as filled with excellence.
"Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June."
