I LOVE the Red Lion! GREAT semi-divey place for good music, drinks, decent pub food. And in a fab neighborhood to boot. Glad you guys discovered it!
I lived in NYC in my 20s, 40s, and now in the last few minutes of my 50s...basically half my life...and have ALWAYS loved it - every minute of it. I've been incredibly lucky, though there certainly have been dicey financial moments (I left in my mid-20s with $12 to my name); time on unemployment/Medicaid (thank god for both)...but somehow I've always bounced back, sometimes seemingly from the brink. My life the past several years has been rather tranquil and serene, the pandemic giving me my years-long dream of working remotely, and I have THE best job I've ever had.
My closest NYC friends are a decade/decade-and-a-half younger than me; I've never felt "old" here. I've been truly blessed in this city, and when I leave later this year to relocate to my home state (OH), it'll be incredibly bittersweet. I'll be facing some not-so-tranquil days, I'm sure, as I'll be there in part to assist my elderly mother. But starting a new chapter with my partner, so that's the sweet part.
I hope you and John continue to explore NYC and all it has to offer - it's a hard city to live in, but my god, it's fantastic.
Sagre season is coming over here, Stacey. And if my kids and grandkids can prop me up, when we have one at our local sports complex, I may take a spin around the parking lot with the little woman. Some young thing may want to snap a pic of us up near the bandstand, but I won't dare lean against it lest the middle age rocker whose leading the band stumble my way while kickin' out with his Doc Martins. But, I will take note of the happy folks floating around the pavement while the happy young ones weave in and out of our legs playing tag. And I'll be happy too, goddamnit.
Stacey, As you know, I was born in Manhattan and love my city and I’m happy to give you all sorts of tips, leads, and advice. Just send me an email and I am glad to help in whatever way I can. I was just visiting my family in Manhattan from my home in Napoli. So like I say, let me know if I can help. I really enjoy your blog and love your writing.
You don't sound cranky at all, dear Stacey. My last ghostwriting assignment had me trying to explain to an audience of doubting and intransitive Boomers and GenXers the advantages and benefits that Zoomers bring to stagnant industries. Chiefly that of their instinctive understanding of technology and undaunted ability to apply and amplify it to efficiently accomplish tasks we old folk take days, months and years to accomplish. I stand in awe of my stepsons and their children who live in a world so connected that my five-year-old grandson is already programming his parent's entertainment center (and our smart screens) to watch his favorite programs and play his games. My college-age granddaughter, I'm proud to say, has actually passed through her i-phone fixation phase and only posts when requested... usually by one of her geriatric family members. So I watch the GenYs and Zoomers with a modicum of envy of their ease with the digital world, although I suspect that they lack the respect for the power of it. Us old folks know to be leery when things change too rapidly, when the scenery is moving by so fast it can't be comprehended, much less appreciated...When we may not have the time to brake before we slam into some digital obstacle with the terrifying capability to kill our world.
That is not to imply that I tolerate being scorned and belittled by Zoomers who have no patience for what they perceive to be the plodding, doddering generation. When I heard some punk wannabe-Longhorn in a UT hoodie yell "MOVE it, Boomer!" when I was just a tad slow off a stop sign (looked both ways, I did), I was tempted to jump out and slap his smarmy mug silly, but didn't for fear he might be packing something other than his iphone. Instead, I just took my time moving on down the road until he totally lost it and passed me at 30 miles above the speed limit... right in front of the police station.
Interesting post -- I had a terrible time trying to survive the city in my teens and twenties -- especially when rubbing shoulders with anyone who seemed to like being there...
"Every candle I put on my birthday cake is another year this world has failed to kill me." That should become my tag line. Either that or "Old enough to know better, too young to care." Either one works.
I have a couple of friends whose 23-year-old daughter is living in Brooklyn- "poor as Hell," as she puts it, and is one of the beautiful people you describe. If I were 40 years younger, I'd be worshipping her. Thankfully, I'm married, living on the West Coast, and have no desire to live in NYC, though I do enjoy visiting the place.
What I have learned is that my (our) generation is definitely not the target demographic. On the (thankfully) few occasions I happen to find myself in a club, I feel distressingly fucking old. (I'll have a Geritol fizz on the rocks, please. No, wait; make it a double.)
All that said, I wouldn't trade where I am now for anything. The perspective of age and the wisdom of no-fucking-way-would-I-do-that-to-myself is beyond priceless. The kids will do what they do, and maybe they'll grow up and move out into the 'burbs someday. Or perhaps not. Maybe they'll find a place that doesn't require so much damned walking when their knees finally give out.
It's a dog-eat-dog world, and we've all worn the Milk Bone underwear, eh? Frankly, they can have it.
such a great piece. how the demographic has changed; when i lived there at 31, it felt as tho nyc was awash in retirees,old money and tons of dilatants who apparently now live in florida. i felt 'rich' because i had a 2nd floor walk up in yorkville and was often gifted symph, show or opera tix or galas. however cash-sucking vortex that it was, i lasted a year and hurried back to SF.
That’s interesting. The most fun I had in NY was when I was in my early forties. As a single straight professional man I was much appreciated by women in their thirties, while young girls in baseball caps were of no interest to me. I had the financial means to appreciate many of the proverbial “fine things that the city had to offer”, and I distinctly remember that the city had a fair number of people older (and even quite a bit older) than me. I didn’t go clubbing, that would’ve been ridiculous at 41, but concert venues and jazz clubs were just great.
"another photo was taken, this one so close to the stage, the lead singer had to take a step back." <-- This infuriates me. When I bring a camera to a music venue, it is to take pictures of the band (my flash is always off.) (Someday I'll share some of my pics of Halestorm from 2017 concert in Herrin. Some of them are bad enough to be interesting.) If your attention is not on the performer(s), then why are you there, in everyone else's way? I find such narcissism unforgivable.
Try going into any professional sports locker room. I feel like Methuselah. "Tell us about Radio Shack, grandpa." Life in the (metaphorical) big city.
I, too, request that you leave my lawn.
I LOVE the Red Lion! GREAT semi-divey place for good music, drinks, decent pub food. And in a fab neighborhood to boot. Glad you guys discovered it!
I lived in NYC in my 20s, 40s, and now in the last few minutes of my 50s...basically half my life...and have ALWAYS loved it - every minute of it. I've been incredibly lucky, though there certainly have been dicey financial moments (I left in my mid-20s with $12 to my name); time on unemployment/Medicaid (thank god for both)...but somehow I've always bounced back, sometimes seemingly from the brink. My life the past several years has been rather tranquil and serene, the pandemic giving me my years-long dream of working remotely, and I have THE best job I've ever had.
My closest NYC friends are a decade/decade-and-a-half younger than me; I've never felt "old" here. I've been truly blessed in this city, and when I leave later this year to relocate to my home state (OH), it'll be incredibly bittersweet. I'll be facing some not-so-tranquil days, I'm sure, as I'll be there in part to assist my elderly mother. But starting a new chapter with my partner, so that's the sweet part.
I hope you and John continue to explore NYC and all it has to offer - it's a hard city to live in, but my god, it's fantastic.
Hugs from Astoria...
Sagre season is coming over here, Stacey. And if my kids and grandkids can prop me up, when we have one at our local sports complex, I may take a spin around the parking lot with the little woman. Some young thing may want to snap a pic of us up near the bandstand, but I won't dare lean against it lest the middle age rocker whose leading the band stumble my way while kickin' out with his Doc Martins. But, I will take note of the happy folks floating around the pavement while the happy young ones weave in and out of our legs playing tag. And I'll be happy too, goddamnit.
Stacey, my new Substack: https://renegvolpi.substack.com
PS: I loved your latest piece, wow!
Stacey, As you know, I was born in Manhattan and love my city and I’m happy to give you all sorts of tips, leads, and advice. Just send me an email and I am glad to help in whatever way I can. I was just visiting my family in Manhattan from my home in Napoli. So like I say, let me know if I can help. I really enjoy your blog and love your writing.
You don't sound cranky at all, dear Stacey. My last ghostwriting assignment had me trying to explain to an audience of doubting and intransitive Boomers and GenXers the advantages and benefits that Zoomers bring to stagnant industries. Chiefly that of their instinctive understanding of technology and undaunted ability to apply and amplify it to efficiently accomplish tasks we old folk take days, months and years to accomplish. I stand in awe of my stepsons and their children who live in a world so connected that my five-year-old grandson is already programming his parent's entertainment center (and our smart screens) to watch his favorite programs and play his games. My college-age granddaughter, I'm proud to say, has actually passed through her i-phone fixation phase and only posts when requested... usually by one of her geriatric family members. So I watch the GenYs and Zoomers with a modicum of envy of their ease with the digital world, although I suspect that they lack the respect for the power of it. Us old folks know to be leery when things change too rapidly, when the scenery is moving by so fast it can't be comprehended, much less appreciated...When we may not have the time to brake before we slam into some digital obstacle with the terrifying capability to kill our world.
That is not to imply that I tolerate being scorned and belittled by Zoomers who have no patience for what they perceive to be the plodding, doddering generation. When I heard some punk wannabe-Longhorn in a UT hoodie yell "MOVE it, Boomer!" when I was just a tad slow off a stop sign (looked both ways, I did), I was tempted to jump out and slap his smarmy mug silly, but didn't for fear he might be packing something other than his iphone. Instead, I just took my time moving on down the road until he totally lost it and passed me at 30 miles above the speed limit... right in front of the police station.
Upspeak is very common in Australia, and not just among young women. But young American women also speak with what’s known as “vocal fry”.
Interesting post -- I had a terrible time trying to survive the city in my teens and twenties -- especially when rubbing shoulders with anyone who seemed to like being there...
cheers
"Every candle I put on my birthday cake is another year this world has failed to kill me." That should become my tag line. Either that or "Old enough to know better, too young to care." Either one works.
I have a couple of friends whose 23-year-old daughter is living in Brooklyn- "poor as Hell," as she puts it, and is one of the beautiful people you describe. If I were 40 years younger, I'd be worshipping her. Thankfully, I'm married, living on the West Coast, and have no desire to live in NYC, though I do enjoy visiting the place.
What I have learned is that my (our) generation is definitely not the target demographic. On the (thankfully) few occasions I happen to find myself in a club, I feel distressingly fucking old. (I'll have a Geritol fizz on the rocks, please. No, wait; make it a double.)
All that said, I wouldn't trade where I am now for anything. The perspective of age and the wisdom of no-fucking-way-would-I-do-that-to-myself is beyond priceless. The kids will do what they do, and maybe they'll grow up and move out into the 'burbs someday. Or perhaps not. Maybe they'll find a place that doesn't require so much damned walking when their knees finally give out.
It's a dog-eat-dog world, and we've all worn the Milk Bone underwear, eh? Frankly, they can have it.
such a great piece. how the demographic has changed; when i lived there at 31, it felt as tho nyc was awash in retirees,old money and tons of dilatants who apparently now live in florida. i felt 'rich' because i had a 2nd floor walk up in yorkville and was often gifted symph, show or opera tix or galas. however cash-sucking vortex that it was, i lasted a year and hurried back to SF.
That’s interesting. The most fun I had in NY was when I was in my early forties. As a single straight professional man I was much appreciated by women in their thirties, while young girls in baseball caps were of no interest to me. I had the financial means to appreciate many of the proverbial “fine things that the city had to offer”, and I distinctly remember that the city had a fair number of people older (and even quite a bit older) than me. I didn’t go clubbing, that would’ve been ridiculous at 41, but concert venues and jazz clubs were just great.
I'm going to sound cranky and I effin' mean to.
"another photo was taken, this one so close to the stage, the lead singer had to take a step back." <-- This infuriates me. When I bring a camera to a music venue, it is to take pictures of the band (my flash is always off.) (Someday I'll share some of my pics of Halestorm from 2017 concert in Herrin. Some of them are bad enough to be interesting.) If your attention is not on the performer(s), then why are you there, in everyone else's way? I find such narcissism unforgivable.
Get off my lawn.
Brilliant writing, as always; I feel like I'm right there with you and John. Thanks for the temporary trip to NYC!