New York State of Mind

Somehow, John has gone his entire life without ever visiting New York City. This oversight had to be corrected, even if introverts like us could only handle the crowded streets for about 24 hours. In that short period of time, we wandered the streets, walked the High Line, visited Central Park and Ground Zero, admired lots of architecture, took the Staten Island Ferry, and more.

The 9/11 memorial

John on the Highline, an old raised rail line that was converted into a walkway

My favorite sign on the subway

In defiance of the NYC attitude, John walked down the street trying to make eye contact with people who were making every effort to avoid his gaze. His demeanor – and our backpacks – screamed tourist, and he was constantly approached by vendors. The only person who spoke to us on the streets – and wasn’t trying to sell us anything – was not a New Yorker; she had travelled there from Ohio for the same concert as us.

Which brings me to the primary reason for our visit: Daughter and Ben Howard performing at the Radio City Music Hall. I apologize in advance for the shameless promotion I am about to do, but if you haven’t heard of Daughter, you need to look them up. We have been obsessed over the past three months, to the point where we play their music on repeat, over and over, without ever tiring of it. Some of our favorite songs include Youth, Amsterdam, Landfill, and Smother, so do yourself a favor and download them immediately. And while Daughter may have been our primary motivator, Ben Howard’s portion of the show was one of the best concerts I have ever been to.

Getting excited…

Radio City Music Hall

As an added bonus, I have family – my grandmother, two aunts and uncles, and a cousin – just 90 miles upstate. We were able to spend a few days with them, without the claustrophobia inducing crowds of the big city. I love visiting NYC, but only in small doses.

A view of upstate NY from the top of a tower