I started going to New York City when I was a little girl growing up in Connecticut. Every year my ballet school would take us to New York over the holidays to see the Nutcracker. They would give us these folding binoculars so we could see it up close from the nosebleed section.

Fast forward to my teenage years in Atlanta. My father would take me every June to New York on a Daddy-Daughter trip to go shopping and spend time together. In my college years I would go with my girlfriends to hang out, shop and eat.

I had always wanted to go to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), but my Dad thought I should get a business degree because it would guarantee that I would always be able to get a job. I saw his point, but I hated to give up my dream of moving to the big city and getting a creative degree. My Dad had a big influence on me so I went to Georgia State University, got a Finance Degree and promptly moved to New York City and went to FIT.

I was in their Fashion Merchandising program and I felt old with all of the 18-year olds in the classes. I enjoyed it, but after a year I got a job at a Real Estate Development Firm and that was it. At the time I thought I was hot stuff living in the big city going out for drinks after work and networking with entertainers and big real estate moguls.

That’s how my love affair grew as the years went by. I moved back to Atlanta, but I never stopped loving NYC.

If you go to New York, you have to take a helicopter ride around the Hudson Bay. You can see Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Jersey City and then they’ll take you up the West Side then back down.

I love walking around the city and seeing all of the different little neighborhoods. Sometimes it might only be a couple of blocks, but every neighborhood has its own flavor.

Harlem is a favorite, from the history to the African-American heritage to the brownstones. It’s a must see if you’re traveling to NYC. Even though it’s been gentrified to a certain extent, there’s still enough of the old school.

Ruth Ann’s restaurant in Harlem has a mural of African-Americans you can look at while you’re enjoying their awesome fried chicken.

I always walk along the highline when I’m in NYC. It is a park on the West Side of Manhattan. Located on a historic elevated rail line, it consists of gardens, art, food and performances. It starts in Chelsea and ends up on 34th Street. I would highly suggest you go and experience NYC from a unique perspective.

Brooklyn is hot right now  with DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Brooklyn Bridge), Park Slope, Williamsburg and Brooklyn Heights. I love to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to get there. A lot of people ride bikes too. Another place that’s been gentrified, but with gentrification comes new restaurants, shops and retail spaces.

I had to stop right here because I have so many pictures of New York so I’m breaking it up into 2 parts. Stay tuned for the next blog post in a few weeks.

I can’t say enough about this city. The energy is out of this world and the diversity is what keeps me going back. When I lived there I didn’t need a car because the whole island of Manhattan is walkable.

Let me know what you love about NYC and please stayed tuned for Part 2.