It's OK, It's NYC...

To NYC...With Love! 

Here comes my next blog post…I know this time it's a little early compared to my previous a-post/month trend. I am really working on to be more devoted towards my writing passion and build a habit of at least a-post/week. That’s enough about my plans, now lets get dive into today’s post. No secrets, its all about the most mesmerizing city in the world, New York City (NYC)…super excited to write and share it!

I am really fortunate to be living at just a train-ride (~15-mins) away from my favorite place. I literally enjoy the liberty to just hop-on/off the Path and get myself mesmerized by NYC’s charms! In fact, I roughly drafted this post while riding the 33rd-Street Path back home to Journal Square. 

Besides centering on any specific niche, this article is more like a well-thought hand-written love letter by me to one of the world’s greatest cities, NYC. Without any doubt, it was a daring job on my side, but had no option. I always wanted to pen my NYC-observations. Being a Pakistani immigrant (for now good 15-years), provided me with an edge of global perspective. But considering the seriousness of this topic, I thought its better to have some expert consultation, therefore following, it’s-OK-it’s-NYC, observations are based on the suggestions as proposed by Me, Myself, and I…(I know its hard to be funny…just trying:)    

Without any further delay (sounds like I am anchoring a show), following are some of my most significant observations that fit-in the ‘OK’ criteria for NYC. I am sure I’ll still be missing many routine-facts. Writing on NYC is like choosing an infinitely plausible topic, as each person has his/her own perception! So to keep life easier, I distributed my observations under three categories—1) Dressing; 2) Commuting; 3) Culture.  

1) DRESSING: 
So, in terms of dressing, for NYC, it’s OK to…   

• …wear red shoes, jumbo heart-shaped sunnies with messy pink hair.

• …wear old-trusty black all year round for chic day/evening look; don't trust random fashion statements like: ‘gray is new-black’ or most recent one ‘caramel is new-black’. Q: If everything is being compared to black, why not just wear black?  

  

  old-trusty Black, always works!

• …keep your chin-high, back-straight and simply pound the pavement confidently, as  NYC sidewalks are the global runways…any fashion or better all fashion is accepted; a self-checked fact!

• ...have a road named as Fashion Avenue and a neighborhood as Fashion District...all hails to fashion!

  

  Yes, NYC actually has its own Fashion Ave.

• …wear anything or in extreme situations nothing, because no one is going to judge you the way you dress-up…keep aside the frozen stares! 

• …confidently wear worn-out clothing, bags, and shoes, especially leather…it’s actually  thought to be classy. There is no 'can' or 'can't' fashion statement...for NYC, any style is part of either in or upcoming trend! 

• …play safe and wear clothing in shades of black, gray or monochrome to blend in, whereas, to satisfy look-at-me mode, dare to wear bold, neon colors in floral prints…my suggestion: green pants, red shirt, and yellow scarf…I actually saw a guy wearing this combo in Subway.

2) COMMUTING: 
In terms of commuting, for NYC, it’s OK to…   

• …tow your own baggage, so carrying two shoulder totes along with a cross-body bag is a normal sight. 

• …carry a Le Pliage tote to blend in the I-know-where-I-am-headed crowd. 

• …always check all traffic signal lights before crossing any road, don't just rely on the red-hand and white-man as sometimes they aren't working.

• …not cross the zebra-crossing because someone just ran through it…trust me native New Yorkers are a pro at sensing traffic flow. 

• …consider Yellow Cab and Empire State Building equivalent in terms of importance as Double-Decker bus and London Bridge are in London.  

Yellow Cab: a NYC Icon!

• …ride a bike or more specifically CitiBike in a dress/suit, a great way to transform daily work commute into workout sessions. 

• …walk with an unstoppable or brakes-failed attitude…strangely in NYC, everyone, all the time, is rushing, imitating to be rushing to blend-in, or forced to walk fast out of peer pressure…don’t know the answer to this myth yet!      

• …run and get bumped on a sidewalk, just don't be late to work!

• …commute to and from the airports with your big luggage bags, in a local train or a bus…anything that saves money is practical. 

  

  Luggage, luggage...everywhere!

• …witness large rodents (rats, mouse or mice…can’t distinguish) cursing their way along the lines at Subway and Path stations; don't be frightened they can’t jump onto to the platform; just be sure to stand behind the yellow-line. 

3) CULTURE: 
So, in terms of culture, for NYC, it’s OK to…   

• …have a ‘no-pants’, ‘no-shirts’ or ‘no-shave’ days…literally, they are the part of community wellbeing on the basis of equal rights and freedom of expression. 

  

  Just wear confidence!

• …to overhear a conversation and make a comment or two…no one is supposed to mind it…supposedly! 

• …bring your umbrella and water bottle from home. I know it sounds cheap but trust me no one wants to spends $10-$15 on an umbrella and $2 on a 1/2-liter Poland Spring water bottle from sidewalk vendors.

• …sit on a sidewalk, with your boyfriend, two dogs, two luggage bags and just a note in front saying, ‘any help is appreciated’…be innovative for $$. 

  

  Everyone needs $$, true!

• …relax, chat, eat, and even enjoy free public wifi at designated small sitting areas in middle or sides of wide two-way roads.

• …attract customers to buy high-end luxury brands by displaying fairytale decor in display-windows of big departmental stores, especially during Holiday season. The store management actually keeps the windows hidden under a veil until they are completed and then organize a Window Display Opening Ceremony, where all the media is invited and a part of sidewalk is separated by a chain for the visitors to slowly walk, take pictures, and enjoy the display, while not disturbing the without-brakes on-foot traffic.  

Xmas window decor...keep dreaming:)

• …nickname Times Square as the Center of Universe…it’s so packed and vibrant with visitors' influx from around the world, from all walks of life and culture, unstoppable traffic, lively billboards, escalating skyscrapers, mesmerizing lights…it truly feels that the whole wide world got shrinked into that little square. No doubt, with so much foot-traffic, Times Square is a place for world’s most expensive billboards and world's largest New Year's Eve party!   

@ Times Square...it's always party time!

• …check weather on daily, preferably two or three times a day, from more than one reliable source or else you’ll yelling “weather people cannot be trusted” (a common NYC saying) or if in a pleasant mode, chanting “rain, rain go away"! 

• …kiss or hug in local trains or any public places, specifically for same sex…Lady Liberty sure showers its blessings everywhere!

• …go to Korea, China, and Italy towns (to name a few) and spike-up your tastebuds with their authentic cuisine while indulging into their rich culturally vibrant atmosphere. A side note: it's true that the food at these places is a bit expensive, but for a travel-lover like me its still on budget, compared to the roundtrip cost to these countries (just sharing my thought)!  

  

  My favorite...China Town!

• …always ask “is it free”, before getting into or buying any offer.

• …expect surprises and shocks at every nook and corner. Example: a cutout-cardboard window display of NYC architecture near Flatiron Building.   

  

  Cardboard-cutout exhibit praising NYC architecture!

   

P.S. I know all KDrama lovers had instantly picked on my inspiration for this post’s title, coming straight from It’s OK, That’s Love…which in fact supports my position, after all I shared all OK-facts about our lovely NYC :)