since my last post, i've been back to la as well as sf on two separate trips. i always have an amazing time for different reasons visiting each. each trip felt different than other times as being on the east coast has definitely influenced my views and experiences. small things like driving around in a car passing by homes with actual yards makes me reminisce and ponder where i want to end up in the future after ny. will my life take me back to la where i spent 21 great years and end up tanning on the beach, getting closer with best friends, and being closer to my parents? or will i somehow end up back in the bay area where i spent 4+ years making new friends, enjoying the foggy weather, and attending great music concerts? both places have a ton of benefits with few drawbacks and in all honesty one can't go wrong. being back in ny i do miss certain parts of california and wish i could bring some of the west over.
la: ironic as it may be, i wish cheap chinese foot reflexology businesses could survive in ny. if you walk through chinatown, you'll see countless hair salons offering $5 haircuts or the shady chinese hole in the wall offering a full greasy meal for $2.50...but where...WHERE are the cheap foot massage shops offering $15 an hour back and foot massages a la valley blvd? not only would this thrive in terms of popularity, but i know my feet and overall stress would appreciate this service. out of every city in the u.s., ny is the one that probably has their citizens walking the most. why not reward this eco-friendly activity by subsidizing these sometimes ventures? if only bloomberg could realize the advantages he would make a new law: "those who walk more than 5 miles a week for work get 10 minutes free. those who walk and don't ever use cabs get 15 minutes free with complimentary chinese herbal tea." it's too bad i didn't realize this until bloomberg got re-elected or else this blog may not exist and you would instead find my opinions on nytimes.com. but for now, i'll only be able to get my fix on major holidays and the occasional weekend trip back home.
sf: i lived in sf for 4 years and i loved every minute of it. but when trying to pinpoint one piece of sf i would bring to ny it's extremely difficult. do i want the weather that consistently falls between 50-75? or how about the ability to stay in the city and bar hop and live the city life and then head twenty minutes over the bridge to suburbia with weather 10 degrees warmer? or my favorite winter activity snowboarding being a short 3.5 hours away? with all sf has to offer, it was difficult, but i narrowed what i would want to bring over to ny...the odd collection of events sf had to offer. where else can you go that offers valentines day pillow fights where thousands gather and have an all out slumber slugfest sending feathers flying? or how about drag queens performing prince songs at the purple rain sing a long? fake snow along fillmore street where jonny moseley flips and spins? red bull go kart racing in the mission? easter race down lombard? or the granddaddy of all...bay to breakers. by definition, an actual race...but in reality a huge parade of costumes, alcohol, and music. approximately 75,000 take part in this annual tradition that has some neighbors outraged at the public urination and trashing throughout the city. but for those who run/walk/stumble it, it has the making to be one's most memorable sf moment. bay to breakers headlines the list of the all star cast that i wish i could bring to the east coast. ny has some unique traditions of its own, but sf will always have my heart.
what event was going on when you came that weekend (ie shown in the picture you have at ferry building)?? i agree with you about the reflexology in ny. why do we need so many in san gabriel area?? to add onto your sf list, how about the nearness to napa, monterey and the beautiful bridges and marina here... how about planning on bay to breakers 2010?? :D
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