Yes, I Love NY!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

With less than a week left in 2010, foremost on my mind is looking back over the last 12 months. It’s hard to avoid that tendency since all over the media and internet and every conversation at this time of year is some mention of “reflecting on 2010″ or “My Top 10 in 2010″! My last 12 months have been long, often strange and sometimes beautiful but I don’t care to make any Top 10 lists to recount them. Instead, I’m happy to just celebrate and look forward. In celebrating I can’t help but think of the place I traveled to most this year: in all, six trips to New York City and yes – it is official…

I LOVE NY

Just last night, my old friend Will and I were recounting our mutual adoration for “The Big Apple”, “The City that Never Sleeps”, the place where “if you can make it here you can make it anywhere” by sharing the places we most love to eat, stay and play when we’re in our beloved NYC. I woke this morning with a need to watch “Manhattan” and a desire to look back over the thousands of images I’ve taken in my days roaming the streets from Prospect Park to the Upper West Side. They have been happy days and I wouldn’t trade a single one of them for all the time or resources in the world. I was born and raised in Vermont, I’ve lived 20 plus years in the Midwest, I’m now in Charlotte – but my home … is in New York.

I hope that 2011 brings a job and place to live there permanently, but even if it doesn’t you can bet I won’t stay away too long. Tourist or visitor, I don’t care the term, I’ll always return.

Here is just a sample of the photographs I’ve taken in my wanderings, I hope you enjoy this visual journey of my city! If you’ve never been, this is the chance to live vicariously. If you have been or currently live in NYC, I hope I do the city justice for you. It’s a crazy yet beautiful place isn’t it?

Battery Park & the Waterfront

Union Square … Flatiron Building … Brooklyn Bridge

Prospect Park & Greater Brooklyn

Governor’s Island & Staten Island Ferry

SoHo

Downtown

The Highline

I’ve written several, more detailed posts on NYC about … my afternoon at The MET, my leisurely afternoon in Union Square, my Sunset evening in Battery Park, my experience walking the Brooklyn Bridge, how I eventually came to like Brooklyn, the Heroes Memorial I stumbled upon, and my love for the NYCPL. I hope you take the time to enjoy those as well! Lastly, I’ve curated a twitter list of almost 300 accounts maintained by people “In the Know” in NYC or organizations who twitter for or about the city. It’s a great resource!

DISCLAIMER: Neither this post, nor my career as a writer is in any way sponsored by NYC or any NYC based organization. These are my opinions alone, gained over a course of 9 months spent traveling throughout the greater New York city area paid for solely by myself.


For the most current updates, become a fan on Facebook, check out my Highlights on AFAR or follow me on Instagram. I am able to update both networks more frequently than this blog. And if you enjoyed this post, please show the love by sharing it!

  • http://www.goseewrite.com/ Michael Hodson

    Really damn good photos – I need a lesson. You offer reasonable rates? :)

  • http://tastesbetterwithfriends.wordpress.com Ethan

    You did NYC proud! I can’t say I was there 6 times in 2010, but I love the city everytime I go and would love nothing more than to live there too!

  • http://flavors.me/alishainthebiz Alisha

    these are absolutely gorgeous!!! i want them all printed and decorated in our apartment. amazing! how can I get some of these printed/framed? maybe a good bday gift…

  • http://freefoodboston.wordpress.com Elizabeth

    I grew up just east of Union Sq (that’s actually where I am right now, home for the holidays). Though I live in Boston now and I would like to live for a few years in various other places, NY will always be my home and this is where I will end up in the long term. Thanks so much for sharing the fabulous photos. Looking forward to seeing more photos when you visit again.

  • http://www.stayadventurous.com/ craig

    Your disclaimer made me smile, why would such a post be sponsored?… New York is just that good, no? I think so….

    Thanks for sharing so many photos, such quality shots…and so glad you consider New York City home. You already have made a welcome addition as far as I am concerned.

    stay adventurous, Craig

  • http://www.carolineinthecityblog.com Caroline in the City

    Amazing shots girl!

  • http://www.mybeautifuladventures.com Andi

    Ok so great, now I want to change my ticket tomorrow to NYC instead of Nassau. THANKS!!!!!!! ;-)

  • http://thetravelbelles.com Margo

    Gorgeous! Inspiring! Makes me want to ….. return my new camera lens and join a convent?

  • http://downtowntraveler.com/ LeslieTravel

    Awesome photos! You’ve really captured NYC in all its glory :)

  • http://100mileshighway.blogspot.com/ Katherina

    Girl, you just made my day :)
    I’m so looking forward to visiting NY end of January myself… and I’m taking notes of all the great places you’ve blogged about!
    Thanks a lot for this perfect preview!

  • http://thejungleprincess.com Abby

    I love NYC, too! And who wouldn’t after seeing these… I love all of them, but especially the ones where you capture the energy/movement of our favorite city!

  • http://www.exinkai.com ShaSha

    Ny is really so beautiful, wish I will go there one day ….. thumbs up for all pics, great!!

  • http://www.butterflydiary.com Charu

    Kristin–you live in NYC? Would love to get lessons from you…these are incredible shots. What camera do you use?

    Charu

  • http://mexicounmasked.com/ Mark

    Fabulous photos Kirsten! This piece makes me want to hop on the next plane out…wait a minute, the blizzard just blew through so I’ll wait till springtime…haha! Here’s to a great 2011 for you!

  • http://travelogged.com Travelogged

    Beautiful photos of my hometown :)
    Great variety, too!

  • http://www.crazysexyfuntraveler.com crazy sexy fun traveler

    Love the pics!!! Never been there but looks like I’m missing out!

  • http://dtravelsround.com DTravelsRound

    Stunning photos of NYC. Makes me want to go there … now.

  • http://vagabond3.com jade

    Love all of them, but esp. the dumbo and union square ones. fun and vibrant- just like the city! and… I’ll meet you in NYC- when you want to go?! :)

  • http://www.kenanlucas.com/ Kenan Lucas

    AMAZING PHOTOS! This post really makes me want to go back to NY now. I spent a week there and I loved it but it was also so exhausting! I think I need to go back there and live there for a year in order to really come to terms with it otherwise if I just visit as a tourist it will suck me up and spit me out each and every time. When I was there it was just like ‘New York, I Love You But You’re Bringing Me Down’ – by LCD Soundsystem.

  • http://ytravelblog.com Caz Makepeace

    Love these pictures. You are so talented. I really want to come back to New York in the summer and check out that highline. Such a great city.

  • http://budgettravelintentions.com/ Jeremy B

    Kirsten, I’ve never been to NYC but these photos are fabulous. I know photography is your think but these are beautiful! Keep doing what you’re doing!

  • http://www.manicinthecity.com Allison Joy

    Great photos! Thank you for such a beautiful ode to a very beautiful city. Stop by MANICinTheCity.com if you need an NYC fix in between your travels!!!

  • http://www.swgraphic.com/v2/blog Sarah Wu

    You made my home looks even more beautiful!

  • http://blog.kenkaminesky.com/ Ken Kaminesky

    You’ve got such a great eye Kirsten, love coming here to see your new photos. Glad to see you got to DUMBO, love it there.

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  • http://twitter.com/nearafar Natalie T.

    You definitely captured the spirit and the vibrancy of NYC. It’s why I love it there so much. I really do like that photo of the kids peeking over the edge of the ferry.  It shows that innate curiosity that NYC tends to ignite. It’s the one place I’m never bored of…LOVE! 

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