With only 2 weeks left in NYC, I decided to create a video that aims to capture the essence of the city and the spirit of its residents.
I wanted to showcase the qualities of this city that I adore; the dynamic energy, colorful diversity and sense of endless possibility and wonder. For me, it is these characteristics that make this city so incredible.
Here is New York from my perspective, condensed into one and a half minutes. Enjoy!
I used to stay awake at night dreaming about living in New York. In my idealistic, adolescent mind, it was a city of dreams; it represented freedom, opportunity and celebrated cultural diversity and artistic expression. I imagined a colorful city that was constantly on the go and full of energy and life; filled with interesting people who were driven, smart, talented and different from me.
This daydream was brought to life 4 years ago upon receiving my acceptance letter from NYU (thank you NYU and thank you parents!). And so, my New York chapter began at Greenwich Village, home to NYU, in 2012.
I vividly recall the mixture of emotions I felt when I arrived in New York for the first time during the summer of 2012; I was overwhelmed, anxious, scared (moving to a new city alone yikes), but most of all, incredibly excited. Excited for the new chapter ahead and all the colorful possibilities new beginnings bring.
I remember the first time I walked through Washington Square Park with my parents on a hot summers day. Despite the scorching heat, the park was pulsating with life and buzzing with energy. Music filled the air; there were jazz musicians and artists on every corner and the park was packed with NYU students, locals and tourists. I looked around with wide-eyed wonder.
Greenwich Village, often referred to as “the Village”, is the neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan. Greenwich Village is regarded as an artists’ haven, the Bohemian capital, the center of the modern LGBT movement, and the East Coast birthplace of ’60s counterculture movements.
Despite its popularity, Greenwich Village exudes an intimate, neighborhood charm. It’s packed with 24-hour dining, shopping and nightlife, yet remains personable, with ample greenery, low-rise brownstones and a plethora of boutique shops and specialty stores.
Summer of 2012: My first walk at Washington Square Park 🙂
Having been acquainted with the neighborhood over the past few years, I’ve developed a list of my favorite spots and places worth checking out. Here are a few I recommend:
La Lanterna
Think Coffee
Caffe Reggio
Washington Square Park
NYU
Graduation photo at Washington Square Park: NYU class of 2014
Happy NYU graduates 🙂
This quaint yet dynamic neighborhood celebrates culture, diversity and music. It’s filled with plenty of dining options, boasts a vibrant nightlife and exudes an idyllic and artistic charm. These reasons alone make it one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. But what really makes a place special is the meaning and memories you attach to it. Greenwich village will always hold a special place in my heart because it is home to NYU, making it the birthplace of my dream of living in this city. I will look back at my days spent in this neighborhood with great fondness.
Momofuku is an international group of restaurants owned by chef-founder David Chang. The collection of restaurants include Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssäm Bar and Momofuku Milk Bar amongst others.
I had received a Momofuku gift card 2 months back and finally decided to use it on the first Momofuku restaurant that was established – Momofuku Noodle Bar. This restaurant is most famous for its ramen (surprise surprise) and flavored buns, specifically the pork belly.
The noodle bar opens for dinner at 5:30pm. We arrived at 5.40pm on Saturday and waited in line for about 15 mins (which wasn’t too bad at all). This restaurant is always busy and packed so I recommend going there early to avoid the long wait.
Here are the dishes that I tried:
Smoked Chicken Wings: Pickled chili, garlic, scallion sauce
These tender chicken wings are coated in a delicious sweet, tangy and spicy sauce. I definitely recommend this appetizer to share, so delicious! It was probably my favorite dish of the night.
Chicken Meatball Bun: Jalapeño, iceberg, paprika mayo
Sumptious and tender chicken meatball sandwiched between a soft bun and coated in a tangy paprika mayo sauce, topped with jalapeño – very tasty! I’ve also heard that the pork buns are notoriously good here. It’s not on the official menu but just ask the waiter, and they’ll serve it to you (too bad I only heard about this after eating here). According to the waiter, the brisket buns are also extremely popular here.
Momofuku Ramen: Pork belly, pork shoulder, poached egg
A well presented hearty bowl of ramen, perfect for a cold winter’s night. The tender pork meat produced a hearty flavor but the broth was not very salty, unlike some of the other ramen I’ve had in New York. It was appetizing and satisfying, but in all honesty, I preferred the ramen at Ippudo slightly more. It was better suited to my palate.
All in all, Momofuku Noodle Bar was a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience! The food was great, the service was attentive and the restaurant was buzzing with energy – an East Village treasure.
I enjoyed a wonderfully delicious lunch at Ippudo East Village today.
Ippudo East Village is the first international Ippudo to introduce the world to Hakata tonkotsu pork soup. While Ippudo East Village is rooted in traditional Japanese ramen culture, they also offer a modern interpretation that is both inspired by Japan and the culture of New York.
Pork Belly Buns
Two steamed buns filled with pork and served with Ippudo’s original spicy buns sauce and mayo. These are probably the BEST pork belly buns I’ve savored. The meat was so succulent and tender, the buns warm and soft and the original sauce was so tasty. I definitely recommend this appetizer!
Akamaru Modern
The original silky “Tonkotsu” (pork) soup noodles topped with Ippudo’s secret miso paste, pork chashu, cabbage, sesame kikurage mushrooms, scallions and fragrant garlic oil. The ingredients blend well together – simply delicious!
Although there is always a wait to get seated, overall dining at Ippudo is a wonderful culinary experience! Delicious food, attentive service and a warm, soothing ambience – a neighborhood gem.
I’ve decided to start a photo series and commentary centered around the neighborhoods and cities I’ve visited. To kick off this passion project, I’ll begin with one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York – East Village.
I moved to the East Village last September. Over the past 6 months, I’ve enjoyed exploring all this eclectic neighborhood has to offer. The more I discover, the deeper my fascination.
The East Village — the blocks east of the Bowery between Houston and 14th Streets, was once considered to be part of the Lower East Side, but began to develop its own unique identity and culture in the late 1960s, when a flurry of artists, musicians, students and hippies began to move into the area.
The neighborhood has since emerged as a center of the counterculture in New York, and is regarded as the birthplace of several artistic movements, including punk rock and the Nuyorican literary movement. It has also been the site of protests and riots. Although in recent decades it has been argued that gentrification has transformed the character of the neighborhood, East Village is still known for its diverse community, vibrant nightlife (boasting the highest concentration of bars in the city) and artistic charm. Recent years have seen an influx of trendy bars, street art, boutique shops while an abundance of affordable eateries has made the East Village, the mecca for budget-minded foodies.
Here is a list of my favorite spots in the neighborhood:
Cafe Orlin: Orlin burger, hummus with mushrooms and avocado toast
Kenka: Enjoying cotton candy after the meal
Tompkins Square Park during Storm Jonas 2016
Despite its grit and grime, East Village is a fascinating, lively and trendy neighborhood with a cult following. It’s culturally diverse community, plethora of food options, dynamic nightlife and artistic allure make it one of my favorite neighborhoods in New York, and quite possibly, the entire world.
The snow storm didn’t stop me from going outside and having fun today! I had a great time walking around my neighborhood, enjoying the snow and picturesque views.
Here are a couple of photos I took at Tompkins Square Park. It looked like a winter wonderland:
