Category: Big city life
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Brooklyn Bridge Views
There are some New York views everyone has seen somewhere—on a postcard, in a movie, or in real life. For me, it’s this one. Even though I’ve only been here once before, it somehow feels instantly familiar: the Brooklyn Bridge stretching across the East River with downtown Manhattan rising just behind. The walking paths along…
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Small helpers
This week has been on fire—figuratively. A pile-up of nerve-wracking things left me with no time (or headspace) for writing. But maybe that’s a fitting lead-in to today’s post: fire trucks. In the U.S., fire trucks are hard to miss—giant, shiny red machines that dominate the streets, and impossible to ignore with sirens that stretch…
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Breaking free
In New York, supermarkets can sell beer—but not wine or spirits. Those are reserved for licensed liquor stores. Which is why, at first, I thought some might have a special license. But it turned out the bottles I’d spotted just looked like wine—same grape names, same wine regions—until closer inspection revealed one big difference: they’re…
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A quick doctor’s visit
The American health care system is something I think about a lot. It’s incredibly complex—and can feel unfair in how care is accessed and experienced. That said, if you do have good insurance—as I feel grateful to right now—the experience can be surprisingly luxurious. Yesterday, I needed an impromptu doctor’s visit. No wait time. Thoughtful,…
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Night construction
Only in New York is construction in the middle of the night considered “less disruptive.” When the sun goes down, the construction sites appear. The streets might quiet down, but somewhere—in my case, next door—someone is throwing wood planks, clanking scaffolding, or drilling into oblivion. In Germany, this would be unthinkable. The uproar would be…
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4th of July
This Fourth of July, I found myself not at a backyard barbecue or watching fireworks like in past years, but at a Mexican restaurant—enjoying one of the best tuna ceviches I’ve ever had, alongside tacos, quesadillas, and queso fundido. We sat outside, taking in the mild summer evening (a rarity in New York). It might…
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A Wave Of Pink
The past few weeks in New York have been a full-on heat wave—heavy, hot, sticky, smelly. Just as the city was melting, this fun little installation popped up on a corner lot: pink everywhere, in the form of flamingos, and common items you come across in the city. The artist’s idea was to remind New…
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Flu zone
Caught the flu and am feeling like this tangled mess of cones and caution tape—just add tissues, tea, and ice (depending on which fever chills are in charge—hot or cold, it changes by the hour). Everything’s foggy, sweaty, and my energy levels are near zero. But true to the American work ethic, I’m still trying…
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One Year In New York
This weekend marked my one-year anniversary of moving to New York City. It’s been a whirlwind—a rollercoaster in the best and most honest sense. The excitement of discovering another new city, the opportunities that brought me here, the moments that pushed me far out of my comfort zone… all wrapped up into twelve fast months.…
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Apple 5th Avenue
It’s hard to miss the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue—technically underground, but marked by a glowing glass cube, like a minimalist sculpture. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the store itself is tucked beneath the plaza, accessible via a spiral staircase or a very smooth elevator ride. Downstairs, it still features the iconic trees, but the…
Josephine in New York City 