Daily Archives: September 23, 2013

Walking New York

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As we discussed in class, after you read “A Literary Visitor Strolls in from the Airport” by Charles McGrath, please write a post about your experience walking in New York City. Maybe you want to write about the longest walk you ever took, or a walk that was memorable for another reason, or reflect on walking in Manhattan versus another borough, or on streets versus walking in parks, or during the day versus at night. You don’t need to draw a comparison–just write about walking in New York.

As always, I look forward to reading your posts!

Walking in New York City

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On the summer of July 2013, I went to a job interview. It was a host position at a Japanese restaurant. It was located by 5th ave and 18 st. In all my 13 years of living in New York City, most of them were spent in Queens but it was this summer that I broke that habit. I remember getting out of a summer class really early and having copious amount of time left before I had to come in for my job training. I did in fact get the job but it was at a new location in Time Square.I got off at 14 st and 6th ave. It was a rainy day and I decided to walk all the way up to 41 st where my job was located. Needless to say it was a long journey, but I was able to discover the city after all these years. I walked up 8th ave and for the most part, around 14 st to about 23rd st, it didn’t look like much of a city because the lack of buildings.It was cold and wet but it felt like a normal day. People were busy walking fast trying not to get wet. It was mostly a residential area without that many stores. For a moment, I forgot I was in the city. But, after 23rd st, the buildings appeared. I was soon near commercial area with giant lights and huge advertisement posters. I reached 35th st and decided to make a left. I found a Sam Ash and it was a brilliant discovery. New York City is more than just a city because it has all these miniature cities within it! All these small general locations have something unique about it that you wont find anywhere else. I enjoyed my walk up 8th ave and I’d recommended it to anyone else who enjoys walking for no reason too.

Fort Greene Dreams Summary

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In the passage “Fort Greene Dreams”, by Nelson George from the book New Yorkers and Their Neighborhoods tells the story of an important time in Nelson George’s life. Nelson George is a music and culture critic, journalist, and filmmaker. In 1985 he moved to Fort Greene, Brooklyn which was where a lot of his success started. George claimed that living in Fort Greene inspired him because all the talent which was around him. During his time in 19 Willoughby George wrote 5 books, invested in a few movies, and also wrote and produced screenplays. He’s ambition grew living in this new, big apartment. This new apartment was a big deal for him since he was raised in a different part of Brooklyn in a public housing apartment. In 1986 when the movie “She’ Gotta Have It” was released, Fort Greene and filmmakers who lived there became internationally known. Fort Greene was portrayed with a “Brooklyn boheme” vibe filled with black culture. George found out a lot about himself while living in 19 Willoughby, one was that he was a mentor. He mentored many people like Russell Simmons, Andre Harrell, brothers Warrington and Reggie Hudlin, and many young artists. The most important thing to George was to have a long lasting career filled with achievement. He wanted to he’s excellency to continue for many years to come.

“City Limits” Summary

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“City Limits” is a story from “The Colossus Of New York”  written by Colson Whitehead. He starts off saying that he was born in New York and how the city makes your home town look really “drab” and “tiny”. Colson states that you start building your own New York once you’ve laid your eyes on it. That first glimpse you see of the city is that “first brick” into growing your New York City. One thing that Colson said that was interesting is when he refers the Met Life Building to the Pan Am. Of course he is wrong, but at the same time who is to tell him what is what? Whitehead’s New York is different from everyone else, because you are a New Yorker when what was there before is more real and solid than what is here now.

City Limits Summary

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City Limits is a passage from the book The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead. In the passage, Whitehead talks about how everyone has their own view of New York. According to Whitehead, some people “start to build their own private New York the first time they lay eyes on it.” In other words, some people start developing their own view of the city when they first see it. In City Limits, Whitehead talks about how the historical background of New York varies from person to person. Everyone has their very own memories and experiences in New York City. Because of this, Whitehead claims that all the historical facts that you learn about New York are all “hokum” if they aren’t apart of your memories of the city. He then talks about how each and every place in New York contains memories of events and experiences different people had. Each apartment in the city holds countless stories and experiences of different people during certain parts of their lives. Even though the city is constantly changing, it will always stay the same to the people who hold memories of those places. In the end, Whitehead talks about how some of us might have been apart of each other’s New Yorks without even realizing it until now.

City Limits Summary

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In the story “City Limits”, writen by Colson Whitehead, New York is described through the author’s point of view. This playfully sarcastic character explains how everyone has their own New York because this city is always changing and you start building your own as soon as you lay eyes on the concrete jungle. He goes on to show his obessesive love for New York, claiming that since he has lived here it has ruined him to go anywhere else, but not only for what it is now but also loving the city for what it used to be through his eyes. The author still refers to buildings by their previous names because that’s how he built his New York, the same goes for the shops the took over what was once a place he liked reminiscing on his own New York. To me it seems a little depressing how he’s so attached to these shops and buildings and then they are taken down and something different is put up and he says you’re not a real New Yorker until you realize New York will keep going on without you. Even though things leave they still exist because they are part of your vision when you first built your own view of the city in your head

CITY LIMITS SUMMARY

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“The colossus of New York” by Colson Whitehead talks about the experience of the author in New York City. According to him it is one of the best place to live on earth. But at the same time he makes sarcastic points which might confuse the audience about his view on New York city. In the following lines he says ” It’s the early 70’s, so everything is filthy”. Filthy means disgustingly dirty which might create wrong assumptions on people’s mind. He talks about how he started his life and the day to day activities he saw/performed everyday. According to his opinion, its about how you live your lifestyle and its about your mindset how you interpret your thoughts on New York. ” I never got a chance to say goodbye to some of my old building”. The life is so busy in New York that once you get settle here, you completely forgot about thoughts to move to a better new place. He also thinks that the day we become New Yorkers is the day we realize that New York will go on without us. In conclusion his message to the readers is that we should cherish our life by enjoying it everyday. But the best place to do that is New York city where he recommends people to spend their life.