Have I mentioned in the past, oh, five minutes that I love New York? As in love, love, love it desperately with a throbbing and passionate longing?
I was in the city this week to visit my new publisher, but I also go to play a little. Spent Monday hanging out with Elizabeth Letts, Jonathan Santlofer, Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, Ron Hogan of GalleyCat fame, and Sarah Durand, my fabulous, fabulous editor for Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Went to the CLMP Spelling Bee, where Elizabeth, Sarah, and I made it into Gawker (yes, I look like some lunatic who woke up at 4:30am, flew across the country, spent the day zipping from thing to thing, and never paused to brush her hair before tossing back a couple of bee-tinis; sue me). Michael Cunningham may have spelled his first word wrong, but he’s nonetheless devastatingly handsome, perfectly articulate and charming. Meg Wolitzer, who wrote what I consider to be one of the funniest sentences ever, won, and I fangirl gushed horribly over her. Pretty sure she’ll run the other direction fast if she ever sees me coming again…
One of these days I’ll post pictures of all the fun.
Also got to see Jon Clinch and his lovely, witty, wonderful wife, Wendy, as we bonded over breakfasts of Big Bad Wolves. After leaving them, I walked back down to my hotel—Central Park South to 31st. Is there anything better than meandering through Manhattan?
As I got close to the library, I sort of noticed that there were no people on the sidewalk in front of it. Mobs on the steps, but I was too busy gabbing on the phone (yes, obnoxious cell phone girl; bad, I know) to pay much attention. I was distracted not only by the phone, but by a mad desire to find an open store. I’d forgot to bring a belt, you see, and was in mortal fear of the humiliation that comes when jeans make their way too far down the hips. So I’m not paying attention to what’s going on around me. Then I see this rather cute gentleman smiling at me. So I smile. I’m in New York, I’m happy. He smiles again. Waves. I keep walking. Then stop and do a double-take. He’s still grinning. Turns out I’m b-lining my way straight through a set for Sex and the City: The Movie. I’m waving at a movie star. HA!
Which makes me feel good. Because after pausing at my hotel to throw on some lip gloss, I’m off to publishing meetings, brimming with the confidence that can only come from being scoped by a movie star. Yeah, he was probably only laughing at me because my jeans were falling down or my hair was crazy or something, but let a girl have her delusions, will ya?
That’s about it for now; I’m ready to drop from delighted exhaustion. Tune in next week, when the Virtual Cocktail Party’s back with the super-talented Sujata Massey. You won’t want to miss this.
Now, though, I want you to answer a question for me: What’s your favorite city? I’m not sure I could pick just one…
xo
Tasha
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Having worked and played in both cities, I had been torn between DC and Baltimore - until recently.
Baltimore, definitely Baltimore.
Thanks, Tasha - see, I started typing merrily away in this little box about all the “whys” and realized I was writing a whole essay - so now I’ve copied it and deleted it and it will be my blog for next week!
And, dearheart, your hair - as always - looks fabulous. Are you nuts?
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Blogjacker has done it again! Sheesh - will the guy never stop his nefarious doings???!!!
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I must say I’m loving DC. (Don’t take offense blogjacker. I haven’t explored Baltimore yet.) Easy to get around–on the metro–and some wonderful buildings to explore. Up next for me is the Library of Congress. Makes my heart go pitter-patter just thinking about it.
by Sara
on November 2nd, 2007 at 7:04 am
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I definitely can’t pick just one. So . . . let’s see, for romance and just plain old coolness, I have to go with Paris. The one in France (There’s a Paris, Missouri, I’m told. Never been there.). For old-times’ sake and for the friends and memories, I’ll go with Madison, Wisconsin. Preferably in the summer or early fall. But, wait, there’s also Boston. And Chicago. And, and . . .
I need a trip.
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I’ll always be a small town boy at heart. All that said, it’s a tossup for me between Chicago and NYC. Not that I haven’t loved Boston, Richmond, Miami, Omaha, Milwaukee, and yes, Boise. Never had much use for Atlanta, though.
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The coolest things always happen to you! Who was the guy?
I like New York, too. Used to live there. London’s nice. Paris is… Paris. I’ve always had a soft spot for Copenhagen. And then there’s Edinburgh and Dublin and Vienna and Prague… And Chicago. I like Chicago.
And darlin’, I’m with Blogjacker in this: I’m sure the magical fairy-princess hair was perfect, as always. The rest of us, with merely average hair, stand in awe.
by JennieB
on November 2nd, 2007 at 8:30 am
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Blogjacker, you’re too kind. It’s just sometimes hard to have wild hair when you’re surrounded by a sea of sleek, shiny, straight beauties.
I’ve not spent much time in Baltimore—only been for meetings long, long ago. Am looking forward to Bouchercon there this year, though!
Sara, so glad you’re loving DC! I can imagine it would take a long time for the Smithsonian to lose its lustre. And, oooo! The Library of Congress! I’ve never been. Are you going to look at your books?????
Judy, lovely choices. Hard to go wrong with Paris. Madison has a soft spot in my heart as well.
Dusty, I’m with you on Atlanta; I just don’t get it. But then I’ve never been much of a sprawl fan.
As for NYC v. Chicago, that’s tough. Very different places. Thing is, I’ve finally almost accepted the fact that I’ll never have the cash to live in Mahattan in the manner to which I’d like to be accustomed. And I think I fell in love with Chicago when I was about three.
Jennie, Copenhagen—NICE!!!! My only Scandanavian adventure was to Iceland, and I liked Reykjavik very much….
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Chicago is really awesome, but in a “great place to visit, but wouldn’t want to live there” kind of way. Indianapolis is a lovely place, not too big, not too small, with lots of things to do, as long as an active night life isn’t all that important to you (I mean that it’s not a really rowdy, raucous place - except on Indy weekend, when I’d never go there). Bloomington, Indiana is also really cool.
For beauty, though, I have to say that Roanoke, Va., on a crisp early morning in early November, with the fog lifting to show the amazing fall colors in the mountains, is the loveliest place I’ve yet to see (in person).
by Kate Hathway
on November 2nd, 2007 at 8:41 am
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Chicago’s neighborhoods have always struck me as beautifully livable. But I’m an urban girl at heart.
You know, for having grown up in Indiana I’ve spent almost no time in Indianapolis…..
You’ve sold me on Roanoke. I’d love to see a morning like that.
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I love New York, too — also adore Boston. That’s a fun place to hang for a couple of days, though the cabbies in NY are much nicer.
Have you looked up who the star is yet?
xoxo
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I’ve always considered New York my second home. I like what little of Chicago I’ve seen but my heart is in New York.
My question, Tasha, is who was that Pope John guy over at Gawker and is it your breastal area he’s fixated on? Because, while he’s correct in his assessment, that’s still so wrong.
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David, OH MY GOODNESS! I’m completely mortified. Hadn’t even noticed there were comments.
But come on, could anyone really think I would date a football player? (And, yes, I had to google to find out he’s a football player.) Can’t say I’ve ever been mistaken for Carrie Underwood before.
Will refrain from addressing his, um, comments regarding my anatomy and will leave the issue of my lingerie the mystery it ought to be….
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Okay, I think I must be on my own here, but Austin, TX has to be my favorite city in the US. And in Europe, I’ll take Lyon over Paris any day–’though I’d be very happy to do further research on this topic; say, in Greece.
But beware! My most favorite unpubbed author is from Roanoke and avows it to be the very armpit of hell.
by Cynthia
on November 2nd, 2007 at 9:56 am
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Tasha,
Why is it we so often devolve into talking about underwear?
Not that I mind. Just curious.
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Hey, I can go MONTHS–YEARS without talking about underwear. It must be some evil magic that’s caused by the blog.
Either that or beneath the surface we’re really all just a bunch of juvenile delinquents….
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I lived in New York and Boston…enjoyed them both. But, I’m kind of in a European mood for some reason…so, I’d pick Geneva today. Clean, cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture in Old Town, amazing restaurants, and the views of the lake…
Hey T, Romo just signed a…uhm…$67.5 million contract. Not that money means anything…
by James
on November 2nd, 2007 at 10:57 am
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I’ll cast my vote for the ‘juvenile delinquents” explanation.
I’ll also second the good words about Roanoke, although I don’t know that I’d include it as a city.
Due to early morning brain fog, I forgot another of my favorites: Charleston, SC. Definitely some ghosts in those streets.
by JDRhoades
on November 2nd, 2007 at 11:04 am
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Jamie, I am unmoved, even by Mr. Romo’s millions. Never been to Geneva. Never been to Switzerland, in fact. That needs to be remedied.
Dusty, as long as we’re all juvenile delinquents, at least we’re in good company….
I almost went to Charleston about a month ago!.
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I guess being a small town Rocky Mountain girl at heart, I’ve got to go with Boulder, Colorado. If you’ve ever wandered the streets of Pearl and eaten at The Sink, you understand.
I’m sure I SHOULD say San Francisco since I live an hour from it…but I really can’t be bothered…especially since last night was the second late night experience there where it took much longer than necessary to navigate my way back to the 101 after a concert. Too many one way streets! And frankly, too many ginormous hills…the manual transmission is not pleased by those.
So yes, I’m going with Boulder. Just a few short miles from my place of birth and frankly, a fabulous town!
by Carrie
on November 3rd, 2007 at 9:57 am
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Best city I’ve lived in? Tallahassee, FL. (Which says more about the other cities I’ve lived in than the quality of Tallahassee.)
It’s hard to pick just one favorite, since I’ve been in a lot of cities. I love NY. I’ve only been there once, but I’m a big fan of the Big Apple. Atlanta was nice. Las Vegas is great. I didn’t spend enough time in Baltimore to really know its wonders. Ann Arbor, MI is a wonderful city - lots to do, pretty scenery, nice people. (And it doesn’t hurt that my football team is there.) Salt Lake City has a certain charm - nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t recommend living there.
I’m the kind of person who loves visiting cities, and looking at pictures of them, but I prefer living in the sticks. Gimme land, lotsa land. ;o)
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