Going to BlogHer… Again
Despite what I’m about to say, I love it when BlogHer is in New York. Well, anywhere on the East Coast. It’s easy for me to get to. I can take the bus, which I actually like a lot. I have family and friends in the city that I get to see between panels and keynotes at the conference. It’s all very easy.
But I really dislike New York.
I know I’m in the minority with this thought, that other people really love the city, but it’s a dementor-kind-of town for me. I pass through the Holland Tunnel, and it feels like all the happiness has been sucked from my body. I don’t feel this way about all cities. For instance, I feel springy when I’m in Boston. I feel happy when I’m in London. I even feel good in Chicago and Philadelphia, and, of course, I love Washington. But New York just drains me.
It smells like urine. And it’s really dark. Like there isn’t enough sun reaching the ground. Probably because it can’t due to the buildings. The people are fine, but they’re all standing against a really noisy and grimy backdrop.
I’m glad that other people like the city; that there are people who enjoy visiting or living there. I’m just not one of those people.
But I love BlogHer, so I am going to BlogHer in the city. I likely won’t leave the hotel much; in fact, I went to New York a few weeks ago with the twins and got the one thing I wanted to do out of my system so I wouldn’t feel like I had to leave the hotel. (It was go to Tannen’s Magic Shop.) For those who wish they could go to New York, this must sound like a complete waste. But there is so much that happens at the conference. There is meeting new people and catching up with old people and Voices of the Year and panels and lots and lots and lots of stuff. So… that’s where I’ll be.
I’ll try to update from the road, though photos and long stories will probably have to wait until I’m home and at a computer again.
New York — yay or nay for you?
20 comments
It’s a nay for me, too. It IS grimy and depressing. And I love cities.
I’ve only been once, for a weekend, and it was a big yay. Overwhelming, but I had a good time. I would love to go back (although I don’t think I could ever live there). I am not sure about ever taking dh, though. He might enjoy the museums, etc., but I think all the noise & people would drive him nuts.
Meh
Of course, I have only been for work, and Manhattan is nice but hotel rooms are tiny.
Nay. No interest in going.
Definitely a Dementor city for me when I’m having an off night or when I’m anxious, and yet other times, it feeds off the magic as well.
It amplifies whatever I’m going through, for sure.
San Francisco was so much more my speed.
I’ll miss seeing you but we have a family reunion in Cape Cod this weekend. So maybe BlogHer16 will be it.
I LOVE IT! Yes, I said it in caps cause I love it that much! I spent 9 months there studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and though I smelled urine and the disinfectant orange spray in the subways, a fellow student got mugged (he actually asked for his ballet slippers back) and there are a lot of crazy people – I loved it. Amazing museums like the Guggenheim, MOMA, Natural History Museum, Central Park, cool restaurants, Broadway and off-Broadway plays, street vendors, Soho, Washington Square, crazy taxi drivers, the view of the Brooklyn Bridge at night, etc. I think you just need the right tour guide!
I love New York, but I can see how people don’t. I think you need to spend time in the green spaces of the city, though, in order to really feel like you can relax. But one of my favorite things to do is walk it when it’s dark, because there’s so much energy and light and just MORE than I am used to.
I was in New York once about 10 years ago for 12 hours. Sometimes I forget I’ve been there. I remember being surprised at how clean I thought it was. I was expecting it to be a lot more dirty. Maybe I was there on a good day! I’m so jealous you get to go to BlogHer. Last year it was in San Jose, which is less than an hour from me but I couldn’t go because it fell smack in the middle of my IVF cycle and I ended up having to do my retrieval on one of the days. Sigh.
Hate New York. It’s just so dirty.
I have been twice, the first time was a great experience, could not wait to go back. The second time we were on our way the day we found out our first IVF cycle was a failure. I knew it was a bad plan but we were going to New Jersey first for a cousins wedding. I tried to cancel but my husband thought it would be good to get away. I was a mess and that made the trip horrible. I just wanted to sleep and stay in the hotel, that did not happen. We still talk about the good trip and bad trip to New York.
I’m sad. Even though this means I’m having a Twitterversary.
New York, believe it or not, was worse in the ‘8os. Dirty and dangerous. And I lived there for ….. let me think …. 4 1/2 years. I met my first love there, had a blast, traded up to being kitty-corner neighbors to Yoko and Sean.
I wouldn’t do it again. But I love going there, love visiting. I love New York, and I’m glad I misspent my youth there.
Love it. Spent a little less than a year there in the late 90s (ill-fated career move). Can’t wait til the kids are older and we can afford a trip.
I was there for about six hours about 18 years ago, on a day trip. Would love to go back. I want to get the chance to know it enough to see if I love it or hate it! And I’m jealous that you get to go to BlogHer again. If only it could be in the Southern Hemisphere! lol
Been to NYC three times for a few days each time. Loved it, but I was visiting family and doing the tourist stuff. If I lived there, I might have a different attitude.
Can’t stand NY. I’m so used to Washington which is of course my favorite city. But I agree, I love London, Paris, Miami, etc. I recently went to Pittsburgh and thought it was a great city. Dementor city is the best description I’ve heard 🙂
Loved it because I was a tourist. I climbed all the things. Big thrill to climb statue of liberty, empire state and the twin towers were still up when I went back in 1998. Also loved shopping. I guess I’m a city girl.
I never get enough time in NYC, I still haven’t made it to the Statue of Liberty, but I love anyone who prefers Philly to NYC.
This might be a silly question, but how do you actually get to go to BlogHer?
Thank you, loribeth & Karen for saying all the things. I love NYC! LOVE. It’s fruits are endless, like my brain explodes with the electricity of it when I’m there. When I travel to other cities, I sometime feel…bored and frustrated that things shut down so dang early! Except Paris & San Fran (could go to those places over and over)