New York: 20 months, scores of adventures

At the end of this week I will be returning to Ireland after 20 months living in New York City.  I've also decided to retire this blog, which really is a collection (not comprehensive) of some of the journalism work I've done during my time in the Big Apple.


But before I finish, I've decided to list 75 interesting things that I've done in New York while I've been here. Some are big momentous events, others are small things that I derived pleasure from. It's by no means everything I've done, and it's not in any particular order! Enjoy!


1.        Reported live from the celebrations at Ground Zero on the night that Osama Bin Laden was killed by US Forces


2.       Saw Kelsey Grammar (Frasier) in La Cage Aux Folles, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) in How to Succeed in Business, and indulged my Broadway addiction further by attending Chicago, Avenue Q, Catch Me If You Can, Follies, The Adams Family, Spiderman, and the brilliant Next to Normal.


3.         Been on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street for opening bell during a visit by then Taoiseach Brian Cowen


4.        Attended a taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart twice

5.       Was giving a personal tour of the redevelopment at Ground Zero, including signing my name on the steel girders of the new Tower One


6.        Saw at chair being sold for $2m at Christie’s Auction House and attended other high-value auctions - strange experiences!


7.        Watched the Thanksgiving Day Macy’s parade and indulged in turkey dinners, corn bread and all the trimmings!


8.        Cheered on participants, including friends, in the New York Marathon


9.     Attended the recording of New York auditions for America's Got Talent   (concluded it doesn't!)


10.        Met former Irish president Mary Robinson at a UN report launch


11.        Played roulette in the casinos at Atlantic City


12.        Watched New York Rangers play an ice hockey game at Madison Square Garden


13.        Relaxed with a blanket, a book and an ipod on Chelsea Piers on sunny summer afternoons


14.        Attended free lunchtime Broadway performances at Bryant Park during summer months


15.         Brunch at Garage in Greenwich Village with a live jazz band on a Sunday - nice


16.        Took the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty about 40 times


17.        Checked out the Dinosaur bones at the Natural History Museum


18.        Watched the Fourth of July fireworks from my apartment balcony


19.        Frozen Margheritas and the best Mexican food ever at Baby Bo's (34th and 2nd)


20.        Took in free outdoor concerts in Madison Square Park on summer evenings


21.        Walked through Central Park as it changed colours through the year, especially beautiful in October and November


22.       Oysters and champagne lunch at the famous Balthazars restaurant in Soho  

23.        Dressed as a Smurf for Halloween and took part in the one million strong Fancy Dress Parade through the Village


24.        Viewed works by Picasso, Van Gogh and Metisse at the MoMa (Museum of Modern Art)


25.        Walked through the grounds of Harvard University during a trip to Boston


26.        Ate at Mao, an amazing uber-trendy Chinese restaurant that thinks it’s a nightclub. Those who know these kind of things tell me it was in Sex and the City

27.        Attended art exhibition openings at different galleries in Chelsea


28.        Saw Bell X1 play an acoustic gig at La Poussin Rouge in the Village, and six months later rock it out at the Bowery Ballroom

29.        Cheered on the New York Gay Pride parade


30.        Walked the Brooklyn Bridge regularly

31.        Enjoyed receptions at the spectacular residence of the Irish Consul, which used to be owned by singer Luther Vandross.

32.        Relaxed on the beach at Asbury Park, New Jersey


33.        Sang along at a Sound of Music Singalong screening in Chelsea Cinema complete with drag nuns!


34.        Played Ping Pong at an outdoor Sunday market in Chinatown


35.     Relaxed on the High Line Park in Chelsea


36.     Looked out at the city from the Top of the Rock at Rockafeller Plaza


37.     Eaten many Buttermilk fried chicken or tasty burgers at Vinyl in Hell's Kitchen (51 and 9)

38.     Went to see comedienne Lisa Lampanelli at the beautiful Beacon Theatre


39.     Walked Boston's freedom trail during a second visit to the original Tea Party city


40.     Visited American's oldest lighthouse at Sandy Hook beach, New Jersey


41.     Partied at Rockit, Bartini, Industry, Splash, Boxers, Griffin, Ritz, and too many other New York hotspots to list here! Mucho fun.

42.     Attended a taping of The Colbert Report


43.     Saw comedians Louis CK, Jim Gaffigan and Daniel Kitson for free at a comedy night at the tiny Upright Citizens Theatre

44.     Attended a reading by Booker-nominated author Emma Donoghue of her novel "Room" at the Irish Arts Center

45.     Checked out Canadian rockers My Morning Jacket at Terminal Five


46.     Dinner at the upmarket David Burke Townhouse during Restaurant Week


47.     Visited the Irish Famine Memorial in Lower Manhattan


48.     Attended World Premiere of Gay Zombie Porn movie  by Bruce LaBruce at the Mix Queer Arts Festival (don't ask!)

49.     Went to the top of the Empire State Building

50.     Enjoyed Red Velvet Cheesecake and other delights from the renowned Magnolia Bakery
51.    Strolled around the Columbia University campus and surrounding area

52.   Spent a weekend at Wild Wood, New Jersey - lovely seaside resort

53.  Was inside City Hall and met Mayor Michael Bloomberg

54.   Celebs spotted walking down the street include Matthew Perry, Susan Sarandon, Jay Brannan, Zachary Quinto, Jared Leto and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (No i did not ask for pics or autographs)

55.  Went to a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman

56.   Covered the premiere of U2's Spiderman musical from the red carpet - Cindy Crawford, Bobby De Niro, Bill Clinton and others were there.

57.  Visited Washington DC twice, including spotting President Obama on his back lawn on one occasion

58.  Interviewed Christine Quinn, speaker of NYC City council, and one of the favorites to be the next mayor of New York

59.   Watched the NYC St Patrick's Day Parade

60.  Helped produce several broadcasts by The John Murray Show and one from Morning Ireland ex New York, including leading over 100 people on a walk around Central Park

61.  Saw Julie Feeney in concert and interviewed here twice - lovely lady

62.  Protest city! Visited Zucotti Park during Occupy Wall Street protests this year, and the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque" protests last year.

63.  Spotted 30 Rock filming near my house, Glee filming near the Lincoln Center, Gossip Girl at the Meatpacking District and the new Spiderman movie filming in the Flatiron area.

64.  Had a magical night at Other Voices New York with performances from Glen Hansard, Martha Wainwright, Bell X1, The National, Justin Bond, Martin Hayes, Damien Rice, and readings by Paul Durcan, Roddy Doyle, Colum McCann, Joseph O'Connor, Gabriel Byrne and many more.

65.  Spent evenings at Town Council meetings in Greenwich Connecticut and poring over land records to cover developer Sean and Gayle Dunne's dispute with neighbors at their new $2m house there

66.  Attended a performance by Camerata Ireland orchestra at Carnegie Hall

67. Saw an early performance of the new Once musical based on the Irish Oscar winning film, which moves onto Broadway in Spring 2012 (I predict big things for it!)

68.  Interviewed families and friends of victims of 911 as part of my coverage of the 10 year anniversary of the attacks here

69.   Survived the hurricane that never happened, as New York shut down in anticipation of being struck by Hurricane Irene

70.  Took a trip to the Canadian capital of Ottawa and toured its Parliament buildings

71.  Hosted a Eurovision party at my apartment with some bemused US friends and more excitable European ones

72.  Saw Tori Amos concert at the Beacon Theatre

73.  Enjoyed many Irish theater productions on their visits to New York including Mimic, Bogboy, Temporal Powers, John Gabriel Borkman.

74.   Enjoyed a Circle Line ferry Cruise around Manhattan

75.  Attended the US Open tennis championships at Flushing Meadows, and saw Serena Williams win her semi-final.




Postscript:

The list is meant primarily as a record of my time here for my own memory, but I decided to share with you - not to make you jealous, but maybe to inspire you to take an adventure too!

It was January 2010 when I took a two year career break from my job in RTE.

And along with living in Manhattan, I think I should remind myself of some 15 other cool things I did since then:

1.  Visited Rio De Janeiro, although it rained most of the time I was there! My view from the Christ the Redeemer statue was a bit ruined by clouds!

2.  Relaxed on the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches.

3.   Island-hopped off the Brazilian coastline at Parati

4.  Camped roadside with new friends on the Kumuka Truck/Bus trip across Brazil

5.  Horse-riding though the Brazilian Pantanals (swampland/jungle)

6.  Wildlife spotting in the Pantanals including alligators, and wild hogs

7.  Fished for piranha in the Brazilian rivers

8.  Snorkelled in the crystal clear waters of Bonito

9. Viewed the spectacular Iguazu Falls from all sides, from the air, and from underneath.

10.  Enjoyed an old-school BBQ in the Uruguayan town of Durazno

11.  Visited Uruguay's capital Montevideo

12.  Ate countless delicious steaks in Argentina

13.  Did my best Evita impressions outside Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, and visted Eva Peron's grave in the impressive Ricoletta cemeteries

14.  Checked out Diego Maradona's home suburb of La Boca

15.  Took a Tango lesson in Buenos Aires



Here is some final food for thought about my two years.

When I was last in Ireland:

- The IMF were not involved in any way with Ireland's financial affairs

- Gerry Ryan was still alive and hosting his 2fm radio show

- Jedward were best known as a joke act from the X Factor

- Gay civil partnerships were not allowed in Ireland

- Enda Kenny was considered a liability for FG, who were trying to oust him

A lot can happen in two years. Make the most of your time! LIVE THE BEST LIFE YOU CAN!!!