the kids don't stand a chance

From the couch, the window in Justin's apartment looks towards uptown New York, the Empire State Building nestled amongst others. From the other side of the room, it overlooks the Hudson river, and over to New Jersey.

Last night I sat on the top of the apartment building, eating my rice and greens, admiring the view at sunset. Others were up there too, splitting six-packs and eating dip. There was a warm wind. Twas lovely. I then went for a walk along the Hudson. There's a parkway along it designed for runners, boarders, walkers, skaters, bikes. Dogs. Everyone was out last night and the colours of the sky against the buildings and water were wonderful. I stumbled across a jazz band 'George Gee and his big band' (appropriate) who were at the end of a pier, pumping out tunes to the city. They had also done a swing dance workshop prior so the place was abuzz with couples of all variety getting their doo on.

This city is incredible. It's funny though, one thing that is very evident in being here is the emphasis on money. Perhaps it's just who I've been with, or what I've been around. Times Square was at first full of energy, amazing, buzzing. Then the amount of people, of tourists, of trashy paraphernalia, people bugging you to buy their new gangster hiphop album or bus rides or bicycle tours got to me. It's just a bit too intense.
New York is expensive and the experience I'm after- somewhere undiscovered, honest, raw- differs largely from the experience of Times Square. The 3-storey M&M building, for one.
If I lived here (which would be nice, sometime) I would grow to find these places and find the city that I'm seeking.
I wonder if the city is this full of tourists all the time. It's the height of summer here now, so maybe not.
For the meantime, exploring the place on foot is going wonderfully.

Talk soon.