My move and first week in NYC

Buckle up, because it's been a rollercoaster ride!

Two Saturdays ago, I embarked on the scariest adventure of my life – driving a U-Haul truck from Ohio to New York City. The pouring rain made the 8 hour drive even more nerve-wracking and entering the Lincoln Tunnel during a literal monsoon was terrifying. In total, the drive took over 10 hours with traffic and weather delays. Luckily, I managed to find parking right outside my new apartment and everything was quickly unloaded before I returned the U-Haul in Chelsea.

The first night in my new apartment was rough since nothing in my room was set up, but things started looking up the next morning when my roommates and I treated ourselves to delicious bagels from Tompkins Square Bagels. That everything bagel with scallion cream cheese truly healed something in me. We also made a grocery run to Trader Joe's to stock up on essentials. The rest of the day was spent unpacking and setting up my room. Lucy seemed pleased once my bed was made up…

While I continue my search for a new role in marketing, PR or communications, I had a series of interviews during the week. In between, I ventured to a local coffee shop and caught up with my family. To my surprise, I even got to enjoy a free performance by Shakira in Times Square as she promoted her new music on Tuesday night.

One of the highlights of my first week was spending a day with my high school friend, Zach, who lives in Harlem. We started our day at Aficionado Coffee Roasters and throughout the course of six hours, we covered over 21,000 steps. We had a fantastic dinner at Hamburger America in Soho. It was truly the best smashburger I've ever had and I will be bringing visitors here to try it! We ended the day at The Oasis Cafe to split a tiramisu and the bakery manager was so kind and gave us each a red velvet truffle and a piece of baklava to take home.

Living in NYC comes with endless opportunities for exploration and fun. In just one week, we’ve already done so many exciting things. From shopping in Dumbo, checking out vintage stores in Williamsburg, to dinner at Tara Rose with Lauren and Sophie and exploring bars (Le Bain and Brass Monkey) in the meatpacking district, every moment has been an adventure.

Attending a preview of Cabaret at the Stephen Sondheim Theater was an unexpected treat. The show, featuring Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin, was such an incredible, immersive experience that left Vivian, Macy and I mesmerized. On another evening, we attended the premiere of Musica at the 92nd Street Y, where we got to enjoy a Q&A session with the talented stars Camila Mendes and Rudy Mancuso.

After a week filled with some unforgettable experiences, it was only fitting to take a well-deserved break. On Sunday, the girls and I choose to rot on the couch, allowing ourselves some downtime to recharge.

From trying out more local cafes, exploring different neighborhoods, attending more shows and discovering hidden gems, there's so much more to uncover here. Stay tuned for more stories, as I continue to immerse myself in the exciting life of the Big Apple.

XOXO… Gillian