A New Yorker's Been Remiss

Last week, I realized that it's been exactly 17 years since my move to New York City. How is it possible that I have been a New Yorker for that long? It's certainly flown by in a blur of life-changing experiences. And yet each year, I find myself saying "Gotta get to those things that ya gotta try at least once."

Don't get me wrong -- I think I've managed to squeeze in quite a lot, and I've enjoyed every single minute of exploration between the career-hopping, the relationships, and the buzz of every day life.

But somehow, I have managed to accumulate a mile-long list of things I have not been able to get to do or see. I don't mean tourist destinations like Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building (been there, done that, when I WAS a tourist back in the day). Nope. In fact, I'm talking about the types of things that only true New Yorkers can appreciate.

All respectible New Yorkers carry such a list: Restaurants they dream of celebrating life's milestones at (who doesn't want to have a birthday dinner at Union Square Cafe or Gotham Bar & Grill?), grabbing a drink in little hide aways that only true New Yorkers know about, strolling through neighborhoods they've always wanted to explore, and get aways unique to NY and its environs. There are oh-so-many items, but for now, I'll just list the top 5 I hope to accomplish by this time next year, in no particular order:

1. Hop on the Metro North for a day trip to the Cloisters.
2. Drinking champagne on the roof garden of the Met.
3. Stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
4. Go to a taping of SNL (I know, the good ol' days are gone, but still).
5. Attend screenings at the New York Film Festival.

And one for good measure that's not technically in NYC but many New Yorkers do: Go rafting on the Adirondack Rivers.