Christene, I swear to god, I felt like I was walking around the UES with you. I know in my heart that at some point we passed each other on those streets, and got coffee at that market on the corner of 82nd and First.
You captured the grit and the joy of living in NYC. I want a whole book, Sister! ❤️
These love letters to New York and past selves and the curation of taste that you've built with devotional commitment -- I feel like I get to know more about who you are and how you select objects, clothes, experiences
Thank you for ATA and the fullness of your sharing. I love the experience of reading, your writing reminds me of those days (Kurt Cobain dying, standing in line without a cell phone, the excitement of an IMPORTANT book, meeting a celebrity and being a human with them)
Reading your letters are one of the small/great gifts I give myself, and a mirror to see how much my life is meaningful because of how much I value yours <3
This was a beautiful, intimate reflection of all the spaces and places that have influenced you. Was a joy to travel back in time with you. I remember E 82nd street and trying outfits on there and dropping Joaquin off after you graciously offered to babysit! ...i'm sure we smoked out the window! I remember our Friday night ritual of me picking you up in the taxi on the UWS and hiking it down to The Ear...too many to recount, but thanks for sharing these past shards of memories...x
Oh my, Christene, this is absolutely beautiful. Impossible to pick my favourite of your essays on ATA, but this might be it. I love the use of living spaces as portraits of apertures into your life. Very moving and profoundly evocative. And of course made me reflect on my own version of this. Thank you for sharing 💚
This was such a fun read. Your newsletter is the thing I look the most forward to reading and which I savor during those “mom needs a break” moments. I almost passed out from laughing so hard between the prehistoric roach and the dead bird! My 15 year old daughter gave me A LOOK and asked, “what’s so funny?”, as if I should never be having this much fun on my own lol. Keep them coming!!!
This was a fantastic post. I recently re-read This Is New York by E.B.White. He said (in 1947) that the spirit of NYC has to do with all the people that come here from various corners of the world. They (we) throw their energy into the pool of energy everyone else has tossed into the city. This essay reads like the perfect love letter to a younger self, one's own adventure and the glory of this beautifully crazy NYC.
This was such a lovely way to start my Friday. I appreciate how kind and tender you are to your past self. That something I have to work on sometimes. Really great piece.
Loved everything about this. You have such a gift for taking your readers on a journey. Though I love your posts about thrifting and design, it’s pieces like this that get me dreaming.
I loved this, thank you Christene! You have inspired me to get writing about my own past NYC apartments just so I don’t forget all of the quirky details and characters that filled them.
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading this! I'm currently living in a small apartment in Paris. In the beginning, I would always see this as a temporary space, but I'm glowing to love it more and more. Reading this was a nice reminder to be content/treat each corner of the home with love.❤️
Thank you Marella….it really doesn’t matter how much space you have but how much you see and use what you do have that makes it so special. I try to do this with ALL my stuff and space….literally and figuratively….thanks so much for reading❤️❤️❤️
This made me feel so warm and cosy inside! The sitting on the floor, conversing with yourself and your guides - just beautiful. And look where it took you ♥️
Ya know, it’s really refreshing in this age of performative vulnerability to read something actually vulnerable, soft, intimate. This made my eyes watery (Nells! Benny’s Burritos!!!) It was so nice to be invited into your memories.
I’m a native New Yorker and so is my husband. Sometimes we reminisce about growing up in the city and BK (respectively) and it’s just nice to do that with someone who gets it. We have a real deep sense of pride that we grew up here. There was no escaping it, no place to return to. It was…the place. Anyway, I had that same feeling reading this lovely, beautifully written essay.
So yeah. This city can be a real hot mess but dangit - NYC forever. ❤️
Feel you so hard. My husband had a strong reaction to this one….he’s my age and he felt it too. Maybe I do a part 2….I left so much out. Or save it for the book….?
Christene, I swear to god, I felt like I was walking around the UES with you. I know in my heart that at some point we passed each other on those streets, and got coffee at that market on the corner of 82nd and First.
You captured the grit and the joy of living in NYC. I want a whole book, Sister! ❤️
Someday sister, SOMEDAY
These love letters to New York and past selves and the curation of taste that you've built with devotional commitment -- I feel like I get to know more about who you are and how you select objects, clothes, experiences
Thank you for ATA and the fullness of your sharing. I love the experience of reading, your writing reminds me of those days (Kurt Cobain dying, standing in line without a cell phone, the excitement of an IMPORTANT book, meeting a celebrity and being a human with them)
Reading your letters are one of the small/great gifts I give myself, and a mirror to see how much my life is meaningful because of how much I value yours <3
Nancy….how can I thank you for this comment? 🥹❤️
This made me nostalgic for a life that is not my own! A beautiful encapsulation of life’s moments of serendipity and sorrow and everything in between.
Thank you Grace❤️❤️❤️
This was a beautiful, intimate reflection of all the spaces and places that have influenced you. Was a joy to travel back in time with you. I remember E 82nd street and trying outfits on there and dropping Joaquin off after you graciously offered to babysit! ...i'm sure we smoked out the window! I remember our Friday night ritual of me picking you up in the taxi on the UWS and hiking it down to The Ear...too many to recount, but thanks for sharing these past shards of memories...x
And Takashimaya and Elaine’s and you becoming one of the most important people to come into my life…the CLASSICS
I thought of those two times, as well..here’s to building more great memories, in special places and spaces:)
Oh my, Christene, this is absolutely beautiful. Impossible to pick my favourite of your essays on ATA, but this might be it. I love the use of living spaces as portraits of apertures into your life. Very moving and profoundly evocative. And of course made me reflect on my own version of this. Thank you for sharing 💚
This was such a fun read. Your newsletter is the thing I look the most forward to reading and which I savor during those “mom needs a break” moments. I almost passed out from laughing so hard between the prehistoric roach and the dead bird! My 15 year old daughter gave me A LOOK and asked, “what’s so funny?”, as if I should never be having this much fun on my own lol. Keep them coming!!!
This was a fantastic post. I recently re-read This Is New York by E.B.White. He said (in 1947) that the spirit of NYC has to do with all the people that come here from various corners of the world. They (we) throw their energy into the pool of energy everyone else has tossed into the city. This essay reads like the perfect love letter to a younger self, one's own adventure and the glory of this beautifully crazy NYC.
That’s beautiful Libby….I need to re-read that, too….
This was such a lovely way to start my Friday. I appreciate how kind and tender you are to your past self. That something I have to work on sometimes. Really great piece.
Thank you for acknowledging that, Joan….its definitely an ongoing process. Thanks so much for reading and being here:)
Loved everything about this. You have such a gift for taking your readers on a journey. Though I love your posts about thrifting and design, it’s pieces like this that get me dreaming.
That is one the lovliest compliments ever...to inspire a little dreaming for all of you/us. What could be better? Thank you Stefanie! xx
I loved this, thank you Christene! You have inspired me to get writing about my own past NYC apartments just so I don’t forget all of the quirky details and characters that filled them.
That was part of my own assignments….just wait till I start re-reading my journals, oy!!
This upper east side odyssey was a gift today
Thanks Leo….there was a 3-month sublet on the UWS but it didn’t quite make the cut. It was pretty rad tho
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed reading this! I'm currently living in a small apartment in Paris. In the beginning, I would always see this as a temporary space, but I'm glowing to love it more and more. Reading this was a nice reminder to be content/treat each corner of the home with love.❤️
Thank you Marella….it really doesn’t matter how much space you have but how much you see and use what you do have that makes it so special. I try to do this with ALL my stuff and space….literally and figuratively….thanks so much for reading❤️❤️❤️
This made me feel so warm and cosy inside! The sitting on the floor, conversing with yourself and your guides - just beautiful. And look where it took you ♥️
This is beautiful
Thank you Cynthia❤️❤️❤️
Ya know, it’s really refreshing in this age of performative vulnerability to read something actually vulnerable, soft, intimate. This made my eyes watery (Nells! Benny’s Burritos!!!) It was so nice to be invited into your memories.
I’m a native New Yorker and so is my husband. Sometimes we reminisce about growing up in the city and BK (respectively) and it’s just nice to do that with someone who gets it. We have a real deep sense of pride that we grew up here. There was no escaping it, no place to return to. It was…the place. Anyway, I had that same feeling reading this lovely, beautifully written essay.
So yeah. This city can be a real hot mess but dangit - NYC forever. ❤️
Feel you so hard. My husband had a strong reaction to this one….he’s my age and he felt it too. Maybe I do a part 2….I left so much out. Or save it for the book….?
I really loved this. Thank you.
I’m so glad, Sarah.