I just got back from a whirlwind trip to New York City. The primary purpose of this trip was to meet up with a group of folks that I've been working with on the Gallery Project. I've posted the Gallery bits about the trip on my other blog but want to share some personal thoughts and memories of NYC. This post is to share my thoughts on visiting NYC for the first time since 1991.

In '91 I interned as a graphic designer at Henry Dreyfuss Associates. It my first time professional experience and it was in one of the prestigious industrial design studios in the world and it was my first time living outside of Ohio. Everything seemed bigger in life and it was a huge confidence builder and had a huge impact on shaping what I do today. I had decided to work at Dreyfuss rather than IBM in Atlanta because I wanted to work in a multi-discipline design environment. At Dreyfuss, I absorbed a lot about the industrial design process while I learned the ropes of graphic design as applied to consumer products. But most of the fun during this time in NYC was had hopping from bar to bar in the Greenwich Village throwing darts and shooting pool.

While in New York I turned 21 and saw some incredible concerts. My commute to work was cross upper midtown from E. 60th (right across from the Queensborough bridge) to W. 55 between 9th and 10th Avenues. I'd walk 57th or Central Park South and go by FAO Schwarz, the Plaza Hotel, and Carnegie Hall, among others. It was an incredible experience and I shared it with some really fun people. Nearly fifteen years was too long between time spent in NYC.

Going back, I was worried that the pace would be too much for me. I'm living at a fairly relaxed pace here in New Mexico but New York just seemed to suck me right into it's quick current. My only regrets about this visit is that it wasn't longer and that Amy couldn't be there with me :-( Hopefully I'll return to NYC soon and will have Amy with me to take it all in.