Once upon aperitivo...

Once upon a time, a twenty-something-year-old girl boarded a train that took her more than 450 miles from home to a strange and wonderful new city called New York. Seven years—and several apartments—later, that girl is on the cusp of turning 30, a milestone that instills fear in many. But not her. No. She is excited. Anxious. Counting down the days. And not just because she'll ring in her third decade in the City of Light.

I realize it's been almost a year since my last post. Honestly I didn't think I had any more exciting topics to write about, at least, not anything people would want to read about. And while that may be true, I feel as though with December 14 fast approaching I miss these opportunities to put into words how I've spent my days, what I've learned and experienced.

And so, here we are. As I look forward to the final months of my thirties, I want to make time to celebrate the everyday joys, blog-worthy or not. I want to have an archive of things I've done, people I've met, great food I've eaten, music and podcasts that have inspired me. Even the days I've spent in my pajamas watching Riverdale and The Vampire Diaries for the umpteenth time. They matter.

This post marks the beginning of a new chapter of From New York, With Love. Ironically, I have so many exciting things coming up in my life that I look forward to sharing with you. My sister's upcoming wedding, for example. The novel I've started, stopped, started, stopped, and started again. (I'll finish a draft one of these days.) The trips I'm taking. The events I'm attending. It doesn't matter who reads this, all that matters is that I write about it. So here goes...

On Friday, I attended my first ever New York Wine and Food Festival event at the Standard High Line Biergarten. It was a night of Italian flare, hosted by the lovely Katie Lee. There were aperol spritzes and mini pizzas, freshly shaved prosciutto and burrata crostini. Sound glamorous? It was...minus the oppressive heat lamps and the endless lines leading up to the bar. But I got to meet one of my role models, got to sample some delicious Italian fare. (Plus, I had an excuse to get my hair done at Drybar pre-event, so there's always that.)

A few things I learned from the Aperitivo event. One: It's OK to go stag to something you're really excited about. This wasn't my first solo outing; I've been to Broadway shows by myself. Happy hour party of one. Celebrity clothing launches at major department stores. Even meditation class so I could be in the same room as Lea Michele. Honestly, each and every event I attend solo has been amazing. Sure, would it have been fun to share it with someone? Absolutely. But that never takes away from the experience. I did it for me.

My life in New York, cheesy as it seems, is a story waiting to be written. You know that song by Natasha Bedingfield, "Unwritten"? I think I've probably referenced it before on this or one of my previous blogs. Yet it still resonates today. Whether I'm 20 or 30 or 40 or 50, one thing is certain: Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.

PS: For anyone curious about my novel's progress, I genuinely hope to share with you what I've been working on in hopes of getting some authentic feedback.