New York, I love you.

This happens every so often. It starts small, maybe a wishful thought here and there, but then the deep, unabridged yearning sets in and soon, it's all I can think about.

My love affair with New York started at age Eleven. My Dad, an architect, was taking a trip to the city to meet with some clients and he and my Mom decided they would bring me along. It was a trip full of firsts- my first plane ride, my first trip above the Mason-Dixon Line, and the first time I felt the indescribable energy that pulsates through the Big Apple. From the moment I stepped off the plane I was mesmerized, and a relationship began. While my Dad was in meetings my Mom and I jaunted around the city, shopping and exploring everything we possibly could. And once I saw my first Broadway Show (Beauty & the Beast, 2nd Row!) I knew I would be a faithful to New York for the rest of my life.

My second trip was even more magical than the first. It was Christmas Break and I was Thirteen. My parents told us that we were going on a pre-Christmas vacation to the mountains so we could see snow (we never ever get snow where I'm from!). Next thing I knew, we were pulling up to the airport and being told we were going to New York! I could not have been more shocked, happy or excited! Luckily, few days prior to our trip the Northeast had gotten hit with a major snowstorm so the entire city was blanketed in white fluffy snow. We had a ball in Central Park building snow men and having snowball fights for the first time in our lives. The highlights of our trip were seeing the Lion King and ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza underneath the giant Christmas Tree.

The third trip was a gift from my parents for my Sixteenth Birthday (they knew me well!). At this point in my life I had discovered Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany's so I was even more excited to go see the landmarks so beautifully captured in my favorite movie. That June my Mom, Aunt, Cousin, God-Mother, God-Sister and I hopped on a flight back to my favorite city on Earth. We shopped, ate amazing food, and further explored everything New York has to offer. The best parts of this trip included seeing Phantom of the Opera (third row, center!) and spending way too much time on Fifth Avenue.

My last trip to New York it was just me and my Mom. It was 2009 and my Senior year of High School. As one of the captains of our school's Varsity Cheerleading Squad I had been awarded the title of a Universal Cheerleading Association All Star after try-outs at our summer cheerleading camp. As an All-Star I was awarded the amazing opportunity to cheer in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and of course I jumped at the chance to spend over a week in my beloved city. We spent the week taking our time seeing old favorites and new discoveries, seeing Wicked and another show I had dreamed of seeing almost my whole life- the Radio City Rockettes! The ultimate thrill was being the opening number at Herald Square for the Macy's Parade and marching through the city's beautiful late-fall streets cheering to the thousands of happy parade-goers. It was such a bucket list item that I will remember for the rest of my life! Also, eating Thanksgiving dinner at an ages old private New York dining club off of Fifth with family friends wasn't so bad either! (Here's some pictures from that trip!)

All of these visits have inspired and fostered a deep, passionate love for New York inside of me and I hope to visit as soon as possible, or even intern there Summer 2013 (fingers crossed!!) For now, I will keep day-dreaming of strolling down Fifth in a chic outfit with a coffee in hand admiring store windows and the fall foliage. Sigh. Does anyone else share my love this glamourous and exciting city?

xo,

Lanie W.