New York City's Lower Manhattan, 90 West St Home Sweet Home

Take all your assumptions about life in Manhattan and toss them out the window. My neighbors are knitting hats over at the World Financial Center.

Just last week I found myself the voyeur, looking down from my own window into a perfectly-designed, extravagant corner office below.

A late-night meeting was in progress … the barons of Wall Street at work. I was dying for a pair of binoculars. Hmmm … were there any women, hard at work in the corner office?  Glasses of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, perhaps?

Groundless Suspicions

I found not a taint of scandal going on down there. But I did discover a knitting class, this Wed. evening, on the second floor!

This is what I Love, Love, Love about life in lower Manhattan. It’s always so much more than I expect, and it delights me always, except when the winter wind roars in off the Atlantic. At least now it can blow me into the new Tiffany‘store.

Yes, it’s a construction nightmare these days. It’s not only the case that we have 20 hr/day construction at the World Trade Center  site. Now West Street is being rebuilt as well. I’m a light sleeper, and even ear plugs and a Horchow Tigress drape don’t eliminate the sound of jackhammers from my dreams. I miss all the best parts these days.

Lower Manhattan is teaming with new buildings. Take the video tour to see all the coming changes in my neighborhood.

Going Green

The vast majority of our construction is “green”, mandated by the Battery Park City Authority. Have patience with this maddening flash intro to the new Riverhouse condos at One Rockefeller Park, and you’ll see wonderful photos of our neighborhood. Stop next at the Millenium Tower Residences for more excellent photos of life in lower Manhattan.

Bottom line, I live in a true neighborhood in New York City,much as in Carversville. Imagine me up early on summer mornings, working outside at this marina, when I’m not in the country.

 

Walking through this beautiful, fully-restored Winter Garden on my way home, it truly hurts less to get money out of the cash machine.

We have a wonderful lineup of Christmas activities coming at the Winter Garden. I would enjoy attending Tuesday night’s Holiday Lighting with the Dexter Allgood Singers but I have another of my crazy dates with a significantly younger man.

I think he will prefer The Pegu Club.

Bon Voyage 

We may be leaving town next week … perhaps sailing in the Ionian Sea. No, no. You and I … my Journal … not the Boy. I kid you not. This Wall Street wonderkid would take me sailing anywhere I want to go.

I have to smile. It’s just the MILF thing goin’ on. He’ll grow up soon.

Love,
Anne 

Update on Wed, November 28, 2007 by Anne

Life turns so quickly. Hours after posting this journal entry, I turned away from the Holland Tunnel, about to return to my lovely, little apt at 90 West St. The building is temporarily shuttered, for a minimum of two weeks, to replace the entire electrical system in the basement, destroyed in a water main break at the World Trade Center site.

The boy informed me that he is a dashingly handsome man, but we didn’t make it to the Pegu Club Tuesday night.

I am so lucky: my car wasn’t submerged in 12’ of water; I am a consultant, so I can work away from Manhattan; and I have a lovely place here in Carversville.

On Friday I will climb 19 flights of stairs, escorted to my apt by emergency lighting and lanterns, to pack clothes, legal papers, and a few other items that I need. 

Mine is “the little building that could”. I will explain what I mean by this statement over the weekend.

Love,
Anne