the big apple
Q: How is it to live in the New York Metropolitan area? As an European I've always loved NYC from a distance, there's so much fun history and unpretentious artistic, qualities. I've always seen NYC as quite soulful compared to LA. It's easy to get close to your heroes (especially if they were/are a bit aoutside the mainstream spotlight). But things change, and people worry that 1) it's become to streamlined, almost like living in an airport terminal, and 2) it's crazy expensive. How do you see the changes? Please tell me about the creative energy in the metro area! :)
oof, this question makes a lot of assumptions about my life that i don't relate to at all! i don't visit NYC very often, so i don't have any particularly strong feelings about it, and i definitely don't have any insider knowledge. i may live closer to the city than you do, but i'm just as much of a tourist when i'm there.
i'm especially confused by the idea that my heroes would be in NYC. the people i think of as my heroes are the scientists who've mentored me: my organic chemistry professor, my undergraduate thesis advisor, my graduate thesis advisor and committee members. they became my heroes by teaching me, encouraging me, and changing the trajectory of my life for the better. if i stretch the definition of hero a bit to include scientists that i have no personal connection to, but whose work excites and inspires me, then i have heroes in colorado, massachusetts, maryland, canada, japan, australia, and czechia, to name a few...
ah, but you're asking about art and the creative scene! ermmmm well, again, i don't really know... i didn't even go to NYC for HTML day! i suppose i could have, but i would've spent 6+ hours traveling to and from a 2 hour event (and gotten home past my bedtime)... i don't have that kind of energy! yes, there's a lot of amazing art coming out of new york, but i'm content to enjoy that art from afar. i find it more fulfilling to spend what little energy i have making art with the people in my own neighborhood, or online, where the geographical distance doesn't matter so much.