New Yorkers and time

I often ask myself what bugs me mostly in New Yorkers. Is it their rudeness, their naivety, their snobbishness or just lack of class? After serious thinking and self-reflexion, I realized that the only thing that really bugs me - a lot - is the fact that New Yorkers do not have a sense of time. As if they don’t want to grow up.

Being a guest of various parties in the Big Apple, I often face the inevitable. I can’t tell people’s age. Every single human being residing in NYC, is dressed pretty much in the same way: pair of jeans, tee-shirt, sneakers or flats. A few exceptions will be women’s flowery dresses in numerous venues but rather the cheap choice: Gap/Banana Republic/Urban outfitters etc. Is that a sign that they don’t want to grow up and move to the next level of adulthood? Maybe it’s their financial situation that does not allow them to buy designers or slightly more expensive outfits. In any case, the outcome is that everybody looks the same: new world second-life avatars in real time.

After the clothes, which is the physical indication of the “I don’t want to grow up process”, comes the lifestyle. Is it acceptable, if not normal, for all of them, citizens of NYC to have the same lifestyle? To do, at 45, the same things you were doing at 25 and 35? Aren’t all of them tired of the parties and gallery openings, same kind of clubs and restaurants, same taste for food even? Don’t they want to do something different, to experience new things, the pleasures of each decade or age? To my eyes, a 75-year old should spend some time with his grand-children in the park, not being drunk (or stoned) in Upper East Side parties late at night. “But this is how I remain young” a male in his late 40s told me the other week. “I want to socialize with young people and have fun”.

I am not against it. I never supported the view that you should stay in and watch TV at a later age. But respecting your age and what it comes with it, it’s not only growing-up. It’s accept yourself as a decent human being who has a variety of tastes, changeable with time. You may not watch boring TV but sharing an in-house cooked meal with the closest few friends that you thoroughly enjoy, is a gracious choice. Maybe not for a 25-year old but definitely for a someone who is approaching retirement.

But I said it. New Yorkers don’t like time and ageing. Stopping the time with the same pair of jeans, or tee-shirts might be a viable and cheap option. After all, botox will not be necessary– they will never age.


EVENTS

NEW YORK

Free Mini-Facial and Fly Solo Book Signing Party at Jurlique When: Thursday, June 28th 6:30–8:30pm
Where: Jurlique Store and Day Spa 477 Madison Ave New York, NY 10022
Why: Inspire your inner Diva and rejuvenate your outer Diva at this Jurilque event!
Price: Free!!!
RSVP by calling the Jurlique store at: (212)-752-1980

Attend a book-signing party for the great new book Fly Solo: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel… Join us and Teresa Rodriguez Rodriguez Williamson, authoress of the book, at Jurlique boutique on Thursday, June 28th, 6:30–8.30 pm. Guests can buy a copy of her book and get a mini-facial for FREE. Light snacks will be served. And we’ll be raffling off amazing skincare products.

LONDON

Event Name: Pitstop riverside networking event
When: 6:30 PM, Monday 25 June 2007
Where: United Kingdom
The Bell & Crown, 11-13 Thames Road, Strand on the Green, Chiswick, London W4 3PL
3 minutes walk from Kew Bridge. Nearest tube: Gunnersbury
http://www.pitstop-for-business.com

Event Name: inspired media - adobe
When: 6:00 PM, Tuesday 26 June 2007
Where: United Kingdom
In an effort to mix the best British traditions of the Pub and Film, Adobe is pleased to invite you to join us for some 'first hand insights' from leading industry creatives. There will be networking and drinks! Who should attend? Anyone who wants to learn more about Industry standard digital imaging and video tools - featuring the full Adobe Product range. Creative experts will share how they make show packages, promos, music videos, DVD reels as well as their film compositing and editing techniques.
Programme:
6.00pm - 7.00pm: Registration and networking
7.00pm - 8.15pm: Presentation by Spencer Friend and Reuben Sutherland followed by Q&A
8.15pm: Drinks and networking
9.30pm: Close.