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| LOL celebrating New York City/New Jersey Superbowl hosting as a volunteer Feb. 2014 |
I love to celebrate holidays,
events, personal milestones whether big or small, and anniversaries. Now this
particular milestone means a lot because June is a big month for me since I
first moved here June has had a significant month for me cause I have a lot of
anniversaries to celebrate. On June 28, 1997 I officially moved to Jersey City,
New Jersey when I was 10 going on 11 years old. I cannot believe I still
remember it. Pieces of my childhood come back to me sometimes whether it’s a
song, television show, someone I admired growing up, a food, or anything that
may come from growing up I will remember. So now I can truthfully say when you
here the quote “If you can make it here you can make it anywhere”. It’s true
when it comes to survival, getting around this crazy island, and beyond. Also
just daily connections, contacts, and interacting too.
I arrived here in the summer time
actually I was just finishing up my final year at my elementary school so now
you see how young I really was when I first got up here. I was only 10 years
old I wasn’t turning 11 until that fall of 1997. So for me during that time I
was a bit shy, reserved, and excited too. Imagine me a little 5 foot 3 inch 120
pound skinny girl. I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit in to this place.
Looking back on it I would have told my 10 year old self “Girl, you don’t know
what you are in for but you’re in for a lot my friend”.
I was actually I made a lot of
friends once I got to my school Saint Peter’s Catholic School but what I didn’t
realize was how much my life was going to change in some beautiful ways. I
really did grow up here. I moved to the Newport Presidential complex area in
downtown Jersey City with my mother, Gina. The neighborhood was renovating, it
was a lot of grass I remember when we first got there I think it was a Stern’s,
empty parking lots, and like I said just grass. As time progressed my
neighborhood grew and changed a long with me too. I would take the very well
known Path Train traveling between New York City and Jersey City too. I
remember when I got here so many doors opened for me having access to the city.
I didn’t realize that New York (my birthplace too) was going to change my life
in some very special ways. Now in
2017 I have been there just this past weekend just to go get some Cheesecake
and my neighborhood still looks great and beautiful but it has changed so much
in the 20 years before I first got there. It’s now restaurants, malls, Staples,
Best Buy, Popeyes, Modells, bars, banks, and corporate offices that have taken
over now. I love it though sometimes I just like to walk along the Hudson
River, go to the mall, now I like to visit the Cheesecake Factory, or Chili’s
too. So for me it’s a pleasant memory I love being able to see my old home
because so much of my life was spent here in between these two states of New
York and New Jersey.
Now I mentioned in June is a
special month for me I will give you some key dates of my life that have been
the most important that I celebrated in New York City my birthplace and New
Jersey one of my hometowns.
Chloe’s key dates Timeline of my memories in June
June 28, 1997-I moved to Jersey
City, NJ I took the Amtrak train to New York Penn Station and left Washington,
DC. All of my boxes and everything were moved up my dad sent me on my way to
live with my mother and my life began right then and there.
June 2000-Graduated from Saint
Peter’s Grammar School later attended summer school at Academy of Sacred Heart
where she passes and met one of my best friends for life.
June 9, 2004- Chloe graduates from
Cathedral High School at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, NY.
June 2006- Get permit for license lol I remember being so proud lol getting mine started in high school don't get it twisted but when you live in NYC and NJ the path train and subways become some of your best friends for travel trust me. What's more affordable the subway or paying a monthly bill for parking in nyc. Lol.
June 30, 2004-Start my first real job as an office assistant at LA Mega 97.9 Spanish Broadcasting Systems radio station right after graduation.
June 30, 2004-Start my first real job as an office assistant at LA Mega 97.9 Spanish Broadcasting Systems radio station right after graduation.
June 12, 2008- Chloe gets hired to
work at Kelly Services Staffing agency and starts her first administrative
position as a temp employee and works in the Financial District by Wall Street.
I am still employed this staffing agency has been amazing taught me everything
I know and has changed my life completely.
June 3, 2010- Chloe graduates from
Hunter College on a steamy hot day 95 degrees I remember the sun shining
beaming and my parents saw me graduate at the amazing Radio City Music Hall in
New York City by Rockerfeller Plaza right down the street from where I first
graduated this moment for me is one I will cherish forever.
June 22, 2015- Hired at Hudson’s
Bay Company worked here exactly two years. I am hoping that in the future there
will be many more highlights for me to celebrate
June 28, 2017-Celebrate my 20th
Anniversary of living in New York City I can’t believe it wow I made it through
this crazy place. A lot of traveling but I have learned about all 5 boroughs, I
have traveled, worked, and I know I am looking forward to so much more anniversaries and events to celebrate.
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| Chloe at Belvedere Castle in Central Park Summer 2016 |
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| Staten Island Ferry on my way to check out some places lol |
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| My old job Lord & Taylor department store taking Christmas photos December 2015 |
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| The Highline Park it's beautiful up there Summer 2016 |
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| Hudson on the Terrace nightclub a lot of great memories cannot wait to go back! |
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| One of my first photos at my old job Brookfield Place Fall 2016 |
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| Rep yo city yeah I lived there too for 14 years I moved in June of 1997 and left fall 2011 to NYC |
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| Dylan's Candy Bar |
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| My high school Cathedral High School graduated in 2004 |
CHLOE’S TOP 10 PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY SHE LOVES….
I can be your tour guide if you needed me to be and there
are so many restaurants, malls, shops, boutiques, museums, all over New York.
If you told me the cuisine you love, the places you like to shop, or what you
want to see too.
I am going to give you my top 10 places I frequently hangout
at and love in the city. I love being there cause it’s always something to do
in this crazy city.
1.
34th Street Midtown in New York I
love it is the center of everything you need. I love Macy’s, Sephora, love
Jack’s is the best place to get something under a dollar. If you are really
hungry I guarantee you will find something less than a dollar there if you need
something to eat right away. I would suggest top ramen, bagels, cookies, and
they have frozen food. Everything you need if you are on a really tight budget
that’s where you go.
2.
Fifth Avenue- a place where I have become very
familiar with is like a second home for me you want to see beauty and escape
the world or the mundane. Go to Fifth Avenue you will see the beautiful shops
and stores. I have had the privilege of working at Macy’s and for Lord &
Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue so its incredible. I think Fifth Avenue means more
to me one thing I love doing is taking a taxi and going down early in the
morning. I love seeing the hospital where I was born, the places I have
visited, the gorgeous upper east side apartments, and museums too. I think for
me it reminds me remember your purpose, remember why you are here too. I love seeing the scenery always gives
me ideas, inspiration, and also a lot of innovation too to keep imagining too.
Walking is better too cause you really get to see the city too I have walked
from 112th Street to 38th street once and it was
incredible. It made me proud and happy just to accomplish to see so much too.
3.
I discovered this place a long time ago when I
was in college actually and wish I
had discovered it a little earlier in high school. I probably would have been
wearing Dylan’s Candy Bar memorabilia like crazy. Not that I cannot now lol. I
turn into a kid when I go to this store every time I visit the inner little
girl in me is like “Yay!!!!
Candy!” as someone who actually didn’t eat much candy growing up. I
actually developed my sweet tooth at a later age so I try moderation too. But I
love Swedish fish, gummy bears, Tootsie Rolls, Blow Pops, Starbursts, Apple
Rings, I love sweet, sticky candy lol, and of course chocolate. So whenever I
go you never want to leave.
4.
Anyone who knows me knows I enjoy one of my
favorite meals is anything with chicken actually. I have given myself the title
“Reina de Pollo” (Queen of Chicken) cause I can do anything with it as far as
preparation and actually buying it too.
My favorite spots here in New York would include Blue Ribbon Fried
Chicken in Soho section of New York/East Village by 1st avenue,
Kennedy Fried you can find all over in Brooklyn, a place in New Jersey too
Pollo Supremo, and a Puerto Rican restaurant El Nuevo Caridad on 116th street uptown in East Harlem where
I currently reside too. So for me it’s not just about eating or just the food
but it’s about the fact there’s so much to choose from as far as experience and
cuisine here in the city whether you want to splurge or save up too.
5.
Now let’s go back to shopping I am a sucker for
costume jewelry I have always loved quirky little rings, earrings, necklaces
since I was a child loved showing my fashion tastes and over the years I have
noticed how people have managed to evolve with experimenting with jewelry too
whether it’s a simple piece or something more flashy and exotic too. So I
stumbled upon a store I have loved forever called Pinktown one of my top
favorite shops here in New York City on 34th street is somewhere I
love to visit if I really want to have some fun.
6.
Central Park is one of my ultimate favorite
spots it expands from 57th street and goes all the way up to 110th
street it’s massive and so much to see my favorite spots the pool, the Great
Lawn, Belvedere Castle is stunning one of the most beautiful sights I have ever
seen and it’s free! You can just walk right in and you will immediately see the
beauty of the city you feel like you just stepped into a foreign country. I was also born right across the street by Central Park. I was born by Mount Sinai Hospital by 105th and 5th Avenue. I also saw Oprah's car roll by once when she had a huge show in Central Park a few years back too. I have seen free movies here in the city too. So a lot of beautiful memories.
7.
The Botanical Gardens I went last summer and
fell in love with the beauty of it. It’s located in the Bronx, New York. It’s
gorgeous seeing the observatory the gardens, the rose garden, and it’s just a
great place if you want to see real beauty and even just have a fun romantic
date or perhaps throw a wedding it’s a great location to take photographs. I
would probably go back in a heartbeat I am already a member myself.
8.
One of my other favorite spots is Saint
Patrick’s Cathedral because I have history with the historical landmark I love
how beautiful it is and will always remain apart of my story and journey from
high school and into adulthood as well. I stop by whenever I can just to check
in from time to time too. Saint
Patrick’s is located on 50th and Fifth Avenue right across from
Rockerfeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue Store (two other places I love whether
you want to go do shopping, see the Christmas tree in the Winter time, go see a
Broadway show, and stop for ice skating at the rink you have a lot to choose
from)
9.
Soho why Soho I have visited this spot so many
times and why it has one of my favorite cupcake spots which I adore and love.
Georgetown Cupcakes located on Mercer Street, Mystique Boutique, all of the
well known fun shops, The Tenement Museum as well. All of these places have
been intertwined with me somehow. I just discovered Lafayette a nice café to
grab brunch has amazing food too. So when you’re in Soho visit the art
galleries, shops, and stores. You can easily slip right into Little Italy as
well and take a detour into Canal Street too. So these places have some great
dining and you don’t want to miss out.
There’s a wide variety to choose from all over the city.
10. Now
my all time favorite spot I am here way too much actually because I have to
pass through this place a lot. I would have to name is Times Square this is the
heart of the city and where you will see so much happening around this city. I
have been to probably 20 Broadway shows, have done a lot of shopping here too
as well. Love Forever 21 which is now located right in the heart of Broadway
and 43rd street now. You have so much to see from the theater
district, the garment district for all of my fashionistas and those who love
clothes. Definitely some great food for my seafood lovers go visit Bubba Gump
shrimp, for the classic All Americans go see Shake Shack great burgers and
fries, for my exotic people go to City Kitchen where they have a very cool
variety of some of the great places to eat like Gabriela’s Mexican restaurant,
Luke’s Lobster (I am there way too much I love their lobster rolls), and for
those with kids and may be young at heart with a sweet tooth. Go visit Sugar
Factory too there’s something for everyone in Times Square from our practical
jokers and clowns go to a comedy club, the theater lovers go see a show, or
people who want to take it easy you can have many theaters to choose from that
you may want to visit as well. We have it all here in New York City so whatever
you want go and get it. You dream it we probably already have it. I hope to see
you one day when you visit. Have fun and enjoy. To my city Happy Anniversary to
us we did it and we made it.
Visit http://www.nycgo.com
for more information.
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| One of my favorite photos South Street Seaport lower Manhattan July 2015 |
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