Morton and Bedford

I fell in love on a cold day in January, 2010.  After having fallen out of love with my boyfriend that I had been living with on the Upper East Side.  Because he was planning a move to L.A. to join the last guy that broke my heart, I had to find a new home, asap.  And I did.  Thirty-five Morton Street.  A studio in the West Village with dark purple walls that spoke to me upon first meeting.  “Welcome home,” they said, “it’s about time.”  I had moved seven times in four years in NY.  This would be my very first place of my own.  No roommates, no boyfriends, just me and Mr. Jones.  At last.  For the next four years, I would stay, and cherish every single moment.  The time has come, however, to leave it behind in order to live a new adventure.  So begins my bittersweet farewell to my beloved WV.

35 Morton St.

If New York City is the greatest city in the world, and the West Village the greatest neighborhood in NYC, well then friends, I have been so incredibly blessed to ride my bike through fairytale streets making my way home, to the greatest neighborhood in the world.  Me.  I will not forget the guy who said that I would never be able to afford a place on my own in New York, some time ago.  I am so grateful for his doubt, for his complete underestimation.  Those words have fueled my fire for the past eight years.  Currently, I am sitting on my neighbor, Ms. Sofia Coppola’s stoop, having a coffee, writing a story.  How ya like me now, guy??

Stoop Session May 2012

So many wonderful memories were made here on Morton Street.  It was my first Spring in the West Village, when my mom, sister, and two nieces – a six month old Sienna and an almost three year old, Sofie, came to visit.  We blew up a queen size air mattress so that my whole studio was bed, and we slept slumber party style, all five of us.  The Ya-Ya’s.  One of my all-time favorites.

After my wounds had healed, head over heels I fell once more.  Word of advice.  Don’t ever, I mean ever, fall in love with your neighbor.  Don’t do it.  It was wonderful and terrible and after two years amounted to one big beautiful mess.  Of course I was supposed to move there and meet him and suffer through that in order to learn this and ultimately find myself here, right?  In the end, one of us had to go, and go he did.  All the way to guess where – Los Angeles.  I mean…  These guys!  Talk about taking the easy way out!  I kid.  And let’s not go making judgements as to why my boyfriends, upon breaking up, feel the need to move as far away, without leaving the country, as possible.  I am certain that all of that sunshine has made amends…  I digress.

Springtime on Morton St.

I ran my first marathon while living in the Village.  Running five miles up the West Side Highway to Central Park and after getting ten miles done in there, I’d journey the five home.  Or sometimes running clear past the George Washington Bridge through neighborhoods I’d never ventured, and back.  I thought about a lot of things on those runs, worked through a lot of emotions, and learned a great deal about myself.  Training for the NY Marathon changed everything so much that I’d run it again the following year.  All of those miles starting from and ending on my Morton Street.

Sunsets on the Hudson.  If the weather was good, I undoubtedly took to the river.  Grabbing a book, some music, a bottle, and the Mr., I headed west.  I may miss this the most, although now I will be on the other side watching the sunset over the city, from the East River, which may be even more epic.  Leaving the West Village and life is still good, y’all.  Even so, many, many good times were had, many hard times were worked through, and many blessings were counted on that water.

Alas, I found love again from Morton Street.  We first met at a bar on Commerce.  I was all tangled up in my mess, sadly, so was blind to the beautiful bartender before me.  A year after that encounter I was given a second chance.  I fled a party, seeking refuge from my past that had showed up and that I had finally let go of.  I found myself at a different bar on my sweet street, where he stood once more in front of me.  This time the blinders were off.  I was smitten, done for.  What can I say?  I like a guy who can make a good drink, and I like them even more if after several they don’t charge me.  Two years later, and we are moving to Brooklyn where the only Manhattans he makes are for our enjoyment.

The New View

My dearest West Village, thank you for taking a broken heart and empowering it before smashing it to pieces once more, but then waiting until it had found a much softer, much sweeter place to land before letting it go.  My undying gratitude.

Goodbye my lovely.  You were something I never thought possible – a storybook fantasy, an absolute dream come true.  I want you to know how I pinched myself each morning, how much I adored my coffee shops and wine tastings, my street fairs and stoop sessions, my bike rides and long runs and beguiling sunsets.

Farewell friend, I could never thank you enough for the love,  the despair, the triumph, and all of the lessons learned.  You allowed a little girl to find the much stronger woman within.  And although it is with sadness that I say so long, it is with swelling pride that it even happened at all. Tis time for this wanderer to fall in love all over again with somewhere new.  But be quite certain that I shall never forget and shall forever share my westside story.

Cheers,

Vino Bambina

*  Domaine Mittnacht-Klack Edelzwicker is an Alsatian sensation!  Friends, I j’adore all things Alsace, and this was a gem I picked up from my new,charming little wine shop, Dandelion Wine (dandelionwinenyc.com) in Greenpoint.  Edelzwicker translates as “noble mix” as it is a custom blend of the noble white grape varieties of the region.  These wines could consist of any proportion of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Chasselas, and Pinot Auxerrois.  This one in particular is predominantly Riesling and Gewurztraminer, two of my tops, and coming in at around $15 you cannot beat this lovely expression of Springtime in a bottle!  Delicately balanced acidity dances with alluring floral freshness.  Please toast to the season that we have all been aching for with this or any Edelzwicker that you can get your ungloved (finally!) hands on!