At our Mums and Bubs dinner last month Allison Bambrick announced that she and her family will be leaving New York and returning to Brisbane at the end of summer. Allison kindly offered to leave us with some highlights from her time in NYC and a few tips for settling into life over here.
What is your ‘only in NY’ moment you’ll always remember?
Hard to pick but I lost my wedding ring when we went to Jenkinson’s Beach in New Jersey last summer – obvious solution was a trip to Tiffanys of course. We went in one evening not long before Christmas and were seated at a table and served champagne while the assistant brought over a selection of rings to choose from. Outside the Christmas lights were sparkling through the billowing clouds of steam.
What will you miss about NY?
Central Park and the Met. I’ve spent more time there then anywhere else. Also the lovely friends who I don’t know when I’ll see again.
What won’t you miss about NY?
Apartment living. I need a yard so that my kids can be more than 4 metres away from me!!
Top 3-5 things to do with kids in NY?
In no particular order
- Governor’s Island – The Figment Festival this year was crazy fun, I loved the Jazz Festival last year and the first year we were here we just enjoyed hiring bikes and getting a fabulous view of downtown and the Statue of Liberty.
- The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – I’ve been twice and would go again. The kids loved Lady Liberty and picnicking on Ellis Island and I enjoyed the museum while hubby kindly took them to the kids area.
- The fountain out the back of the Natural History Museum (aka The Arthur Ross Terrace) – great summer time water play with a view of the solar system!
- The Met roof garden on a weekend summer’s evening. Grab a cocktail, buy the kids off with a packet of chips and enjoy one of the best views of Central Park.
- Get out of town – we have had the best weekenders at AirBnB accommodation in the NY environs. I particularly loved a place we found at Montauk during Fall and this last weekend we’ve been enjoying a lakeside house in Forestburgh, NY. After being cooped up in NYC the kids just love a bit of space and some nature to wander around in.
Any sage advice for AWNY Mums?
I think one of the hardest things here for me was making new friends. I found it tough spending a lot of time with my kids without the supporting friends and family I was used to and I missed the rewards of a job where I was paid and praised. My advice is to just keep chipping away at social opportunities and keep on being friendly at the park and the school yard and at whatever other groups you can get involved in and eventually you’ll have some peeps that making going home hard.
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 