Brian in New York

Bye Bye Brooklyn

Well folks this will be my final post from New York. I decided to leave my job and that I would not look for another in NYC or even the North East. Even though I love New York City and the people I meet I'm not fond of the priorities and demeanor of how business is conducted here. I think this has a lot to do with why there is so little start-up activity here. The bigger reason though is that the cost of living is overwhelming, it causes you to either live a much reduced standard of living or not prepare at all for future financial security, or both.

So I've decided to relocate out west and have decided to settle in Utah. I've taken a position at an amazing start up called 3point5.com that is managed by some amazing people and is growing like crazy in a new space.

So I leave NYC on Tuesday after a year of living it up as much as possible. It's been a little like a breakup with a relationship that just didn't work out. It's pretty much me telling the city: "It just didn't work out baby! it's not you it's me". You start thinking about the good times and have to snap out of it and remember there were no so good times too. So here's my list:

What I'm going to miss:

• The Met Museum: I went over 30 times and to 6 events. I'm sad I'll miss the big Black Tie Gala in November. This is truly one of the best places in the world and a must for anyone going to New York. Beyond the permanent collection I was able to see a Rembrandt exhibit, a daVinci sketchbook, 
• Falling in love on the subway everyday... I'm not kidding
• Single people in their 20-30s just hanging out ready to meet one another
• The all night scene
• Amazing restaurants
• Amazing food, anything anytime anywhere.
• Central Park... my home away from home.
• Federal Hall and the step where Washington took the first Oath of Office
• Walking around Midtown
• Street festivals every weekend in the summer
• Bryant Park on a warm breezy day
• The Italians in my neighborhood
• The history of the place: 400 years all around you
• The concerts and concerts and concerts. 10-20 big names every night. Easy way to go broke.
• The parades and parties, rock'in it with a million people
• After work culture.
• Plus tons more.

What I'm not going to miss:

• The cost: housing, food, entertainment, everything. Just about 50-100% more than it should be
• The smoking: I think the non-smokers in the city will notice that I've left. Now there's only a dozen or so left.
• JFK Airport
• The service everywhere... I swear customers are treated poorly everywhere.
• Every errand taking way too much time 
• Wall Streeters... 

So overall a great experience that I'll be grateful I had for the rest of my life. Now I'm really looking forward to the next stage of my life in Utah. I plan on settling down for awhile and planting some roots. You're all welcome to visit (especially during the ski season)!

Well this is the end of this blog but you can read more from me at my new blog: www.brianinutah.com

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Trouble in the Neighborhood: Drunken, spoiled, adult-children on their way.

Well there goes the neighborhood, Just found out that more than likely MTV's Real World 21: Brooklyn will be in a house around the corner and up the street from my house in Carroll Gardens

Destined to destroy the dinner and after work nightlife of the neighborhood we all greeted the news with a heavy groan. If the prices of bagels and coffee go up (more), or they destroy our local hangouts with there drunken nonsense I'm pretty sure the Tony's, Paulie's, and Sam's of the neighboorhood will take notice. People like their quiet neighborhood here.

Google map showing the madness

The Last Few Weeks in Brief

Sorry I haven't kept up over the last few weeks. Here's what's been happening in a few short lines.

• Grandfather passed away and attended his funeral in Salt Lake City
• We acquired an Odgen company so I spent a few days out there with the staff
• Had lunch and visited with the Logoworks crew (Miss you guys!). Sorry everyone else I'll get you next time.
• My sister came into town for a week and a half of vacation, had fun playing the tourist for a week (I'll post more about this later)
• Work is sucking right now big time, so I'm heads down there.
• Visited friends in Washington (Denise & Carol) for the weekend. Regardless of the heat it was way too much fun!.
• Trying to survive the NYC heat wave... it's already been hotter this year than any day last year A/C living and rolling blackouts :)

That's the update. Hope you all well.