Summer in the City: Plan Ahead and Pay It Forward

By Anjli

[This summer a dream internship with Lucky magazine moved me from Austin, Texas, where I’ve spent all 21 years of my life, to New York City for the summer. Come along for the ride and follow me through this column as I take on all that the city has in store for me. I’ll share tips I’ve picked up along the way about everything from how to pack (stop, drop and roll people!) to dating to fitting in (or standing out) and so much more.]

A little over a month in the city and just when I feel like slowly but surely the things on my mental to-do-in-New-York list are being crossed off, I think of yet another “must-see” city sight.

Tip #19 – Make a list of the things you want to do before you leave the city. No, actually write it down.

Some of the things topping my list right now are visiting the top of the Empire State building, scoring tickets to Shakespeare In The Park and tracking down the famous Carrie Bradshaw walk-up apartment steps. Writing down my New York wish list (in pink gel pen) as cheesy as it feels really is the best way to ensure you experience everything you hoped to. I tucked my list in my wallet and when I had a few hours to kill a few days ago, I pulled it out and luckily a gelato place recommended by a friend was just a quick subway ride away. The last thing I want is head back home at the end of the summer and kick myself for not having done something so quintessentially New York as going to the Statue of Liberty. Sidebar: Most of the things of your list also make great first dates with a new guy you meet.

Tip #20 – At work, always hold the door open, you never know who could be behind you.

Something I learned in the elevators and revolving doors of my days interning at the Condé Nast building this summer is that you should always hold the door open. Not only is it common courtesy (a social rarity in New York) but you never know who’ll walk in behind you. My first week I held a door behind me to a rushing brunette and upon closer inspection, sure enough it was Emily Weiss, author of popular blog Into The Gloss and former Teen Vogue New York intern on The Hills. Of course, not every door you hold open will be for a celebrity and even if you do hold an elevator for the vice president of your company, you won’t get an automatic promotion, but on the off chance that you meet again and that person recognizes you, well, your courteous ways can only do good. Last week I literally rubbed elbows with Anna Wintour in the cafeteria and it was just a reminder that my internship, if anything, is giving me the chance of proximity to the biggest names in the industry I want to be a part of. Plus, common courtesy is infectious and full of good karma.

Tip #21 – Use visiting friends from home as a shipping service.

If you’ve got friends from home coming to visit you in your new place and they don’t mind carrying a little extra in their suitcase, one of the best ways to save yourself future stress is to send some of your stuff back home with them. Since I moved to the city on my own and will be flying back home alone, I’d prefer my luggage not to weigh more than I do. In the beginning of the summer, I had visiting friends from my hometown bring up extra clothes from my closet at home and as my summer in the city ends, I plan on having a friend visiting toward the end of my trip, take some of my clothing back home. As long as you’re sending a small amount, it’s not too big a favor to ask and it really cuts down on potential shipping and extra luggage weight fees, not to mention the stress of packing. I always offer to make up for it by buying their first drink when we hit the club the night they get in and offering to carry their suitcase from the airport to my apartment of course.

Get the first 18 tips for living it up in the city right here!