Bringing Awareness to the Apathetic

When I was job hunting, desperate for anything other than my current position, a recruiter told me about a job opening at EverydayHealth.com. As she was going over the job description, I was mildly amused, until she told me, “Leave time for travel, because their offices are in Brooklyn.” Brooklyn? I thought to myself- no way. Why would I take a job in Brooklyn when I live walking distance from Midtown! Although I loathe Midtown, I knew I would despise the daily subway commute even more.

Desperate to leave my position (to protect the guilty, we will call my old company- Nasty), I hopped on the subway and went on the interview. Getting off the A train at High Street I looked around. I saw street names like Prospect and Henry. Where was I… I felt like I was in a foreign city! In a way, it felt cool to travel outside of my comfort zone. Midtown, in it’s grid-like manner, has become so mundane. I find myself yearning for a release of the hustle and bustle of suits and blackberries.

I found a kind mailwoman lugging her load around the windy streets of downtown Brooklyn, and begged her to point me in the right direction. She and I walked to Main Street together. As I walked past art galleries and deli’s filled with young people in jeans and scarves, I thought to myself, where is the Starbucks? The Hale and Hearty? I knew I couldn’t function properly in an office that didn’t have access to Hale and Hearty soups and salads!

I glanced up- it was one of the most beautifully quintessential New York photo ops I had ever seen. The day was clear and the sky was blue. The Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge were above me. Up ahead was the New York City skyline, and the financial district. All I could think about is getting my camera out here to take some photos. (Images to come)

Finally there I stood, in front of 45 Main Street. I was a few minutes early so right next door I walked into this independent bookstore called Powerhouse Books. Powerhouse is one of the last uniquely independent bookstores in New York. http://dumbonyc.com/2007/01/16/independent-bookstore-powerhouse-books-in-nysun/ The bookstore is a collection of works on food, art, architecture, sex, the environment and politics.

Standing outside 45 Main was exponentially different than standing outside of say, 4 Times Square, or 750 Third Avenue. The elevators took forever to come, there was no lobby check in, no television in the elevator informing you that your stocks just plummeted or that it will rain today. At first I cringed at the less-than high-end appearance of this building, but then, like the rest of Brooklyn, it grew on me. I found the down to earth nature refreshing, and it relaxed me. I felt comfortable and confident walking into the offices of Waterfront Media, and thought to myself, let’s give this Brooklyn thing a chance.