About

I am a New York Cliché: a struggling actress trying to survive in New York City and make it in all the ways that everyone wants to make it. My posts are personal essays about my adventures as a single gal in the city. Stories that make you think, “That’s so New York”. Sometimes my life is like Sex and the City, sometimes like chick lit, but most often just like me. I strive to find the humor of situations (I love making people laugh, sometimes it’s my job). I confess a penchant toward wordy descriptions and dramatic flare (and parenthesis).

My girlfriends and I are in our twenties, we live in New York. It goes without saying we’ve played the OMG-Who-Are-We-On-Sex-and-the-City! game. In terms of this blog, I am obviously Carrie, the narrator. My girlfriends are as following:

Miranda: My BFF. We moved to Manhattan together and have lived in the same apartment together ever since. We’ve never gotten in a fight. She’s been an amazing, loyal friend (just like Miranda Hobbes) to me since we were ten years old.

Samantha: My newest bestie and newest roommate. If you were to stumble across our apartment randomly, she is the one most likely to be in some state of undress. She is dating the guy who lives down the hall from us (but won’t call him her boyfriend: totally Samantha). While she does not have a blog (alas), she does have an entry all about her, written by the lovely lady who sublet my room over the summer. Find it: here.

Charlotte: My other best friend. I’ve also known her since I was ten. She was part of the original 3-some in the 3-bedroom apartment. She left us to move in with her boyfriend in an apartment that overlooks Central Park. Knows how to throw a dinner party like no one else I know (just like Charlotte York).

I have been on my fair share of dates here in New York City. I have yet to meet my Mr.Big. Here are the main men of my New York City dating experiences. (I could also say, “Meet my ex-boyfriends!”- in an homage to Patti Stanger and guilty pleasure TV.)

Central Park Guy: My foray into Manhattan dating, he picked me up in Central Park on my first full day in NYC. What a beginning. Kind of a jerk because I let him be one. Well, and because he has the words “NO SHAME, NO REGRET” tattooed in large letters, one phrase on each forearm. Taught me a valuable lesson.

Cute Theatre Boy: We met at a theatre company. Dated dramatically for several months at one point he held my hand while I cried in the ER and helped me wash blood from my hair. He broke up with me while sitting on his bed wearing pajama pants with polar bears on them. I was wearing rivers of mascara down my cheeks.

Trader Joe’s Guy: He checked out my groceries (and probably my butt) at Trader Joe’s. Yes, I actually dated some one I met at the grocery store! An actor of only 20, he was super sweet to me when I was sick but there was no way it was going to work out.

Banjo Guy: Struck up a conversation with this hipster on the street. That was the high point of the relationship. It lasted way longer than it should have. Claimed we “weren’t really dating” when I broke up with him, then later referred to me as his ex-girlfriend.

Safa Boy: Nineteen, South African, a drifter/traveler. We met while both working different promotions in Times Square. A whirlwind, romantic, crazy, destined-for-disaster fling. Found out he cheated on me by reading his diary. Worst breakup of all these boys but I have no regrets.

GBF. My gay boyfriend. The guy I turn to when all the above ones fail. Decidedly more Brad Goreski than Stanford Blatch. He has a whole blog post devoted to him: here. He still hasn’t come out to his father and I’m almost self-absorbed enough to still think it’s my fault!

17 Comments »

17 Responses

on February 23, 2010 at 4:14 pm | Reply elisa

i just discovered your blog yesterday and have basically made my way through the entire thing (almost). such an entertaining read, especially since it so closely parallels my life!

i moved here a year ago from montreal, met a boy in the park (though its not as good of a story, and i just kept walking so who knows), met a boy online, have the issue of couch surfers inviting themselves over for days on end (one even going so far as to ask me to move out for the week so she could come with her boyfriend…as if).

anyway, this may seem kind of odd but i’ve found that i meet the most interesting people when i’m forward about these things.. would it be weird to have a coffee date sometime? i figure we are both fairly new, both know only so many people etc…

let me know if you think thats a great idea..or just creepy

cheers,
elisa

fyi – i wrote this fresh off the october post about friend making being way harder than dating…so if worse comes to worst at least you have an interesting follow up story to write
on February 11, 2011 at 2:03 pm | Reply Bee

i just love your blog such interesting and clever posts. im hooked.
- on February 13, 2011 at 11:27 pm | Reply newyorkcliche
  
  Aw yay, thanks!! I like yours too
on March 2, 2011 at 2:28 pm | Reply anon

Hey, nice to discover your blog, catchy title! I was in NYC as an aspiring writer and became a stripper, some cliches are hard to avoid. I look forward to follow your struggles and triumphs and my heart goes out to you, I’m sorta happy to be outta NYC.
on June 1, 2011 at 6:11 pm | Reply Dish with Donna

Had to check out your blog. Love it. Loved the New York Cliches.
on June 1, 2011 at 6:12 pm | Reply Donna Conley

I posted the above from Dish with Donna. Forgot I logged into that blog.
on June 4, 2011 at 12:37 am | Reply Abi

The Safa Boy series can definitely and easily become a book <3

Thanks for sharing!
on August 10, 2011 at 10:40 pm | Reply Kat Richter

Cute! Will definitely have to check back often
on October 19, 2011 at 5:46 am | Reply Mahesha

omg I love your blog. your background picture of the subway map totally spoke to me. I think I have memorized the damn thing after getting lost so many times. Love, love, love your blog. I moved to NYC in summer of 2010 but moved back to totally different part of the world this year. But my love for New York is undying and I cant wait to move back to Manhattan. Until then, I think your blog will provide me my dose of NYC I’m gonna go add you to my blogroll like right now!
on January 26, 2012 at 5:06 pm | Reply Kelli Shea

Wait….you’re awesome. This blog may or may not have just changed my life.
- on February 8, 2012 at 5:27 pm | Reply newyorkcliche
  
  Wow that’s amazingly sweet. I hope it’s not sarcasm Thanks so much!
on February 9, 2012 at 12:35 pm | Reply Kaity

It’s seriously creepy how small a world we live in. After reading your comment on my blog (thank you, by the way!) I ventured on over here to see what you were all about. I just happened to see a reference to the Renaissance Fair in Bumfuck and realized that your Bumfuck was the same as MY Bumfuck. As in I lived in Sterling, NY from the ages of about 4-11.

I just had to share that because, well, it’s weird. Sterling is the smallest, most boring, obsolete place on the face of the earth and the fact that you ended up there is just bizarre.

Lots of love and thanks for stopping by!
- on March 30, 2012 at 11:29 am | Reply newyorkcliche
  
  Oh my goodness, that is crazy!! This world is too teeny!!
on February 21, 2012 at 11:39 pm | Reply Cara

Firstly, I am soooo incredibly jealous you’re in NY! That is my dreammmm home for sure! Secondly, your blog is so creative and I definitely look forward to reading, glad I found it
- on March 30, 2012 at 11:31 am | Reply newyorkcliche
  
  Thank you so much! It is a dream to live here, hope you can someday! Until then, you should totally live vicariously through me
on April 4, 2012 at 11:42 pm | Reply lexiejrunge1410

From the map and your adorable header, to your fun writing style, I think I’m gonna follow you.. Wait I know I am.. I just subscribed. Wooo! You Rock.
on May 24, 2012 at 10:22 am | Reply lexiejrunge1410

Hi there! I just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award The way it works goes something like this: create a post and in that post mention the person who nominated you, then mention 7 interesting things about yourself, and then nominate some other blogs that you find interesting! I posted the nominations today so if you want to check it out visit lexiejrunge.com. Congrats!