And here’s another intro! This one’s from Stephanie Melka, who’s in New York City. She’ll be writing on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Tell us a bit about yourself, Stephanie.
I define myself as two things: A New Yorker, and a marathon runner. I was born and raised in New York City, in the forgotten borough of Staten Island to be exact. I have since found my way to Brooklyn, home to Nathan’s hot dogs and former home of the Dodgers. For a combination of reasons, I’m one of the more atypical New Yorkers you will ever meet. I own more pairs of running sneakers than dress shoes, have never watched a full episode of Sex and the City, and would rather walk a mile or two than take a cab. Oh, and I love the subway. As far as my running is concerned, the challenge of running up to 20 miles at a time on any given weekend has given me a perspective of this city that few others have. While I often get caught up in that ubiquitous “New York minute,” running lets me forget the deadlines and meetings and enjoy my diverse surroundings. Over the coming months, I hope to share what life is really like in New York City, provide you with lesser known, though equally thrilling, sightseeing opportunities, and, of course, answer any questions you may have about my fine city. Go Yankees!
—Stephanie Melka