Go Heart Your Own City

New Yorkers hate tourists.

They walk too slowly, stop to take pictures in the middle of the sidewalk, and never know where they are going. They get in the way of the things that need to get done in The City. New Yorkers don't like sharing their city.

This weekend though I was very much the tourist -- I hung out in Times Square, went to the M&Ms store, went boating in Central Park, went to other parts of Central Park, walked down Fifth Avenue, etc. All of which was actually quite pleasant (though the video my roommate has of me trying to row a boat in Central Park shall remain hidden from public view).

The truth, of course, is that it was the company that made the day so enjoyable, but I might have to admit that being a tourist was maybe a little bit fun as well. A little.

I'm still not sold on the tourist thing, and because my anal retentive side (or, as I told a friend today, "I don't think I have an anal retentive side. I am all anal retentive") loves lists, a list of tourist things I have not done -- and proud of it:

• Statue of Liberty
• Empire State Building
• Knock-off shopping in Chinatown (I have been to Chinatown and walked past all the knock-offs, but I don't think that counts)
• Shakespeare in the Park (not sure how touristy this is, and I'm actually really sad I haven't done it)
• Staten Island ferry (because really why would you want to get to Staten Island?)
  
• Coney Island (this one, alas, may be a lost cause)
• FAO Schwarz
  
• Ice skating at Rockefeller Center
• Madam Tussauds
  
• Brooklyn Bridge (I've seen it but have not walked across it)
• Little Red Lighthouse (considering I live about five seconds away from it, this is sort of pathetic)
  
• Yankee Stadium