juning in manhattan | Ananya Eeraveni

There’s nothing like summer in this city. -Gossip Girl

Crazy news: I met my long-lost cousin at a bar in East Village, which was so crazy because the last time I’d seen a photo of him was 10 years ago.

No one in this world has made me laugh like Amelia, my best friend, mi alma gemela, mi media naranja. I laughed more in my week with Amelia than I have all year, probably.

One of the funniest things ever this trip was that Amelia and I went to Nobu with Jack, who’s Amelia’s dad’s best friend’s son, who’s a sophomore at Purdue right now. At one point during our dinner, Jack was like, “do you even know what LARPing is?” It genuinely made us laugh so hard. It was hilarious because Amelia and I almost went to Nobu with our different old friend Jack from UCLA, who disowned us because he accused us of being clout chasers. Jack from Purdue, you saved the name Jack for us. What a wonderful, upstanding, intelligent kid. We are so proud of him.

Amelia and I also went on the BEAST Speedboat literally two hours before my flight, which was an incredibly BUMBY ride. It was literally a high-speed speedboat that sped us around the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn, I am not even kidding it was HILARIOUS and SO FAST FOR NO REASON, WE WERE SCREAMING. We believe that every person who wants to become an American citizen must ride the BEAST Speedboat.

Arya and her boyfriend, Keshv, who's a Sinai med student and gracefully exited his afternoon job to take photos of Arya and I + the flowers.

I must discuss Arya and I’s most spectacular bouquet-making date in Central Park. It was so picturesque, such a gorgeous, sunny day and we found respite in the shade to make our bouquets, flowers of which Arya skillfully procured from Trader Joe’s. We sipped our mango passionfruit lychee Hawa smoothies while we crafted our bouquets and talked about everything and anything. Toddlers were running around, young people like us were sunbathing, and it was just such a serene, lovely moment. Miss you so much Arya, and ILY for showing me your baby name list, I really loved it.

Ikenna and I's spot is Maison Pickle, and the portion sizes are actually monstrous + my walk to Whole Foods FiDi + my twinnem Nilay

Ikenna and I had the bread at Maison Pickle, which cured our depression while simultaneously sending us into a coma. We then walked 24 blocks from Upper West down to Central Park, and I asked Ikenna like every question I ever had about God and life and philosophy, which he answered so genuinely and patiently. Nilay also gifted me a baseball card, which is now up on my wall in Chicago.

This is the first time in a long time that I don’t know when I’ll be back in the city next. Knowing me though, I’ll be back soon. Cheers.

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