Mitchell Hall NY RealtorJust freshly back from the Inman Connect Conference in New York City. The whole experience was interesting and enjoyable.  The best part of all is getting to meet in person the terrific personalities that I've known on the 'net for so long. Being able to hang around and talk about the matters of real estate, blogging and life in general was exciting.  

NYC is a very distracting place to meet.  Not only is there is much to do and see, it's nearly impossible to get everything done. 24 hours in the day just isn't enough.

My biggest problem was navigational issues.  Every time I set foot on the street, I headed in the wrong direction.  It didn't matter if I was alone or with a group, the result was the same.  Of course with so much to see and do, I didn't really mind. The whole experience was fun, it didn't really matter where I was.  

One afternoon Mitchell Hall, a NY native invited me and Patricia Kennedy to join him touring Broker Open houses.  I jumped at the chance to experience a taste of N.Y. real estate.  

Mitchell was a gentleman and picked us up at the hotel (on foot).  We took the subway to Soho, where the apartment for sale was located.  Yes, apartments in N.Y. are for sale, unlike Denver Real Estate apartments are for renters!  

The subway offers even more opportunities for navigational mistakes!  Lucky for me, I just followed Mitchell.  He gave Patricia and I a handy little siding-scale brochure.  It was a helpful tool for deciphering the appropriate subway route vs. streets serviced.  I'm sure after a proper education, BA, MBA and perhaps a PHD one could figure out how to operate it efficiently.  :)  Perhaps being born in the city helps.  But for me, well I'll need further assistance, like maybe a GPS!

We found the apartments with Mitchell's expert assistance.  I never would have managed to locate them.  TheyOpen house greeter were both enormous and priced totally out of this world!  I loved the artwork and the location for both. The neighborhoods were so colorful and chock full of conveniences.

On the return subway ride home, I plied Mitchell for tips on determining direction.  Now please understand, I come from a simple place.  When I look to the west I see mountains. It's so easy to figure out which way to go.  When the mountains are on the left, I'm facing north.  Behind me, I'm facing east and so on.

In NYC there just didn't seem to be any clues.  The sun didn't even offer much assistance since the buildings typically obscured it.  Well, Mitchell said for me to look for the tall buildings and that would mean I was seeing Downtown Manhattan.  OK.  Then the opposite would be the river. OK. That's nice, but that also assumed I knew where the heck each of those places were relative to where I was!

LOL!  Ignorance is bliss.  Instead of taking the time to learn, I decided to enjoy where I was and not worry about where I should be.  I kept track of the hotel addy on my iPhone so not matter where I ended up I would at least know where I had to go to get "home."

Of course having a Plan B was helpful.  Plan B was to hail a cab.  

No, I never hailed a cab.  I was having too much fun just being and doing where ever I was. 

Thank you Mitchell for introducing me to New York City Real Estate! It was a great experience. 

 Read more about my NYC experience at Denver Real Estate and Relocation Blog

Kristal Kraft

Broker Associate, ABR, CIPS, CRS, GRI, ePRO, PMN, PNG
TheBerkshire Group, REALTORS
3801 E. Florida Ave., Suite 400
Denver, Colorado 80210
303-589-2022 ~ direct     303-953-5362 ~ fax

Selling Colorado Since 1984, Serving the Following Areas:

 

32 Comments on NYC is a GAS!

JAN
12
2008
101,681 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Hi Kristal, That is fanatastic that you got to go and had Patricia K with you.  Sounds like you had a blast.  Yes we take it for granted how we can just jump in our cars and go places.  In NYC I guess most people don't drive much.  I'd be SO lost.
6:10pm • #1
152,734 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog
I love New York City to visit.... Not to live.  It's so much fun! and never sleeps!
6:18pm • #2
3 Featured Posts
Sounds like it was a blast. Maybe I can get out of here next year to finally go and meet everyone face to face.
6:21pm • #3
2 Featured Posts
Kristal~ I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to say hi to you on Wednesday.  I saw you a few times at the Paramount but never got over to you.  Anyway, Mitchell's advice is right on. I worked in NYC for about 12 years, primarily in the Wall St area, and you learn to navigate by the tall buildings and the rivers.
6:23pm • #4
317,483 Points 45 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hi Kristal - how great to get that kind of first hand experience in NYC that so many didn't get.  I would imagine it would throw you to not have any way to tell directions there...it would throw me.  Sounds like you had a great time.

Ann

7:11pm • #5
538,696 Points 45 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Kristal - maybe it would be easier to know direction if you weren't always looking at things through your camera lens! :)  The above photos are great, as usual.
7:58pm • #6
130,028 Points Outside Blog
Kristal, yes New York is not where I would be good at selling real estate and I will leave it to those who grew up there. I was there in 1981 and I did not like it then and I have not been back. I was lost all the time.
8:12pm • #7
270,880 Points 18 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Kristal - thanks for sharing your experience - hope to catch up with you sometime at one of these events. Love the photos.  
8:19pm • #8
259,587 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Sounds like you had an interesting time...getting around NY is challenging but the conference sounds like a blast.
9:17pm • #9
244,815 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Kristal, what great photos and it sounds like despite being directionally challenged you had a great time.  I would looooove to see one of those apartments in person!
9:22pm • #10
158,944 Points 18 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Kristal,

Great meeting you, I enjoyed our afternoon Soho adventure. Even a native like me still can still get lost. I've never been able to figure out that street finder thing either. lol. To be honest it was easier to get around when we had the World Trade Center to look up at. Those two towers could be seen from every place in the city and you knew they were downtown/south. 

9:26pm • #11
370,649 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hey Mitchell ~ I'm so relieved to hear you admit you can't figure out the street finder thing either!  Whew!  I was really feeling like a dummy!  Thanks again for the great time.  I know you had other things to do than to take care of tourists!  I had a great time.  Our tour was one of the highlights of my trip.  Now I can tell Denver Loft buyers what a STEAL they are getting here...

Lisa ~ The apartments were very distinctive. You would absolutely enjoy it as I did!   Give Mitchell a call! :)

Moni ~ I really loved the serendipity of it all.  Getting lost is just part of the adventure.  Missed you there...

Cyndee ~ You will need to make a plan to come meet the gang.  Maybe in SF?

Susan ~ You will have to get a good guide, call Mitchell!  :)  

Sharon ~ Are you insinuating I use a camera too much?  How dare you... :)

Ann ~ At least being lost in New York is entertaining.  I did enjoy every minute of it.

 

9:41pm • #12
370,649 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Judy ~ You are so right about the fun and no sleep.  I'm too old for the no sleep part...

Kay ~ It was fun to get to know Patricia too.  She is such a nice lady!  

Charles ~ Meeting everyone is definately the best part of the conference. You need to make a plan!

Lisa ~ We will have to make a plan to hook up next time!  The Paramount was fun.  I loved the furniture in the lobby. 

9:45pm • #13
173,945 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Kristal,

What a blast and how lucky to have a native show you around.  On our first and only trip to NYC we spent so much time navigating our way through the subway that we missed our opportunity to go to the statue of Liberty.  We were bummed.

Glad you had such a great time.

10:16pm • #14
131,634 Points 14 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Hi KK, glad you enjoyed yourself and I always enjoy your photos.
10:19pm • #15
JAN
13
2008
309,800 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

What a nice exciting story and comments!  And pictures too.  Thanks.

1:43am • #16
370,649 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Fran ~ Yes I agree having Mitchell show us around was an asset.  Sorry to hear you missed Miss Liberty!

Jay ~ Thanks I appreciate your comments as well!

Georgina ~ Thank you too.  

 

7:41am • #17
279,903 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Ohhh I can so identify with your disorientation as when I moved to Lake Norman NC from CA where we had mountains and such I was constantly turning the wrong direction.  This is not a good thing when showing property:).  How fun to see the NYC real estate market too and of course, meet so many fellow bloggers.
8:54am • #18
405,593 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
What fun we have been to New York to see Phantom a few years ago and really enjoyed the taste of the city but I'm more comfortable in the woods. It is great to have a local lead you around.
9:16am • #19
143,560 Points 9 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Kristal..oh, my I can totally relate...it's not like you can look up and see a mountain range and know which direction you are heading!!! LOL! Sounds like you had some fun adventures and from other's blogs, everyone mentioned meeting you! You get around, girlfriend!!!! Having fun is the payoff!
1:06pm • #20
370,649 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Diane ~ Oh I can so identify with you!  I hate when the sun is not out and I can't see my mountains!  IT really causes me havoc!

Terry ~ The city is a good place to go for a visit.  I'm with you about the woods though!

Joeann ~ It is nice to have the built in compass as in the mountains isn't it.  As for getting around, well life is short.  There's no sense in waiting! 

1:14pm • #21
110,235 Points 26 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
KK and a Soho loft = a natural!  And I want that Open House Greeter!!!
8:25pm • #22
110,235 Points 26 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
The subway offers even more opportunities for navigational mistakes!  Lucky for me, I just followed Mitchell.  He gave Patricia and I a handy little siding-scale brochure.  It was a helpful tool for deciphering the appropriate subway route vs. streets serviced.  I'm sure after a proper education, BA, MBA and perhaps a PHD one could figure out how to operate it efficiently.  :)  You cracked me up on that one!
8:26pm • #23
135,935 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog
KK - Sounds like you had a great time.  My favorite thing about NYC is when friends tell you to meet them on the SE corner of whatever street you are meeting on.  It cracks me up.  You need to have a good sense of direction.  I was meeting a friend at the Penn Station one day and when I asked where she wanted to meet - she replied by saying she's just meet me in the train station.  I thought that was just about the funniest thing I'd ever heard.  It is hard to explain the scale of NYC without having been there. 
9:36pm • #24
JAN
14
2008
18 Featured Posts
Hi Kristal, thanks for sharing your experience and offering up some giggles. :) loved the greeter! glad to hear you had a blast and had your own personal tour guide! talk about living the life!! :) enjoy the week!
9:02am • #25
139,922 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Kristal - It was such a pleasure meeting you. I wish we'd had more time to spend getting to know each other. Are you coming to SF in July?
9:47am • #26
480,278 Points 151 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Kristal.... you had me laughing with Mitchell's explanation of east vs west and looking for tall buildings.  lol  I was a little like yourself, that I missed a few sessions, but it was the relationships, getting to hang out with people. But I am totally jealous of your personal tour given by Mitchell. I love architecture and art.  I wish I would have done this, but I am assuming you did this on Thursday? 

In any case, it was great to have finally have met you.  thanks for sharing this.

jeff belonger
1:19pm • #27
JAN
17
2008
237,845 Points 30 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Glad you made the trip and it was a pleasure meeting you.  NYC is a wonderful and so easy to get lost .. I would certainly not even think to navigate the subway without some city native with me.

Have a wonderful 2008!

3:54pm • #28
JAN
20
2008
703,828 Points 72 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Kristal, how did I miss this post?  A tip about New York.  Everything is numbered, oh, except for where we were.  After years of living in New York and working at Broadway and Wall Streets, I never did figure out the lower Manhatten thing.  The rest of the Island is mostly numbered.  That was such a fun afternoon!  I'm heading back in a couple of weeks, and maybe I'll be able to get into the one at the Ansonia!
9:07am • #29
JAN
31
2008
8 Featured Posts
Sounds like a great trip, Kristal.  I haven't been to NYC since my honeymoon.  Great meeting you in Vegas.
10:22am • #30
FEB
01
2008
101,681 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Wow you have written 426 posts.  Great going.  Love your posts.

7:14pm • #31
FEB
07
2008
5 Featured Posts

I grudginly agreed to a trip to New York last year, with my family and four kids.

I say it that way because it seemed like a lot of work, and I expected things to be over the top expensive.  I did reach out to a fellow AR member for some ideas and advice on places to go, a habit I've been trying to use on our family trips the last two years.

Well lo and behold, the advice was terrific.  We went to all the right places, saw all the right places, and bought everything for a great price, all because we had some insider help.  Another small AR benefit!

Thanks for reminding me, off to plan this year's trip.

8:38am • #32

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Kristal Kraft ~Denver Real Estate~303-589-2022

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Address: 3801 E. Florida Avenue Suite 400, Denver, CO, 80210

Office Phone: (303) 953-5222

Cell Phone: (303) 589-2022

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