2025 End of Year Letter

Happy Holidays! 

 

Another year flew by, but the good thing about being guided by mantras like “live every day to the fullest” and “you only live once,” combined with my “fear of missing out,” is they drive me to action. 

 

I'm still working at the NoHo Business Improvement District and enjoying the daily surprises I encounter on the streets there (pop ups, experiential retail experiences, fashion, and many forms of artistic expression), as well as, the satisfied feeling of daily civic action that helps NYC flourish. I'm the Secretary of the NYC BID Association and helm the Mentoring Committee, so I get to help others connect so we all can all do even better to serve our neighborhoods. 

I also am still living in Jackson Heights, Queens, possibly the most diverse area in the world. The cultural vibrance there is perfect for a world traveler like me. I don’t need a plane ride. Instead, I can just walk a block or two to see whichever religious or cultural festival is happening. There are always new foods to try, traditional dress to appreciate, holidays to celebrate, parades to cheer on different ethnic groups, and over 165 languages to overhear in my zip code alone!  

 

As for travel, I rang in the New Year in Biggar, Scotland with the sound of bagpipes, a GIANT bonfire and the tastes of fresh haggis from the local butcher shop.  In March, I headed off to explore the Silk Road with a stop in Istanbul along the way. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan were beautiful and so different. I enjoyed thinking about the vast amount of history and cultural transfer that has happened there. I came back just in time to fly to Las Vegas for a family reunion of my stepfather’s family, which was a chance to learn much more about the many legs of their Jewish diaspora around the world. I spent another summer week in Cape May with my sister’s family.  And went to the International Downtown Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Not a new place for me, but it was fun to look at things through a new urban planning lens and reminisce about my years of living down there.

Another highlight was my second year as a balloon handler in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. This year I was with Gabby’s Dollhouse, which I hadn’t heard of, but little kids on the route certainly had and lit up as we passed on the clear, beautiful fall day.

 

As a political person, this year has been very hard to watch. I have tried to protest what I can and have doubled down on local New York civic engagement where I can. I’m hoping our new NY Mayor can get things done and provide a different example for the way things can be done.

 

Wishing everyone a happy holiday and a new year filled with bright new opportunities!

Farewell 2023

Time keeps moving faster and faster. December flew by so fast I didn't have time to write my Holiday Letter till now! Wow! 2023 was a pretty good year for me, but it sped by feeling more like a month than a year!  I was considering skipping this letter this year, but if I don't force myself to reflect on the past year, I'm afraid it will all just be forgotten and I will speed into 2024.

In short, my life has stabilized after the daily excitement of the Pandemic. I'm still working at NoHo Business Improvement District and enjoying the energy, fashion and trend setting on the streets there. Then I am still living in Jackson Heights, Queens, possibly the most diverse area in the world. Each day I get to travel the world on my way to and from the subway. The incredible differences between NoHo and Jackson Heights are sometimes exhausting for a curious person like me. I have to keep my eyes open to enjoy both areas' richness. In one day, I can see supermodels in haute couture and indigenous women in their traditional dress.

 

I rang in 2023 in Havana, my favorite place. Then I focused a little on visiting the United States. An early visit to Miami, my third, finally showed me the pulse everyone talks about. I went to Houston, for my first time, for their Art Car Parade, which was amazing! Hundreds of decorated cars and another interesting micro culture. I headed to Minneapolis and St. Paul for a conference and made time to visit Prince's home, Paisley Park, George Floyd Square, explore Somali culture and, of course, drive by many lakes. In the summer, I had long weekends in Cape May, NJ and Maine for some beachy vacation charm and then was off to Chicago for the Annual Downtown Association Conference. My stepfather's family was from Chicago, so I've spent a lot of time there and every time I peel off another layer.

Of course, I also did some international travel. First to Bermuda on a cruise, but not just any cruise, a Broadway Cruise, which was definitely the highlight of my year. Some of you can imagine how marvelous it is to fill a cruise ship with Broadway people. Nights by the piano singing songs. Special performances by Kristen Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Laura Benanti, Randy Rainbow and more... I also ended the year on a South American roll. First to sweet, beautiful Montevideo, Uruguay and dynamic Buenos Aires, along with a special stop at a guacho festival in Argentina in November and then another trip in December to spend the holidays in Ecuador.

 

The toxicity of the world these days definitely troubles me, but I'm trying hard to keep busy and distracted versus letting it get me down. I'm not stupid enough to hope that 2024 will be less toxic, but I'm hoping November Trump will lose again and maybe fade. Fingers crossed. I plan to hit the campaign trail starting later in January to at least try to get better local candidates elected. 

Click the links to see photos and write ups on my blog and Facebook.

 

2022 End of Year Letter

 

Since the Pandemic began, time seems to be flying by and my memories of it all are fuzzy.  Looking back at my pictures from earlier this year feels like I'm looking back years. We are supposed to be adjusting to this concept of the "New Normal" and yet somehow nothing seems solid or steady. But judging on the number of holiday parties I went to it, does seem like New Yorkers are out and about again.

My work at the NoHo Business Improvement District continues.  With each day, month, year that passes, I get to know the neighborhood better and hopefully keep improving how we serve NoHo. At this uncertain time for NYC, our priorities of clean and safe are extra important. Pandemicwise we’ve given out 1000s of masks and covid tests, which makes me feel like Santa, since people are so grateful. Also, as businesses are all navigating these fast-changing times, helping them connect with each other for support and community seems very valuable. I'm blessed to have a great group of BID staffers all over the City, who are fun to work and play with and have really helped propel NYC forward.

 

Other highlights of the year include roaming around NYC. It’s amazing that there are always fresh things to discover. I’ve done lots of people watching and checking out fashion and trends, hit up many fun pop-ups on my Fun Fridays and seen lots of theater. Someone had to keep Broadway going, while so many didn’t feel comfortable going! I love spending time with new goddaughters and getting to know more about Ecuadorian culture through their family.  And recently, I've had a great time watching World Cup all over the City. I love the geopolitical back end of it all. It’s the perfect sporting event for a traveler like me. Now I have to add Argentina to my bucket list!

 

There are no new countries to add to my list this year, but I visited both coasts of Canada for the first time. First to Nova Scotia in the summer to travel with a friend and visit my Godmother. Then to Vancouver in the fall for a deep urban planning geeky exploration and to attend the International Downtown Association’s Annual Conference. I also FINALLY experienced Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and no, not in the drunken 20-something way, but in the glorious adult cultural community celebration way. I rang in the New Year in Colombia and most recently travelled back to Turkey for my second time and had an amazing trip exploring the coast and Cappadocia. Add weekends in Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC and it’s clear I still do love to travel! My next stop is Cuba for New Year’s! It will be my fourth visit there. Travel and the new experiences just outside my comfort zone are definitely my happy place.

 

You may notice more pictures of me with people in my annual photo collage. That's because covid has really upended in person time and I am doing my best to find ways to spend quality time with others as often as possible. 

 

I'm definitely hoping 2023 brings some fresh energy and opportunities. May you all try new delicious food, make a new friend, and do something out of the ordinary.

 

Click the links to see photos and write ups on my blog.

2021 Year End Letter

 

Is it really the end of 2021 already? Each year seems to speed by faster and faster, plus the distortion of time due to the Pandemic. And then add Omicron which makes it feel like March 2020 all over again.

So how do I summarize 2021??? Basically every day feels like I’m adjusting to a “new normal” that never feels normal at all. I’m still running the NoHo Business Improvement District, where I’m responsible for keeping the streets clean and safe and supporting businesses by connecting them to helpful resources and to each other, especially as they tried to adapt to covid. Unlike so many others, I still go into the office almost every day for which I’m grateful, since I get to observe all the changes taking place from multiple locations and perspectives and interact in person with people. I am grateful for the new flexibility to work from home some days though. Mostly the Pandemic has made my job feel more meaningful. While there is a lot more stress there also has been an increased sense of purpose. 

I did manage to travel a bit. The safest thing to do in covid times is walk outside, which made trips to architecturally beautiful cities like Charleston, South Carolina and Barcelona, Spain perfect destinations, especially with the dramatic drop in tourism so I could have them to myself. I also went to South Dakota to search out another face of America. Additionally I went to Tampa for a BID conference and once again felt so grateful for the power of in-person connecting. And now I am ending the year with two weeks in Colombia, which both felt irresponsible during the Omicron rise and to be the best thing to do since NYC feels scary as my friends all test positive. Colombia is warm and wonderful and their covid numbers are way down, so bring on the adventure.

Other 2021 highlights included digging more deeply into Queens, while helping at a food pantry and making some significant cross cultural connections. I continue to feel grateful to live in such a diverse community, where 167 languages are spoken and a trip to the grocery store can sometimes feel like travel to a far off world, but mostly just feels like home. 

I always end my letters reminding everyone to venture out of their comfort zones and live life. It feels even more important during COVID when so many are laying low. Be safe but be brave and keep getting out experiencing new things. This Pandemic might be around for a while. Don’t lose any more time. 

May much brighter days lie ahead in 2022!

Click the links to access my Facebook photo albums for the various places I have traveled to this year.

Farewell 2019!

Hello Friends -

I started off 2019 at a New Year's Eve party in Times Square, one of my favorite places on earth. It was my first time and it was an absolutely thrilling experience. Then on New Year's Day I leapt into the Atlantic Ocean, during the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge, which got the year started on quite an exhilarating pace, and I have been rolling ever since.

Working in a hip and trendy neighborhood at the NoHo Business Improvement District means constantly being surrounded by new things: far out fashion, experiential retail, design, art... so #funfridays are a major component to my week. Our office goes out to see whatever the week’s excitement is, so we can keep up with the trends. Combine that with long nights at community board meetings and days working with government advocating for my local businesses, along with doing whatever I can to create a clean, safe and fun neighborhood, my job continues to be exciting. I feel especially lucky to have the network of other BID people, who are both super fun to play with and a great resource for discussing work issues. 

Meanwhile my new home, Jackson Heights, continues to thrill me. It’s got a vibrant welcoming community and I’m beginning to make local friends. We have wonderful parades, festivals and street fairs all the time. I love being surrounded by people from all over the world. There is truly never a dull moment. Come visit! I'd love to show you around and show you the what the American melting pot looks like when it's allowed to flourish.

Turning 50 was fun. The race to complete #50before50 meant embracing anything new that I came across. Rainbow bagels ✔️ A helicopter ride over Manhattan ✔️ Being offered a senior discount 😣✔️Then I topped it off with a wonderful party surrounded with friends from all parts of my life. As they say, it's not the years in your life, its the life in your years and I've been living a pretty full life so far.

Travel has been a little less of a focus in my life these days, since my job makes it hard to take the kind of long trips I love. I did manage a fantastic long weekend in Vegas and another musical trip to New Orleans for Jazz Fest. I spent a week with my family exploring and doing a lot of great eating in Portugal and on the way home, I was able to drop into Morocco to experience one unforgettable night watching locals break the Ramadan fast on a huge open beach. I returned to Iowa for some more political tourism and got to see 19!!! of the Democratic Presidential candidates speak, as well as, enjoying the Iowa State Fair excitement, including the Sesame Street 50th birthday butter sculptures and more delicious foods on sticks. This year the International Downtown Association conference was in Baltimore, which gave me a chance to dig much more deeply, with an urban planning perspective, into a city I have been to many times before. I also got to attend a wonderful family wedding in Washington, DC. and visit many of my old haunts.

And because I can’t totally leave politics out of this, looking forward, may each of us dedicate a little time to registering and encouraging people to vote or supporting a new candidate in an effort to build our democracy back. Vote Democrat 2020! 

In the coming year, may we all stay open to new ideas and new experiences and keep LIVING! 

Cheers!

Cordelia

Farewell to 2017

Hello friends one and all!

It’s time to say goodbye to 2017 and hope 2018 brings much brighter things.

The biggest thing that happened this year was I had to say goodbye to my mother. In May, with no warning, she was diagnosed with cancer and given 2-4 weeks to live. Together we decided to follow the principle “if you only have two weeks to live...," which led to a profound 4 weeks of love and celebration of life that let my mom live out her last days surrounded by friends and family and delicious food, music and dance. The most meaningful moment was when her dance group came to dance for her can get a glimpse of here and here.

2016 End of the Year Update

Good Riddance 2016! Yay 2017!

This year has been filled with a lot of ups and downs, which I suppose is the normal routine in life, but it feels like its been extra bad for me and I'm ready to see what the New Year will bring and hope it comes with lots of fresh new energy to propel us all forward!

On the bright side, I end the year with a new job. I'm now the Executive Director of the NoHo Business Improvement District. I've been trying to get a job like this for a long time and am especially happy to land in an area that I spent my elementary school years in. NoHo is emerging as a hip area filled with fashion, tech and design. I even get to see new street art that pops up along the streets nearby. Getting up to speed is slow going, but I feel like bright things lie ahead.

Not to dwell on the bad stuff but... This year I experienced my first emergency surgery (and in Beirut no less!) I'm not going to lie. I kind of have been enjoying the whole experience except for the pain. I guess all those years of watching medical dramas have made me curious what the inside of hospitals really look like. This year I also lost my stepfather, Dick Roberts. Dick lived to a rich old 86 and certainly experienced a full life. He was always a lucky man and even his death showed that. He was healthy and then declined over a period of 6 weeks. He was lucky because, in the last weeks, he was constantly surrounded by family and friends and we were able to spend lots of quality time talking about life and listening to his favorite American Song Book, singing along all the way.

And of course, Hillary Clinton... Last year I told you all that all I wanted for Christmas was a woman President. I ended up spending a large part of 2016 trying to achieve that goal. I spent two weeks in Iowa before the Caucuses. I had a grand old time in Philadelphia during the Democratic Convention. Then I spent many of my fall weekends in Pennsylvania. I loved going door to door talking to voters. I particularly loved meeting so many new citizens, who were so excited to vote for the first time. I also really enjoyed being part of Executive Women for Hillary and helping women around the country activate and organize their friends. I thought I felt the glass ceiling cracking, but apparently it was shatterproof glass! Moving forward, I am horrified by the rhetoric and unpredictability of Trump and saddened by the divisive vitriol, but also have been going to lots of different organizing meetings and am seeing so many people wake up and find their voices. My hope is that out of the ashes will rise a stronger Democratic Party that is more sure of its ideals and more clear about its agenda. In the meantime, we all have to be sure to fight. I continue to be committed to working on immigration and racial justice issues, two things I care deeply about that I fear Trump is going to do real damage to.

Travel... yes, you are all wondering where I went this year.  My international trips included a great trip to Puerto Rico to explore their dynamic street art scene and I know, they are part of the USA, but it still felt a little foreign and I got to work on my Spanish! In the summer I took a  trip to Cairo, Egypt and Beirut, Lebanon, wo very very different Islamic countries. I really enjoyed the contrast of how religion is practiced and loved digging deep into the political situation in both places. Learning about the Arab Spring Uprising first hand in Egypt was fascinating and eye opening. And seeing the Syrian refugee situation up close and personal in Lebanon, the UN guarded border wall between Israel and Lebanon, plus the bullet ridden remnants of the Lebanese Civil War in between this soaring highrises of the international elite, showed me what a complicated hotbed that area of the world is once again. Domestically I enjoyed family trips to Water Island, USVI  where my grandmother used to live, a family reunion in Chicago, a weekend of friendship and street art in Detroit and a week in Cape May, which when added to my time politicking gave me a lot of interesting American experiences too.

In the New Year, I send wishes that we all are open to new experiences and find new passions to fill our heads and hearts. 

Wishing you well!

Cordelia

You can click any links above or check out my blog www.cordeliasjourneys.com to see pictures and hear even more about my travel this year.

Or follow my street art Instagram feed at @streetartisallaround

And my economic development and urban planning rumblings on Twitter @cordeliaNYC

2015: What a year its been!

Cheers to 2015 and Happy New Year! 

The end of another year means another holiday letter to try to sum it up in a few words, which is never easy, but is a wonderful exercise in reflection and appreciation, so here goes... 

My big accomplishment of 2015 was completing my Executive Master in Public Administration at NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. It took me a long time to decide to go back to school and I'm so glad I did. I refreshed my skills, updated my knowledge, and extended my network with a whole new group of amazing people.

Holiday Letter 2014

Hello Friends -

Before 2014 fades away into the past I wanted to send out my greetings and updates. As always, I've been a busy bee. Most notably after taking the plunge last year and grudgingly starting an Executive Master in Public Administration degree program at NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, I ended up loving it so much that I decided to go full time and really take advantage of the opportunity. These classes seem even more interesting than undergrad now that I have a lifetime of experience under my belt. It helps connect so many different dots! Plus I guess I'm just that geeky that I am enjoying immersing myself in a deep culture of learning and discussion.

Farewell 2013, its been great...

Hello Friends - 

Somehow December sped by, but I didn't want to miss the chance to send my holiday hellos, updates and warm wishes. It’s hard to sum up a year in a few sentences, but here are my high points. I started a new job as Deputy Director of the Center for an Urban Future, a think tank that focuses on economic and workforce development in New York City. I finally decided to take the plunge and start grad school and enrolled in NYU Wagner's Executive Master in Public Administration program. I traveled to Machu Picchu in Peru, out to explore the west in New Mexico and had a fun weekend in DC for Obama's Second Inauguration.

I continue to explore New York and have been trying to get my exotic travel fix in neighborhoods I can get to by subway vs plane. For me that has meant dining on Russian food overlooking the ocean in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, discovering a huge Hindu temple in Elmhurst, Queens, visiting a gigantic food court in Flushing, Queens selling every kind of Chinese food imaginable, rivaling any hawker stand I saw in Singapore, and much much more. It also means chasing Banksy and other street artists who continue to change NY's streetscape.  Walking around the city is more fun when I try to look at every wall and light pole to see if there is anything new.  And most importantly, I continued to help NY recover from Hurricane Sandy by volunteering in the Rockaways and helping the city's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) by facilitating community workshops.  It has been incredible to follow the process closely and see just how hard recovery is.  The world moves on, but there is sooooo much to be done.

I really didn't plan to lead a life like this. I haven't gotten my white picket fence in the suburbs yet, but the black railing on my terrace between me and my skyline view seems to work for me too.  I'm doing my best to embrace the hand I was given and New York just keeps giving back.

I love watching your lives on Facebook and through other means. I hope you have found peace and balance in this endlessly stressful fast paced world.

Cheers!

Cordelia

2012: What a year its been!

Hello Friends -

I can't believe 2012 is almost over.  Where has the year gone!?  Who knows... but I do know where I've gone during it!  I rang in the New Year in Bali, Indonesia and then went to Singapore in January, headed off to Guatemala for the most memorable Semana Santa/Holy Week that I've ever had, drove around Utah in May in an effort to understand another part of America, Mormons and Mitt Romney and see our famous wide open red rock landscapes.  Over the summer I visited friends in Greece, family in France and was able to attend the London Olympics, a long time dream for me, a person who loves events and happenings! The fall was all about politics, starting in Charlotte, North Carolina for the Democratic National Convention in September and then on to campaigning for Obama in Ohio and Virginia and ringing in 4 more years in Times Square.  Click the links to see my various blog posts and online photo albums from each trip and scroll down to see a few more images from my last 6 months.  

But, as I said, even with all that excitement, mostly I've been here in New York working, sharing my local point of view with tourists with Big Apple Greeters, taking classes at NYU and seeking out fresh new New York street art along the way everywhere I go.  Lately I've been grateful to have time to help with Hurricane Sandy clean up. Seeing the storms effects first hand has been an eye opening experience of the raw power of nature and being part of the clean up has connected me to the kind, generous spirit of New Yorkers and only makes me love New York more.

I hope 2012 has brought you closer to achieving your dreams and finding contentment with where you are now.

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!

Warmly,
Cordelia

Farewell 2011, its been great. - My 2011 Holiday Letter

Giraffe kisses in Kenya

Greetings from Indonesia!  

Yes, here as 2011 closes, I'm off on another travel adventure.  So far its great and filled with new experiences.  You can check out my blog to see my thoughts and photos.  

2011 has been a good year for me.  I got to travel for work to Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya and then for pleasure to China and North Korea (made even more interesting by Kim Jong-il's recent passing.)  I got to spend time visiting friends in the US too and finally saw the much loved Asheville, NC, explored more of Detroit and revisited Martha's Vineyard after too long.

My 2010 Holiday Letter

I definitely like the idea of a holiday letter because it gives me a chance to think about what I’ve been doing all year. Sometimes I get bogged down with the routine of life and think that I need some change, but then I think about all the things I’ve done and seen and realize life is pretty good the way it is.

Quick highlights:

I discovered more of the world with travel to Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Senegal, South Africa and domestically in Chicago, Iowa for the great state fair and San Francisco, where as always I got to learn more about the diversity of my own country. I had a solid month of World Cup madness watching Africa shine! I continue to explore New York and my highlight this year was a tour of the East Side Access tunnels that are being dug deep below Grand Central Station. I'm still working hard at Princeton in Africa. This year we sent another 26 Princeton in Africa Fellows to work in 18 countries in Africa and hopefully have changed their lives. And then of course, I've had plenty of time with friends and family and lots of lazy summer days floating in Long Island Sound.

I hope your year was filled with adventure, new knowledge and community.

xoxo
Cordelia

Cordelia’s Year - the quick summary

January: Started off the year at Obama's Inauguration with millions of my closest friends.

February: Jetted off to Africa to visit Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Swaziland and Kenya to see Princeton in Africa Fellows and scout new partnerships.

March: Arrived back in NY just in time to celebrate the big 4-0 with a big group of my friends who have been with me in the many stages of my life.

May: Flew to San Francisco for work and Oregon for fun. Got to catch up with wonderful old friends.

July: Off again this time to the Montreal Jazz Festival for a 40th birthday celebration with high school friends, Karen, Karen and Catherine.

August: Summer educational journey to Israel and the West Bank to get a deeper story of the situation there.

Israel was the 40th country I've been to and I got there on my 40th year! Not bad!

Fall: Leaf peeping with family in the Berkshires, Thanksgiving in DC...

All year: Being executive director of Princeton in Africa. Helping send 25 recent grads to work with service organizations throughout Africa. Living in NY. Commuting to Princeton.

Happy Holidays!