I first moved to New York three years ago. I’ve always wanted to make the switch. I was fed up with living in London and I’d been going over for years with Ash so I finally took the plunge. My first memories of New York are always of the Empire State Building on 5th Avenue and I recommend that as your first port of call when you arrive into the city. It’s a breath-taking sight and a perfect way to get your bearings.

When you first arrive in New York, don’t let the crowds and hectic atmosphere put you off. When I initially moved here I was a bit scared to use the subway, but I discovered pretty quickly that the freaks and the bums aren’t so bad and are, for the most part, pretty harmless. You don’t need me to tell you how huge New York is, but the subway means the city is yours for the taking should you want it. Everything from Times Square to Manhattan to Brooklyn are just a few stops away and the fare is only a couple of dollars.
If you don’t fancy the idea of using the subway, there are always plenty of taxi cabs around and they are pretty reasonable (much cheaper than London anyway). Just tell the guy where you want to go and they should be cool. There’s a very bohemian vibe in New York. I live in the East Village in Manhattan. The area encompasses the neighbourhood of Alphabet City and is bounded by 14th street on the north, Avenue D on the east, Houston Street on the south and the Bowery on the west. A lot of the artsy types have since moved to Brooklyn due to the rising house prices there, but it’s still a really cool place to live and you should check it out.
New York can be everything to everyone. If, like me, you love to get lost in your thoughts and wander around, then you can’t find a better place to be just another face in the crowd. A day in Central Park in Manhattan is a beautiful way to spend your afternoon and is open all year.
If you’re more into shopping, they say that anything you’ve ever wanted to buy can be purchased in New York. It’s an amazing city to pick up trinkets and odd curiosities with SoHo being a particular treasure trove. It’s bounded by Houston Street on the North, Canal Street on the south, Varick Street on the west and Lafayette Street on the east. All the best boutiques can be found in the northern area, along Broadway. Nearby neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Greenwich Village and Little Italy are nearby too, so you can spend a good few days in the area. There are also some great comic book stores here with the Forbidden Planet on Broadway being especially amazing.
If you want to do the touristy thing, I fully recommend that on your first day you get a traditional pizza slice from one of the many side-street pizzerias and just spend some time looking up at the beautiful buildings that cover the skyline. I’ve lived most of my life in Ireland, so it still gives me chills when I look out of my studio window and see these huge creations.
The music scene here in New York is one of the few let-downs I find. The crowds are much more reserved and hard to please, so sometimes going to see a band can be a bit of a downer. There are a couple of cool smaller venues dotted around the city such as the Knitting Factory on Leonard Street, which has featured lots of cool bands like Sonic Youth
Finally, don’t forget that New York is what you make of it yourself. Don’t feel like you have to do the traditional stuff if you don’t want to. It’s a very exciting city to be in. It’s inspiring for musicians, artists and anyone who loves to explore. The people are pretty friendly and it really is a city that never sleeps. I have to say I’m still in love with New York and I’m sure you will be too.

WHERE TO EAT:
I love sushi and I think that if you’re in New York you should definitely check out a place in East Village called Takahachi. It’s on Avenue A, between 5th and 6th Street, opens late and is reasonably priced.

Top tip for a drink:
There’s a new place called the Bourgeois Pig on 7th Street that I like at the moment and it is good fun for a night out. New York is a great place for night-life and you can stay out until 4am should you want. I will warn you that the booze is stronger here (which I found out the hard way one night) and it’s very easy to get wrecked quickly if you’re not careful.

WHERE TO STAY:
As you might expect there are a lot of places to stay in New York but my personal tip would be to rent a small apartment in Brooklyn. You’ll have your own space, it’s all fully furnished and Brooklyn’s a great area of the city to live that’s close by to everything you want. Daily rates for three bedroom apartments can be anything from $135-$450, but look online first for a good deal.

GETTING THERE:
Aer Lingus flies seven day a week from Dublin to New York (JFK airport).