NYC 2026 - Week 3
Brooklyn Bridge
THINGS I DID THIS WEEK THAT SCARED ME
Hanging up and handing out my business cards.
Going to a thrift shop to try and sell some of my clothes.
Standing in line to get an autograph from Adrien Brody.
Shooting content on the streets while people were watching.
Sending out a collaboration proposal to a former client.
Joining a women's writing group event and reading one of my texts to them.
Going to an atypical speed-dating event.
Joining a group of thrift lovers and go shop
Last week, I made a promise to do something that scares me a little every day. Even though it might not have been something every single day, I’m still proud of the fears I've overcome. This was week three, and the energy here is still buzzing. Not a day is the same, and planning ahead is still not really something I’m good at. But here, that's okay. There are little to no obligations, and I’m enjoying going with the flow while having bursts of productivity in between.
After two weeks of being in a holiday state, it was time to get back to building my own business and start getting into that real New York state of mind. This is the place to hustle and bustle. Being ambitious or having ridiculous dreams is not frowned upon; in New York, anything is possible. And I’m here for it! I worked a lot on my website and made sure that what I do (and how I wish to grow) becomes clearer for the outside world to see. So if you have the time, please take a look and let me know what you think about it. It’s always nice to have a second opinion!
OUT, OUT, OUT
And now to the more important things in life: SPEED DATING! Haha. Stumbling upon a website called Meetup opened my eyes entirely. This platform lists all the events you can find in the city. So many new and different possibilities to explore: sip and paint, collage and connect, thrift and mingle, psychedelic yoga, and forest walks while learning about mushrooms. If you need to get out of your comfort zone, like me, this was the perfect place to land. Of course, there were a lot of singles events, too. One in particular caught my eye because it was very low-key and didn’t feel too serious. Perfect for a first-timer like myself.
So, on Thursday evening, Numi put on her newly thrifted outfit and, with a healthy dose of ‘no expectations,’ she stepped into the bar ‘Friends and Lovers’ in Bedstuy, Brooklyn. Many people. Many unknown faces. The host encouraged us to get a drink because, yes, alcohol helps you loosen up a bit. But since arriving here, I’ve been completely sober; I want to be fully present and aware so this journey can sink into my cells and I’ll remember every single detail even on my deathbed at 120 years old. Or, maybe a bit less dramatically: I just want to make fully conscious decisions, especially when things feel a bit scary at first. Also, she’s turning 35 next month—the cells don’t recover that well from alcohol anymore!
Anyway, the setup for the evening: every five minutes, a new prompt would appear on the big screen, and we would mingle through the crowd to find someone to discuss it with. If and when it clicked, we could exchange phone numbers, there was no formal matchmaking afterward. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, right?
At the start, talking to the first person, I felt very awkward. It felt like my voice still had to warm up because I tripped over my words a few times. The second person was a bigger talker than I was, but by the third one, I was on it! There was flirting, we were both being very charming, we could crack jokes, and I even convinced him to spend the next five minutes with me. Who is this Numi?!
By the end of the night, I had spoken to at least ten different men and made three genuine connections that resulted in exchanging phone numbers. Ladies, gentlemen, everyone in between, and those who don’t want to be part of that game: I never knew being a Belgian girl could feel so exotic to others. The several ‘Wows’ I got just for being there at the end of my third week boosted my confidence tremendously. I felt myself glowing on my way home.
The Pink Lion, East Village
THE ROAD TO IMPERFECTION
A lot happened this week, and instead of writing about it in full, I’ll try to describe a few things in just a few sentences. I’m exploring what it feels like to embrace imperfection—to break free from the caged ideas my head sometimes puts me in.
I discovered a lovely alcohol-free place called Kosmic Community Anti-Bar. I fell in love with it; it was like stepping into a magical world. I connected with one of the owners, Grace, and while we were sharing stories, I teared up because what she was saying resonated so much with me. I definitely need to hang out there again soon.
Another favorite of mine is Nook. It is always so busy, but I love it. They have so many cool, free events, and it feels like a home for those flying solo in the neighborhood. I joined a women’s writers' group on Monday and felt so warmly welcomed while sharing a short text I wrote there on the spot. It was amazing to see how all these women had their own projects to work on. I could really feel those creative energies flowing!
My temporary roommate and I went to see the Broadway show The Fear of 13, starring Adrien Brody. It’s a story based on real events about a prisoner on death row. He and his co-star, Tessa Thompson, were so captivating! At one point, the whole audience was reaching for their tissues. Afterwards, we waited outside to see the actors come out and sign autographs. Neither of us had kept the playbill they handed out at the start, so my roommate got creative and asked Adrien to sign a cigarette for her! (Which he did!)
I met new friends while thrifting, and even though I was afraid to hand them my cards, I received so much support from them! They signed up for this newsletter and even shared my reel on their socials. <3 How lovely is that? Thank you!
House cat named Bender
Well, it might have taken me an extra day to get this one ready for you, but I’m glad I managed! And I’m also very glad you’re still here with me.
I did put a few links in here for the places I liked, just for you to get another glimpse of their vibe. No adds here! Everything is completely FREE.
Enjoy your weekends, dears. See you next week!
With love,
Naomi/Numi
(PS: you can subscribe to my weekly newsletter here if you want to get the updates in your mailbox!)
