Betsy
As a young child, my parents took me into Manhattan at every opportunity. In 1969, I remember attending my first Broadway show, "1776", and having Frozen Hot Chocolate afterwards at Serendipity. There are so many highlights, but an especially memorable New York day was captured in a photo, now hanging on our bedroom wall, taken of my husband and me when we were just teenagers walking with friends in Central Park.
After having gone to university outside of New York and studying abroad for a year, I came back to the city to marry my childhood boyfriend. I made my New York writing debut when I authored an article for Diversion Magazine entitled "One Flight Up". It described the vast array of boutiques and art galleries that could only be found by looking up to Madison Avenue’s second floor. As a freelance writer, I continued to write for numerous New York publications including the Manhattan guidebook Guest Informant and Avenue Magazine.
We lived in Manhattan for five years before moving to the suburbs to raise our children. We made it a point, however, to frequent New York City with our son and daughter to ensure that they, too, would benefit from all that it has to offer. While raising our children in Westchester County, my love of both reading and writing led me to open Once Upon A Time, a children’s bookstore. For ten years, I adored introducing the wonderful world of children’s literature to everyone who entered my store. Perhaps it is my experience as a small business owner that fuels my passion for the shops that I encounter on the side streets of Manhattan. Giving them the recognition they deserve is a driving force of this project.
When my husband and I became empty-nesters, we made the decision to move back into the city, and we could not be happier. For a very long time, walking the side streets of Manhattan was just a concept going around in my head. Until one day, we were gathered around the table with our son and daughter, and I mentioned my idea to them. It was Evan and Joelle who literally took Manhattan Sideways and ran with it. They are completely responsible for making my dream into a reality. From designing and developing the site through their company, Polivision, to their editing ideas, photos, filming and content management, they have stood behind me and made this site all that it is today. And it was my niece Melanie who began this journey with me at 1st and 1st. Her insight, resourcefulness, support, and enthusiasm keep us moving north.
My husband has always been by my side encouraging me in any project that I have dared to attempt. I would never have been successful at any of them without his guidance and love. Since our childhood together, he has been the first person to tell me that I should follow my passion. For my latest endeavor, he has been wonderful about walking the side streets with me on any given day, especially those that involved eating in restaurants or checking out the bars. I am delighted that he is able to take advantage of the side benefits of my walking.
