Hot Child, Summer in the City
Keen Zine: Summer 2024 Issue
This Issue in a Nutshell
There’s something about New York City that refuses to fade, no matter how many times I visit—or write about it. The Summer 2024 issue of Keen is my love letter to the city that has shaped me, challenged me, and continues to lure me back with its raw, magnetic energy. This issue is packed with stories from my seventeen-year-old self exploring NYC solo, my handpicked guides, and the kind of off-the-beaten-path discoveries that remind you why you travel in the first place.
I talk a lot about why NYC is so much more than a destination or a bucket-list checkmark. It’s a living, breathing challenge to look beyond the obvious, to lean into curiosity, and to allow yourself to get a little lost. This issue is for those who crave moments that don’t fit neatly into a checklist—moments that stick because they’re messy, unplanned, and real.
The Stories That Shaped This Issue
Hot Child, Summer in the City (Pages 9-21)
This story is a time capsule of my seventeen-year-old self navigating the city alone for the summer. Think MySpace updates, record-store wanderings, fabric-hunting in Chinatown, and an embarrassing number of trips to Washington Square Park. I didn’t know it then, but that summer was the start of my lifelong love affair with the city—the kind of love that keeps pulling me back, even decades later.
My Curated NYC Guide Map (Pages 22-23)
New York can overwhelm you if you let it, but my guide maps—on both Apple and Google—are a love letter to the corners of the city that feel personal and real. They’re for anyone who wants to ditch the tourist lens and explore NYC as if it’s your own neighborhood, whether you’re here for a weekend or a month.
Ask & Answer: NYC Edition (Pages 24-32)
I get asked a lot about my favorite places in New York, so I finally put them all in one place.
My Favorite Spot: The TWA Hotel, because stepping inside feels like you’ve been transported straight into a 1960s time capsule.
Hidden Gem: Roosevelt Island—it’s peaceful, unassuming, and offers views that stop you mid-breath.
Neighborhood Crush: Greenwich Village will always own my heart for its creative hum and history.
Secret Finds: Grand Central’s “Whispering Gallery” and the quiet, shadowy corners most people rush past.
Museums & Cultural Spots: If you haven’t spent a slow afternoon wandering The Frick or the Guggenheim, put them at the top of your list.
New York Round-Up (Pages 33-39)
I couldn’t fit every memory into this issue, so I created a visual round-up of some of my favorite moments—from sipping martinis in hidden bars to watching Broadway come alive under neon lights. It’s my personal highlight reel of the city that never sleeps.
A Sealed Move (Pages 40-41)
Chess isn’t just a game I grew up watching my dad play. It’s become a cultural comeback story that reminds me of patience, strategy, and the quiet thrill of a well-played move. Inspired by The Queen’s Gambit, this piece is my reflection on how this timeless game is finding a new home with Gen Z and beyond.
This Carry-On Isn’t Big Enough for the Two of Us (Page 42)
Travel changes you, but only if you let it. This essay is about ditching the mental baggage we all carry—fear, overplanning, staying “comfortable”—and trading it for the kind of experiences that crack you wide open. When you let go, the adventure is always worth it.
The Summer 2024 issue of Keen is my reminder that travel is not about doing more; it’s about seeing more—seeing differently. Whether it’s a forgotten alleyway, a retro coffee shop, or a park bench with the perfect view, NYC reminds me that magic exists in the smallest corners, if you’re paying attention.
