Welcome to Hipsturbia
We once read that leaving the city for the suburbs could trigger a slight case of depression. The suburbs trade the honking of taxis on city streets for quiet parks and freshly poured concrete sidewalks where your dog can happily stroll off the leash without fear of getting run over. Wait, but that sounds great, doesn’t it? Why would that trigger depression? Well, most often when you find yourself strolling down those newly minted concrete paths, you are on your way to visit your parents at your childhood home where you lived from the time you were in kindergarten to the time you graduated college. Yup, moving to the suburbs is a constant reminder of one glaring truth. You’re getting old.
In your quest to grapple with this unfortunate truth, you may try to convince yourself that the suburbs actually do have their upsides. Without the need to pay sky high rent or jaywalk the streets of New York City at any given moment, there is plenty of space, time, and money to pick up hobbies or even just relax (crazy concept!). If only the suburbs could also offer just a smidge of that same excitement, thrill, and youthful lifestyle so magical about the big city.
Luckily, suburban life doesn’t have to be all too different from city life. Why? Well that’s the magic of hipsturbia for you.
Back in 2013, a NYT story famously coined the term "hipsturbia" in reference to growing “hip” culture of these suburban towns, and for many it has become the perfect balance between city and quiet life. Sure, there are a few tradeoffs: you’ll have packages left on your front step instead of a doorman, Kings a five-minute drive away instead of D’Agostino’s around the corner, and an NJ Transit Line running through Summit, Short Hills, Maplewood, and South Orange to New York Penn Station instead of the ever convenient A C or E line Uptown. Those towns won’t offer the bookstores, thrift shops, and halal carts on every block that SOHO, Tribeca, Chelsea, and the Upper East Side can, but they each have their own unique charm, all with a number of bustling restaurants, coffee shops, and even bars, ensuring that a Saturday night can never be dull even out in the ‘burbs.
Chances are that if you are reading this, you are getting ready to take the leap of faith and move out of the big city (if so, I’m sorry to inform you, you are getting old!), or you are already a proud suburban resident. Whichever party you fall into, chances are, at some point in the coming weeks, months, and years, you are going to find yourself yearning for that feeling of when you were young and had the whole world at your fingertips. Sure, the city is only a few train stops away, but why go there when you have so much right in front of you? Allow us to be your guide, to show you all that the suburbs has to offer. Welcome to Hipsturbia.
Buckle up and enjoy our ride!