JamieBLT

“Getting caught up in things is easy in New York City. You start out doing one thing then next thing you know you’re saying, ‘Here take my kidneys!’ ” -Matt Powell.

I met this engaging New York local many years ago when we were just a couple of kids running around our southeast San Diego neighborhood. Nowadays, Matt is a driven entrepreneur living and loving in the City that Never Sleeps. He is the founder of Fuzd, a multilingual messaging app that allows you to meet new people from all over the world, chat without language barriers, and stay in touch with friends across countries.

We met up at Chelsea Market on a busy Saturday afternoon and ended up having lunch at Takumi Taco where they serve up delicious Japanese inspired tacos. Mexican and Japanese cuisine are my two absolute favorites so I was in heaven with my curry beef taco, and Matt’s verdict about his spicy tuna taco was, “This is the best thing I’ve eaten in a while.” We chatted about what was new and exciting in our lives, memories of our childhood, and what made him trade sunny San Diego living for life in New York City.

Matt’s genuine affection for NYC is apparent when he describes some of his favorite neighborhoods such as Harlem, Hell’s Kitchen, the Meat Packing District, and the history, vibrance, and flavors that make them unique. “What I like about this city is that it’s addicting. It’s big, it’s moving, you meet interesting people. It has many different vibes and I like them all.” I loved listening to the stories Matt told me about all the interesting people he’s met, and the amazing, funny, and sometimes awkward situations you can find yourself in when galavanting in a city like New York.

The sky’s the limit, fast-paced culture of New York City has cast its spell on Matt, as it has done with so many others. “They do everything up in New York. Part of the magic of the city is things are so high up. There’s not many places like that. ” One of the things Matt and I kept laughing about is how much I kept looking up (dead give away that you’re a tourist), but I couldn’t help it. I was completely fascinated by the surrounding skyscrapers and overwhelmed at how much culture you are able to experience.

One visit to this place and you will know: New York City has a vibe that no other city in the world has. You feel like you can do anything.”When you first move here you want to see and do everything but after a while, you get in your own head when you’ve live here for awhile and you forget to explore all that the city offers,” Matt says. New York truly is a city of endless possibilities. Check out some historical American Icons in Harlem, enjoy a Pizza in NoLiTa, get creative in a cafe in Brooklyn, or just stand in the middle of all the crowds in Times Square and you will literally feel like you have the world at your feet.