Meet Mikkel Paige: NY Escapee
I’m especially excited about today’s featured “escapee” — partially because she’s become a key member of my girlfriend “A-team,” and partially because she’s proof that this blog of mine has the power to connect people. Mikkel reached out to me a few years ago — as a reader of Escaping New York — as she was in the process of her own escape from the Concrete Jungle to the City of Oaks. We set up a blind date to meet one another downtown, and by the end of the night, knew that we were a perfect pair. She was the pinot to my noir. The olive to my martini. The jalapeno to my margarita. You see where I’m going with this, yeah? Cheers to that.
Name: Mikkel Paige Mihlrad
Day Job: Wedding photographer
Fam Stats: Single (not ready to mingle though — love my boyfriend, who I met in Raleigh!)
How many years did you live in NY? 4 years in NYC (but a native Long Islander)
What made you decide to become a wedding photographer? I got into photography when I was living in Orlando, FL working at Universal Creative. I was simultaneously scrapbooking a lot (I’m a crafty gal!) and decided it was time for a DSLR camera. Longer story short, I ended up becoming the site-progress-photographer for the creative team on the ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ project. I got into second shooting for weekend weddings. One move, another job and years later — here we are! I’m a full time wedding photographer.
Picture this: Your life is a movie. You’re leaving New York and you’re driving across the bridge. What is your song as you see the Manhattan skyline slowly disappear behind you? Would I be on the Verrazano? Falling by The Civil Wars. Or Life is a Highway (the Rascal Flatts version).
What is the first food item you crave when you return to New York? A good slice of pizza or a bagel. Or good mom and pop Chinese food. When I moved into my apartment in Raleigh the first food I picked up that night was grit fries from Beasley’s!
What is the thing you were most surprised about living in the south? My monthly fixed expenses aren’t that different — because while house costs may be different to own, and property tax is certainly a lot less than up north, I rent and my rent is similar to my Astoria apartment. I also need a car in Raleigh. Meanwhile, there are days that go by and I happily haven’t moved my car once (I work from home most days and can walk to plenty of downtown Raleigh shops and restaurants). But living in a great apartment in Astoria compared to living in a “luxury” building in the heart of downtown Raleigh is pretty comparable.
What is the thing that you get asked most about having left NY? “Do you love it?” People seem jealous I left. I feel like a bandleader among my friends. It’s inevitable they’re all going to leave NYC eventually. I just led the pack, perhaps. But I have no sympathy — my theory is, “You are not a tree. If you don’t like it — move.”
My theory is, “You are not a tree. If you don’t like it — move.”
Let’s segue into… the travel aspect. Would you be able to travel the way you do now if you still lived in NY I don’t think I could. Or I could but I’d have less money and a LOT more stress in my life. Why? Because I couldn’t afford a car on TOP of rent in NYC and I drive a ton to get from city to city for weddings and to see friends. And everyone knows to get around or through the NYC area is so incredibly stressful and tacks on about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of extra travel time. The only thing I miss are direct flights (to so many locales) from JFK. But I gave that up in exchange for a better work/life balance in the south. Besides, I’m in the NY/NJ region enough for work that I still sometimes fly out of JFK. And Raleigh does have an airport. ;-)
Is there anything that you never thought you’d say you find charming about living in the south? Probably banter/conversation at a register if I’m checking out at Harris Teeter or Trader Joe’s. If I’m in a rush it still annoys me but if not, it’s kind of nice when the cashier not only cares to ask about your day but waits to listen to your reply.
If someone were coming down to the south for 24 hours, what are the must see/eat/do things on your list? Sticking to the downtown Raleigh area, I’d say:
- Oysters at Death & Taxes
- Grab a beer at Raleigh Times
- Head over to NCMA to see the sculpture garden (free admission — stay as long/short as you want) and enjoy the fresh air
- After NCMA, stop at the Lonnie Pool golf course at NC State. The views of downtown Raleigh — as seen from the Clubhouse’s outdoor firepit — can’t be beat!
One word to describe each of the following:
- Raleigh: Cozy
- Durham: Upcoming
- Chapel Hill: Upscale (yet approachable!)
- Cary: Suburban
- Hushpuppies: Delicious
- College football: What? ; )
- Shrimp n Grits: Devotion
- Craft beer: Plentiful
- Country music: Welcome
- RDU Airport: Clean
- Southern Hospitality: Real
Check out Mikkel’s wedding photography here, and her travel blog, here.
