This month, Natural Selections features Santa Maria Pecoraro, Administrative Manager, Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, Rice Laboratory
Country of Origin: USA

1. How long have you been living in New York?

Three and a half years.

2. Where do you live?

Upper East Side.

3. Which is your favorite neighborhood?

Upper East Side.

4. What do you think is the most overrated thing in the city? And underrated?

Overrated: Musicals (Broadway and Off-Broadway). Underrated: Lincoln Center and classical music (it’s natural… I’m a professional violist).

5. What do you miss most when you are out of town?

Without hesitation, the pizza!

6. If you could change one thing about NYC, what would that be?

The weather. It’s either too hot or way too cold.

7. Describe a perfect weekend in NYC.

Mild 72 degree weather, a walk with my fiancé in Central Park, then a date to Luzzo’s, then to see the New York Philharmonic play Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Sunday would be spent de-briefing about the brilliance of great composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Gustav Mahler.

8. .What is the most memorable experience you have had in NYC?

Getting to see and to be very close to Pope Benedict.

9. If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?

Where I was born and grew up, San Diego, California.

10. Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker? Why?

Almost, not quite. After living in beautiful San Diego up until only three and a half years ago, it’ll take some time I think.