New York is the concentrate of art and commerce and sport and religion and entertainment and finance, bringing to a single compact arena the gladiator, the evangelist, the promoter, the actor, the trader and the merchant. It carries on its lapel the unexpungeable odor of the long past, so that no matter where you sit in New York you feel the vibrations of great times and tall deeds, of queer people and events and undertakings.New York is nothing like Paris; it is nothing like London; and it is not Spokane multiplied by sixty, or Detroit multiplied by four. It is by all odds the loftiest of cities.
-- E. B. White, This Is New York
Novelist and essayist E. B. White wrote the words above more than 50 years ago, but his depiction of New York remains accurate today. This favorite city of mine may not be the most beautiful city in the world. It’s not the most modern one neither the cleanest one. It is also not full of spectacular nor historical buildings. It is not Paris nor London. New York is great just because it is New York!
Once (cultural and economic) capital of the United States, now considered capital of the world, NYC is a wonderful place to visit. Nicknamed as the Big Apple, this city always has something for everyone, all of you, whether you are a culture appreciator, art admirer, meticulous gastronomer, or an exclusive shopper. NYC can be visited over and over again throughout a lifetime, yet each time something new and exciting to experience can easily be found. You can travel here for business, a vacation or romantic getaway. It's just a city that people easily fall in love with. I only needed 3 seconds and 47 miliseconds to fall in love with this city... hey, of course I am exxagerating!!!
New York City has been put on a big screen since the dawn of moving picture. The city plays an unimaginable role in turning personal stories, human affairs and dreams into realities of life embedded in images and sounds. For cinephiles and TV aficionados, corners of downtown Manhattan must have been familiar; each has stories of its own. Scenes of Rosemary’s Baby, Taxi, Friends, Seinfield, Sex in the City and many other movies decorate every curves of New York City with romances, intrigues, laughs and tears. The New York is a celebrity central when it comes to movie and television stars. But just as interesting as these scenes and some of the diners, bakeries and apartment buildings used as backdrops, so are the people and culture of New York.
New York is not only about the Liberty Statue, the Empire State and Ground Zero (WTC). There's more to it. Many adventurous and interesting things and places exist here. Some of my favorites are:
* STRAND -- 8 miles of books, one of the greatest cheap bookstores in the world where you can find books in their pre-published versions.
* Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met), a museum with everything that can satisfy your hunger for arts.
* Central Park, the greatest public park ever with a vibrant civic life.
* Grand Central Station, this central station is not only a station, it's also a great city landmark with the spectacular ceiling in the main terminal. The Grand Central market -- a traditional market adjacent to the station -- is my favorite place for snack/food shopping.
* 42nd Street & Broadway, this part of the city has a spectacular view that gives you huzzy dizzy busy feeling... this is where broadway shows exist..
There are many other things I can put in the list, but I'll stop there. Even some small things can be so interesting in this city.
This city is full of contrasts and idiosyncrasies. You can easily grab $2 breakfast (or even $0.99!) from any street-kiosk and get a descent lunch or dinner cheaply from any local restaurants at the Second Avenue. Yet it's impossible to find any clothes with less than $500 at the most expensive shopping street of the Fifth Avenue.
Today, the city is in a constant state of flux. Broadway shows, exercise fads, city politics, and even neighborhoods are all subject to the same Big Apple fickleness. And within this ebb and flow lies the answer why New Yorkers persist in loving this city, despite the high rents, the noise, the crowds, the clueless cab drivers, and the more stark realities of living in the shadow of great tragedy of 9-11. Nowhere else is the challenge so tough, the pace so relentless, the stimuli so ever-changing and insistent -- and the payoff so rewarding. After witnessing the city, I know why the New Yorkers persist in living their vibrant lives here.
Come witness New York's astonishing resilience for yourself -- it's reason enough to visit.
Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it - New York, New York
These vagabond shoes, are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it - New York, New York
New York, New York
I want to wake up in a city, that never sleeps
To find I'm a number one, head of the list,
Cream of the crop at the top of the heap.
These little town blues, are melting away
I'm gonna make a brand new start of it - in old New York
If I can make it there, I'm gonna make it anywhere
It's up to you - New York, New York
(from New York, New York).