My family and I were passing through Times Square after 9/11. There were armed police in riot gear everywhere and swarms of people pushing their way around. My sister was in tears, and yet I was too caught up in the fun and the lights to even notice or care. My parents were shocked at how calm I was, being only four or five at the time, but all I was thinking about was how much I love New York City. It is a place unlike any other. It is one of the most famous cities in the world, and it truly does live up to the hype. Now don’t get me wrong—I’ve been to many great cities, but there’s just something about NYC. Other cities just can’t even compare. So why is it the best? Here are just 10 of the many reasons why.
1. The city-wide celebrations
NYC has countless parades and festivities to celebrate whatever it is you want to celebrate. There's the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Gay Pride Parade and the Village Halloween Parade. There's the more widely known Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is splashed across millions of TV screens across the country every Thanksgiving morning. So it's safe to say it's kind of a big deal, and watching it on TV isn't even close to seeing it in person. I remember huddling on the corner of 57th St. for hours waiting and watching the parade until my toes and fingers were virtually numb. Afterwards, my mom and I crammed onto a packed train to make it back for Thanksgiving Dinner in New Jersey, and let me tell you, it was so worth the freezing toes and busy train. Also noteworthy is Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve in Times Square, which is arguably the biggest New Year's Eve party in the world. Whatever you're celebrating, chances are NYC is celebrating, too.
2. The holiday spirit
With all of that said, the holiday spirit around Christmastime in the city is honestly unmatched. Most people just think about the ultimate tourist destination of Rockefeller Center to see the 70 to 100 foot tree, but there is so much more to it than that. There are glorious holiday window displays, skating rinks, adorable shops in Bryant Park's Winter Village or the Columbus Circle holiday market. Ever since I was a little girl, I remember being starstruck by it all, and even today, my Christmases still aren't complete without trips to NYC.
3. SantaCon
This could be included in holiday spirit, but SantaCon deserves its own category. Although not originally started in New York, it has become the largest SantaCon venue in the world. Another holiday staple, SantaCon is a massive bar crawl composed of thousands of Santas, elves and reindeer. I have unintentionally been in the city for the past three SantaCons, and I couldn't be happier about that. It's something you really have to experience to fully appreciate, but you'd be surprised at how fun and spirited it is to be surrounded by thousands of intoxicated Santas (although I've seen a few close calls with Santas and passing cars).
4. The festivals
In addition to the many parades, there are tons of different annual festivals, like the Tribeca Film Festival or the Cherry Blossom Festival over in Brooklyn's Botanical Gardens. Not to mention the electric musical festivals on Randall's Island or at Citi Field. The NYC Marathon and Five Boro Bike Tour, the largest charitable bike ride in the world, are also pretty impressive events. The Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy is a favorite of mine with an unimaginable amount of italian food and fresh zeppoles.
5. The food
There is not much to say other than that New York City has some of the best restaurants on the planet, which isn't surprising considering there is a higher concentration of famous chefs in NYC than in any other city. There are fancy restaurants and rooftop bars, but also places like Chelsea Market. My boyfriend and I spent an entire day walking the High Line, a 1.45-mile-long path 30 feet above the streets in Chelsea, and exploring and eating our way through Chelsea Market below it. Any kind of food you want is in New York, but even a classic hot dog and a pretzel from a vendor on the corner is pretty freakin' delicious.
6. Central Park
843 acres of park in the middle of a city is something special. Central Park, with its lake, reservoir, tree-lined paths and grassy fields, is a beautiful place to relax any time of the year to escape the hustle and bustle of busy streets. One of my favorite things to do is get lunch and lay out on the Great Lawn or sit by the Bethesda Terrace and watch street performers. The last time I was there, I even witnessed an adorable proposal under the arch.
7. People watching
You can go to just about anywhere in NYC to people watch. However, there are a few spots that are really ideal. Washington Square Park is a favorite of mine. There are countless street performers, people with their pets and just some funky people in general (like a man who covers himself and a bench in bird seed for all the pigeons to come perch on him). The High Line, Union Square, the Times Square bleachers and the steps of the Met also never cease to amuse.
8. The arts
It's obvious that New York City is pretty impressive when it comes to the arts. With Broadway, fashion, music venues and Chelsea's art galleries, this is the place to be. Even the street art is pretty incredible. The Broadway shows I've seen range from "West Side Story" to "The Book of Mormon," and every single one has been amazing.
9. The museums
From the MoMa, the Met and the Whitney to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the Guggenheim and the Museum of the City of New York, there are so many museums and exhibits to see in New York City. There is even an entire strip of 5th Ave called "Museum Mile." There are also less "typical" museums, such as the Museum of Sex, the Tenement Museum and the Museum of Math.
10. The Diversity
New York City is home to over 8 million people with so many different backgrounds. 49 percent of NYC residents speak something other than English, and if that isn't awesome, I don't know what is. In the grand scheme of things, New York City is not a huge place, and yet there are so many different types of people, foods, neighborhoods and lifestyles. This really is what makes New York City the amazing place that it is.
"A bad day in New York City is still better than a good day anywhere else."
