There is much debate between those from the Los Angeles and New York areas on which city is the best. Having experienced both for quite some time, I can say that, out of all of the cities I have visited, New York is the best.
In one block in New York City, one can find whatever he or she is looking for: food, clothes, a pharmacy, etc. No need to Uber to your local grocery store, because everything is right there. Since I came to the University of Southern California, I have spent a tremendous amount of money on Uber trips because everything is so spread out and the traffic is horrific. In no other place will it take you 15 minutes to travel two miles. The convenience of New York City cannot be beaten. And if you wish to travel from the Upper East Side to SoHo but don't want to sit in traffic or pay for a taxi, you can easily take the subway. Although those from Los Angeles always say "they are working on it," when will we actually see an efficient public transportation system?
Food. We all love food. And although there are great restaurants all over the world, nothing beats New York food. Let me be basic for one moment. The bagels and pizza in New York are like no other. Personally, I believe New York's pizza is better than Chicago's. And I don't think there is anyone that will argue with me about New York bagels. The Italian food in New York is what makes it extra special.
One of my favorites, Rao's, is an incredibly small, family-run restaurant that takes reservations years in advance unless you know somebody. The waiter will come out and tell you from memory what is on the menu for the day. Now, that is real Italian food. Some other extraordinary restaurants are Il Mulino and Campagnola. Not only will you experience incredible service at these restaurants, but you will feel as if you are in Italy due to the quality of the food -- and also because of the staff's thick Italian accents.
While there are many tourist destinations in New York City, I am going to dedicate this paragraph to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This museum is for the young and old, art lovers and non-art lovers, and everyone in between. I even believe it is more terrific than the Louvre in Paris. There is something for everyone here. Plus, there is no admission fee; they just recommend a small donation. From endless visits with my family and school to working there last summer, I have seen almost every crevice of this museum. The employees work very hard to make it a community rather than a one-stop destination. My favorite facet of the Met is the Costume Institute, dedicated to fashion.
In 2011, the Met exhibited "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty." I have never seen anything more unique. The exhibit reflects both the good and bad times of McQueen's life. For example, one fashion line was dedicated to romanticism (as pictured below) and consisted of delicate yet powerful clothing with tremendous texture and depth. Another line reflected McQueen's darker side and consisted of black, "emo"-like clothing with very dramatic angles. Those who work at the Met are constantly trying to bring in new pieces of art and display the art in a way that reflects the artist's nature. There is always something new and exciting to see at the Met, which is why I love visiting whenever I can.
While I love and respect many cities, it is hard not to fall in love with New York. There's a reason Frank Sinatra wrote a song about it: "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere" ("New York, New York").
