Everyone has a passion, some more unique than others. My passion is a huge part of who I am. Some people like to cook, while others enjoy traveling. Some are passionate about music, others about art and literature. I’m passionate about where I’m from. I live in the greatest city in the world. People travel to visit my city, work in my city, and go away to school to be close to my city. A lot of history is deeply rooted in the 305 square miles that I call home. I live in the most populous city in the United States, home to 8,405,837 others as of the July 2013 census. For those of you who are still wondering, I live in the astounding Big Apple — New York City.
It’s impossible not to be passionate about a city as beautiful as mine, and being away at school has helped me to realize how central New York City is to my identity. Nothing makes my day more than when someone recognizes my New York accent, and I couldn’t be more proud of it. I drink my “cawfee,” I neglect to end certain words with the letter “r,” and sometimes I sound like I’m in a rush even though I have nowhere to be. One unique fact about New York is how linguistically diverse it is: it is estimated that about 200 different languages are spoken in the city, and about half of all New Yorkers speak a language other than English within their home.
I stay away from any tap water that isn’t from N.Y., and I don’t want your bagels or pizza. You haven’t had real pizza until you visited L&B Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. As a native New Yorker, I take my food very seriously. Dirty water dogs, roasted peanuts, and pretzels are not to be taken lightly, and I’m not falling for your overpriced food that I can get cheaper from the vendor across the street. If you find yourself looking for some good dessert, a good ol’ slice of New York cheesecake will never disappoint. And in the summer time, there’s nothing more refreshing than a Ralph’s Italian ice at the end of a hot day at the original location on Staten Island.
New York City is known as the city that never sleeps for a reason. There is always something new and exciting to try at all times of the day. There’s a multitude of beautiful parks scattered throughout the city, including Bryant Park, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Clove Lake’s Park, and of course Central Park, among many others. There’s always something to explore at these parks, like concerts, massive yoga events, performances of all sorts, and there’s nothing better than people-watching here. For those who are less outdoorsy, there are tons of museums to explore. Some of the most well known include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, and The Guggenheim, along with the Museum of Natural History and The Tenement Museum. For those interested in less serious exhibits, there’s Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, The Children’s Museum, and other historical sites including the Statue of Liberty.
New York City is the home of Broadway, along with several notable films and television shows. "The Phantom of the Opera" is the longest-running Broadway show, drawing many people to the city. Some films include "Saturday Night Fever," "Goodfellas," "West Side Story," and "King Kong." Television shows like "Gossip Girl," "Seinfeld," "Friends," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Saturday Night Live" have created memorable ideas of the city that never fails to bring curious tourists to discover the glamor of New York.
New York is comprised of five individual boroughs: Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx and Staten Island. It is impossible to not be passionate about a city that has so much to offer. There are so many opportunities and experiences to be had in the city. I’m very lucky to live in The Empire City, as it has allowed me to develop as an individual in the best way possible.
