Good morning all.
So being the hillbilly that I am, I've never actually been to New York City. "Liek, oh my gawd, that is so totes unbelievable" -- yes, I know. Now this recently changed, as I went to school with a million New Yorkers (even though the school was _not_ in the Northeast), and one of my close friends now lives in NYC and got married.
So a few weeks ago, I make the trek up to NYC from my "crickets chirping 24/7" Southern semi-rural place of existence.
I think too many people played it up far too much for me.
Now I lived in Chicago for a few years so I am somewhat familiar with the large American city. Chicago is, however, a very Midwestern place. Even though it has that smattering of hipster culture, if you hang out on the North Side you are generally running into guys and girls who went to Big 10 schools and Chicago was their Mecca. It's a fine place, but I always felt like it lacked a little in terms of intellectual life -- literally everyone's obsession with the Cubs contributes to this a little bit, and I can't quite pinpoint why people so desperately love the worst team in the history of baseball, but I digress.
Bottom line: I went to New York under the impression that it would be a bigger, dirtier Chicago with a little more culture.
When I landed in LaGuardia, I hopped on the bus through Queens, followed by the train to Manhattan, where I got off at the most touristy place on earth: Times Square.
Needless to say, in the first 10 minutes of walking around, I heard people speaking maybe 15 different languages, which was interesting in and of itself. The spot is, as you all know, extremely touristy, but I didn't exactly "know where to go" until my friends arrived, all of whom were familiar with the city. I visited the Empire State Building, walked by the JPM headquarters, and it took me and my friend who is a BB analyst a good hour and a half to decide where to eat lunch simply because there were way too many options. Surprised he had that much time on a Saturday, but that worked out nicely.
I spent the rest of the weekend around the Upper West Side, which was actually a really awesome spot and though I don't ever envision living in New York City, I wouldn't mind living there. I liked the blend of artistic influence and intellectualism that seems to be prevalent in the UWS. I liked the fact that it's next to Central Park (duh), which was a really really awesome place to walk though, and nothing Chicago has compares to Central Park. The other parts of NYC that I had seen seemed boring to me: Midtown, Financial District, etc. -- just a bunch of people walking around and a bunch of office buildings. Nothing spectacular. But the UWS had that nice urban-residential community feel that is both a little bit slower-paced and more friendly, at least based on my experiences.
Everything I ate in NYC was top-notch, and because I love food, this was a really nice addition to my trip. My friends took me to some more obscure spots, a few places where there was literally no room to stand inside because the establishment itself was so small, but they all still served food that was off the chain (and with out of this world prices -- ouch!!!). I had perhaps the beast peanut butter pie I will ever eat in my life, and I for the life of me don't remember the name of the place, but it was somewhere north of Chelsea.
The girls aren't as attractive as they are in the South or Midwest. Not elaborating on that.
One thing that really stuck out to me was when I was taking a cab back to my friend's spot at 3:30AM on a Sunday morning (this was after the wedding) and I still saw thousands upon thousands of people in the streets going out, shopping, eating, etc. This is something that is characteristically missing in Chicago's culture because everything closes at 8pm and while there are spots that are open 24/7 or close very late at night, they're more separated so you get that eerie "it's night time so everyone is asleep" feel. Being able to go out and do whatever you want at 3:30AM seems really cool to me.
Overall folks, I'll give it to you guys, you have a pretty good city. I personally wouldn't want to live there because it's too expensive, crowded, and would honestly be overwhelming to me after a few years (maybe even a few months), but it's an awesome place to visit.
What do you guys think about NYC? I was only there for two days, but is my assessment fairly accurate? Plan on staying forever or leaving after a few years? And, please, let's NOT start another Chicago vs. NYC thread.
Thanks for reading.
I'll be in NYC or a suberb of NYC my whole life. Grew up here, my whole family is in the area...I am not going anywhere
You are way off on the girls.
I think they rival West LA girls (looks, obviously intelligence)
Did you hit up the Lower East Side?
The first time i went to NYC I basically felt the same as you did. Coming from a relatively small town in the south, the constant super-late night atmosphere was awesome as I am a night person. I remember everyone seemed so damn busy though. Now I guess I understand why.
Your assessment is fairly accurate although there are, I believe, some mistakes. For one- the girls are not cuter down south. It's just that here you have millions and millions of people living within the city so you see many more as you walk around. Also, there is incredible diversity and you just may not be as attracted to all the Asians/Africans/South Americans/etc.. we have (I am under the assumption the South and Midwest are predominantly white).
Unfortunately, you were only here for two days and that's not even close to enough time to really get a feel for the city. The 24/7 culture, the attractions (Central Park is great but there are a dozen other places you should have went as well), and the people are incredible. Being in NYC for only two days doesn't leave you much time to get to know New Yorkers. Also, growing up in NYC, you develop an incredible love for the city and we become incredibly proud of it. Of course I should only speak for myself, but I say "we" because this is a view I've seen repeated among many New Yorkers I know.
old post - but a good contrast http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/i-fing-hate-new-york
I love New York- I moved here for school and never left. I think you hit the nail on the head though- the best part about it is the fact that you can do anything you want any time. It's perfect for those of us who don't have tons of free time.
You really have to live in a couple of different places and experience a couple of different lifestyles before you decide whether New York is for you or not. You have to actually experience it over a couple of years for yourself. People who have grown up/lived here all their lives can develop some serious tunnel vision. Same for the out-of-towners, though.
Anyone who says the girls are hotter in the northeast than the south or midwest is living in denial to make themselves feel better or blind, sorrry
I like NYC, and I really like the idea that the city is busy at all times, i.e. you could take a train there at midnight and go out and do whatever. The thing that bothers me the most is how dirty NYC looks and feels. Maybe there was just poor air quality or something the days I was there, or maybe I have been checking out all the wrong places, but I just cannot seem to find any part of NYC that is not filthy. Not knocking anything, just making an observation. That would be the biggest factor in my lack of desire to live there.
I've been all over. Girls aren't as attractive in/near NYC.... Sorry ladies.
New York City sucks. Its crowded, polluted, dirty, expensive, and full of haughty individuals (lots of 6's and 7's think they are 10's).
You are a good writer Votropnats, but I am not sure how this got on the front page.
You are a much better writer when you stick to stuff that you have more than two days of experience with.
Or if you talk about your experience in New York, you have to focus on one or two really crazy stories. Like the lady on the subway who wanted money so she could buy herself shoes. Someone gives her a pair of shoes on the subway, she puts them into her purse, and walks onto the next car barefoot. People want variable rewards for reading these posts- so you do better telling stories or talking about Chicago than you do telling New Yorkers- often originally from other parts of the country or world- what they already know about the city.
I'm glad someone wrote this post! I've lived in Chicago my entire life, spent nearly every childhood summer in LA & SF and also been to all the other major U.S. cities - except NYC. So the WSO conference this past weekend was perfect not only to network and attend an awesome conference, but to also explore NYC.
Simply put, NYC was fantastic. It's a phenomenal city that truly is international in nature. You may hear 5 to 6 languages being spoken in places like Chicago, LA or SF but in NYC it's legitimately double those cities. The city oozes diversity and culture. I've heard of NYCers get stereotyped as being rude but I found people there to only be helpful and nice. So +1 for the people of NYC!
Unlike OP, I liked roaming around and gawking at the buildings Midtown and Downtown. I like looking at buildings and architecture in general so maybe that's why I was drawn to them. The architecture of NYC has a sort of "old charm" to it that I liked. To me, the architecture of NYC tells a "historical tale" when you stroll around. Corny as it sounds, I could "feel" a connection to the past when I walked around on the cobblestones of the Meatpacking District and SoHo. And not to bash on other cities, but only NYC and Chicago truly have skylines worth to remember.
But definitely the best part about NYC is the 24/7 nature of the city. No one sleeps. Ever. Here's a perfect example: As I was walking back to my hotel at 3am, I saw a nail salon still giving a pedicure, a hair salon still giving haircuts and a small produce stand on the corner still selling stuff. Oh, and people were still shopping and dining at that time. Being a Chicagoan...that's unheard of. You can literally go anywhere and do anything at any time. By the way, getting a cab in NY is miles better than Chicago.
Yes, NYC is probably the dirtiest city in the US (I take Chicago's "cleanliness" for granted). Yes, it is packed and crowded. And yes, cost of living (rent/property cost specifically) is probably really expensive (though I found the cost of food not to be much more than Chicago). But that energy, cultural diversity and "charm" captivated me. I actually could see myself living there!
I dunno why the OP thinks NYC would get more overwhelming over time. That doesn't make any sense to me.
In my experience, girls in NYC have substance in addition to looks. She may not have the silicone and bad hair dye (brown eyes and blonde hair, really?) you'll find elsewhere, but more often than not she'll have a real job/career. This is not everyone's cup of tea, but you may get to a point in life where you want to talk to the girl.
NYC is all about the cultures. You should date and eat the food of all the cultures. Koreans, Dominicans, Italians, Chinese, Germans, French (the French girls are crazy fun), etc. Once you do that in NYC, you have experienced the best part of the city in my opinion.
Loooot of NYC haters ITT haha.
Former widwest kid here telling you that NYC has its pros and cons- and its not for the faint of heart who enjoy a quaint or chill lifestyle. FYI I think everyone in my office who is married with children, lives on the UWS. There are literally more winebars than normal bars/lounges put together- its not a really great barometer of exciting NYC. The LES on a Friday or Saturday night? Thats when things get interesting...
And also, for the guys barking how 'average' the girls are in NYC... Are you kidding me? Yes the girls in the south (or anywhere for that matter) are much more approachable and a lot kinder, but are you kidding me? How many pretty girls from podunk America head to NYC with dreams of film/theatre/dance/model etc...? I understand that the south does have its southern 'belles', but what about the men with a more diverse palate? I mean, you can find thousand's of 9/10s for every type of race/ethnicity all throughout the city- Verry few cities can say the same. Have any of you even been to meatpacking or a decent lounge? I mean-
C'mon man.
Interesting post. I live in and love NYC but responding to a couple previous comments, I think the whole "no one sleeps" thing is a tad overblown. Save for the few places that are open until 5am, everything else seems to still close too early to actually be useful if I'm getting home later than 9, which is always. Am I the only one that thinks this?
Lawl at thinking that a 2 day visit to the the big apple gives any sense of what it is like to live in NYC.
The city that never sleeps catchphrase is slightly misleading. The city does get some shut-eye, between the hours of 4am - 6am, basically when the raging tapers off and before the symphony of inncessant rage-fueled honking commences.
NYC is pretty nice if you don't mind living in a sea of aggression and filth. Also having a nice tolerance for getting your wallet robbed every second is what one might call well adjusted.
To be fair though, no discussion about Manhattan would be complete without listening to Mr. Allen's perspective:
The city is afraid of me. I have seen its true face.
If you need to do anything besides eat or drink in Manhattan after 10PM, good luck with that.
Bought a desk from IKEA? Setting it up at 10PM? Forgot to pick up a Phillips head screwdriver? Good luck with that.
Trying to start your motorcycle? Battery dead? 8PM on a Saturday? Good luck with that.
24/7 WalMarts are a lifesaver, but there are none in Manhattan.
The Kmart in midtown south is open till 11pm I think.
But, you're not thinking like a NYer. If the shit hits the fan, call someone else to come fix it for you. Who cares if a 1-in-1000 event costs you $100?
Thanks for this thread OP I enjoyed reading your perspective and the comments of others who live in the city. I have been there before and felt a connection to the city, as such I hope to live there in the near future.
this was in the related content suggestions...I believe it's relevant http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/84-million-new-yorkers-suddenly-r…
[quote=Ron Paul]this was in the related content suggestions...I believe it's relevant http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/84-million-new-yorkers-suddenly-r…]
+1 for the thread drop...that is an epic onion article
"Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft."
NYC's da bomb, but don't forget about London and Tokyo :) All gravy baby
Haven't lived there yet but its something I must do in my 20's
NYC is an amazing city, leagues above anything else in the US and I say that with deep love for both LA and SF (blasphemy, I know). It's like London or Paris, a true world city but obviously very unique. The food here I think is the best I've ever had anywhere. And the women are indeed insanely beautiful. But you won't see them out on the streets. People here WORK. The hot chicks are super busy being talented, and trying to achieve whatever the heck drove them to come here.
NYC is even better when you start making real money. Black car home from work. Dinners ordered with the press of a button from any restaurant. Beautiful parks and gyms. Now if only I could afford my dream apartment.
There are. Case-in-point: Gramercy Park. Requires a key to enter. Makes sense, keeps all the plebes from cluttering its pristine beauty.
You don't need to start making "real money" to enjoy any of the abovementioned. BB banks provide car service to any employee working past certain hours, that include analysts, IT stuff and all back office employees. Anyone with a working internet connection (from computer or cellphone alike) can order from restaurants via seamless. Gym memberships are not that expensive, plus full service buildings tend to have gyms on premise anyway. And beautiful parks are free and open to anyone. Gramercy park requires you to be a resident to enter but that park is kind small, despite its many interesting sculptures which gets old after a few viewings anyway.
my point is that NYC is amazing when you have lots and lots of cash. best of everything and you can really customize your life to have everything taken care of for you. i am not there yet. but i am at the point in my career when i am getting a taste. and it tastes good.
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