Some people think that there are no valid reasons to love New York City. They might say that the only reason to love it is that you’re too lazy or stupid to live anywhere else. But I’m here to tell you that there are plenty of really stupid reasons to love this amazing place.
So if you’re on the fence about whether or not to visit or even move here, maybe these five reasons will help you sort it out.
P.S. Because I couldn’t help myself, there are six.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
1. The pizza is unbeatable.
There are some great pizzerias in New York City, but there are also some terrible ones. In general, the pizza in NYC is just okay. It’s not the best in the country, and it’s not worth flying to the city for. If you’re looking for a flight-worthy pizza destination, that would be Naples.
Navigating the Cost of Living in New York City
In Naples, it’s so perfect, dough through the sauce, you roll it up like a sort of sandwich. Here in the states, the best I’ve had was at Vito’s in San Francisco, enjoyed while little cable cars went halfway to the stars outside.
Worst ever? Washington, D.C. Mall. Famished after a Smithsonian-filled day, we bought some quick slices at a food truck – which served them on waxed paper. And yes, the wax melted right into them. No idea how that tradition got started.
But pizza remains a stupid reason to love New York City.
2. There’s always something to do.
While it’s true that there are a lot of things to do in New York City, that doesn’t mean they’re all worth doing. A lot of the activities in NYC can be pretty touristy and overrated. The price for most museums would be enough to pay for an average family’s weekly grocery tab elsewhere.
And don’t even think about tickets for the Mets, Rangers, or Yankees. It’s a case of, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
When building my first career, I asked a friend who grew up in Brooklyn if it was possible to live in New York on the salary I was offered for relocating.
“Sure,” he said, “but the problem is, there’s always something to do.” And then, you couldn’t afford it anymore.
3. To love New York City because the energy is unbeatable.
Yes, New York City has a lot of energy, but sometimes, that energy is kind of annoying. The number of people and the sounds in the city can really get under your skin, and that says nothing about how dirty it is.
In a recent article from The New York Times, the writer compared walking to the subway to playing around on a farm of chickens. In some ways, that’s true. I had to wait for a train to go to the airport one time and ended up eating dirt to kill some time.
4. It’s full of iconic landmarks.
New York City has its share of iconic landmarks, but not as many as you think. And some are pretty overrated in terms of looks and uniqueness. Sure there’s a tall building on every block in Manhattan, but they don’t fare well with other world cities around the world.
The Empire State and Chrysler Buildings remain marvels, but the age of glass lookalikes and supertalls landed with a massive infusion of mediocrity.
So, not worth making the trek unless you love New York City so much you can’t imagine a vacation elsewhere or your in-laws insist.
4. The skyline is gorgeous. (Bonus stupid reason to love New York City)
If there’s one thing that NYC has that no other place can offer, it’s skyline views from many different angles, mostly from the water or across it.
You might have to pay to see the skyline from a boat tour, but don’t confuse the skyline with buildings. The buildings are just kind of okay. It’s a really expensive city to live in, but there aren’t many gold-gilded spires down here. And seeing the skyline from within is not as thrilling as you might think.
5. There’s so much culture to soak in.
This is probably my favorite reason to love New York City – it’s full of possibilities, opportunities for mixing and mingling with people from all over the world.
While it’s true that there are a ton of great cultural experiences to be had here in New York City, not all of them will suit your tastes or interests. And even if you do find something to enjoy about the city’s arts scene, there are plenty of places where you can enjoy art without having to deal with this place’s high costs and poor management practices (although I’m sure any NYC mayor would disagree). As for soaking up that “culture,” I’m not sure what that even means.
Love New York City Conclusion:
We’ve compiled a list of the five most ridiculous reasons to love New York City. If you need more convincing, just take it from locals who can’t get enough of our city’s quirks and charms! You didn’t ask for this article but we’re giving it to you anyway because if there is one thing that makes us happy in NYC, it’s making other people feel like they want to be here too. So, there are our top 5 really stupid (but seriously great) reasons to love New York City.
We could come up with 500 more good reasons, but everyone’s already done that. Think of the above as a counterbalance. We needed one.
More from Assorted Ideas, Large & Small
- Why RIOC’s New Constituent Services Department Is Total Bull-oney
Next up in its Hall of Cringe-Worthy Moments, RIOC’s screaming headline declares, “PRESIDENT HAYNES ANNOUNCES NEW CONSTITUENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITHIN RIOC.” It scores a triple crown of hypocritical, condescending and stupid. How can this highly - Will Roosevelt Island Day Be Diminished Again This Year?
Roosevelt Island Day shrunk after 2019, partly because of excessive COVID-19 concerns, but what happens in 2023? President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes’s organizers can regain some lost community support, returning some enthusiasm for 2023. But the - From Jazz to Hip-Hop: How Harlem Transformed into a Groovy Hub of Music in New York City
The culturally rich neighborhood of Harlem in New York City has been an epicenter for music since the early 20th century. From the birth of jazz to hip-hop, Harlem has served as a breeding ground - Broadway Unmasked: Behind the Theatre District’s Meteoric Rise
Broadway is an iconic part of American culture, a place where dreams come true and stories are brought to life. From its humble beginnings as a small collection of theaters in the late 19th century, - Lunatic Fringe – Is Shelton Haynes Job-Hunting on Your Dime?
Reporting that “He’s at it again” isn’t enough as what looks for all the world like RIOC President/CEO Shelton J. Haynes job-hunting secures a spot cleanly on the lunatic fringe. In a new paid public
[…] When You Think About It: 5 Really Stupid Reasons to Love New York City […]
[…] Five Really Stupid Reasons to Love New York City […]