Yeah man I live in Charlotte and it's not even remotely close to NYC. I do like DC better then NYC though.
Funny story to add to my above post. I drove to NY from Annapolis, Maryland and hit rush hour traffic right outside Manhattan. Me, a kid who grew up in Mobile, AL drove through New York rush hour, across either the Brooklyn or George Washington bridge (can't remember which). I thought I was gonna die getting off the exit to my buddies neighborhood, had maybe five cars honking at me while doing it. Needless to say, it's something I never want to do again.
Not comparing them at all, totally different in size and scope. Just saying you can get the same shit in other cities. Drugs, good food, pro sports, etc... New York was cool no doubt but it's not some magical place like many make it to be. Haha I guess so, the Van Gogh museum was sick I didn't want to leave. NYC was just insane in that everyone did it so casually and in huge quantities. I don't know how people afford it. I was dead ass broke by the end of those five days.
I really don't see how NYC is similar to Nashville, Atlanta or Charlotte in any way, shape or form. And assuming that they had similar qualities, the fact that you had to combine all four cities (and probably could have added a few more) to get the cumulative effect of NYC is the reason why people who grow up in NYC generally don't feel the need to travel to other places of the country. NYC has a little bit of everything, which is one of the things that makes it unique
You cannot get better food in the Western Hemisphere outside of New York (and San Fran). Every type of cuisine, at it's finest. Basing your perspective of the city on one visit almost seems like a troll from you Whammy.
The bolded part is exactly true, especially if you talk about New York City as a whole, which includes all the 5 boroughs. There is more unique neighborhoods, cultures, and general diversity than probably anywhere in the country. Visiting NYC for a weekend, a few days, or even a week really doesn't do the city justice. I'm not implying that other major US cities don't have unique neighborhoods/cultures..etc, but it's really one of kind in New York.
Definitely. A city like Charlotte, while nice, has about as much cultural significance as a single New York street sign.
Not one visit, I have been multiple times although admittedly only one time has really been in depth with locals as my guides. While I appreciate being able to get world class Thai, Indian, Mexican, Italian, etc... all in one city, it's really not that important to me nor something I would base my trip upon. I'm not a foodie. Not that it really matters, but you can get better Indian in London. Shit is off the charts good.
I just got back yesterday. I'm definitely not an expert but I've also been to Atl, Nashville (numerous times), etc and I can say that none of those compare to NYC. The food, the history, the culture, etc. I mean hell me and OB had drinks at an Irish bar that has been open since 1865 and had turkey bones hanging on a chandalier that troops leaving for WWI left there. That's just a small part of what you can see and do there. Not too mention the Rockafeller Center, Empire State Building, etc. I would definitely go again. There isn't much to see at Ground Zero right now. It's all under construction for the memorial. You can still see the footprints of the buildings but that's about it. The preview site was interesting and they had some amazing photos and stuff.
What's the name of that bar sounds awesome. We are going. Booked two round trip tickets to BWI for May 3-8th. Spend that Friday and Saturday in NYC before heading back on Sunday for our 3:30 PM flight. Also, just a side not, Paid $410 (after tax/fees) for two round trip tickets out of Atlanta. Priceline is pretty cool, never used it before.
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=levi%27s&ic=48_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0
I went to NYC my first time about a year and half ago and have been back twice since then. Since it's your first time I would suggest the following: -Start by going to Rockefeller Center and paying to go to the top (less busy than the Empire State building). Make sure you spend some time watching the movies on the history of Rockefeller Center and don't just take the elevators straight to the top right away. It has a pretty amazing history. -Next, walk down to Times Square. It is what it is so I would just walk through and get out of the mess of people. -Walk from there through Central Park. Walk around the Park for awhile. Look at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. It is really cool to walk through busy as hell Time Square and then to walk through Central Park right after. It truly is surreal. -Spend another day going through the financial district. Walk down Wall St. and pay attention to all the security and blocked roads with circular moving gates. Stand on the steps where Washington was named our first POTUS. Check out the Stock Exchange across the street. Walk down a little further and see the grave of Alexander Hamilton. He was a great American and always seemed to be sold short. Amazing to think such a great American is buried right off of Wall Street. -Walk down to see Ground Zero. You won't be able to see much (probably up to about 30 stories now?), but make sure you go into the 9/11 Museum nearby and see what it is going to look like. While you are walking down these streets try to imagine what 9/11 would've been like. I'm used to Chicago with big ass streets and alleys all over. See how crammed everything is and trying to imagine fire trucks, people, etc all trying to move around in those small spaces. -Take the subway. Take it over to Brooklyn, or somewhere else just to say you did. Not a huge deal for me, but I know a lot of people love to say they took it if they are from smaller towns. -Walk all the way over the Brooklyn Bridge. It has some of the best views of the city. I could go on and on. I mentioned a lot about walking, but that is really the best way to do a majority of the site seeing and it doesnt make you look like a total tourist. Last time I went I got to see MSU play Syracuse at the Garden. Even being at the Garden was a surreal experience. I will continue to go to NYC at least once a year for as long as I am living. The place is amazing.
I went for the first time a few months ago. Stayed a weekend. Never really had the urge to go but since my gf has friends there and wanted to visit, I wasn't going to turn it down. I liked it -- but admit that these friends were in a super $$ area and the weather was nice. Most importantly, I followed my new approach of planning very little. Just see a few things and plan to come back sometime. Really the only thing I had in mind was to find arepas, which is some venezualian (I think) food I saw on the Food Channel once. Can't find the shit here in DC. We went to this place in Brooklyn (hipsters everywhere) called Caracas (I think). Good shit, especially these plaintain chip things they have. Other than that, spent half a day in Central Park, and saw a couple other things. Just walked around a lot. Nothing hectic. Didn't see anything strange or criminal beyond a pair of turd-filled tighty whities on the sidewalk one morning. If I go back, though, I'm sure I'll be stabbed in the face with a rusty syringe upon arrival.
Nowhere else in the country do people spit at you, throw bottles at you, throw quarters at you, throw batteries at you and say, 'Hey, I did your mother last night — she's a whore.' I talked about what degenerates they were and they proved me right.
What the hell are you talking about? Did you read that in some 1970's magazine? I lived in the city for 10 years and not one of those things ever happened to me.
Agree, I was expecting it to be worse. Only thing was had one pregnant lady yell "I can do it myself" at me for holding the door for her. She was probably just a cunt and it wasn't region related. It isn't as friendly as down here, but it's just a cultural difference, doesn't mean everyone's an asshole.
Congrats on your ultra cool 500 type Levi's. It is amazing how particular you are all of a sudden when 5 hours ago you could hardly admit to shopping.
Definitely isolated. If anything the only issue that I can stereotype when it comes to doors is black women. To a woman, it is few and far between that I will find a black woman in NY who will hold a door for you or let you out of an elevator or store before they walk in. The other thing is it seems like a lot of what outsiders want to do is go to these tourist spots. I live in NY. I have never been to the statue of Liberty, top of the Empire State Building, walked through Times Square for the hell of it, Ground Zero for the hell of it, or any of those completely boring touristy things. There are a ton of young people in NY hanging out in cool places, and doing fun shit. Why you would want to surround yourselves with tourists and people who leach off of them is beyond me. Part of going to a city is experiencing the culture, and none of that qualifies.
this. growing up i didn't think chicago could be beat as far as big cities, then i went to NYC and was like :ohholyfuck:, this place is awesome. LA/socal is pretty damn cool too. all the sheltered southern bros need to realize that atlanta is a shit-tier city and that they can't assume other big cities are as shit-tastic as the ATL
We could go on and on. I hate to shop. I go to the Co-oP to buy my jeans because my friend runs the place, otherwise I would be forced to go to belk or something. Don't be mad at me because you go to New York to buy designer clothes.
I've seen it. I've flown over it. I've passed it on the way to Ellis Island. I've been on boats that have past it, but never been and have no desire. I know what it looks like. I know what it is about. Not much more for me to get out of it at this point. Law of diminishing returns. Same deal with the Empire State Building. I lived around the corner from it. I have been inside it for business. I have just never been there as a tourist to say, hey I went to the Empire State Building. That shit is boring.
while I agree on experiencing the culture, I think it is a little harsh given people shit for wanting to see something (statue of liberty) that is pretty unique not only to this country....but to the world. I know there is no place in nebraska that I could view anything like it.
So here is a different perspective... As a New Yorker reading these boards it drives me crazy when people visit NY for a couple of days and do those types of touristy things and then make judgments about what NY is or isn't. NY is not about the statues, buildings, or Times Square. It is about the energy, the diversity, the massive quantities of everything you can ever ask for. It has parks, museums, restaurants, architecture, stores, shows, clubs, villages, and so much more. To be judged based upon things that every visitor has already seen 1000 times in pictures and movies is irritating. Sure those things are cool, but there value as spots to visit has been so watered down by their popularity, exposure, and the crap that surrounds going to see it. If you want to be around creepy people, bad food, and lines, you can go to Disney World. That's not for me, and that is not what NY is about.
Isn't it up to the individual person to make up their mind about what their perspective of the city is? The places you complain about are places that are unique to NYC. Seems kind of stupid to look down on people going to unique and different places that they cant get at home. I never go to the tourist traps when i'm there because i've been a bunch now but when i first visited the city I did and i'm happy I did. As for the Statue of Liberty, if you've been in any capacity I rescind my comment. I read it as you've never been, which would be a waste if you were born and raised in the area.
I agree with him honestly. To me, it's like going touring the Big House in the summer then saying you understand UM.
Honestly going to the statue of liberty is kinda lame. I did it twice in grade school for field trips and it was pretty both times. Ellis Island is way better.
Of course it is up to the individual, but as someone who has lived in NY for most of my life and seen the reactions to some on these boards who have visited, I can tell you that I can save you the trouble of making the same mistake that others on this board have made. If you get mesmerized by every last detail of a building or statue than so be it. Do those things. I am just saying there is so much more to do that would be an absolute blast than to stand on a line in the cold with a bunch of trashy people to get on a boat to see something that you have seen 1000 times in pictures.