Why the obsession with NY? (New York, York: rent, condo, house)

[Alysse157]

[quote=Hustla718;1604708]

Originally Posted by Alysse157

Most large cities have their share of diversity too.

When i'm looking for a resturant, I want good food, service, and a nice price. I don't give a **** if I see Ethiopions.

Every city in America offers this.

Actually, I was the one who posted about Ethiopian restaurants, but I did so because I wanted to point out that DC is also a diverse and international city and that with respect to at least one type of cuisine - Ethiopian - I thought that DC actually kicked NY's butt.

But in general, I agree with what you were saying. Also, there was a time when the top US restaurants were only located in NY and LA, but those days are gone. There are so many cities now emerging as culinary hot spots, e.g. the NYT had an article about chefs flocking to Portland, OR the other day. NY & LA probably still have the most restaurants to choose from simply due to the fact that both metro areas are quite large population-wise, but these days, you can find an impressive selection of excellent restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines in just about an major city in the country.

[Hustla718]

[quote=Alysse157;1605067]

Originally Posted by Hustla718

Actually, I was the one who posted about Ethiopian restaurants, but I did so because I wanted to point out that DC is also a diverse and international city and that with respect to at least one type of cuisine - Ethiopian - I thought that DC actually kicked NY's butt.

But in general, I agree with what you were saying. Also, there was a time when the top US restaurants were only located in NY and LA, but those days are gone. There are so many cities now emerging as culinary hot spots, e.g. the NYT had an article about chefs flocking to Portland, OR the other day. NY & LA probably still have the most restaurants to choose from simply due to the fact that both metro areas are quite large population-wise, but these days, you can find an impressive selection of excellent restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines in just about an major city in the country.

The quoting got messed up earlier in the thread.

However, NYC is like a name brand. That is honestly all it is. People buy into that name brand.

It's all hype and no one disagreeing that can deliver solid facts.

You can have diversity in every major city. A lot of cities are very walkable as well. Plenty cities offer good public transportation. There are plenty more similaries and pros and cons vary among cities.

No one can debate that. You have the NYC lovers trying to hype it up and the realest who see beyond that.

[NJ Chutzpah]

There was a time when no one wanted to come to NYC because it had a reputation for having bad service, rude people, and being dirty.

Then MTV Total Recall moved into time square, the Yankees had their world series victory party there, and sex in the city came out. Television has made NYC appealing to everyone far and wide.

Guiliani, Bloomberg, and a lot of businessmen saw the potential and took advantage.

[Futcha]

I'm obsessed with NY, not just the city, but the state. I sort of like the fact that people seem to think the only thing in NY is NYC... Keeps their tourist asses out of our way so we can relax and enjoy the beauty! There's no place like New York. I'd do anything to stay here, though I wouldn't mind a move to Chicago.

[max's mama]

I cannot speak for other people, but I can only speak for my love of New York. I have been living in Brooklyn for 15 years and studied/worked in Manhattan for 10.

1.Diversity - I don't think there is a single city in the world that has such amazing mix of people. You can be sitting on the train: korean to the left, irish to the right, african american across from you, russian across from korean etc...you got the point. You get to learn so much about other cultures, languages.

2.Restaurants/bars/lounges - who can deny how great restaurants are in NY? How within few blocks you can find again: Chinese/Japanese/Mexican etc... Just go to the Village/Soho alone - everything within your reach. Just name it.

3.Central Park - yeah yeah yeah, it's not somewhere you want to hang out at night, but on the beautiful day, it's priceless.

4.Friendly people - that's right. People are very nice, helpful. Ask for directions, you get more then you ask for.

5.The sights: Times Square, Broadway, 5th Ave, Museums, Downtown Manhattan, Empire State Building... There is so much to see. I can honestly say, I can never get bored living here.

6.Work opportunities. Need I say more?

7.Convenience - if you live in Manhattan or even Brooklyn, you just come out of your house and you can find drug store/deli/bank etc...on every corner. You don't need to get into the car to go anywhere. In the matter of fact, you don't need to own the car if you live in the city.

There are so many reasons why people will pay a fortune to live in the little hole of the apartment here in the city, but it's mostly either young adults who like to work and enjoy life in the city, or wealthy people who can afford it. And the thing is living in the city is an experience. It's an experience that I would recommend.
I don't live in the city because I have a family and quite honestly we will be moving to suburbs, but I do recommend it for anyone who is young and wants to live the city life.

Edited to add: I do also want to admit that there some things that annoy me about NYC, like rat race. The whole NY weather climate is terrible.

Also, I wrote my post before I read all other responses and I want to say one thing...I really don't care whether or not people from other cities like NY. The thing is this city's population is huge and I would prefer to surround myself with people who love and care about this city like I do. I'm not saying I will live here forever (hate the climate), but I definitely think this city is one of a kind. I'm not really interested in convincing anyone why NY is great and to each its own really. The truth of the matter is NYC is not everyone's cup of tea. Just like any city.

[max's mama]

Originally Posted by Lillietta

I was trying to answer the poster's question about why people like NYC. I would never live there now.

I think that I fell for that too. I thought OP wants to know New Yorkers opinion of why they are obsessed with NY, but what I think OP was looking for is validation of his/her own dislike of the city.

[Lillietta]

[quote=Hustla718;1604708][quote=Alysse157;1599163]
.

When i'm looking for a resturant, I want good food, service, and a nice price. I don't give a **** if I see Ethiopions.

I don't think this is about you. Other people don't feel the way you do. Yeah, it's time you got outta there.

[Lillietta]

[QUOTE=max's mama;1606896]I think that I fell for that too. I thought OP wants to know New Yorkers opinion of why they are obsessed with NY, but what I think OP was looking for is validation of his/her own dislike of the city.[/QUOTE]

They can always leave NYC. It's cheaper elsewhere. I guess you become bitter after living in that city for so long. That's why I said it's for the 20-40 somethings - with high energy and a love for that which the city has to offer.
Yikes, maybe a good thing I left if you get comments like you see here! I was lucky - grew up there in the 60s and 70s and absolutely loved it!

[Lillietta]

[quote=Alysse157;1605067][quote=Hustla718;1604708]

Actually, I was the one who posted about Ethiopian restaurants, but I did so because I wanted to point out that DC is also a diverse and international city and that with respect to at least one type of cuisine - Ethiopian - I thought that DC actually kicked NY's butt.

But in general, I agree with what you were saying. Also, there was a time when the top US restaurants were only located in NY and LA, but those days are gone. There are so many cities now emerging as culinary hot spots, e.g. the NYT had an article about chefs flocking to Portland, OR the other day. NY & LA probably still have the most restaurants to choose from simply due to the fact that both metro areas are quite large population-wise, but these days, you can find an impressive selection of excellent restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines in just about an major city in the country.[/QUOTE]

I simply meant that you could find more countries' cuisine COLLECTIVELY represented in NY (certainly not BETTER cuisine) than you will find in any other ONE city.

[ogplife]

Originally Posted by max's mama

I think that I fell for that too. I thought OP wants to know New Yorkers opinion of why they are obsessed with NY, but what I think OP was looking for is validation of his/her own dislike of the city.

I was never looking for any validation of my own dislike. I said I may move back. I was looking to find out why middle class people who are obviously struggling choose to live in New York when they can thrive and excel somewhere else. I live in Stafford County Virginia. You can go somewhere else and make more money becasue of less competition, move up quicker, much much better schools for your kids (schools that suspend you for cutting class thats amazing to me). I just feel people just need to be a bit more realistic. Read throughout this forum from today to years back New York is eliminating the middle class. I don't understand how one can sit there and watch things change in front of their eyes and just accept it or complain. My girl lives in an attached house in queens. The house has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and is old as hell and it is probably worth 400,000 dollars. It is an absolute joke. I am not even saying you have to move cross country if you don't want to. I would love to move back to the area and be back around my friends, but there are even places in connecticut or New Jersey if you need to be that close, but why do we feel so obsessed to live directly in it. I have a co worker from New York who dredded when she had to change her license plates to VA. How dumb are you? Do you know how cheap insurance is here. Why do we all feel that need to have that NY title and status. That #### don't mean nothing to me. I am young professional that wants to own a house by the time I am thirty. I want to be able to buy anything I want. I would much rather drive to New York on a weekend and buy a pair of gators or gucci or prada or whatever luxurious thing people care about than just living a train ride away and can't afford. I know people that live in New York and the closest they get to those things is when their friends visit NY and they take them to shop for those things. That is just an anology becuase those things mean nothing to me so I hope you get what Im saying. I love New York. I would buy a brownstone in Harlem tomorrow if I hit the lotto. I grew up in Harlem and always wanted to own a brownstone in Harlem, but that will never happen, but I can own a beautiful brownstone somewhere else and I am content with that. I have friends that visit me and they understand that this is not NY, but because I am here I motivate them to make it happen. I think it is a part of being an adult. I moved here without knowing ANYBODY, but I am a man and I have been through enough to understand that friends don't pay the bills. This is why the cell phone was invented. I love New York, I love New York, but does New York love you back? Did the statue of Liberty smile at you lately? People say a college degree has lost value, but I beg to differ. That is a New York thing. This is one of the only places that police officers need college credits. The New Haven police department is hiring now. I want anyone that reads this to check their website look at the pay and education requirements and compare that to New York. I will also reitirate it is approximately an hour and a half from Manhattan, but you must live within 20 miles within New Haven whic means you have to make the move. You tell me if you were a police officer where would you work? My girl wants to be a social worker. THe requirements in Connecticut to become a LCSW are much lower and the positions and pay are just as good (she is not immune to this argument either), but she loves New York, her family and of course her friends . I want to see more people make it happen and stop living this pipe dream. I am going to coin this new phrase of middle class poverty in New York. I will define it as people who should have something, but choose to have nothing because they love New York so much.