If you live in New York, you get it. You get the noise, the crowded sidewalks, the smells, the grime, the dirt and sure — the cost. And while you sometimes daydream about having a house you can afford and a lawn and a park where the trash bin is not overflowing, you wonder how soon you’d last with all that. So without getting too gooey about why New York is the best city in the world, here are 28 things we’re thankful for about living here. See if you agree, and add your own in the comments.
1. We take our dogs with us wherever we go.
For a notoriously cynical city, NYC is an incredibly dog-friendly place to live. Source: Wayne W. Huang via Flickr Creative Commons
2. The mariachi guys on the subway are always in full regalia.
These guys come dressed to play. (Source: Chris Goldberg via Flickr Creative Commons)
3. Wash-and-fold can be cheaper than DIY laundry.
It makes no sense at all, but we’ll take it. (Source: Jen Gallardo via Flickr Creative Commons)
4. We can order sushi at 1 a.m.
Two dragon rolls to go, please. (Source: Jerome Lemaire, via Flickr Creative Commons)
5. We can buy toilet paper, Kraft Mac & Cheese, beer or any other basic necessity at the bodega on the corner at 4 a.m.
From PBR to a head of lettuce. Ya gotta love NYC. (Source: Shawn Hoke via Flickr Creative Commons)
6. No one drives anywhere.
The Williamsburg Bridge is the most highly trafficked bridge in the city for bike commuters.
7. There’s a good place to get a beer in every neighborhood.
No matter where you are or what time of day, this city’s always got a place to get a beer. Source: Subway Inn via Yelp.
8. Our public parks are also public stages.
The late, great Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings playing at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Source: Chris Goldberg via Flickr Creative Commons)
9. The city’s diversity: 160 languages are spoken in Jackson Heights alone.
10. We hang out on stoops, not in backyards.
Brown-bagging it. (Source: WNYC New York Public Radio, via Flickr Creative Commons)
11. Commuting by ferry is easier than ever.
The new ferry lines have been a game-changer for many commuters. Source: George Rex via Flickr Creative Commons
12. The view from the subway platform can sometimes be worth the wait.
The Smith-9th St. station on the border of Red Hook and Gowanus is one of the highest subway platforms in the city — and is absolutely stunning at golden hour.
13. NYC is a great place to grow up.
The fountains outside the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights make a great impromptu water park for kids.
14. Artists shape NYC and NYC shapes artists.
Artists like Andy Warhol have left an indelible mark on NYC, and vice versa.
15. Our scenic beauty includes water tanks.
Who needs mountains when you’ve got … water tanks? Yes, they’re an indispensable part of our local landscape, and we love them.
16. In addition to everything else, New York City is also a surf town.
Who needs Santa Monica when you’ve got the Rockaways?
17. And a maritime village.
Or Nantucket, for that matter, when you’ve got City Island?
18. No other city does iconic old-school architecture like we do.
You can’t get any more classic than the Dakota at 1 W. 72nd St.
19. You think you’ve seen it all before, and then the city goes and surprises you.
Case-in-point: The pop-up rainbow pool on Roosevelt Island.
20. When they’re good, our sunsets are really good.
Never gets old.
21. Sometimes we really do dance in the streets.
A dance party?! You never know what you’ll stumble upon on your way home.
22. Our block parties bring us together.
Kids, grandkids, neighborhood old-timers — everyone comes out for a good block party.
23. Our pizza truly is the best.
Di Fara pizza in Midwood makes a strong bid for the best slice in the city. Pictured here is Mr. Di Fara himself at work.
24. Winter brings a different kind of beauty.
Snow storms can be a hassle, but there’s something magical about the still, quiet of the city covered all in white. Source: Maud Andrew
25. The American Museum of Natural History never fails to awe.
New York City has a lot of world-class museums, but the American Museum of Natural History is as much a treasure for locals as for tourists.
26. But you don’t always have to go to a museum to see great art.
Street art thrives under overpasses, in tunnels, and in all sorts of unexpected places across the city.
27. Big changes do happen here.
Just ask Long Island City residents about their new neighbor.
28. We are never too old or too young to make our voices heard.
Source: Thomas Altfather Good via Flickr Creative Commons
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