New York City

[GGJaguar]

This morning. Before the rain comes.

 

[Stuball48]

Was in NYC in spring of 1971. Lots to do and see that I had never experienced as a rural farm boy from Tennessee

 

[chazmo]

Nice pic of NYC, GG!!! That's a great unobstructed view from the Brooklyn side!!!!!

 

[Midnight Toker]

Great pic!!!

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

So did you take that picture? And if so, what are you doing in Brooklyn?

 

[DrumBob]

I used to enjoy going to NYC for concerts, or just hanging out and visiting my favorite places, like the music stores on 48th Street, Greenwich Village, shopping for records and musical gear, but those days are over. All the music stores on 48th are gone, you can't park for free anywhere anymore, crime has gone crazy again, the homeless are everywhere you turn, and it costs an arm and leg just to get through the Lincoln Tunnel. I've been there once in maybe the last 7-8 years. No reason to go anymore.

 

[richardp69]

I'm not a big fan of big cities. They just intimidate me a whole lot. I was only in NYC a couple times, both thimes just passing through the airport.

I gotta say though, that surely is a nice pic. I like it a lot.

 

[Midnight Toker]

I still enjoy visiting NYC for a day trip every couple years. (Taking the train in) Last time I went was for the Play It Loud exhibit at the Met)) It's no different than any giant city on the planet. Just know what areas to avoid, don't make yourself a blatant target, and you'll be just fine. Fact is, many mega cities get a bad rep from constant national media coverage but the truth is that many smaller cities are much more dangerous. For instance, Chicago is made out to be some apocalyptical war zone. It's actually ranked below national average in crime, ranked 71st among US cities. NYC is way down on the list as well. It was MUCH worse in the 70's. Your chances of getting robbed right on Bourbon St in New Orleans are MUCH higher than anywhere in lower Manhattan. And you can still get an amazing meal at a small Italian restaurant for a decent price. (Cheaper than where I live!)

 

[Rich Cohen]

Stunning!

 

[awagner]

I commute into Manhattan every day and love it (hate working from home).

I never get tired of walking through Grand Central Station and 10 blocks south to my office.

 

[crank]

Love NYC. Wouldn't want to live there.

We are only about 20 miles outside Manhattan and get in anywhere from 1 or 2 times a year (pandemic). To several times a year.

I used to go in sometimes for work as did my wife. Every year we ride our bikes most of the way around the city.

 

[twocorgis]

I commute into Manhattan every day and love it (hate working from home).

I never get tired of walking through Grand Central Station and 10 blocks south to my office.

That mint green building on the left is 325 Fifth Ave, which my company did the exterior wall back in 2005. We did 309 Fifth just out of the frame to the left, and Tower 31 which is obscured as well. It's still one of our prettiest buildings.

New York City is still the greatest city in the world, and I don't care what anyone says. And don't believe everything you've heard in the news. Even back in the bad old days of the '70's, I've never felt unsafe there.

 

[richardp69]

I guess I just like bears, deer, bobcats and other critters more than millions of people. If I'm with somebody who knows where they are going then I'm fine in cities. (for short visits) To try and figure it out on my own????not so much.

 

[twocorgis]

I guess I just like bears, deer, bobcats and other critters more than millions of people. If I'm with somebody who knows where they are going then I'm fine in cities. (for short visits) To try and figure it out on my own????not so much.

The grid system in Manhattan actually makes navigating simple Richard. Only the outer boroughs (Brooklyn in particular) are difficult. The song says it all!

 

[davismanLV]

It's funny because growing up in Los Angeles, and surrounding San Fernando Valley and Ventura County, my dad would go on business trips to New York City fairly regularly. To hear him talk it was awful. Too crowded, hostile, unfriendly, etc., etc. My mother was always worried until he got back. So I kinda grew up thinking NYC was a bad place. Then in the early 90's sometime, Don won a radio station contest and we got a trip to NYC. We had a limo driver from the airport that was so nice and helpful. We stayed at Essex House at 160 Central Park South. We had a beautiful room overlooking Central Park.

We did some museums and there was a radio station party at some huge venue I can't remember. We wandered around all over the place. We had the BEST TIME EVER and I can't tell you how nice everyone was. We were dressed up in super nice casual one day and started walking just enjoying and then realized that it was getting late and we had NO IDEA where we were. We found a subway station and went down but had no idea where to go. There was only one lady on the platform that looked like Donna Mills in a full-length gray fox coat and diamonds galore all dolled up for the theater. We didn't want to bother her but she kept glancing over. Finally, she just turned and walked over to us and said, "Sorry, but you guys look SO LOST!!" We laughed and told her we were and that we were trying to get back to our hotel and said which one. She said, "Get on the train with me. When I get off, yours is the next stop. You'll be right there." Anyway, everyone was nice, we had an amazing time, the city was beautiful. It even snowed the night before we left, so Central Park looked beautiful.

Same limo driver took us to the airport the next day. What an amazing trip and even more amazing city. Changed my view of NYC for sure! Great photos, everyone! Thanks for sharing.

 

[twocorgis]

It's funny because growing up in Los Angeles, and surrounding San Fernando Valley and Ventura County, my dad would go on business trips to New York City fairly regularly. To hear him talk it was awful. Too crowded, hostile, unfriendly, etc., etc. My mother was always worried until he got back. So I kinda grew up thinking NYC was a bad place. Then in the early 90's sometime, Don won a radio station contest and we got a trip to NYC. We had a limo driver from the airport that was so nice and helpful. We stayed at Essex House at 160 Central Park South. We had a beautiful room overlooking Central Park.

We did some museums and there was a radio station party at some huge venue I can't remember. We wandered around all over the place. We had the BEST TIME EVER and I can't tell you how nice everyone was. We were dressed up in super nice casual one day and started walking just enjoying and then realized that it was getting late and we had NO IDEA where we were. We found a subway station and went down but had no idea where to go. There was only one lady on the platform that looked like Donna Mills in a full-length gray fox coat and diamonds galore all dolled up for the theater. We did want to bother her but she kept glancing over. Finally, she just turned and walked over to us and said, "Sorry, but you guys look SO LOST!!" We laughed and told her we were and that we were trying to get back to our hotel and said which one. She said, "Get on the train with me. When I get off, yours is the next stop. You'll be right there." Anyway, everyone was nice, we had an amazing time, the city was beautiful. It even snowed the night before we left, so Central Park looked beautiful.

Same limo driver took us to the airport the next day. What an amazing trip and even more amazing city. Changed my view of NYC for sure! Great photos, everyone! Thanks for sharing.

I've always believed that New Yorkers get a bad rap for being unfriendly, Tom. My experience has been the exact opposite of the perception, and much like yours. I've always been willing to help out tourists with questions, and have tried to be a good ambassador for the City.

 

[geoguy]

I enjoy visiting NYC on rare occasions, for museums, theater, etc.

And I agree that NYC locals can be more friendly compared to Boston residents.

But I learned the hard way, to make certain that avid NYC sports fans do NOT see your Massachusetts license plate!!!

 

[awagner]

But I learned the hard way, to make certain that avid NYC sports fans do NOT see your Massachusetts license plate!!!

I went to college in Massachusetts and one night I drove into Boston. When I returned to my car (with NY plates), someone had bashed in my windshield. If I had a Yankees bumper sticker then some might say I was asking for it, but I did not.

Maybe it was my brother. He also went to school in Mass. and never returned to NY. He is an avid Red Sox fan and Patriots season ticket holder. It's been 35 years, but I should check his alibi.

 

[GAD]

NYC is a big place, and like most cities your perception of it will vary greatly depending on which part of the city you find yourself in. Similarly the time of day can have a big effect, as can the weather.

I grew up fearing NY because my dad had an irrational fear of it. In the late ‘90s I ended up working there and then again in downtown right after 9/11. I’ve worked and commuted in NYC for years and while I’m still a “don’t want to see my neighbors” kind of guy, I can say that most of the fear mongering about NYC is misplaced. In fact, my initial reaction was that it was amazing to me that 9m+ people can get along as well as they do.

I also like Boston and spent a fair bit of time there since my daughter went to college there. Whoever designed the roads in Boston had to have been tripping on acid, though.

LA I don’t like, and my daughter figured out that we seem to like older cities and here in the US the older cities are mostly in the Northeast.

 

[Nuuska]

When I took my first trip to USA in 1975 they handed us information on board . . .

One particular - which I now regret to not have saved - was a paper, that on first side gave about 12 reasons for NOT coming to NY - the flipside gave bunch of advices of how-to - in case you decided to come anyway.

To have that leaflet now and take a picture and share it here now . . . .