about new york city essay

Essay About New York City: World’s Most Breathtaking Place

Our world is full of wonders and every person should plunge into unforgettable feelings they give us. One of those wonders is New York City. It is considered to be the city of diversity, opportunities, and unbelievable beauty. This essay on New York will definitely help you find your own way in exploring it.

New York essay: Five delicious pieces of the Big Apple

Each of five boroughs is unique and characterized by specific features of living there. You can recognize Manhattan by its eminent skyscrapers such as the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, numerous universities and colleges and wonderful Central Park. It represents the financial heart of the city. You can see busy clerks and businessmen on Wall Street and hear continuous clicking and typing of office workers and programmers eager to make fortune. It is for sure, they would make money faster with the smart writing service like ours.

Brooklyn nowadays is a core of the powerful “machine” producing exclusive organic food and promoting modern art, cinema and indie music. All creativity is mostly presented by the Williamsburg neighborhood, the hot spot for the young people ready to enjoy every single breath of night. However, you can notice how the fascinating night clubs transform into calm and quiet Cobble Hill and Park Slope residences. Bushwick offers shopping for young families.

In the northern part of New York, the Bronx stretches its boundaries. Known for its agrarian past and the first settlers skilled at farming, hunting and fishing , the Bronx has parklands and gardens at its disposal now. New York Botanical Garden will amaze you with the beauty of rare flowers and plants and the Bronx Zoo is going to immerse you in the atmosphere of wildlife. Have you ever been to Italy? The Bronx is called “real Little Italy” , by the way. New York City makes it possible to fall for the charm of Bella Italia right on Arthur Avenue.

If you think about sports as the best way of entertainment or care for your body and want to keep trim, you are to visit Queens. Take your rollers and skates and be free to disclose vivid streets. Stroll by Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Root for New Your Mets at Citi Field stadium. Go to Flushing Chinatown nearby to satisfy your hunger with some special Asian dainties. But be careful with those dainties, for instance, choose a healthy Mediterranean diet and make the right choice of your dietary pattern for effective training.

Staten Island is regarded as the keeper of the city’s past. This part of NYC encompasses museums and historical attractions such as prominent Historic Richmond Town where anyone may play the role of a person of the 19th century. Moreover, this place combines sunny beaches and the biggest and coolest forest preserve of the city. If you are interested in ordering an essay concerning New York boroughs, take a look at our services. Our company will help you save your money.

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New York City in five words

It is hard sometimes to describe a beautiful place just in a few words. Only a skilled writer expresses the right thought briefly and clearly. We know that New York welcomes everyone all over the world. Despite the great number of tourist attractions, its vividness and versatility also catch an eye. Take a look at five simple words describing New York:

1. Multiplicity.

New York is a real polygonal diamond in the jewel box of America. That is why it has about one hundred different names. For example, look at how the name “The Big Apple” appeared . John Fitzgerald, a sports reporter, was the first to use such a nickname in his articles. One day, he heard the horsemen in New Orleans talking about going to “the big apple”, the venue of horseracing, which was NYC. In the 17th century, New York City also got the name New Amsterdam due to Dutch West India company.

2. Hospitality.

The city is the paradise for immigrants. It takes the first place among heavily-populated cities of America. Many foreigners from all over the world come here willing to open new possibilities and challenge themselves. This multicultural harbor is a combination of the true American lifestyle and international flavoring. Aliens can find here a place reminding their own cultural environment. For instance, Brooklyn is a borough where Ukrainian, Russian, Italian, Jamaican people etc. may encounter fellow countrymen and simply feel at home. Check our essay on American culture to get more information: https://smartwriters.org/blog/essay-on-american-culture-how-should-we-start

3. Musicality.

The Big Apple can boast its staginess of the onstage and musical life. Dozens of theaters open their doors for visitors in Broadway. Many essays on New York cover great Broadway performances including astonishing “Cats” and “Chicago”. These are the must-see performances accompanied by incredible acting and pompous dancing. You can hear music everywhere in the city. Feel its sound from the windows of huge dwellings and especially on the streets of Times Square and even underground. Lots of street musicians and dancers entertain passers-by and devote themselves entirely to the rhythm and endless passion of music.

4. Eccentricity.

By the way, famous Times Square, the place of giant shining billboards, big screens, fashionable shopping centers and glam, gathers lots of extraordinary personalities. You can meet here specific characters form the Statue of Liberty in human guise to cartoons and even daring naked cowboy with the guitar hiding the most “shocking” parts of his body in his hands. So getting amazing emotions is possible for free right in Times Square. Here, you can allow yourself being a bit of weirdo especially when it comes to putting your personal goals into life. Look here for some interesting ideas on achieving success in our essay about career goals .

Did you know how many bridges there are in New York? In total, almost 2,000 bridges and tunnels were built here. Today, the most outstanding of them comprises Brooklyn, Manhattan and Verrazzano Bridges. All they are the symbolic architectural embodiment of a connection between things, which seem utterly differ at first glance. Considering the contrast between nations, religions, sights, and territories that the city represents, the feeling of unity there is quite impressive. This contrast is based on the grounds of respect and friendship. Look at this essay to enquire the importance of friendship in our life: https://smartwriters.org/blog/what-is-friendship-essay-who-is-a-friend

Consider this descriptive essay on New York City as your guide. Now it is up to you to choose your path in the kingdom where everything is so different and similar at the same time. Keep in mind that there are plenty of options. At one moment you find yourself inside the boiling business pot like Wall Street or rejoice over bright sun of the beaches standing with your toes in the warm sand, listening to the sound of the sea at another moment. Whatever you want to do, New York has it all. If you liked this essay, you can find out more about our company and writing services.

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New York as a Tourist Attraction City Essay

Introduction, my stay in new york, visits to famous places.

New York is a lively city and one that is constantly on the move. Apparently, the dynamic nature of the city has created a culture where residents are often fascinated by new things. For this reason, the business community has to keep coming up with new ways to package products and services. Products and services include accommodation facilities, clubs, food, transportation, and entertainment. When new attractions come into existence, they only excite residents for a short while.

New York is a famous city and one that is characterized by constant change. According to Carroll (2012), New Yorkers are often fascinated by the dynamic nature of the city. Whenever new attractions such as clubs, restaurants or stores come into existence, they only excite people for a short while. Drawing from a study by Nee (2012), New York is not viewed as a city of ancient monuments and statues. However, New Yorkers still respect the older structures that have been around for ages.

This paper presents a discussion about my visit to New York and highlights some attractions and moments that fascinated me.

From my childhood days, I always admired and desired to visit New York someday. The opportunity finally came when I received an invitation from an old friend to visit. From my little knowledge of New York, I knew that I would have an exciting experience.

On arrival, the first thing I became aware of was how busy the city was. It appeared to me like there was no room for idlers in New York. Surprisingly, New York seemed even busier at night. As noted by Nee (2012), New York is a city that roars to life every day and stays alive past midnight.

A notable characteristic of New York is the existence of many fast food restaurants. According to Parker (2014), one only needs a pizza to survive in New York. This explains the reason for many restaurants in the city. Various means of transport can be found in New York including taxis, trains, and buses. For shorter distances, taxi is the most preferred means of transport. However, it is important to note that taxi drivers do not talk much (Parker, 2014). Personally, I enjoyed using buses to move from one part of the city to another. Unlike other cities where places for walking while crossing a road are clearly designated, no such thing exists in New York.

My friend had organized for me to visit a few places in New York. The first place to visit was the 9/11 memorial. The memorial serves to remind Americans about the incident that caused the death of so many people. According to Owen (2015), the 9/11 memorial carries a very powerful message of loss in the United States. However, Presser (2012) argues that the memorial is a tribute to all those who lost their lives during the attack and is thus an important symbol of hope and revitalization.

After the 9/11 memorial, the next place for me to visit was the Times Square. Times Square is regarded as one of the renowned entertainment locations in the world (Nee, 2012). The visit to Times Square was at night and the place was colorful, noisy, and very busy. In addition, there were so many people, including the police, students, and excited theatre funs all involved in different activities.

I also got a chance to visit Central Park. Located in the heart of the city, Central Park is among the world’s most famous green places. According to Kifer (2013), the park is huge and contains a number of natural features. It is very easy to get lost unless one is careful.

When I set out to visit New York, I expected to see so much and at the end of my visit, I was not disappointed. I enjoyed every single moment in New York and would not hesitate to visit again.

Carroll, M. (2012). New York City for dummies . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Kifer, C. (2013). Tips for First-Time Travel to New York City . Web.

Nee, P. (2012). Top 10 Guide to New York City Sights . Boston, MA: Internationalist Publishing Company.

Owen, P. (2015). 10 of the best ways to enjoy New York … on a budget . Web.

Parker, L. (2014). 21 Things you learn the first time you visit NYC . Web.

Presser, B. (2012). Lonely Planet Pocket New York City . Australia: Lonely Planet.

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IvyPanda. (2021, April 15). New York as a Tourist Attraction City. https://ivypanda.com/essays/new-york-as-a-tourist-attraction-city/

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IvyPanda . 2021. "New York as a Tourist Attraction City." April 15, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/new-york-as-a-tourist-attraction-city/.

1. IvyPanda . "New York as a Tourist Attraction City." April 15, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/new-york-as-a-tourist-attraction-city/.

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Essay on New York City

Students are often asked to write an essay on New York City in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on New York City

Introduction to new york city.

New York City is a big, busy place in the United States. It has five parts called boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Many people from all over the world live here, making it a place with lots of different cultures.

Famous Places in New York City

The city has famous buildings like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. There’s also a huge park called Central Park. People come from everywhere to see these places.

Life in New York City

In New York City, life moves fast. Streets are filled with taxis, buses, and people walking. There are lots of shops, restaurants, and places to have fun.

New York City is known for its bright lights and tall buildings. It’s a place where you can find something new and exciting around every corner.

250 Words Essay on New York City

New York City is a big and busy place in the United States. It has five areas called boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Many people from all over the world live here, and you can hear many different languages.

The city is known for some very famous spots. The Statue of Liberty is a huge statue that stands for freedom. Central Park is a big green space where people can play and relax. The Empire State Building is a very tall building that lets you see the city from high up.

Life here is fast and exciting. The streets are often full of cars and the sidewalks full of people walking. There are lots of shops, restaurants, and places to see plays called theaters. The city never sleeps, which means there is always something to do, even late at night.

Transport in New York City

Getting around the city is easy with many buses and trains. The subway is a train that runs under the ground and can take you to many places quickly.

Culture and Food

New York City has food from all around the world because people from different countries live here. You can try new foods and learn about other cultures.

New York City is a special place with lots to see and do. It is full of life, with many different people and activities that make it an exciting city to visit or live in.

500 Words Essay on New York City

New York City is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is known for its tall buildings, busy streets, and many different kinds of people. Some people call it “The Big Apple” or “The City That Never Sleeps.” This city has five parts called boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.

The Skyline and Buildings

When you think of New York City, you might picture its skyline first. The skyline is the shape made by all the tall buildings when you look at the city from far away. The tallest of these buildings is called One World Trade Center. There are many other tall buildings, too, like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. These buildings are not just offices; some have places to live, restaurants, and shops.

The People of New York

Lots of people live in New York City. In fact, over eight million people call it home. They come from all over the world, which makes New York a very special place. You can hear different languages, eat foods from many countries, and meet people with different customs and traditions.

Famous Places to Visit

New York has many famous places that people like to visit. One of these places is Times Square. It is full of bright lights and big electronic screens. Another famous place is Central Park. This big park is right in the middle of Manhattan, and it’s a place where you can play, walk, or just sit and enjoy nature.

The Statue of Liberty is also here. It was a gift from France and stands on a small island. You can take a ferry to see it up close. It is a symbol of freedom and welcome to people coming to the United States.

Transportation in the City

Getting around New York City is easy because there are many ways to travel. The subway is a train that runs under the ground and can take you to many places quickly. Buses run on the streets, and there are also yellow taxis that you can hail to get a ride.

Culture and Entertainment

New York is also a place where you can find lots of art, music, and theater. There are many museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. These museums have paintings, sculptures, and other artworks.

Broadway is where you can watch plays and musicals. It’s famous all over the world for its shows. There is also music everywhere, from big concerts in places like Madison Square Garden to street musicians playing in subway stations.

New York City is an exciting place with lots to see and do. It’s a city of tall buildings, lots of people, and fun places to visit. Whether you are interested in history, art, or just want to see the sights, New York City has something for everyone. It’s a place that shows the best of what a big city can offer, and that’s why so many people love it.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — New York City — The Popularity of the New York City

The Popularity of The New York City

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Published: Dec 11, 2018

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Famous Writers on New York: Timeless Private Reflections from Diaries, Letters and Personal Essays

By maria popova.

New York City has been the subject of poetic love letters , essayistic homages , emotional cartographies , and artistic tributes . But hardly anything captures the gritty, unfiltered magic of the world’s greatest city than the private recollections of beloved authors, recorded in their journals and correspondence, untainted by the prospect of an evaluating audience. Collected here are some of my favorite such impressions, culled from years of my personal marginalia in famous diaries , letters , and the occasional personal essay.

Mark Twain — in between dispensing advice to little girls and criticizing the popular press — makes a laconic note of New York’s unmanageable scale in an 1867 reflection included in the vintage anthology Mirror For Gotham: New York as Seen by Contemporaries from Dutch Days to the Present ( public library ):

The only trouble about this town is, that it is too large. You cannot accomplish anything in the way of business, you cannot even pay a friendly call, without devoting a whole day to it — that is, what people call a whole day who do not get up early. Many business men only give audience from eleven to one; therefore, if you miss those hours your affair must go over till next day. Now if you make the time at one place, even though you stay only ten or fifteen minutes, you can hardly get to your next point, because so many things and people will attract your attention and your conversation and curiosity, that the other three quarters of that hour will be frittered away. You have but one hour left, and my experience is that a man cannot go anywhere in New York in an hour. The distances are too great — you must have another day to it. If you have got six things to do, you have got to take six days to do them in.

In the recently released Italo Calvino: Letters, 1941–1985 ( public library ) — which also gave us the author’s wisdom on writing , America , and the meaning of life — Italo Calvino writes to his friend Paolo Spriano on Christmas Eve 1959, shortly after receiving a grant from the Ford Foundation to travel around America for six months alongside six other young writers:

New York has swallowed me up like a carnivorous plant swallowing a fly, I have been living a breathless life for fifty days now, here life consists of a series of appointments made a week or a fortnight in advance: lunch, cocktail party, dinner, evening party, these make up the various stages of the day which allow you constantly to meet new people, to make arrangements for other lunches, other dinners, other parties and so on ad infinitum. America (or rather New York, which is something quite separate) is not the land of the unforeseen, but it is the land of the richness of life, of the fullness of every hour in the day, the country which gives you the sense of carrying out a huge amount of activity, even though in fact you achieve very little, the country where solitude is impossible (I must have spent maybe just one evening on my own out of the fifty I have spent here, and that was because my date with the girl that I had arranged for that evening fell through: here you have to order everything in advance, they are buying theater tickets for March now, and a girl, even if she happens to be your girl at present, has to know a week in advance the evenings she is going out with you otherwise she goes out with someone else).

From the fantastic New York Diaries: 1609 to 2009 ( public library ) — one of the best history books of 2012 , which you can sample here — comes this 1947 celebration of New York’s defiant diversity by Simone de Beauvoir :

I’m utterly taken with New York. It’s true that both camps tell me, “New York is not America.” V. irritates me when he declares, “If you like New York, it’s because it’s a European city that’s strayed to the edge of this continent.” It is all too clear that New York is not Europe. But I’m even more distrustful of P., another pro-American Pétain supporter, when he contrasts New York — a city of foreigners and Jews — to the idyllic villages of New England, where the inhabitants are 100 percent American and endowed with patriarchal virtues. We have often heard “the real France” praised this way in contrast to the corruption of Paris.

In another reflection from the same volume, de Beauvoir further marvels at New York’s singular character and medley of complementary contradictions:

In Paris, in Rome, history has permeated the bowels of the ground itself; Paris reaches down into the center of the earth. In New York, even the Battery doesn’t have such deep roots. Beneath the subways, sewers, and heating pipes, the rock is virgin and inhuman. Between this rock and the open sky, Wall Street and Broadway bathe in the shadows of the giant buildings; this morning they belong to nature. The little black church with its cemetery of flat paving stones is as unexpected and touching in the middle of Broadway as a crucifix on a wild ocean beach.

In a 1934 letter to her lifelong friend and then-lover Henry Miller, found in A Literate Passion: Letters of Anaïs Nin & Henry Miller, 1932–1953 ( public library ), Anaïs Nin echoes de Beauvoir’s affection for the city:

I’m in love with N.Y. It matches my mood. I’m not overwhelmed. It is the suitable scene for my ever ever heightened life. I love the proportions, the amplitude, the brilliance, the polish, the solidity. I look up at Radio City insolently and love it. It is all great, and Babylonian. Broadway at night. Cellophane. The newness. The vitality. True, it is only physical. But it’s inspiring. Just bring your own contents, and you create a sparkle of the highest power. I’m not moved, not speechless. I stand straight, tough, and I meet the impact. I feel the glow and the dancing in everything. The radio music in the taxis, scientific magic, which can all be used lyrically. That’s my last word. Give New York to a poet. He can use it. It can be poetized. Or maybe that’s a mania of mine, to poetize. I live lightly, smoothly, actively, ears and eyes wide open, alert, oiled! I feel a kind of exhilaration and the tempo is like that of my blood. I’m at once beyond, over and in New York, tasting it fully.

But five years later, Nin grows diametrically disillusioned and writes in her diary — which also gave us her timeless wisdom on anxiety and love , how emotional excess fuels creativity , and embracing the unfamiliar — she contrasts New York to her native Paris:

In Paris, when entering a room, everyone pays attention, seeks to make you feel welcome, to enter into conversation, is curious, responsive. Here it seems everyone is pretending not to see, hear, or look too intently. The faces reveal no interest, no responsiveness. Overtones are missing. Relationships seem impersonal and everyone conceals his secret life, whereas in Paris it was the exciting substance of our talks, intimate revelations and sharing of experience.

In another diary entry a year later, she revisits the contrast with growing fervor:

New York is the very opposite of Paris. People’s last concern is with intimacy. No attention is given to friendship and its development. Nothing is done to soften the harshness of life itself. There is much talk about the ‘world,’ about millions, groups, but no warmth between human beings. They persecute subjectivity, which is a sense of inner life; an individual’s concern with growth and self-development is frowned upon. Subjectivity seems to be in itself a defect. No praise or compliments are given, because praise is politeness and all politeness is hypocrisy. Americans are proud of telling you only the bad. The ‘never-talk-about-yourself’ taboo is linked with the most candid, unabashed self-seeking, and selfishness.

In a September 22, 1917, letter to her mother and sister — found in the same superb out-of-print anthology that gave us the poet’s reflections on the love of music , her playfully lewd self-portrait , and the story of how she was almost banned from her own graduation — 18-year-old Edna St. Vincent Millay grumbles with her signature wry wit:

There is no air on 5th Avenue, there is nothing but oil & old gasoline & new gasoline — there is never one breath of pure air — nothing but gas, gas, gas — but people who live in New York walk there to get air. Probably they do get it — all of it — & that’s why it blows to me so scummily.

She later adds:

There is a beautiful anonymity about life in New York.

Three years later, in another letter to her mother, Millay grows exasperated with the city:

New York life is getting too congested for me — too many people; I get no time to work.

Washington Irving shares Millay’s frustration with the city’s density. How endearing and comic to consider that, in this 1847 letter to his sister who hadn’t seen her native city in over forty years, he compares New York (current population: 8.3 million) to Frankfurt (current population: 691,000) in an effort to capture its bustling expansiveness:

I often think what a strange world you would find yourself in, if you could revisit your native place, and mingle among your relatives. New York, as you knew it, was a mere corner of the present huge city ; and that corner is all changed, pulled to pieces, burnt down and rebuilt — all but our little native nest in William street, which still retains some of its old features, though those are daily altering. I can hardly realize that, within my term of life, this great crowded metropolis, so full of life, bustle, noise, show, and splendor, was a quiet little city of some fifty or sixty thousand inhabitants. It is really now one of the most racketing cities in the world, and reminds me of one of the great European cities (Frankfort, for instance) in the time of an annual fair. Here it is a fair almost all the year round. For my part, I dread the noise and turmoil of it, and visit it but now and then, preferring the quiet of my country retreat; which shows that the bustling time of life is over with me, and that I am settling down into a sober, quiet, good-for-nothing old gentleman.

Unlike Irving, E. B. White found in the city’s exuberant turmoil cause for awe rather than distress. In Here Is New York ( public library ), one of the best books about Gotham , he captures the city’s vibrant whimsy in his breathlessly beautiful prose:

A poem compresses much in a small space and adds music, thus heightening its meaning. The city is like poetry: it compresses all life, all races and breeds, into a small island and adds music and the accompaniment of internal engines. The island of Manhattan is without any doubt the greatest human concentrate on earth, the poem whose magic is comprehensible to millions of permanent residents but whose full meaning will always remain elusive.

26-year-old Susan Sontag writes in an 1959 diary entry, found in Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947–1963 ( public library ), which also gave us her meditations on art , marriage , life , and the four people any great writer must be :

The ugliness of New York. But I do like it here … In NY sensuality completely turns into sexuality — no objects for the senses to respond to, no beautiful river, houses, people. Awful smells of the street, and dirt … Nothing except eating, if that, and the frenzy of the bed. Adjusting to the city vs. making the city answer better to the self.

Also in New York Diaries , Randy Cohen notes Gotham’s curious customs, which take on a wholly different context than their practice anywhere else:

New York is not Mexico City, but twice a year, we parents at the 96th Street school-bus stop collect money for Mr. R., the driver. “You have to give, or he’ll drop your kid in Times Square alone,” someone jokes. And it is a joke. New York is not Lagos, Mr. R. is a responsible man, and the money is a gift.

But perhaps most poignant and timeless of all is this meta-meditation on writing about New York from The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates ( public library ). In a diary entry dated April 3, 1976, the celebrated author and literary sage reflects:

The impulse of every writer is to create a fictional world that represents the “real” world in abbreviated, heightened, poetic fashion. … Philip Roth’s New York is his own no less than Beckett’s interior landscapes are his own. Otherwise there would be little pleasure in art: it would be a mere attempt at reportage.

New York, to Oates, is the realest and most pleasurable of worlds. In another diary entry several weeks later, she rejoices in the city’s imminent promise:

Leaving tomorrow for my parents’, then to NYC… Poetry reading Monday evening. Then: freedom to explore New York. Our favorite city. The only city.

After the “totally enjoyable, many-faceted visit,” Oates captures New York’s polarizing mesmerism:

The undeniable attraction of that city: its pulse, atmosphere, people. (NYC is much maligned by the rest of the country out of resentment, one suspects. There is only one city in the United States and the others are envious.)

For more on the private joys and tribulations this “only city” has afforded some of literary history’s greatest icons, revisit the wonderful New York Diaries , then celebrate its dimensional magic with these 10 favorite books on Gotham’s glory .

— Published September 17, 2013 — https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/09/17/famous-writers-on-new-york/ —

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About New York City Essay

Crafting an essay on the subject of New York City is both an exhilarating and challenging endeavor. The difficulty lies not in the scarcity of information or inspiration about this iconic metropolis, but rather in the vastness of its multifaceted identity. New York City is a kaleidoscope of cultures, history, architecture, and experiences, making it a daunting task to encapsulate its essence within the confines of an essay.

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Essay Samples on New York City

Comparison of los angeles and the new york city.

New York City and Los Angeles are two major urban communities found inside the US of America. Big and crowded, the urban areas are found in unique states, New York City residing in New York while Los Angeles residing in California. The two of them...

• Los Angeles
• New York City

 Gentrification and the Continuous Impact Throughout New York City Communities 

Generations of all kinds have arrived to this nation with dreams of living a life of success. Gentrification removes lower class citizens, and in turn increases the cost of living and leads to major demographical changes. Gentrification certainly has some advantages, but overall it has...

• Gentrification

The Hardships and Evolution of New York in 1960s

In the 1960s, New York faced economic hardship, crime rates and ethnic tensions increased to its peak. After Lindsay's winning coalition of wealthy Republicans and Liberal Democrats reformed but during his first term, he was only involved in racial politics and seemed to forget completely...

New York City: A City of Skyscrapers

New York, the so-called “City of skyscrapers”, one of the metropolitan wonders of the modern and “ancient” world. Land full of cultural variety, in the sight of people from all over the world to make their dreams come true and succeed. The city that saw...

The Inclusivity and Diversity of the New York City

Everyone has a place that helps bring clarity to their life, and for me that place is New York City. Someone may ask, what is so great about New York City? What draws all these people from around the world to this one spot? I...

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Exploring the History and Establishment of New York City

Throughout the past century and a half, New York has experienced many changes. There are many different significant agents of change that have occurred and affected the region. One of the most important developments that has caused change and impacted New York in numerous ways...

Meaning Of The Natural Imagery

“Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” by Walt Whitman tells the reader about the unified common experiences of humankind. The use of vibrant imagery in nature within the surrounding city symbolizes and links to the experiences of humans living specifically in New York. Imagery can be written in...

• Human Nature

The Rise Of Corporate Agriculture In The USA

The rise of corporate agriculture to dominate the Economics of rural and farm communities has been one of the most devastating events in the United States. As companies expanded many rural areas have suffered economically, politically, and environmentally. It causes bankruptcies and an increase on...

• Factory Farming
• Organic Farming

Racial Disparities In Nypd'S Stop, Question, And Frisk Practices

This article is based on the NYPD officers who have made patterns of stops and have questioned and searched to determine if there were indications of racial disparities taken in the action of officers while conducting these interactions. It talks about the racial disparities in...

• Racial Profiling

Best topics on New York City

1. Comparison Of Los Angeles and the New York City

2.  Gentrification and the Continuous Impact Throughout New York City Communities 

3. The Hardships and Evolution of New York in 1960s

4. New York City: A City of Skyscrapers

5. The Inclusivity and Diversity of the New York City

6. Exploring the History and Establishment of New York City

7. Meaning Of The Natural Imagery

8. The Rise Of Corporate Agriculture In The USA

9. Racial Disparities In Nypd’S Stop, Question, And Frisk Practices

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This Essay From 1949 Is Still The Greatest Love Letter To New York City

Much has been written on the city of New York. It's the eternal backdrop for rom-coms and financial thrillers, the source of Harlem Renaissance poetry and meandering web-series set in Brooklyn. An endless sea of books, films, and blogs have put forth their opinions on the city, each as contradictory and final as the next (it's overrated, lonely, overcrowded, beautiful, dirty, loud, magnificent, and the damned trains don't work). But if there is an apotheosis of writing on the apotheosis of cities, it has to be E.B. White's aptly titled essay-turned-book Here Is New York .

E.B. White is best known today for his children's books, Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan, or for his writing style guide, The Elements of Style (he's the "White" in "Strunk & White"). He was also an essayist for The New Yorker and other publications for over fifty years, and "Here Is New York" might be his most celebrated essay. It's a straightforward stroll through the streets of Manhattan, the quintessential love letter to New York and New Yorkers. And, despite being published in 1948, it might be one of the most haunting pieces of post 9/11 literature ever written.

New York has changed since 1949, of course. America has changed. But to read "Here Is New York" today, it's impossible to shake the vague feeling that E.B. White was some kind of oracle, that he knew precisely which parts of the city would flourish, which would disappear, and how it might feel to live in New York in 2018, under the existential threat of war.

Here Is New York by E.B. White, $13, Amazon

White's essay begins by getting straight to the heart of New York's character:

On any person who desires such queer prizes, New York will bestow the gift of loneliness and the gift of privacy.

It's not quite that simple, of course. White understands that New York is made up of a latticework of neighborhoods, interwoven pockets of community, and that New Yorkers are not really the cold-hearted creatures that slow walking tourists might see them as.

At the same time, though, White revels in New York's ability to cram in several million people and maintain an air of perfect solitude. There is spectacle and excitement if one wants spectacle and excitement, but every event is optional (with the exception, according to White, of the St. Patrick's Day parade, which "hits every New Yorker on the head").

He also understands that there is no single New York, but rather a number of different, overlapping cities, depending on who's looking:

There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter — the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something...Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness; natives give it solidity and continuity; but the settlers give it passion.

All of these conflicting New Yorks manage to meld and coexist, however, in a city that "has been compelled to expand skyward because of the absence of any other direction in which to grow." This cramped profusion of different lives and cultures only adds to the city, in White's opinion:

A poem compresses much in a small space and adds music, thus heightening its meaning. The city is like poetry: it compresses all life, all races and breeds, into a small island and adds music and the accompaniment of internal engines. The island of Manhattan is without any doubt the greatest human concentrate on earth, the poem whose magic is comprehensible to millions of permanent residents but whose full meaning will always remain elusive.

For all his rhapsodizing on the poetry of New York, though, White admits that the city can impart "a feeling of great forlornness or forsakenness," that it can often be "uncomfortable and inconvenient." But, as he puts it, "New Yorkers temperamentally do not crave comfort and convenience — if they did they would live elsewhere.”

After all, "the city makes up for its hazards and deficiencies by supplying its citizens with massive doses of a supplementary vitamin: the sense of belonging to something unique, cosmopolitan, mighty, and unparalleled."

And then there are the last two pages of the essay.

The subtlest change in New York is something people don’t speak much about but that is in everyone’s mind. The city, for the first time in its long history, is destructible. A single flight of planes no bigger than a wedge of geese can quickly end this island fantasy, burn the towers, crumble the bridges, turn the underground passages into lethal chambers, cremate the millions. The intimation of mortality is part of New York now: in the sound of jets overhead, in the black headlines of the latest edition.

White was writing about New York in the aftermath of World War II, after the introduction of the atomic bomb. But his words land squarely in the gut of any New Yorker who lived through 9/11, and of any American who currently lives under a president willing to make nuclear war the subject of angry tweets.

All dwellers in cities must live with the stubborn fact of annihilation; in New York the fact is somewhat more concentrated because of the concentration of the city itself, and because, of all targets, new York has a certain clear priority. In the mind of whatever perverted dreamer might loose the lightning, New York must hold a steady, irresistible charm.

White does not want to comfort his reader or assure the eternal safety of New York. He's not interested in hand-wringing or fear-mongering. He only tries to make sense of the fear. He's here to remind us of the things that must be protected in a time of political turbulence. Turning against each other is not an option for a city build on coexistence.

The city at last perfectly illustrates both the universal dilemma and the general solution, this riddle in steel and stone is at once the perfect target and the perfect demonstration of nonviolence, of racial brotherhood, this lofty target scraping the skies and meeting the destroying planes halfway, home of all people and all nations, capital of everything...

Finally, White compresses his own fear, New York's fear, the world's fear, into one last paragraph:

A block or two west of the new City of Man in Turtle Bay there is an old willow tree that presides over an interior garden. It is a battered tree, long-suffering and much climbed, held together by strands of wire but beloved of those who know it. In a way it symbolizes the city: life under difficulties, growth against odds, sap-rise in the midst of concrete, and the steady reaching for the sun. Whenever I look at it nowadays, and feel the cold shadow of the planes, I think: "This must be saved, this particular thing, this very tree." If it were to go, all would go—this city, this mischievous and marvelous monument which not to look upon would be like death.

From across the gulf of history, writing in New York of the 1940's, he manages to capture the mingled hope and terror that comes with life in any city today.

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How to Describe New York City in a Story

By A.W. Naves

Is your novel set in the heart of New York City ? Capture the attention of your readers by vividly illustrating the city with some great words that we’ve included below. If you need guidance on how to describe New York City in a story, this post is for you.

Lively, animated ; full of energy and life.

“The vibrant streets of New York City were teeming with people, cars, and sounds.”

“The vibrant art scene in NYC attracted artists and art lovers from all over the world.”

How it Adds Description

The word “vibrant” suggests a lively, energetic, and colorful atmosphere that is characteristic of the city. This creates a sense of excitement and anticipation for the reader, setting the stage for an engaging and dynamic narrative. It shows how the city itself helps to drive a character’s motivation and paves the way for their journey toward achieving their goals.

Symbolic, emblematic ; widely recognized and well-established.

“The iconic skyline of New York City is one of the most recognizable in the world.”

“The Statue of Liberty is an iconic symbol of freedom and democracy that is synonymous with New York City.”

The word “iconic” illustrates that the city has unique and recognizable features that make it stand out from other cities. This helps to create a more vivid mental image, creating a sense of place that is firmly rooted in the reader’s mind. This can help to establish a keen sense of atmosphere and provide a backdrop against which the action of the story can take place.

Varied, assorted ; composed of various elements or types.

“New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with people from all walks of life and cultures.”

“The diverse cuisine available reflects the wide range of cultural influences in New York City.”

The word “diverse” conveys the idea that the city is made up of people from a wide range of ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds. By highlighting the diversity, the story can introduce opportunities for characters to encounter new perspectives, forge unexpected connections, and confront challenges related to issues such as identity, prejudice, and social justice.

4. Cosmopolitan

Worldly, sophisticated ; familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures.

“New York City is a cosmopolitan city where you can experience cultures from all over the world.”

“The cosmopolitan vibe of New York City attracts people from all walks of life.”

The word “cosmopolitan” describes the city’s global appeal as a melting pot that has made it a hub for international commerce, art, and politics. This word adds sophistication, emphasizing its global influence and cultural significance which helps to set the stage for the characters’ encounters with a diverse range of people and experiences in the city.

Tough, determined ; showing courage and resolve.

“New York City is a gritty city that has always been defined by its tenacity and determination.”

“The gritty streets of Brooklyn are a testament to the city’s enduring spirit and resilience.”

The word “gritty” shows the city’s unyielding and resilient character, adding a sense of toughness and determination that emphasizes its indomitable spirit. It implies that it is a city where one can encounter both beauty and hardship which can create a sense of tension between the city’s challenges and the protagonist’s goals.

6. Captivating

Fascinating, enchanting ; holding interest or attention.

“The captivating beauty of Central Park is a welcome oasis amid the bustling city.”

“New York City’s captivating skyline is a testament to its architectural achievements.”

The word “captivating” depicts the beauty and allure of the city. It conjures up a place setting that is both enchanting and dynamic, setting the stage for the story’s events to unfold in an environment where anything can happen as the characters are drawn into the majesty of the city around them.

7. Ambitious

Driven, motivated ; having an ardent desire and determination to succeed.

“New York City is an ambitious city that never stops striving for greatness.”

“ Ambitious entrepreneurs flock to New York City’s limitless opportunities.”

The word “ambitious” describes the city’s unyielding pursuit of success and greatness, adding a sense of determination and motivation to the city. This paints the city as a place full of people who strive for success and are driven to achieve their goals. This provides context for the actions of the characters who are influenced by such a dynamic setting.

Ever-changing, evolving ; characterized by constant change or progress.

“New York City is a dynamic city that is always evolving and adapting to new trends.”

“The dynamic culture of New York City is due to a diverse and progressive population.”

The word “dynamic” depicts the constant change, energy, and excitement of the city. It conveys the idea that the city is always evolving and full of activity, which helps create a vivid picture of the urban landscape for the reader. This establishes place as a key element of the narrative, potentially leading to further developments that are tied to the unique character of the city.

9. Electrifying

Exhilarating, exciting ; intensely thrilling.

“New York City’s electrifying nightlife lends to its reputation as the city that never sleeps.”

“The electrifying energy of Times Square is a sight to behold, with its bright lights and bustling crowds.”

The word “electrifying” adds a sense of energy and excitement to the description of the city, creating an image of a bustling metropolis filled with life and activity. This can drive the story forward by setting the tone and atmosphere for the events that take place in the city, making the reader feel more immersed in the story.

10. Resilient

Tough, durable ; able to recover quickly from difficulties.

“New York City’s resilient spirit has allowed it to overcome many challenges over the years.”

“The city’s infrastructure is resilient , with measures in place to prepare for emergencies.”

The word “resilient” illustrates the city’s ability to recover and adapt after facing challenges such as natural disasters, economic downturns, and social conflicts. This suggests that despite the city’s past struggles, it has not only survived but also thrived, creating anticipation and hope that the characters in the story may overcome their own obstacles and find similar success.

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Guest Essay

New York Is Turning 400. We Should Celebrate. But How?

By Russell Shorto

Mr. Shorto is the author of “The Island at the Center of the World” and curator of the exhibit “New York Before New York,” at the New-York Historical Society.

This spring is the 400th anniversary of the founding of New York — or, to be precise, of the Dutch colony that became New York once the English took it over. It’s a noteworthy milestone. That settlement gave rise to a city unencumbered by old ways and powered by pluralism and capitalism: the first modern city, you might say.

Don’t feel bad, though, if you were unaware of the birthday. Organizers of commemorative events have themselves been in a quandary about how to observe it — a quandary that has become familiar in recent years. Yes, New Netherland, the Dutch colony, and New Amsterdam, the city that became New York, created the conditions for New York’s ascent, and helped shape America as a place of tolerance , multiethnicity and free trade. But the Dutch also established slavery in the region and contributed to the removal of Native peoples from their lands. Where in the past we might have highlighted the positives, now the negative elements of that history seem to overshadow them, which may result, paradoxically, in the loss of a valuable opportunity for reflection.

A question that hung in my mind as I curated an exhibit about the founding at the New-York Historical Society continues to vex me, and not just in terms of that event. Are we allowed to celebrate the past anymore? Do we even want to?

Consider that in two years’ time the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and of the founding of our country, will be upon us. Efforts to commemorate the occasion have been slowed, in part, by controversy and confusion because we can’t agree on what our past means. And that’s because we can’t agree on our identity and purpose as a country.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m utterly convinced that the concerted effort of recent years to look deeply into the wrongs of our ancestors is vital. We are going through a national process of reckoning, a societal self-analysis that, if done right, just might result in a more open and honest culture.

But we’ve also become allergic to nuance and complexity. Some seem to feel that championing the achievements of the past means denying the failures. Others fear that to highlight those failures is to undermine the foundation we stand on.

The answer to this conundrum is really quite simple. You do it all. You do your best. In our exhibit, we highlight the contributions of the Dutch — they brought free trade, pluralism and (relative) tolerance, and in so doing they set the template for New York City. At the same time, we give cleareyed attention to the role the Dutch played in the dispossession of the Native people and the introduction of African slavery.

But we don’t stop there. It would be misleading and damaging to leave the impression that the Indigenous and African people in the story had no agency. They were active crafters of that history. Enslaved Black people worked assiduously to win their freedom. Some achieved it and became landowners in what is today Lower Manhattan.

In our exhibit, we feature a petition in which a free Black couple, Emmanuel Pietersz and Dorothea Angola, ask the governing council to guarantee Angola’s adopted son’s freedom. That wasn’t assured in the Dutch system, but they worked the angles, arguing that Angola had raised the boy “with maternal attention and care without having to ask for public assistance.” They won the case.

Members of the Lenape, as well as the powerful Haudenosaunee Confederacy to the north, meanwhile, were businesspeople who had complex relations with the Europeans in New Amsterdam and early New York: trading furs for manufactured goods, at times making war, and at other times negotiating complex peace treaties.

One of the most powerful and fraught items in our exhibit is the nearly 400-year-old letter, on loan from the Dutch National Archives, in which a Dutch official named Pieter Schagen wrote his bosses informing them of the settlement of Manhattan Island. Among other things, he said that their countrymen had bought the island from the Native people for “the value of 60 guilders.” A 19th-century translator would infamously convert that to $24. The Indigenous people probably saw the arrangement as an agreement to share the land. The Dutch went along with that, but eventually reverted to their narrower understanding of real estate transactions and began to push the Lenape aside.

The Schagen letter cuts both ways. It represents the foundation on which New York would be built. Without it, there would be no Broadway, no Wall Street, no Yankee Stadium or Katz’s Deli. It’s also a prime artifact of colonialism.

Such complexity runs through all our history. To add nuance to the exhibit, I invited a group of Lenape chiefs — descendants of the people who very likely took part in that event — to contribute a statement in reaction to the Schagen letter. In the centuries since that time, the Lenape have been systematically abused as America has prospered. The chiefs chose to address their unnamed forebear: “Ancestor, who could have known that a Dutch colonizer’s written words and 60 guilders would bring 400 years of devastation, disease, war, forced removal, oppression, murder, division, suicide and generational trauma for your Lenape people?”

The chiefs took this occasion to assert their people’s presence as part of America’s 21st-century landscape, and to declare that the injustice the letter represents won’t define them: “We will only allow it to highlight the resilience of our spirits, minds and body. We will not allow our stories to be forgotten or erased from history.”

The chiefs’ statement — complex yet packed with feeling — stands in the exhibit beside the historic letter and the brief text I wrote to contextualize it. Viewers can see the actual artifact upon which so much history has been built, read the accompanying texts and react as they see fit.

That is how we can advance the narrative: integrate previously marginalized voices and find our way forward. Some will continue to argue either that history should be put to the purpose of valorizing past events or that its principal aim should be to expose our ancestors’ misdeeds. We need history to support our foundations. But it can only do that with integrity if it exposes the failings.

Maybe the main thing we have to come to terms with in looking back is the simple fact that people of the past were as complex as we are: flawed, scheming, generous, occasionally capable of greatness. Four centuries ago, an interwoven network of them — Europeans, Africans and Native Americans — began something on the island of Manhattan. Appreciating what they did as fully as we can might help us to understand ourselves better. And that would be a cause for celebration.

Russell Shorto ( @RussellShorto ) is the author of “ The Island at the Center of the World ,” director of the New Amsterdam Project at the New-York Historical Society and curator of the exhibit “ New York Before New York .”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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John Dickerson’s Navel Gazing: Remembering Early 1990s New York Political Gabfest

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This episode will be available for free May 4, 2024 In this week’s essay, John discusses an onboarding memo for his assistant Laura, and recounts his early days living and working in New York City. Notebook Entries: Notebook 75 Onboard memo for Laura Notebook 3, page 44. May 1991 June 17 start job. Good stuff Notebook 3, page 46. May 1991 Tips on buying renting in NYC Ask about broker 20s and 30s East side. Murry Hill Live on no major avenue Interest bearing account for security deposit Medeco locks Notebook 4, page 15 Scared standing on 34th and Broadway $6 cab fare Notebook 4, page 42 Getting lost in the village References: The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman Medeco Locks “Here is New York” by E.B. White “Silly Job Interview” - Monty Python John Cleese on Creativity in Management Herbie Hancock: Miles Davis’ Essential Lesson On Mistakes Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. Email us at [email protected] Host John Dickerson

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‘He Is Our Sinatra’: Lin-Manuel Miranda on Why Marc Anthony — and His New Album, ‘Muevense’ — Are So Important (EXCLUSIVE)

By Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda

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New York City is filled with Latin music icons, and legendary singer Marc Anthony and “Hamilton” / “In the Heights”/ “Encanto” composer Lin-Manuel Miranda are two in a long and illustrious legacy. With Anthony’s new album “Muevense” arriving this Friday — and him performing his new single, “Ale, Ale,” at the Latin American Music Awards tonight on Univision — Miranda took the time to pay tribute to “our Sinatra”: the man whose music, as you’ll see below, was the soundtrack to so much of his life.

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It may have been your last Spring Break with your friends, screaming “Voy a reír, voy a bailar…” at the top of your lungs. It may have been blasting “No Me Conoces” during your first heartbreak (“Y AHORA RESULTA QUE NO SOY SUFICIENTE PARA TI, WHOAAA…” you sang to that empty bedroom). Or walking down the aisle to “Vivir Lo Nuestro”/ “Nadie Como Ella,” too many classics to count.

Here’s my Marc Anthony Story. My first album was “Otra Nota,” which I purchased at Nobody Beats The Wiz with my 13th birthday money in 1993, because “Palabras Del Alma” was already so inescapable that I had to hear the rest of the album. Even as a teenager, I knew that the passion and depth in this young man’s voice was beyond anything I’d ever heard in salsa. It forced me to double down on learning to dance salsa, so that by the time “Todo A Su Tiempo” came out in 1995, I was ready to tear up the dance floor at Mayra Linares’ quinceañera with all her gorgeous friends.

I was at the New York Puerto Rican Day Parade in 1997, watching Marc Anthony on the main stage on 86th Street and 5th Avenue, when Tito Puente came by on a passing float. He pointed at Marc, jumped down from his parade float, and took to the mainstage for a blistering timbale solo on the song already in progress, a passing of the torch I’ll never forget.

I went to see Marc Anthony’s Broadway debut in “The Capeman” that same year, and sang “Adios Hermanos” with my friends at graduation.

My mother reports that after she dropped me, her youngest child, off to college in 1998, she listened to “Contra La Corriente” for a month straight. “’YO TRATO, TRATO, TRATO, PERO NO TE OLVIDO…’ Lin-Manuel, I was so depressed at our empty nest and that album got me through it.”

When my son Francisco was born, Marc’s voice was singing on our childbirth playlist: “Si te vas, si te vaaas…”

I could go on, but these notes only have so much space.

All this to say, a new Marc Anthony album is always cause for celebration, and it speaks to the timelessness and consistency of his voice and his musical collaborators that at any moment you can turn on any radio station and within the same commercial-free music block, hear a song he recorded last year next to a song he recorded 30 years ago. He is our Sinatra, and when we hear him, we also hear the echoes of all the unforgettable moments in our own lives.

And now here comes “MUEVENSE,” a new soundtrack for the next chapter in Marc’s life and ours. The blistering title track, “Muevense,” which is all over ONE CHORD, but contains a universe of syncopation and will flood all dance floors. An ex-lover classic in “Punta Cana,” which joins “No Me Conoces,” “Hasta Ayer” and “Y Hubo Alguien” in the pantheon of “You Broke Up With Me and You’ll Always Regret It.”  But “I’m Thriving” anthems, now in bachata mode! “Si Te Enamoro,” headed for your next wedding playlist immediately. “Ojala Te Duela,” a historic foray into mariachi with the great Pepe Aguilar, and confirms what we have always known: that lágrima in Marc’s voice transcends styles and musical boundaries. “En La Distancia,” by the great Colombian songwriter Fonseca, has one of the most exciting musical builds in Marc’s discography. “Ale Ale” is as close to a valedictory speech as you’ll ever hear Marc give, his “My Way.” “A Donde Vamos A Parar” is the breakup/crying on the dancefloor jam you’ve been waiting for, written by Marc’s namesake, the legendary Marco Antonio Solís. The album’s closer, “Amarte A La Antigua,” has the craziest held note into a key change you’ve ever heard, and will be a staple in our lives for years to come.

Thank you, Marc.  Every new album is a promise of more life, more music, and more memories, and “Muevense” is up there with your best. See the rest of you on the dance floor.

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Civics-minded Staten Island teen’s idea to curtail NYC subway crime nets NYPD honor

• Updated: Apr. 28, 2024, 6:37 p.m. |
• Published: Apr. 28, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Paul Chudnovskiy, 18, a resident of Midland Beach, won an NYPD essay contest and was declared honorary commanding officer for a day on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Courtesy of Paul Chudnovskiy) (Courtesy of Paul Chudnovskiy)

• Luke Peteley | [email protected]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Staten Island teen was among a select group of adolescents honored for their distinguished entries in an NYPD essay contest recently.

Paul Chudnovskiy, 18, a senior at New Dorp High School, like many other teens, enjoys spending time with friends, staying in shape, blasting his favorite tunes, and dabbling in the latest video games. But it’s his avid devotion to his community of Midland Beach and his upmost respect for the NYPD that drove this budding leader to participate in the 2024 Police Commissioner for a Day Essay Contest.

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