New York, New York - a little humble homage paid....

Sparky Kronkite

Spam Eater Extraordinare'
Joined
Aug 15, 2000
Posts
8,921
Lot's of folks love to hate New York City.

They might not really know why. They might just hate the sports fans. They might just hate the accent of New Yorkers. They might just hate the fact that they've had to hear about, "the greatest city, the Capitol of the World," for such a good part of their lives.

I am not really a New Yorker. They say you have to live here for 10 years before you can all yourself that. I have been here nearly 7. But I feel it. I feel like I'm a New Yorker now.

But I am a reluctant New Yorker. Because I'm actually a Mid-Western/Southern guy - transferred here. I probably would have never come here on my own accord. I knew it was tough. I knew it was expensive. I knew it was vastly different from what I had become used to. But, I did not know its history.

I am still no expert on its history. However, over time, living here the past 6 years - I have learned some of it - and.......

Even though I am not a New Yorker, even though I am not from here, even though I actually thought and still do think - that one must be nuts to want to live here - I acknowledge.......

That it actually is the greatest city ever. It is the Capitol of the Free World. The most important city on the Globe.

It's actually undeniable. Look it up. It's all there in the history books. No other city comes close.

Sorry about that, I too love so many other cities and towns around the US and the World. But no matter of their great import to history, no matter how nice of a place, no matter what size - nothing, no other city compares to New York City. Not one.

I am confused about leaving here. But we leave iwithbetter hopes for our family. I wish only good luck upon all New Yorkers, every color, every religion, every shape and size New Yorker.

We actually wish we could stay for ever. It's that great, it's that important of a place in our society.

New York City, like it or not - there is no more important place on our earth today. That's what makes it such a target.

I hope you all - prejudices asside - learn to appreciate it forwhat it is, for all that it is - for all that it means to the history of our country, for all that it means to the history of Freedom.

New York, New York - the greatest place now, the greatest in our most recent place past and the greatest place in the near foreseeable future.

It's undeniable.
 
Last edited:
Great post

Great Post, Sparky.

I have only been to the city twice, but yes, it is the city you love to hate. It stands for all of the things you mentioned and did so before September 11th.
 
I've never been there. I suspect though that you're right in everything you said.

Where are you off to next?

And just what part of the midwest/south are you from originally? I never got that phone call, so I'll have to imagine the accent. :(
 
Uh-oh. You're inspiring me to wax poetic about Gotham, Sparky.

I remember the first time I went out on the road with a show, and really saw the country for the first time. I made it to most every major city in the U.S., and was surprised that not one even came close to New York -- not even Chicago.

I like Chicago. I liked Cincinnati, even. San Francisco is fantastic. Boston can't be beat.

But New York is more than bigger, older, and with more museums. It's a daily experience. It's an assault of stimuli. It's a connection to the rest of the planet. It's Metropolis. It's small town. It's the essense of neighborhood.

You can visit. You can live there. But, Sparky's right -- it really does take about 10 years before you feel like a New Yorker, before you "get" it.

I live in Hollywood, now -- but I'll always be a New Yorker.

Ah, hell, I haven't even started to go on and on about the city (good AND bad), and I won't bore you all with my prose. I just wanted to echo Sparks.
 
New York has always been on my list of the places I am going to travel to. Was before Sept. 11 and still is. :)
 
Yeah, love it or hate it......

And the hate it part puzzles me - I mean why? Because of what you've read? Or seen on NYPD Blue, on the TV? Or because your current life style is so far removed? Or is it because of money? Because "it actually is" the biggest, the most - of all cities? And your's isn't and that pisses you off in some way? Or is what you know about NY just not your speed so - you can't understand why anyone would want "that speed" so they must be nuts and you are not nuts?

I say this - if you come to New York and let a New Yorker set your agenda - and have an open mind about learning about the city - you will find it fasinating at the least and/or will concur with Dix and I at the most.

I reccomend a New Yorker guide because it's fucking intimidating here. I think that 10 live-in experience is what it takes for most folks to get comfortable with living here. 10 years!!!!! You can imagine the first hour!!!! Holy shit was I scared. But thrilled at the same time too.

New York is a roller coaster of life and there's no escaping without leaving. It's a complex system of life that takes time to learn. It's the ultimate complex video game of life. You've got to want it - want to learn - want to know - want to drink it in, the good and the bad - or you will simply shrink and go away grumbling negativity.

And that's understood - it's not for everyone. Not to live here and often not to visit. But it is undeniable. It is in your face. It is a challenge and because of all that - it is wonderful and it is the most important city on this planet.

And I would think that anyone - anyone with any brains - would at the very least want to know something about this great city and what made it so.

It's fucking incredible. I will miss living here.
 
My husband was in Watertown NY for almost 3 years when he was in the Army.

After his wife and him split up, he spent every weekend exploring New York City. He says it was quite the experience.

Sparky, thanks for this thread. You have inspired me to seriously look into going. I have my Search engine doing some work today. Looking up all kinds of things about New York, places I would like to go.


:)
 
My son teaches in NYC and he loves it...

I don't expect that he'll ever return to Michigan. The town has everything anyone could ever ask for, anytime you want it. I love it too, but I can only take it in small doses at a time.

I love the energy of the city and the great diversity of the people. I love the shops and the street markets. I love the neighborhoods and the restaurants. I especially love the traffic and the masses of people on the streets and the fact that I can come and go as I please.

I wish I could draw a big heart, because that's what I think best displays what NYC is all about.The city has heart!!! Not many cities would have survived a disaster like 9-11 with as much class as the Big Apple. And there is no other country in the world that could better serve as a site for a city like NYC than the good ole U.S. of A.

blue
 
Start spreadin' the news ....

Having lived here for just 2 1/2 years, I'm still amazed by the mixture of cultures, cuisine, languages and the diverse blend of ethnic backgrounds. You'd think all the differences would cause some confusion, but everybody blends in beautifully! There are drawbacks, much like any big city, but in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks, I've noticed the good feelings towards "my fellowman" emerging more steadily day by day. I have yet to learn and explore much of what the Big Apple has to offer, but in time.

There's the joke about being a New Yorker when:
You live in a building with a larger population than most American towns
Your doorman is Russian
your grocer is Korean
your deli man is Israeli
your building super is Italian
your laundry guy is Chinese
your favorite bartender is Irish
your favorite diner owner is Greek
the watchseller on your corner is Senegalese
your last cabbie was Pakistani
your newsstand guy is Indian


http://www.aol.com/aim/buddyicons/gr/iloveny.gif
 
Last edited:
A WASP am I. And.....

Quite a minority here.

I love it.

When I find myself in Indianapolis, or Richmond, or Gettysbury PA - I look around and think - what's wrong with this?

It's all white. Weird!

For me anyway.
 
Back
Top