“The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.”

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby on Manhattan

Queensborough Bridge and Midtown Manhattan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Corner NYC (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Midtown Manhattan from Liberty Harbor in Weehawken New Jersey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Diverse City: Quixotic, Concrete, and Everything in Between

Manhattan is the city of dreams and harsh reality. It's a place where idealism converges fundamental realism. The tough and the gentle. Cold and sentimental. Manhattan is the embodiment of city life in the United States. Name a city in America and one of the top ten answers will be New York City. It's very probable that the "Big Apple" will be the number one answer. Yeah, the Big Apple--New York, New York. That's Manhattan to youse guys.

"What Does Manhattan Say to You?" was the question that I asked back in January. The answers were many. Manhattan said a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Here are a few of those answers:

Crystal Collier said:

Yeah... Manhattan brings back memories--little kids, bumper-car parking, brighter lights than Vegas, tourism, statue of liberty, Chinatown, amazing food, and smoke. You can't get away from the smoking in NYC. Ever.
1. Sherry Ellisused her imagination to bring the city to life in her mind:
2. I have never been to Manhattan, but when I hear the word, I think of a bustling place, rich with people, activities, and art.
3. Jamie Dorner remembered:
4. I love watching the sunrise at Rockefeller Center. Of my many Manhattan memories, that's my favorite. The city that never sleeps takes long periods of "just resting my eyes." I've got a few pics from a trip a decade ago.
5. Cathy Kennedy is another who relies on her mind's eye to see the city:
6. Lee, I have not been to Manhattan, but the first things that come to mind in no particular order are skyscrapers, city lights, the privileged, and crime. I think it would be an interesting place to visit someday.
7. And finally there were some observations from Stephen T. McCarthy who co-hosts the bimonthly Battle of the Bands:
8. Here's what I think of when I hear the word "Manhattan"...
- The song which was the inspiration for the Francis Ford Coppola movie 'ONE FROM THE HEART'. (Catch that first sentence.)
- I hate the Yankees.
- I hate the Mets a wee bit less.
That's all the word "Manhattan" makes me think of.
Well... one more thing...
It's damned difficult to find a chocolate bunny in Manhattan on Easter Sunday! And if you do find one, they'll gouge you on the price! (But you'll buy it anyway because... well... Easter, chocolate bunny.)

Thanks Stephen T McCarthy! Love it! As always you add some unique twists. I would have never thought of the chocolate bunny angle. But come to think of it I had a similar experience in Toronto one Easter back in the 1980's so I totally relate to this story. Sometimes it's not easy to find a chocolate bunny when you really crave one.

If someone asked you to name a city in the U.S, what would likely be your first answer? If you were vacationing in Manhattan what would be the main things you would want to see? Have you ever craved something and couldn't find it right away?