Despite knowing the evils of New York City, my dreams and fantasies have always situated themselves in its great eclectic environment. In fact, the character of New York City has been drilled into my persona so powerfully, that it plays a dominant role in shaping my greatly aspired future dreams. Unlike most of the nation, my American Dream resides in the busy metropolitan streets of NYC and hence, NYC is definitely my Eden.

The urban and fast paced nature of NYC has raised me into a human that cannot survive without its unique atmosphere moving me through life everyday. NYC’s lively and moving personality can very well be my shot of caffeine, because if my town were to be quiet and asleep at 8am, you can expect me to stay in bed as well. I speak from dreadful experience and confidently know that I cannot survive in unbearably dreary ambience that exists in rural areas or even other cities. I truthfully reveal that even my decision to stay in New York for college was heavily driven by my personal zeal for the city itself. Thus, although the city sinks in garbage, rodents, and poverty at many areas and intersections, the life of NYC blows life into me. I am willingly to, and presently do swallow the flaws of New York to make my Utopia come to life in this bustling city that does take pride in making so many dreams come true.

To add onto the homely and needy feeling I get from NYC, I must confess that I’m a true tourist painted in a dweller’s costume. The physical beauty of NYC still forces my jaw to drop and my eyes to widen today. I gaze at the city’s skyscrapers as if I’ve never seen such wonders. The bright splendor of Times Square still leaves me speechless, running around taking pictures. I get goose bumps when I see the annual Independence Day fireworks or the New Year’s Big Apple. I love staring at NYC’s skyline from the bridge and the water that runs by it. I can taste, smell, and see the cultures of the world in this small yet, diversely gifted city. I am so amazed at times, that I can’t come to believe I’ve been born and raised by the very city that inspires such awe within myself as well the entire world.  Of course, just like all humans aren’t perfect, my home city does not claim to stand immune to flaws. However, there obviously is a lot that NYC has and offers for which tourists, commuters, and even dwellers are enticed to it. Unlike so many cities, NYC gives opportunities to rise from poverty and this fact alone should be capable of changing many ‘Inferno New York’ viewpoints into those of ‘New York, the utopia’.

Realistically speaking, why would so many ethnic people chose to stay in New York City, if the city was indeed inferno? Aside from its countless luxuries, New York City provides basic necessitates in the most convenient way. Subways and buses run daily so you can get to work without needing a car. Schools and colleges pack the city so you can afford and attend with having to travel too far. Ethnic shops and restaurants occupy the streets so you can feel like you’re home despite being in a foreign country. All sorts of stores, brands, shows, and events take place in NYC so you don’t miss out on anything. NYC is not the dream of millions for no reason. Considering all of this, I’d be a fool to call NYC my inferno. Although I say that I’m still in the process of reaching my life goals and thus reaching Eden in that sense, I am already in Eden seeing that NYC gives me so much. Perhaps the character of New York City clicks with mine too well or I talk from complete ignorance of the supposed peace that exists in rural towns, I confidently label NYC as my Eden because it is a place that gives me peace.

Eden? Inferno? What about a middle ground? Something like purgatory. Okay, maybe not that drastic either. In all seriousness I don’t think this a fair question. For someone like me, who has never really left New York for long, judging the place I’ve lived my life thus far isn’t easy. Especially when the choices are so…is strong even the right word?

Eden- New York could be my Eden because it’s so beautiful. Beautifully physically, filled with beautiful people and beautiful opportunities. The amount of people it is possible to bump into in the city is amazing. You can be walking down 5th avenue and trip into Lady Gaga, or even Will Smith. The opportunities is probably my favorite part of New York. There’s always something to do. You can volunteer somewhere or go see art somewhere else. It’s seriously impressive. Also, Macaulay would fit into this rant on opportunities. Without Macaulay I would not have seen half or any of the shows I was allowed to see (for free) through Arts in New York City. The opera, Intringulis, and even meeting Jesse Eisenberg can not compare to the cultural isolation I would have felt had I actually went to Geneseo.

Inferno- The thing about New York is that it’s a perpetual loop of desire. Every one of it’s inhabitants are always wanting more from its already large pool of opportunities. No one here is ever entirely happy with their success or drive for it. Also, this desire also leaks over to the fact that no one ever wishes to leave. If we’re forced to, our desire to return is so strong it almost can’t be overcome. I know that every single time I leave New York for more than a week I miss it’s face paced streets and constant bustle, but when I’m here I can’t stand it.

My feelings are so completely mixed as to whether New York would be my Eden of Inferno. The facts are strong in either direction. I can get lost in the crowd and hate it, or dwell in the crowd and relish the moment. At the moment, I’d consider New York my Eden, but I know that can change in a second.

Do I consider New York as my eden? or my inferno? That’s a good question, one I’ve never really thought about even though I’ve lived in this city my whole life. I attempted to write this blog a few times but did not know how to address this question. After pondering over this question throughout the whole week, and keeping my eyes open in terms of what this city has to offer, I would definitely consider New York as my eden.

One of the things that makes it  an eden for me is definitely the diversity that NYC has to offer. Everywhere I go, I come across people of so many different backgrounds and religions; something that I can’t imagine living without. Some people prefer to stick with their own communities so they feel as if they’re in their own country while others like to associate with people of other cultures. My parents are friendly people and have become friendly with our neighbors of Italian descent, but at the end of the day they prefer to stick with their own communities because they know what the culture is like and feel more comfortable in it. I, on the other hand have learned so much about people because of the diversity and come to be a more open and accepting person, as a result. The diversity found in NYC can’t be found anywhere else. If I were living somewhere in Utah, I would definitely condemn homosexuality and I would probably be a homophobe. But because I live in NYC. I’ve met and become friends with people who are gay or bisexual and honestly, I couldn’t care less. I’ve gotten to know who they are as people and learned that their sexual orientation doesn’t define them. I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet these people if it weren’t for NYC and I’m not ashamed to call them my friends.

Another reason I find NYC to be a very desirable place is the transportation system. It makes it so easy for people to get from one place to another especially for those who lack a car, permit or license. It’s a fairly cheap system of transportation with so many different trains and buses, and the ferry. I have no idea how I would get to my friend’s house or to school if it wasn’t for the MTA. My dad would want to kill me if I asked him to drive me somewhere everyday. NYC definitely provides me with the opportunity of being independent in the sense that I can go anywhere and not have to rely on anyone for a ride. Independence is something that is very attractive to a lot of people.

Most importantly, what makes NYC my eden is the opportunities that can be found. I know the reason my dad came to the United States was because he felt it was the best place to be successful, support a family, and have a decent living especially for someone without a very strong academic background. My dad’s traveled to many different countries like Turkey, Germany, and London to name a few and he chose to live in this city. He realized this city has so much to offer and that’s why he chose to stay here.I’ve asked him a few times why he chose NYC and he always shrugs his shoulders and says it’s just better. I appreciate this city so much more after having been to Pakistan and seeing the living conditions there. It’s so much worse off there and I’m glad I live in such a city that offers people so many opportunities to make it big and be successful. People always dream of coming to New York City to earn fame and fortune because this city presents people with so many different possibilities to be prosperous.

For me, NYC will always be my eden because there’s something about this city that makes me love it so much. I can never get bored of this city; there’s always so much to do and see – something that will hopefully never change. I definitely plan on traveling and visiting other countries but I can’t imagine calling another city home.

Hmmm, is New York my Eden? Or my Inferno? I have never really thought about this question, maybe because of the fact that I have never had a permanent residence anywhere else other than New York. I’ve visited and stayed for brief periods in many other locations. I occasionally visit my cousin’s house in Long Island and in Canada but I only go there for them. I don’t mind visiting places such as these but would not want to live in such place because I find it too boring. There are only a couple of houses on each block and there isn’t much life after five or six o’ clock. I really can’t imagine myself living in a quiet rural town in North Dakota where the population of the town is only five hundred people. New York is simply, unique. It is different than any other city or place in the world; it is a cultural melting pot, and a place of vast opportunity that you won’t find anywhere else.

Although New York can be Eden to many, it can also be an Inferno. Frank Sinatra famously sang in his song, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere”. I believe in this because it can get really rough in New York when you first arrive and have nowhere to go to. Many people have to start from the bottom of the ladder, with no job, no money, and no place to live, similar to the situation of Maria in Maria Full of Grace. This city will eat you up in a second if you don’t embrace it with passion and vigor. Fortunately for me, my parents had to endure through all that when I was little, and didn’t understand what was going on around me. I am really grateful to my parents for all that they have done to survive in New York, and all the opportunities they have provided me, so hopefully when the time comes, I will be able to repay them.

One aspect of New York, that I really do appreciate, as others have mentioned, would be the public transportation system. Sure, at times I get angry when there are train delays and when it takes thirty minutes just for one bus to arrive but, I’ve learned that I really should appreciate the public transportation system because only in New York will you be able to take, at most, a one and a half hour train/bus ride to heaven. Public transportation pretty much makes cars obsolete. You can go anywhere you want, Times Square, the World Trade Center, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, or one of the most grand train stations in the world, Penn station. Who wouldn’t love having the opportunity to visit all these places without the use of a car and getting stuck in miles of New York City traffic?

I never really appreciated New York for what it is until this semester of college. I took for granted everything we have but now, I’ve realized that New York truly is unique because of it’s ability to sustain everything. It’s ability to accompany, and thrive off of all of the cultural diversity. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world, other than New York. Call me a dreamer but n ten years from now, I imagine myself living in a luxurious apartment on Fifth Avenue. I would undoubtedly say that New York is my Eden.

One night I had a dream my parents picked up all our belongings and moved us upstate. We relocated to a small town surrounded by miles and miles of trees. In this town there was one big supermarket, one high school, and everyone knew everybody else’s name and everybody else’s business. I cried and fought and begged with my parents to move back. I wanted to move back to Queens where it’s scary to walk alone at night. To Queens where the buses don’t come on time, but run on sporadic schedules put together by bored drivers. And most importantly I wanted to simply be in New York City, I wanted to be back in the loudness, back in the smelliness of it all.

I finally awoke from my nightmare, and my misery quickly dissipated. I was in Queens, it was five in the morning, and I could hear the low, heavy hum of the Q84 as it chugged past my bedroom window. Perfect.

As you can tell, New York City is easily my Eden. I love this place. I love visiting Times Square and watching the tourists “ooh” and “ahh” over the buildings I’ve seen a bajillion times. I love visiting Central Park and watching the classy Manhattan residents picking up after their dogs. I even appreciate the homeless and the guilt they must instill in us in order to get through the days.

I love you New York.

I love your potholes. I love your streetlights, I love your trains and your buses. I love your yellow cabs, your dollar cabs, and all your other shady cabs. I love your brightly lit plazas and your dark side streets. I love your cute convenient delis, and the foreign, friendly owners who work inside. I love your bold, obnoxious teenagers. Even the way they heckle and jeer on the buses, I especially love the way they jeer. Because they’re careless, because they’re fearless.

I love you New York.

I love your market places. I love the way your venders argue non-stop on the price of mangoes: “two for five dollars.” I love the colorful scarves for sale on the streets of Brooklyn, and the hats from the carts in Flushing, and the gloves outside Queens Center. I love the books sold by the friendly old men outside the Metropolitan Museum. I love the fact that delicious shish kebabs are available almost anywhere.

And honestly New York, don’t mind what I said earlier. I really don’t mind walking alone at night that much, mace should solve mishaps that could happen in the dark. And if I ever miss a bus, another one will surely come no matter how late. Loudness is preferred. Smell pass. Because really…

I love you New York. <3

I’ve lived in New York my entire life, so I really can’t imagine living anywhere else. Some may associate New York as a very dangerous or frustrating place (with all the rude people and traffic), but I personally think it’s one of the greatest places to live in. New York is fun, lively, convenient, cultural, diverse, and full of opportunities… The list just goes on and on. How can you ever get bored in a city like this? There is so much to do! For the past decade or so, I’ve lived in Queens. Compared to the city, it’s a lot less crowded (except in Flushing). I love living in Queens though. Living in a quiet neighborhood allows me to appreciate the city more, since I was only able to go on occasion.

My favorite part of New York City is definitely the Broadway shows. I saw my first show when I was about thirteen. My family and I watched Beauty and the Beast and I was completely fascinated with the incredible setting, costumes, acting, and of course, the singing. Ever since that show, I became a Broadway fanatic, always looking for opportunities to persuade my mother to buy me tickets to another show. There is such a variety in theater and other forms of entertainment in New York. There are works of art everywhere in our city, from the skyscrapers to the random street performances. New York also has so many famous landmarks such as Rockefeller Center, Columbus Circle and Central Park. There are a ton of places to explore and learn from.

Another great thing about New York is the FOOD. There are restaurants here from practically every culture in the world. French, Russian, Indian, Chinese restaurants can all be found on the same block! Where else can you find such variety? In Chinatown, there is an endless supply of Chinese food. Walk a few blocks down, and you’re in Little Italy, where you can have an elaborate Italian feast. I don’t know about you, but I find this pretty amazing.

Other than its cultural diversity, New York is also known for its convenient public transportation system. The MTA service is usually pretty reliable for me. I’m able to get to wherever I need to go quite easily. I could literally go anywhere I desire with the swipe of a MetroCard. The trains and buses come so frequently; I barely have to wait! The only negative outcome from this is that I rely a bit too much on public transportation and have no motivation to get my driver’s license. But on the other hand, why would I want to drive and deal with all that traffic when I can just step onto a bus or train and let MTA do the work? (and gas is EXPENSIVE these days!)

I know New York may be a bit overcrowded and dirty sometimes, but I think the qualities above make up for these flaws. I still can’t imagine living anywhere other than New York. There is so much to experience here, and so much more I have to learn about this city…and that’s why I’m in Macaulay!

It seems needless to say that for the elite New York City is their Eden. It’s their magically place filled with anything their little wealthy hearts desire. Following this logic, one would think that those who are not as affluent would be less satisfied with the city and view it more as an inferno. However, for me, the awe of the city prevails despite my lack of a penthouse on Central Park West.

Being that I don’t even have my permit, and my family doesn’t have a car, one of the primary things that I love about the city is the independence that public transportation grants me. Yes, I have MANY grievances with the always late, and not always reliable service of the MTA, but despite these reservations, I love the city’s public transit system. With busses and trains, I don’t have to worry about having a ride to and from work, school, or any place for that matter. All I need is my beautiful unlimited metrocard (which I have no idea how I survived without before this semester), and a somewhat decent sense of direction, and then I’m on my way. Not to mention the entertainment that the people on public transit provide. Where else is it acceptable to fall asleep on a stranger or break out your mariachi band?

I also love New York for its diversity and easy access. Walking less than a block from my house, I can find a Laundromat, deli, school (unfortunately not mine), a couple restaurants and more. For someone who is an avid walker like myself, New York is the ideal location. I remember talking to a friend of mine about this about a month ago, and she was telling me that where she lives (Oklahoma) there aren’t even paved sidewalks for people to walk on because it is expected that everyone just own their own car. If New York was like that, there is no way in hell (or in my case Eden) that I would be able to stay sane.

The variety of culture draws me to life in New York as well. It is one thing to learn about a nation’s dress, food, and customs in a textbook, but a completely different experience to learn about such things first hand. I’m so grateful that I do not live in a place where everyone shares the same beliefs, customs, religion, and ethnicity because quite frankly I think that would be INCREDIBLY BORING. I love the freedom that one is given in New York City to explore new things, and the generally accepting nature of those that live here.

Yes, New York has its flaws. There are many who are crazed by the frantic and overall cramped experience of the city, but I love it. The hustle and bustle keeps me feeling engaged in the world around me, and even if I don’t get my penthouse any time soon, I still have may Eden, my New York.

“And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof.” (Genesis 2:19)

As someone who has always learned Bible in school, the comparison of New York to Eden brings up some interesting imagery in my mind. The verse above refers to Adam naming all the animals. Although God had created them before, and they had been around, Adam was given the job of assigning names to each creature. In a strange way, this immediately reminded me of New York. Although structurally the city has been around for quite a while, it’s up to man to “name” it. The city is what people see it as. Times Square could be a quasi-Red Light District, or a tourist mecca. TriBeCa could be an area for factories, or a new trendy neighborhood. The Village could be a place for artists, or a college town. Our views of New York are ever changing and subjective.

That being said, on a less literal note, New York is definitely my Eden. As a kid, going to New York was a fun and exciting activity. Sure, we might have to visit my great-grandmother (which at the time felt like a chore), but after we could walk around the streets, get a Mr. Softee ice cream, maybe find an interesting fair going on.

As I got older, New York was an escape from suburbia. Rather than being stuck in Bergenfield New Jersey with very few options, groups of friends would make the trip to the city. Bright lights always greeted us as we exited Port Authority and the possibilities seemed endless. (Although I will say these outings usually ended up consisting of shopping and eating, things we very well could have done in New Jersey).

Family trips to New York also became more exciting as we learned about Student Rush Tickets. Over the years, I have been to more Broadway shows than I can remember and I have loved every minute of it. For the low price of $25, I watched shows in awe, bopping my head to the music, trying to guess the plot twists, and coveting every costume.

Even now that I live in NYC, the magic hasn’t disappeared. I love exploring new places that Macaulay sends me. This year, I’ve seen even more theaters, finally got to go inside Lincoln Center, and spent a lot more time in Midtown than I would have guessed. Because NYC is so big, there are always new places to explore and interesting things to discover. Just today, I was in the Financial District for the first time. Walking around I saw adorable restaurants, buildings, and even a bar that’s been around since 1817.

I think New York can be compared to an Eden in that it holds everything you need to survive. It is filled with a variety of food and entertainment. It is an almost universal dream to live and New York and just be able to take advantage of all that it holds. If I could spend every day wandering through the city finding interesting art, food, performances, and history, I would be so happy.

“I want to be a part of it, New York, New York…” Well Frankie Boy, I gotta admit, I completely agree with you there. I mean, honestly is there anywhere else in the world you’d rather be? I grew up on Long Island, been to Albany, Binghamton, and now I live in queens. I have to admit, I am simply infatuated with New York.

As a musician, businessman, actor, writer, whatever your profession, if you want to make it, come to New York. It’s the epicenter of all things great, the true place of opportunity. A place where struggling, out of work musicians aren’t looked upon as lazy, but as the norm! So come on hippies, bohemians and beatniks, and unite!

But it’s not just because of all the connections and jobs one can attain just by standing on the streets of New York City (and no, not that kind of job, but there are plenty of those here too), but it’s also because of the magic that hangs in the air. There is the statue of liberty, the empire state building, the centennial ball, the tree in Rockefeller center, approximately three million museums, madison square garden, and, my personal favorite, the NYC Subway. With a swipe of that mystical yellow card your shuttling off at unimaginable speeds to any of the aforementioned places.

I know that I am relatively new to New York City having only lived in Queens since September, but regardless I am still a little kid whenever I hop onto the subway (so much fun!) or step onto a bus (okay, not so much fun).

I remember the first time I went onto the long island railroad and exited into penn station. Everyone was running around, headed to some destination at a speed unreal to a mere mortal such as myself. I had to force myself through the throng of businessmen and women, giving alms to every singer in the place because I was not yet accustomed to them. To me, Penn Station was chaos, pandemoious and complete awesomeness rolled into one. But it was nothing compared with the streets of manhattan.

I remember the first time I was on a subway, and one of my closest friends lost balance and fell on top of me, causing me to slam into the crowd of people in front of me and causing a domino effect on the C train.

I remember the first time I went to Carnegie hall, touching the stage with the hopes that maybe some of its magic would rub off on me.

I remember going to the planetarium, and shuttling off into space.

I remember how amazing it felt to sit in the audience of my first broadway show (which was by the way The Producers, if you have never seen it, you should probably do it because it is a fantastic show!)

I remember, I remember, I remember…

All of my greatest memories take place in New York, whether it be in the city or in my hometown of mastic. Sure, I may be biased, living in New York my whole life, but I’ve been outside the state and trust me, it doesn’t get much better than this.

So, yeah, It’s safe to say that when I wear one of those infamous shirts sporting the logo I love New York, it’s because I truly, truly mean it.

OK, so in class I said that none of the movies we’ve seen represents “my New York”.  That’s because in all the movies we watched, the people all lived in New York, but I’m from Long Island and I’ve lived there essentially my whole life, meaning I’m just a visitor.  I actually was born in the Bronx and lived there until I was three, so I have vague, random memories of living in an apartment; mainly of cutting my own hair while watching Cinderella and subsequently hiding in the hallway.  There was one scene in a movie that I really related to, though, and that was the scene from In America when Christy and Ariel first see New York—the fabled lights, colors, and sounds that just enter your very being when you first see them.  That is my New York.

I have so many wonderful memories of New York throughout my life, mainly because going into the city was always a special occasion.  My earliest memory of going into Manhattan is when I was in fourth grade or so and my parents took me to the American Girl Store.  It was a little girl’s paradise—or Eden, if you will—and I even remember picking out a skirt to wear especially for the occasion.  As I’ve gotten older my New York experiences have changed as well.  The summer before seventh grade my parents finally decided that my brother and I were old enough to appreciate going to a baseball game, and we went to Yankee Stadium for the first time.  You never forget the first time you see that impossibly green, perfectly manicured grass.  For my thirteenth birthday I was in my huge Beatles/John Lennon/phase, and I made a special request to go to Strawberry Fields.  (For the record, I now believe Paul McCartney to be the superior musician).

When I was in tenth grade I entered my Broadway phase, and my first show was Hairspray with my mom.  I had also begun my enduring love of all things Monty Python, a love I inherited from my dad, so he and I went to see Spamalot.  For Christmas my brother Tommy gave me my greatest Christmas surprise ever—tickets for the two of us to see Wicked!  Then in March my English class went to see In the Heights, and in May I saw Hair for my sixteenth birthday with some of my friends.  I must’ve exhausted the family funds, because I haven’t seen a new show since (unless you count 2 years ago when I saw West Side Story with my English class, but that was so wretched that I try not to).

This year I’ve begun some completely new New York experiences—mainly having to go to the city versus wanting to go.  In August I actually began to have some serious doubts about whether I was cut out to go to a school that required going into New York so much.  I cried every night for a week before I moved in to my dorm and wondered why I didn’t go to Marist or something else in its own little bubble.  I had never even taken the Long Island Railroad without my parents or friends.  But over the summer I began to learn my way around and I’ve been getting better at it each time I do it—although I still hate buses, and I think I always will.

Despite my hatred of the MTA, I’m still (to borrow a word from Zohar) enchanted by New York City each time I go.  It just has this magic feeling about it, like this is the place to be if you want to get something done and make an impact on the world.  I feel like being in New York City brings out qualities in people that they may not have known they had.  I know that for me, having to go in for school on a regular basis has given me a much better sense of direction, as well as feelings of accomplishment an independence.  And it’s not just regular folks like me that feel that extra little swagger in their step!  Just look at Jackie O!  When her second husband died, instead of kicking back in Cape Cod, she decided it was time to really do something with her life.  She moved to New York City and became an editor/activist, and you can see the lasting mark she left on our city every time you walk into Grand Central Station.  Even her style changed and became more confident—pantsuits, scarves, and her famous sunglasses replaced the A-line dresses and pearls she wore as First Lady.

Like in any relationship, New York and I are sometimes at odds.  There are definitely times when I feel like too much is going on and I would rather stay home in my little Long Island cocoon.  But when I really sit down and think about all of the memories I have in the city, and all of the things I still want to do, I really couldn’t picture myself living anywhere else in the world.  Despite our little fight over the summer where I probably would’ve called it the most horrible inferno I ever deluded myself into thinking I could live in, I think it’s pretty safe to say that New York is still my Eden.