New York City

Overview

A city with an unbelievable homelessness problem. I got the chance to revisit after 10 years, and I was very excited before the trip. Now I'm glad I saw it again, but it has changed enormously in the past decade. The number of homeless people has increased dramatically. When I mentioned this to friends living in California, they said "you should see it here, it's much worse," but after visiting Los Angeles and San Francisco right after, I can confirm that New York is currently in much worse shape. People blame COVID heavily, but I think the full legalization of marijuana hasn't helped either. It's incredible what has happened to this gorgeous city. All my occasional daydreams about maybe moving here someday have been completely reset to zero.

What to See

A perfect city to visit but one with far too many questions about actually living in. Best of luck to those who do. For visitors, here are my recommendations:

• Top of the Rock is ideal for a city panorama. You get a view that includes the Empire State Building, it's not too crowded, and with Central Park right behind you, the scenery is much more enjoyable.
• Seeing the Statue of Liberty from afar is absolutely not enough. On my previous visit I only saw it from a distance, this time I went to the island and I'm so glad I did. Both the island atmosphere and the city skyline from the ferry are beautiful. Just know that the ferries get insanely crowded. Go as early as possible. Avoid weekends if you can.
• If you're heading to Brooklyn, absolutely eat at Grimaldi's Pizza. Incredible flavor. Instead of waiting in line for a table, get takeaway and eat on the benches facing the Manhattan skyline, much better.
• Times Square area might be central for accommodation, but the homelessness problem is even worse there. Staying further downtown is more sensible.
• The High Line is an absolutely wonderful experience, don't leave without seeing it.
• Try to catch at least one Brooklyn show, the productions are superb.
• Washington Square Park has turned into a pretty sketchy scene, not worth the detour.
• When exploring the Upper West Side, Zabar's and Levain Bakery are great stops. The American Museum of Natural History is an absolute must-see. Despite not being a big museum person, I went for the second time. The meteor and dinosaur floors especially are superb.
• If you're a How I Met Your Mother fan, stop by McGee's Pub for a beer. Don't set expectations too high, but visiting the bar that inspired the show, and where the cast themselves used to hang out, is a nice feeling.
• If you're into space, the Intrepid Museum has a real Space Shuttle. Plus you can tour the aircraft carrier and see vintage war planes.
• Little Italy and Chinatown aren't that special either. If your time is limited, skip them. Walking around the Upper West Side or Chelsea is more enjoyable instead.