Right then. It’s Memorial Day, probably *the* worst time imaginable to be driving anywhere, but I’m heading to New York at precisely 2pm and can’t wait. Hence the italics and asterisks. Anyway, I have always been thrilled, energized and astounded by New York. Ever since I was little and we’d visit my grandparents in New Jersey on vacation, I’ve always been drawn to the City. It would be a massive treat to pop into New York on a day trip with my family, and I would walk about, big eyed and excitedly talking everyone’s ears off. Yet I’d feel so truly alive once emerging from the sweaty confines of Penn Station, or the cocoon-like, subway stations, up on to the hot, glamourous streets.

And by “glamourous” I don’t mean 5th avenue; I’ve always been drawn to Downtown’s charm, it’s blend of old and new and hints of the 1920s and 1930s.

As an adult, I still love New York. I still thrill to its brilliance and am charmed by that which I always have – it’s energy, uniqueness and sheer volume of people, emotions, thoughts, vibes, personalities all crammed onto one island. Yes, not everything in New York is wonderful; the poverty divide is hideous, it’s incredibly sad to see many homeless people, and the shell of the World Trade Center still presents a reminder of that horrible tragedy.

By the same token, the city boasts stunning architecture, for example the Chrysler Building or The Empire State Building; has a diverse theater community, from Broadway to teeny, random theaters in the Village; presents a range of musical talent anywhere and everywhere, from the famous to the completely unknown; great bars, restaurants (an entire BLOCK of Indian restaurants) nightlife and people; the best pizza on the planet; crazy huge streets; even crazier taxis and traffic; emits this sense of adventure; art galleries; and is, im my opinion, just as F. Scott Fitzgerald described, “glittering and white” despite all the changes, shifts and cultural randomness.