New York City, the Big Apple! The NYC is home to numerous points of interest including the Empire State Building, Rockefeller City, Time Square, The Statue of Liberty, and the famous Julliard School of Drama, Dance and Music. However, New York is also a global power city with a significant impact on commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment. Home to the headquarters of the UN (United Nations), New York is an important center for international diplomacy and has been called, “the cultural and financial capital of the world.”
Founded in 1624, the first permanent Dutch settlement was established at Fort Orange (now Albany). One year later Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island from the Indians for trinkets and founded the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (now New York City). Since then, New York has prospered in the most economically powerful city and the leading financial center in the WORLD!
With more than 10 million residents New York is the most populous city in the US. “The Big Apple”, consists of five boroughs – Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Due to as many as 800 languages spoken in New York, it is called the, “most linguistically” diverse city on the planet. Because of this melting pot (a term coined to describe immigrant neighborhoods on the Lower East Side) of different cultures, traditions, languages, and origins the NYC has become a place to not only love but respect.
Much like the MMA and Coney Island! Metropolitan Museum of Art, it is the largest museum in the US. Located at 1000 5th Avenue, the MMA contains more than 2 million pieces of art – including Monet, Van Gogh, Warhol, Renoir, Rembrandt, and Matisse. With FREE admission to all children 12 and under it is a must see! Coney Island, situated in the southwest corner in Brooklyn, is a historical place for the eye. The first sight that greeted immigrants arriving to New York in the early 1900’s, Coney Island has become a featured treasure in many films, television shows, cartoons, and theatrical plays.
FOOD ANYONE? Pies ‘n’ Thighs, originally a drunk-food closet at the back of a bar, has grown into an active restaurant. With their chicken biscuit, fried catfish and wafer covered banana cream pie, YOU CAN’T LOOSE!
Pok Pok Ny features Thai quality food that will not break the bank. With nothing over $16, foodies can indulge in pork curry, rotisserie hen, or chicken curry noodle soup. For those who cater to the vegan lifestyle, Dirt Candy provides vegan version for everything on the menu. Since 2003 Candle 79- located at 154 East 79th Street at Lexington and the sister restaurant to Candle Café, has established itself for its meat-free gourmet comfort food.
From its graffiti tagged subways to its opulent skyscrapers, “The Big Apple” has become a megacity-full of life, love, and longevity! So in the words of Charlie Chaplin, [it’s] the glamour of it all!” Welcome to NEW YORK!