Halloween in Manhattan

Halloween Parade

"Halloween in Manhattan is really no different from any other day. It merely gives license to indulge in one's fantasies without too much disapproval."
Arthur Shafer, From a Burning House

Once Upon a Time

Statue of Liberty

"This was always the immigrant city. This is where he big lady stands by the golden door. This is the once-upon-a-time place, the start of countless stories. New York is still somewhere you have to achieve."
A.A. Gill, To America with Love

Making a Mark

East 23rd

"No one makes a mark on New York, and New York leaves its mark on everyone."
Pico Iyer, Tropical Classical

Sinking Like a Rock

Manhattan's West Side

"I'll take Manhattan in a garbage bag
with Latin written on it that says
'it's hard to give a shit these days'
Manhattan's sinking like a rock
into the filthy Hudson what a shock
they wrote a book about it
they said it was like ancient Rome."
Lou Reed, Romeo Had Juliette

Mongrel

"A great mongrel city, New York is an easy place to feel at home."
Caryl Phillips, Conversations with Caryl Phillips

The Truth

"Nothing can prepare the uninitiated for the truth of New York City."
Therese Anne Fowler, Z

New York Dream

"I believe in New Yorkers. Whether they've ever questioned the dream in which they live, I wouldn't know, because I won't ever dare ask that question."
Dylan Thomas, A Casebook on Dylan Thomas

Problem

"That's the problem with being born in New York, the old newsman observed a little sadly. You've got no New York to run away to."
Amor Towles, Rules of Civility

New York Black

East 19th

"This is New York, Jim, we wear black; and that's only until something darker comes along."
Marsha Bickner (Christine Baranski), Welcome to New York

New York Lessons

"New York lesson 1 – never look lost. Lesson 2 – forget hallowed silences. It’s the right of all Americans to talk at the tops of their voices."
Alison Fell, The Element -Inth in Greek

Most Attractive People

Dumbo

"The really nice New Yorkers are the most attractive people in America. And one can live so well in New York."
David Graham Phillips, The Fashionable Adventures of Joshua Craig

A Dragon

"I learned something about New York that day — if you are feeling broken and splintered, the city will rise up like a dragon jolted from sleep and trample you."
Patti Davis, A House of Secrets

Opportunity

NYC ferry

"One of the great features of New York is, you can do anything here. This is the Land of Opportunity, capital L, capital O. Here you can get paid to do just about anything you can think of."
Michael Cunningham, A Home at the End of the World

Crowds, Noise, Hassle

"Someone is a New Yorker if they know that even with all the stank, the crowds, the noise, the high cost of living, and the hassle, that it's worth the ... Shit — What the hell am I doing here?"
Rachel Dratch, New York Magazine

Venice

Central Park

"In some ways, New York affects me like Venice. It's in danger of dying, so there's something tender about it."
Paul Mazursky, quoted in Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning

Constant Lover

"My New York City talks to me all the time, whispers in my ear, keeps me grounded, thrills me, makes the improbable seem possible, is my constant lover."
Annette Meyers, I'll Take Manhattan

Too Complex

"New York is just too big, too complex to be covered by any one writer. At best he can only offer his little tribute to something he loves, but which is beyond him."
Robert Moses, Public Works: A Dangerous Trade

Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland statue

"L.A. is like Oz and New York is like Wonderland. In L.A., little men behind curtains fool you with big pictures and in New York, you either feel really big or really small."
Yongsoo Park, Boy Genius

Holy City

Saint John the Divine

"New York City is very holy. It embodies all that America worships. It represents a Mecca for Americans, for the American mores, for those who are American at heart."
Jack Wolf, Reflection on the Golden River

Unthoughtful

"We're a thoughtful people. We're not New Yorkers."
Garrison Keillor, Wobegon Boy

Fear and Grandeur

"New York offered an irresistible cocktail of fear and grandeur. It lured as much by its dangers and squalor as by its riches."
L.B. Deyo, Invisible Frontier

Deadline

Daily News headquarters

"New York is one huge impending deadline and a barrage of new assignments, and if there is anyplace that will make you feel guilty for not getting around to something, it's New York."
Cindy Chupack, The Between Boyfriends Book

Future Through a Window

New York City

"Arriving by plane I've always had the same impression of entering into the future through a window. When I'm asked what cities I prefer, I put New York at a level with Venice, Ghent, Florence, Jerusalem."
François Mitterrand,  François Mitterrand: A Very French President

Born in New York

"Whoever is born in New York is ill-equipped to deal with any other city: all other cities seem, at best, a mistake, and, at worst, a fraud."
James Baldwin, Just Above My Head

Living Library

Library Way

"Everybody in New York seems to come from somewhere else. It gives the city its energy and a living library of stories."
Fiona Buckland, Impossible Dance

Shot of Expresso

Coffee grains at Samad's Gourmet

"New York was thrilling. Sure, people on the sidewalk were sort of pushy, and they rarely made eye contact, but that was because they were ambitious and driven. The city's energy was palpable. Just to be outside, to walk down Broadway, was like drinking a shot of expresso."
Sophie Flack, Bunheads

Abusive Relationship

"New York is a tough motherfucker to quit. It's like an abusive relationship with someone really cute... with money."
Junot Diaz, Vibe

New York Disease

Mount Sinai Hospital

"Already I was possessed of the New York disease: a feverish desire to appear knowing, no matter how deep one's ignorance."
Mary Cantwell, Manhattan Memoir

Hustlers and Go-Getters

"New York is traditional New York, you know what I'm saying? It's the stomping ground of the hustlers and go-getters."
Busta Rhymes, Time magazine

Blood Pressure

"Trying to fit life into spaces too small for it takes a toll on civilization. Blood pressure among New Yorkers is probably always high. One goes through life most days with a temperature just one degree below the boiling point."
Russell Baker, So This is Depravity

Binge City

East 23rd St.

"They should really consider renaming New York 'Binge City.' It destroys me, but I have fun."
Gina Gershon, Bikini magazine