Oasis

Central Park

"Central Park must be one of the only places in Manhattan that doesn't feel like it's owned by anyone or named after anyone or making anyone a profit. It's this oasis of pure existence in a realm of sustenance and maintenance."
David Levithan, Someday

Smallness

Dumbo

"New Yorkers love the bigness -- the skyscrapers, the freedom, the lights. But they also love it when they can carve out some smallness for themselves. When the guy at the corner store knows which newspaper you want. When the barista has your order ready before you open your mouth. When you start to recognize the people in your orbit, and you know that, say, if you're waiting for the subway at eight fifteen on the dot, odds are the redhead with the red umbrella is going to be there too."
Andrea Cremer and David Levithan, Invisibility

One Story Among Millions

Financial District

"New York always lives up to its reputation. The buildings really are that tall. The lights really are that bright. There's truly a story on every corner. But it still might be a shock. To realize you are just one story walking among millions. To not feel the bright lights even as they fill the air. To see the tall buildings and only feel a deep longing for the stars."
Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares