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NYC lives on the fumes of its former reputation. Corporate chains have changed the city into basically a shopping mall. When I was a kid I was drawn to NYC by

NYC lives on the fumes of its former reputation. Corporate chains have changed the city into basically a shopping mall. When I was a kid I was drawn to NYC by the little hole in the wall restaurants, delis, coffee shops, funky stores. All owned and frequented by colorful local people. Technically these things still exist but they're mostly corporate chain versions of what used to be there. The unique experiences that the city still has to offer are too expensive and exclusive to be accessible. Ironically, if I want unique food or local weirdness nowadays, I can find more of it in my lame hometown than I can in most cities.

pempem 1y ago
Name that town!! -- There is a growing divide and there are many towns (and many parts of metropolises) where its a weird class inverted food desert. There are tons of boutiques and vintage shops, and more tatoo shops than you'd think is necessary. Maybe there's a upvamped "bodega" with fishwife tinned fish, and apples for .80 each. "Main street"s that seems pulled out of Disney's imagination and Rick Caruso's execution. Six coffee shops and a bunch of restaurants but no grocery without driving, no affordable gas without driving, no public schools without driving etc.
cschep 1y ago
This isn't a good take. When was the last time you lived in NYC? Surely maybe there were glory days at one point, but there used to be a LOT more crime too. NYC is still one of the all time great cities.