One of my favorite things about New York is its variety. Each district of the city has its own distinct feeling and character. A quick ride on the subway can get you to what feels like a different city entirely.

The Upper East Side, is characterized by old money, beautiful buildings, clean streets, impossibly expensive apartments and townhouses, Gossip Girl, the MET, and all around high society. Just about everything except breathing is out of my price range (seriously, even bottled water can be up to four dollars), but sometimes it’s nice to go for a stroll, and breathe in the smell of crotchety old women walking their dogs.

Next, to the west is Central Park. Though not an official district per se, it’s the oasis in the middle of this thriving metropolis. It’s an excellent place to go for a boat ride, a hike (yes, it’s that big), to lay out in the sun, a game of Frisbee, a game of people-watching, a game of people-watching watching a group of monks playing a game of Frisbee, a picnic, anything involving ice cream, a first date, or a wedding. You can’t come to New York and not fall in love with Central Park. Imagine standing in the middle of green expanding in every direction until the sea of trees hit the skyscrapers in the distance.  Sheep Meadow is pure love.

Sheep Meadow in Central Park, photo courtesy of www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com

Below Central Park is Midtown. Here you can find: Time Square, a shock inducing amount of electronic billboards, the Condé Nast Building (home to GQ, every other major publication in America, and my internship), the original Saks Fifth Avenue, every fabulous and expensive designer store from Chanel to Versace, and the worst traffic you’ve ever seen. Oh, and let’s not forget the famed theatres of Broadway.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with my home: the Lower East Side. Now one of the city’s up-and-coming trend spots, LES has a great deal to offer, including but not limited to: art galleries, the Williamsburg bridge, the street that never sleeps (also known as Ludlow), alphabet city, a plethora of little vintage and designer shops, the best crepes in Manhattan, a clear path to Chinatown, and an adorable park/public gardening space where children and roosters roam free.

Though crammed together on a surprisingly small island, each district of the city has its own unique personality. These are just a few places with which I’ve recently become acquainted—and I can’t wait to get to know the rest.

-Will Defebaugh, Creative Director

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