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Because we have the most iconic skyline
Because of Manhattan’s grid
Because our bars are open until 4am
Because the Manhattan cocktail was invented here, and we’d like to see someone try to make it better than we do
Because New Yorkers live longer than almost anyone else
Because, believe it or not, you can still find a rent-stabilized apartment in NYC
Because we invented hip-hop and still do it better than any other city
Because our LGBT scene is actually an LGBT scene
Because bands blow up after playing here
Because New York is the home of the musical—which we still do better than anyone else in the world
Because in the summer, you can see tons of world-class music and performance art without spending a dime
Because of bodega cats
Because it’s impossible to feel nerdy here
Because unlike other metros, our subway runs 24/7
Because even though some cities claim to have better coffee, New York has the most coffee
Because NYC is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world—and we’re working to keep it that way
Because space constraints mean we get creative with our cultural hot spots
Because you can eat pretty much anything at any time
Because NYC inspired Bob Dylan—and some downtown movement called punk
Because Sesame Street was invented and takes place here
Because there’s room for innovation and tradition to coexist
Because the power of our pizza draws in thousands—including former heads of state—to sample both classic and innovative pies
Because, for as little as $50, you can own a piece of New York City. Sort of
Because you can see A-list comics for cheap in intimate spaces nearly every night of the week
Our warhorses take a licking and keep on ticking
Because we have both a publishing capital (Manhattan) and a writers’ residential capital (Brooklyn)
Because the city is in the throes of an independent-bookstore renaissance
Because, for most New Yorkers, Jean-Luc Picard is just another dude who lives in Park Slope
Because New York City is responsible for some of the world’s most useful—and, okay, frivolous—inventions
Because other cities often copy projects that started or were perfected here—look at the High Line
Because the city’s water supply gives New York some of the best-tasting tap water around
Because you can travel the world without leaving the boroughs
Because we have the most theaters in the world—by a long shot
Because New York City is the most recognizable pop-culture reference point
Because NYC has the second-largest Jewish population in the world—a massive influence on the city’s identity
Because our lack of space promotes a creatively willful ignorance
Because New York is truly a 24-hour city
Because countless songwriters created their masterpieces here
Because of the breadth of our movie screenings—NYC has an array of venues catering to every different taste
Because you can hear first-rate jazz performers—both seasoned veterans and hot contenders—playing live every day of the week, 365 days a year
Because NYC has the best menswear designers
Because you can visit independent shops, high-end designers and legendary department stores in one day
Because the absurd and the mundane coexist harmoniously here
Because New York was a pioneer in modern engineering
Because NYC is the media epicenter of the world, with enough room for both staid institutions and innovative publications
Because indie and public radio still have a place here
Because we have a gay funplex in midtown
Because we have more culture than anyone could possibly see in one week—maybe even one lifetime
Because New Yorkers come together—in ways small and large—after crises
Because we’re arrogant enough to do this list in the first place
Flip through Time Out’s list of facts that prove why NYC is better than every other city out there, all in one handy slide show.
Discover Time Out original video