New York is a city that has captured the hearts of visitors from around the world. Once you’ve visited, you’ll never want to leave. Whether you’re living in the Big Apple for a few months as an international intern, or simply passing through, it’ll take no more than a few hours to figure out why New York is the best. The “City That Never Sleeps” is truly magical, and holds something special for everyone.
Did you know there are 8.4 million people in New York? This makes it one of America's most populated cities. That means around 1 in 38 people living in the U.S, live in New York. With that many people around, you might even bump into famous locals like Robert de Niro and Judd Apatow to name just two!
Many singers have been inspired by this incredible city and have songs dedicated to New York. From Frank Sinatra's jazz single, 'New York, New York' to Taylor Swift's upbeat 'Welcome to New York', we can promise at least one of these songs will be playing through your mind as you arrive in NYC for your internship.
But why has New York so famous? How has it captured people's hearts and imaginations?
Here are 11 reasons New York City is so amazing:
1. Good food
From food trucks on the streets of Brooklyn to a Michelin-rated restaurant, New York City is home to some of the best food in the world, from all over the globe. For an NYC classic, try either the classic New York cheesecake, a pastrami and corned beef sandwich, or a coal-oven pizza.
2. The shopping
New York is truly a shopaholic’s dream. Manhattan is home to some of the best department stores in the world. Whether scouting out Bloomingdales, the boutiques lining Fifth Avenue, or the Green Flea Market, there’s always something to buy and sell in New York City.
3. The cultural diversity
Some 800 languages are spoken in New York City, making it one of the most linguistically diverse places on the planet. Around 36% of the city’s population is foreign-born, coming from the likes of the Dominican Republic, China, Jamaica, Guyana, Mexico, Ecuador, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, among hundreds of other countries. No matter where you come from, you'll never feel alone in New York!
4. The literary scene
The list of New York’s literary heroes is extensive and includes Jonathan Franzen, Walt Whitman, and Nora Ephron. A long-time literary scene and a publishing hub, it’s no wonder some of the best words ever written were written in New York. This also makes it the perfect place to do a journalism, publishing, & media internship!
5. Museums
New York City is home to some of the best museums in the world. In terms of visual arts, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, and Brooklyn Museum holds world-famous works that will melt art lovers' hearts. If you're less into the visual arts, then you'll love the Museum of Natural History and the amazing displays they have there.
6. Central Park
One of the most famous parks in the world, complete with a zoo, beloved restaurant, ponds, lakes, sculptures, and more, Central Park has everything a park could offer. Stretching 843 acres, Central Park remains a favorite escape from Manhattan’s urban jungle. It's the perfect place for a relaxed picnic!
7. Broadway
“There’s nothing that can match Broadway for stature and dignity,” said Sammy Davis Jr. about New York’s famous theatre district, which features plays put on by the best performers and directors in the world. New York City is truly the mecca of live theater, with amazing plays and musicals across the city, not just on Broadway.
8. Film and television
Though L.A. is the big city for the silver screen, there are plenty of television shows and movies being shot in New York City. Live shows like The Daily Show, The Late Show, and The Tonight Show are all taped in studios based in New York. Meanwhile, thousands of major feature films and independent flicks, along with hundreds of television series have been filmed in NYC. Why not use the city as a bustling up to do an internship in TV and film?
9. Fashion
With the largest concentration of fashion designers and retailers in the world, it’s no surprise New York City is a hub for the international fashion industry. Some 6% of the city’s workforce work in the fashion industry. You can see it reflected on Manhattan streets, stomping grounds of the world’s best-dressed. If you're thinking of doing a fashion internship, you couldn't go anywhere better than New York!
10. The laughs
New York City is a comedian’s mecca. Jon Stewart, Tina Fey, and Amy Schumer… all belly-bustingly funny and based in New York City. Alongside these famous, established comedians are the thousands of up-and-coming comic artists trying to make their dreams come true on stand-up stages across the city. There’s always a comedy show somewhere waiting for your chuckles in NYC.
11. Wall Street
A prominent global city and the heart of capitalism, New York is a vital city for industry. The city’s financial sector is especially powerful, with Wall Street being recognized as the financial center of the globe. Two of the world’s top stock exchanges are based in New York City; the Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange. If you're passionate about finance and accounting, there's no place that compares to the energy of New York.
52 companies in the Fortune 500 list are based in New York, including JPMorgan-Chase, Verizon, Morgan Stanley, PepsiCo, American Express, IBM, Macy's, and Pfizer. With so many amazing companies and inspiring people working for each of them, New York will be your professional haven!
