New York, New York, A Wonderful Town

We just came back from a 16 Day visit to New York City and I am amazed at how much it has changed since we last visited several years ago. I must say that Mayor Bloomberg and his administration did an outstanding job cleaning up NYC, especially the Times Square Broadway District. I hardly recognize as it has changed so much. All of the New York City streets are safe to walk at night. Every area of the city has gone through an advanced gentrification phase. Neighborhoods that have been positively transformed include the Flatiron district, Hells Kitchen, Lower East Side, Alphabetland, Chinatown, Little Italy. The streets are way more cleaner thatn I remember it, there is a larger Police presence on the streets, and small restaurants and shops are still flourishing. International tourism appears to be on the rise judging from the crowded streets near times square and the hotel elevators. We even checked out Chelsea Piers and the new paved bicycle path that runs up and down the West Side Highway, complete with shrubbery and recently planted trees. New York...The City That Never Sleeps. We miss it a lot and wax nostalgic everytime we are reminded that we cannot get access to a type of food that is served only in New York City. The Hustle and the Bustle, the edginess and the sheer mass of humanity spilling out on all of the city streets during morning and evening rush hours. The lingering smell of Sabrett Hot Dogs, Gray's Papaya, Shiskebob, Sausage and Pepper heros, Knishes and pretzels from push carrt street vendors. It was really nice to get our fix of the favorite local foods. Veniero's Italian Bakery and Manganaro's Hero Boy were big hits with the kids.