ilovetotravel29

Aside from certain obvious landmarks like The Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, etc., what are some spots that symbolize the heart and soul of NYC?

I have added St. Patrick's Cathedral to my list of places to see.

Can you name other areas of interest that make NYC, NYC?

MikeT

1. The Appolo Theatre and surrounding neighrborhood in Harlem on W. 125th St.

2. The Stonewall Bar and surrounding neighborhood in Greenwich Village

3. Union Square Market on weekends

4. Grand Central Station

MikeT

oops, that's Apollo. In Harlem, also see Striver's Row and Abyssininian Baptist Church

DebitNM

Wall Street, South Street Seaport, Central Park [Strawberry Fields & The Dakota if you are a John Lennon fan], United Nations, Time Square, Herald Square, The Met, Carnegie Hall, American Museum of Natural History, MOMA, Tiffany's, Bronx Zoo & Botanicla Gardens,City Hall, Staten Island Ferry, Brooklyn Bridge and on and on...

Hope this helps...
Debi

Gekko

New York City has as many hearts as it has people.

As a New Yorker, the heart and soul of NYC is where New Yorkers live, the residential neighborhoods, and we all share one big backyard, Central Park.

If I had to name just one "heart," it is Central Park, without a doubt.

starrsville

I like MikeT's ideas. I think his is the best advice.

Gekko

Why are tourist sites considered by some to be the "heart & soul" of New York City?

Just the opposite is more likely the truth, in this New Yorkers' opinion.

kcapuani

Others to consider:
Site of the World Trade Center

Chelsea Market

Washington Sq Park

White Horse Tavern - Hudson at 11th St - where Dylan Thomas drank himself to death

Gekko is right. For me, it is the neighborhoods that make NYC so intriguing.

MikeT

"For me, it is the neighborhoods that make NYC so intriguing."

I concur. It's also a good reason to stray out of Manhattan and take a gander at places like Williamsburg or Astoria. My concern when I see people doing the tourist site death marches is they forget to look around and take in the scenery because they have to get that slice of Pizza at 2:47 because they need to be at Staten Island Ferry at 3:16.

Even looking for a restaurant in a non-tourist neighborhood gets you off the path and allows you to see what NYC is really like.

starrsville

I do enjoy the "neighborhoods" and the neighborhood experience when I've stayed with friends who live in Manhattan.

But, come on folks! It's NYC! Tourists want to do the tourist things! There's nothing wrong with that!

I enjoy a quiet evening of family time on the UWS with take-out Thai. But, I do love the excitement and vibe of Midtown and (gasp!) Times Square.

lizziea06

I know it's a little romanticized, but I see the soul of the city whenever I have to take the subway anywhere early in the morning (~6-7 AM). That's when you see the people that work the night shift (hospitals, janitors, security guards, etc.) and are heading home. I think these are the people that are really the vital citizens that keep our city running and make it the vibrant, 24-hour place that it is. Okay, so I'm cheesy

starrsville

Not cheesy at all, lizzie. Early mornings can be amazing. I remember my surprise at watching the vendor carts coming out of their little garages near my friend's apartment as I walked the pup in the morning. I had never even thought about where the pretzel/soda/coffee carts spent the night!

One of my favorite memories was watching my pup's total confusion over the smells and street people during early morning walks from the Dauphine Orleans in New Orleans. Totally different cities in the wee hours

DebitNM

gekko -- I am also a NYer [who until 5 years moved to the SW --ok, there were a few out-of-state- years in between too], and I agree with you that it is the people who call it home -- live and work and play in NYC -- that make it the place it is.

You can find the heart of NYC on the subway, on the piers watching the hopeful fishermen with their fishing poles; it is in every bodega, asphalt basketball court, each pocket park and the schoolyards, grabbing a cup of coffee and a corner diner or all night place ~o) or having a beer at a local bar . You just have to keep your eyes and ears open and you can't miss the heart of NYC. It is the city that never sleeps so you can see these things 24/7 too!

That being said, I think the OP was looking for the kinds of things that other replies gave [and my replies too] based on their other recent NYC posts.

And being a tourist in NYC is one of the most fun things to be! Even when I lived there, it was great doing all the tourist things...just because you live there doesn't mean you can have a great time!

Debi

Gekko

Plenty of threads on this forum address the top tourist attractions in New York City.

If that is the same list as the "heart & soul," well, then . . .

nytraveler

There are so many places to list it's really impossible to choose one.

But if forced to give one I would list Central Park - since it's so different from the way many tourists think about New York - but is really very much the real New York - a combination of the natural, the cultural (Met, plays and concerts in the park), the educational (Natural History and Park Ranger activities) plus all of the family and athletic activities (including zoo, carousel, strawberry fields, too many others to name).

(There's a reason that much of the most expensive residential real estate surrounds the Park.)