8 Undeniable Reasons New York City Will Always Be Better Than Boston
New York City and Boston have been considered the two leading cities of the East Coast for as long as anyone can remember.
They serve as two shining beacons of America.
Boston is recognized as one of the oldest and most colonial cities in America, given its Revolutionary-Era roots.
NYC, on the other hand, has served as the city of hope and freedom that attracted millions to Ellis Island in hopes of achieving the American Dream.
While they are often compared given their geographical location, the two are vastly different.
Not to mention, the sports rivalry between the two of them is uncanny (the Yankees vs. the Red Sox, the Giants vs. the Patriots).
Growing up, I always lived less than an hour away from NYC.
Both of my parents lived and met in the city before moving to Connecticut, and it's where my older sister currently lives.
It has always been a part of my roots.
However, many years ago, when faced with the decision of where I wanted to go to college, I decided to go to Boston.
At this point in my life, I saw my roots as too big, too loud and too dirty.
Before touring the various colleges in Boston, I had never been to "Beantown."
So, it was a fresh and new experience.
I thought I would love Boston and be overly happy with my choice, but I was very wrong.
You see, it's true what they say: There is no place like New York City.
While I do admit Boston has a lot of great perks, she can barely compete with New York.
It has become very clear to me over my four years here that NYC blows Boston out of the water.
Here are eight undeniable reasons why The Big Apple is better than Beantown:
1. Discounted Liquor
As a wild 20-something-year-old, this actually matters to me.
In Boston, there is a law prohibiting any liquor discounts. This means no boozy brunch or happy hour.
In NYC, liquor is constantly being discounted.
Boozy Sunday brunch and much needed happy hours can be found on pretty much every corner of every street.
The equation is simple: More liquor for less cost equals more fun than you could ever have in Boston.
2. Underground Transportation
The MTA subway is 24/7.
While I don't always recommend riding the New York subway at 4 am by yourself, the option is always there.
In Boston, MBTA's T train closes roughly around 2 am.
That means if you don't catch the last ride at 2 am, you're either stuck there for the night or forced to take a highly surge-priced Uber.
3. Closing Time
This connects back to the closing time of the T.
In Boston, all bars, restaurants and clubs close at 2 am on the weekends, 1 am on weekdays.
If you're lucky enough to find something (a restaurant, diner, bar, etc.) that's open 24 hours (which is very rare in Beantown), they aren't allowed to serve liquor past said 2 am curfew. Bleh.
The Big Apple, on the other hand, is the city that never sleeps.
Bars and clubs are open all hours of the night, last call isn't until 4 am and 24-hour dining is pretty much available on every corner and cross street.
No time constraints, no curfews, no problem.
4. Culture
The culture in NYC is off the charts.
It has been called the “Cultural Capital of the World” due to its financial, fashion, artistic and musical cultural markets.
Boston may have history, but some of the most influential artists and musicians have come right out of the heart of Manhattan.
With a significantly higher population, NYC has a significantly higher cultural offering.
It has more museums, more galleries and more venues than Boston could ever dream of.
5. Theater
New York City has Broadway. Boston doesn't.
Enough said.
6. Pop Culture Reference Point
Manhattan is the most recognizable and probably most used pop culture location.
Think of all of the shows and movies that have been set in NYC: "Sex and the City," "30 Rock," "Friends," "The Wolf of Wall Street," "Seinfeld," "American Psycho," "Breakfast at Tiffany's," etc.
We'd be here forever if I kept listening them.
The point is NYC is iconic, but Boston? Not so much.
7. Pizza
Don't even try to challenge this one, Boston.
Your pizza tastes like cardboard in comparison to authentic New York City pizza.
8. Opportunity
While I'm sure there are a myriad of opportunities in Boston, there's nothing quite like New York when it comes to making it big and reaching your dreams.
You want to a billionaire stockbroker? You go to Wall Street.
You want to be a famous theatrical actress? You go to Broadway.
You want to start your own fashion line? You go to Madison.
New York City has everything one could ever imagine and more.
Some may say that Boston can offer these things too, but can it really?
Boston is both limited in its size and resources.
Most corporations found in Boston have their headquarters in NYC.
If you think about it, Boston is like New York City's kid sister.
And let's be honest: Both Frank Sinatra and Jay Z said it best: “If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere,” and “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't do. Now you're in New York.”
New York City will forever be seen as the city of opportunity.
