I love New York because

I love New York in the rain.  I love the relative solitude rain brings to a city that never sleeps.  I love the clapping of thunder overlaid on honking taxi horns and sirens.  I love the way rain smells, especially when combined with pavement.  I love to open my apartment window just a crack when it rains.  I love that rain makes it okay to curl up inside a coffee shop with a crossword puzzle and a cup of tea.  I love that rain is peaceful.  I love New York in the rain because the rain pauses my crazy life and helps me connect with another side of the city.

I love New York in the snow.  I love the way it covers everything dirty and makes it look pure and clean.  I love how the flakes buzz all around in the air, moving every direction, up, down, left and right.  I love when you can walk through the middle of Times Square and not see a moving car in sight.  I love seeing an impromptu snowman on a median.  I love how the snow blankets the roofs of parked cars on the sidewalk.  I love New York in the snow because it's magical, and sometimes I just need to be reminded how magical New York really is.

I love New York in the sunshine. I love walking outside and, unintentionally, skipping for a second or two because there's so much energy in the air. I love Central Park on a beautiful day. I love running into friends as we both jog. I love the way it smells, too. I love sitting at a cafe next to an open window and watching people walk their dogs. I love sandals. I love New York in the sunshine because it makes me feel like the city that I love so much is telling me that it loves me, too.