Over the weekend, the Times used all of the buzz surrounding the inauguration frenzy down in DC to spin out the age-old question, "Is New York over?" The article focused in on the doom and gloom of late around town (jobs being lost, shops closing down) to question whether we're all collectively basking in an "ambient bummer." Apparently LA isn't slowing down as they keep "spinning out hits" like Gran Torino and Bride Wars (was Hollywood expected to shut down?). Ultimately it's one of those pieces that takes no real stance, citing prodigal daughter Joan Didion calling the city "over" 40 years ago. But the article still manages to speculate that we're “definitely shedding whatever New York was a few years ago.” Not to celebrate the tanking economy, but if one of those things we're shedding is "people complaining about $20 cocktails or $300 bottle service," is it possible that we're righting our course? more ›

Travel & Leisure Magazine released its 2008 lists of "America's Favorite Cities" conducted after polling 600,000 readers and the Big Apple came in ninth in the Most Attractive category, right in between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Denver. We wonder just how skin-deep Travel readers are in their assessment of just what makes a city's residents attractive since they voted New York #1 as being both "Most Stylish" and "Most Diverse." Maybe those polled had Monday morning regrets and were spurning New York after ranking us near the top as a place to spend a "Wild Weekend." Miami took the top spot as "Most Attractive" and New York also placed ninth behind top-rated Austin when it came to "Overall People." more ›