The Giants winning the Super Bowl was the 2nd best moment in NYC this year
New York City has had itself another incredible year. There was drama, there was excitement, there was revival, and now, in classic end-of-the-year style, we are going to make a list of the top 5 moments in NYC in 2012.
5. One World Trade Center becomes the tallest building in New York
Late in April, a steel beam labeled “1271 feet” was attached to One World Trade Center and the building in progress officially passed the Empire State Building as the tallest in the city. This was a symbolic victory for New York as it showed that you may be able to knock us down, but we’ll come back stronger than ever. Little did we know that this wouldn’t be the last time we made that statement in 2012.
4. Linsanity takes over Madison Square Garden
At this point, it seems like so long ago that the perennial d-leaguer from Harvard who was living on his brother’s couch was able to take over New York City, but it happened in 2012. Linsanity took New York by storm and truly changed the culture of New York Knicks basketball. Now, Jeremy Lin is playing in Houston, but the rekindled passion for Knicks hoops hasn’t gone anywhere.
3. Barclays Center Opens in Brooklyn
This September, Jay-Z performed a sold out show just blocks from the rough, Brooklyn neighborhood that he grew up in. This was the first show at the new Brooklyn arena, and began a new era in the outer borough’s entertainment. The Nets are Brooklyn’s first major sports team since the Dodgers moved west. The Islanders are also planning a move to Brooklyn and out of the Nassau Coliseum. And now Brooklyn has it’s answer to Manhattan’s Madison Square Garden, where the biggest names in show business will perform.
2. The Giants win the Super Bowl
On New Year’s Day, the New York Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys to get into the postseason. That was the beginning of a ride that culminated in upset victory after upset victory and a second Vince Lombardi trophy in four years. It was also the second time that the team beat the New England Patriots in the final game, giving NYC another step up in the never-ending New York/Boston sports rivalry.
1. Recovering from Sandy
Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast harder than any storm in recent memory. It washed away homes and lives, and left New York City in a state of unparalleled despair. Names like Breezy Point and Red Hook became popularized throughout the world, not because of the great places that they are, but because of the devastation the faced. New York City was dark.
But we have come together, and like I said before, you can knock New York down, but you can’t knock us out. We have started to rebuild, but it will take time. We have raised money and food and clothes, but for some we are still years away from finding normalcy. The reason that the Sandy recovery effort is the number one moment in New York City this year is because it is not just one moment or one concert, but a constant series of moments. Every day since the storm has come and gone, New Yorkers have come together to help one another and provide even further proof that we have the best city in the world.
Honorable Mentions:
The ESB Light Show was very cool!
The Rangers made hockey fans out of all of us again
John A. Paulson gave Central Park $100 million
The Space Shuttle Enterprise shot across our sky
New York Sightseeing 