The 6 Most Important Things Missing From New York City!

Here are the six most important things that New York City can embrace to become the perfect place to live.

New York City has its flaws, but by and large, we live in a near-perfect city. Sure, paying an exorbitant amount of rent to live in a closet or fighting for space amongst 8 million other residents can get old, but how can you not love the energy, the drive, and the heterogeneous culture that represents nearly every country under the sun?

New Yorkers are Type-A personalities, so is it too much to ask that our city also be perfect?

Here are the six most important things that New York City can embrace to become the perfect place to live:

1. In-N-Out Burger: If we’re being honest with ourselves, Shake Shack can’t hold a candle to California’s In-N-Out Burger. The freshness of the food and the efficiency of ordering, consuming and then smiling is incomparable. Minimal lines, secret menu items and personality-plus employees enables In-N-Out Burger to differentiate itself from the rest. So the next time you’re out west, give In-N-Out Burger a shot and don’t forget to pay it forward by bringing back some extras for your friends in the City.

2. Southern Hospitality: New York City is near-perfect for many reasons, not the least of which is the diversity of its residents and visitors. For those of us on the inside, we often forget how daunting New York can be to these outsiders. It’s remarkable how many times I see lost tourists navigating the streets of New York with a map in hand and I’m perplexed by why no one else stops to offer help or directions. Next time, take a moment out of your day to show a visitor why New York City is the greatest city on earth.

3. Fractured Prune Donuts: Yes, I love the Doughnut Plant too, but sometimes I just want a simple, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth good donut without breaking the bank. And hey, maybe I even want to customize the donut with any number of toppings. I’m a New Yorker and I should be able to get what I want, when I want it, right? Enter The Fractured Prune, an Ocean City, Maryland original that’s expanding up and down the east coast to share their love with you. So the next time you’re craving a donut, visit their closest location in Ocean City, New Jersey (yes, I said New Jersey, my appalled New Yorkers!). You can thank me later!

4. The Fitness Meeting: New Yorkers are about as efficient as they come. We’re constantly multitasking, attempting to kill two (or seven) birds with one stone. Some are even so bold and unaware as to text while walking through an intersection or drink a mug of coffee while riding a Citi Bike. So why don’t we embrace our love of multitasking in order to live healthier and more active lifestyles? Put down that happy hour beer or the eleventh cup of coffee you’ve had before noon and instead take a phone call or host a meeting while walking outdoors. Let’s take a page out of the book from our friends across the country and improve both our business and our health.

Brian Krista / Baltimore Sun Media Group

5. Snowballs: Nothing quenches the heat of summer like a cup of flavored shaved ice. For the uneducated, we Baltimore, Maryland-natives call these Snowballs (noun: a ball of shaved ice flavored with any number of syrups and oftentimes complemented with gooey marshmallow in the middle). We’re not talking frozen yogurt, a popsicle or Rita’s ice, we’re talking about the kind of heat-quenching goodness for which you’d drive miles out of the way just to bask in the coolness of it. And if you’re so lucky to be served by an adorable troop of girls working for tips, make sure to overflow the tip jar with your generosity.

6. Humility: Finally, let’s not forget that being residents of the best city on earth has its requirements, not the least of which is remaining humble and being kind to those around you. So the next time you consider barreling down an aimless tourist so that you can beat a customer in line at the local Starbucks, try to remember what makes New York City so special – it’s the people.

So let's hear it, New Yorkers: What makes New York City perfect for you?