While standing in the middle of Times Square, one can feel lost in a sea of tourists and corporates but if you travel a little south, you can have an authentic italian meal with waiters who know your order and make you feel like you're back in Italy. A few bus stops away, you can forget the day's worries by soaking at a turkish bath. You can then take the subway up to Washington Heights and practically feel the tropical breeze with the merengue music playing and the grandpas yelling "capicu."
Every neighborhood has it's own function and charm, providing it's own sense of community. We have so much diversity in this city, in every sense of the word. By just walking a few blocks, we can travel the world.
When it comes down to it, c'mon, there's no place like NYC ; )