According to the locals, Rudy takes credit for everything up to and including the sunrise, but he does deserve acclaim for what he's done to his city. New York City is flat-out cleaner than it's ever been. More importantly, with an increased police presence, crime is way down. The sheer weight of 8 million souls in the skyscraper canyons of Manhattan is awesome. You can't swing a cat without hitting some famous locale you've seen on television or in the movies.
Every native has a favorite pub, restaurant, or boutique.
It's overwhelming at any time of year. For my money, though, the city can't be beat as a holiday destination. Christmastime in New York is magnificent. The entire city is aglow, centering on Rockefeller Center. New York does Christmas shopping on a massive scale, of course.