New York City, in no particular order:
Way friendlier than you think.
Everyone is some sort of alcoholic.
You better start smoking cigarettes if you want friends.
Rent is ridiculously expensive.
Everything is ridiculously expensive.
Your career will probably not take off here any faster than it will anywhere else.
It's a playground built on top of neighborhoods that used to have families.
No one wants to see your band play.
No one wants to see your art show.
No one wants to see your play.
No one wants to see your dance piece.
Every city in the world is becoming more and more like it, and it is becoming more and more like every city in the world.
The subway is the weirdest place on earth.
The JMZ is unreliable, but necessary, and this becomes an important relationship in your life.
No matter what neighborhood you live in, people will roll their eyes at you when you tell them which neighborhood you live in.
Outside of New York City, what you're doing is really not that important to anyone else.
It's really fun.
I recommend it to anyone.