WHERE'S YOUR HOOD AT?

Long time no blog, I know. But listen, life's been busy. With work and school--and of course, the holidays--I've had absolutely no time to facilitate a fight-off. Now I'm back and this week, we are gonna talk territory.

Best collection of neighborhoods: DC or Manhattan.

First, a caveat. I am not going to write about every single neighborhood in both cities. Instead, here's a quickie of the best that each contender has to offer. Think of it as the best combination of kids chosen to represent their school at the County Trivia Bowl.

On DC's team of three is Friendship Heights, Penn Quarter, and Adams Morgan.

Friendship Heights, often referred to as the District's own Fifth Avenue is as much of a shopping destination as Paris for the stylista or Tokyo for the harajuku in you. Sure, DC is not known for its style, but the row of stores in Friendship Heights would make any patron think they can be on the pages of Vogue or Esquire. With stores like Brooks Brothers, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany's, Friendship Heights can help you burn plastic.

The Penn Quarter is a mix of old and new Washington. The attractions of the Verizon Center, Newseum, and International Spy Museum are paired with Ford's Theater, Portrait Gallery, and the Smithsonian. Sandwiched between the White House and Capitol Hill, Penn Quarter is a great reflection of what Washington means to everyone--a national city that works hard and plays hard.

Speaking of playing hard, Adams Morgan is the hardest playing among its counterparts. Not only is Adams Morgan a place I like to call home, but it's a bustling few blocks during the day and night. And that's a claim not very many neighborhoods can live up to. Influenced by acceptance and diversity, this neighborhood is jovial and festive. With buildings covered in the brightest paints and businesses of all sorts, Adams Morgan welcomes everybody, and has something for everyone.

Manhattan has a strong hand to counter: Harlem, Hell's Kitchen, and Loisida.

Harlem is the mecca of African-American culture. Everything from music to style to food has deep roots in Harlem. In this area, the people rule and who they are is on proudly on display. The best sweet potatoes. The best Nike air force ones. The best jazz. Anything in Harlem is going to be the best you'll find in Manhattan. While its obviously not the best area in the City, they satisfy damn well in what they do.

Hell's Kitchen, the former go-to for porn and gang fights, is another deeply rooted neighborhood in Manhattan. Movie after movie have been based on this area--my two favorites being Sleepers and West Side Story. Known for fire escapes and legendary (but usually illegal) hydrant parties, Hell's Kitchen is now the residential neighborhood for a range of talented folk, from Alicia Keys to Jerry Seinfeld. It is a neighborhood of entertainers and entertainment--Alvin Ailley and Jon Stewart put on shows in, what many people consider, the backbone of Manhattan.

Loisida is a play on the high Spanish-speaking population and their vernacular pronunciation of the "Lower East Side." This is a most unique neighborhood since it has embraced its rough and rowdy look, diverse population, and resistance to giving into the gentrification machine. Fueled by modern bohemians and the truest of true New Yorkers, Loisida is not only a place to live, but a living place--one that will not go without a fight. The people fighting? Dedicated citizens of leather punk rockers, too-cool for school NYUsies, and families who have been there for decades. All happily coexisting and hating the Manhattan.

So straight to the point, New York wins. While I only compared three versus three, there is one reason why New York wins. The people living in New York neighborhoods are so loyal to their little patch of green (re: concrete), that if I didn't give them the trophy, they'd probably send their children to kick my shins. Take into account the numbers of neighborhoods, the variety and the history, it's obvious that DC would get served in this round. But other DC districts within the district to consider--Columbia Heights, Eastern Market, U Street--do put up a worthy effort.

Congratulations NewYork, please don't beat me up.