Woody Allen has made no secret of his love affair with New York City. Of all of his essays, films, and stand-up, Manhattan stands out as his greatest homage to the city that stands closest to his heart. (We know that we promised you essays, but we think that a comedic essayist whose character in a film is a novelist counts for our present purposes.)
Cuddle up with a date (or your dog, or just some dessert), cue Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," and cut to:
Chapter One. He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion...