While our PAN Boston team members love celebrating Patriot’s Day every April, we have our very own holiday here in New York too. On September 21, we celebrated National New York Day! As an office split between native New Yorkers, non-native New Yorkers, and even cross-office transplants from PAN San Francisco and PAN Boston, we all have a unique love for New York. For many of us, it’s the sheer variety of food choices. For others, it’s the feeling that anything can happen in this city. It’s true. I’ve seen paparazzi wait for George Clooney only to be disappointed when I walked out of hotel doors instead. I’ve eaten brunch at the same restaurant and the same time as “Gus Fring” from Breaking Bad and I’ve taken the train with Kate and Rooney Mara. There are limitless possibilities in this city!

But for all of us, there’s one thing we agree on. New York is a city full of PR leaders and serious marketing innovation. We have so many opportunities to attend industry conferences, sharpen our digital skills at workshops and even just catch some inspiration walking down the street. With access to such a strong network of leaders in the industry, we’re at the center of everything. As the famous writer Pearl S. Buck wrote, “As for New York City, it is a place apart. There is not its match in any other country in the world.”

Here’s what the PANhattan team has to say about their home state:

Three little words: Farm to table! Being so close to my beloved Hudson Valley means we have access to some of the best produce, wine and overall cuisine options from anywhere in the world. California may have put the movement on the map; but it started a few hundred years back right here. — Ryan Wallace, Vice President & General Manager

“I love New York because when I say, ‘I’m from New York!’ people think I’m from the city and cool. I’m not from the city at all, rather, I’m from rural New York (think apple orchards and hiking). It’s nice to have a mix of suburban life with an easy commute to Manhattan where I feel like I’m at the center of so much excitement and marketing innovation.”  — Kate Sena, Senior Account Executive

“The food. Without a doubt the food. Caribbean-style lamb stew at 4 a.m.? I’ll have that. High-end Korean BBQ around the corner from the office? Sign me up. The sheer possibilities are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. And I fully intend on making the most of it until either my heart gives out or I run out of money…whichever comes first.” — Cam Brody, Content Manager

“New York and the PANhattan office are the perfect fit for me. I love working in a smaller office and having a really familial environment at work (I would, and do, hang out with all of my coworkers outside of the office), especially in a city so big! It’s also great to be in a PR and marketing hub – there are always networking events to go to in the industry, and so many opportunities to meet with members of the media and other tech companies. I’m always learning something new here!” — Megan Schmidt, Account Executive

“I feel like I’ve been in love with New York City since I was a little girl. Anything feels possible when you are in New York. As Alicia Keys so accurately put it, ‘…concrete jungle where dreams are made of, there’s nothing you can’t do…’ New York is ever-changing and familiar at the same time. It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing I love about New York because I’ve experienced a lot with this city. From my first apartment to my first job, my first success and my biggest failure – New York has been with me through it all. Brunch and Tortilla Flats (RIP) rank high on my list, along with the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade.” — Alexandra Evans, Senior Account Supervisor  

“I love New York because anywhere at any time can be an adventure. It is the epicenter of epic stories, real and make believe. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t dream of living in Manhattan and it is probably the only thing I have built up in my mind that has truly lived up to the hype. In New York you can be Carrie Bradshaw or Jerry Seinfeld. You can be at a bar with a homeless man and an investment banker. New York is not just a place, it is a feeling, and I am so lucky to call it home.” — Clara Berkeley, Assistant Account Executive

“I love living in New York because you never know what or who is around the corner… and I love PANhattan for being a warm, welcoming and friendly space to come to work every day.” — Lauren Kaufman, Director, Integrated Marketing and Analytics

“There really is no place like New York City. I love the cultural diversity that it offers. It’s amazing that you can be transported from one country to another, all within a few blocks based on the neighborhood you’re in – from Chinatown to Little Italy. Personally, I love being close to my family and friends back home and I appreciate being just a quick train ride away! Professionally, I love the tight-knit group we have here in PANhattan and feel lucky to live in a city that is at the center of public relations, near some of the best technology and healthcare companies in the country.” — Nicole Das, Account Executive

“When I moved back to New York and to the city for the first time in 2017, I had a hard time adjusting from my Boston lifestyle, but the longer I am here the longer my list of “loves” becomes. I love that you can buy fresh flowers from a bodega on nearly every block, I love that you can get pretty much anything in the world delivered, that outside of visiting Italy, Mexico, or any country really, you can get the absolute most authentic cuisine right here in the city, I love a Yankees game on a hot summer night, running in Brooklyn Bridge Park or Central Park, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. New York can be a gritty city, but there is so much beauty to be found!” — Emily White, Senior Account Executive