You probably know more about the history than I do, but I do have some crazy stories. I remember being with my friend in Times Square (a real hell hole back then, pre Disneyfication). We were trying to buy fake IDs so we could drink in bars. We were in a seedy place playing pinball. I suddenly had this weird sense of danger and told my friend we should leave. He laughed at me and told me he would meet me down the block after he was done with his game. I left, and he got robbed at knifepoint INSIDE the store. Luckily he just lost money.

Scorsese's Taxi Driver really captured the city I remember back then.