This city oozes with the spirit that brings your world brightness, that speeds your pulse, that makes you long for a youth that granted you endless energy and no need for sleep.

As is often the case with dear Leah as my guide, the evening was filled, a whirlwind of sights, tastes, sounds and smells…and a great deal of laughter. But the city? It’s powerful energy envelopes you and its people are vibrant.

Yesterday in the town car en route to the hotel I was teased with a view of Grand Central Station, the Public Library (and what was formerly Needle Park), the CNN set, the HBO edifice and other random buildings and addresses that would only be of interest and significance to me.

Following the journey to the center of the free world and a clumsy tip handoff issue that mimicked a plot line on Curb Your Enthusiasm last week, Leah arrived and whisked me into the night.

A cold evening meant short lines to contest with at tourist staples like the Empire State building, a destination whoms warm belly we arrived after a dozen or so blocks of brisk walking with the stragglers of the day shift wearily accompanying us.

The dark air was crystalline. The view was flawless and though the gusts of wind found a home in my soul atop that structure.

The city is magnificent and I am hypnotized by her dance.

Following dinner and a few glasses of wine in a pub off Gramercy Park, a cab back to Leah’s studio whisked us past Central Park, the new office and the street that saw John Lennon’s tragic demise.

More walking, a visit to The Fairway Market and piece of very decadent chocolate cake later, I passed Greg Allman following a concert at the Beacon Theatre, only three feet and a cab door separated us. His age reminded me of my own.

This morning, I took an unintentionally scenic route back to corporate America…walking a good bit out of my way in order to ultimately arrive at the office but seeing and smelling the meat of the city along the way.

The views are spectacular; the office perched just above Columbus Circle with a sweeping view of Central Park. The light that spills in the space is magical.