( CNN ) -- Who takes the cake : New York or L.A. ? As part of our Destination USA project pitting rival cities against each other , New York beat Los Angeles in our completely unscientific poll , gaining 52 % of the approximately 7,000 votes cast , compared with L.A. 's 48 % . But Angelenos walloped New York in enthusiastic support for their city , sharing our Los Angeles lover 's column on L.A. 's virtues more than 30,000 times on Facebook , compared with 1,400 endorsements for our transplanted New Yorker 's love letter to NYC . And that robust participation from the City of Angels translated into more than 500 reader comments on the Los Angeles story , compared with 150 on the New York installment of the smackdown . We asked iReporters and commenters to share the very best things about their respective cities and why they like them better than any other . Some felt the need to add a little trash talk . You decide if they 're right . Talking a little smack . New York inspires people to accomplish great things they could not imagine anywhere else , according to iReporter Mandana Armand of Gramercy Park , in Manhattan . `` That greatness is just around the corner , always in New York . You never know what kind of fortuitous kindling this city will throw at you . '' New York is the center of the modern world , claims iReporter Craig Clemens , a former Los Angeles resident . `` Finance , real estate , publishing -- it 's almost too much for an Angeleno to take in . I should know because I used to be one . '' Not so , claims L.A. defender cornholio5 . `` L.A. intimidates people because they 're afraid to admit it 's better than where they 're from . In L.A. , we order bagels from people that do n't yell at us . We do n't care if your pizza is better . We like ours , but we like yours , too . We legally smoke weed , we surf , we go to work in flip-flops and we drive Priuses . We work hard , we 're laid back , we eat avocados and we do yoga . We respect N.Y. , and do n't even expect it back . That 's how we roll . '' Residents of Los Angeles rave about the good weather , and more . `` Los Angeles has the better weather , the better technology , the car capital of the world , better jobs , better food and better people , '' writes another commenter . `` New York City : You pay outrageous rent , and who wants to pay $ 1,000/month just to park your car ? '' Let 's go out and play in New York . We admit it , both cities have great places to play , whether you 're splurging or traveling on a budget . New York offers full price theater tickets to `` The Book of Mormon '' and discount theater tickets at the TKTS booth . Make reservations to Per Se or Eleven Madison Park for fine dining or grab an affordable ( and incredible ) burger and cheese fries at Shake Shack in Madison Square Park or `` chicken fried chicken '' at Cowgirl in the West Village . iReporter Beth Barret , who grew up on Manhattan 's Upper East Side and lives in Riverdale in the Bronx , offers you her walking tour route , free of charge . `` One of my favorite things to do with friends who visit me is to start walking from the bottom of Manhattan , '' she writes . `` We start at the Statue of Liberty , walk north through Battery Park , Wall Street , the South Street Seaport , Chinatown , Little Italy , Tribeca , Soho , Greenwich Village & Chelsea . And that is only day one ! '' `` Every nook and cranny of the city exudes its own pleasures , flavors and personality , '' claims Barret . `` I honestly do n't think you can ever see it all . From the Edgar Allen Poe cottage in the Bronx to the site of the ... World 's Fair in Queens , there is always something to see that will wow you ! '' Head to One World Trade Center , says Charlottesville , Virginia , resident and iReporter Joanne Ciccone , who visits New York regularly to see her son . `` One World Trade Center is at the heart of what this country is about . Like the Phoenix rising from its ashes , NYC is building up from the horrors of 9/11 . This rebuilding of structure and attitude makes NYC the greatest city on Earth . It will not be destroyed in building or beliefs . '' Let 's play in L.A. Los Angeles offers everything from swimming and surfing at the beach to skiing in the mountains and camping in the desert . A short drive ( traffic permitting ) will get you to some of the most beautiful outdoor spots in the world . `` The feeling is laid back while you cruise down Sunset Blvd . and dig on the celebrities , '' writes iReporter Allen Mealey . `` Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world , from the Hollywood film industry to all of the great concerts and clubs , we beat Manhattan hands down ! And those Hollywood nights , those Hollywood hills . '' ( With thanks to Bob Seger . ) DigitalGypsy , who lives in Culver City but also loves Venice , Santa Monica , West Hollywood and Silverlake , never wears anything heavier than a hoodie because the weather is so fabulous . `` It 's definitely the spot to be in for surfing , skateboarding and snowboarding . Life is a little more laid back and you get to enjoy the beauty of nature that surrounds you . '' Standouts to commenter Jon : Griffith Observatory , summer movies at Hollywood Forever Cemetery , monthly downtown Art Walk , the Venice Art Walk , The Perch ( or any of the downtown rooftop bars ) , driving around actual film studios , ChaCha Lounge ( hipster bar in Silver Lake ) , the Los Angeles County Museum of Art , MOCA ( contemporary museum ) , Villain 's Tavern and `` hiking up to the Hollywood sign or any of the hundreds of amazing hiking trails all throughout the hills and mountains of the city . '' Let 's eat some good food . There 's no shortage of advice online or in print on the best cuisine in Los Angeles or New York . Both towns have food critics who have their preferences for high-end , low-end and everything in between -- although only Los Angeles can claim the first winner of a Pulitzer Prize for food criticism in Jonathan Gold , now at the `` Los Angeles Times. `` If you 're craving a particular cuisine or need to eat in a particular part of town , plenty of foodie websites can help you out . If you 're talking to residents , make sure they really like food -- because there 's plenty of bad food to be had in both cities . Manhattan resident Mandana Armand loves the 21 Club for the feel of old New York , drinks at the Gansevoort Hotel and the chocolate waterfall brunch at the Waldorf Astoria . For vegetarians and vegans , Armand recommends Pure Food and Wine restaurant . `` It 's a raw food restaurant that delivers the most exquisite flavors imaginable . You will not believe it is raw food . '' Former Los Angeles resident and iReporter Anne McCarney has many favorite restaurants and bars to recommend : `` Homegirl Cafe ( near downtown ) , OB 's Pub & Grill ( Manhattan Beach ) , Mama D 's Italian ( Hermosa or Manhattan Beach ) , Cafe Boogaloo ( Hermosa Beach ) , Shark 's Cove ( Manhattan Beach ) , Empress Pavilion ( Chinatown ) , Roscoe 's Chicken & Waffles , In-N-Out , Lotus frozen yogurt ( Hermosa Beach ) , Sweet Lady Jane 's bakery ( Melrose ) . '' And yes , Mexican food can be found almost anywhere in Los Angeles . However , commenter VikoG suggests visitors move beyond the assumption of Mexican food as beans , rice , tacos , burritos and enchiladas . `` Angelenos know better ( and ) we take advantage of all the delicious non-Americanized cuisine , especially mariscos , Poblano cusine , Oaxacan cusine and so many more , '' he writes . Pitting one city against the other is pointless , say some , like comparing an SUV to a sports car . `` If you want a house with a big yard , pool and palm trees , NYC is not the place for you , '' writes commenter Chris Allen , who was raised in Los Angeles and visits New York . `` If you want to live in a high-rise building in a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood where you can take the subway to work , your lifestyle options in L.A. will be rather limited . Both are cool places . '' Todra Payne is married to New York City , but it 's not exclusive . `` NYC is home for me , but L.A. is my secret lover , '' she writes . `` Ca n't beat the way you can walk Manhattan and meet people along the way , meander in and out of shops , restaurants , etc . You just ca n't do that in L.A . But the sunshine , beaches and palm trees and the laid back vibe in L.A. are golden . If there was a way to combine the two , it would be paradise . '' Both cities , it seems , are willing to share the people they love with the city on the opposite coast . Next on our smackdown list : Charlotte , North Carolina , home to the 2012 Democratic National Convention , versus Tampa , Florida , home to the 2012 Republican National Convention . How will you vote ? Share your photos and suggestions on iReport.com .
New York City came out on top in our unscientific poll . Los Angeles blew New York away in social media support . The city of Los Angeles, which is home to the nation's largest concentration of gay and lesbian residents, was named as one of America's most gay-friendly cities by a new study released Tuesday.