As much as cities can be easy to dismiss and disregard, when we cast them in this role we overlook the central character they play in the ongoing theatre of our lives. The way we talk about cities is akin to how we describe our lovers – we give them pet names, write songs to serenade them with, and map out our lives through the years we spend in them. They can be decadent or they can be disappointing, but they are rarely dull or leave us untouched.