Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with NY

Think global, bank local?

Mender — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:45:32 -0800

Do you use a credit union based in Brooklyn or Manhattan? If so, which one, and have you had a good experience there? I keep a savings account with a major national bank, and have been considering switching it to a local credit union. Looking for recommendations for credit unions in Brooklyn or Manhattan (I would also consider Queens). Tell me about your experience and why you would or would not suggest a particular organization.

Bonus question: is there a reason I should not put a large chunk of my savings in a credit union? I am not a financial risk taker, so if there are risks I might not be considering, please let me know! Anything I should know about credit unions in general?

How to find a taxi/care service to get parents from Jersey City to Long Island on Xmas?

anitanita — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:47:29 -0800

Shot in the dark filter: Does anyone have any ideas about how I can find a taxi/ car & driver service who can get my parents from Jersey City, NJ to Long Island for Christmas? Hi all,

Since you never know until you ask, I was wondering how I could find a car service that can get my folks to the family christmas party at my cousin's in Long Island this year. When I visit them for christmas, I usually drive, but this year I probably won't be able to make it. I know there are public transport options, but the folks are hitting 80 this year, and my father has sight issues, so I'd rather find another way.

I've never hired a car service before, and can imagine that getting someone on christmas must be like hitting a lottery ticket. But, I thought I'd ask the hive mind.

I'd just need them to get out there, and they could stay overnight. I could hire a different car service/taxi cab the next day (I think it might be easier to hire a taxi/car service on the 26th).

Bonus points if you have any ideas about how car services charge? If I can do this, it is easier just to give them my credit card up front and make sure my parents have money for tip? Money isn't really the issue, their comfort is.

Anything else I should be thinking of?

Thanks All!

What to do in Ithaca

cheerwine — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:19:32 -0800

We're going camping in Ithaca, NY this weekend. What should we make sure to do while we're there? My girlfriend and I are going car camping in Ithaca, NY this weekend. She's never been camping, so we're trying to balance the hiking/cooking on a fire aspects of it with an equal amount of hanging out in the city/winery tours. We're not too familiar with the area. I've e-mailed a bunch of wineries blindly to get details on touring them, am looking into local farms and found a few places that look like fun downtown, but we're open to suggestions. Any specific wineries that you would recommend? Hiking trails? Cool thrift stores? Other fun things to do?

We are both vegetarians in our early 20s. We like thrift stores, book stores, quirky sort-of tourist things, etc. I'm more outdoorsy than her, but we can both hold our own on a hike. We wouldn't mind driving a little while for something particularly awesome, but I'd prefer stay as close to Ithaca as I can.

Help us find a sofa bed in NYC

hibbersk — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:42:52 -0800

We're in the process of relocating to New York and need help finding a great sofa bed for all of our impending visitors! Mr Hibbersk is currently there organizing our apartment in Brooklyn and we had planned to buy this sofa bed from Ikea - however it is out of stock across the entire country and they don't know when it will be available (something about factory relocations and shortages). We don't really like any of the alternatives available at Ikea, and department stores such as Macy's seem a bit over-budget. Googling mainly finds dubious-looking clearance or discount places. Can anyone recommend a furniture store in NYC where we can get a sofa bed for around $800? Preferably modern/Scandinavian design, and not a futon. We may only be there for a couple of years so don't want to spend too much, and the bed bug horror stories have put us off buying 2nd hand/craigslist.

Who's got my onion rolls?

monospace — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:44:48 -0800

It used to be that pretty much any old deli in town had those classic NY onion rolls, but lately they seem to have become increasingly hard to find. Are there still places where I can get a nice toasted onion roll with butter for breakfast, especially in the Penn Station area?

Is there a way to speed up the construction of the house next to mine?

hellbient — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:30:34 -0800

Is there a way to speed up the construction of the house next to mine? The city-owned house next to mine (attached) has been under construction for over a year. The contracting company is apparently notorious for these long affairs, and judging from the other houses in the neighborhood that have their signage, there's no end in site. And the property is getting worse - every week there's more trash in front and on the side of it, windows are getting broken and the plywood covering some of the windows is slowly coming undone. I'm calling the company (and 311) as much as possible to complain about rats, open doors, racoons, etc. to try to set a precedent, but I'm not sure it's going anywhere. The house goes for weeks/months without ever being worked on. I need it finished before a crackhead sets it on fire (which would take my house with it), and so I can get some new awesome neighbors. Plans/schemes to get the ball rolling? I'm in Brooklyn.

First Road Trip - Providence to Toronto!

quodlibet — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:55:01 -0800

I am planning a road trip from Providence, RI to Toronto and need the hivemind's help! In early September, I will be driving from Providence to Toronto, and back. I've driven across country (from the south to north) and done the backpacking in Europe thing before, but always with friends/family - so this is my first trip that I get to plan for myself (!!). I'm 25, female, into history, politics, general quirkiness, and outdoorsy stuff.

My goal is to leave Providence on a Monday, drive/sight-see for two days, and end up in Toronto Wednesday morning. Stay in Toronto until Saturday afternoon, and head back to be back in Providence by Sunday night. I'm flexible on time other than Wednesday-Saturday I need to be in Toronto.

So, hivemind - what should I do along the way? And what should I do in Toronto? I already would like to see Niagara Falls (which side tho, not sure), Oneida Community Mansion House, something to do with the Hill Cumorah in Palmyra, see the Adirondacks...
what else should I add? where should i stay along the way?

I need health insurance (me and everyone else...)

greta simone — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:10:37 -0800

Ohshitfilter: Temporary health insurance options in NJ? I just moved from NC to NJ five weeks ago, after finishing a Masters program. My student health insurance ends on August 14, and since I have not been successful in finding employment (as I had hoped) I need to come up with a plan.

I have heard of COBRA, but I also heard that the State of New York does not accept COBRA. This is a problem for me, because my residence in NJ is temporary and I plan on moving to Manhattan or Brooklyn in the next few months. Secondly, I can not prove residency in NJ as I am not on the lease and have no bills in my name (staying with a friend). Am I screwed? I cannot seem to find the information online that I need.

I need the the cheapest health insurance I can get that will also cover prescriptions in some form (I have allergy and asthma and BC meds I must take).

What are my options? Please point me in the right direction or to a place where I can at least get more information.

Help!
Thanks.

do your worst copper!!

oblio_one — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:37:19 -0800

Can a New York Transit Authority ticket catch up with me back home in Los Angeles? Have received a ticket in NY but am a CA resident with no ties to the NY area.

When filling out the ticket the PO took down my SSN, Ca driver's license number, cell phone, and the address of our host. My partner's ticket has only the host's address and license number, no SSN or phone number. The driver's license state is not recorded on the ticket, and the violation is 4(a) entered without payment.

Our host insists we ignore the ticket, that nothing can happen. I will without any question pay the fine to avoid even the possibility of trouble, but am now looking into the issue for purely hypothetical / curiosity reasons.

It seems from Internet searching that since CA and NY are both members of the DLC a traffic violation could prevent license registration in CA, but it's not clear if this qualifies. It also seems clear that were I to travel back to NY at any given time in the future I could find a warrant issued over the violation, and that another worst case is getting calls from a collection agency. Again I will pay the fine regardless of what I learn about it, am just interested in knowledge for it's own sake. Has anyone experienced this or have any insight?

This is driving me crazy [or, insert your preferred car pun here]

pemberkins — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:59:27 -0800

Where should I register my car? So, I just finished my undergraduate degree (yay!). I went to school in upstate New York, but maintained my permanent address in CT with my parents. Because of this, I have maintained a CT driver's license, and I have been driving a car with Connecticut plates. The car is owned by my parents, and registered in Connecticut.

I am now going to graduate school on Long Island. I could feasibly continue claiming "I am a student" and maintain a permanent address in CT... except that the graduate program requires me to establish NY residency for tuition purposes (e.g. they will only waive my tuition if I am an in-state student).

Because of that stipulation, I need to get a NY driver's license, register to vote here, and so on and so forth. But I'm not sure what to do about my car, because I don't own it. So, my questions:

1) It seems from what I've read that the state requires NY residents to register their cars in NY, but I don't own this car. Does that make a difference as to whether or not I need to register this car in NY?

2) Can I get my NY license and legally still drive this car that is owned by my parents and registered in CT? Or does getting a NY license mean that the car I drive needs to be registered here as well?

3) Is there any way that the car can be owned by my parents in CT, under their insurance, but be registered in NY?

The main reason that this is an issue is, of course, money - trying to pay car insurance on my graduate stipend is a frightening thought, so it's something I'd like to avoid if possible. I fear, however, that I may just have to bite the bullet, have the ownership transferred to me, and start selling my organs to pay the insurance. What's your advice?

Cool/fun places for a rest stop when driving with kids from upstate NY to DC?

chr1sb0y — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:31:57 -0800

If we are driving with kids (9 and 5) from upstate NY (Rochester) to DC, where can we stop in PA off of route 15 for a picnic, run-around and see-something-cool-or-weird break? We're taking route 15 down through Williamsburg, Harrisburg, and York, PA. (Unless someone chimes in to tell me that's a crazy route that only google maps would suggest...)

Ideally I am hoping for tips on an awesome playground or cool state park that is right off the highway somewhere along that route, so we can stop and eat and let the kids run around a bit as a break.

Funky road food tips and other roadside POIs are welcomed.

nom nom nom

you're a kitty! — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:51:22 -0800

Is there a good online form which will allow me to contact my NY state senators and encourage them to vote in favor of the gay marriage bill that's coming up? I found the NOM site and I guess I could try replacing their "marriage is about men and women!" form letter with one that basically says the opposite, but I'm not sure it would actually get through. I don't want to suggest that homophobes are necessarily also going to be sneaky bastards, but they are funding the site, and I doubt there are any kinds of laws about what sort of content they are obligated to pass on. I'm also worried that all the emails from the NOM site will go into a big "count these as anti-gay-marriage emails" bin, utterly defeating my purpose.

I guess I could shoot off an email directly, too, though I wonder if such things actually get read? I'd rather go into the "count these as pro-gay-marriage emails" bin, if possible. So, if anyone knows of a marriage equality site that's running a similar thing, please let me know.

Monthly Camping Site In/Near NY

brynnwood — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:59:30 -0800

Where can I camp for several weeks at a time in the northeastern U.S. (in and around NY state)? I wanting a quiet spot that is set up to handle longterm campers? Also wondering whether there is a good guide to US campsites (ratings, etc.)?

Help! I screwed up my taxes

aoeu — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:56:25 -0800

I moved to California in late March. All my W2 says New York. How badly have I screwed up? How can I fix it? Last year I took a full time job with a company in California. I traveled back and forth until late March when I decided to move out full time. Blame it on the long hours, blame it on sheer stupidity, but I didn't look at my W2 until yesterday. It says NY.

As I understand it, this means my employer has withheld tax for New York and not California, so I probably have to pay California a big chunk and get a big refund from New York.

I know I'm probably in a bit of trouble, and there's probably going to be some fines involved, but what is the best way to handle this now? Is there a way to get an extension so I can have my W2s corrected? Is there a way to file in both states?

Why is this happening?

Anonymous — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:09:18 -0800

I got laid off about a month ago in NYC. Applied for unemployment insurance and got approved, no problems. Now I got a letter from the UI agency from my former former employer (2 employers ago) declining my claim and requesting a hearing on the basis that I voluntarily quit. This is true, and I was laid off from the place I worked at after that employer. Why is this happening? I worked for the the former former employer (Employer A) and quit about a year ago. I then started work for Employer B and got laid off a month ago. I've been collecting unemployment. Is this something I should be worried about - or just give them a call on Monday to straighten this all out and think nothing of it? Or do your former former employers really have something to do with your UI?

How should I handle changing car insurance policies for a short term move?

pilibeen — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:04:52 -0800

I'm moving out of state - from PA to NY - for a short-term job (roughly a year). Can I have a PA car insurance policy? I've heard NY and NJ auto insurance policies are ridiculously expensive.

Since I'll still have a PA license, and a permanent PA address (my parents), can I just keep PA auto insurance? My current policy is about to renew, and I've been shopping around and finding some great quotes for PA.

So would this be entirely legal? If not, is it risky?

Parents coming to visit in NY. Where should I take them?

falameufilho — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:23:07 -0800

Parents coming to visit in NY. Where should I take them? My parents are coming to visit me in New York for a week in late March. They are in their 60's, have been all over the world and like to try new things. I want to take them to see some great stuff around the city, but there's one problem - they don't speak a word of English. They have been many times to NY in the past so all the obvious touristy stuff has been done already.

An example of what I'm looking for: last time they were here I took them to the ballet (Kirov) and to a couple of lowbrow shows (Fuerzabruta and Blue Man Group). They loved it all.

So, what can I do with them that they'll like and will be able to enjoy even with the language barrier? I know you know the answer, hive mind.

P.S.: I'd like to avoid Broadway musicals if possible. They would probably like it, but I fucking hate musicals. Thanks!

How does Power of Attorney Work in New York?

Caz721 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:00:46 -0800

Since I am a lawyer (though of course, not your lawyer, and not his lawyer), a family member asked if I could help him with some issues regarding a durable power of attorney (NY State). Unfortunately, I'm not a trusts & estates lawyer, so I need some direction as to what I should look at and consider in order to let him know whether he should consult a lawyer with that expertise. I know you're not my lawyer, and I'm not seeking your legal advice. My cousin's husband, Jay, asked me for advice regarding his situation. Jay's mother recently passed away. Previous to her death, Jay's mother had a durable power of attorney for Jay's cousin, Max, who is developmentally disabled and legally incompetent (I don't know much about the exact details of Max's situation). Max is in some sort of living facility, and Jay's mother took care of administrative needs for Max.

Previous to Jay's mother's death, she arranged for the durable power of attorney to pass to Jay after she died (she was sick for over a year before her death). I haven't seen the paperwork yet so I don't exactly know how this was done, but please assume for the question that Jay now holds a durable power of attorney regarding Max.

A check from the proceeds of another family member's estate recently were sent to Jay's mother's address (after her death). Jay's step-father forwarded the check to Jay. I am unclear as to whether the check is made out to Jay's mother, for the benefit of Max, or simply to Max. Jay expects some other checks in the next few months as well, and wants to know how he should deal with opening the bank account and how he is limited in dealing with the money (apparently there is some investments for the Max's benefit that have recently lost 80% of their value due to the loss in their funds, and he wants to know if he has the right to move them to less risky investments, for example).

Jay is hesitant to contact a lawyer because there really is very little money here (currently under $5000 I believe), and he can't afford to pay very much at all out of his own pocket for a lawyer. He asked me what I thought, as a way of deciding whether he needs a lawyer. My instinct is to convince him to see a lawyer with expertise, but I'd like to be able to understand the situation so that I can point him to some resources or go along with him to consult with the lawyer and know what sorts of questions I should ask.

Thanks for any resources or advice you might have

Find that waffle!

redhotchips — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:02:20 -0800

NYCfilter: where in the world was this photo of a delectable waffle taken?

Good food, good company - help me get both!

pinksoftsoap — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:49:22 -0800

HALP! I am trying to plan a birthday party for two friends but am finding a lot of hurdles. Any suggestions that can accommodate ~20 or more adults in Manhattan (preferably), Brooklyn, or Queens for cheap? The party is for two awesome guys who love good, hearty food. Some suggestions pitched so far:

- Dinosaur BBQ - no reservations available until January :(

- Daisy May's BBQ - reservations available but only for a minimum of $35 a head off of their special menu :( I can risk just having everyone show up without a reservation but with these numbers, that might not work out well.

I'm hoping for a place that's $20 or under per person that's not a bar or club-like lounge. Also, I strongly dislike Dallas BBQ. My group has also done Dave & Buster's to death, so no to that as well.

Thank you in advance!

How do I collect backdated unemployment benefits?

helios410 — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:33:01 -0800

NY Unemployment Benefits Filter: I applied for unemployment benefits approximately three weeks after my company had to release me, due to downsizing. Essentially, I am trying to recover unemployment benefits I did not claim during those first three weeks. Am I out of luck? I wrote the NY Dept of Labor explaining that I was not sure what I had to do during those three weeks, which is why I did not file a claim, and to say I am formally requesting benefits for those weeks now.

They wrote back a standard letter of determination, stating I cannot be counted for credit until I have filed a claim. But the letter I sent was my claim! I feel like I am being filtered through a bureaucratic time warp...

Anyways I spoke with an NY Dept of Labor worker on the phone, and all she could tell me is they usually do not allow backdated claims, and to apply for a hearing if I thought it was necessary. Applying for a hearing looks like my only recourse at the moment.

Does anyone have any experience dealing with Unemployment hearings, or the backdating of benefits? Any suggestions would be really helpful.

(And sorry for the long-winded question.)

Where can I find a Freudian lollipop?

Four-Eyed Girl — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:59:06 -0800

Where can I find Sigmund Freud lollipops before Friday? I live in Westchester County in NY, and I'd prefer to stick to Westchester, Rockland, Fairfield, or any other counties within a reasonable driving distance. I'd prefer not to go into Manhattan for these, if possible.

A question for NY iPhone owners

JulianDay — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:36:57 -0800

NY iPhone owners: How's the reception in Queens (Astoria/LIC) and what's the bill once all the taxes etc. are included? I'm thinking of getting an iPhone with 900 min and $5 of SMS, so Att's charges would be $95/month.

From what I found online ~23% tax is added in NYC, but I just checked my Verizon bill and it was more like 30%. If you have the above plan does your bill come out to ~$116/month? I tried calling Att and they were (unsurprisingly) unable to tell me.

Last, I live and work in Astoria/LIC so I wanted to find out if the reception is OK in those areas.

NYC Limo/Van Referral Needed

Man with Lantern — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:39:33 -0800

I'd like a referral for a service in New York City that can provide transport for six people, and luggage, from Penn Station to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. There are dozens - if not hundreds - limo services to choose from so I just need help separating the wheat from the chaff. Thanks.

No Cats Allowed

Navelgazer — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:53:03 -0800

Cheap way to get myself and my cats from NY to DC. I'm currently staying with my friend in NYC, who has been taking care of my cats all summer for me while I was in New Orleans. I need to get back to "home" (D.C.) within the next week, and need to be able to get my cats down there with me. As I understand it, neither Amtrak nor the Chinatown buses (which I'd normally take) will allow pets in carriers on board (allergies and whatnot, I suppose.) I also lost my credit card while in New Orleans, with the replacement going to my address in D.C., and so renting a car is out (and would be prohibitively expensive for me anyway.)

Does anyone know of any buses or trains between NY and D.C. that would allow cats on board? Any other possible way I'm not thinking of? Thanks for your help!