Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with York

Calling all New Yorkers and Graphic Designers

ss448 — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:22:31 -0800

Multi part question: MOVING TO NY....what should the starting salary of an entry level Graphic Designer be? What are some Design Studios / Agencies I should be looking into? Details Inside. (I could also use some NYC advice...) So I recently graduated from school and got my Bachelors in Graphic Design. I'm following my dream (cliché I know) and making the big move to NYC. I have a few interviews lined up, but a question I can't seem to figure out the answer to is, what I would want as my starting salary. While here in Miami I had an idea of what to expect, but in NY I’m unsure. Please advise me of what to expect, or what you think I should ask for....

Next question: I have been searching the internet for all different type of companies. I need suggestions for top advertising agencies, design houses, companies etc etc that would be worth looking into. My focus is more on print work. I can handle basic html, but web really isn’t my thing. I love making rock posters (I wish I could find a job just doing that), I enjoy PSA's, corporate branding, package design, editorial design and things of that nature. Ideally I would like to find a job were I can combine my interest in Music and Graphic Design. I'm open for any suggestions.... if you have a recommendation please send It over my way (message me and I can send you a link to my online portfolio).

Lastly, any advice for someone moving to NYC…. My plan is to sublet for a couple months. Once I determine that I’ve made the right move I think I will look to sign a lease, but since I don’t know where I’ll be working, I figure it doesn’t make sense to sign a lease yet. I want to eventually get my Master’s in the Art Market…I plan on starting that by fall of 2009. I’m confused as to when a good time to sign a lease is…will I find a better deal during the worst of the winter???

Should I worry about buying winter clothes before I go there? Is it okay to just figure all that out when I get there? I’m confused and unsure about all of the little stuff. I would appreciate advice about any of this stuff. Thanks in advance!

Must...Find...Bar

foxy_hedgehog — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:04:32 -0800

Hello fellow Americans and concerned citizens around the world. Please help me find a bar in downtown Manhattan where I can watch the presidential debate tonight. That's about the extent of it. The only place I've found is in Time Square, which I would like to avoid.

Thanks and happy watching.

Get New York to stop honking?

idledebonair — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:51:13 -0800

How do I get people in my neighborhood to stop honking? This may be more of a philosophical question than one with an actual solvable answer, but I'm interested in the results anyway. I live near the entrance of the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel. Every morning, and less annoyingly, around five o'clock, there is unbearable honking. Let's just assume for a minute that it is not impossible to do something about it. There are already official signs on the street that indicate a seemingly unenforced fine for honking. What would a person who lived in a working system do? Call 311? Write the King of Brooklyn? Just compromise having working windows and soundproof the wall? What is a long term strategy? Should I rally the neighbors? Form/find a community organization?

Help me fix this tendinitis...with needles?

xiaolongbao — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:37:07 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good acupuncturist in the New York metro area? Stamford, CT environs also possible, but I have no car. I recently received my first acupuncture treatment in San Francisco, felt what might be the first inklings of success, and am hoping to continue in New York after I move back home this weekend. Can anyone recommend a good acupuncturist, particularly someone who could treat tendinitis, in the (preferably) New York or (possibly) Stamford, CT area? A zillion bonus points if they happen to accept BlueCross insurance - I know that's a long shot.

Backstory: I've been battling Achilles tendinitis in my left ankle for about 5 years. I used to run competitive long distance, one of my life's great passions, but overtrained and never received proper rehab. For a while, I simply gave up running, as my last ortho said "I think it'd be better if you never ran again," and my parents discouraged me from having "expensive surgery with a 50% success rate." When I do try to run these days, I have to stop after 2-3 20 minute runs spread out over several days due to recurring sharp pain. It has been a life changing, incredibly painful journey, and I've never found anything that' really fulfilled me the way running did. Hoping acupuncture can help me, as I've read some success stories. Other suggestions welcome, too.

Thank you.

How to jettison jetlag?

metaxa — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:42:13 -0800

I'm travelling on a short trip to New York, from the UK. The last two times I've travelled to the US (Las Vegas, New Orleans) the first few days of my break have been ruined by jetlag - waking up at 4am and being zombified by early evening - but, this was ok because they were 10 and 14 day holidays. However, my trip to NYC is for 3 days. How can I try and combat this on such a short trip, without losing the couple of days I have in New York?

Yet another NYC restaurant request, but with details!

anthill — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:53:21 -0800

Yet another NYC restaurant recommendation request: Taking ~15 colleagues out to dinner, walking from Times Square (46th&Broadway), looking to spend $20-30 per head, and be able to make a same-day reservation. Tall order, but bonus points for an NYC experience not available in Toronto/Montreal. Recommendations so far include Wu Liang Ye (48th between 5th-6th)... but even that's right on the edge of walking distance. I know it's lame and we should go to Downtown/Brooklyn/Uptown/anywhere else, but please help!

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.

Help me find a part-time job!!

The1andonly — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:05:46 -0800

Part-time job ideas that are not minimum wage? I am a full time business analyst and a part time singer-songwriter. I am looking for some funds to do my own release of an album (I will self-release it on CDBABY, Itunes, etc).

I am currently employed in a financial services company somewhere in wall street. In order to finance my album I got into some debt thinking that in time I will be able to pay it back thinking I had a stable position right there and then my company stock went down 90% wiping out most of 401k (which I wont even look again until a year) and my position all of a sudden is not as stable as I thought it was.

I am looking to work part-time in order pay off the debt I incurred while recording the album (about 15k), I was thinking of working in a retail store but I mostly have office experience and was wondering whether there are any other faster ways of getting this money.

If it helps to know some of my info I've been steadily employed in said company for 4 years, graduated from NYU in 2005, and for the most part I am good with people and learn fast......any ideas of what I could do to pay off my debt faster? I am very sorry to say that I am not even sure I will have a job in the next couple of months the way things are going. Please help

where can i study near 25th and 7th ave on sunday mornings?

nanhey — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:34:12 -0800

please get me out of starbucks: i need a place to study sunday mornings within a 5ish block radius of 25th Street and 7th Ave (new york city). HELP! I need a quiet-ish place to study between 10am and 1pm on sunday mornings. i'm pretty sure all the libraries close by are closed on sundays. anyone know a good place near 25th and 7th ave that would fit the bill? please don't make me go to starbucks again - it was beyond noisy

An observatory in the New York/New Jersey area?

likeapen — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:42:48 -0800

I need help finding an observatory in the New York/ New Jersey area that I can take my boyfriend for his birthday to view the stars for a good hour or more. Any suggestions?

Brooklyn loft

yoyo_nyc — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 10:47:38 -0800

Where can I find raw space lofts (residential) in Brooklyn, New York? And what kind of price range would we be talking about? Where can I find raw space lofts (residential) in Brooklyn, New York? Most places offered on craiglist are renovated already. How and where can I find unrenovated/raw lofts that I could remodel myself?

And what kind of price range would we be talking about?

(Yoyo_nyc, asking for a friend)

NYC - One Night Only?

Oktober — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:57:41 -0800

I'm going to be in NYC this Saturday and I'd like to see as many of my friends as I can. I'm planning on picking a bar, and just letting everyone known I'll be there from, say, 8-11 or somesuch. I need a bar in NYC that's accessible to people coming from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and New Jersey. Our tastes run on the slightly-geeky side. Think pinball and old arcade games. There will be 10-20 of us, mostly in our late 20s. So far, I've had a few recommendations:

Ace Bar

Barcade
Crocodile Lounge

That said, I haven't really lived in the area in 8 years, so hivemind, any suggestions?

How much do PHP developers in NYC get paid?

defreckled — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:26:43 -0800

What's the going rate for a PHP developer in NYC? I'm not actually defreckled but am borrowing this account.

I work as a PHP developer in NYC with a couple of years experience. A contract agency wants to pay me $50/hour on a contract (1099) basis and my friends think I'm being ripped off. What is the going rate for developers in this area? How much do people get paid full time?

How to support McCain-Palin in NYC?

BobbyVan — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:11:59 -0800

I'm a recent transplant to NYC, and a Republican. I need to find the best ways to support McCain-Palin in what can be a somewhat inhospitable environment. Yes, it's pretty clear that New York's electoral votes will go for Obama this time around. But NYC is also a place from which one can be influential in terms of influencing the national debate.

I don't want to be unnecessarily provocative (as in, I'm not trying to stir up the opposition or make people angry), but I would like to raise the profile and be effective in supporting my ticket.

This would include rebutting smears against McCain and Palin in a civil way, making convincing arguments against Obama-Biden, and at least getting people to have an open mind about my side.

Any clever ideas?

Thanks to all.

how do i sell my car registered in CT to an New York resident?

nanhey — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:07:53 -0800

Selling my car (registered in Connecticut) to a New York state resident, who is not a US citizen. please help me with my forms checklist! I am selling my car that is registered in CT to a New York state resident who is not a US citizen. I am going with him to the DMV tomorrow to sort this all out. what else (if anything) do i need besides a

bill of sale
title
statement of transaction (sales tax form)

Thanks!

Which self-catering flat in York, UK?

infodiva — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:20:10 -0800

Colleague and I are staying in York, UK for a week in October. Help us decide which flat we should rent. One is at 16 Park Crescent, just off Monkgate. The other is in a converted warehouse on Peter Lane, near High Ousegate. We want good pubs and walks nearby, and we value quiet and safety. More info: 16 Park Crescent is a Victorian rowhouse; the Peter Lane place (called Peter Warehouse Apartments) is comparable in size, but in a converted warehouse. Both offer similar amenities in the flat, and both are about the same price. We don't have a car, so parking isn't an issue. I'm more concerned about the amenities in the area, and the general atmosphere. We have both visited York several times, and love it. Thank you in advance!

looking for hand lettered signs in NYC.

abirae — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:07:23 -0800

Where can I get hand lettered signs in NYC? I want to get hand lettered signs made for a friend's wedding. Ideally I would like signs like those in old grocery stores and times square tourist shops. Here is a picture I found on flickr.

$6.99 sign

The sign at the bottom of the photo that says $6.99 is the kind of thing I am looking for. I have also seen much more complex ones that use a lot of neon orange and blue.
Where do all of the souvenir shops get them? I have tried asking at the stores, but no one seems to know.

Help me buy and have fun with my first bike in New York City

falameufilho — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:29:12 -0800

After thinking about it for half the summer, I am buying bikes for me and my wife. I need tips about buying a bike and also pointers on recreational biking in New York City. So, after renting bikes a bunch of times this summer with my wife, we decided to get our own bikes. So as you imagine, I have a bunch of questions.

First the requirements:

* These bikes are not for commuter use. These are just for weekend recreational use.
* They will, for 99.99% of their lifetime, ride on asphalt.
* I am a large individual: 6'1" and 260 pounds
* I prefer small to large: I live in a small apartment and storage is an issue. However, since folding bikes are ridiculously expensive for what they offer, I will suck it up. So size is not a deciding factor but again: Small is better than large.
* I prefer light to heavy: My building has an elevator but we may occasionally carry the bikes into the subway or something. Since this will happen rarely, it is also not a deciding factor but light is nice.
* My budget allows $500 on each bike, tops.

So, on to the questions!

1) I am going to buy them at Metro Bicycles in 88th street. I went there and I was really impressed by the salesman - I made a bunch of questions and he was really patient. Also, many things that I asked if I needed (tools, sturdier pedals) he was really emphatic in saying that I should not waste my money on them. I am really impressed when a salesman tells me not to buy stuff because it's superfluous. Anyway I'd like to check - anyone had bad experiences with Metro Bicycles?

2) I have done some research on hybrid/comfort bikes and decided they are the right type of bike for us. I rented a Giant Cypress a couple of times and really liked it. They go on Metro Bicycles for a very similar price as suggested on the Giant site. What do you think about it? They carry many other brands, if you have other brand preferences, feel free to speak up!

3) Any specifics I should look for in adapting the bike for physical differences? For example, what should I look for in buying a bike for a large guy (such as myself) of for a woman (such as my wife :-) )?

4) I am a little anxious about braving traffic in a bike. Any tips from veterans and links to resources on how to behave on a New York street are much appreciated.

5) Any tips for having fun with your bike in New York City are also much appreciated :-) I've just read this post with a lot of great options, anything else you'd like to add?

Bonus question: Anyone lives in a ridiculously small apartment and successfully stores a full-sized bike without going insane? Share your story.

Wow, that was a lot of questions. Thanks in advance, hive mind!

Natural-looking (read: undetectable) highlights in New York?

pearl228 — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:39:33 -0800

So I am a female in my 20s, just moved to NYC, and need to find a top rate hair salon that does natural-looking highlights--which, as all we women know, requires word-of-mouth recommendations. Please, beauty junkie mefites, help! I have been going to O Salon in DC for years, having my terribly fine, medium brunette hair highlighted to a light brown/dirty blonde shade in tons of microscopic strips for about $250 a pop. The idea is that you can almost not see that it's colored, yadda yadda; there are no streaks. I also enjoy not having to touch them up for 12 weeks if I choose bc they are so subtle.

As any of you ladies who have your hair colored this way know, 98% of salons can't actually do this, despite the reviews they get on Yelp, Allure, etc.

Location, as long as it's within Manhattan, is not an issue. Price <$300 would be preferable.

Thank you much for your suggestions!

Apartment rent being consolidated: stay or go?

amicamentis — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:31:51 -0800

My landlady is going to start charging rent by apartment ($2000/month for all) rather than by room ($530/month for me). Is it worth it to stay? Backstory: I moved to NYC a month and a half ago. I found my current apartment in Jamaica, Queens from a guy on Craigslist. He had advertised it as $530/month, and I would only be responsible for my room (aka if another room was vacant or someone else was late, then that wasn’t my problem). I appreciated the lack of lease because I wasn’t sure how long I would stay there. The Craigslist guy (Bryan) lived in an adjacent room. He is in another country for the summer and hard to get a hold of.

The landlady is a Chinese woman whose English is very poor. Her daughter’s English is fine. I had them approach me when I returned home the other day and told me that since they’ve had issues with other roommates not paying rent (Bryan hasn’t paid for August, these two Ukranian boys in the other room had people in the empty room without telling the landlady, forcing her to clean it again) that now she is going to switch how people pay and charge $2000 for the whole apartment each month, rather than require individual payments.

This sucks. The Ukranians are moving out in early September and the other room is currently vacant. Clearly Bryan is not a trustworthy renter and I do not want to be stuck with his financial problems. However, $530/month is very good for this area, and I also have my own bathroom/two closets in my room that I do not want to give up if I move.

I paid the landlady one month’s security deposit when I moved in and she is allowing me to stay at the same price until October 1st.

Question, at last: based on others’ experiences, what should I keep in mind if I stay? Would Craigslist be the best way to find new roommates? Should I have them sign a lease? Advance deposits? I would rather not be responsible for others in this apartment, but if anyone has some good systems for dealing with this I will listen avidly.

Also, I would rather not have answers relating to lawyers or be in any way contentious. I do not want to be on bad terms with the landlady, and I can definitely understand her frustration. However, I just moved in and have been a model tenant. I don’t like being faced with this difficulty.

Help me make a Yankee fan's day!

Asherah — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:38:58 -0800

Where can I find unique (or historic) prints of Yankee Stadium to give as a special gift? I'm hoping to surprise a die-hard Yankees fan (and native New Yorker, living in California) with a unique print of Yankee Stadium. Any suggestions for websites featuring something more special than the common stadium photograph that are being pawned all over the place during this final year of its use? This could be a historical photograph or artist's rendering.

I would also consider commissioning a local artist to do a one-of-a-kind drawing or depiction, so suggestions of NY-based artists who would consider doing this sort of thing are also welcome.

Get me to Chapel Hill from NYC!

greta simone — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:33:52 -0800

How to get to Chapel Hill from NYC? Hey y'all. So I'm riding up to NYC from Chapel Hill, NC around the first of August, with a friend who is moving there. I was hoping to hang around for a few days and see friends, but I'm struggling with the best way to get back. I have always flown round-trip when visiting NY, when airline prices were more reasonable. Presently, I have very little money, so I'm trying to come up with the most economical way to take a one-way trip back to CH from NYC. I have looked at one way flights and Amtrak. While those options aren't super-expensive, I am looking for alternative ideas that I might not have considered.
A few things:
Please do not suggest taking a bus. I have my reasons for not wanting to take a bus.
As long as I can get to the general Chapel Hill area (Greensboro to Raleigh), I could have someone pick me up at the end.

Mostly, I'm just looking for secrets that others may have discovered when making this trek. Is there a website to find a good rideshare? I have looked at craigslist already, but haven't found much, and I'm not sure I would trust anyone from craigslist. Is there a place to find discounted Amtrak deals? Do you or any of your friends want to drive me?

I'm just trying to save a couple of bucks.
Thanks!

Band at the Limelight

Shanachie — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:04:24 -0800

In the early 90's I saw a band at the Limelight in New York. The band was made up entirely of percussion instruments. There were maybe 10 people playing and they were all painted gold. I cannot for the life of me remember what they were called and it's driving me nuts. Does sound familiar to anyone?

Am I going to have to leave my apartment to see fireworks?

soonertbone — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:31:47 -0800

Am I going to be able to see fireworks from my NYC apartment this year? I live near Battery Park and have a great view of Governor's Island, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, etc. Basically I live in the southernmost building on the island, facing south, so I can see most of the harbor. I know the Macy's fireworks are in the East River, so I won't be able to see them. But does anybody know if there is maybe another display that would be viewable from my apartment?

Event-type restaurant in Greenwich Village

lockedroomguy — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:24:12 -0800

Greenwich Village NYC EVENT restaurant recommendation. We're looking for a restaurant in the Village that is an experience to go to. Not because of the food--the food doesn't even have to be that good. More looking for an experience or extraoridinary atmosphere. We have guests coming in to the city that will probably go to a lot of other areas in the city over the next few days, but probably not to the Village. So what ideas are there for an experience, as opposed to a great meal, in the East or West Village, or walking distance? Examples that don't work for the crowd we have in mind would be Jekyll & Hyde (for kids) or Lips (a little too crazy.)

Grange Hall would have been good, but it's closed. Its replacement, Commerce, would work, but is too expensive, as we expect the guests are going to try to treat us, and we don't want to blow their budget. Chumley's would have been good, but it's closed for renovations.

Any ideas?

Thanks