Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with brooklyn and manhattan

Where should I live in New York?

naoko — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:41:22 -0800

I'm moving to New York and don't know a lot about neighborhoods. Where should I live? My boyfriend just got a new job, we are moving in together in New York - he is moving in June and I am following some time in the next several months (September-ish?). I currently live in DC (U Street area) and he lives in Cambridge, MA (between Harvard and Central Squares) (we both really like our current neighborhoods a lot, fwiw). His new office is around 5th Ave and 34th Street.

Things we don't care about at all:
- Doorman
- Fancy in-building facilities like a gym. Washer and dryer in the building would be nice but that's about it.
- Shiny perfect new appliances

Things we do care about
- Near a subway stop and a not horribly long commute for him to get to work
- Feels like a "neighborhood" - an area with some personality and character, has affordable bars and restaurants and culture-y things to do (movie theaters? funky bookstores? live music? I don't know exactly, but that sort of thing), and where other young-ish people live (we are both 28). It doesn't have to be the hippest area, just somewhere that's not boring commercial wasteland. Basically we want to give ourselves the best possible shot at falling in love with New York.

Based on the 40xrent=salary rule that I've seen in other threads about NYC apartment hunting, our budget is around $2500 (note: this only takes into account his salary. I am currently in a (low-paid, but paid) internship in DC and do not have a job lined up in New York yet). I don't really have a great idea of what different neighborhoods are like and what that amount of money gets us. My sister (who lives in the West Village) is pretty convinced that what we want is Williamsburg, and from what she says it sounds appealing, but I'd love to hear other opinions. I floated East Village/Lower East Side and she said I might find it a bit on the noisy side but that it might be an option. Other ideas appreciated too! Boyfriend and I are headed to New York this weekend to take a look around and get a better idea of what's what, so any guidance going into that would be much appreciated!

Question Part B:
Since my boyfriend will be moving there several months before me, does it make sense for him to get a sublet until we can move into our real apartment together? Or will the hassle of finding a sublet and moving in and then finding a permanent apartment and then moving again outweigh saving some money by having a smaller place until I get there? I hear so many horror stories about New York apartment hunting that I wonder if the peace of mind and less drawn-out process of only having to find a place once might be worth it. Then again, that puts a lot of pressure on us to find that more permanent apartment really soon. Also, if I can find a job before I move then our budget can be bigger. I've been mentally going around in circles on this and I just don't know.

Help me, a mid-twenties licensed adult in NYC, finally learn to drive!

yaymukund — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:55:09 -0800

Help me learn to drive! What's a good driving school or private instructor in NYC for a mid-twenties guy who's never been comfortable driving? I have the next 10-15 days and $500 to get as many hours behind the wheel as possible. A bit of context: I will be traveling to a Ohio for one month where I'll basically need to drive to work daily. My past experiences with driving instructors were both when I was 16 or 17:

1) my dad doing his best to teach me, but I could tell he was nervous/frustrated and it made me nervous/frustrated in turn.

2) a crochety and sort of racist driving instructor who put me on Rt. 70 on my first day because he believed everyone my age learned how to drive while playing Grand Theft Auto. (Hey, buddy, have you even seen anyone play GTA??)

Anyway, I'm nervous and excited. I realize it's very short notice, but I'm also glad to have this opportunity to get over my fear. Thank you!

What's the best place to live on a low budget given a life-consuming job in Manhattan near Madison Square Park? And how low can I go both before and after unintelligible-but-critically-important-tax-stuff?

ch3cooh — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 22:50:27 -0800

What's the best place to live on a low budget given a life-consuming job in Manhattan near Madison Square Park? And how low can I go both before and after unintelligible-but-critically-important-tax-stuff? I've lived happily in Boston for two years on $300/month for all expenses beyond rent/utilities/internet. I love to cook, I bake bread, I bike everywhere, and most of the things I do for entertainment are cheep if not free. I really can't see ever spending more than $500/month on food and entertainment. So, I'd ideally like a nice kitchen attached to a shoebox containing a bed, a toilet, and a shower; an 8 minute walk through a garden full of sunflowers from my place of work. That said, I'm actually not married to living in Manhattan; however, a fast commute (ideally less than or around 30 min, certainly less than an hour) is definitely one of my highest priorities.

My prospective job in NY is one that I'm passionate about, but it's going to pay pretty poorly. Actually, the first prong of my question is "At what salary cut off should I turn down (or threaten to reject the offer if the salary isn't higher) the job? I don't care about 'what my time is worth' -- I mean this first question in terms of needing to know a minimum estimate for what I might live comfortably on, either living in or commuting a reasonable distance into the Manhattan area. Also, I honestly don't understand the tax system in NY, so please answer this question with 2 numbers: (1) how much money I'll actually get per month?, and (2) how much the job offer salary would need to be in order to result in that monthly paycheck?

My second question is then, where and how are the best places to look for housing given this circumstance? Where in terms of areas of NY, and how in terms of good sites to use to track down specific housing opportunities.

Any and all help/suggestions/insight appreciated. :)
And thank you so much!

Can I get my hands on Hachiya persimmons in NYC this week?

Viola — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:28:52 -0800

Even though they're not quite in season, can I buy persimmons (Hachiya persimmons, specifically) in NYC this week? Brooklyn or Manhattan, preferably.

I want to do all of the cool things

pazazygeek — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:18:50 -0800

I have a plan to visit NYC with my best friend next weekend. I've been to NYC about six or seven times now, and I have a few things in mind. Can you help me find some other cool things to do based on what I'm already thinking about checking out? So far, I'm thinking I'd like to hit The Armoury on Park Ave, Eyebeam Gallery, and check out this bookstore in Williamsburg I've heard about called Book Thug Nation. Manhattan and Brooklyn are both on the docket. Can you recommend any cool galleries to check out?

I've actually never been to The Cloisters, so we might check that out - but I would love to see some cool contemporary exhibits or openings, particularly at smaller galleries.

Also I'm interested in cool places to see music in Brooklyn. I went to The Rock Lottery at The Knitting Factory last November and saw a ton of great local musicians play. What are some good venues to look at to check out who's playing?

Finally - my grandmother grew up in what is now called Flatbush. I have never ventured out there to explore because I had no idea where to go. Is there a good restaurant or cool thing to check out in that area to give me an excuse to really get out there this time?

Thank you for any advice you can provide, New Yorkers of mefi.

And then there's always Supercuts

NolanRyanHatesMatches — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:55:31 -0800

LonghairFilter: Man with shoulder-length hair ISO $0-$20 trim in NYC. I have shoulder-length hair and would like to keep the length more or less, but, after 1+ years of no touching-up, it's just a big giant mess up there and I'd love to get a nice trim.

Years ago I went the Bumble & Bumble Free Cut route but would rather avoid that this time around (long wait + not-so-great cut). I've been searching Craigslist/beauty for free cuts, SalonApprentice.com (which has a ton of options but none that really fit me), a few other places, but I'm not coming up w/ anything solid. The few hits I've found about cutting men's long hair usually come with the addendum that the model have his hair cut down to a short length.

All I'm really looking for is a place where I can sit down in the chair and say, "Hey, I have this long mess and I'd like to keep the long and get rid of the mess." And I'd rather not pay more than $20 for this. I know that I can probably walk right into Supercuts and get this done, but being NYC, going to Supercuts feels a bit like passing up a slice at Joe's of the Village and heading straight for the nearest Domino's.

Sooner is better than later, and I don't mind making an appointment, provided that I can get the haircut within the next week or two.

Thx in advance!

Where can I get a bottle of Moroccan Oil in NYC?

greta simone — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:52:25 -0800

Where can I find Morrocan Oil in lower Manhattan or North Brooklyn? I'm looking for this specific product (not the cream or hair mask, just the straight up oil) in a brick-and-mortar store convenient to the Union Square-ish area.

None of the Sephoras carry it, I haven't seen it in any of the numerous Duane Reades/CVSs/Rite Aids I have checked, and the drugstore on the north side of 14th btw 5th and 6th where I used to get it doesn't carry it anymore. I know I can get it on Amazon, but I would like to pick some up today or tomorrow if I can.

Also, I know there are alternative similar products but I am not interested in those.

We need recommendations for an affordable couples' counselor in NYC.

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:57:03 -0800

My husband and I need recommendations for couples' counseling in NYC, Manhattan or Brooklyn, and would love something relatively affordable (under $120/session, if possible). It's nothing terribly dire, but we need to resolve some issues involving his work, my life goals and reaching compromises about our 5 year plans. We don't have insurance. An LCSW is preferable, and we'd rather not do group therapy unless it's the only affordable option. Thanks in advance!

Restaurant for vegan and non-vegan in NYC

ridogi — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:43:27 -0800

What restaurants would be good for a vegan and a non vegan in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Queens? I'm a vegan, and my girlfriend is not. Aside from Thai restaurants it is difficult to find common ground in a restaurant that we both really like. We're looking for recommendations that have options that we'll both want. We like smaller casual places with dishes from $10-20. East Village or downtown Manhattan would be ideal, but anywhere in Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn is also welcome.

Exclusively vegan restaurants, and restaurants that may have just one vegan dish are not what we're looking for—a variety of options for both of us would be ideal.

To the boroughs...tipsy-like.

lunalaguna — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:03:30 -0800

Five boroughs, five drinks. My boyfriend and I are both off tomorrow, and have decided to have a drink in every borough over the course of an afternoon. We've never been to Staten Island, and it's been ages since I've been in the Bronx.

We live in the north part of Park Slope, so we'll be starting in Brooklyn, probably at brunch. I'm thinking we'll go counter-clockwise, heading up to Queens next.

So, we need your recommendations! We'd like Brooklyn diner or weekday brunch options, various other bar suggestions near the train that are open in the afternoon and as distinctive as possible. A mix of high and low would be good. And we'll probably need a snack or a slice in Manhattan or Staten Island. If there's anywhere else near the bars you'd recommend checking out, we'd appreciate that, too.

How to find a room in NYC?

mareli — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 07:42:50 -0800

NYU grad student desperately seeking an affordable room in Bklyn or lower Manhattan. She's my cousin from Uruguay, early thirties, just arrived in NYC. She's tried craigslist with no success. I am not in NYC. Where else should she look for ads? Feel free to memail me.

I need to buy a new CPAP mask in NYC. Where?

(The Rt Hon.) MP — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 07:01:28 -0800

Where can I get a new CPAP mask today, in NYC? Preferably downtown Manhattan or Brooklyn. I awoke in the middle of the night, found some little strip of plastic next to me, shrugged and put it on the hotel room floor, and went back to sleep. Or, tried to - within a moment, it was clear that I had been handling the strap-holder in my CPAP mask - without it (and it had been somehow torn straight off), there was no way to clearly tighten the mask to my face.

In other words, my CPAP mask is broken, and I need another. Where does one get such a thing? I work a little south of Union Square, near 11th St and University Place, so anywhere in the vicinity would be great; I'll also be heading to Kensington/Flatbush later tonight, so anywhere on the way from A to B would also be fantastic.

But so this helps people more generally in the NYC area for reference, where *does* one get a replacement in the city as a whole? Thanks so much for any help on this.

(Super-special Bonus CPAP issue: I've been finding I wake up in the middle of the night, take off my CPAP mask, and wake up a few hours later and put it on. No idea why I'm doing this. This happen to anyone else?)

What's a good NYC-based company for printing menus?

defenestration — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:56:01 -0800

The bakery/café I work for is looking for a good company to print our menus. We're looking to print "tall" menus. I'm sorry this is so vague, but I don't know the measurements or name of the type of menu. If I had to guess I'd say ~8" x ~4" — you know, the kind you often see in restaurants/cafés/delis, etc, often with a trifold. We're most likely doing just a double sided piece of paper, though. We're located in Brooklyn, so we'd be looking for a company somewhere here or in Manhattan.

"I've got a gun let's go to a Broadway show"

drjimmy11 — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:23:41 -0800

What should I see/eat/do in New York City this week? I'm going to New York this Wed. - Sunday for a film festival. Outside of the screening Thursday night, I don't have any plans at all. Hopefully you can help with that.

I'll be staying in the midtown/Broadway/Times Square area (not really by choice; it's close to my screening.) I have been to New York a few times and seen the very basic tourist things but not much else.

What I like:
Museums and arty stuff
Music- rockish, indieish, alt-country-ish
Literary-related stuff (bonus points for "Gatsby" tie-ins!)
coffee shops
Good food
Stuff I can do by myself without feeling awkward- for me that means I will sit in a cool bar where I can read a book or just chill, but I'm less likely to go to some big dance club. I'm not a huge fan of eating alone at "fancy" restaurants but love good food in a casual setting. I'm a vegetarian, but eat fish, love Indian and other spicy foods.

For lack of a better word, "hipstery" is a pretty good stereotype of what I like. If you know L.A., I live in Silver Lake. I'm interested in exploring Brooklyn/Williamsburg too- specific recommendations are great, but if there's a certain subway stop where I should just get off and poke around, I can do that too. Jonathan and Ray's world in "Bored to Death" kind of appeals to me.

This is kind of lame and embarrassing but I wouldn't mind visiting the famous view by the Brooklyn(??) Bridge. You know, the one from "Manhattan" among other movies.

Not interested in:
Broadway shows
Times Square touristy stuff
Anything that costs a fortune

Maybe:
There is some boat trip that you can take just to see the sites I think? Want to say Staten Island ferry but maybe not? This is embarrassing.

I'm leaving this pretty open-ended; I am well aware there are tens of thousands of bars and restaurants in New York City- just hoping to hear about some hidden treasures I wouldn't otherwise.

Is this suicidal?

dixiecupdrinking — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:46:22 -0800

How much time should I leave driving from Brooklyn to Times Square at A.M. rush hour? I feel silly not to know this but I never drive or really take cabs anywhere during normal waking hours.

I have an important interview in Times Square that I need to arrive for no later than 9 A.M., but I'd be happy and willing to get there as much as an hour early. I'd like to take a car service from my home in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn to avoid sweating through my suit on the subway platform. How much time would I need to leave for this? Google maps puts it at around 25 minutes, but how bad will traffic be? What if I leave at 7:30 – will I beat the traffic or is it all the same?

Bonus question: Is traffic going to be so stressful and unpredictable I'm better off just doing the old cramped but reliable subway ride? I might be outsmarting myself here.

Seeking mental health professional in Brooklyn or lower Manhattan

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:16:01 -0800

Seeking recommendations for a mental health therapist in North Brooklyn/lower Manhattan. Hi all. I'm looking for a mental health professional (PhD, PsyD, LCSW, whatever) in the North Brooklyn or lower Manhattan area. Proximity to the L train is very important. I'm interested in pursuing CBT to treat mild depression and destructive thought patterns. I need someone who takes NY STATE HEALTH PLUS or has a VERY VERY GENEROUS SLIDING SCALE. I prefer a female therapist, but it's not necessary. It is also important that this person be laid back and non-judgemental about non-traditional relationships (I will need to be able to discuss past relationships that were open relationships).

Thanks for your help!

Where in NYC can I go that's really high up and will allow me to set up a rather large camera on a tripod?

Venadium — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:11:44 -0800

Accessible rooftops (or other really high places) in Manhattan or Brooklyn? I know the obvious suggestions will be the Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock observation deck, but it's not that easy: I need a place that allows tripods and won't give me too much trouble when I set up a large format view camera.

Show me the fire

meadowlark lime — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:12:59 -0800

What bars in New York City have campfires or fireplaces? When I go out to drink and socialize, I like to sit by a fire. It's my thing.

In Brooklyn, I know of two places that have fires: the outdoor one at Union Pool, and the indoor fireplace at Union Hall.

There is also one at Roberta's in Bushwick, but it's by these tables where you have to be eating a meal, so it's a little more 'formal' than what I'm looking for, which is a place where you can

Surely there must be more?

Looking for a list of bars where people can socialize around a fire in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens.

All-you-can-eat sushi in Manhattan or Brooklyn?

®@ — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 12:19:19 -0800

Please tell me about any all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants (in Manhattan or Brooklyn) that you are aware of! I'm going to NYC to meet with a bunch of old friends before I move to LA, and I'd like to leave with several pounds of fish in my belly. Does anyone know of any "flat rate" sushi places? I recall that there used to be one on 8th Avenue, but haven't been able to turn anything up online.

Marathon Bypass Marathon Edition

mhz — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 07:37:06 -0800

Can I use the subway to cross the path of the NYC Marathon? I'm working Sunday, and need to arrive between 9:30 and 10am. I'd like to bike to work, but getting from Crown Heights to Manhattan seems impossible, with the Marathon route cutting right between my starting and finishing lines.

It's usually about a 35-40 minute ride, and I'm willing to give the ride up to 50 minutes to adjust my route, etc, to get past the race.

I'm thinking I can use the Atlantic Ave station… but the new entrance is probably too close to Hanson Pl to be accessible (although I'm going early enough that crowds should be navigable. Are there any ideal entrance/exits that I can get in on one end, and find myself on the other side of the traffic closure on the other end? Atlantic to Pacific (via tunnel)? Pacific to Pacific (just crossing 4th Ave)? Any other stations that will let me get tunnel beneath the closed roads? Any other suggestions? Is this even realistic? Or should I resign to taking the subway full stop?

(Once past the course in Brooklyn, I'm clear in Manhattan, and everything will be open by the time I'm done for the day. I really want to get at least some of the ride in, so if this proves impossible, I'll just take the train for a couple of stops… I'm just looking to do without that at all.)

NYC Lawyer for a commercial lease?

jenmess — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:19:56 -0800

Suggestions for a lawyer in New York City to look over a commercial lease? We're a small for-profit currently negotiating a lease on a retail storefront in Brooklyn and we're in need of a lawyer to take a look at the lease. We do have a broker, but they have connections to the building so we're looking for an outside lawyer.

Specific recommendations are much appreciated! Brooklyn/Manhattan locations are easiest for us.

How do we watch some rugby in NYC?

Xoder — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:59:46 -0800

Where can my wife and I go to watch live union rugby games in Brooklyn or Manhattan? She's the new but enthusiastic rugby fan, and primarily is interested in Ireland (intra-Ireland, particularly Connacht). There seems to be a season coming up in November prior to the Six Nations tournament in February. It seems like the Magners league is having matches right now, too? We're both kind of clueless, actually.

Brooklyn, get in mah belly!

chara — Thu, 13 May 2010 11:12:15 -0800

Food-tourism-filter: I'll be staying in Brooklyn (Park Slope) for about a week in June and I'm looking for interesting, affordable can't-miss delicious foods that I wouldn't normally find at home in the Midwest. Here's whats on my list already: - The Bagel Hole/H&H
- Momofuku Milk Bar
- Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
- Two Boots Restaurant (for pizza, I think?)
- Colson Patisserie
- El Pollo
- Almondine Bakery (macarons!)
- Ruby et Violette Bakery (magical cookies!)
- Katz's

Any suggestions for other places/foods I should check out? I'm particularly fascinated with food trucks (practically non-existent in my hometown), ethnic cuisine, sweets and novelty items. I have no dietary restrictions. I'd like to limit my spending to about $15-20/meal, (not including tip, if I'm at a sit-down restaurant).

For the sake of sanity/simplicity, I'm limiting myself to Brooklyn and Manhattan, but if you know of a particularly stellar fooderies in the other boroughs, your suggestions are welcome.

Restaurant recommendations in Brooklyn and Manhattan

Janta — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:54:14 -0800

I'm looking for restaurant recommendations in Brooklyn and the UWS -- whatcha got, MeFi? My family and I will be spending a few days in New York over spring break, and I'd love to hear about good restaurants in Brooklyn and the Upper West Side. We're staying in Brooklyn (Park Slope to be more specific) and will be spending some time in Manhattan too, primarily near the AMNH and Central Park. We'd especially love recommendations for Greek, Mexican, Thai and sushi. There are three of us: two adults and a six-year-old, and we'd like to not spend an absolute fortune. (Lots of previous questions on restaurants seem to be focused on special occasions; we're looking more for low-key, tasty but affordable options, though I know "sushi" never equals "affordable".) I saw this AskMe from 2006, and will investigate those recommendations, but since that question is more than three years old I thought there might be some new places to check out. Thanks!

Urban incorporation by way of a bridge?

viewofdelft — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:44:12 -0800

What cities have incorporated other cities by means of a bridge? I'm looking at building a list of cities that have incorporated other cities after some sort of transportation link was established between the two. This link doesn't need to be an actual bridge—it could be a tunnel, road, causeway, ferry, etc.

Similarly, when I say "incorporated," I don't necessarily mean that the cities have formally incorporated. It might very well be as informal as when the primary city's name is said, the other city is also implied (by virtue of the bridge).

Two notable examples include:

New York (Manhattan—Brooklyn) and
London (City of London—Southwark)

Both of these examples are formal incorporations following the completion of an actual bridge.