Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with midtown

I need a quiet place in mid-town NYC to have a phone interview.

feistycakes — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:00:26 -0800

I got the interview! But I don't have a private area at my current job to take the phone call. Can anyone recommend somewhere within a 10-minute walk from 39th Street at 8th Ave where I could count on quiet and good cell phone reception? I'd be willing to pay for it if I have to, though not what a Times Square hotel room would cost.

finding good budget accommodation near art students league

helen frances — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:57:44 -0800

I will travel from Ireland to study at The Art Students League on 57th St. Any recommendation on finding an adjacent good room to rent, or within easy access in a safe secure neighbourhood, as my budget is very tight. I would also be happy to swap accommodation or hospitality/study period. Thanks

Sell our House or Not? We are at an impasse, HELP!

damiano99 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:17:09 -0800

Sell our House or Not? We are at an impasse, HELP! Extended explanation inside. We have a realtor and I know you are not our realtor but we need some objective, outside opinions.

My wife and I bought a charming 1600sf home in our town soon after marriage and we've been in it 7 years. It's a simple bungalow but has a large office space, the three bedrooms we need for our now 4 person family and a huge backyard with trees which is rare in this part of the city. We've updated the paint, trim, and maintained it quite well. It'll need a new roof in the next 2 years and last year we put a new a/c unit into it. We've paid down the house from 124 to 104 in the past 7 years.

I would like to move elsewhere as we are moving out of storage space and I'm afraid we're going to have to do more work on this house before long. Nothing has really shown up other than having to snake the pipes and we'd need insulation but I tend to be a worrier. Plus, having an actual laundry room and not having the washer/dryer in the garage would be fantastic. My wife likes our house and is attached to the area we live in. Unfortunately, to move up 400-800 sf in this area doubles the house prices. With the difference in interest rates, we'd only pay 200-400 more a month, which is stretchy/doable (until the kids are out of daycare in 2 years) but the sticky issue is this:

We found houses last year that we liked (we put our house on the market in the late fall and only managed to get 3 showings) but no one bought our home so we lost the one liked to another buyer. This year, we put it back out and within 3 days have a firm offer with no haggling. With realtor fees and what not we'd still walk away with 20-25K which we're very happy with. However, we haven't signed yet and we're going to lose the buyers if we don't soon. The reason is that my wife is frightened we won't find one she really likes in our price/area range before the close date AND she doesn't think we can manage an intermediate move to an apt both financially and easily considering our toddlers and home office. Also, she flat refuses to go along with the idea as she feels it's too chaotic. She wants to pull out and find one and then take offers/relist/etc.

This was a our first house, so we have no experience in this area. Our realtor says more homes will pop up in our area (Tulsa/Midtown) in the next month and the buyers would give us 8 weeks of closing time. We're not sure if that's true or hopeful thinking because she's obviously out for commission and we've looked at 50 houses and NONE work. Should we jump forward or pull back and sell first? If we wait till next year do we screw ourselves of the good interest rates and the soft market? If we waited the 2 years until our kids are out of daycare (freeing up 1500 a month) would we be in a better position or worse due to IR and market move? Our mortgage right now is roughly 920 a month if we went with a house that ran 225-250, we'd be dealing with 1390-1500. Again doable, just tight. We're just afraid the house we want isn't out there yet and we are still comfortable in this house, minus the storage issues. We're just lost and need any and all opinions.

Midtown at night

Brent Parker — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:15:33 -0800

What is the atmosphere of Midtown in Houston at night? Would someone with a small frame who doesn't know karate feel safe walking their dog before bedtime there?

Gluten free food in Midtown, NY?

glitrqn — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:24:45 -0800

Looking for Gluten Free food items in Midtown Manhattan, NY I work in midtown manhattan, specifically near 32nd and broadway. I am gluten free, and I find that there are not many options for GF specific food. For instance, I have been craving Fries and Pizza, but I can't seem to find a place that uses a dedicated fryer for fries, or offers the mini personal GF pizzas. There is a place called Mozzarelli's 10 blocks away or so that makes their own GF pizza, but I don't like it very much, and it's not easy to get to during my lunch hour. I was hoping someone would have suggestions for places that are within a few blocks from where I work.

Looking for:
- pizza
- fries
- burgers
- mexican
- asian places with GF soy sauce
- sandwiches
- pastas
- desserts

NYC, Off the Suggested Donation Path

julthumbscrew — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 07:38:24 -0800

I'll be spending two days in Manhattan, all by my lonesome. I'm not interested in gettin' my culture on. What should I do? My boyfriend bought me a night in a Midtown hotel. Awww. However, my stay has to take place this weekend (Fri./Sat.), when he'll be unavailable to join me. I'm shy/nerdy, so this puts the kibosh on super-social activities. However, I'm ALSO not terribly interested in seeing any museums/cultural attractions on this trip. Don't get me wrong - those things are delightful! - but it's spring break, so I'd like my trip to be a lil' more indulgent/eclectic/badass. What I Like: weird food, medical oddities, crazy-ass experiences, testing the limits of my own body (licking a hallucinogenic toad while BASE jumping and having my eyebrows threaded? SIGN ME UP, YO), stuff that's open all night, feeling out of my element, urban exploration and performance art. I know, I know... rather broad. So hit me up with anything you've got. What are YOUR recommendations for solitary activities/excursions in NYC which won't require me to look anyone in the eye and won't necessarily teach me a damned thing, but which WILL leave me with a smile on my face?

A House in the Middle of Midtown Manhattan?

koolgiy — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:45:40 -0800

I've scoured the internet looking for information on this photograph, but no luck thus far. Any ideas? I found this photo on a forum of New York City photos (here) and I have been all over Google and Bing and tineye looking for more information on why there is a big house in the middle of midtown Manhattan.

I figured I would give MetaFilter a try as the MetaFilter community has a good research track record in my book.

I saw a story on Gothamist last year that the photo reminded me of, but it was about something that happened on 5th ave over a decade later.

Any ideas?

Image

Help me find an appropriate exercise class in NYC

Brainy — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:10:13 -0800

My metabolism has slowed down greatly in the past few years, my love of ice cream has not. Best exercise class in Midtown NYC that will get me in shape quickly? I'm starting a new job in midtown NYC (55th) and I would like to lose (eventually) 20 pounds or so. I've done the gym thing before but I end up just walking slowly on the treadmill too often. I realize I need a class, where there's an instructor and other people and I don't want to look like I'm not trying.

1. What type of class would be best? I'm fine with starting slow but I really want to make some significant gains somewhat soon. I have asthma, but Advair keeps it handled pretty well.

2. What some clubs are in the neighborhood that would have these classes? I mean I can certainly google them myself, but if you have a location/class that you recommend that would be wonderful.

NYCFilter: Can anyone personally recommend a dentist in Midtown?

aloysius on the mixing boards — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:05:49 -0800

NYCFilter: Can anyone personally recommend a dentist in Midtown? Midtown East or West, it doesn't matter. I moved recently, and it's time for a check up. I really liked my last dentist because he did not make it seem like the sky was falling when I had a cavity. (He was kind and considerate.)

Best bike route through midtown manhattan?

Greg Nog — Thu, 20 May 2010 14:49:37 -0800

What's the best way to get across midtown Manhattan by bicycle? Looking at bike maps of the city, it seems there's no bike lanes going East-West between the lower 20s and wayy up in 90th St (on the east side) and 77th St (on the west side) Assuming I want to get across town by travelling in the 50s (or reasonably close to that), which street(s) should I take for the safest, least traffic-rife ride?

Looking for recommendations for an after-work 'team bonding' place in Midtown Manhattan.

frankdrebin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:05:09 -0800

So I've got about 6-8 coworkers coming into town in two weeks for a group 'fun event' that I'm in charge of planning. I'm looking for somewhere we can go (ideally walkable from Grand Central) for the team to eat dinner, hang out, and do some general bonding. The team is spread out over three cities and doesn't get to spend much time together in person, so we're trying to make the most of this.

My first thought (and current best option) was Dave and Busters, which has the pluses of food, drink, and multiplayer videogames all in one place, but any more suggestions along these lines would be great.

The budget is somewhere in the region of $50-60 per person, and places with interactive, non-solo things to do to get people talking to each other. Seperate dinner and 'event' is fine, but the closer the better!

Midtown/Times Square NYC hotels

jroybal — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:30:16 -0800

Any recommendations for New York City Midtown/Times Square hotels for about $250 a night, including taxes? My partner and I will be visiting New York City in a few months (25-30 May) and are looking for current hotel recommendations. We're going hardcore touristy and would like to stay in the Midtown/Times Square area, anywhere between Madison and 8th and 42nd and 59th. About $250 a night including taxes would be great, but a bit higher could be okay. For reference, we're looking at the Hotel Chandler, the Mansfield Hotel, Hotel 373, Michelangelo Hotel. Any experience with any of those? Smaller, boutique-y would be preferable to large national chain, but all suggestions are fine. Previous questions were either not what we were looking for or were for hotels that are a bit costlier. Thanks in advance!

What's a not so expensive place to eat on a Sunday night, 9PM close to Madison Square Garden?

falameufilho — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:29:39 -0800

What's a not so expensive place to eat on a Sunday night, 9PM close to Madison Square Garden? I know you want to say Korean - but it's not an option. I have some guests I need to take to dinner at around 9PM tonight close to MSG. I wanted to take them to Korean, but I just found out they're a little picky with "exotic" food (I know). So I want to play it safe - steakhouses, Italian, chain restaurants. The problem - what's open on a Sunday night so "late"? Everything I am looking at Yelp or Menupages closes at 9PM.

Help!

Just a trim, dammit!

Hwaet — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:16:57 -0800

Where can I get a cheap (women's) haircut in Midtown, NYC? I'm at 52nd and Madison. The faster, the cheaper, the better. My office is surrounded by glossy high-end boutique salons that will force me to pony up between $75-200 for a haircut. Google Maps is dredging up every salon south of Central Park with a Frenchy name. I just need a trim. Today, if possible. Does anyone know of a small, possibly not even listed, salon that will just spray my split ends, snip them off, and still leave me with time to grab a salad on my lunch break?

NYC DMO Dentist?

blapst — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:08:06 -0800

Need a dentist in NYC who takes Aetna DMO. Midtown or Park Slope preferred, but any will do. My insurance runs out soon, and I need some fillings. I'm calling all over town to discover that almost no one who is recommended takes DMO.

Help me escape from NYC for one hour a day!

BE ADEQUITE — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:01:02 -0800

Good places to spend an hour lunch break in Midtown Manhattan? I work near 6th Avenue and 57th Street. My building has a lunch room in the basement, which seems like the most depressing possible place to spend my (mandatory) hourlong lunch.

At this time of day I'm often not even hungry, and in the summer I took catnaps in Central Park or otherwise enjoyed the outdoors. But it's winter now, and I feel trapped. I abhor crowds, loathe noise, despise tourists, and in general, believe that this part of the city is an abomination. It seems like most places that have indoor public space either have banned food or have a TV blaring somewhere overhead.

I need indoor places nearby where I can sit quietly and read, write, or eat in peace. OR I need indoor places nearby that I can walk around and explore in relative quiet and privacy. Both need to be either free or practically so, and need to be within walking distance. I often pack my lunch, and just need somewhere to eat it. I refuse to spend more than $5 on lunch if I buy it in the city. I refuse to wander in the cold for an hour. I refuse to eat in the basement. Please help, AskMe!

Some examples, I love to go sit and read or relax in St. Thomas Cathedral on 53rd and 5th, which is almost always empty. There is a large art supply store on 57th and 7th that is fun to explore. There is a fancy bookstore on 57th between 5th and 6th with a window seat I can read in (no food allowed, though). The lobby of the Park Lane Hotel has lovely armchairs perfect for reading, but I'd feel gauche eating a sandwich there.

Ambience is key, as I could always just go sit in the basement if I wanted to.

Please please please, thank you thank you thank you.

Same-day cleaners in midtown

dentata — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:58:37 -0800

[ManhattanFilter] Same-day cleaners in midtown? Just flew in to NYC, I need a good place to get my suit dry-cleaned and pressed by the end of day Sunday (tomorrow).

Any thoughts?

Need Suggestion for Bar in Midtown -- Wednesday late HH preferred.

seinfeld — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 07:03:26 -0800

Wanted: A bar in midtown NYC (between MSG and Grand Central preferred) that has good drink specials on Wednesday early evening.. A few college friends who I do not usually get a chance to see are meeting up this afternoon in midtown, and we'd all like to find a place that we havent been to, and that offers decent drink specials between, say, 7-10pm. Any ideas?

Beyond the piPod

caitlinb — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 05:51:33 -0800

Is there great pizza in midtown Manhattan? Where?