Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with newyork and manhattan

Where should I stay in Manhattan?

RachelSmith — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:53:31 -0800

I'm visiting New York for an interview at 5th and 46th in 10 days. Where should I stay? I'm a grad student on a budget, and the suit that I'll be wearing to the interview isn't exactly built for cold weather, so I was thinking about trying to find a place to stay near the interview site. The number of neighborhoods on hotwire/priceline/craigslist is a little overwhelming- can anyone suggest an area?

I've never really been to New York and will have two days to explore (1/5-1/8). I'm a firefighter/Environmental scientist and love walking, interesting food, and culture- all of which I've heard New York has in abundence.

Related question: I'll be arriving on a redeye at 6 a.m. at JFK, my interview is at 5th and 46th at 10. Does JFK have showers? Initial research would indicate not. Any other suggestions on how to get cleaned up in the time I have between my arrival and my interview?

Thanks!

Sunrise in the New York City?

exhilaration — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:31:09 -0800

Where's the best place to watch the sunrise in New York City, preferably Manhattan? Since this is for my honeymoon, the more romantic the location, the better. :)

WiFi coffee shop in manhattan

greta simone — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:55:42 -0800

Good Manhattan (free, unlimited) WiFi locations? Just moved to the area and I need to get out of my apartment for a change of scenery while doing my job search.

Ideal location:
-Coffee shop (no libraries, I want to be able to drink/snack/take a phone call)
-Unlimited free Wifi
-Small, quiet, not a busy place, somewhere I'm likely to get a seat.
-Good coffee, ideally some snacks, affordable
-NOT a Starbucks

My favorite coffee shop at the moment is 9th Street Espresso in Alphabet City, but I'm trekking into the city from Port Authority at 41st, so maybe something on a quiet side street in Chelsea would be ideal? I'd like to be downtown at the very least.

Thanks for your help!

Last-minute July 4th plans for NYC wanderer

jckll — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:36:59 -0800

Last-minute July 4th plans for NYC wanderer? My plans for July 4th fell through over the weekend so I'm left with nothing to do. I beseech you, AMeFi armchair travel agents: Help me find something fun for the long weekend!

I would prefer to travel outside the city, and would do so by plane, train or bus. Don't own a car. I will spend a reasonable amount of money, but cheaper is, of course, better. Would also consider city-based activities or maybe a daytrip or two to a nearby locale. I am a Manhattan-centric NYCer, so recommendations of things going on in the outer boroughs would be very welcome. Help me show myself how cool Brooklyn and Queens are!

Things I like: hiking, interesting food and restaurants, camping (but all my camping gear is elsewhere! boo), biking (bike=with the camping gear), reading, water (to play and to drink), music/concerts, sports, documentaries and movie screenings, outdoor festivals, etc etc etc

I am open to almost anything. Even if I didn't list it above, and you know of something cool going on, tell me!

Used NYC Bike

jckll — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:59:11 -0800

Help me buy a (probably used) bicycle in NYC. I've decided that I want to buy a bicycle in the next couple weeks. I used to bike a lot as a kid but haven't biked more than a day here and a day there in probably 8 years (mid 20s).

I will use it mostly on roads/bike paths, so I think a Mountain Bike is out. Still torn between a road and a hybrid. I may use it for commuting but that's not my goal at the moment. More leisure/exercise rides, errands, etc. But not ruling out commuting either.

I'm about 5'11"/165Lbs so more or less "standard" body type. Pretty athletic, no health problems to speak of. I'm looking at used just because I don't have $700 to spend on a bike. I would like to go into a bike shop if possible so that I can ride a bunch of different styles/brands/models before I choose, but it seems that not a ton of NYC bike shops do the used thing(?)

I've looked into (read: researched on the internet) Recycle A Bike, GreatUsedBikes, and of course CL. Anyone have any recommendations for a B&M store that will let me ride around some bikes and can sell me a good one for $300-$400 or so? Or am I going to have to go into a bike shop, act like I'm going to spend $800, and then bail to look for a similar used bike elsewhere? That seems like bad juju...

Any NYC-centric biking tips or suggestions are also welcome.

(I've been reading Ask MeFi about bikes and NYC biking all day, so please don't just link me to another thread. Chances are I've read it!)

I'm looking for locations in NYC of iconic album covers.

phirleh — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:04:12 -0800

I'm traveling to NYC soon and I'm looking for locations of where iconic album covers were shot. Paul's Boutique by the Beastie Boys taken at Ludlow and Rivington comes to mind, any others?

New Years in Manhattan?

dbarefoot — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:45:38 -0800

What should we do for New Years in Manhattan? We're passing through the city on our way back from Panama, and looking for options. We'd prefer to avoid super-formal parties (where, obviously, we don't know anybody), hyper dance clubs and ridiculously expensive (say, more than $200) dinners.

We were thinking of a nice late dinner somewhere, or maybe a gallery or theatre is running an event that you'd recommend. We're willing to spend a couple hundred bucks. I'd also welcome opinions on the Times Square thing.

Do I want to live in Manhattan?

lxs — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:33:10 -0800

New Yorkers - do I want to move to Greenwich Village? I'm currently living in Brooklyn (Park Slope) and am considering taking a room in the West Village. Since I moved to NYC, I've found myself thinking that I'd like to live in Manhattan, but now that I'm actually in a position to do so, am still a little nervous of committing to it. Sure, I can move if I don't like it, but I'd really rather not for awhile if I can avoid it. I've visited the neighborhood and like it, but walking around the place and actually living there are very distinct things, of course. Can anyone offer any insight on living in Greenwich Village or, failing that, on the transition from Brooklyn (or anywhere) to Manhattan life? What should I prepare myself for? Things you wish you would have considered before making the plunge? How would you characterize the Village and people who live there? FWIW, I'm a 25/f in grad school and working in the arts.

need some kimchi

mammary16 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:49:58 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good, relatively cheap Korean restaurant in Manhattan? ... maybe around Chinatown?

Cheap, nice studio within 30-45 mins of Manhattan?

shivohum — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:05:49 -0800

Where can you get a clean, safe studio apartment, if possible in a cool area with cheap good restaurants, for under $700/month or less, within 30-45 minutes via mass-transport of Manhattan?

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?

No one likes Cigna DMO. :o(

acorn1515 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:39:28 -0800

Help me escape the clutches of my Russian dentist -- who do you recommend as a general dentist in midtown Manhattan? I've already checked out previous posts here recommending Dr. Lantner, Dr. Deidan and Dr. Wong, but none of them take Cigna DMO.

The last time I randomly selected a dentist from the provider list, the office ended up being a sketchy half dentist office/talent agency, where only after he started drilling (for what I was told was a routine filling) did the dentist inform me that he was putting on a temporary patch, and that I needed to get a root canal. And the dental hygienists only spoke Russian -- I felt like Elaine in that episode of "Seinfeld" where she's in the Korean nail salon.

Any recommendations in midtown? A search for dentist, of the 10036 zip (where my office is located), for CIGNA DHMO turned up Drs. Krasnov, Gulbenkian, and Klein,
as well as several docs with the Group Health Dental Facility, and the Ferreira Dental Group, among others.

Moving to NYC!

jckll — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 05:31:26 -0800

Moving to New York City. Give me some advice you wish you had been given! I'm moving to Manhattan at the end of this month to start a new job (or, more accurately, first real job out of undergrad). I have an apartment already, UWS, so I don't really need any apartment-hunting advice (although if you have some nuggets for the future, feel free to share). I don't have any specific questions, but I figure there are lots of people on here who have moved to the city and wished they had done things a little--or a lot--differently, and I'm hoping to get some of that insight.

I'll take any advice, from the practical (how to get my stuff there, where to buy furniture) to the metaphysical (how to prepare my aura for Manhattan, what books to bring). Lay it on me.

Places to play poker in Manhattan?

Malad — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:51:33 -0800

I'm looking for cool spaces (preferably bars) in Manhattan where they'd let you just sit and play poker with your own cards and chips -- just among friends, not against a casino. Would most bars not care? Any ideas? Thanks.

Can you recommend a great eye doctor in New York City

AnyGuelmann — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:00:56 -0800

I'm looking to hear from people who have both astigmatism and myopia and have successfully transitioned to contact lenses. Also, if your eye doc is in Manhattan, can I have his/her number? I have astigmatism (under 1.00) and myopia (under 1.50) and I'd like to start wearing contacts. I'm sort of fed up with frames and I'd like to have another option, and especially avoid getting prescription lenses for all my sun glasses.

From what I've read, contacts for myopia and astigmatism combined can be somewhat tricky. There's supposed to be more issues to be considered as far as type and fitting. I'm all right with that, as long as it works. Did it work for you? Are you a happy, crisp-visioned contact person?

That said, I'm also looking for a great ophthalmologist in NY, preferably Manhattan.

Manhattan in May

hellopanda — Sun, 04 May 2008 11:05:55 -0800

What to wear in NYC: how can a girl be stylish, comfortable and be climate-appropriate for Manhattan in the month of May? Or, trying hard to look good without looking like I'm trying too hard. I'm a 20+ year old female student who'll be in NYC this coming week. I will be visiting museums, attending gigs, seeing shows on Broadway, and dining at top-tier restaurants. I will also be living out of a 40-litre backpack.

I've looked up street pictures on The Sartorialist (including the not-so-stylish people in the background of the pictures). I've read your thoughts on blending in in New York City. I've also done a fair bit of googling around. I've also slowly come to realise that women in NYC do not always dress like they're on Sex and the City.

But I still do not know what to pack that can bring me from the Statue of Liberty to shopping along Fifth Ave; from museum hopping to lunch at Jean Georges; from dinner at Babbo to a gig at the Bowery Ballroom. Is it possible to assemble a sensible outfit that's appropriate for all of the above activities and environments?

Where I am now, the temperature is hovering around 32 degrees Celsius (~90F) , so I'm having difficulties determining how to dress for the weather in NYC. Is it too early in the year for floaty, summery dresses and bare legs? Just how quickly do temperatures fall after sunset and will a light cardigan sufficient? Today's NYT has a slideshow on spring coats - does the weather currently call for them and are they a regular sight on the sidewalks?

Please help me pack some style while packing light!

Drop off child care in Manhattan?

shivohum — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:25:16 -0800

What are some great places for drop-off child care in Manhattan? We need to be able to bring a 3-year-old and leave her in safe hands for a few hours. Any places that are open till late at night (midnight or 1 am)? Thanks.

Manhattan Same-Day Candy Delivery Service

brain_drain — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:35:21 -0800

Urgent: Help me find a business that does same-day delivery of chocolate or other treats in Manhattan. I need to buy some nice chocolates or other 'classy' treats for delivery in Manhattan tomorrow. It's probably too late in the day to do this reliably using overnight mail. In addition to the treats, I need to be able to enclose a personalized note, ideally one that allows for some length (i.e. not just 20 words). Online ordering is preferable.

Romantic (lacto-)vegetarian-friendly places in Manhattan on the UES?

NucleophilicAttack — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:51:36 -0800

I'm trying to book dinner reservations on Valentine's Day in Manhattan, as the really nice places are filling up fast. Suggestions for romantic (lacto-)vegetarian-friendly places on the UES? Budget of ~$100 per person, pre-tip. A restaurant with lots of mixed drink and cocktail options would be preferable. So far I've found this and this question, but I'm looking for places that are not hardcore vegan (milk products open up a great many options!), and a place somewhere uptown and probably a bit fancier.

Thanks!

Which consulting job?

jckll — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:43:31 -0800

Entry-level consulting positions: graduating in May, I have two standing offers from consulting companies, one in Dallas and one in Manhattan. Help me choose! I am graduating in May with a BA. I have been doing the recruiting two-step for the past several months, and it's (finally!) near the end. I've explored options in several fields--I don't really have an ideal career at this point in my life--and I have it more-or-less narrowed down to two consulting companies. Both have given me nearly identical offers (in the low $60's, plus potential bonuses, etc).

One is in Dallas and is a small to mid-sized financial/banking consulting firm. It would involve a lot of travel, and I would need to relocate to Dallas, which isn't terrible but isn't my ideal spot, especially compared with...The second is with a larger (although not big-X accounting or consulting firms) firm in Manhattan, and the position is within a healthcare group. Very little (if any) travel, relocation to New York, which is still relocation but it's better than Dallas for a recent college graduate.

Like I said, I don't really have an idea of what I want to be doing in ten years, so choosing between these two offers is quite tough. I've been counseled that if I want to make contacts, etc. in the consulting biz it would be wise for me to take the New York job as it is, obviously, in New York, and is with a larger organization, etcetera. One thing that worries me is the prospect of living/existing in New York on the same salary as in Dallas. How tight is it going to be living in New York on that salary? Would I be crazy if I wanted to avoid living across a bridge or tunnel?

I know this is a relatively open question, but I'm wondering if anyone in the consulting industry, or anyone who has faced a similar choice in another industry, can give me some insight.

PS...for what it's worth, I have asked the New York company if there's any upward negotiability in their offer given that I have an identical offer from a company in a locale with a much lower cost of living. I haven't heard from them in regards to that yet; my gut feeling is that given my lack of leverage as an entry-level scab they're going to offer me more, as a sort of token gesture, but not much more.

Curiouser and curiouser... where to smoke in NYC

jewishbuddha — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:05:47 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good hookah bar in Manhattan? I know there are a ton of places in the East Village, LES, Ave. A, where I can go to smoke hookah/shisha, but I've got a couple things in particular I'd like to find if possible, as I've been to couple here that were not exactly right.

1. No super-loud music. My buddy and I like to go sit and smoke and talk for a couple hours. If it's too loud to have an extended conversation, it's not the right place. It seems like the places on 1st Ave that I saw are more like bars or clubs that have hookahs than places you can actually go and chill for a bit.

2. More than one coal. Most places I've been in other cities (and when I smoke at home with friends), they keep replenishing with hot coals to get better smoke. One place here looked at me like I was nuts when I asked for fresh coal.

3. Not self-lighting coals. I've found that the broken up lump charcoal does a better job than the self-lighting charcoal disks. The last place I went in NYC used the disks though.

4. Fresh water. Everywhere else I've been, you order a hookah and they bring everything out fresh. It seems like here, a lot of places leave the hookah out on the table and just bring out a bowl of tobacco when you order.

The only one that's critical is 1. The others would be nice to have though as long as I'm making silly requests.

Thanks

Searching for flying koi and pretty hair goods...

Alison — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:04:48 -0800

Where in Manhattan can I find Japanese Kanzashi (silk flower hair ornaments) and/or Koi Nobori (carp windsocks)? I would find suggestions by people who have seen these items with their own two eyes especially helpful; they can be hard to find and don't always turn up in general Japanese trinket stores.

Thanks!

finding movie theatres and showtimes in NYC

grumblebee — Sun, 27 May 2007 09:02:43 -0800

Is there an easy-to-use site that lists all movies, theatres and showtimes in NYC. Please, God, PLEASE don't say citysearch! I get so frustrated trying to figure out when and where movies are showing, I'm tempted to give up movie-going altogether.

I generally know exactly what movie I want to see. I just need to know where and when it's playing in Manhattan. I'd like to know all theatres that are playing it, because if it's a theatre that's far from me, I'll sometimes choose to go there and sometimes not, depending on how badly I want to see the film.

Citysearch sucks. It's user-unfriendly and has tons of misinformation. I just searched for "28 Weeks Later," (a pretty major release), and the site claimed that it was only playing in Brooklyn, Hawthorne, and Secaucus New Jersey. I KNOW that's not true.

I have better luck with Fandango.com, but it only lists movies that it sells tickets for.

Best case scenario, I'd like a site that lists showtimes for ALL movies playing in Manhattan: small indy films and big Hollywood flicks. But I'll settle for checking two or three sites if necessary. I just want easy access to accurate info.

Bonus points for a site that tells me whether or not a theatre has stadium seating.

NYC broker recommendations

twoporedomain — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:29:26 -0800

NYC broker recommendations and resources The boyfriend and I are hoping to move within Manhattan soon, and are in the uniquely advantageous position of having a flexible end-date to our current lease, having the budget to afford an apartment in our ideal neighborhoods, and having most of the moving and brokerage costs reimbursed by his company. This last point, combined with our laziness, means that we want to go through a broker. I’ve read previous threads about renting in New York (1, 2, 3, 4), and understand that there is a strong anti-brokerage firm sentiment here. But given that we’ve already decided to use one, can you help us out with the following:

1. Recommendations for (or against) a particular firm or agent? We are especially interested in brokers that cover Chelsea and the West Village areas. Personal recommendations or anecdotes are appreciated, as well as links to helpful forums.

2. I’ve read that late summer/early fall is the worst time to look for apartments. How true is this? And does going through a broker mitigate this at all?

3. How long can we expect this process to take, given that hopefully most of the legwork will be done by someone else?

Thanks all!

Need to get wedding rings in New York

cyrusdogstar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:25:04 -0800

Need recommendations for good locations to get wedding rings in New York City. My fiancée and I are getting married in November and are obviously going to need those shiny things you put on your finger at some point. Has anyone had good experiences with specific jewelers in Manhattan or nearby? We're not looking for anything super-expensive.