Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with newyorkcity and manhattan

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. :)

Your name on this grain?

sub-culture — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:48:57 -0800

Looking for someone who can write on grains of rice in Manhattan. When I lived in San Francisco I'd occasionally see these guys set up as sidewalk vendors. Looking for someone in New York who'll provide the same service.

Karaoke in NYC

Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:54:22 -0800

NYC KaraokeFilter: Looking for a great karaoke place in Manhattan to hold a birthday party for about 20 or so people. We'd like to rent a private room. A big English songlist is a must, and the place should serve alcohol. Cool & loungey is a major plus. Thanks! Ideally, we'd like a somewhat "nicer" place which is conducive to lounging around, mingling, and drinking as well as singing. Some places we've done some research on which look like possibilities: Karaoke One 7, Karaoke Top Tunes and Sing Sing. Red Bar has a very cool front room, but they couldn't promise that the karaoke machine would be working. (Zuh?) We've been to spots like Duet 35, but I feel that the rooms there are heavily geared toward singing and not so much for just mingling.

Anyhow, if you have any comments on any of these places, or can suggest some other locations, that would be terrific. Thanks so much.

P.S. I found one helpful previous question on this subject, but it's three years old, and our needs are a bit different.

Obscure Movie Rental in Manhattan?

maniabug — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:06:34 -0800

Calling all NYC know-it-all ninjas! Where can I rent an obscure movie from 1980 in Manhattan? I need it in my hands by 3pm today, will taxi or subway as necessary. Yes I know, Internet killed the video store. But this video does not seem to be available on the Internet, and Netflix ain't cuttin' it.

If you own a copy personally, I'll rent it from you.

Thanks!

what wine goes well with the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus?

joyceanmachine — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:18:10 -0800

What awesome places do you recommend for dinner near-ish Chelsea in Manhattan? We're going to be in Manhattan on Saturday night to see the Iliad at the Lucille Lortel Theatre near 8th Avenue and 26th Street. I'm interested in ramen, and he might be more inclined for really, really good Indian food, but any delicious pre-theater dinner that isn't readily available in smaller US cities will make us both happy.

Sushi or anything seafood heavy probably isn't the greatest idea, given that I'm dealing with a shellfish allergy, but I can deal if it's the best option by head and shoulders.

Max budget of around $30-$40 per person, though we can splash out a bit more for something extraordinary, but time constraints might keep that from happening. Cheap and obscure and linoleum floored would thrill as long as it was tasty.

Thanks!

I need a place to stay in Manahattan!

zerobyproxy — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:27:44 -0800

If I were to want to get a good, sublet apartment in Manhattan (for just 2 months) starting in January 2009 through the end of February 2009--where should I begin? I have looked at Craigslist and a sublet site that I found in Craigslist. There are slim pickings right now for the two months that I will be in NYC.

I would love to know if you have had success with any service or website. Any tips that you could offer to me?

Ideally, I'd like the following: king sized bed, at least one bedroom (preferably two) and I'd like to be just about anywhere in Manhattan. Ideally, this would not cost more than $2500 per month (I have to dream don't I?).

Anyone who could send me some intel on this would be aces in my book! Thanks for the help.

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.

What was this crazy statue I saw in NYC in 1999?

jtron — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:56:21 -0800

What was this giant, crazy statue I saw in New York City? It was near Columbia University in 1999. Here's the story. It was 1999 and my old band was playing what turned out to be one of our last-ever shows, at Columbia University in Morningside Heights. After our set I wandered away to meet up with a friend at a bar on Amsterdam Avenue. A couple blocks away my mind was COMPLETELY BLOWN by a statue I saw: it featured a man with crab claws, huge waves of water, combat with the devil, and other odd things. I had a more-sober friend of mine confirm that yes, we were actually seeing this statue. In my memory it was HUUUUUUUGE but as mentioned, I was not exactly sober at the time, and this was 9 years ago.

So, what was it? Is it still there?

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.

Help me find a Manhattan apartment for 3-6 months

kanuck — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:43:43 -0800

Looking for resources / advice on finding a Manhattan apartment for 3-6 months (Feb-July 2008). Furnished would be preferable, but I can deal with buying some throwaway furniture.

I'm open on price range, though if it gets up to "corporate temp housing" level expensive, that isn't too useful.

I live in Seattle and am expecting to take a trip in order to handle closing arrangements. I've considered just coming to NYC for a week (is that enough?) to do everything in person (looking at places, haggling, signing papers etc) -- thoughts on that approach? (in particular, how far in advance would be best to maximize my odds?).

Other thoughts:

1) Craigslist: most of the ads seem to be for comparatively short term sublets (days or weeks, rather than months). I'll probably post a "housing wanted" ad there at some point, but am really looking for other options.

2) Apartment brokers: given my requirements, will they useful / required?

3) Universities/colleges: do any in Manhattan make student housing available to non-students?

What funky stores should I go to in NYC?

hazyspring — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:53:25 -0800

Shopping in NYCfilter. Any good suggestions for artsy/eclectic stores in either Manhattan or Brooklyn? I'm going to be doing some Christmas shopping and am going to be looking for some gifts. I'm not interested in clothing, just housewares, jewelry and other chotchkes.

Pianos aren't really portable. What are my keyboard options?

booksandlibretti — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:24:28 -0800

I'm looking for a portable keyboard with pretty realistic action. I've played piano for a long time, but I've always used the real thing (first a hundred-year-old upright at home, then gorgeous baby grands in school practice rooms). Now, for a class, I need to purchase a keyboard -- and I figure since it'd be $50 or $100 for a not-so-hot one, I may as well spend $100-200 more and buy a good one that I can use when I no longer have access to school pianos.

Anyway, I know a fair amount about pianos, but not much at all about keyboard technology. Hopefully you can give me some recommendations if I tell you what I'm thinking.

- Must be portable, but I'm strong; heavy is better than unwieldy. Twice a week, I will be taking it -- along with a twenty-pound backpack -- on a crowded bus; in the course of those days, I'll also be walking two miles and climbing seven flights of stairs jammed with people.

- Must be pretty durable. I really don't know how much abuse keyboards can take without dying, but I'm guessing that if I have to schlep it to class, I don't want a delicate flower. I'm a careful person and I usually treat expensive electronics well, but because of all the hiking that's required, the keyboard will be bumped, scuffed, possibly dropped, and hopefully not rained on. If a protective carrying case is made for it, that would be great.

- Must feel pretty realistic. Once I have a few model numbers, I'll go try out the action to see what I prefer, but please don't recommend anything that feels less than pretty decent. I'm not asking for the expensivest awesomest newest technology, but I don't want to get into bad habits and I really don't want it to feel terrible.

- Must take batteries. It should have a power adapter, but it needs to be able to play from battery power if I can't be near an outlet.

- I'd like 88 keys, but yeah, I can settle for fewer. I'm willing to compromise a little on the size.

- Must have internal speakers (I shouldn't need to hook it up to anything to play). Must also have a headphone jack -- 3.5mm would be ideal, but 1/4" is fine too.

- Must have damper pedal operable by foot (not only by a hand switch or button or anything).

- Must have an attachable music stand that works -- I almost always play from sheet music, and it's impossibly frustrating when you're in the middle of a song and half the piece falls off because the stand sucks.

- I don't really care about MIDI stuff, computer interaction, recording anything, having five different tuba voices, or anything else I didn't mention above. Bells and whistles might be fun, but they're far from required.

I'm thinking something around $200-300, although I can go over a little if the upgrade would be significant. If any companies or stores offer student discounts, I qualify! Also, I'll be shopping in Manhattan, so if you can recommend stores (to test keyboards at or to buy from), that would be helpful.

Is there a Dr. Phil in Manhattan?

bigbigdog — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:02:32 -0800

My friends need a marriage counselor in Manhattan. Preferably today. This thread asks a similar question, but it's about pre-marriage couples counseling, and it hasn't really been answered. The couple in question have been married for three years, and divorce papers have been prepared and shelved at least once. Now they're back on the table.

I know I can't solve their problems -- especially long distance -- but neither seems willing to sit down and go through the phone book, or ask their therapists for a recommendation (they're each seeing a separate therapist). They're too busy fighting over the really stupid stuff that seems so important when you're trying to "win".

I've given all the advice I can (including "decide if you want to DTMFA, and if you don't, then start talking about "us" instead of "me"), but they need professional help.

Life in NYC with $50,000 salary

HotPatatta — Sat, 26 May 2007 11:46:50 -0800

How much does it suck to live in Manhattan on a public school teacher's salary? Can you make me a budget? Is it possible to live on the island of Manhattan with a pre-tax salary of $50,000-60,000? I'm going to be a public school teacher, so I'll start out at $43,000ish and eventually get about $70,000.

Obviously it's possible, but what kind of lifestyle would a single guy have? I don't want a roommate, either. For someone who visited and fell in love with the city, what's it actually like to live there on a tight budget? (For a Manhattanite, is $50,000 considered a tight budget?) I don't go out a lot and I don't spend money on unnecessary things. But I also don't want to move somewhere and be a prisoner in my apartment because I can't afford to do anything. Does anyone have a simple budget that includes rent, necessities, transportation (subway), entertainment, etc.?

Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners in NYC

clearlydemon — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:38:19 -0800

My family and I will be in New York city for the holidays. My mission: to find great restaurants for Christmas and New Year's Eve dinners. I'd like personal recommendations for restaurants for Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day brunch, and New Year's dinner. We are four adults and two teenagers (ages 16 and 18). Our budget is about $100 per person, per dinner (although I think it should be less for brunch). If we could make reservations online, it would be a big plus.

We'll be staying near the Carnegie Hall. We were planning to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve, but after reading this, I guess we'll go somewhere else.

Thank you!

Affordable lodging in New York City?

4midori — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 16:02:27 -0800

I'm traveling to New York City in September. Is is possible to find a hotel that is clean, quiet, and safe without spending a fortune? I don't need much space or amenities, but I do need a place where I won't be awakened by street noise or rude guests. I will be visiting people in Upper Manhattan and Brooklyn, so anything that's reasonably close to these spots is fine.

I'm not opposed to staying in New Jersey, or other spots that are not NYC, as long as there is convenient train access in to the early a.m. that doesn't take forever. I will not have a car.

By "not spending a fortune," I mean a hotel under $200/night, preferrably closer to $100/night.

How to avoid paying an insane broker's fee when renting a Manhattan apartment?

Afroblanco — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 13:41:04 -0800

How to avoid paying an insane broker's fee when renting a Manhattan apartment? My roommate and I are looking to move into a 2-bedroom apartment on Sept. 1.

All of the brokers that I found on Craigslist say the same thing - "You're moving at the worst time of the year, and our fee is 15% of annual rent."

There don't seem to be too many non-broker options.

What are some strategies for getting around this? As far as I see it, Craigslist has already failed us.

Advice on NYC neighborhoods, for Aussie in Tokyo, moving to New York

aussie_in_NY — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 05:58:38 -0800

I'm relocating to NYC from Tokyo next month and am looking for some advice on prospective neighborhoods After 7 years in a tiny Tokyo apartment I'd like something with a bit of space, which rules Manhattan out I think. I'm looking for a 2 bedroom for around $1300-1600. I've checked out a lot of earlier posts and heard good things about Astoria. A friend has recommended Prospect Heights too, and after a look on craigslist it seems there is plenty in my price range. Does anybody have any insights on the relative merits of these areas, or have another neighborhood to recommend? I will be working around Times Square and would like to keep the commute to 30 min if possible. And finally as a related question, I am a little confused about US taxes. After federal and state taxes and then social security, what percent of my salary should I expect to have left, assuming pay of something like 80k?

Data recovery places? Shouldn't be hard, but I need somewhere trustworthy.

booksandlibretti — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 09:29:02 -0800

Recommended data recovery places in New York City, specifically Manhattan? It shouldn't be a huge problem, but I don't want to just pick a name from the Yellow Pages. There is, of course, ...more inside.

Dell PC. Unmountable boot volume error. I was on the phone with Dell for a few hours last night, and they said the problem's confined to the boot sector. They said I should be able to slave this hard drive to another box, and get everything that way without a problem. Except, of course, I don't know anyone else with a PC desktop (everyone at NYU has Macs or laptops), so I'll have to hire someone to do it.

I'm not a hardware person. I'm about clueful enough to remove my hard drive and hook it up to someone else's computer, but not if there are any wrinkles in the procedure.

I do back up fairly frequently, but of course I haven't for awhile -- I was scheduled to back up this coming weekend. And of course this is the week I have two big papers and one big presentation due, and all kinds of midterms next week.

Besides all the Yellow Pages businesses, I'm able to get a deal from NYU's computer store; they'd charge $100 for the first CD, and $50 for every CD after that. This would probably be a good time to mention I have about 80 gigs. I think it'll be easier to clone the hard drive.

The Dell technician who's coming to give me a new hard drive must take away my old hard drive at the same time. And no, he won't give me a few hours with both so I can slave my old hard drive to the new one. I have to get the data off the old one before I can schedule him to come.

Basically, can you recommend any New York data recovery places you like and trust? The hard drive is not making any noises, and I don't think this is a serious problem that requires a cleanroom, hours of expertise, or whatever; I'd like someone who won't charge me for all that.

satellite TV in Manhattan

Lizzle — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:43:14 -0800

I'm sick of paying Time Warner's unreasonable rates for cable TV. Has anyone in my part of NYC (Yorkville) had any luck with satellite TV? Or is it impossible here?

Moving to NYC.

spaghetti — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 09:19:22 -0800

What neighborhood should I move to in NYC? I'm starting my Master's at Pratt in the fall and my girlfriend is waiting to find out if she's been accepted to Columbia. We'll be moving over the summer to New York, but we just can't figure out what neighborhood to focus on. The most important thing is being someplace safe, but we don't have enough money to be too picky, basically around $1200/mo.

Everyone says that Brooklyn is where it's at, but most of the places we've seen listed are either too expensive or not anywhere we'd want to be. It looks like Inwood/Washington Heights and East Harlem are relatively affordable, but what are the neighborhoods like? Where else should we be looking? Is there a good resource for learning what all the neighborhoods are really like?

Travelling to NYC

ruwan — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 11:35:52 -0800

NYC Travel Filter (Thanks in advance from a confused Californian and NYC newbie) [+] On Sunday morning I'm flying into JFK. I need to get from there to Valhalla, NY (near White Plains). I know I need to take the "Harlem Line" train from somwhere in Manhattan. So what's the best way to get from JFK to Manhattan? I think I need to go to Grand Central Station (is that the same as Penn Station?), and is that where I can catch the Harlem Line train? And how long does the trip from JFK to Grand Central usually take? Will the fact that I'm travelling on a Sunday make any difference? Am I correct in assuming that my return journey should be just reversing all the routes/trains?

NYC Visit

jpburns — Mon, 10 Jan 2005 09:26:44 -0800

Considering the huge number of members in the NYC area, can anyone suggest touristy things to do on a weekend (Feb 12-14) in Manhattan? [<--] It's the three of us, me (tv graphic designer), my (magazine editing) wife, and my 12-year-old daughter. We're staying at the Millennium Broadway hotel, so Time Square and Central park is covered.

We wanted to take a ship into the harbor to see the SoL and stuff, any suggestions? Should we go to MOMA? Any tv show taping we should see (and how to get tickets)?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Manhattan realtor-rating website?

mert — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 17:43:15 -0800

Does anyone know of a website that rates realtors in Manhattan?

NYC Weekend Fun

dobbs — Wed, 06 Oct 2004 10:45:44 -0800

A friend's off to NYC this weekend (Fri-Tues). I said I'd ask if anyone knows of anything that's going on that's specific for this weekend. She lived in the city before so knows the regular stuff but if there's anything someone in NY should definitely check out this weekend, please let me know. She's staying in Harlem but is eager to trek.