Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with newyorkcity

What unique events are taking place in NYC on NYE in Brooklyn/Queens?

melodykramer — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:59:02 -0800

I'm going to be in NYC for New Year's Eve with a few friends and we would like to go to a local celebration/event in Queens or Brooklyn instead of Manhattan. Are there any that you recommend? We're most definitely avoiding the crowds in Midtown Manhattan but thought there must be some unique celebrations elsewhere in the city. Flushing? Brighton Beach? Where's the best spot to ring in the New Year?

We are all mid-20's, most live in NYC/Philly/Boston, and are extremely savvy with regards to navigation -- and we have access to a car. We don't really care if we see fireworks but would rather do something free/close to free than pay.

The MTA took my baby away

orville sash — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:15:39 -0800

Why does the New York City's Metro Transit Authority keep losing money? After seeing fares rise significantly in my tenure as a New Yorker, I have read over and over again that the MTA is going to have to put service and lines on the chopping block in order to overcome budget shortfalls, but I have yet to see an article that thoroughly explores what is causing these budget shortfalls. Can anyone tell me why this continues to happen, especially in light of the fact that they had a budget surplus in the winter of 2005-2006?

Is my landlord trying to make a soup out of me?

CharlesV42 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:46:03 -0800

Is there a legal maximum hot water temperature for a New York apartment? My hot water is clocking in at 157 degrees fahrenheit, or hotter than the center of a well done steak (measured with a digital thermometer, documented for posterity with a video).

I've found information on the minimum (appears to be 120 / 110 if there's an anti-scald valve), but not on the maximum. And this ruling appears to say that landlords have a responsibility to maintain a safe temperature, but I can't find any documentation on what that is.

Am i being a baby? Additionally, the temperature fluctuates between 110 and 155 so there's no way to take a shower, knowing which end of the spectrum you're on, without getting burned to bits.

I guess I should be happy I don't have the alternative, a cold shower every day.

I'm in Greenpoint, Brooklyn (Kings County), if that helps.

I should mention I asked the super (once in person, once in text so there's a record) if the boiler can be adjusted. She claims it has been, but I am currently ice-ing my back from my attempt to shower this evening.

Where can I buy beard care products in New York?

235w103 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:54:58 -0800

Where can I buy beard care products in New York City? I'm growing a winter beard, and would like to get some beard care products, as seen on this site. But I hate online shopping (I'm an instant gratification guy) and was hoping I could just swing by some store in the New York City area and pick up some stuff. Do any hairy New Yorkers have a good source for beard conditioners, etc?

Help her tell her story

shothotbot — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:11:34 -0800

What is a good screenwriting class in NYC? Mrs. HotBot has extensive storytelling experience (edited major comic books, done TV production work) and wants to write some screenplays. I think the thing she most wants is the structure of having to write on a weekly deadline. What are some good screenwriting classes in NYC? If I can sign her up as a Christmas present, all the better.

Where can I get Bendaroos at a retail store in NYC today?

Optimus Chyme — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:44:36 -0800

Where can I get Bendaroos at a retail store in Brooklyn or Manhattan (or Queens, if it comes to that) today? Our NYC Winter Wishes letter got shuffled around from forwarding addresses a bunch and we just got it yesterday, so I don't have time to order online.

Rheumatologist with awesome diagnostic skills in New York City?

ljshapiro — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:59:03 -0800

Can anyone recommend a rheumatologist with awesome diagnostic skills in New York City? My 83 year-old father suffers from both psoriatric and rheumatoid arthritis. He having some troubling symptoms and needs a new rheumatologist. He's been going through the annual New York Magazine list of best doctors in NYC to no avail, since no one on the list will take his medicare supplemental insurance plan.

(Health care reform anyone? One would think that rheumatologists would have a fairly high percentage of patients on Medicare...)

Shooting Range near NYC

2bucksplus — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:00:59 -0800

I'm looking for a gun range near New York City. I'm looking for a gun range within about an hour of New York City and accessible by public transportation (train, bus, subway).

I need to rent a gun, buy bullets and handle any paperwork in one visit or over the phone prior to arrival. I have fired a rifle before, my companion has not. We are in no way licensed to handle firearms.

Westside Pistol & Rifle Range is the most obvious choice, but we don't mind traveling to find something better.

Cheap Couple in NYC

mahoganyslide — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:32:37 -0800

What is the cheapest place for a couple to stay in Manhattan? My girlfriend and I will be taking a trip to NYC in early January and we need a cheap place to stay. We're aiming for no more than $50/night for a maximum of 7 nights. We would prefer a private room that isn't shared with anyone else.

I've searched all over the internet and there are too many options. I'm curious if the hivemind has any specific recommendations for places in Manhattan.

I don't want to cuddle my pepperspray all night.

Ms. Saint — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:46:45 -0800

I need to go to a professional conference in New York City at the end of December. I'll be going alone. Where can I find a cheap, safe hotel? I've never been to NYC, and, really, I know more about the city through episodes of Law & Order more than anything else. I really don't want to end up staying in a bad part of town, or a sketchy part of town, but I also really need to find a really cheap hotel. And even though I already know that nothing bad would probably happen to me in sketchy areas, what I want is to feel safe while there. I don't care about size of the room, I don't care about any amenities at all (except internet access would be nice), mostly I just want a place where I can sleep without freaking myself out about being alone in a hotel in a giant, unfamiliar city. So I have some questions that someone more familiar with the town might be able to help with:

1) The hostels (Chocolat Hotel and Hostel, Candy Hostel, etc) look like really good deals, but I don't know anything about them. Does anyone have experience with them, able to tell me if they're good environments?

2) What general areas should I be looking at? I mean, I know the names ("SoHo," "Upper West Side," etc), but I know nothing about what types of neighborhoods those are. Where can I find something cheap, and what areas should I avoid (as being too shady)?

3) What can I expect from a hotel room with a shared bathroom? This whole concept is completely unfamiliar to me -- I've never had a shared bathroom in a hotel. I'm not against it, in theory, but I'd just like to know what to expect. Will I likely have to interact with anyone? Is it the sort of thing that often leads to frustration (the bathroom constantly being used, no hot water when you need it, etc), or is it really not a big deal?

4) Is there anything else I should know?

Thanks for any help you can provide. I looked through all the previous Ask.Me threads about NYC hotels, but: A) only one of them addressed the safety aspect, and it's three years old; B) most of the hotels that answers claimed were available for less than $200 are showing up in Expedia for way more than that.

Also, there's a chance I'll have to cancel my trip, so please don't suggest any discount webpages or anything where cancellations aren't accepted.

Again, thanks!

NYC on a Weekday

LolaGeek — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:35:33 -0800

NYC Filter: What's fun to do in New York City on a weekday? Three friends and I (two men, two women, all late-20s) will be in New York City as tourists on a weekday. This will be in the near future, so the weather will probably be chilly.

We are spending the previous night in a hotel just outside the city (a 30 minute bus ride away), so the first problem is getting into town during the morning rush hour. Should we take our time checking out of the hotel and leave in the late morning when traffic will presumably be lighter?

Once we get there, what's cool to do? We've all been to NYC before, but probably not on a weekday - is there something we should take advantage of doing while most people are at work? Free or inexpensive would be great, though we wouldn't be opposed to a museum or something with a reasonable admission price. But I'm sure there's tons of cool places to just go visit.

We'll be leaving the city probably just ahead of the evening rush hour, so suggestions for lunch are also welcome.

Where Can I Find Logan's Run-Style "Life Clocks" in New York City?

Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:01:37 -0800

New York City/Logan's Run filter: Where in NYC can I obtain some cheapo blinking red jewels that resemble the "life clocks" from the movie Logan's Run (which hopefully can be affixed to the palm with some sort of adhesive)? Close-up pic here. Willing to cannibalize some other sort of trinket if it contains such a jewel. Thanks!

NYC not for tourists

HotPatatta — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:33:14 -0800

If you only had one year left before moving out of New York City, what would you make sure to see and do before leaving? I'm looking for tips on shows, shopping, music, tours, parades, expos, festivals, restaurants, exhibitions, food carts, bars, activities, green spaces, hidden gems--anything else that's unique to this city. Let's say prices are not a concern.

Please recommend a good gastroenterologist in NYC.

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:43:53 -0800

Can someone recommend a good gastroenterologist in NYC? I'm a 35-year-old male and I've had chronic stomach issues for most of my adult life -- diarrhea, cramps, gas. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat. It's possibly irritable bowel syndrome, but who knows. My primary care doc referred me to a gastroenterologist earlier this year, and I saw him, but I'm still having problems, and I didn't like him all that much anyway -- he didn't have very much bedside manner and didn't seem particularly interested in spending time discussing my issues with me. He did a blood test and found no food allergies. He did an upper endoscopy and said he detected minor acid reflux, which seemed odd, because I rarely burp acid. But he prescribed me omeprazole, an acid blocker. I take it daily but it doesn't seem to help.

I'd go back to this doctor if I thought he was terrific, but I'm open to seeing someone else. I'd love to find a great GI who's attentive and can help me. And again, I'm in NYC. (And I do have health insurance.) Thanks.

Have to fly in July, but we'll adapt to anything else!

amicamentis — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:53:46 -0800

How to find the best NYC --> Europe flight deals when both day of week and destination are flexible. Caveat: flying out July 2010. My roommate and I are planning an extended European vacation beginning around the middle of July next year. I know that this is the absolute worst time to fly out, so we need some tips about how to cut down the price.

We are flying from NYC but would be willing to travel to Newark or even Philadelphia if there were significant savings. I have used RyanAir in the past and am familiar with inter-European travel, which is why we don't care much about the city that we first land in. So far, it looks like flying into Dublin is the least expensive. We would also be fine with Paris, London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, or Geneva.

What now? I've heard that if you're flying during peak season then you should just buy tickets as early as possible because they will never lower. However, with our flexibility it seems that there may be some deal, somewhere a bit closer to our flight date. Is this wishful thinking?

We would appreciate any website recommendations that would give fares on neighboring cities as well, or flexibility about the day of the week. I've tried Kayak and liked it - are there others?

In addition, our vacation will probably continue for several months. Will the customs agents give us any problems for having a return ticket for more than three months from the day we enter the country?

Thanks!

Things for math nerds to do in the big apple

Lucubrator — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:08:55 -0800

This is probably the zillionth question on things to do in New York. But are there any cool things that a complete math nerd can do in the city? I'm more interested in places I can visit than things I could do with people.

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.

Can you help me find good movers in New York City?

papercake — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:31:40 -0800

Looking for good, reliable movers to take me from New York City to Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Yep, we're making the move to the suburbs. And it seems like every person I talk to who has used movers in NYC doesn't like them. Anybody have any recommendations they might could share?

Ferris Bueller, you're my hero

Diagonalize — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:17:58 -0800

How can I channel my inner Ferris Bueller and have one great day, except in New York? It's my little brother's very first trip to the East Coast! He's coming to see me in Boston, but he also really wants to see New York while he's out here. I've gone looking through a ton of the old NYC touristfilter questions, but trying to combine all of those great suggestions with my limited understanding of New York and an extremely ambitious timeline is proving daunting.

Mostly because of limited funds, we were hoping to make this a one day affair; we take the Chinatown bus out there, see whatever sights we can manage, stay up all night, and then take the first bus back in the morning. I've never taken the Chinatown bus before, so please talk me out of this if it seems like a tremendously bad idea.

My brother is a lot like Cameron: sarcastic, funny, fairly disinterested in most things, but still an all-around good guy and generally more easy-going than Cameron. The only thing I know for sure he wants to see is Times Square (I know). We're both in our early- to mid-twenties, kinda square, but still adventurous, and this East Coast trip is supposed to be his big last hurrah before becoming a grown-up. “Life moves pretty fast”, so how can we have one great day in New York, on the cheap?

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.

Is there a television historian in the room?

Felicity Rilke — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:48:04 -0800

When and what was the first television show broadcast from CBS studios in New York? Bonus points if you can name some guests.

Where do the insiders go?

2bucksplus — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:37:23 -0800

What are the best "inside baseball" political blogs covering the upcoming New York City elections? I used to read the Politicker religiously when it was still part of the Observer and edited by Ben Smith, back when I worked with a campaign in the primary and general elections in 2005.

Are any of these blogs the obvious successor or is there something better?

New York for the Young

ashaw — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:06:24 -0800

Help planning a 5 Day trip to NYC - Do you know of any secret delights that New York City has to offer? I need recommendations/advice on everything from where to stay to where to go. Much more details inside. Just to spark some ideas, I'm a twenty year old single british male traveller who has clichéd hipster young adult interests like: music (open mic, gigs, records), antique fairs, flea markets, good cheap vintage/secondhand clothes, coffee shops, cheap carnivorous food, literature, art, film as well as all the usual tourist traps (brooklyn bridge, statue of liberty, modern art museum etc).

I'm very much boggled by my research, NYC is huge and I don't know where to stay which is relatively cheap ($80 a night would be pushing it) and in a good location to get to all the areas. I know the US hasn't got the travellers mentality to hostels, so any recommendations would be excellent.

Would be great if someone could tell me if there is a sightseeing tour which can hit most of the tourist spots leaving more time to do the more unique, quirky stuff. I've been told the Lower East Side and Williamsburg are all good places to spend some time.

Remember the cheaper the better and bearing in mind I'm not of drinking age, so alternatives for night life would be really great.

Unpretentious jazz in New York City?

laze — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:50:37 -0800

What are some of the best and (most importantly) unpretentious jazz clubs in New York City? I'm headed to New York soon and would like to check out some live jazz some night while I'm there. But, I want a place I can go to in jeans and a t-shirt (or equivalent).

For reference, I loved the old Small's (haven't been to the new Small's).

A cover charge isn't a problem as long as it's not too much. Should be in Manhattan, preferably midtown, though I'd travel a bit for the right location.

In terms of styles of jazz, anything from bop to the freest of free. Just none of that silly "contemporary jazz." Recognizable names are not important.