Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with newyorkcity

Sports massage in NYC, please.

betterton — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:36:36 -0800

Can you recommend a good sports massage in New York City? I'm looking for someone who is used to working with athletes with tight muscles and/or injuries.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Where to buy ska/reggae in NYC?

cyrusdogstar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:02:35 -0800

Where can I get relatively unknown ska/reggae music in New York City (or online)? The specific target of my search right now is a recentish album by a group called the Debonaires (a southern California band formed in the mid 90s, not the 1960s group with the same name). I've had such good luck with finding music on iTunes -- even stuff that's not really mainstream -- that this is the first time I've gotten an earbug that I couldn't immediately buy off the iTMS (boo hoo, I know).

As such, and because I've only lived here for a few years, I'm totally clueless about decent places to physically obtain non-popular music in New York, even though I imagine the place is teeming with indie music stores and the like. Does anyone know of such spots that would carry a decent amount of ska/reggae type music? I'll make the "lol Jamaica, Queens" joke now to get that out of the way.

Alternately, online music stores with a non-terrible ship time (the label for aforementioned album does have it but it's 2-4 weeks ship time) might work.

Family is meeting in New York City... advise me!

smalls — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:10:24 -0800

Help me find a gathering spot in Manhattan for a small first-time family meet up that will occur after our private wedding ceremony. I'm specifically looking for some nice dinner spots, as well as some possible activity suggestions within walking distance of Grand Central and Penn Station. Our family is located throughout the tri-state area, so everyone will be traveling to either Grand Central or Penn Station for an evening out. Some of us have met each other, but a few have not. I would like everyone to meet up for some sort of activity and then head out to a nice dinner. There will be around 10-14 of us in total, so locations within walking distance are crucial.

The ideal place for dinner would be something that requires at least business casual dress, somewhat intimate, and preferably under $50 per person (not including drinks). I have looked at the nicer restaurants in Grand Central itself, but I am not certain of their quality, so any help you can give me here is appreciated.

For activities, I am looking for something that would potentially be a little distracting in case awkwardness occurs (this is a very good possibility given my mixed family). We have all been to NYC many times, so uber-touristy is to be avoided, although I am not opposed to kitschy or semi-cheesy group activity suggestions. The group varies in age from 26-66, so it should be something on the mellower side. If it helps to know this, the future hubby and I are sporty, outdoorsy, and crafty. And we love good food and good beer.

How do I get training to be an excel-lent employee?

J.R. Benedict — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:09:31 -0800

I'm a quick learner of computer programs... but am currently looking for a job and am realizing that I need excel training... (another of the things I really should've studied in college.) Any recommendations on where to get training in New York City? Because I'm looking for work currently, free is better than expensive... but inexpensive might be swingable. I'd like recommendations on places you've worked with or studied with before. I'm not at this point looking for a full blown certification.

I will take the NYPL class, but it's only two hours...

Bonus: I could get a book and work through stuff, but I think employers might look favorably on the initiative of taking a class. Plus I don't have access to excel to work on at home. I have google docs, open office, and Microsoft works spreadsheet, but not the full-blown excel.

where can i sell my hair?

pleasantries — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:41:16 -0800

Where can I sell my hair (NYC)? I have lots of hair and would like lots of money. I live in New York and would prefer to do it in person. I am too lazy to sell it on ebay or anything like that.

Help me keep a chinchilla without cockroaches.

Brainy — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:19:44 -0800

How do we keep a chinchilla in an apartment where roaches might be present without killing the chinchilla or attracting tons of bugs? My girlfriend wants to bring her chinchilla to our apartment and I would like that too. However we've seen more than a couple of roaches (including one gigantic one in the sink the other day*) I'm worried we'd pretty much be bringing a roach attractor into the apartment.

The cage she currently has is homemade and constructed of wood and wire...something roaches would have no problem getting through. There are solid plastic cages, but air holes = bug holes. Are there any bug proof cages out there?

What about rodent food that wouldn't attract roaches?

Will we have to be more careful with the insecticide, is the chinchilla in more danger because of his size?

My girlfriend and I (and Kirby the chinchilla) thank you!

* Bonus question. we sprayed Raid Roach Max into our sink to kill it. What's the best way of cleaning this poison out of our sink?

Avoiding eviction after minor dog incident?

Hollow — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:33:38 -0800

ApartmentFilter: My friend's dog got our of her NYC apartment today, and a neighbor overreacted. Now the neighbor is trying to get her evicted from the building (her lease goes all the way til February). Should she be worried? Can she fight back? My friend has two formerly abused dogs that she adopted to save them from being put down. Today one of them managed to work all three of her locks and get out into the hall. A neighbor's kid was out in the hall, and the dog bounded up to the kid happily, playfully, excitedly, as dogs are wont to do. The neighbor kid freaked, and the neighbor came out. By the time my friend got out there, her dog had peed the neighbor's floor, which my friend knows that he only does after being hit. The argument got heated, and the neighbor called the police. When the cops arrived they were very nice and did not press any charges, telling my friend to just be more careful. Nonetheless, the angry neighbor is pressuring the building manager to cancel my friend's 12 month lease and kick her out.

My friend's building allows dogs, and her dogs would never hurt a fly. Still, her neighbor is claiming the dog attacked the kid, and between the dog getting loose and peeing the floor, she is worried that management might find cause for canceling her lease.

Any advice for her?

stroller panic..

gaspode — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:56:10 -0800

Completely overwhelmed with choices of stroller and looking for recommendations. Specific requirements inside. Your opinions on strollers, please (this thread is kind of old and we have different requirements). We're looking to buy a stroller and it needs to be done reasonably soon as I'm 32 weeks pregnant. I've looked through a few sites but it's hard to find a decent algorithm that throws up good recommendations and of course, personal recs tend to be really valuable.

* It will be used A LOT because we live in Manhattan and walk pretty much everywhere (no car), so it has to be reasonably sturdy
* suitable for newborns (ie. has to recline). Although we will be trying to rely a lot on a sling or bjorn in the early days - IF she takes to them which is not a given
* would prefer one that has a decent age range - ie. not one that the kid grows out of in 2 months
* not too heavy
* Money not so much of an object but we are not the type to demand trendy brands

That's it. The key point being one that will stand up to a lot of use, and is not a behemoth on the streets of NYC. Any anecdotes and recommendations gratefully received. Thanks!

Looking for a good place to buy a new, reasonably-priced couch in NYC.

Afroblanco — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:23:05 -0800

Looking for a good place to buy a new, reasonably-priced couch in NYC. Generally, I'm looking to spend between $1500 and $2000 on a sectional couch or couch + loveseat combo. I prefer leather, but I'm not stuck on it. I don't mind buying online, but they must have a showroom that's reachable by public transportation

No idea what styling I'm looking for. My definition of good design is similar to the Supreme Court's definition of pornography - I'll know it when I see it.

Cigarette Penalties in NYC

ifranzen — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:43:23 -0800

What are the penalties for unlicensed cigarette vendors selling untaxed (likely imported) cigarettes in NYC? Yesterday, outside of a Brooklyn bar, I spotted a man selling what looked like Ukrainian Camel cigarettes out of a trash bag for $5 a pop. What are the likely penalties this man would incur if caught? I haven't been able to find any relevant information for New York City laws on this subject.

Cheap NYC fun

HotPatatta — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:43:20 -0800

The Staten Island Ferry is said to be "one of the best values in New York City" because it's free and offers great views of the city. What are other "best values" in NYC, including shopping, food, activities, and anything else that's surprisingly inexpensive. I'll be moving to the City later this summer I need to not blow my nestegg.

What's a good high school prom venue in NYC?

bah213 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:44:57 -0800

Can anyone suggest a good venue for a high school senior prom in New York City? I've just been selected as next year's Senior Advisor, and I've been advised to book the prom location before the school year starts. We're a fairly large (3000-3500 students total) public high school, and I think we could expect 150-250 people to attend prom. Tickets should probably be in the $100-$200 per student range. Ideas floated so far include the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, Russo's on the Bay, and Tavern on the Green (they all look a little too expensive to me, but I hear we did Tavern a few years back -- I really have no idea what to expect anything to cost).

If you've planned or attended a prom in the city (Brooklyn or Manhattan), I'm especially interested in your input -- thanks!

Tell me everything your know about the community of Elmhurst, NY.

DarwinianDan — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:21:21 -0800

What can you tell me about Elmhurst, NY? How long does it take to get there from the Upper West Side? I'm interviewing at an elementary school there and I'd like to know anything about the area. Is it a good area to teach in? Upper, middle, working class? Many immigrants and non-English speakers? Urban or suburban?

Treks in the City?

puckish — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:43:15 -0800

What are some moderately intense / refreshing hikes within easy reach of New York City? Some things I'm looking for: moderate elevation change, preferably in the 7-8 mile range (give or take, depending on elevation), maybe exploring upper level fir forests around Harriman Park? Recommendations for overnight trips a plus - I've been doing day hikes for WAY too long, am eager to get back into full immersion.

Added points if people can recommend hiking meet-ups in the NYC area that head out to the Catskills / Bear Mountain area. I'm a bit out of the loop on this, any advice would be appreciated. As far as the hikes go, I've checked out trails.com and 60 hikes and have a good sense of what's out there, but I'd love personal recommendations. What are some good routes to check out?

Caveat: Must be accessible by train / subway, or close enough to get to either one by cab.

Thanks in advance!

Moving to NYC!

cklennon — 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.

How do I find a good mover in NYC?

Afroblanco — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:38:24 -0800

How do I find a good mover in NYC? I'm moving from one apartment to a different one in the East Village. I don't have a lot of stuff (think big bed, big TV, and a bunch of boxes) and would move it myself, except that I'm moving from a 6th floor apartment to a 5th floor one.

It seems impossible to find a good mover on the internet. All the reviews on Yelp and Citysearch seem like obvious astroturfing. Plus, lots of my friends have had issues with movers charging them more than they said they would.

So, AskMe, I turn to you. How do I find a good mover in this city? Also, if anybody knows - how much should I expect to pay, assuming that I do all the packing myself?

Is $1350 a month reasonable for an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan?

oldlies — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:50:10 -0800

Is $1350/mo reasonable rent for an apartment on W 107th St. & Broadway (Upper West Side of Manhattan)? One bedroom, ground level, furnished, clean, utilities and cable included. Can you tell me anything about the W 107th & Broadway area? Nice? Stuff to do? Safe? If I had to pay for utilities + cable in Manhattan, approx. how much would that be per month?

wall removal in NYC?

nanhey — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:27:16 -0800

how much should it cost to remove a wall in a NYC apartment? the apartment I am moving into has a wall built by the previous tenants that i don't want.

how much should this cost to remove and do you know any contractors I could call for an estimate?

Give me the New York lake of my Texas youth!

youcancallmeal — Sun, 25 May 2008 13:52:38 -0800

Seeking swimming hole at lake around NYC like the ones I used to go to as a kid in Texas. I'm looking for the kind of lake where you drive up with a car full of food to a spot with a grill and a muddy-banked lake for swimming. Nothing fancy, just not one of these lakes-with-beaches things that seem so prevalent around here. A little hiking to get to the spot would be okay. Doesn't need to be near public transportation, would rather it not be super crowded. Preferably about an hour's drive from NYC.

transportation from bronx to manhattan west side

iscatter — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:48:28 -0800

How can I get 6-8 adults, 2 car-seat-aged kids, and all of the associated luggage from the Bronx to our cruise ship departure site on the west side of Manhattan on a Sunday morning? We'll be gone for six days if that helps you envision the luggage situation (probably between seven and nine suitcases, three to four garment bags, and a few smaller carry-on type bags). We're not against driving multiple cars downtown but I don't particularly relish spending hundreds of dollars for parking. I don't think we'll need the car seats on the cruise, so I'd like to leave them at home if we're not taking our own cars downtown.

Oh yeah, and we'll need to get back to the Bronx at the end of the trip, too!

Not having to fly to our cruise departure seemed like such a good idea until now!

Looking for a good printable nyc subway map

(bb|[^b]{2}) — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:49:01 -0800

I'm looking for a good printable map of nyc's subway system. NFT has lots of great maps, but not a big one that covers the whole system and can easily fit in my back pocket. Any suggestions?

How long is that green light?

Cochise — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:11:45 -0800

Help me find NYC traffic light times! I'm trying to find data on New York City traffic lights. Basically, I want to know how long between red lights and green lights in different parts of the city from different years. Or really one single year would be fine. I know these studies are done cause I've read results from them in the past in newspapers, I'm just having trouble finding them. Can anyone help me find this stuff out? Thanks!

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?

What should I know about living with someone from Japan?

unknowncommand — Wed, 14 May 2008 20:08:38 -0800

What do I need to know about living with someone from Japan? I'm interviewing roommates from Craigslist, and one of them is from Japan. She doesn't speak or write English very well, though she seems really nice, and I think it would be interesting and fun to live with someone from a different culture. On the other hand, I'm somewhat worried that the language and culture difference will be a difficulty (especially in New York City?).

I have hundreds of insane worries, but I'm wondering if there are realistic concerns to such a living situation? Or, if I choose to live with someone experiencing a new language and culture, what should I expect or keep in mind? I'm not sure the extent to which this question is Japan-specific, so I welcome any advice.

My landlord is a slime bucket and I need to break my lease. What kind of repercussions might I face?

Sloop John B — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:28:31 -0800

My landlord is a slime bucket and I need to break my lease. What kind of repercussions might I face? Over the last year and a half, I've had some problems with my landlord. Leaky roofs, heat and hot water that randomly stop working, mice, roaches, and, most recently, bedbugs. Although it turned out that we didn't have a full-on infestation, the landlord has refused to have the whole building inspected, and I don't trust him to stay on top of the problem. In short, I want to break my lease and leave the apartment. I have a feeling that he'll let me out of the lease, but his security deposit policy is a bit whacked out. His policy is to release the security deposit a full 30 days after you move out. Plus, in order to break my lease, he may try to get me to sign something that would allow him to take my deposit. Basically, he's a slimy, slimy man, and I don't trust him to actually give me my deposit back. What I want to do is move the hell out and tell him to keep my security deposit in lieu of last month's rent. If I do this, what can he do to me? Can he mess up my credit? Can he sue me? Would he sue me? Do I have any recourse, other than spending lots of money on a lawyer?

Thanks for the help.