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Please help me make Christmas memories for my boys

FunkyHelix — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:04:55 -0800

Children and Christmas in NYC - where are all the good windows? Where should we eat dinner? And what else should we check out? Next Friday I'll be taking my 6 and 11 year old boys into NYC via train for some Christmas site-seeing. It's something my mom did and it was always a bright holiday memory. So I really want to pass it along to my two.

We're going to swing by the big tree in the morning and possibly try the ice skating. From there we want to check out the fancy Christmas windows. Which ones would you suggest visiting as being awesome/interesting/etc?

We're going to street cart it for lunch and then look for somewhere interesting for dinner. We need somewhere moderately priced, not overly kitschy, touristy, or crowded and with a patient waitstaff (6 yo is ADHD and autistic.) Not looking for something like MacDonalds. It's a sin to be in a place as awesome as NYC and then eat at a franchise fast food place. Any suggestions?

We're going to try walking past the tree light up for night time on the way back to the train station. Anywhere to get hot chocolate and decent coffee that isn't a Starbucks that you'd suggest?

Finally? Besides the tree and the windows, I'd love any other suggestion for things to check out that are kid-friendly.

Thanks ahead of time!

Quiet Coffee Shop Upper West Side

edbles — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:02:10 -0800

NYCfilter: Help me find a quiet coffee shop on the upper west side. I need to meet someone for a recorded interview on the upper west side (because its a good halfway point for both of us). I'm looking for a location that will be relatively quiet, but won't mind us hanging out and talking for an hour. So ideally a place that is equal parts hangout and study area? Also no table service would be ideal. Googlefu is not doing it. Yelp reviews do not seem to focus on noise level. Any help is appreciated. It's happening on a Saturday.

Building home across the pond

zvs — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:47:40 -0800

Make London work. Help a beleaguered New Yorker figure out how to acclimate. Griping follows. So, there's a decent chance I'll be trying to move to London next year for school and work. No visa issues (EU passport), no language issues, no real issues at all -- except that when I've visited London, it Just. Doesn't. Work. For me.

New York to London shouldn't be a big culture shock, right? But for some reason I've never found anywhere there that felt nearly as comfortable or useful as Brooklyn. I don't feel like I can pop in somewhere for quick food, I can't find any life (not nightlife) after 8 PM, I can't find more groceries than a Tesco Express... I realize some of these aren't reasonable London expectations, but that won't stop me from building a little homey bubble around myself!

So, your tips are welcomed for this oddly specific question: where's the appropriate London district that's similar to home? It doesn't have to be terribly central or TOO cheap. If you're familiar with both cities, comparable neighborhoods in New York would be Astoria, or Greenpoint, or Carroll Gardens -- the last three places I liked. All of them are sort of quiet, insulated, and very dense. A little off the beaten path.

The closest I found to something like this in London was the area near St-John-At-Hackney, and that wasn't all that close. Pleasant though.

(I've seen this, but it's not really what I mean)

Help us find a good World Series bet...

Towelie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:59:47 -0800

World series bet: Philadelphia/New York office 'rivalry'…ideas? We have six offices - with the Main Office in NYC and an office in Philadelphia.
(Staffing is about 9-10 in NYC, and 3-4 in Philly) We have four other offices (each with similar staffing levels.)

Any ideas on a 'good bet' - this is mostly for fun/morale reasons. I'm thinking that it'd be interesting/vested for our other offices to pick/align with the split over the worlds series…and have an interesting bet…

I just can't think of something beyond cheesesteaks/cheesecakes or wearing phillies/yankees wear (for one day) that would be interesting.

Lease AFTER moving in?

2bucksplus — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:58:23 -0800

New York City apartment question: Is it normal for my broker to tell me I will receive hard copies of my lease a "couple of weeks" after moving in? I found an apartment with a November 1st move in date in New York City. Everything was going well and I received two copies of the lease to review and sign. Initially I was told one copy of the lease would be returned to me within about 48 hours, signed by the management company. Now I am being told I should move in on the 1st and wait for a copy to be mailed to me within a couple of weeks.

Is this normal? It makes me feel very uncomfortable. Both the broker company and the landlord are large well known companies in the NYC area. Is there any law I can quote on this? What else should I do, besides getting everything in writing?

I'm looking for metal brackets / architectural frames / sign holders by the end of the day Monday, in NYC

Optimus Chyme — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:26:14 -0800

I'm looking for some metal brackets / architectural frames / sign holders by the end of the day Monday, in NYC. These are fairly simple metal pieces, either polished or chromed steel or aluminum, much like an L-bracket. They are 4 inches wide, with or without mounting holes. I need 23 sets (46 pieces total) by the end of the day Monday. I don't care if they're retail, wholesale, or custom - I need these ASAP. Do you know a store or fabricator I can get a hold of?

I have attached a drawing here.

And we're accepting applications for a Babyface Nelson

andromache — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:52:48 -0800

We're in NYC. How do we dress as Bonnie and Clyde for Halloween for under $40/pp? I want to convince my lady to go as Bonnie to my Clyde for Halloween this year, and I want to enlist your help in making my case. Upside: we get to dress as dapper 30s badasses and cover ourselves with bullet holes and fake blood. Downside: she wants to go as the Hamburgler. And that means if I want to do a team costume with her (which, I don't know why but I do) I'm probably going as Ronald McDonald. And fuck that.

Neither of these ideas is as great as the first idea, which was we just go all out and get really elaborate furry costumes, but I poked around online and it looks like they run about $90 and up to rent for a night. Would be hilarious and memorable, but that's a lotta scratch for a one-night rental.

So I guess the question is this: Where could we get vintage/30s-looking clothes in NYC for purchase or rent for under $40 per person? Doesn't need to be exactly like the Faye Dunaway/Warren Beatty movie, or even like the real-life Bonnie and Clyde, just something that says "old-timey mobster". Are there any Goodwill/thrift stores where you've found stuff that would work for this?

And what, other than a beret for her (that part from the movie has to stay, I think) and loads of gory bullet holes for both of us, would make us obviously Bonnie and clyde-ish? For instance, I could rent a suit maybe and use my own white shirt to ruin with fake blood.

Also--will we get arrested by overzealous NYC cops for carrying a fake tommygun around on the subway on Oct. 31st? How fake does it need to look to avoid spending All Hallow's Eve in the slammer (you'll never take me alive, coppers!)?

The Accidental Docent

The Whelk — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:08:37 -0800

On Tuesday I'll be showing a new arrival to New York City around for an hour or so in the late afternoon. He's interested in the city's history, particularly the Bowery/Lower East Side. He has seen all the major tourist stops and I'm completely ignorant of the latest cool/interesting/weird spots downtown and most places have the lifespan of mayflies. Any ideas on how to prepare an awesome, emergency walking tour? A) I'm pretty well versed in the city's history, but not on a "and at this house in Blankity Blank so and so" level. Awesome stories needed so I don't end up waving at Webster Hall and going "And this is where The Masses spoke and -uh- it was important."

B) Cool and/ore interesting buildings, odd public art, and kick-ass murals?

C) Dinner in Soho after this, so staying within walking distance a plus.

Shoe restoration in NYC

sonofslim — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:45:50 -0800

Where can I get a much-worn and much-loved pair of suede sneakers cleaned/restored in NYC? They're pretty soiled but not damaged. The model has been discontinued and can't be found online, and this pair needs some end-of-life care.

What to follow on Twitter

greta simone — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:04:22 -0800

NYCtwitterfilter: Recommendations for NYC/Brooklyn related things to follow on Twitter. I finally joined twitter only after it took me some time (and many AskMeFi threads) to realize that I don’t need to use it for ‘social networking’ but can use it to keep up with fun finds in and around the city. I’m still a little slow on the uptake though, and need help with finding things to follow. What I’m interested in following:

-Food trucks
-Sales (for already affordable clothing/home/music/online stores, not Barney’s etc, because even things on sale there are too expensive)
-Free/cheap events (movies, festivals, shows, readings, etc)
-Music (shows, bands, clubs, etc)
-Other free/cheap/fun stuff (drink specials, food promotions [ie Free ice cream cones, etc], flea markets, farmers markets)
-Any other recommendations you might have.

I’m mostly just interested in being able to sign in at 4:00 on a Friday to look and see what I can get into for the weekend.

I just moved to the area, will be living in Brooklyn shortly, mid-twenties female with average indie leanings of music, movies, books, style. I should emphasize that I have very little expendable income (social worker), so I’m interested in things that are cheap.

Thanks!

Help four west-coasters find reasonably priced hotel in NYC?

ragtimepiano — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:08:50 -0800

Four western ladies are gathering in NYC in October. We're from Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada; the "other coast" is foreign territory for us! We'd like current wisdom on finding a reasonably priced hotel, with rooms that sleep four, in Manhattan, or Times Square, or the Upper East/West Side. We'll be happy with only the basic amenities. Also, what places/activities should take top priority in a brief visit? Our group is comprised of three 30-somethings...and their mother :-). Thanks in advance!

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.

"Let them eat bagels."

whimsicalnymph — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:08:15 -0800

Where can I find the best bagel in NYC? At the risk of starting a riot, I'd like to hear MeFites' opinions on where the best bagel can be found in NYC.

I have lived in New York over a year, and I have yet to eat a bagel (I think Super Size Me made me not want to eat them for a while).

I have a friend coming into town in October, and as part of her visit, I'd like to take her to a great NYC place, with the best bagels on Earth. No small feat, but I imagine if anyone knows where such bagels can be found, the people of AskMe will know.

Looking for quiet car-camping spot within two hours drive of NYC

funkiwan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:10:01 -0800

Do you have a recommendation for a quiet car-camping spot within two hours drive of NYC for this weekend? I'm looking to go car camping (i.e., no hiking in) with my girlfriend this weekend. We'll be traveling from NYC and will have a car. We'd like to keep our travel time to around two hours but will go beyond that for something spectacular. Features we're looking for:

- Private and quiet. This is our number one reason for wanting to go camping.
- Fire pit
- Foresty

Thanks!

Find me a no-strings safe deposit box in NYC!

thejoshu — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:12:35 -0800

Sought: a safe deposit box in Brooklyn or Manhattan. Difficulties: I don't want it to cost me $80/year (as my bank, Chase, does), and I don't want to have to sign up for a checking account / other relationship with the bank (though I may be flexible about this if the bank offers absotively-free checking). Now, to make it more annoying, I only want a box at an attractive bank. Also, the easier it is for me to give a key to a deputy/agent, the happier I will be. You see, the box will ultimately contain a gift with no monetary value. I want the recipient to be able to access the box, but I am OK with having to arrange this with the bank and the recipient post facto. This is why I want an attractive branch: the box is an element of the gift. (I envision transitioning ownership of the box/contents somewhere down the line.)

Examples of attractive local branches include the former Williamsburg Savings Bank, which is now an HSBC that I was told doesn't offer boxes, and the former Dime Savings Bank in Downtown Brooklyn, which is now a Chase location featuring $80/year boxes.

Help us find a sofa bed in NYC

hibbersk — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:42:52 -0800

We're in the process of relocating to New York and need help finding a great sofa bed for all of our impending visitors! Mr Hibbersk is currently there organizing our apartment in Brooklyn and we had planned to buy this sofa bed from Ikea - however it is out of stock across the entire country and they don't know when it will be available (something about factory relocations and shortages). We don't really like any of the alternatives available at Ikea, and department stores such as Macy's seem a bit over-budget. Googling mainly finds dubious-looking clearance or discount places. Can anyone recommend a furniture store in NYC where we can get a sofa bed for around $800? Preferably modern/Scandinavian design, and not a futon. We may only be there for a couple of years so don't want to spend too much, and the bed bug horror stories have put us off buying 2nd hand/craigslist.

Collaborative Learning Environments for Dummies?

soma lkzx — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:40:27 -0800

I'm trying to organize a series of classes based on a collaborative learning environment, but I need some information about how a non-hierarchical classroom could actually work. Backstory: I want to learn things, other people want to learn things, but none of us are really experts. So let's all do this together! Think recurring book club on steroids.

There's some stuff on Wikipedia about collaborative learning, but most of it is business or task-oriented. We'd be working through a book on bookbinding together, not trying to build a spaceship. It seems pretty easy when you're making things, but the further you get into the intellectual realm the more difficult this seems to get.

What I've got so far: One person is designated the instructor and acts as a mediator, reading ahead and keeping everyone on task, but beyond that I'm pretty lost. The more structured it is and the more power we give the instructor the easier it should be, but the whole point is acknowledging that the person in charge doesn't know much more than any given person in the class, and everyone's input is valuable. We'll also be charging participants to trick them into valuing the class and keeping things a little more serious (although we'll probably refund most of their money at the end of the series).

I'm looking for info on organizations that foster a similar type of environment, anecdotes about how to successfully manage people in this type of situation, or pointers about systems that we could learn from or emulate!

and if you live in NYC and are interested in being a guinea pig, memail me and we'll see what we can do!

How hard can it be to rent out a no fee ferchristsake

cestmoi15 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:35:40 -0800

Where do you search for an apt in NYC? I'm looking to rent out my apt in NYC by owner, no fee. I've signed up with Craigslist, but have been out of the market for so long I no longer know where else people check. So, where is it the kids are rental hunting these days?

Who's got my onion rolls?

monospace — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:44:48 -0800

It used to be that pretty much any old deli in town had those classic NY onion rolls, but lately they seem to have become increasingly hard to find. Are there still places where I can get a nice toasted onion roll with butter for breakfast, especially in the Penn Station area?

Find a cast list for The Radio City Orchestra

Captain_Science — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:27:31 -0800

Help me play internet detective...I am trying to find a list of the members of The Radio City Orchestra from around January of 2009. My co-worker found a micro-SD card on the subway platform and gave it to me since she knows my phone uses that type. I checked out the card and found it loaded with over 150 photos from the previous owner and a good number of them are pictures of the owner’s new baby.

I have been trying to play internet detective, but am coming up short so far. I have a number of first names but nothing really helpful “uncle mike”, “aunt Sarah”, and the baby’s name “Cole”. The best lead from the pictures is that the owner plays the French horn and was “Horn 2” in The Radio City Orchestra. The meta data on the photos was also a wash, just the phone type (A LG)

I had though about trying to call Radio City Music Hall and talking to someone there but I’m just afraid my request will be a bit vague and come off as stalker-ish (“I am looking for the blond woman who played the French horn…No, I don’t know her name but I know she had a baby back at the beginning of the year”.)

I don't really mind investing a little time into this project, because I know if nothing else I would like my photos back if I had lost them.

Any ideas would be welcome, I guess I could throw a few of the picts up on flickr but I already know they live/work in NYC and what not so I don't know how much help that would be.

Polos/Shirts for broad shoulders

datacaliber — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:23:17 -0800

Dieted down about 20 lbs recently. Looking for clothes that fit right. Broad shoulders + thin waist == PITA to shop for. This was my experience yesterday:

Went to Macy's looking for a bunch of new polos. The only brand that seemed close was Ralph Lauren Custom Fit. The problem was that I seem to be a Large across the shoulders but a Medium for my torso/waist. The medium was a little too tight across the shoulders/arms. The sales guy recommended Fredberry and Hugo boss to fit. Both which they did not carry.

I dunno, not sure if I'm being neurotic but I always felt like my shoulders made non-fitted clothing look worse since they kind of hang/drape weird...

Anyone have any other ideas for me to check out? I'm currently in NYC for the next month so store options shouldn't be an issue.

Help me get to New York Law School on time.

fake — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:42:45 -0800

I'll be speaking at a conference in New York City, and I'd like to figure out how best to get there. The basic problem is that the conference begins at 12:30 on Thursday. All flights from Fargo, ND arrive at Newark Intl. at 12:00 or later. This does not seem like enough time.

The simple answer would be to go on Wednesday and get a hotel for the evening. However, money is a real problem for me. In fact, I am currently living out of my workshop.

That said, I have a credit card and can get cash. If you can simply tell me the best way to get to NYLS from Newark Intl, that would be very helpful.

I may try to stay until Sunday and live out of hostels, any recommendations there would also be welcome. I have experience with hostel life in Chicago, but this will be my first time in NYC.

La cucaracha ya no puede caminar

aiko — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:27:42 -0800

It's a terrible picture, but is this a cockroach? ☐ Yes. ☐ No. It is - err, was - about 7/16 of an inch long, had a ribbed thorax (abdomen?), and had a grey-ish underbelly. Looking at cockroach pictures here, the ribbed thorax looks like a cockroach feature.

Help calculate the calories in my favorite NYC street food: lamb over rice.

falameufilho — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:38:10 -0800

Help calculate the calories/fat in my favorite NYC street food: lamb over rice. So, I am watching what I eat, but there are certain things I'd like to indulge on once in a while, as long as I know the size of the crime I am committing, I think I am ok.

One of these things is lamb over rice. If you ever had it (and if you live in NYC you probably have) this is a styrofoam container filled with:

1) About 3-4 cups of cooked yellow rice
2) A good portion of what I think is chopped gyro meat, I cant really quantify it, but it looks like 1/2-1 cup
3) A very tiny lettuce salad
4) All this covered on a white sauce that's either Tzatziki or Tahini, but I think it's the former (it may be something else).

(I am talking about this)

First, I'm having a hard time quantify the amount of gyro meat that go into these things. Is the sauce really tzatziki? Also does anyone have any idea of the calorie/fat count of any of the meat and sauce?

Thanks!

Out of state used car headache

zvs — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:44:26 -0800

I'm looking into buying a used car, and found a pretty good looking one from a colleague in New Jersey. I live in Brooklyn. How the heck does this work? Parking and title questions follow... I've never bought a car before, so it's all new to me. If I buy this car, the original owner has to take the plates off -- then I guess I'll need a NY in-state temporary plate to get it to my house.

Problem 1: Do I just leave it in NJ until I manage to get NY plates? Do I have to get title to get a transfer plate, or does that include title? The website is less than clear.

Problem 2: Where the heck do I keep it? Will I get ticketed if it's on the street? Will I get ticketed for moving an unplated car during street cleaning?

Problem 3: Where do I pay sales tax?

Anybody done this before?