Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nyc

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)

Where can I find jacket like Number 6's in NYC?

Godbert — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:46:22 -0800

Where in the New York City area can I find a jacket like the one Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan) wore in the original The Prisoner series? In particular, I mean the black jacket with white piping. Since this is probably a one-time thing, I'm not looking to spend a lot of money on it, and am not opposed to second-hand.

Bonus points for also being able to recommend somewhere to find/have made a 'number 6' button with The Village's penny-farthing bicycle.

Hotel and food recommendations for a solo traveller to NYC

une_heure_pleine — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:52:42 -0800

Visiting New York for the first time (from Australia) in a couple of weeks. Will be travelling solo, and am looking for hotel and food recommendations. (I did search, but the answers are a few years old now, or aimed at different budgets)

I'm perfectly happy with my own company most of the time, especially during the day. Even so, I'd like to meet a few people to go for a drink or dinner some nights, as I'll be there for two weeks. In the past when I've travelled solo, I've stayed in dorms. I'm a bit older now (late 20s) and have less tolerance for all-night boozing and general grottiness.

So, any suggestions for either a hostel with private rooms that's friendly but not party-central, or a budget hotel with a sociable common area where I might meet people? Budget is ideally no more than $80 per night but could stretch for the right place. Private bathroom is nice but not necessary.

Alternately, suggestions for other places to go/things to do where I might meet some people to hang out with for a night?

Also, I'm interested in checking out a couple of the better restaurants in town. I'm expecting to have to do this alone unless I randomly meet another foodie. Any ideas for restaurants in $30-for-a-main-course bracket where I'll be treated like a human being despite being there alone? My preference is for high quality, innovative food, rather than just wherever is hot right now.

Someplace to read, write, work alone at night in NYC

laptolain — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:29:54 -0800

Someplace to read, write, relax alone at night in NYC. I'm looking for somewhere to go where I can unwind alone. I live in Maspeth, Queens where it's mostly residential and after 8PM almost everything is closed. Any place in Queens, Manhattan or Brooklyn would be fine, I don't mind long train rides.

The perfect establishment is very dark inside but all the tables have sufficient lighting for reading/writing. There might be music playing or some kind of live band but it's not a club or frat hang out. I like all kinds of jazz so that would be a bonus. The train station should be a reasonable distance since it's getting pretty cold now. It's open till 3AM or later, never very busy and at no point will I be expected to get up and leave for new customers. I don't want to sit at the bar.

Beer, liquor, coffee and food are all fine but none of them are priority over the atmosphere. As cheap as possible is probably second to atmosphere. I'm looking for a place that's the opposite of where people go to get seen.

I found a few older, similar posts but they seemed focused on Manhattan.

Thanks :)

Where can I get an NYC subway map & metrocard outside of NYC?

spockette — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:23:43 -0800

I'm working on an art project, and I need to get a copy of the official MTA NYC subway map (the one you get for free in the subway station), and an expired metrocard. I am in the UK. How can I get a hold of these things outside of New York?

Help. I'm a pansy.

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:04:31 -0800

This is so shameful. I haven't seen a dentist since 2005. I've always been terrified of the dentist, but now it's been more than four years. When I finally go again, it will be so much worse. My teeth hurt sometimes, so I probably have cavities. What if I need a root canal? And the scraping! I know this sounds stupid, but for me, the scraping is the worst part. It's the way it sounds and the way it feels. It's not just the stabbing my gums with metal hooks, which novocaine helps... nothing helps the scraping.

So I can't go on like this, things will just get worse and worse. I have to go. I tried googling to find a sedation dentist... I feel so paralyzed by anxiety. I got nowhere.

Here are my conisderations. MetaFilter, please help me get this done. You are far more rational than I am and I need someone's objective, unemotional guidance.

Nutshell:

I need to see a dentist. I need a cleaning and to figure out if I have cavities, and if I do, I need to have them treated. I don't know what else I might need.

I do not have dental insurance. I do not have any money. I'm living without a cushion right now. My parents said they would pay for a visit to the dentist as a birthday present, but there is a limit to what I can ask them to pay.

Because of the financial constraints, I feel like I have to get it right the first time. If I go to a dentist who does a bad job, I will be stuck with it. This contributes to my anxiety and paralysis.

Sedation dentistry seems perfect but incredibly expensive. Do I need to accept that this is not an option for me right now, or are there reasonably-priced sedation dentists who are also reliable and good?

I'm in NYC.

Prepaid Cellphone For NYC That Is Not Virgin Mobile?

jason's_planet — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:52:01 -0800

I need a prepaid cellphone service in NYC that is NOT Virgin Mobile. Looking to pay about $10 a month. Don't need lots of fancy telecom doo-dads. Just need decent reception and reliable service and voicemail. What are my options? How about Verizon? Are they any good? I've been using Virgin Mobile for a while. But the relationship is no longer meeting my needs. Because you've been nice enough to read my question and (possibly) help me out, I will spare you the gratuitous kvetching. Here is the abbreviated kvetching: Virgin Mobile's service is so piss-poor that I can barely make out what people are saying on my phone and it's not unusual for me to get voicemails two or three days after they would have done me some good. This is unacceptable. I feel as if I'm paying $6 a month for absolutely nothing. I am willing to pay c. $10 a month if it actually gets me something.

I'll add here that I am a very occasional user of my cellphone. It's there for potential employers to contact me and so that I can let people know if I'm running late. I don't need five hundred minutes of calling a month or anything like that.

I've done a little bit of research, and Verizon prepaid appears to fit the bill. If you have firsthand experience of Verizon prepaid, would you recommend them? Or is there another service that you would recommend? Again, halfway decent reception here in the concrete canyons of NYC and reliable service -- i.e. getting voicemails when people leave them, not four or five days later -- are what I'm looking for. Nothing fancy.

Many thanks in advance.

Adios NY- i will miss you

octomato — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:14:08 -0800

Leaving NYC after 3 years. What shouldn't I miss out on these next 2 months. Within the past 3 months my life has quickly changed drastically. I have decided to leave NYC after 3 years of living/working here and move back to my native island. What things should I do/see/eat/drink/experience before I leave. I am not working anymore and have a limited budget, but will splurge a bit if it's worth it. I will be moving back by December 21st.

Thanks!

Somebody to Screw Around With

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:15:05 -0800

How do I go about finding someone to sleep with on a regular basis, for fun? Over the Halloween weekend, I got laid. Hooray! It made me remember how much I like sex, and want to do it more (though not with that particular person; he was sweet, but our levels of experience—he was close enough to being a virgin that he was nervous about everything—were too different for me to want to go back). But I'm not dating anyone right now, and I've never been the kind of person who can just waltz out and have people falling all over me.

I've never done this before; what do I do to go about getting myself a regular fuckbuddy? And, since the sex is the point, how do I go about finding someone who's good?

Assume that I'm taking necessary precautions regarding STDs and contraception—one of the reasons I want to sleep with one person on a regular basis is to lessen the risk of just occassionally hooking up with random people because I just want to have sex, which is my current pattern.

Anonymous email if I've forgotten any important details: gimmegimmesomelovin@gmail.com
Other potentially relevant deets: I'm a woman and in New York.

quiet beachy birthday romance

pearl228 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:49 -0800

Awesome, romantic getaway in proximity to nyc? Secluded, autumn beach spot preferred... So, I'm looking to take my man on a sweet trip outside of the city for his birthday this weekend. I can rent a car, or we can take a train then rent a car. I was thinking Montauk, which remains a possibility, but would prefer something a little more unexpected if I can figure it out.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions in terms of towns, transport, lodging, and things to do when we're not taking long walks on the beach..?

Thanks in advance!!

Get me outta here!

The Straightener — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:16:40 -0800

Escape from New York! (By car during the New York Marathon.) What time of day would be optimal to leave Williamsburg, Brooklyn by car tomorrow to get to the Jersey Turnpike without committing suicide after hours stranded in gridlocked traffic?

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?

Are there any NYC photographers who will do family portraits for a reasonable price?

eggplantia5 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:39:23 -0800

I don't know why photographers' websites are all so terrible, but I am having difficulty looking for a good photographer in New York City who will display a general idea of rates. I want to get some family portraits done (6 adults, one baby), and I want something better than Sears, but something less than $1,000. Google and yelp.com aren't providing me too many options - it seems most want to do just headshots or weddings. I give up on websites that make me click through several pages without letting me easily find contact info or rates.

I would love any specific recommendations for photographers who will do family portraits in New York?

Thanks!

Moving In Wintertime

scrutiny — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:10:15 -0800

My wife and I are moving from NYC to Denver in the middle of January. We'll likely be shipping some stuff and then driving. I've never moved during the winter, so I'm looking for advice from people who have moved through snow or know of any issues getting to Denver around January. Best routes? I've moved often, but it's always been in the summer. We plan on taking things slow - no reason to get into an accident - but I want to be sure there's not some other salient feature that I won't know about until it's actually too late.

I know what I want to do, so if you've advice on how best to do it, please be my guest!

Previously, about winterizing cars in Denver

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.

Money + Art = Profit?

kathrineg — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:24:48 -0800

Best way for a hobbyist photographer to sell prints? In NYC. Should I go hang out at Union Square with some prints? Somewhere online? Should I have a website? Should I make editions and number them?

How much of a profit should I be expecting from each piece?

Should I offer to take photographs of people? Is there any money in artsy/impressionistic photography on commission?

My apartment has a great print and two people have offered to buy a print of the same photo (for real, not out of politeness). So I'm thinking I have a decent opportunity to make a little cash from a wider audience if I hustle a little bit.

Cheers, and thanks.

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!)?

Boltbus Refund Question

josher71 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:07:23 -0800

Is it possible to get a refund from Bolt Bus? I made a mistake while booking on the website and instead of booking a ticket for NYC to Baltimore, I booked a ticket for Baltimore to NYC.

Everything I've read seems to point to the fact that getting a refund from Boltbus is impossible.

What are some things I might be able to say to the Bolt Bus customer service people in order to get them to switch my ticket from Baltimore to NYC, to the other way around?

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.

Where can I find photos of NYCHA housing developments?

Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 08:42:38 -0800

I'm looking for photos of NYCHA public housing - particularly, the interior of apartments and communal areas. Where can I find photos like this online? I have no idea where to begin looking - I've found photos of building exteriors quite easily, but I'm having remarkable difficulty finding photos of the interior.

Photos of public housing in NYC is a priority, but if those are too difficult to find, I'd be interested in photos of similar public housing developments in Chicago, or other large cities. Floorplans would also be of interest, but again, no idea where to begin looking.

Is there an app for that?

reformedjerk — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:25:09 -0800

I'm looking for a good New York City iPhone app for tourists. I'm heading to New York this weekend and I'd like to use my iPhone to get around, but there's a couple of caveats. I'm from Toronto, and even with my US Data Roaming add-on, I'll be paying a buck for every Mb. Consequently, I'd like to keep Google Maps usage as low as possible. Is there an app that has a nice zoomable map of Manhattan and a GPS location function? Ideally, I could get subway maps too, but I'm not adverse to getting a separate app for that.

If others have ways of caching Google Maps, that would be great too. I've not jailbroken the phone, and don't really intend too, but if there's something earth shatteringly good, I'd be willing to consider it.

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.

Electronics! NYC! Quickly!

provolot — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:52:28 -0800

Where can I find a cheap network cable tester, tomorrow morning, in NYC? I just realized that I need a RJ45/Ethernet cable tester for something short tomorrow. Is there anything anywhere in Brooklyn or Manhattan that will sell a cheap LAN tester (something like this, where you plug something in one end and something else in the other and it lights up and checks each pin) tomorrow morning? Any good electronics stores? Online searches at Radioshack and J&R seem to yield nothing but a $150 tester kit, which quite frankly is overkill for me.

Thanks!

Herpes blood test in NYC

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:22:05 -0800

Where to get a herpes blood test in NYC? I have been in an exclusive relationship with a man for the last few months. Previous to our getting together, he was married for 10 years to a woman with genital herpes. They always took precautions to abstain when she had an outbreak to prevent her passing it to him. But, as he assumed they would be married forever, he did not worry about it too much.

He did not realize until his most recent doctor visit that it was possible to contract herpes even when avoiding sex during an outbreak. After his doctor visit, he told me about this issue, sincerely apologizing for not bringing it up earlier, as he didn’t realize there would be any risk.

Neither he nor I have ever had any symptoms/outbreaks, but we want to get tested just to make sure. We are both recent transplants to NYC, and neither of us have health insurance or a GP (his recent doctor visit was before he moved). I called both Planned Parenthood and NYC Department of Health, and neither provides blood tests. They will only test current lesions.

So where is a free/cheap/sliding-scale clinic that will provide blood tests for both a male and a female in NYC?