Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with york and city

Colleges in NYC that are reasonably priced?

mattsweaters — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 11:16:29 -0800

Colleges in NYC that are reasonably priced? I'm looking at studying in New York City, I'm 26 and have never stepped foot in a college class room before. I'm moving there no matter what and will be working, but I'd like to start pursuing a bachelors degree on the side.

Anyone have recommendations of good schools, preferably in Manhattan or Brooklyn that aren't super expensive? I'll be probably studying Film History, or literature.

NYC suggestions?

shearkaty — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:44:25 -0800

My husband and I are visiting NYC just after Christmas for a few days. Where are some interesting, non-touristy places we should go? We'll be staying in Brooklyn. I never visited the city, but Shane has been twice. We love coffee shops, thrift/junk stores, book stores and art.

We also love to eat good food (who doesn't?) Any MUST GO places would be appreciated! (not scared of hole-in-the-wall!)

We're looking to run a little off the beaten path. Also, are broadway tickets worth the cost?

"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.

Help! My landlord is trying to scam me!

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:29:48 -0800

Help! My landlord is trying to scam me! Okay, so, when I first signed my lease, my landlord had me sign a "rider" that basically said the following : Although the amount on the official lease is $1800, the actual rent on the apartment is $2150. However, as long as I pay my rent on-time, I get a "discount" of $350.

This is obviously a ploy to get around the rent control laws of my city. If not for the "rider," my apartment would be rent-controlled since it is under $2000 a month.

Anyway, I renewed my lease in June, and he wanted me to sign another "rider" along with it, since the original "rider" was only valid for the term of the lease. I kept putting it off, and ultimately I forgot to send in the new "rider."

Months later, he calls me and bugs me, so finally I bring it into his office.

A few days later, he calls me and tells me that my last rent check bounced, and that I need to write him a new check and pay the $350 late fee. I knew this was absurd, because I have plenty of money in my account. A quick call to my bank confirmed that my landlord never tried to cash the check, and that it never bounced.

I called him back, and he yelled at me, insisting that the check had bounced, and that he has the "bounced" check which was "returned" by my bank with stuff written on it. He threatened me with eviction if I didn't send in a new check along with the $350.

Tomorrow, I am going to the bank to get an official letter stating that they never recieved the check and that it never bounced. I called his office to say that I will be bringing in this letter, but his secretary was instructed to tell me "not to bother, since he won't be in and that I don't have an appointment." Obviously, I'm going to bring in the letter anyway and leave it with his secretary.

But I'm wondering what happens next. Over the phone, he threatened to evict me! I don't want to lose my deposit, and I don't want my credit effected. I don't even want to leave my apartment. He's obviously mad at me for taking so long to bring in the "rider," but I wonder if it's really in his interest to evict me over this, especially since I've been a good tenant and have always paid my rent on-time.

What can I do to avoid being scammed, evicted, or losing my deposit? Would his "rider" even hold up in court? Does eviction effect your credit rating? Is this worth lawyering-up over? My deposit was $1800, but I have no idea what a lawyer would cost.

I live in NYC, if that makes any difference.

If you like, you can email me privately at dontwannabescammed@gmail.com.

Help me find a good afterschool program?

RajahKing — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:11:07 -0800

How do I look for an afterschool program for my soon to be preschooler? This is a bit Brooklyn-centric, but advice from knowledgeable parents anywhere would be helpful.

My daughter will enter preschool (called pre-K in NYC) this September, on the public school calendar. Pre-K runs from morning to about 2:30, but she'll need to go to an afterschool most days M-F, some days for just an hour, some days until 5:30.

So, my questions are both concrete and general:

1. Do you know any decent, affordable after school programs that would serve a public school located near Atlantic Ave and Flatbush?

2. How much do after school programs that include pickup from school cost per week / per month, etc, in Brooklyn?

3. Is there any way that I can find these places online and give them a call? I have a couple of suggestions from the school itself, but that's just two.

Any other advice on this topic is much appreciated. Thanks from a sometimes clueless dad.

Neighborhoods in NYC

Wolfster — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:18:30 -0800

Mr Roger’s Neighborhood: NYC, introduce me to your neighborhood plus rental places NYC filter

I’ve lived in NYC for about 4 years and really enjoy living here.

Now I like my current neighborhood, but the apartment is very, very small and has a lot of problems. Because the rents are currently dropping (my landlord just offered to lower my rent for a few hundred dollars), I figure this is the time to upgrade.

I would love it if people share what they like/love/don’t like about their neighborhood and what they think I could get for a ballpark sum of $. Even if I can’t afford your neighborhood, please share! Pretend you are a broker for your neighborhood but also tell me about the warts (a broker, with truth serum!). Even if things that you like are not on my list – tell me about them, I knew nothing about this neighborhood when I moved here and have grown to enjoy it.

As a plus please let me know if it has some of the things I am looking for/not looking for although I still would enjoy the introduction to your neighborhood.

Below are things that I enjoy about my neighborhood, like/don’t like about my apartment, and my dream list.

Current neighborhood: UWS/near Lincoln center

Love:
• Hudson path along the water for walking
• Riverside drive for biking (no cars come from opposite lane, can get to GW bridge to ride out of the city, not much traffic)
• Very safe (sometimes I come home very late –not a problem)
• Can easily visit friends on UES
• Proximity to a few subway trains – 1,2, A, C
• Close to activities but not in the middle of everything (eg, Lincoln center free music in August; can walk to theaters ~ Times Square)
• It isn’t that loud compared to other parts of town
• There is a store/deli around every corner (if I need a cookie…I walk 10 feet)

Current apartment: In this neighborhood, I pay about $1400 and the rent will be lowered to $1200

Like: location

Don’t like:
• Very, very small (200 square feet) – I can’t take this anymore!
• The heating system is poor (this system that is either turned completely on or off in the winter…(baking, freezing baking, freezing)
• My neighbors are very, very young/college kids (I am fine with this age group, but I need to work, and they are dancing, drinking, hollering and living la vida loca at 1, 3, and 4 in the morning…too loud)

Where do I want to live?

Amt to pay: Up to $1500, but not much more, and I would love to get a 1-BR, but that may be delusional so …a large studio is ok. Are there buildings that have a normal heating/cooling system or keep it on rather than turn it off most of the day in the winter?

Features of neighborhood: 1) safe (can still walk around late at night), 2) still near activities or things to do (ie, I don’t want to ride a subway or boat for an hour to go to a play), 3) can still get to UES within 30 minutes/45 minutes 4) easy to bike (the highway is not surrounding me on all sides)

Not essential: I freelance and work from home – subway is not essential but makes things easy in the winter.

I like Manhattan, but I am open to Brooklyn and Queens as long as I am not commuting for an hour.

Where should I throw my birthday party?

libertypie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:30:29 -0800

I'm 22 and from out-of-town. Where should I throw my birthday party in NYC? A bunch of friends are congregating in New York for my birthday in July, and I'd love to show them a good time, though I lack connections or much familiarity with the city. I'm open to any ideas, really, though I'd love a spot where my friends and I could hang out and get rowdy where it's not too expensive. Is there anywhere outdoors that one can drink booze without breaking the law? Any bars that are big enough for about 20 people to settle in where we won't have to pay for a private room? This all may be a pipe dream- wouldn't be too much of a hassle out West where I'm from, but I know big cities are quite different. Thanks, Hive Mind!

Crunchy, crafty mom shopping nirvana in NYC?

printchick — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:35:56 -0800

Which crunchy/crafty/eclectic/kid-centered type stores should I visit when I'm in NYC? I'll be there for a seminar but will have some free time afterwards. I am going to spend a weekend in New York City next month for a work seminar. While most of my time will be spent at the seminar, I should have time in the evenings and during the afternoon before my flight home. I'm looking for suggestions for great toy stores, craft stores, crunchy stores, funky home decor stores, markets -- in short, any place a kinda crunchy/crafty/resourceful mother of a toddler would love to visit in NYC. I'll probably stick around Manhattan but would take a subway trip to a borough if the place seems fantabulous enough.

Pearl River and Paper Source would be fun stops (we don't have Paper Source where I live) but I'd welcome suggestions for other places.

Thank you!

Pretty Pretty dress, please be shorter

Unred — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:11:36 -0800

I need recommendations for someone to alter a very expensive gown (to be worn for a wedding) somewhere in New York City (& S. Brooklyn). I've looked through past queries that don't exactly match my criteria. Basically, I have a dress with 3 layers of fabric that I'll be wearing for a wedding, but its not a bridesmaid dress, specifically. Its an expensive designer gown, and although I paid a lot for it, I'd prefer to not pay the same amount to have it altered. Does anyone know of someone in the city, or in Park Slope/Carroll Gardens who can do this for me?

NYC Restaurant Recommendation

ruwan — Mon, 25 May 2009 06:11:50 -0800

NYC Restaurant Filter: Looking for a nice restaurant very close to Carnegie Hall for dinner on Wednesday night. (Or walking distance from Madison Sq Park would also work.) - Reservations a plus (we have a group of 6).
- One of our party is vegetarian, so should have some options for him. (aka no steakhouses unfortunately.)
- ~$25 entree range
- Asian, Thai, or Indian would be nice but isn't a requirement. Any recommendation would be helpful, thanks!

Ethnic Jewelry in NYC?

tk — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:22:17 -0800

I'm looking for a store in New York City (Manhattan and Brooklyn, ideally) that sells ethnic and sterling silver jewelry. The store could have clothes, accessories, or art, but it should have a significant amount of jewelry for sale. Can anyone help me out? I'm of course googling on my own, but this is the kind of place you would know when you see it, and I can't walk all the streets of NYC. Thanks for any leads.

CBT therapist in nyc

skowtz — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:05:53 -0800

Looking for a good CBT therapist in nyc who takes GHI insurance? Any recommendations?

Recommend a New York City gay bar for me.

mahamandarava — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:45:14 -0800

I'll be visiting NYC by myself next week. I would like to meet / hang out with other gay guys around my age. I'm looking for a gay bar with a younger (late 20s - early 30s) crowd. I'm slightly shy / self-conscious and prefer a place with a relatively friendly vibe and lack of "attitude". Any suggestions?

Should I move to New York City or Seattle for city life as well as outdoors activities?

biochemist — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:51:47 -0800

Does New York City or Seattle offer the better mix of city life and outdoorsyness? Hello. I'm trying to choose a city to move to for undergrad. I'm stuck between New York and Seattle, and unfortunately I don't have the funds to visit before college starts. I'll be living in dorms, so apartments aren't an issue right now.

I would prefer somewhere that I can live long-term, because I don't like to move around frequently.

My original choice was New York City, because I love the big city atmosphere. However, I believe that Seattle may be a better mixture of city life and outdoors activities. I have read that NYC has a lot of outdoors activities as well.

I'm also concerned that it seems as if with my projected salary, I won't have a comfortable life N.Y.C. This wouldn't bother me much, except that I love animals and I wouldn't be able to have dogs in an apartment.

My one worry about Seattle is that it's far away from the music scene I'm used to. I live within a five hour drive from Cleveland, Columbus, Chicago, and Detroit, so I'm used to having a lot of options for concerts to go to. I'd like it to stay this way, but I don't know anything about the availability of concerts in/near Seattle.

I would mostly enjoy "natural" outdoors activities... for example, going hiking instead of a tour through the park.

A little more about me... I'm female, liberal, and I'm interested in the Aerospace industry. I'm a fan of windy/rainy days, but I also love the summer. I'm from Ohio, so I would prefer the weather to be similar to here, except cooler.

Anyway... hope this is enough information to help with the advice. I'm open to suggestions of other cities, as long as they match the original criteria (no small cities). Thanks in advance!

Meeing Place in NYC/Jersey?

RevF^2 — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:11:45 -0800

Can anyone suggest a meeting place in NYC or across the river in Jersey that's easy to get to from the Financial District which holds 100-200 people? A group of us computer types want to put together a grass-roots style meeting to discuss various issues with industries, in this case, the financial industry in NYC. We hope to get 100 or so people to attend, so, of course, we need a meeting place. Problem is we don't have much in the way of money (although we may get some sponsorship) and the place has to be kinda nice to attract Wall Street types. The place should be easy to get to from the Financial District. Any suggestions?

Getting to Newark from Manhattan

greta simone — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:41:15 -0800

Cheapest way to get to Newark airport from the city? I have a flight out of Newark at 9pm Monday night. I'll be running around Manhattan most of that day with only a small overnight bag, so luggage isn't an issue. I'm trying to find the cheapest way to get to Newark from where ever in the city I can get to by subway. I took the Blue Van into the city, which was cheap, but I don't think they do pick-ups to take you back to the airport. I prefer something uncomplicated, meaning I don't want to have to take two trains and then two buses or anything like that, but also cheap, so no NYC cabs straight there. Something in the middle would be best. I don't know exactly where I'll be in the city when it's time for me to leave, but I'm open and can catch a train anywhere.
Thanks for your help!

Billy on the Subway

sdsparks — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:31:22 -0800

Would I be silly to bring a largeish bookcase on the NYC subway? So I just bought a bookcase off Craigslist, your normal Billy from Ikea, dimensions:
Width: 31 1/2 "
Depth: 11 "
Height: 79 1/2 "
I need to get it from Park Slope to the Lower East Side and I can't figure out if its crazy to bring it on the F train. I keep going back and forth. 80 pounds won't be too heavy for two people right? Will the subway officials let me enter the station with it? Will it be too obnoxious for other riders? Will the F train be too full at 10:15 AM? I don't want to be a nuisance, I just want to save 50 bucks off the man with a van. So, thoughts? Sorry if this is too specific for MeFi, fell free to delete it if that's the case. Thanks!

Doctor Recommendation in NYC

smartypanties — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:29:21 -0800

Can you help me find a great primary care doc and a ob-gyn who take Cigna in NYC!? Help! I keep losing my docs. Please help me find a great doc and girly doc who accept Cigna! My current docs are horrible.

NYC couples massage

akabobo — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:41:23 -0800

Do you know a good couples massage place in the upper east side NYC? Looking for a place to get a couples massage in NYC. We had one on our honeymoon (side by side massage), and would like to do it again when we visit New York City.

We are staying on the upper east side. Juvenex was recommend in this thread, but we wanted to do it Saturday afternoon before an early dinner near Washington Square, however it looks like no men until the evening are allowed at Juvenex.

Price range 400-500 total, although if you know a deal that would be good too. Looking for romantic, but not too over the top for a couple in their late 20s.

Blinking LED novelties, retail, in Manhattan?

ellanea — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:09:44 -0800

Moderate to large quantities of blinking LED novelties, retail, in Manhattan? Mostly looking for things in the line of toys, balls, frisbees, or musical instruments, but apparel, jewelery, or barware would be OK in a pinch. Open Sunday a plus. Anyone been dazzled and/or annoyed walking into some ungoogleable hole-in-the-wall recently?

Watchyou talkin' 'bout, Willis?

cazoo — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:03:41 -0800

I need a recommendation for a watch store or jeweller in New York City. Can any of you NYC area mefite's direct me to a reputable jeweller or watch store that can change the bracelet of a watch for me? I already have the replacement band, I just need someone to take off the old one and replace it with the new one. I just purchased a new watch from overseas and it was shipped to me unadjusted. It seems to me that its an easy task to do, I just don't want to be over charged with this kind of service.

I am located downtown in lower Manhattan on the west side. Thanks a bunch.

Where can I find the best oatmeal cookies in New York City?

likeapen — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:00:36 -0800

Where can I find the best oatmeal cookies in New York City?

What NYC hotel should I pick for a Christmastime visit?

objdoc — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:28:53 -0800

What interesting but not too hipster NYC hotel should I choose for a four-night near Christmastime stay in December? I'm heading to New York City in December for a work related conference near Times Square. We are also thinking about attending the Metropolitan Opera, and going to see The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center while in town. My partner plans to check out the Met and the Guggenheim while I am working, along with window shopping the Christmas displays around 5th Ave.

Last time we stayed at Le Parker Meridian which we liked well enough.

We'd like to find someplace interesting to stay, reasonably accessible to where we plan to spend most of our time. Caveat: we are late 30's but not terribly hip, even though we like architecture and design.

Price range: $350 or less, more only for something great

where to take night GIS classes in NYC?

nanhey — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:14:50 -0800

where can i take GIS night classes in new york city? i took an introductory GIS class in college and would like to build on it. anyone know a place/school that offers GIS classes at night?

Where should I take my parents for Thanksgiving in NYC?

chinese_fashion — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:00:40 -0800

Where can I take my visiting parents and sister for a nice Thanksgiving meal in New York City? My parents will be coming up to visit me in NYC for the first time EVER, and I'm really excited about this. They don't leave Virginia much. I'd like to take them out to a nice place for dinner on Thanksgiving, and as a family, we're looking forward to the adventure of it. I've spent 31 out of 32 Thanksgivings in Southern VA with the fam, so this is a huge stretch for them.

They're not as adventurous with their palates as I am, mind you. I didn't know you could even eat beef rare until after leaving college. They like Chinese and Italian just fine, though. So I guess I'm saying that turkey and stuffing isn't necessarily mandatory.

My dad's got some issues with long subway/car rides. He's got a health condition that means he needs to be near a bathroom pretty often. Nothing's COMPLETELY out of the question, but I don't know if he could swing a trip to say, Coney Island or Harlem on the subway.

I live in Williamsburg and they'll be staying here/Greenpoint too. It could be as easy as going to DuMont or something, I just don't know what's open and who does what.

So I'm asking: any suggestions for a good Thanksgiving tuck-in in Brooklyn/Manhattan?