Please talk to me about living in NYC!

[NYCorLondon]

Super excitement over here as have got a fantastic job offer to work for an international organisation based in NYC (Midtown East).

We're in a tizz in our house now and not sure what to do. Anyone who's lived/is living in NYC or close by with kids please talk to me about what life is like. We've lived in US before for a few years but not in NYC and also the children were very young (they're now 4.5 and 7.5) and moved back to UK four years ago - so it's a whole different kettle of fish moving with school-aged children.

Any info to help us make up our mind will be really really helpful. Also any areas you can suggest to live close to Midtown East will be helpful (we get a rent subsidy for first few years so can afford $5000-6000)

Thanks for any help in this decision!!

[mummytime]

So you are not going to commute in then?
I think this site is useful insideschools.org/. Private schools are very expensive and competetive, and public schools very variable.
But I envy you!

[NYCorLondon]

I don't know about commuting. I guess it depends??? I've no idea what Manhattan living would be like and, from what I can see from the property websites, 5k would only really get us a 2 bed apartment in a decent part of Manhattan and we'd like a 3 bed.

As we'd be on an expat package, we'd get most of the school fees covered so will probably go private

[happypotter]

How exciting for you all!
We moved over to NY early last year and spent three months in Manhattan before moving to Long Island. I probably can't help you too much as our son was too young then to be thinking about schooling, but if there is anything more general I can help with let me know.
We were one block away from Times Square and I loved living there a million times more than I expected. Obviously, midtown takes busy to a whole new level but it's such an exciting city. Good luck!

[SheCutOffTheirTails]

Go, go, go - it's the best city in the world!

Sorry, no practical advice really, was child free when I lived there.

You lucky thing, congratulations :)

[shreddedandnotatallsmug]

Hi! We've been living over the road from the large international organisation in Midtown East for the last couple of years. I'd be happy to try to answer any questions if you want to PM me

Most families I know seem to live in Brooklyn (commute by subway) or Westchester County (e.g. Rye, Scarsdale - 45 mins to Grand Central). As you've already discovered $5-6,000/month doesn't get you much on Manhattan. Are you thinking of the school connected with the organisation?

I have namechanged a number of times since we were on the C25K thread earlier in the year. Are you still running?

[ednurse]

The upper east or west side are very family-living and lovely. Not sure about rent prices though!

[NYCorLondon]

Yep, its that organization with a lovely view of the East River! Guess it dominates midtown east!

We are thinking of UNIS but also BISNY, WCLA, Dwight and some others.

Any thoughts about Roosevelt island or long island city?

[mummytime]

If you get school fees covered...I would look at the UN school. It even keeps places open for expats going to NYC (yes its where I'd love to send my kids if we moved to NYC). BTW you know that the school authority provides free school busing even to private schools?
Roosevelt island is a bit of a car park as far as I remember.
Do also look at the commuter places as they are quite convenient for midtown.

[happypotter]

Yes I am still running and by some miracle I am still on track for my Diva Long Island Marathon in a couple of weeks. I really can't believe it. I joined a running group here back in June and it has made all the difference. How about you? Are you still doing early morning runs in Central Park? I think I will start in thread in 'Living Overseas' and try and organise some sort of NY MN meetup...

NCcorLondon I have a friend who used to work at BISNY who I could put you in touch with if you were interested.

We love living in Long Island but expats here are few and far between so really depends what you are looking for. We live in a very good school area which is a bit 'desperate housewives' in appearance and attitude. We've been here since late last Spring and it really took a year for me to feel more at home and that I was meeting friends I could rely on. My husband commutes into Penn on the Long Island Rail Road and it takes about 35/40 mins on the train.

The group of expats I met when I lived in NYC all loved living in the Hell's Kitchen area but their children were much younger.

What time frame are you working on?

[NYCorLondon]

thanks all. emailed UNIS - and yes they do keep places aside for UN families moving to NYC mid-year so that's good to know.

I think that if we do go suburban then best the places on metro north railroad - but think I'd prefer being a bit closer so we're considering:
Roosevelt Island
Long Island City (in Queens - just across the East River)
Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, downtown Brooklyn
UES or UWS
Battery Park City
Riverdale (in the Bronx)

[CPrunner]

hi - DH and I just moved back to europe (temporarily, as 'reverse expats') after 17 resp. 11 years in NYC. We have 2 boys (2 and 4) and have always lived in manhattan. $5000-6000 should get you something reasonable though not huge, potentially 3BR/2Bath. Check out www.streeteasy.com for excellent info on 'hoods and also rental searches (and you can see the history which makes negotiation very well possible as we've experienced). I've lived in village, chelsea, upper west side and ultimately in the financial district. Would very much recommend the latter for families. Parks, close to the water/boat launches, excellent public schools, lots of young families, fantastic subway access (to my job in midtown east 20 mins door to door). battery park is great too, except for subway access (imagine walking 15 minutes in icy cold wind every morning to catch your train...). We've explored Brooklyn, LIC and Westchester too, all great, but can't beat manhattan for immediacy, excitement, commute. Happy to share more info - please PM me.

[CPrunner]

also - park slope, carroll gardens and riverdale are NOT close to midtoiwn east. you'd be beter off with westchester then...

[BrandyAlexander]

I am very jealous! I lived in nyc as a single person but if I returned with the family, I would probably go for upper west side if staying in manhattan. It has much more of a family feel, close to the park and great food places. A lot of my friends live(d) in Park Slope. Again great area with a nice family feel. The only thing I am struggling to remember is how you get from park slope to midtown east. Its not difficult just a pain when commuting is so easy. Personally, I wouldn't do long island, it wouldn't feel like you were in ny (prob because you wouldn't be in nyc!).

[BrandyAlexander]

I am very jealous! I lived in nyc as a single person but if I returned with the family, I would probably go for upper west side if staying in manhattan. It has much more of a family feel, close to the park and great food places. A lot of my friends live(d) in Park Slope. Again great area with a nice family feel. The only thing I am struggling to remember is how you get from park slope to midtown east. Its not difficult just a pain when commuting is so easy. Personally, I wouldn't do long island, it wouldn't feel like you were in ny (prob because you wouldn't be in nyc!).

[Mummysaysno]

We lived in Lower Manhattan - really enjoyed living in Tribeca/Battery Park - found it a really friendly area, lovely walks along the river, green space for the kids to let off steam. Our apartment building backed on to a park area which was like a dream - sand/water shoots in the summer. Couldn't leave the building without bumping in to friends. Very good memories, and if we were to move to NYC again, I'd chose it over the suburbs!

[NYCorLondon]

Thanks for all the advice. I don't think we want suburbs (in the American sense!) so will look at UWS, BPS and Financial district in Manhattan but may settle for Brooklyn, Queens or Riverdale depending on what we can get (we'd like some outdoor space so realistically Manahattan might not happen) and the school situation. Riverdale is on Metro-North so in to Grand Central and if we're near the 4/5 lines on the subway in Queens then we'd go in to Grand Central as well. The subway is so cheap - I'm amazed! We're also considering Roosevelt Island.

Will let you know what happens :)