I live in New York City - Ask Me Anything!

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

I see NYC advice threads popping up on the travel boards a lot - anyone got any questions for a current Manhattan and former Queens resident?

I'm also married to a born and raised New Yorker, and we're imminently about to have a baby, in case anyone's wondering what it's like to be pregnant in the US.

@allfur thanks for the reply, maybe a trip another part of the year in a different part of the city would be better next time. The sightseeing was great though and I got my kids some bargains from Macy's so not all bad :)

Loving this thread - we have just booked to spend Xmas in New York and the plan was to take the teens to shop and get their own Xmas presents - Is it going to mental mental chicken oriental shopping ? We have scheduled the 23rd as our day to do nothing but shop! Also any reccomendations for Xmas day itself ? I was thinking breakfast at Ellen stardust (I love musicals ) skating in Bryant Park and then if funds allow it the radio city Xmas spectacular- if there is anything else that is a MUST do on Xmas day in NYC please let me know xxx

it was cheap 10/15 years ago, but not anymore.

A lot of that is the exchange rate. The GBP has been in the toilet rather weak for the last two years due to brexit. You used to get a lot more USD for your money.

allfur's suggestions are brilliant as usual. I would add the 9/11 museum. It's not free but it's not wildly expensive and it is really worth seeing. Buy your tickets on line and you'll wait in a much shorter queue to get in. There's more about it up thread as well.

Sorry to ask a 'downer' of a question but are bed bugs a concern? I've seen so many articles about them recently and New York often gets mentioned as having a particular problem with them (which sort of puts me off visiting .....)

Bit of a random one. I've always fancied working there for a year (I'm a self employed psychotherapist). Wondering if people pay for therapy only through insurance ?

Taking payments through insurance looks like a ball ache though my license is apparently easily transferable.

@MissConductUS I've actually done all my clothes shopping back in the UK on my last couple of trips!

@CIT80 5th Avenue around Rockefeller Plaza will be mental, but you should be fine for shopping anywhere else. So Bloomindales/Upper East, Barney's Co-Op Herald Square, by the Flatiron, maybe SoHo? It's very, very busy, but not un-doable.

If those things are all open on Christmas Day, then go for it! I have made my feelings on Ellen's known further up-thread, and be aware that there's almost always a huge line outside. Another fun, very NYC Christmas tradition you could do is get Chinese for dinner, then see a movie. It's THE NYC tradition for the Jewish community, Chinese community, and any other group who doesn't celebrate Christmas. mentalfloss.com/article/521724/fascinating-history-behind-why-jewish-families-eat-chinese-food-christmas

If you want to do Midnight Mass, I hear St Thomas 5th Avenue has some of the best choral music in the City.

Also, I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS!! I do Bryant Park, Grand Central, Union Square and Columbus Circle every year, and whatever event the LIC Flea puts on . Also DH and I like to hit the shops the day after Christmas, and buy up reduced Christmas Ornaments, but that's our own little weird tradition.

Sorry to ask a 'downer' of a question but are bed bugs a concern?

I actually haven't heard much about them in the news for the last year or two. I think the city started requiring mandatory reporting of them. I would check the online reviews for the hotels you might be interested in staying at. The city is still full of tourists so it doesn't seem to be deterring anyone from visiting.

Wondering if people pay for therapy only through insurance ?

Some do, some don't. Most insurance here seems to limit the number of visits per year they'll cover, so paying for it directly is not a foreign concept. Is there are professional association where you can make inquiries?

I've actually done all my clothes shopping back in the UK on my last couple of trips!

Which explains why you look fabulous!

Also DH and I like to hit the shops the day after Christmas, and buy up reduced Christmas Ornaments, but that's our own little weird tradition.

I think this may be required by law actually. This is when we also buy our Christmas cards and wrapping paper for the coming year. Barnes & Noble is usually 50-70% off Christmas items the day after.

@allfur thanks for your help ! I know Ellen’s food is shocking but my brother has told me despite the food I will love it there 👍

Ooh Chinese and movie sounds good and could maybe do radio city on Boxing Day !!!

Also I have checked they all open Christmas Day 👍👍

@MacavityTheDentistsCat as @MissConductUS no concerns recently. I haven't heard of any outbreaks in hotels in years - maybe 2015/16? You can always check the Bed Bug registry if you're worried: bedbugregistry.com/

@LaurieFairyCake Depends on the person and the insurance. My insurance pays for me to see a psychologist and i only have a co-pay of $20 per session. My best friend was seeing a therapist and her. insurance wouldn't cover it and it cost her $300 a session. I think, unless you're a dual citizen or a green card holder, your visa might be the biggest issue.

@CIT80 My issue with Ellen's is that people go, and think it's an actual NYC Diner, when it's not!! But if you go knowing it's a kitschy spectacular with great singing and awful food, that that's different .

Book ahead if you want to eat out Christmas day - places fill up FAST. We went to out local Chinese, only to find a line out the door, and we ended up getting take-away!

maybe do radio city on Boxing Day

The Radio City Christmas show is spectacular. Buy your tickets well in advance as it is immensely popular. We took the kids several times.

They also do a stage door tour that is great fun and you get to see all of the backstage workings, costume rooms, etc.

www.rockefellercenter.com/shops/radio-city-stage-door-tour/

Thanks :-)
Have to echo another poster i couldn't believe just how safe New York felt wouldn't wish to walk round my own small city at night alone but felt i wouldn't be too worried there... Granted it was around the empire state building area we stopped whether I'd feel the same in the boroughs i doubt it but yes i was suprised how safe it felt.

I quite liked Andrews coffee shop on 7th (although it’s probably the equivalent of the kebab machine in Notting Hill!)

I want a quesadilla right now!

I want a quesadilla right now!

Lovely. Now I want a quesadilla too, but all that's on offer here for dinner is pasta and meatballs, with ciabatta rolls. And the cat will fancy my meatball while I eat.

@S0CKS I think it's one of the safest, if not the safest big city in the US? it's probably easier to name the un-safe neighbourhoods rather than the safe ones! I probably felt safest at night when I lived out in Queens.

My personal theory is that it feels so safe because it's always busy. I've definitely been on the subway at 2am and it's been more crowded than at 2pm.

@LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD That's not all that far from me! I've definitely walked past it. Looks like a decent diner

There is never not a good time to have a quesadilla.

Apropos of nothing, it finally stopped raining today!!! First pleasant dog walk since Saturday. It really has been grim for the last few days.

Where do I need to go for quesadillas?

@MozzchopsThirty Los Tacos No1!: www.lostacos1.com/ or alternatively Tacombi: tacombi.com/menu

Los Tacos are arguably the best tacos in NYC. I'm a bit biased towards Tacombi at the moment because they have really nice non-alcoholic drinks.

Oh I kind of know where you are. There’s a wholefoold nearish then (7th)?

@LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD Yep. That is my local Whole Foods. I try not to shop there too much though because it's SO pricey.

I live in London - nothing is that pricey!

@LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD The Whole Foods salad bar is one of my guilty pleasures, but if you're not careful, you can easily rack up $20+ on just a salad .

Same in London. Especially sucky when you are a veggie! I liked the huge fruit salad bowls though.

Thank you @allfurcoatnoknickers los tacos is on my list already