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.

@fancynancyclancy Ooh, that's a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question.

I'd say 20 something who wants to live in a trendy area of Manhattan/Brooklyn/Queens with flatmates, and have a bit of spending money would be ok on $50k. They could do it on $40k, but it would be tight. On $70k it would be a breeze unless they were really shit with money or very heavily in debt.

I've heard that families shouldn't even attempt Manhattan on under $200k. $300k if you want to be comfortable. I'd say most of the couples I know who are having kids are on at least $200k between them. BUT it can be done for much, much less if you have grandparents who'll look after the kids, or a rent controlled apartment.

I'm thinking Manhattan and the nice bits of Brooklyn/Queens/Bronx with these figures. You can definitely do it for less in less fancy areas or Staten Island.

By comfortably I mean able to experience the delights NY has to offer.

Posted too soon.

40k - 50k is lower that I expected actually.
Obvs kids are a game changer in terms of childcare & more bedrooms.

@fancynancyclancy I'd still say $50K. When I moved here, I didn't have a job, and DH and I were on $100K between us, and while we had to budget, we still had a nice flat and went out to bars/restaurants/the occasional Broadway show/sporting events etc. We were frugal, but I also remember buying makeup in Henri Bendel a couple of times, so not that frugal.

I visited yrs & yrs ago when the £ was virtually 2 for 1. Food seemed really cheap & I shopped like a person possessed!

Did you say you were in your 20s? So are you classed as a youngish mum? Londoner here & most people seem to start in their 30s particularly in the naice areas!

Hi! I actually have a weekend free between two work weeks in Philadelphia one may/ June and was going to take the train up to NYC and stay there. My plan was to treat myself to the whole UWS brownstone studio thing and pretend like I’m SJP for a couple of days But I’ve left it kind of late and AirBnB prices are nuts.

Can you recommend a neighbourhood or area to stay with nice cafes and restaurants (like nice bars for a single female to sit with a glass of wine and read/ eat), a cool neighbourhood vibe, maybe a park nearby to go for a run/ sit on a bench with my kindle etc? I have been to NYC many times so I am not fussed about doing the touristy stuff; I don’t need to be close to it all. Preferably less than the £350/ night for a one bedroom I’m currently seeing would be good too!

Should read “ in “ May/ June

@fancynancyclancy I'm 32. I'd say between about 29 and 35 is pretty common for a first baby. But one of my friends is 37 and just starting trying, and that's not particularly unusual either - def more common than getting pregnant in your 20s.

I'd say I'm classed as about average, although, only one of my friends has kids. I had to explain to my gay-guy-about-town friend that I won't be able to bring my baby to drag bars .

Mets or Yankees?

Oh sorry not reading properly!

I won't be able to bring my baby to drag bars The downsides of kids :(

Did you say you would come back to England or do you think you will stay?

@PARunnerGirl West Village is exactly what you want. It's actually illegal to rent out a whole apartment for less than 30 days, unless the owner is also present, or the building has fewer than 3 units. they're expensive because it has to be worth the risk! My neighbor got arrested for illegal subletting - the NYPD do not fuck around.

I'd take a look at The Jane in the West Village. It's cheap, quirky, safe, and the area ticks all your boxes. www.thejanenyc.com/

OR slightly left-field - go to my beloved old neighborhood of Long Island City and stay in the Hotel Z or the Aloft: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ispva-aloft-long-island-city-manhattan-view/

@Processedpea LET'S GO METS!

Although, I do like the garlic fries at Yankee stadium but then, the Mets have Shake Shack...

@fancynancyclancy We'll stay. If we moved back to the UK, I'd have to go first, get a job, and then sponsor DH. We'd be split up for ages, so it's just not practical.

Plus my mother and I don't get on, and our relationship is vastly improved by living on different continents she can't be mean about my thighs if she can't see them on Skype.

Makes sense!
Good luck with the baby & your posts have made me very keen to go back. x

@fancynancyclancy Thanks! Come and visit! You won't regret it

@allfurcoatnoknickers Oh my gosh I did not know that law about apartments and it totally makes sense now.

Thank you so much for your recommendations! I’m interested in Long Island City and it would also be slightly easier/ quicker for my friend who lives near Riverhead on LI when we meet for dinner/ drinks. I used to enjoy Greenpoint and Williamsburg but they just got a little bit too popular and expensive after a while- is Long Island City the same or like them a few years ago? Any particular bar/ restaurant/ cafes recommendations?!

@PARunnerGirl
Gantry Plaza Park has great views and is good for a walk run. There's also a great Bar/coffee shop there called LIC Landing.

Coffee Shops: Partners Coffee, Sweetleaf (there are 2/3 branches) and Clever Blend.

Restaurants: I liked M.Wells and Casa Enrique - both are which are pretty reasonable, and have Michelin stars. Also Tuk Tuk for Thai and Mu Ramen for noodles. John Browns Smokehouse for BBQ and LIC Market for Brunch.

I haven't been, but Adda has been making waves recently.

Bars: The Beast Next Door (my old local), Dominie's Hoek (also good for brunch), Alewife and Dutch Kills (v. fancy, amazing cocktails)

Culture: Sculpture Center, MoMa PS1, Noguchi Museum. You're also in stabbing distance from the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, which is AMAZING.

It's say it's more like Greenpoint, but it's mostly an ex-warehouse district which has gentrified like crazy since about 2012, so there's less in the way of community than Greenpoint. I loved living there though, I wish I could move back, but we've been priced out :(

Coming next week for 6 days...Which weather forecast is accurate? We were caught out last year!!

Which weather forecast is accurate?

I'm something of an amateur meteorologist and this is my go to long range forecast:

Weather Underground NYC 10 Day

By the way, the Weather Underground website seems to work best in Chrome, and they offer a smartphone app as well.

@allfurcoatnoknickers This is amaaaaazing! Thank you so much! I’m sold. Long Island City it is!

Highlight of my trip to NYC many moons ago was the Roosevelt Island cable car. Its part of the subway system, so costs practically nothing. I didn't have kids then, but could imagine it being a hit with all ages.

Sorry, that definitely didn't have a question - just a random statement!

Loving your thread. My company has an office in NYC and I often wonder what my life would be like if I had taken an opportunity to move over. I'm enjoying living vicariously through your descriptions

@Lungelady Go with what @MissConductUS says! That's a really useful site. I get caught out by the weather all the time at this time of year. I'll actually lying in bed right now pondering what the hell to wear for casual Friday.

I suggest you bring or buy a lightweight raincoat. DH just bought one in Uniqlo and declared it life-changing.