I (still) live in New York City - Ask Me Anything

[allfurcoatnoknickers]

I did an AMA four years ago and thought it might be fun to do another one since I'm seeing more and NYC advice threads popping up on the Holiday board.
Anyone got any questions for a current Manhattanite? I love to play tour guide 😊.

I'm also married to a born and raised New Yorker, and we have a four year old in elementary school and a 5 month old baby, so feel free to ask away and pregnancy, birth, maternity leave and schools in the US. I see a lot of misconceptions on here I'd be happy to chat about.

Yes, everything is less spontaneous since Covid, you still have a book a lot of things in advance. There's less free stuff going on too, although I've noticed it coming back more this year.

I'd walk the whole length of the Highline from Hudson Yards to The Whitney, stopping at Chelsea Market, Little Island, Pier 57 and Gansevoort Peninsula.

Thanks for this AMA it is so interesting!

I have two questions...

1. Presumably you are British, so do you fly home often? I have friends who work in the States and get very little holiday allowance.
2. What do you do that you can afford to live in NYC? I looked at one stage at moving over but the holiday allowance coupled with the costs really turned me against the idea.

I’ve experienced the same @allfurcoatnoknickers People assume that my DH must be British and are surprised that my teeth are intact. Even my own children laugh about British teeth…although I’ve seen some appalling ones here in the US!

What's the rat situation like? As a terrible rat phobic I don't think I'd be brave enough to visit!

You have to call ahead and they bring your car out. You can't park it or pick it up yourself - the staff have to do it for you.

I'd stay at the Aloft in Long Island City or Downtown in FiDi. Maybe at Club Quarters or the Doubletree. Honestly, Times Square is really grotty and gross, so avoid staying there if you possibly can.

It is bonkers complicated, but for elementary (primary) school, you have a District and a Zone, you can apply to any school in your district, but you get priority for the one you're zoned for. You get 12 ranked choices.

We didn't like the school we're zoned for, so we put the school in the next zone over as our top choice and were lucky enough to get a place there.

There's also a grammar system you can test into when they're older.

Absolutely no idea

@MrsChicken89 we just came back and stayed at DoubleTree by Hilton downtown

It was great, lots of subway options (5,6,1,R,W)
Rooms were big by NYC standards and cleaned daily
Also the cheapest option for us

Are there still American Apparel stores ?

It's really fine. I get on the subway with my baby all the time. Just never get in an empty car during the day- it's empty for a reason. You're very unlikely to be out late enough for it to get sketchy, but I'd probably take a cab after 9pm if you're nervous.

Can someone please enlighten me on the British teeth stereotype? The only place I've ever witnessed bad teeth was in Bradford,and it was so shocking because generally speaking everyone I know has great teeth.

Be prepared to marry someone short and neurotic 😂

Are the people you know very into politics?

Is it general consensus if so or a split?

A bunch of those places also have rooftop bars! Eataly and RH Rooftop as well as The Edge off the top of my head. Queensyard has a view of the Vessel.

The Fleur Room and Magic Hour - both at Moxy Hotels have great views. The Spyglass is another famous one, and Salon de Ning is stunning but $$$$. The famous one is 230 5th Ave, but go early, it turns into a junior analyst at Goldman Sachs meat market at about 8pm 🤢

@saythatagaintome I love fish cheeks but haven't been in years. There's just so many places to try.

We are coming for Christmas, but can’t agree what to do for Christmas Dinner itself.

my husband wants to do a buffet cruise, but I’d rather a restaurant. My children (13/16) are fussy so thinking an Italian restaurant is the way to go.

What do you do for Christmas Dinner, & can you recommend a good Italian somewhere not too far from Central Park, please?

I'm a Brit and I went home a lot pre-Covid but have only been back once since. I have a...difficult relationship with my parents. I get loads of holiday though - 24 days + personal days and sick days. And that's on top of the usual bank holidays. Most of my friends have similar usually 20 days if they don't get unlimited vacation.

I mentioned before that I'm head of a fundraising department in a non-profit and DH works for a megabank. I make just over $100k per year and he makes 3x that + bonus. He was a broke, idealistic grad student who was going to change the world when I met him though. Hah.

I mean there are rats? I have two JRTs though, so they tend to avoid us and our apartment in case they get murdered.

I think it's because Americans put a much bigger premium on having straight, white teeth and view anything else as a bit odd/gross/unhealthy. Whereas Brits don't think about how their teeth look as much as whether they're healthy.

Quality Italian should do a Christmas menu. I had a friend visiting last year and her family went to Quality Eats, the sister restaurant, and had an amazing Christmas dinner.

Or you could do a traditional NYC Christmas Day and get Chinese food and a movie.

Sadly no.

Yes, plus dental insurance is a big business here and once you’re paying those monthly premiums, you want to get the most out of it. Our insurance basically halves the cost of orthodontic work so our children are getting nice straight teeth. Plus, I have to admit that I found DH’s perfect teeth rather attractive when we met. 😂

@EasternStandard The people I know are fairly into politics - certainly politically aware. I don't know anyone who calls themselves a Republican though. Everyone I know is a Democrat. In NYC people tend to be fiscally conservative rather than socially conservative if they're conservative at all.

@HamBone oh yeah, I am maxing out my dental insurance! I'm also thinking of getting a whitening soon. I feel like my coffee consumption has left my teeth looking a bit grungey.