NYC Lessons (Part I)

As I continue to live and breathe in this wonderful land called New York City, I am learning so much about the area that I could have never learned as a tourist. And for all you to-be tourists out there in bloggerland, take note. NYC residents will like you much better if you heed my advice, and you'll enjoy your experience so much more.

1. Brooklyn is not Siberia. It's not unchartered waters far, far away. It's not a foreign land that takes hours to get to. It's one stop below Wall Street on the downtown 2/3. It's a cool place with many cool things, including Coney Island, up-and-coming clothing designers with adorable and budget-friendly boutiques AND, most importantly, Target. Don't be afraid to visit if you come to NYC. You'll really like it!

2. Times Square is all hype. PLEASE go there for a Broadway show at night. PLEASE. There's nothing like NY live theater, and the lights and energy of Times Square after dark are nothing short of spectacular. But don't stay in Times Square you're entire trip! That's bananas! You're missing out on 99.5% of what the city has to offer. Trust.

3. The Staten Island Ferry is awesome. It's free. It's on the Hudson River. It drives right past the Statue of Liberty for great pictures. It offers amazing skyline views of downtown. 

4. Sidewalks are mobile places. If you want to take a picture of a historic building or sight, please do. Don't deny yourself the experience. But PLEASE step to the side before you do so. New Yorkers walk a lot and fast. They will collide into you and will be angry. So please. Step to the side. It's not a lot to ask. 

5. New Yorkers have attitude. But it's an amazing, honest, mile-a-minute attitude. If you're nice to them, they'll be nice to you. (Unless you stop and take a picture in the middle of a busy sidewalk. See lesson #4.)

6. New York is budget friendly. If you find the right places, you don't have to break the bank to come to the city. Get away from the tourist areas into where residents live. The restaurants and stores in those areas are surprisingly reasonable!

7. Off-Broadway is awesome. I'm never going to tell you to skip a Broadway show, but give off-Broadway a chance too! The shows are spectacular and tend to have much more depth in the plot. If you want something besides smiles and sunshine, go off.

8. Common Courtesy. If you're getting on an elevator or the subway, stand to the side and let whoever is on it already get off first. It's the unsaid rule here and just makes sense.

9. Crowds are turtles. If you go to Times Square, avoid the sidewalk traffic jams. Residents know that cars aren't allowed to drive in the first lane of traffic in Times Square, so you can avoid the hoards of very slow-moving crowds on the sidewalks by walking in that first lane. But watch out for bikers! 

10. Walking is the best form of transportation. And that's why New Yorkers are so fit and healthy. If you see someone really heavy, they're probably a tourist or big-whig who rides around in town cars all day. I know they say Denver or somewhere is the healthiest city, but I feel New Yorkers can give any of those Coloradians a run for their money. (Except in pollution levels. There's a lot of that here...)

Stay tuned for more live-in lessons in the coming weeks!