I have never been to New York City and am considering a trip there in the next month or so to check it out. I have to decide what city I want to apply for jobs in soon, and since I have a lot of interest in finance I am thinking New York could be a great fit.

Can anyone give me some tips as a person traveling up there (where to stay, what places to make sure i see, what to avoid, etc.), and can anyone who has lived there give me some insight on how it is?

Thank you very much

7/8/2004 6:37:17 PM

advice - don't get robbed.

new york is a better place ever since guiliani (sp) secretly had all the poor people killed.

7/8/2004 7:09:28 PM

wear comfy ass shoes

7/8/2004 7:09:31 PM

1. it's kinda dirty, but i heard they're cleaning up (or trying to) for the olympics, even tho they're not for a few years.
2. and beware of crossing streets and cabs.
(they have "i survived a ny cab ride" t-shirts for a reason)

7/8/2004 7:16:42 PM

^ the Olympics are going there for sure and its not dirty at all...no more so then downtown Raleigh or Charlotte is...stay in Queens/Brooklyn/Staten Island for cheaper and take the subway into Grand Central or Times Square

goto Little Italy (subway to Spring Street) for food, WTC site, Rockefeller, eat at Times Square, catch a baseball game (mets or yanks -- both fans kick ass), central park, museums if your into it...my biggest piece of advice is take advantage of the bars staying open till 4 on Fri/Sat

7/8/2004 7:21:39 PM

1) It's gotten much cleaner since the old days.
2) Don't look like a tourist, and don't wear things that stand out or scream that you might be loaded with valubles.
3) Cross with the lights, and in the crosswalks. In NYC, drivers will stop on a dime (and risk their cars) to avoid hitting you in the crosswalk, but anywhere else, and it's everyman for himself, and the car has the upper hand.
4) Never get into an unlicensed cab
5) Don't walk arround Harlem with a sign that says "I hate n*ggers"
6) Keep your head about you, and you'll be fine.

7/8/2004 7:23:17 PM

Don't laugh but, stay at the Manhattan YMCA (my wife and I did. We always stay at YMCAs around the world. We stayed at the one in Hong Kong and it was cheap and nice)... it's in a good part of town, and it's cheap.

Find a magazine called, "Time Out". It gives all of the happenings. You'll find tons of things to do. Get a book on architecture and do an achitecture tour. We saw all of the Art Deco lobbies in town. Have drinks on top of the Chrysler Building ...

7/8/2004 7:38:15 PM

^ on staying in places, I stayed at the Jazz on the Town Hostel, which is located on 38th and 3rd, if I remember correctly. $19/ night and good bedding. New York is a blast, but like said before, try not to stick out. Don't be the typical north carolinian who takes 2 hours to cross the street, cross with the crowd and blend in. If you do that, it won't be a problem at all

7/8/2004 7:41:44 PM

Times Square and Rockefellar Center are awesome at night and well within walking distance of one another. I stayed at the Sheraton(i think it was a sheraton...) overlooking times square (next to MTV studios) and it was amazing. They have a rotating cocktail lounge at the top of the Sheraton(if it is a sheraton...). Radio City Music Hall is right there also along with a TON of awesome stores, definitely have a map and do some resaerch on local shops before you go. Ground Zero... I stayed on the bus, I got out for a minute but had to get back on because as soon as I got off I had 5 people try to sell me shit about 9/11 for their own profit...made me sick. I'm not sure how it is now , this was 2+ years ago... The security around the city was awesome when i was there, but I stayed around Times Square where everything is extremely well lit and I saw a cop about every block. And don't forget your Folex!

7/8/2004 7:44:06 PM

Don't get hit by a taxi.

7/8/2004 7:46:30 PM

go with someone who has been before
dress metrosexual

7/8/2004 8:01:38 PM

go to Dangerfield's for some good comedy
but have your drinks before you go because their drinks are weak and overpriced

if you can afford it, have lunch at the sushi bar at Hatsuhana
but go before noon so you can get a seat

[Edited on July 8, 2004 at 8:05 PM. Reason : mmmm sushi]

7/8/2004 8:04:20 PM

Alright, well, if you haven't lived in a big city and no charlotte and raleigh don't count, you my friend are in for a rude awakening. First off, NYC is nothing compared to anywhere down here; we all know that. It is very fast pace, so you have got to keep up. Secondly, the attitude there is bitter. So get ready for some pushy, rude people. There are some nice people, but few and far between. Thirdly, the expense. You choose NYC, fine... get the cash ready, cause if you are just getting started then harlem might be the place for you... or anywhere on the outskirts of the city.
If you are moving up there you will have plenty of time to see Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Empire State, Statue of Liberty. there is so much to do, you will never get bored. You just walk around and you will find new places. You won't be able to miss Time Square seeing that it is one of the brightest places on earth. Radio City to see shows of course.. You will like the tourism aspect, for sure.
I lived in NYC and moved down here. It is paradise down here compared to up there. My opinion, I would never go back to that place. Some people think it is dirty; it is a city people with millions of people, what do you expect?! And yes, it has cleaned up a bit, but it is a city. Everything down here is prettier and you get a lot more for your money. I think Charlotte is a great place for financing.. banks everywhere. We are the Bank Capital of the US. But if you think NYC is it, then go for it. Good luck. You will have fun, just be careful and don't trust people there like you would down here.
Best Wishes

7/8/2004 8:21:52 PM

if you want to move there from here... NYC will kill you

move to Chicago

7/8/2004 8:23:28 PM

chicago is kinda like a cleaner quieter nyc
i love chicago, but i haven't been there in the winter and i bet it would be too cold for me

7/8/2004 8:29:13 PM

^^^ WOW. when i was in nyc, everyone was friendly. it was the bitter people who were few and far between. i agree with you on most things though, especially expenses. prepare to spend $8 for a beer at a bar. nyc is the greatest city in the world, enjoy your visit.

7/8/2004 8:41:20 PM

Thanks for all the great responses.

Does anyone else have any specific locations that they would suggest staying for a few nights? I'm looking for reasonably affordable, but safe

What do I need to do in order to "survive my cab ride"? May see like a stupid question, but i've never ridden in a taxi anywhere, much less NYC

Why do you say NYC will kill me Snewf?

Thanks

Also:

Does anyone know if there is a train that goes from NYC to upstate New York in the Schenectany(SP?) area?



[Edited on July 8, 2004 at 9:17 PM. Reason : train]

7/8/2004 9:12:48 PM

if you look like a tourist, the cabbies will take advantage of you too

7/8/2004 10:57:00 PM

i could only handle a few days of that place, everyone is in such a rush to go places, i prefer a more laid back vacation

7/8/2004 11:13:17 PM

like a sailing trip

7/8/2004 11:17:38 PM

Avoid taxis at all cost, the subways are great and you can get anywhere in the city for just 1.50 if you are careful. Invest in a good subway map as soon as you get there and spend sometime learning the main routes. The key to surviving NYC is to not only not to look like but not to be a tourist.

Good luck getting a finance job in NYC, I hope that you need people. Its as you know very competitive a definitely one of those areas where credentials mean a lot less than who you know. Wall St is straight up the original "Gentleman's Club" of this country. Don't be hesitant to call in any favors owed you if it's something you're really interested in.

If you do move to NYC, dont' think you are going to live in Manhattan right away...my cousin just moved home because he couldn't afford to pay $1800/month to live in his 3bd/2bt 1200sqft apartment (~12th Ave/42nd...the other roommates paid about 2k/mo ). The cost of living difference is just staggering to anybody who has lived down here for any significant period of time. My brother is ramping up to find a place in Jersey City for when he starts working at the NYMEX in the fall...he'll probably pay something like 800-1k/mo

I don't know where you mean by Schenectany, but the MTA has like 3 Rockland/Orange/Westchester/Duchess county routes and Amtrak goes north to Boston and Albany/Buffalo, so I imagine you can get wherever you need to go.

7/8/2004 11:43:10 PM

In NYC don't expect people to say Thank You, Sorry, etc etc etc like the people of North Carolina. Don't hold the door open for the person following you (They will make you look like a Jack Ass..) ....

7/9/2004 1:21:01 AM

when i was up there, i went to italian restaurant called Carmines. it is very popular italian restaurant. if you go to nyc with ur friends and like italian food, go there !

be ready to walk fast

[Edited on July 9, 2004 at 1:59 AM. Reason : gaddafdeafe]

7/9/2004 1:58:27 AM

Quote :

"$1800/month to live in his 3bd/2bt 1200sqft apartment "

that is fucking cheap

7/9/2004 2:05:13 AM

I lived in the village with a chica for a few weeks. $1000 a month for 375 sq feet. No air conditioning. Gas heat. I barely fit in the shower and I was at my coke weight of about 140.

Also no offense, but it ain't going to be easy to find a finance job in NYC with a degree from NC State. They've got people from real business schools like NYU fighting for the money.

Charlotte is a good suggestion for an entry level job. You'll have a much better chance of succeeding... Just be careful not to get sucked into that elitist attitude that everyone there has.

New Yorkers aren't that rude... at least not Manhattan. Everyone is actually pretty nice/helpful. Stay away from Brooklyn and the Bronx though if you want to keep your lunch money.

7/9/2004 2:15:17 AM

^they don't care what school you go to, as long as it is accredited and you did well in your classes.

7/9/2004 2:29:56 AM

*bullshit*

7/9/2004 2:56:27 AM

^it's true

7/9/2004 3:32:42 AM

nepotism rules our world

7/9/2004 3:34:13 AM

nepotism may rule the world. But I guarantee the person hiring you doesn't care what college you went to.

7/9/2004 3:35:32 AM

run as far far away as possible

7/9/2004 4:01:31 AM

Quote :

"$1800/month to live in his 3bd/2bt 1200sqft apartment"

Quote :

"that is fucking cheap"

i think the $1800 was just his share of the apartment. looks like close to 6k a month for the place.

Quote :

"$1800/month to live in his 3bd/2bt 1200sqft apartment (~12th Ave/42nd...the other roommates paid about 2k/mo )"

7/9/2004 4:26:36 AM

That is still fucking cheap

7/9/2004 4:33:13 AM

Quote :

"go with someone who has been before dress metrosexual "

lmao

stay at the Herald Square Hotel., in room 907 ask for room 907, it has the best veiw of the empire state building you have ever seen...and it's clean and cheap and great location..

7/9/2004 4:38:17 AM

Quote :

" i love chicago, but i haven't been there in the winter and i bet it would be too cold for me "

I was there for a week in early February and froze my nutsac off. Try walking around without gloves up there. Pieces of hail crushing you in the face. It's miserable. The people at the train station thought I was a freak when i was waiting around in a tee-shirt. It's seriously cold there.

I spent a week in NYC without a jacket one time in December(i suck at packing). This was much, much worse.

7/9/2004 6:25:24 AM

^ god Boston was like that all damn winter this year...I went during my Spring Break for 4 days trying to find an apartmentand it snowed the ENTIRE fucking time..

7/9/2004 7:34:34 AM

Go to Macy's. Its really amazing as a dept. store. Just don't use the men's bathroom on the 7th floor at the top of the escalator.

7/9/2004 7:49:37 AM

Quote :

"Secondly, the attitude there is bitter. So get ready for some pushy, rude people. There are some nice people, but few and far between."

I have never encountered this attitude up in New York. We may perceive them bitter, but remember we're just North Carlonians with a lot of different paradigms.

7/9/2004 8:42:58 AM

^what he said. They're nice people too!

Quote :

"prepare to spend $8 for a beer at a bar"

Not true at all. They have places with the same prices as here, or better! If you pay attention you'll be able to find a few open bar nights a month (pay at the door, drink as much as you want).

Keep in mind that NY and NJ have some of the highest living expenses in the country. Not just expensive apt rent around the city, but insurance, taxes, etc. all add up. If you find a job up there it should pay about $10k more than a comparable job down here in NC.

Despite this I still want to live there myself

[Edited on July 9, 2004 at 8:46 AM. Reason : d]

7/9/2004 8:46:21 AM

http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=225665

7/9/2004 8:48:57 AM

There's a place called "The Palace" in North Bergen, NJ.. look it up. last time Iw as there 70bucks a night, across the street from a bus stop that will take you into the heart of the city in 15 minutes.

So much to do there. You can check out the Letterman Show by hanging out around broadway and 54th and looking for people with a clipboard, they are usually giving away extra tickets and it's kinda fun. (and I'm sure Conan but don't know how)

Learn the subway best you can, cheaper and more fun thana cab. (unless you like the thrill of not knowing whether you're going to die or not).

If you drive in the city do what I did my first time : pretend it's not your first time, drive like a NYC'er and you'll be fine and it's fun.

Brings lots of money for tolls and a good CD for the Jersey Turnpike... BORING AS HELL!

7/9/2004 8:50:02 AM

In response about finding a job up there:

I will have a Master's degree in Accounting, and for our program we have to decide what city we want to apply to for all of the big 4, so i won't be moving up there until i have a job in hand, if thats the city I choose.

Either the Hostel or YMCA seem like the best bet as far as cost goes.

Thanks for all the responses.

Also, the subway sounds like a great idea compared to taxis

7/9/2004 8:52:47 AM

1.) Get a subway map and you wont need to worry about cab rides. The subway is the cheapest, fastest, and most effiecient means of travel in NYC.

2.) If you must take a cab, you can make sure that it's licensed by a big medallion that's riveted to the hood. IIRC, that medallion goes for about 100K, and they wouldn't want to risk it by ripping somebody off. Before you get in a cab, know the address where you're going and state it confidently to the cab driver. If he asks which part of the city (he shouldn't need to), you should be prepared to answer that. Sound confident and you'll be fine.

3.) A cheap place to stay in NYC is relative. If you stay in the boroughs the hotels will be a bit cheaper, but then you'll likely be more dependent upon cabs.

4.) When they say downtown in NYC, it's not in the same sense as in most cities like Raleigh. Downtown is Lower Manhattan, Midtown is Middle Manhattan, and Uptown is Upper Manhattan.

5.) For stuff to do, as someone already stated, go to a news stand and pick up a copy of Time Out magazine. They seem to cover everything for all interests.

6.) It's often overlooked because there isn't so much near it, but check out Grant's Tomb if you have the time. It's quite impressive and I don't remember ever seeing any big crowds there.

7.) You can also check out Brother Jimmy's. There are three locations, but the one on the Upper east side is the cool one. Bring something from NC State to hang up in there. There's too much Carolina and Duke shit in there and we need to even things out a little.

I can't think of anything else at the moment. If you have any questions, send me a PM (I grew up there - that's also why I don't have a lot of hotel info to offer).

7/9/2004 9:18:30 AM

yeah, to reemphasize what everyone else said (and i forgot to say above). TAKE THE SUBWAY! Its so much cheaper!

7/9/2004 9:22:49 AM

I've spent a lot of time there, LI, and NJ. People are actually very nice as long as you don't waste their time or come off as having no common sense. Some of my friends would act like idiots and would get called out immediately. Yes, the subway.

I don't know what type of job exactly you're going for, but it DOES matter to an extent where you went to school. I know of 3 people at Goldman Sachs in I-banking from NCSU, but they didn't exactly have mediocre scores/credentials. The vast majority of the bulge-bracket firms are full of people from more prestigious schools, and each firm has its own personality (check out http://www.vault.com). Goldman will check your ego at the door and treat a Harvard guy the same as they would an NCSU guy, but will work you hard. Morgan Stanley expects you to have a massive ego. People at Lehman claim to interview only magna cum laudes. CSFB is the 'friendliest'. Merrill and SSB are higly selective. JPChase is still getting its act together. etc etc. The "Boutiques" are also a good way to get your feet wet. If you're going for more accounting type jobs, you might have a slightly easier time. And although this isn't the late 90s, things are picking up.

Knowing people is critical. Start building relationships asap. Get you resume and face in with all the headhunters up there, they're an overlooked but great resource.

Once you land that job, Manhattan is great, and parts of Brooklyn are pretty awesome. Just as an anecdote, i know a guy whose apt in Brooklyn quadrupled in value in the last 2 years. Its very neighborhood specific.

7/9/2004 10:29:01 AM

Priceline.com

We went there twice for New Year 2004 and 2003. Both times we used priceline to get a hotel, and both times we got the same hotel (Ramada in Queens).

Only use subway. If you need to get to different places the same day, plan a little bit. If one of the offices is in Brooklyn, you may spend 40 minutes getting there, and just as long to get back to Manhattan.

If you walk, don't go much beyond the nothern side of the Central Park. Harlem, you know... Actually, parts of Harlem adjacent to Central Park are more or less safe. But you don't wanna go in too deep.

The Bronx is out of question for someone not familiar with NYC.

7/9/2004 10:38:00 AM

Was just there last weekend. Be sure to visit Ground Zero. I had never been before either, and I was just amazed.

The subway is easy to navigate, though I would suggest buying a metro card right away and just keep refilling it as you need.

We stayed in Tarrytown which was about a 30 min train ride from the city. Gorgeous.

PM me if you want more info on the trip. I also have pics.

7/9/2004 10:47:10 AM

I wasn't impressed with GZ. Did they remove the steel fence? Cuz otherwise there isn't really much to see there.

7/9/2004 11:01:34 AM

Quote :

"Ground Zero... I stayed on the bus, I got out for a minute but had to get back on because as soon as I got off I had 5 people try to sell me shit about 9/11 for their own profit...made me sick"

btw, they don't do this anymore.

Quote :

"People are actually very nice as long as you don't waste their time or come off as having no common sense"

Thats somethign I've noticed down here. Some people are so lacking in common sense that I'm seriously amazing they can survive day to day. Up there they'd be history in less than a week.

7/9/2004 11:18:34 AM

Quote :

"it's kinda dirty, but i heard they're cleaning up"

It's not dirty at all, not since the pre-Giuliani era

7/9/2004 11:22:14 AM