Oct 29, 2012

29.10.12 - 1 comment

Preparing for Hurricanes



Hurricane Sandy
Here are some helpful tips to guide your preparation for emergency situations such as hurricanes:


VEHICLE/Evacuation routes – Be prepared if you need to evacuate

-Fill up your car with gas and inspect it (tires, lights, windshield wipers, etc.) in case you need to evacuate.  Once the power is out many gas stations won’t be open or the lines will be too long!
-Know your evacuation routes.
-Pre-determine your evacuation location – Friends, family, a hotel and communicate to others where you will be.
-Start watching your local news for evacuation route recommendations and updates on the storm.  This will be your best source for information.
-Place important items in your car (documents, laptops, etc.) ahead of time to be prepared.

Preparedness Kits – Emergency Supplies to have at home
-Water – 1 gallon per day per person.  Also, fill up your bath tub and/or sinks for water to wash with or to use to flush.
-Food – 3 days worth of non-perishable food.  You may not be able to heat soups and other canned goods.  Don’t forget a manual can opener!  Don’t forget your pets!
-Blankets, jackets, etc. to keep you warm.
-Cash – go to the ATM.  When the power is out credit cards and ATM machines will not work.
-Radio and batteries to listen for information from the authorities.
-Flashlight and batteries.
-FA kit and medications.
-Hand sanitizer and wipes.
-Cups/plates/silverware.
-Toiletries (toothbrushes/toothpaste, TP, other).
-Candles/matches – flashlights are better and safer but to have some candles as a back-up is a good idea.
-Infant needs – diapers, formula, etc.
-Games/books for older kids.
-Rain gear.

Other Preparation Items
-Map of where your utility shut-off valves are and tools to turn them on/off (Gas, Water, Electric).
-Charge cell phones and other similar devices.
-Identify a safe zone in your home away from windows and potential flooding and if possible exterior walls.
-If you have a generator, test it.  Make sure you have enough gas.  Do NOT operate it indoors!
-Secure outdoor items so they won’t blow around or through your windows.
-Make lists of important phone numbers.
-Communicate to family and friends where you will be if you are going to evacuate.


Sep 30, 2012

30.9.12 - 2 comments

Home Stores


Moving to NYC or renovating your home? 

Decorating your home in NYC is a pleasant but challenging task… 
-Pros: you'll find plenty of options from all over the world at a great price and can buy everything online (hassle-free returns at most times). Your future home will already come with a full kitchen, so you won't have to worry about it.
-Cons: as the square foot in Manhattan is outrageous usually the stores are small and don't carry all the merchandise they offer online. Generally you can't pick up a furniture in the store and the shipping can take up to 20 weeks (!)…

Here are some of my favorite stores:

Kitchen/ Bed/ Bath:
-Bed, Bath & Beyond: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com
-Williams-Sonoma: http://www.williams-sonoma.com
-Sur La Table: http://www.surlatable.com
-Gracious Home: http://www.gracioushome.com
-Bloomingdale's: http://www.bloomingdales.com

Organization:
-The Container Store: http://www.containerstore.com/
-Bed, Bath & Beyond: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com

Furniture:
-Design Within Reach: http://www.dwr.com
-Cheapos: Straight from the crate (http://straightfromthecrate.com) , Ikea (http://www.ikea.com)

Online only:
-Amazon: http://www.amazon.com - they sell anything you can imagine…Subscribe to the $79-per-year Prime and get free-shipping on almost every items (you'll end up buying everything online so you don't have to carry it around NYC…). Usually Amazon has the best prices, so it's really worth if you can wait around 48h to receive the merchandise.
-All Modern: www.allmodern.com

Hardware:
-Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com - also sells appliances, renovation stuff and some furniture.

Bed / Mattress:
-Sleepy's: http://www.sleepys.com


Tip 1: Subscribe to the store's mailing lists to receive coupons. It's worth, believe me.

Tip 2: These stores go on sale during holidays as Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.

 Tip 3: Always check a coupon website (such as retailmenot.com) to save! Coupons in the US are very popular and can save you a lot!


Have fun!

Sep 13, 2012

13.9.12 - 1 comment

Picking a Restaurant / Bar


Open Table
Forget about having a decent meal in NYC without reservation… And be on time because they take it very seriously…
The fabulous (and free) Open Table allows users to search for restaurants and reservations based on parameters including times, dates, cuisine and price range. Users can also receive OpenTable rewards points after dining that can be redeemed for discounts at member restaurants.
Tip: The company also has a great mobile application available for free. It's a must-have!

 Urban Spoon
A website/ app similar to Open Table. You will need this one too.

Restaurants and Bars Reviews
Need help to choose a restaurant or bar? Try out these websites (most of them have mobile apps): 
Urban Daddy - a really funny and free app! I highly recommend it!
NY Mag / free mobile app
Time Out / free mobile app
NY Times / free mobile app

Food Trucks
For those who aren't familiar, there are trucks that drive around and park in the city serving food, desserts and drinks. They have gained in popularity due to the fun of scouting them out and great food! You would be surprised to see the huge lines and the variety of food served (organic, gluten-free, gourmet, desserts, waffles, ice cream, cupcakes, desserts, hot dog, burgers, pizza…). Check the best rated ones (usually the most crowded too, meaning the food will have a good turnover).
Tweat it - free app
Zagat Food Truck finder
Yelp
Food Trucker - paid app
Trux Map - free app

Delivery
Don't feel like going out?
Seamless - online and free app 
GrubHub - online and free app


Bon Appetit!

Sep 10, 2012

10.9.12 - No comments

Neighborhoods - Upper West Side

The Upper West Side neighborhood lies between Central Park (East), the Hudson River (West), West 59th Street (South) and West 110th Street (North). Two subway lines serve it: Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line (1 2 3 trains) and the Eighth Avenue Line (A B C D trains). 
Starting from the South, here are the Points of Interest:

Columbus Circle (southwest corner of Central Park):
- Time Warner Building: The complex hosts The Shops at Columbus Circle (great restaurants, shops and Whole Foods) and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Asiate restaurant is located on the 35th floor and has a great brunch and a floor-to-ceiling view over Central Park. I also recommend MoBar for drinks, and the afternoon tea at Lobby Lounge). It also has the Jazz at Lincoln Center, the world headquarters of the Time Warner corporation and the New York City studio headquarters of CNN.
- Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is a small museum with a lovely gift shop and the Robert Restaurant. 



Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
New York City’s premiere performing arts facility. It is the home of 12 organizations (including the Metropolitan Opera, the NYC Ballet, the NY Philharmonic, the Julliard School, and the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts). It also hosts the NY Fashion Week. Lincoln Center has been featured in several classic New York movies, including Black Swan, Ghostbusters, Moonstruck, The Producers… Lincoln Ristorante is a great option before and after the concerts.
Tip: If you are 21-35 years old you can buy discount tickets at LCT. 



The Dakota
Most famous for being the building where John Lennon was gunned down in 1980, the Dakota is a luxury apartment building overlooking Central Park at 72nd Street. Famous residents of the building have included John Lennon and Yoko Ono (still lives there), Lauren Bacall, Leonard Bernstein, Judy Garland, just to name a few. The Dakota was also prominently featured in the Roman Polanski thriller Rosemary’s Baby. 



American Museum of Natural History
Located at Central Park West x 79th Street, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world. It became even more popular after "Night at the Museum" film. 



Riverside Park 
It's a narrow 4- mile strip of land along the Hudson River, from 72nd to 158th Streets. More info: Riverside Park

 Movies
A lot of films were shot in the UWS, such as West Side History, Ghostbusters, Fatal Attraction, You've Got Mail, Eyes Wide Shut, Panic Room, Die Hard, Borat, Home Alone 2, I am the Legend, MIB II, Night at the Museum, Rosemary Baby, Spider-Man I and II, Vanilla Sky, Sex and the City, and so on… Check it out !

 Celebrities
Here are some famous people who live in the UWS:
Al Pacino
Bono
Steven Spielberg
Sting
Woody Allen
Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith 
Donald Trump
Tina Fey
Denzel Washington
Cyndi Lauper
Glenn Close
Bill Murray
Matt Damon
Mary J. Blige
Michael J. Fox
Nora Ephron
Steve Martin
Yoko Ono
Diane Keaton
Barbara Streisand
Better Midler
Anna Paquin
Mia Farrow
Jerry Seinfeld

And here is a map with my favorite spots in UWS:


See Upper West Side - Best From Expats in a bigger map

Enjoy!

Sep 9, 2012

9.9.12 - No comments

Taste Williamsburg




An enthusiastic Brooklyn friend introduced us to a food fest of the local best restaurants, with live music and waterfront views: Taste Williamsburg.
You buy a ticket and get 6 food tastes and 4 drinks. Each restaurant has a booth and serves small portions of their specialty (pasta, seafood, meat, ice cream…). Cafe Morgador, Fabbrica, Dumont & Dressler, The Bedford, The Meatball Shop were awesome!
Enter Taste Williamsburg and subscribe their mailing list.
Here is a video of last year's edition: Taste W 2011

Cheers!

Sep 3, 2012

3.9.12 - 1 comment

Tips for Tipping



There are two main hidden costs when visiting or living in NYC: 
- Sales Taxes (8.875%, not shown in the product's labels, being the City's tax 4.5% + State tax of 4% + the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District surcharge of 0.375%). 
- The other one is Tipping. Tourists and newcomers are always alarmed by the abusive amount of money to be given… But quite often the tip is the only source of income for service people, so it's important to know when tipping is expected and how much to properly tip:

Bars and Restaurants: 
- Service: 15- 20%. The locals usually pay 2 times the Tax shown in the bill (2 x 8,875%) = 17.75% (see picture above).
- Bartender: $1/ drink
- Bathroom Attendants: $1
- Coat person: $1
- Catering Halls: weddings and other events: 15%

Taxis: 15 - 20%

Beauty Salon: 15% (and they get mad if you tip in coins…)

Hotels:
- shuttle bus driver: $1
- Bellhop: $1 per bag
- Maid: $1/ night
- Room Service: $15%

Holiday Tipping (be prepared to spend $$$, Ho Ho Ho…):
- Apartment Building Superintendent: $100 - $200 (less if you tip throughout the year).
- Apartment Doorman/Concierge: $75-$150 each. Those who serve you more should get a bigger tip.
- Apartment Building Handyman And Porters: $20 - $30 each (broad range: $10 - $75)
- Apartment Building Elevator Operators: $15-40 each
- Parking attendants: $40 each
- Cleaning lady / Housekeeper: 1 or 2 weeks pay
- Full time nanny: 1 or 2 weeks pay
- Regular babysitter: $25 - 50
- Regular dog walker: 1 week pay

citidex.com, examiner.com

Aug 29, 2012

29.8.12 - No comments

Taxis, Subway, Buses, Rental Cars, Limos, Zipcar…



Subway and Buses
The fastest and cheapest way to get around is using the subway or buses. The Metrocard is valid for both and can be purchased at the subway station's vending machines. The subway is faster but the buses are cleaner and you can enjoy the view… Each ride costs $2.25 and you get free subway-to-bus, bus-to-bus or bus-to-subway transfer within 2 hours of paying your fare. Here are the options:
- Pay-Per-Ride: the more you ride, the less each ride costs, because you get a 7% bonus on purchase of $10 or more. Consider this one if you take the subway occasionally, as the ticket is valid for several months;
- 7- Day Unlimited: Consider this one if you take more than 14 rides a week ($29);
- 30- Day Unlimited: Good if you take more than 50 rides a month ($104).

Tip 1: Every subway station has at least 2 entries: Uptown and Downtown (some stations have 2 for each, one on each corner). Pay attention because at the smaller stations there is no communication between the lines once you get in, so if you entered the wrong one you will have to go out and pay twice. And if you are using an Unlimited Metrocard you will have to wait for 18 minutes to swipe it again at the same station...
Tip 2: The subway lines are located under major avenues, and their trains go in the same direction as the cars on a two-way street. For example: Under 8th Ave/ West End Ave is located the A-C Lines. If you face downtown, the subway entries on the right side of the Avenue go Downtown. The entries on the left side go Uptown. This makes easier to get into the wright entry and also helps when you leave the station.
Tip 3: There are a lot of apps about subway maps. I usually use Google Maps in my iPhone or MTA Subway Time but I also like Embark NYC because it works offline (and it's free). But if you prefer real maps, the Streetwise Maps are the best.
Tip 4: Every subway line has Local and Express tracks. Pay attention to the color of the dot representing the station on the map. The Black dots denote stations that receive only local trains, i.e., those that make every stop along the line. Stations marked with white dots receive both local and express service; express trains stop only at select stations so they are faster if you are traveling a long distance. 
Subway map- MTA


Yellow Cabs
Usually they drive really bad and are always talking on the phone...
The taxi is available if just the "taxi" sign is lit. If the off- duty sign is on it means he is going to change shift and has no obligation to take you. Most of the time they stop and ask you where you wanna go, and if your destination is in the same way as theirs, they will take you, but you may have to pay for the ride in cash (don't forget the 15% - 20% tip).
It's really difficult to find an available taxi on rainy days, as well as during the shift changes (from 4pm to 7:30pm).
The meter starts at $2.50 and goes up 50¢ per 1/5 mile or 2 minutes (if the traffic is slow). There is a weekday surcharge of $1 between 4pm and 8pm, and a 50¢ surcharge from 8pm to 6am.
There is a flat rate to and from JFK airport of $45.00. Newark ride is on the meter with a surcharge of $15.00. All cabs accept credit cards (that annoying screen in front of you is used for that. You enter how much you wanna tip, press ok, then swipe the card in the small device next to it. By the way, you can mute it by touching the volume button). 
It is against the law for a taxi cab driver to refuse a person based on race, disability, or a passenger's requested destination in New York City. A taxicab driver is required to drive a passenger to any destination in the five city boroughs. You can make a refusal complaint by calling 311. Just make sure you have the cab's medallion number. Do ask for and keep your printed receipt.

Gypsy Cabs
The official taxis are yellow, but don't be surprised if you hail a cab on the street and a black car approaches you. Black cabs don't have license to work as taxis, so they are illegal. They work by appointment (limo service companies) but when they are free they pick up passengers. If you chose to ride with them make sure to negotiate the rate before entering the car and to pay in cash, as they usually don't carry a credit card machine. You can also hire them via Uber (see in Limos).

Rental Cars
Don't even consider about renting a car. It's really tough to park in the city, and the parking lots are expensive (it's better to catch a cab). It's worth only if you are planning to travel or to go to an Outlet (and don't wanna go by bus). The main companies have great iPhone apps.
Tip for Expats: Usually you get cheaper fares renting it with your foreigner's driver license.

Limos
It's hassle free… A lot of companies work by appointment. I use them when I have to go to the airport during yellow cab's shift changes. I've used Limos , Groundlink and Carmel (all of them have great booking iPhone apps, but sometimes it is more expensive if you book via app than through the website, don't ask me why!). Another great option is to sign up in Uber so you can hire those black cabs I've mentioned above (via app) when they are free without having to negociate the rate. As there are lots of them it's usufull especially during the shift changes.

Zipcar
Another option is the car sharing system of Zipcar. I've never used it but sounds interesting…

Aug 26, 2012

26.8.12 - 2 comments

Getting to know Manhattan

I'll start with the city I'm living in since November of 2011:


Photo courtesy of Nelson Mattioli Leite


MANHATTAN



Let's start with History and Curiosities (just a little bit)…
Manhattan is one of the 5 boroughs of New York City (the others are the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island) and its population is 1.6 mi (8 mi along with the other boroughs). Lenape Indians lived here when the Dutch settled, in 1625, and sold the land for goods worth about US$ 24 (!). They had named it Manna-Hata ("islands of many hills") and the Dutch named it New Amsterdam.
In 1674 the Treaty of Westminster was signed ceding it to England, who named it New York after the English Duke of York.
The dutch people originally settled below what is now 14th street to the Southern tip (close to Ellis Island, where the immigrants entered the country in the 19th century).
Manhattan connects with New Jersey and the other boroughs through lots of tunnels and bridges.

How to walk around as a local:
The island has a fabulous grid system, dated from 1811, that makes it really easy to locate anything above the 14th street (below that the streets have names and some are winding, so it gets more difficult). The street numbers increase from south to north, 220th being the last one (above that is the Bronx). The avenue numbers increase from east to west (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Lexington, Park, Madison, 5th, 6th... and so on). Above midtown some avenues change names: 8th Ave becomes Central Park West, 9th Ave turns into Columbus Ave, 10th Ave is Amsterdam Ave and 11th becomes West End Avenue.
Broadway is the only one that runs from northwest (Bronx) to southeast (Bowling Green), crossing a lot of avenues. In each intersection there is a landmark/ square/ subway station:
- Amsterdam Ave, at 72nd: Verdi Square;
- Columbus Ave, at 65th: Lincoln Square;
- West End Ave, at 59th: Columbus Circle;
- 7th Ave, at 42nd: Times Square;
- 6th Ave, at 34th: Herald Square (Penn Station);
- 5th Ave, at 23rd: Madison Square (being the 5th on the west side and Madison Ave on the east side of this park);
- Park Ave: Union Square

The Fifth Avenue, which runs along Central Park on the east side, is the dividing line between East and West. Street signs are written to include whether it is East (E) or West (W), such as 45th W and 45th E.
The address numbers begin at the Fifth and increase as you head to either sides. Even streets run east and odd streets run west. There are some two way main streets: 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 72nd, 86th, 96th... (notice that usually is the street where Broadway crosses an Avenue).

Tip 1: New York is a walking city (so leave your Manolos, Louboutins and Jimmy Choos at home). Twenty blocks equal about a mile (1.6 Km). It takes approximately 1 minute to walk each block between the streets and 3 between the avenues. Good to know to calculate the time between your current location and your destination.

Tip 2: Memorizing the way each avenue runs helps you to locate Downtown and Uptown easily. This is really good when you reach the surface leaving the subway. Otherwise you might walk in the wrong direction. Of course a tourist doesn't have to do that, rsrsrs.
1st  Ave:  Uptown;
2nd Ave: Downtown;
3rd Ave:  Uptown;
Lexington Ave: Downtown;
Park Ave: Uptown and Downtown;
Madison Ave: Uptown;
5th Ave: Downtown;
6th Ave: Uptown;
7th Ave: Downtown;
8th Ave: Uptown;
9th Ave: Downtown;
10th Ave: Uptown;
11th Ave: Downtown.




See in a bigger map

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