Asian tourists are my favorite.
If you are of an Asian ethnicity or have friends who are Asian, please don't be offended. I have many Asian friends myself, and I mean no disrespect by stereotyping this particular people group... However, for my purposes here, the best way to explain my amusement is to use broad generalizations.
That's not even the whole point of this blog... That's just the early disclaimer that I'm not prejudiced.
Last night I was determined to see the new musical The Book of Mormon. I was at the lottery by 4:30, and when I didn't win, waited an hour in the Standing Room Only line where I missed the chance by 3 people in front of me... Major bummer. So then I tried to get tickets for War Horse, but they were sold out too. At this point I was bound and determined to see a show, so I stopped at the first theatre I came to: the Addams Family...
I still can't believe I actually bought a ticket for that show. HOWEVER, I wouldn't have traded the evening for the world. About 15 minutes to curtain, all of the seats around me are completely empty. UNTIL a group of 30 or so high school students file into the seats in front, beside, and around me. Oh my stomach dropped. I just knew it was going to be an evening of texting and chatter, and I don't put up with that during a live show.
Not long after they filed in, I found myself engaged in very slow, meticulous conversation with the boy beside me and the two girls in front of me. I found out they were visiting from Korea, and spoke very little english, but they loved my blonde hair and blue eyes. They asked why I was in the city, and I explained that I am an actor. When they heard that, their faces lit up and the started to chatter amongst themselves. They each reached out to shake my hand and started exclaiming "You famous!" "You take picture with me!"
As much as I tried to explain that I was not famous, and I did not, in fact, know Brooke Sheilds, there was no dampering their spirits. During intermission I must have taken twenty+ pictures with my "adoring fans" in the lobby, and signed as many, if not more autographs. Some of the other theatre patrons started to inch their way towards the group, thinking that I might be a celebrity they didn't quite recognize.
It was hysterical... At least I thought so... I hope you do too...
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Q&A
Life in Manhattan is very different from life I’ve experienced anywhere else. Many things are easier in Manhattan: transportation, exposure to art- both visual and performance, entertainment. Many things are more difficult than I would have expected: laundry, grocery shopping, things of that nature. I’ve noted some of the simple questions I’ve been asked, or that I’ve asked myself, that aren’t so simple to answer in New York…
Is there a Walmart nearby? No… To get to Wally World I would have to take a train downtown, transfer to another train that would take me to the path train, then take a bus. In a perfect world, it would take me an hour and a half, but if I were to miss one bus or subway train, the minutes would start adding up and it could be a three hour adventure just to make it to the front door… Then I would have to get back. It’s not worth it. There is, however, a Target about 35 blocks from me, so that works out nicely.
What do you do for fun? What do you NOT do for fun?? There are so many things to see and do! Movie theatres are expensive, but it’s definitely an experience. The Harry Potter midnight premier at Lincoln Center was an absolute madhouse and I loved it. I’ve been to midnight premiers before, but I’ve never seen lines wrap around an entire block four times. There’s an overwhelming amount of wonderful restaurants, and I wish I could eat at every one of them; however I don’t have the time, the money, or the stomach for that. Central park is also a wealth of entertainment opportunities. Whether you want to have a picnic, see the opera, experience Shakespeare, throw a Frisbee, or go for a jog, Central Park is where you want to be. There are also museums, Broadway shows, shopping, libraries, and plenty of sights to be seen.
Have you found sweet tea?
First, I’m not much of a sweet tea drinker anyway, but when I was at the Mississippi Picnic (back during my 2nd weekend here) McAllister’s had huge cups of sweet tea, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. McDonald’s claims to have sweet tea, but I don’t really even want to bother. There are some wonderful tea places in the area though. I was introduced to this delightful little tea shop near my church called Alice’s Tea Cup. It is all decked out in Alice in Wonderland themed paintings and wall fixtures, and the iced berry tea I had there was delicious! They also have incredible scones. I’ve become slightly addicted to scones since I tried them a few months ago. YUM!How does a date work? Does a guy pick you up, or meet you there?
I still don’t really know about this one. I’ve been on a couple of dates, and it seems to be the general consensus that the guy lets you know when and where to meet, and gives directions if needed. After you’ve enjoyed the date, he will either walk you to the nearest subway station and make sure that you can get back, or commute with you to your local stop so he knows you can get home safely. That’s been my experience anyway… Others may be different.Are you safe?
Manhattan is one of the safest cities in the world. I have never felt threatened or uncomfortable. Granted, I’m always very aware of my surroundings, I take busses instead of subways at night, and I call my mom if I’m walking by myself late at night. People tend to keep to themselves for the most part, and I live in a very family-oriented part of town.Laundry: how does that work?
I wish I had a laundry room in the apartment. A lot of apartments do. However, when I want to wash clothes, I have to go to a Laundromat. I’ve found a nice little place about a block and a half from my apartment that is very reasonably priced and pretty quick. You can have laundry picked up, washed, and delivered for you, but it’s a little more expensive, and I don’t really want strangers touching my stuff.What do you miss about home?
Of course I miss my family like crazy. Mom came to visit me last week, and that was incredible! (That deserves a whole blog in itself) I miss Montevallo sometimes- especially my buddies, but it’s nice to hear from them on facebook or texts. I miss being in a show. Granted I’m doing a lot of career-oriented stuff still: taking classes, going to workshops, watching other performances, making connections… but it’s just not the same as being in rehearsals or getting ready for a show. I’m really excited to start working on Pippin. Sometimes I crave Sonic, and I really missed Chik-fil-a until I was told there’s one at NYU so I’m going to try to get a chicken sandwich before too long.Groceries:
That’s not really a question, but it’s definitely worth addressing. I love Trader Joe’s. It’s a grocery store that sells its own brand so it’s a lot less expensive than most around here. Groceries are RIDICULOUS! A box of cereal cost me $6.78 the first week I was here. That’s just not right. So Trader Joe’s has been a wonderful alternative. The only drawback: it’s about a 20 minute train ride, and the groceries are usually pretty heavy on the bus-ride back home. I’m super excited though, because they just opened a Fairway on 86th street – just 3 blocks from my apartment! I haven’t been yet, but apparently Fairway is a lot like TJ’s except they have more brands. YAY! I’m excited to check it out.Where can you get a bag of ice?
We had a hard time answering this one at a going-away party I went to last week. There’s no gas station down the road with ice coolers. The grocery stores don’t usually have them either. Ice machines in refrigerators are also really rare. Nobody knew where to get ice! The only option we could thing was to send Steve, Meredith’s scientist husband, to his office to pick up some dry ice they use to freeze scientific samples. We decided just to be satisfied with ice-less drinks from the fridge. I found that rather amusing.Ok, I think that’s enough for now. If you have any questions, just let me know and I’ll update.
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Night Life
You all know my general opinion about Manhattan by this time. It is wonderful in almost every way- but that's just during the day. After 9 PM when the sun sets, Manhattan becomes magical.
Those who know me well know that Christmas is my favorite holiday for many reasons: 1) the celebration of my Savior's birth 2) quality time with the family 3) Christmas traditions 4) cold weather (sometimes) 5) food 6)Christmas music 7) twinkling decorations... The list goes on and on, but I'm going to stop at 7 because this is not a Christmas blog.
The sparkling lights of Christmas trees and wreaths and yard displays have always fascinated me. I think that one of the most beautiful sights in the world is a light display reflected on water. Nightime in Manhattan is basically a massive light display that never goes away. And, because it's an island, there are plenty of places to see the reflections of the skyline. I love to just walk around and look up- you seem like less of a tourist if you wait until evening to look upwards. ;)
A few weeks ago, my friend Katherine M and I went to get some Grom Gelato on the Upper West Side, and it was such a beautiful night we decided to walk around. We ended up in Riverside Park, and we found the pier. I looked up and saw the New Jersey skyline right in front of me. I turned around and saw Manhattan's west side towering over me, and all of the millions of lights were reflected in the water around me. Katherine laughed at me because I couldn't speak for a solid minute. I could hardly even breathe!
When I first moved here, Kathryn F took me to a restaurant at the top of the Empire Hotel in Midtown. We spent the whole night dancing under the clouds, overlooking the entire city, never wanting our feet to touch the ground again. I felt like I was in a movie. Places like that shouldn't exist in real life. There were beautiful people everywhere, music was pounding from the speakers, and the rest of Manhattan was shining light on the young New Yorkers enjoying themselves.
A few nights ago, after a trip to the MoMA, a few friends and I decided that it was entirely too early to go our separate ways, so we decided to continue the evening at David's apartment. We picked up a freezer pizza, a block of cheese, some grapes, and some twizzlers, and we headed to TriBeCa not knowing what was in store for us. David took us up to his apartment and gave us a tour. When we got to the livingroom, I almost fainted. The livingroom walls were all windows revealing the most spectacular view of the city I could have imagined. From the couch you could see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge- all illuminated brilliantly. The car lights on the street way below us were zipping around, and the river was catching everything and tossing lights back up at us.
The next evening I found myself in another Financial District apartment with a few other Mississippians. The exclamations of "Oh Heavens" and "Dahd Gum" thoroughly amused our native New York host. We spent some time on the rooftop terrace, enjoying the view and the warm summer air. The whole thing was just phenomenal.
The lights aren't the only reason I love New York after dark. There's just a special energy in the "city that never sleeps" once the sun sets. There are shows, concerts, jazz clubs, night clubs, restaurants, movies, entertainment of all types. Manhattan is truly a fantastic place to live.
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
Those who know me well know that Christmas is my favorite holiday for many reasons: 1) the celebration of my Savior's birth 2) quality time with the family 3) Christmas traditions 4) cold weather (sometimes) 5) food 6)Christmas music 7) twinkling decorations... The list goes on and on, but I'm going to stop at 7 because this is not a Christmas blog.
The sparkling lights of Christmas trees and wreaths and yard displays have always fascinated me. I think that one of the most beautiful sights in the world is a light display reflected on water. Nightime in Manhattan is basically a massive light display that never goes away. And, because it's an island, there are plenty of places to see the reflections of the skyline. I love to just walk around and look up- you seem like less of a tourist if you wait until evening to look upwards. ;)
A few weeks ago, my friend Katherine M and I went to get some Grom Gelato on the Upper West Side, and it was such a beautiful night we decided to walk around. We ended up in Riverside Park, and we found the pier. I looked up and saw the New Jersey skyline right in front of me. I turned around and saw Manhattan's west side towering over me, and all of the millions of lights were reflected in the water around me. Katherine laughed at me because I couldn't speak for a solid minute. I could hardly even breathe!
When I first moved here, Kathryn F took me to a restaurant at the top of the Empire Hotel in Midtown. We spent the whole night dancing under the clouds, overlooking the entire city, never wanting our feet to touch the ground again. I felt like I was in a movie. Places like that shouldn't exist in real life. There were beautiful people everywhere, music was pounding from the speakers, and the rest of Manhattan was shining light on the young New Yorkers enjoying themselves.
A few nights ago, after a trip to the MoMA, a few friends and I decided that it was entirely too early to go our separate ways, so we decided to continue the evening at David's apartment. We picked up a freezer pizza, a block of cheese, some grapes, and some twizzlers, and we headed to TriBeCa not knowing what was in store for us. David took us up to his apartment and gave us a tour. When we got to the livingroom, I almost fainted. The livingroom walls were all windows revealing the most spectacular view of the city I could have imagined. From the couch you could see the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge- all illuminated brilliantly. The car lights on the street way below us were zipping around, and the river was catching everything and tossing lights back up at us.
The next evening I found myself in another Financial District apartment with a few other Mississippians. The exclamations of "Oh Heavens" and "Dahd Gum" thoroughly amused our native New York host. We spent some time on the rooftop terrace, enjoying the view and the warm summer air. The whole thing was just phenomenal.
The lights aren't the only reason I love New York after dark. There's just a special energy in the "city that never sleeps" once the sun sets. There are shows, concerts, jazz clubs, night clubs, restaurants, movies, entertainment of all types. Manhattan is truly a fantastic place to live.
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
I've completed over 1/3 of my summer stay in Manhattan. On one hand, that makes perfect sense. On the other, that number blows my mind. This month flew by. I can't believe it's already in the past. At the same time, I have crammed A LOT into a month, so I feel as though I've lived here much longer.
I must apologize. I feel like I might have unintentionally lead some of you to believe that New York City is a perfect wonderland of fun adventures and neverending excitement. I hate to bust up that little picture, and I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but I hope you understand that truly, as in any situation, the cliche "it is what you make of it" is absolutely relevant.
I love living in Manhattan. I have had some incredible opportunities, met some fantastic people, and have created more memories than I would have ever imagined, but life isn't all sunshine and lollipops (except at Dylan's Candy Bar), so today I would like to shed light on the quirky, less glamorous aspects of life in the city.
It is hot in New York in the summer. I live on an island, so humidity is a given, but I don't know that I was expecting this. Granted, I've spent 21 summers in the sticky humidity of the Deep South, but the difference between these two regions is intense: air conditioning. Almost every room in every building I've been to back home has air conditioning- whether it be central air, or a room unit- so while it may be hot, Southerners generally stay indoors where it is nice and cool..
My apartment has one air conditioning unit. It is in the living room, and we only turn it on when it is absolutely necessary because it jacks up the electricity bill. I am so thankful for the living room AC unit because my skin would have been long since peeled off by the leather couch had we been without. Unfortunately, my bedroom is not AC equipped, and one of my windows doesn't close all the way, so the humidity has a wonderful way of sneaking in and settling. I do have an oscillating fan, but I've definitely had to adapt to a warmer sleeping climate.
There are a lot of germs in New York. Those of you who know me well know that I don't like drinking out of glasses without a straw, and I wash my hands (with soap) as often as I reasonably can. What you've heard is true: it's a dirty city. My feet are basically disgusting by the end of the evening if I wear sandals, and even though I carry hand sanitizer with me and use it every time I get off the subway, I still constantly feel kind of gross.
Public Transportation is both incredible and miserable at the same time. To get to work downtown, I have to walk uptown to catch an express train. It's also hot in the subway stops. It takes about eight minutes to walk from my apartment to the subway stop, which is about the amount of time it took me to get across Montevallo's campus. On the East Side, there is only one train - the 4,5,6. SO if I want to get to the west side, I have two options, take the green line all the way down to midtown and transfer to another train that goes across, then to another that goes uptown or downtown or wherever I need to be. The other option is the cross-town bus. Busses are slow. I have a love/hate relationship with busses.
Let's see. GROCERIES! Groceries are pretty darn expensive in Manhattan. I bought a box of Special K Fruit & Yogurt cereal a few weeks ago, and it was over six dollars! Fortunately, I have found Trader Joe's for groceries, so I can get much more reasonably priced food (even if I have to commute 30 minutes- which, if you think about it, is not terribly different from driving to Walmart in Calera from UM, except I don't have a car).
Also, they are doing some heavy-duty construction on 2nd Avenue near my apartment. It is rather a strange phenomenon to have a phonecall temporarily interrupted due to the excessive noise of a jackhammer. I'll be very glad when that is all over.
I'm sure there are other quirky things about living in the city that frustrate me; OR if they don't now, they will eventually. However, that's about everything I can think of at this moment. I hope you see that it's not ALL fun and games up here - just mostly... Kidding. But there really is something special about Manhattan. I know I'm supposed to be here right now, and I'm pretty positive I'll be here again - next time, for longer than three months.
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
I must apologize. I feel like I might have unintentionally lead some of you to believe that New York City is a perfect wonderland of fun adventures and neverending excitement. I hate to bust up that little picture, and I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but I hope you understand that truly, as in any situation, the cliche "it is what you make of it" is absolutely relevant.
I love living in Manhattan. I have had some incredible opportunities, met some fantastic people, and have created more memories than I would have ever imagined, but life isn't all sunshine and lollipops (except at Dylan's Candy Bar), so today I would like to shed light on the quirky, less glamorous aspects of life in the city.
It is hot in New York in the summer. I live on an island, so humidity is a given, but I don't know that I was expecting this. Granted, I've spent 21 summers in the sticky humidity of the Deep South, but the difference between these two regions is intense: air conditioning. Almost every room in every building I've been to back home has air conditioning- whether it be central air, or a room unit- so while it may be hot, Southerners generally stay indoors where it is nice and cool..
My apartment has one air conditioning unit. It is in the living room, and we only turn it on when it is absolutely necessary because it jacks up the electricity bill. I am so thankful for the living room AC unit because my skin would have been long since peeled off by the leather couch had we been without. Unfortunately, my bedroom is not AC equipped, and one of my windows doesn't close all the way, so the humidity has a wonderful way of sneaking in and settling. I do have an oscillating fan, but I've definitely had to adapt to a warmer sleeping climate.
There are a lot of germs in New York. Those of you who know me well know that I don't like drinking out of glasses without a straw, and I wash my hands (with soap) as often as I reasonably can. What you've heard is true: it's a dirty city. My feet are basically disgusting by the end of the evening if I wear sandals, and even though I carry hand sanitizer with me and use it every time I get off the subway, I still constantly feel kind of gross.
Public Transportation is both incredible and miserable at the same time. To get to work downtown, I have to walk uptown to catch an express train. It's also hot in the subway stops. It takes about eight minutes to walk from my apartment to the subway stop, which is about the amount of time it took me to get across Montevallo's campus. On the East Side, there is only one train - the 4,5,6. SO if I want to get to the west side, I have two options, take the green line all the way down to midtown and transfer to another train that goes across, then to another that goes uptown or downtown or wherever I need to be. The other option is the cross-town bus. Busses are slow. I have a love/hate relationship with busses.
Let's see. GROCERIES! Groceries are pretty darn expensive in Manhattan. I bought a box of Special K Fruit & Yogurt cereal a few weeks ago, and it was over six dollars! Fortunately, I have found Trader Joe's for groceries, so I can get much more reasonably priced food (even if I have to commute 30 minutes- which, if you think about it, is not terribly different from driving to Walmart in Calera from UM, except I don't have a car).
Also, they are doing some heavy-duty construction on 2nd Avenue near my apartment. It is rather a strange phenomenon to have a phonecall temporarily interrupted due to the excessive noise of a jackhammer. I'll be very glad when that is all over.
I'm sure there are other quirky things about living in the city that frustrate me; OR if they don't now, they will eventually. However, that's about everything I can think of at this moment. I hope you see that it's not ALL fun and games up here - just mostly... Kidding. But there really is something special about Manhattan. I know I'm supposed to be here right now, and I'm pretty positive I'll be here again - next time, for longer than three months.
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
Friday, July 1, 2011
Top 10 Ways to Look Like a Tourist
In the month that I've been here, I think I've developed a pretty decent sense of New York. While I don't claim to be a New Yorker, I believe I have mastered the art of blending in (in most cases).
So, I've compiled a list of things that separate the obvious tourists from the rest of the city, in hopes that if and when you visit Manhattan, you will be spared the embarassment of tourist blunders.
Granted, everyone in NYC knows that tourists are here every day, and they appreciate the economic revenue tourism generates. It's fine to look like a tourist - unavoidable in many cases, but it is appreciated if you at least attempt not to stick out like a sore thumb.
So, here are the Top 10 Ways to Look Like a Tourist from the eyes of a temporary resident. In no particular order :
10. Wear a cute outfit with bulky tennis shoes
New York women wear heels or sandals. They suffer through blisters, callouses, and dirt to look presentable at all times. Eventually you build up an endurance strong enough to ignore all foot pain. You can tell someone is a tourist even if they are making an effort to blend in by the shoes they are wearing. Heavy duty New Balance running shoes with ankle socks paired with shorts and a decent top of some kind are a dead give-away that you don't belong in the city. THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE: occasionally you will see a business woman in sleek, light-weight tennies on the subway. She's probably been in heels all day long and was smart enough to pack comfy shoes for her commute. SO, tennis shoes are fine if they are not clunky and awkward looking.
9. Pull out a subway map ON the subway.
I don't claim to know every stop of every train, or even the best way to get to a given neighborhood, BUT I've learned to check the subway map BEFORE I leave the privacy of my own apartment. A New Yorker always appears to know where he or she is going. If you pull out a map en-route, you are a tourist. Dead give away. Plan your trip ahead of time, or invest in Google Maps on your phone - New Yorkers are always looking at their phones, so it will be much less conspicuous.
8. Walk together as a family unit- especially with teenagers.
I love seeing families exploring Midtown together. There is nothing wrong with it, unless you're worried about looking like a tourist - which you shouldn't be, because if you're walking with your family, you probably ARE a tourist. There are plenty of families in Manhattan. In fact, I had no idea there would be this many children in the city. There are tons, especially on the Upper East Side. However, you often see small children walking with their mother (or being pushed in a stroller - side note: I hate strollers on the subway), or some elementary schoolers heading home with Dad. It is a rare occasion to see Mom, Dad, and children out on the streets together because in the evenings, when one or both finally get off work and make it home to see the family, it is dinnertime, or just time to be at home enjoying each other's company. As far as I can tell teens in New York are too independent to be seen with their family. They have their own jobs, their own schools, their own friends, and their own lives.
7. Look up
This is my touristy pitfall. New Yorkers have their ipod shoved into their ears, cell phone in hand, a focused stride, and eyes turned down towards the pavement. They are simply trying to get where they are going. If you are looking up at the architecture, taking in the scenery, you are probably a tourist. I'm still a tourist in this sense. The different buildings still fascinate me. I love the jagged angles the skyscapers cut into the sky. I love the ornate carvings or brickwork on some of the older buildings. I love the cathedral-esque churches that explode out of nowhere and don't quite seem to fit in the line up of buildings. I love the creative advertisements on busses, billboards, and even buildings that give everything color. This makes me look like a tourist, and I've accepted it.
6. Meander
New York is a quick paced city. If you are walking slowly, enjoying the day, you are a tourist. And you are probably in somebody's way. Period.
5. Spend more than 10 minutes in Times Square at any given time.
I didn't think it could happen. I swore it wouldn't. It's happened. I dread going to Times Square. I wish Broadway shows were located somewhere, ANYWHERE else. I cringe when I get off the subway and try to squeeze through the fanny packs and cameras carried by people who have no idea where they are going and what they are doing. And I admit, I was one of those people for a very long time. Some tourists never get past Times Square, which is rather sad, because there is so much more city to be seen. New Yorkers try to avoid TS as much as possible. SO, if you're caught in Times Square, you are (more often than not) a tourist.
4. Carry a camera in plain sight
As sad as it is, only tourists take pictures. This is another touristy habit I can't seem to kick. New Yorkers have gotten used to the sights that surround them. They have mental images stored up, and they probably have pictures from when they first moved in. Honestly, pictures don't do the city justice, and stopping to take a picture in the middle of the sidewalk is inconvenient for everyone around you. Granted, it is perfectly acceptable for New Yorkers to take pictures with their friends as any normal Facebooker would. That's different though.
5. Ask celebrities for autographs or pictures
In New York, a celebrity is just another person living life. They are to be treated as such. As hard as it is, you should never approach a celebrity if you want to look like a New Yorker. Just inconspicuously observe from afar and Tweet about it later. If you scream and run up to a celebrity, or whip out your camera to flash a quick picture, you are a tourist.
4. Wear an I <3 NY shirt
Really that goes for any New York apparel other than a Yankees ballcap or a Mets shirt on gameday. The only time you will see a New Yorker with that kind of kitchy trinket is when there is a sudden downpour and they are forced to buy the cheapest and closest umbrella available. At that time, they do not carry said umbrella with pride, but rather attempt to sink into oblivion from embarassment of looking like a tourist. Feel free to purchase these souvenirs, but save them for when you get home.
3. Only walk when the crosswalk flashes green
Only tourists really pay attention to those things. While they are definitely a good guideline for safe travel, if you are stopped at a red hand and there is absolutely no traffic anywhere in sight, you look like SUCH a tourist. Don't try to cross in front of a taxi barrelling down the one-way street to avoid stopping at the red hand, though. That would be dumb. Simply note that if the path is clear, people will cross, and if you wait for the green/white man to signal you to walk, you will probably have been left in the dust of the non-tourists.
4. Stop
If you have to stop for ANY reason, move to the side, as close as you can get to a building. If you stop on the sidewalk, someone WILL bump into you, or curse the day you were born because you got in their way. Treat the sidewalk like a highway. If you get lost or run out of gas, pull over. It's easy. The picture you want to take, or phone call you need to make will be exactly the same 3 feet to your right, and everyone will appreciate your courtesy.
3. Smile at everyone
I'm a smile-er. I like to be happy. I have learned though, that smiling at everyone is creepy. It's perfectly acceptable to smile at someone if you have both witnessed a funny subway event, or if they hold the door open for you, but if you're sitting across from somone on the bus, don't try to make eye-contact and smile. It's just weird. New Yorkers are known for being in their own little world. Accept it and move on. You can smile all you want when you're at work or with your friends.
2. Wear a fanny pack or a backpack
Backpacks are great if you're going to class or taking your laundry to the laundromat. Backpacks are not great for shopping. It is very annoying to be in line behind someone who has to take off her backpack, dig for her wallet, find it, zip up the backpack and swing it back onto her back, pay, get the receipt and do everything again in reverse order. It takes forever, and she looks like a tourist. A large purse is should be more than enough space for your daily needs. Also, you also don't have to clutch your purse to your ribs. Fewer people steal than you might think. Just be aware. Fanny packs should be an obvious no-no. Duh.
1. Know the name of the place you want to see, but not the cross-street
Manhattan can be confusing if you don't know your way around, or you get turned around easily. However, it's pretty manageable once you figure out the grid. Generally, most of the horizontal streets are numbered 1-150+. The vertical avenues are 1-12th with the occasional named street thrown in (Broadway, Lexington, etc). The internet is a brilliant resource for you to use. If you know what you want to see, look up the cross-streets before you head out. A New Yorker is much more likely to point you in the direction of "Crumbs on 52rd and Madison" than "The Crumbs bake shop." It's totally ok to get turned around. People do it all the time, but if you do your research, you'll fit right in. The exception to this rule is downtown, off the grid. It's confusing down there, so if you ask for directions multiple times, don't be embarassed.
Hope you find this amusing and maybe a little helpful.
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
So, I've compiled a list of things that separate the obvious tourists from the rest of the city, in hopes that if and when you visit Manhattan, you will be spared the embarassment of tourist blunders.
Granted, everyone in NYC knows that tourists are here every day, and they appreciate the economic revenue tourism generates. It's fine to look like a tourist - unavoidable in many cases, but it is appreciated if you at least attempt not to stick out like a sore thumb.
So, here are the Top 10 Ways to Look Like a Tourist from the eyes of a temporary resident. In no particular order :
10. Wear a cute outfit with bulky tennis shoes
New York women wear heels or sandals. They suffer through blisters, callouses, and dirt to look presentable at all times. Eventually you build up an endurance strong enough to ignore all foot pain. You can tell someone is a tourist even if they are making an effort to blend in by the shoes they are wearing. Heavy duty New Balance running shoes with ankle socks paired with shorts and a decent top of some kind are a dead give-away that you don't belong in the city. THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE: occasionally you will see a business woman in sleek, light-weight tennies on the subway. She's probably been in heels all day long and was smart enough to pack comfy shoes for her commute. SO, tennis shoes are fine if they are not clunky and awkward looking.
9. Pull out a subway map ON the subway.
I don't claim to know every stop of every train, or even the best way to get to a given neighborhood, BUT I've learned to check the subway map BEFORE I leave the privacy of my own apartment. A New Yorker always appears to know where he or she is going. If you pull out a map en-route, you are a tourist. Dead give away. Plan your trip ahead of time, or invest in Google Maps on your phone - New Yorkers are always looking at their phones, so it will be much less conspicuous.
8. Walk together as a family unit- especially with teenagers.
I love seeing families exploring Midtown together. There is nothing wrong with it, unless you're worried about looking like a tourist - which you shouldn't be, because if you're walking with your family, you probably ARE a tourist. There are plenty of families in Manhattan. In fact, I had no idea there would be this many children in the city. There are tons, especially on the Upper East Side. However, you often see small children walking with their mother (or being pushed in a stroller - side note: I hate strollers on the subway), or some elementary schoolers heading home with Dad. It is a rare occasion to see Mom, Dad, and children out on the streets together because in the evenings, when one or both finally get off work and make it home to see the family, it is dinnertime, or just time to be at home enjoying each other's company. As far as I can tell teens in New York are too independent to be seen with their family. They have their own jobs, their own schools, their own friends, and their own lives.
7. Look up
This is my touristy pitfall. New Yorkers have their ipod shoved into their ears, cell phone in hand, a focused stride, and eyes turned down towards the pavement. They are simply trying to get where they are going. If you are looking up at the architecture, taking in the scenery, you are probably a tourist. I'm still a tourist in this sense. The different buildings still fascinate me. I love the jagged angles the skyscapers cut into the sky. I love the ornate carvings or brickwork on some of the older buildings. I love the cathedral-esque churches that explode out of nowhere and don't quite seem to fit in the line up of buildings. I love the creative advertisements on busses, billboards, and even buildings that give everything color. This makes me look like a tourist, and I've accepted it.
6. Meander
New York is a quick paced city. If you are walking slowly, enjoying the day, you are a tourist. And you are probably in somebody's way. Period.
5. Spend more than 10 minutes in Times Square at any given time.
I didn't think it could happen. I swore it wouldn't. It's happened. I dread going to Times Square. I wish Broadway shows were located somewhere, ANYWHERE else. I cringe when I get off the subway and try to squeeze through the fanny packs and cameras carried by people who have no idea where they are going and what they are doing. And I admit, I was one of those people for a very long time. Some tourists never get past Times Square, which is rather sad, because there is so much more city to be seen. New Yorkers try to avoid TS as much as possible. SO, if you're caught in Times Square, you are (more often than not) a tourist.
4. Carry a camera in plain sight
As sad as it is, only tourists take pictures. This is another touristy habit I can't seem to kick. New Yorkers have gotten used to the sights that surround them. They have mental images stored up, and they probably have pictures from when they first moved in. Honestly, pictures don't do the city justice, and stopping to take a picture in the middle of the sidewalk is inconvenient for everyone around you. Granted, it is perfectly acceptable for New Yorkers to take pictures with their friends as any normal Facebooker would. That's different though.
5. Ask celebrities for autographs or pictures
In New York, a celebrity is just another person living life. They are to be treated as such. As hard as it is, you should never approach a celebrity if you want to look like a New Yorker. Just inconspicuously observe from afar and Tweet about it later. If you scream and run up to a celebrity, or whip out your camera to flash a quick picture, you are a tourist.
4. Wear an I <3 NY shirt
Really that goes for any New York apparel other than a Yankees ballcap or a Mets shirt on gameday. The only time you will see a New Yorker with that kind of kitchy trinket is when there is a sudden downpour and they are forced to buy the cheapest and closest umbrella available. At that time, they do not carry said umbrella with pride, but rather attempt to sink into oblivion from embarassment of looking like a tourist. Feel free to purchase these souvenirs, but save them for when you get home.
3. Only walk when the crosswalk flashes green
Only tourists really pay attention to those things. While they are definitely a good guideline for safe travel, if you are stopped at a red hand and there is absolutely no traffic anywhere in sight, you look like SUCH a tourist. Don't try to cross in front of a taxi barrelling down the one-way street to avoid stopping at the red hand, though. That would be dumb. Simply note that if the path is clear, people will cross, and if you wait for the green/white man to signal you to walk, you will probably have been left in the dust of the non-tourists.
4. Stop
If you have to stop for ANY reason, move to the side, as close as you can get to a building. If you stop on the sidewalk, someone WILL bump into you, or curse the day you were born because you got in their way. Treat the sidewalk like a highway. If you get lost or run out of gas, pull over. It's easy. The picture you want to take, or phone call you need to make will be exactly the same 3 feet to your right, and everyone will appreciate your courtesy.
3. Smile at everyone
I'm a smile-er. I like to be happy. I have learned though, that smiling at everyone is creepy. It's perfectly acceptable to smile at someone if you have both witnessed a funny subway event, or if they hold the door open for you, but if you're sitting across from somone on the bus, don't try to make eye-contact and smile. It's just weird. New Yorkers are known for being in their own little world. Accept it and move on. You can smile all you want when you're at work or with your friends.
2. Wear a fanny pack or a backpack
Backpacks are great if you're going to class or taking your laundry to the laundromat. Backpacks are not great for shopping. It is very annoying to be in line behind someone who has to take off her backpack, dig for her wallet, find it, zip up the backpack and swing it back onto her back, pay, get the receipt and do everything again in reverse order. It takes forever, and she looks like a tourist. A large purse is should be more than enough space for your daily needs. Also, you also don't have to clutch your purse to your ribs. Fewer people steal than you might think. Just be aware. Fanny packs should be an obvious no-no. Duh.
1. Know the name of the place you want to see, but not the cross-street
Manhattan can be confusing if you don't know your way around, or you get turned around easily. However, it's pretty manageable once you figure out the grid. Generally, most of the horizontal streets are numbered 1-150+. The vertical avenues are 1-12th with the occasional named street thrown in (Broadway, Lexington, etc). The internet is a brilliant resource for you to use. If you know what you want to see, look up the cross-streets before you head out. A New Yorker is much more likely to point you in the direction of "Crumbs on 52rd and Madison" than "The Crumbs bake shop." It's totally ok to get turned around. People do it all the time, but if you do your research, you'll fit right in. The exception to this rule is downtown, off the grid. It's confusing down there, so if you ask for directions multiple times, don't be embarassed.
Hope you find this amusing and maybe a little helpful.
Grace be with you,
Lindsey Shea
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