<p>I spend the last 6 years of my life in Texas. Now, I’m headed for school in NYC. Please give me some opinion/advice on the winter and the clothing I will need for winter (and which winter clothes to to buy in TX and in NYC).</p>
<p>It will also be appreciated if you can give a tit-bit of the the lifestyle/life experience in NYC. I spend the past two years at a spread out-public university campus with trees and squirrels in a small city in Texas. My family house is in the city Houston. When I visited NYC, I did not feel in love with it, but I’m going to give it a shot, and transfer if it does not work out.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for your comments and feedbacks-
ar</p>
<p>New York has four seasons, which means you’ll need clothing for very hot, coolish, and bitter cold. Most importantly, you will need a pair of sturdy walking shoes as it is definitely a walker’s city. Buy a great big golf umbrella, because those cheap little totes blow inside out after about one block of wind. Every corner trash can is full of broken, inside-out umbrellas during rainstorms.</p>
<p>Lots of people in NY are from somewhere else, and you’ll probably find things about the city you love (and things you hate). My advice is to find people you like and activities you want to try and do them. There is literally something for everyone in NYC. There is no NYC lifestyle, except the above-mentioned walking, and people tend to be tolerant. New Yorkers tend to be helpful to those who are lost, hurt, or in other dire straits.</p>
<p>You will arrive in warm weather. If you can, wait to buy your new clothes until you get to New York. There are great bargains at the big department stores and you want to see what everyone else is wearing.</p>
<p>Texas fashion is not New York City fashion…ahem.</p>
<p>For walking in New York winters and curb puddles, look for a pair of very comfortable lined boots with a rubber sole.</p>
<p>I lived in New York as a young student, as a young architect and again as a young parent. The earlier stays without kids were the best. </p>
<p>What a great experience. Get out and see the galleries, the museums, the parks, the architecture, the concerts, the beaches and the people. You should have the time of your life.</p>
<p>Life is great in NYC, but most New Yorkers share the same traits. Most New Yorkers don’t like to be slowed down. Don’t block others by idly standing in the street, it can be really annoying. People have places to go, things to do. New Yorkers in general don’t like tourists either because their culture is usually very different.</p>
<p>Also NYC is not just manhattan, NYC is Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. So explore all the boroughs :]</p>
<p>Houston is definately a small city compared to NYC. In NYC you’re going to find a lot of diversity, a lot of people, a lot of dirt, a lot of everything. Learn the subway. It’ll become your best friend and your worst nightmare. Fare is $2, probably going to increase again.</p>
<p>Get to know the best places to shop & hang out & study. The biggest library is the central Manhattan library at Bryant Park. Shopping is great at Soho (small boutiques), Broadway (famous for cheap perfume), Queens Center Mall (newly renovated and includes most stores, except A&F, Hollister and some other stuff), dont go to Manhattan mall… it is crap.</p>
<p>on a related note I’m going to be visiting NYC in July. The guidebooks focus on Manhattan but as Chocolateisgood mentions there are 4 other boroughs. Does anyone have tips on places to see in them? I’m sure the OP would be interested, too, so I don’t feel like I’m hijacking the thread ;)</p>
<p>Ummmm…I disagree Choc–and so do the reporters who did a study for Reader’s Digest. New Yorkers are friendly–in a brash, humourous sort of way. You’ll get directions–and a wisecrack.</p>
<p>Cheers, I never said New Yorkers are unfriendly. That would be dissing myself. What exactly are you disagreeing with? </p>
<p>Queens = Queens Center mall (clothing shops, eating, electronics… just a regular nice mall), Flushing Main St (Dominated by Chinese & Korean people. Best bakeries!! Chinese bakeries are always cheaper than the Korean ones. Like a nice pastry is $0.80 yummaaaay. Bubble tea, DDR, Pump, Morning Glory stuff. All the Asian stuff is here. </p>
<p>Brooklyn = Personally I don’t like it. A lot of the places I’ve visited are dirty =/ Unfortunately. However its a bit cheaper than Queens, and way cheaper than Manhattan! Fulton St. Mall, Juniors (super famous cheesecake place… ahhh sooo gooOd), Kings Plaza Mall.</p>
<p>Staten Island = … NYers consider it a garbage dump, because that is literally what it is Lol very different environment compared to the rest of NYC. Ehh What is here? Nothing much. Oh, there is an Abercrombie & Fitch however…</p>
<p>The Bronx = Don’t like coming here So I don’t, hahahaa.</p>
<p>If you come in July I just hope you bring some very light clothes & a good umbrella to carry around cause its going to be super humid, hot, and probably out of nowhere its going to rain like crazy.</p>
<p>the bronx is ok i visit a lot…in fact i fell right on my face in the middle of a cross walk walking to the movie store w/ my aunt a few weeks ago…My aunt and Cousin who is my age live there and my dad runs a party rental company there both not far from eachother all 3 of them grew up there plus 4 other siblings of my dads and aunts…infact my Aunt and cousin lived in the same apartment my aunt and dad lived in w/ there siblings and parentstill my cousin was in 8th grade. But its still crummy</p>
<p>Manhattan= lots to do…go to soho…drop a ton of money if u want…orrrrr not</p>
<p>Staten Island= one big dump only time i go there was when i drove to the dc/maryland and we had to get to NJ From my old house on long island and the lastpoint(something like that) bridge was the best way to get to jersey</p>
<p>Quenns=very interesting…queens bus to my school is packed! so basically the kids who live in queens r ■■■■■■■(literally were all speds)</p>
<p>Brooklyn=dont know a lot about…even though i live on Long Island from what i heard thats a good thing</p>
<p>Central Park ends at 110th street and Morningside Heights is from about 110th street to 125th street, so it is northwest of Central Park. I’m not sure how safe Central Park is that far north, it’s probably safe but I would ask other students first. If you go south of 100th street Central Park is fine. NYC is so much fun, it’s a great place to experience. NYC is the shopping capital of the world as far as I am concerned. I don’t know if you are male or female or what your clothing budget is so it’s hard to advise you what clothing to buy, so wait until you get to NY and then buy it there. When you arrive it will be hot, and winters can get pretty cold so you will need to be prepared for a range of temperatures.</p>
<p>One of my favorite places to go when I was living there was The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. Cool, quiet, green and leafy, it’s a branch of the Metropolitan museum devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe. Lovely flower and herb gardens. It’s north of Morningside Heights, but not that far. It’s been too long since I lived in NY and I don’t remember if there’s public transit access. Probably some current NY res will answer that soon. </p>
<p>Brooklyn’s not so bad, but I’m not sure there’s an overwhelming reason to visit unless you have friends living there, or you want to gaze at the Manhattan skyline from a different perspective (Brooklyn Heights). You can take a subway down to the South Street Seaport and view Brooklyn from there. Might be close enough.</p>
<p>I second the Cloisters recommendation and, at least when I used to go years ago, it was accessible by public transit. I grew up in NYC (Manhattan) and lived there several years after college and never owned a car there. </p>
<p>As for Brooklyn, I suggest the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park.</p>
<p>I have a New Yorker desk diary, which has the advantage of having NY subway and train maps in it. It also keeps me organised. :p</p>
<p>As for the pickles - if the spoon-under-lid trick doesn’t work, just open it. (Okay, okay, I know that I’m the only girl in the world who can open pickle jars. ) The trick to opening jars if you aren’t male or manly is this: get a tight, tight grip; wrist straight; elbow out (arm should be parallel to your torso); jar near opposite hip; and use your shoulder. A lot of people make the mistake of trying to open a pickle jar with their wrist or elbow (jar held in front of stomach and using either joint to twist), but you get the most power from your shoulder. </p>
<p>I’m a strong woman, but I have the wimpiest hands and wrists. It’s all in the shoulder.</p>
<p>If you’re in NYC, you should buying your pickles at the local Jewish deli, anyway. The technique: fold back the hinged barrel lid. Take one of the little waxed paper baggies in your left hand, and with tongs in right hand, seize pickle and place in baggie. Return tongs to storage space, and close barrel lid.</p>
<p>Staten Island = … NYers consider it a garbage dump, because that is literally what it is Lol very different environment compared to the rest of NYC. Ehh What is here? Nothing much. Oh, there is an Abercrombie & Fitch however</p>
<p>There is a botanical garden, the only Chinese Scholar’s garden in America, a center for Tibetan Art, a restoration of a Revolutionary era village, a ferry, a fort from the Revolutionary war, several nice beaches, the largest park in New York City, a zoo featuring the largest reptile house in the US. Oh, and no garbage dump. Sorry to disappoint you, but it closed years ago.</p>
<p>My D#1 went to NYU and the first thing she ordered in the summer before was UGG boots. They were comfortable in all types of weather. Waterproof them, for sure. Order extra inserts in the beginning because they tend to get pretty icky since they aren’t worn w/socks. I vote no on the golf umbrella theory–they are too big for NYC sidewalks. Get a good, small umbrella that fits in your book bag. You must be at Barnard or Columbia, right? Upper west side is great. Serendipity II for frozen hot chocolate & movie stars. Riverside Park (think “You’ve Got Mail”). Urban Outfitters for gloves & sweaters. Century 21 for designer clothes cheap (way downtown). Northface coats. Chelsea Pier. Cheer up. Enjoy the city. Don’t decide to transfer before you give it a real chance. Good luck.</p>
<p>I haven’t been there in a long time, but Morningside Park which is adjacent to Columbia University used to be beautiful. I heard that it is safe, but like anywhere in a big city, you must learn to be streetwise. As a newbie to NYC, I would try to go places with another person until you know the “lay of the land” so to speak. </p>
<p>NY winters can be cold, wet, snowy, whatever… get comfy waterproof shoes, sweaters, a great winter coat, a small umbrella. Summers are humid, but definitely not like Houston!! </p>
<p>Once you get to know NYC, you fall in love with it, I’m convinced. Ask directions if you need, but it’s a fast paced city and sometimes people don’t stop, but it’s okay. It’s a city worth exploring and experiencing… you’re going to LOVE it, I hope.</p>
<p>Any more questions, I’ve grown up in NYC so always feel free to PM me w/ any sort of specifics.</p>
Lol very different environment compared to the rest of NYC. Ehh What is here? Nothing much. Oh, there is an Abercrombie & Fitch however…</p>
So I don’t, hahahaa.</p>
) The trick to opening jars if you aren’t male or manly is this: get a tight, tight grip; wrist straight; elbow out (arm should be parallel to your torso); jar near opposite hip; and use your shoulder. A lot of people make the mistake of trying to open a pickle jar with their wrist or elbow (jar held in front of stomach and using either joint to twist), but you get the most power from your shoulder. </p>