Has New York City captured your imagination with its sparkling night skyline, the endless things to see and do, and the nonstop energetic pulse? As such, for the first-time visitor, navigating the city’s seemingly endless possibilities can understandably feel a bit overwhelming. Here are our 10 ways to blend in as a native New Yorker.
Avoid Times Square
Visiting certain places will automatically label you a tourist. If you’re okay with that, then go, take a selfie and a quick look around. There’s no real reason to be there. It’s an artificially generated portion of a city that neither reflects nor represents the city as a whole.
Walk fast
It is easy to spot the tourists in the city because of how slow and aimlessly they walk. They often walk side-by-side (crowding up the sidewalks) and think the streets of NYC are for leisurely strolls. Nope, not here. Leisurely strolls are for the park, not the sidewalks of this city. Look straight ahead and walk with intention if you want to blend in. If you’re walking slowly, move further to the right so that people in a hurry can pass you.
Manhattan is NOT New York City
When you call Manhattan “New York City” you instantly piss off the other 7 million people who also live in New York City. New York consists of 5 boroughs, Manhattan being just one, but very much the largests and the most well-known. But you should definitely visit other boroughs, too!
Dress appropriately
Most New Yorkers wouldn’t be caught dead wearing an “I <3 NY” T-shirt, or any item of clothing purchased on vacation (such as clothes from Disneyland). Your safest bet is to wear black, dark blue or some shade of grey. When the weather is warmer, white and beige are good choices, but don’t be afraid to show off your style in flattering colors or prints.
Jaywalking is “OK”
New Yorkers – perpetually rushed and just a bit obstinate by nature — jaywalk instinctively, it seems. The act is as natural a part of living here as riding the subway and waiting on line. Jaywalking is illegal but large amounts of people ignore that law in favor of efficiency. It’s also okay (but not legal!) to cross the street when there are no cars coming, no need to wait for the signal to change to walk.
Learn about subway rules
In New York City you are taking “the train”, not subway. Buy a Metrocard from vending machines at the entrance, keep it loaded in your pocket, and master the art of swiping it smoothly through the turnstile. Don’t touch the pole in subway cars with your bare hands. Instead, wear gloves, or just lean on the doors like a local. And don’t ever get in an empty subway car…unless you’re interested in breathing in the foulest stench in creation.
Escalator Etiquette
If you intend merely to take the ride up, stand on the right side of the escalator. DO NOT STAND ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. If you are walking up along with the escalator, you walk on the left side. Once at the top of the escalator, you smartly step off and step aside so that others may get off behind you.
Know your order
Slowing down the line by chatting with cashiers will instantly piss off everyone behind you. Always know your order (sandwiches, pizza, bagels, coffee) before you get to the front of the line. More than anything else, New Yorkers know what they want.
Know how to hail a taxi
Don’t just call a phone number for a cab – by the time it finds you, you probably could have walked to your destination and back. Instead, hail one off the street. Flag one down by stepping off the curb, making eye contact with the driver, and raising your hand slightly (you don’t have to have your arm totally flapping out). When the cab stops, get in quickly. Taxis have a row of lights on top of their cabs. No lights means the taxi is currently engaged. If the two outer lights are lit, the taxi is off duty. If the center light is lit, highlighting a number, the cab is available for service.
Respect people’s time
Everyone here is busy, so if you make an appointment to meet you keep it. When everyone works 100 hours a week time is everyone’s most valuable commodity.
Save the small talk
No how is your day, no what is the weather like… If you don’t know someone and need something, spit it out. Want directions? Cool just ask, but no small talk. So, don’t be offended if you initiate small talk and the person is distant and cold.
