I have been welcoming guests at the inn for long enough now that I can usually tell, within about three sentences, who has been to New York before and who has not. The good news for the people in the second group is that we are all very patient. The slightly less good news is that there are a few things I am going to tell you anyway, because I love this city and I want you to enjoy it too.
The Subway
Let people off before you get on. This is not a New York rule. It is a rule. But you would be amazed. Stand to the side of the doors when the train pulls in. Take your backpack off when the car is crowded. If you need to look at the map on your phone, step away from the doors first. Nobody is going to yell at you. We are just going to think very loudly.
Walking Speed
Pick a lane. If you are slow, stay close to the buildings. If you stop to take a photo, take three steps to the side first. Walking three abreast on a busy sidewalk is, technically, legal. Spiritually, it is not.
Coffee Rules
Know what you want before you reach the counter. If it is the morning rush, this is non-negotiable. Pay with a card or a tap; nobody has time for you to dig for a twenty. Tip on the iPad. Yes, even for a coffee. We will not be friends if you do not.
The Honest Mistakes
Standing in the middle of the sidewalk to look at a map. Asking a stranger to take your photo without saying hi first. Trying to hail a cab with its off-duty light on. Asking the waiter how big the portion is, when in New York the answer is always 'big.' Wearing brand new white sneakers on day one, which by day three will no longer be white.
Nobody expects you to be a New Yorker. We just appreciate when you try.
The One That Matters
Be kind to the people who work the early shift. The baristas, the bodega owners, the doormen, the train conductors. They have been awake longer than you, they will be awake longer after you leave, and they make the city run. Say good morning. Mean it. New York opens up to people who do.
