A NYC Survival Guide:
The Bear Essentials
From the California Alumni Club of New York
Welcome to New York City!
With five boroughs containing eight million people it’s easy to
feel overwhelmed, but there’s no need to feel that way because there
are over 20,000 Bears in this urban jungle and these seasoned
New Yorkers wanted to help, so here’s your “survival guide”!
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This is Bear Territory!
Contents
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Housing and Furnishing
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Restaurants, Bars, and Clubs
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Transportation
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Sports and Fitness
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Fitness Clubs
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Airports
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Explore
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Museums
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Find Fellow Bears
Housing and Furnishing
A Bear’s got to hibernate somewhere…
Housing: if you go the broker route, it’ll cost the amount of your first month’s rent, otherwise:
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Craigslist: http://newyork.craigslist.org/hhh/
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www.sublets.com
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www.citycribs.com
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www.nyapartments.org
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www.nyhabitat.com
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http://nycbloggers.com lets you read about other New Yorkers' experiences, and you can search by subway line and
subway stop to get an idea of what residents are like in specific parts of the city.
Furnishing
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Bed, Bath, and Beyond (www.bedbathandbeyond.com). Make sure you take advantage of the $15 delivery charge.
They’ll even deliver the same day.
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1-800-mattress (www.mattress.com) or Sleepy’s at 1-800-Sleepys (www.sleepys.com) to order your bed and get it
delivered and assembled the same day.
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Gothic Cabinet (www.gothiccabinetcraft.com) is a manufacturer and retailer of finished and unfinished wood
furniture including bed sets, bookcases, office furniture, dining and kitchen pieces, etc.
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IKEA (www.ikea.com) is coming to Brooklyn soon, but in the meantime you’ll have to settle with the location in
Paramus, New Jersey. To get there you take the NJ Transit bus lines 171, 751, 755 or Line 163 (via NYC Port
Authority) with service only on Saturdays.
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Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (www.hellskitchenfleamarket.com). Offers affordable, quality used furniture and
miscellaneous items, ideal for those furnishing a new apartment.
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Home Depot has a few locations in the city and Target is in The Bronx and Brooklyn.
Tip: Check-out Craigslist (www.craigslist.com) and browse the “sell” section. People are constantly moving out of NYC
and have lots of stuff to sell for cheap.
Restaurants, Bars, and Clubs
There’s nothing worse than a hungry Bear…
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Citysearch. You can go online to the well-known citysearch.com website and search for restaurants by cuisine, price,
and features (i.e. after work, brunch, open 24 hours, etc). You can also read reviews people post.
www.citysearch.com
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MenuPages or Seamlessweb. The first website allows you to search by cuisine/location, and you can see the menu
online (www.menupages.com). The second allows you to order online and have it delivered (www.seamlessweb.com)
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Time Out New York. A weekly magazine, you can subscribe to Time Out for the most up-to-date on restaurants
(and many other things). www.timeoutny.com/newyork
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Zagat Guides. The bible of restaurants, these famous red guides are in the hands of many New Yorkers. You can
buy one at any bookstore, card store, pharmacy, etc. They run about $15 and the next year’s are released in November
(just in time for the holiday gift-giving). www.zagat.com
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New York Metro Restaurants. This site is similar to citysearch, with reviews on restaurants, new openings, a “5
best” feature. www.nymetro.com/restaurants
…Or a thirsty Bear
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Shecky’s Guide. Use this website to search for bars and clubs by feature (i.e. after work, happy hour, outdoor, etc).
www.sheckys.com
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Time Out New York. Not only are restaurants featured in this magazine, but there’s also an entire section on New
York City nightlife. www.timeoutny.com/newyork
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Citysearch. Similar to Time Out, the Citysearch website also has a “Bars & Clubs” section to check-out, which
includes reviews by the editors and fellow New Yorkers. www.citysearch.com
Tip: Restaurant Week is when you can get three-course lunches for $25 or three-course dinners for $35 in Manhattan’s
most exclusive restaurants! Go to www.nycvisit.com/RestaurantWeekSearch/search.cfm?pagePkey=1627 for the dates.
Transportation
When you can’t walk, ride…
You’ll have to make use of New York’s transportation system one way or another. The MTA has it’s own website
www.mta.nyc.ny.us), which you can check for schedules, maps, and service advisories (especially important on the
weekends and late nights when a lot of construction is done). Whatever you do, get yourself a subway map! The
following forms of transport are covered on MTA’s site:
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MTA subway and buses
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A/C/E trains, for the most part, run up the West Side, along 8th Avenue
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2/3/1 run up the West Side, from 7th Avenue west towards Broadway
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4/5/6 runs up the East Side, along Lexington Avenue (note that the further east you go the more
you’ll have to rely on buses)
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N/Q/R/W run diagonally across Manhattan (as do the B/D/F/V)
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L and 7 run east-west from Manhattan to Brooklyn/Queens, respectively
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The major crosstown bus routes are on 96th, 86th, 79th, 72nd, 66th, 57th, 50th, 42nd, 34th, 23rd, 14th, and
8th Streets
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Long Island Rail Road and buses
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Metro North Railroad
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Bridges and tunnels
Tip: Check with your employer about whether or not you qualify for WageWorks (www.wageworks.com). You can save up
to 40% on your commuting costs and have your metro card mailed to you every month.
Transportation
When you want to get out of The Big Apple…
Going out of town for the weekend?
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Amtrak provides service to all major Northeast cities (Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and more).
Go to www.amtrak.com for booking information.
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A cheaper option is New Jersey Transit, assuming the NJT goes to the city you want (www.njtransit.com).
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An even cheaper option is to take one of the bus services out of Chinatown. Check out any of the
following providers for $15-$35 tickets to all major cities in the Northeast via the website
www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus.
See the “Airport” section on how to get to all three major airports in the NYC area (JFK, La Guardia, and Newark).
Tip: If you think you’ll be taking the train a lot, sign up for the “Amtrak Rewards” program and earn points toward a free
trip in the Northeast.
Sports & Fitness
They’re no Cal Bears, but you’ll have to make do…will it be...?
Yankees Baseball: www.yankees.com
Mets Baseball: www.nymets.com
Giants Football: www.giants.com
Jets Football: www.newyorkjets.com
Rangers Hockey: www.newyorkrangers.com
Islanders Hockey: www.newyorkislanders.com
Knicks Basketball: www.knicks.com
Nets Basketball: www.nba.com/nets
Stay active!
•New York Road Runners (www.nyroadrunners.com): If you love running this is the group for you (includes training for
the famous NYC Marathon in November)
•Meetup Sports Groups (www.meetup.com/topics/sports/): Browse by sporting interest, like tennis, softball, soccer, etc.
•New York Yoga (www.newyorkyoga.com): Classes for beginners to teacher training
•New York Ultimate Frisbee (http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/nycUltimate)
•New York Sports Groups via Yahoo! Groups (http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/dir/Recreation___Sports/)
•Go for a hike! (http://www.localhikes.com/): Includes information on how to get to the trails via the bus
Or, you can join one of the fitness clubs in NYC…
Fitness Clubs
Since you can’t hibernate all day…
New York Sports Clubs
www.mysportsclubs.com/regions/NYSC.htm
•95 locations throughout the five boroughs and Long Island
•Membership allows you to use the sports clubs in Boston, Washington DC, and Philadelphia
Crunch Sports Clubs
www.crunch.com
•10 locations in Manhattan
Reebok Sports Club
www.thesportsclubla.com/Clubs/template.asp?Club=NYReebokSportsClub
•Exclusive club on the Upper West Side, complete with spa & salon
New York Health & Racquet Club
www.hrcbest.com/html
•11 locations in Manhattan
The YMCA
www.ymcanyc.org/sub.php?p=about&sp=membership/locate
•Locations throughout the five boroughs, including six in Manhattan
Equinox Fitness Clubs
www.equinoxfitness.com
•20 fitness clubs in the NY area, including a new one opening up in Soho
Airports
Surely you’ll be taking some trips, so here’s how to get to the airport…
John F. Kennedy International Airport (www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkframe.HTM)
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Take the AirTrain ($5): www.panynj.gov/aviation/jgtsfram.htm. Get to the AirTrain by taking the Long Island
Railroad (LIRR) to Jamaica Station; the E, J, Z subways to Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue or Jamaica Station; the A
subway train to Howard Beach/JFK Airport Station.
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Take the airport’s private bus service from Grand Central Station (Vanderbilt Avenue & 42nd Street) or the Port
Authority Bus Terminal ($15), which leave frequently during peak hours: www.panynj.gov/aviation/jgtsfram.htm
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Take a shuttle service (prices vary): Super Saver by Carmel (800-924-9954 or 212-666-6666), Dial 7 Car & Lime
Service (800-222-9888 or 212-777-7777); Classic Limousine (800-666-4949 or 631-567-5100); ETS Air Shuttle
(718-221-8344); All County Express (914-381-4223 or 800-914-4223); Westchester (Express Republic) (866-9146800 or 914-332-0090); Super Shuttle (212-258-3826)
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Hail a taxi (unless at an off time, like at the crack of dawn, taxi service is metered)
Newark International Airport (www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/newarkliberty.html)
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Take the AirTrain from Penn Station ($14): Buy a NJ TRANSIT® or Amtrak® ticket to or from Newark Liberty
International Airport Train Station, and that ticket covers both the NJ TRANSIT or Amtrak portion of your ride as
well as the AirTrain portion. www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/ewr_airtrain.html
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Take a bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal ($13). CoachUSA makes trips every 15-30 minutes to Port
Authority, Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, Chinatown & Wall Street area
(www.coachusa.com/olympia/ss.newarkairport.asp)
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Take one of the shuttle services listed under the JFK Airport section
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Take taxi (note, check with cab driver if there are additional costs for crossing state lines)
Note: Information above subject to change, so check the websites listed above.
Airports
Continued…
La Guardia Airport (http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/lgaframe.HTM)
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Take the bus ($12) from Grand Central Terminal (Vanderbilt Avenue and 42nd Streets), which leave frequently during
peak hours. www.panynj.gov/aviation/lgtsfram.htm
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Take one of the shuttle services listed under the JFK Airport section.
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Take the subway or bus ($2): the M60 bus, or the N & W trains (both in Queens)
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Take a taxi (LGA is the closest airport to Manhattan and therefore the cheapest when it comes to cab fare)
Note: Information above subject to change, so check the websites listed above.
Explore
This is your new home, go explore…
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Get a 360-degree view of your new home from Rockefeller Plaza. www.topoftherock.com.
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Take in some jazz at Lincoln Center. www.jalc.org.
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Ride around on a double-decker bus around town and be a true tourist. www.citysightsny.com
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Go on a New York Waterway Sightseeing Cruise ( www.nywaterway.com) or Circle Line Cruise (www.circleline42.com)
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Do a Gospel or Jazz tour in Harlem. www.harlemspirituals.com
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Explore all that Downtown New York has to offer. www.DowntownNY.com
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Get tickets to the hottest Broadway shows for 35%-50% off the full-price. www.tdf.org/tkts
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Like food: Go on a Food Tour. www.nyfoodtours.com or www.beyondtimessquare.com/food-walking.htm or
www.foodsofny.com. Or, join the New York “Foodies” via Yahoo Groups (it’s for people between 21-35 years old).
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Explore your new backyard. www.centralpark.com/events.php
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From May to November there’s a street fair every Saturday and Sunday somewhere in Manhattan. Check out
www.nymag.com for exact locations.
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Explore Chinatown. www.chinatownnyc.com
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Volunteer! www.nycares.org
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Explore each neighborhood. http://nyc.flavorpill.net/index.jsp details the best, can't-miss cultural goings-on in the city.
It covers everything from art openings to concerts to off-Broadway theater to cinema.
Tip: Looking for more than just what a tourist would do? Purchase a “Not For Tourists” guide to NYC (NFT). It has
detailed maps of every Manhattan neighborhood, plus some borough and Jersey maps, and lots of transportation info.
Museums
Some of the famous museums on “Museum Mile”…
1. Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street)
www.mcny.org
Open: Wednesday-Sunday, 10a-5p
212-534-1672
2. Guggenheim Museum (1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street)
www.guggenheim.org
Open: Sunday-Wednesday and Saturday, 10a-5:45p; Friday, 10a-8p
212-423-3500
3. Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street)
www.metmuseum.org
Open: Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 9:30a-5:30p; Friday and Saturday, 9:30a-9p
212-535-7710
4. Whitney Museum of American Art (945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street)
www.whitney.org
Open: Wednesday-Thursday, 11a-6p; Friday, 1-9p; Saturday-Sunday, 11a-6p
800-WHITNEY
5. The Frick Collection (1 East 70th Street)
www.frick.org
Open: Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10a-6p; Friday, 10a-9p; Sunday, 1p-6p
212-288-0700
6. The Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street)
www.moma.org
Open: Saturday-Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30a-5:30p; Friday, 10:30a-8p
212-708-9400
Note: Information above subject to change, so check the museum’s website before going (and for the price of admission).
Museums
Not on Museum Mile, but worth exploring…
1. New York Transit Museum (Boerum Place at Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights)
www..mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/museum
Open: Tuesday-Friday, 10a-4p, Saturday-Sunday, 12n-5p
718-694-1600
2. Madame Tussaud's New York Wax Museum (42nd Street. Between 7th and 8th Avenues)
www.nycwax.com
Open: Sunday- Thursday 10a-6p; Friday-Saturday 10a-8p
800-246-8872
3. American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West at 79th Street )
www.amnh.org
Open: Daily from 10a-5:45p (The Rose Center remains open on Friday until 8:45pm )
212-769-5100
4. The Cloisters (Fort Tyron Park)
www.metmuseum.org
Open: Tuesday-Sun 9:30a-5p
212-923-3700
5. Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum (Pier 86, West 46th Street at 12th Avenue on the Hudson)
www.intrepidmuseum.org
Open: April-Sept: Mon-Fri 10a-5p; Saturday-Sunday 10a-6p; Oct-March: Wed-Sun 10a-5p
212-245-0072
Still not enough? Go to www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html for
information on nearly one-hundred museums throughout the five boroughs!
Note: Information above subject to change, so check the museum’s website before going (and for the price of admission).
Find Fellow Bears
You can’t move 3,000 miles and forget your roots!
The California Alumni Club of New York (CACNY)
CACNY is one of 120 regional clubs worldwide that keeps the Cal spirit strong after graduation. Our mission is to help
maintain the bond between individuals and the University through various events including:
•Active scholarship & recruitment programs
•Football & basketball viewing parties (typically at Mr. Dennehy’s: 63 Carmine St and 7th Avenue South)
•Events involving other Pac-10 schools, including the monthly Pac-10 Happy Hour
•A Dining Club to explore restaurants throughout the city
•New student reception every April and new member reception in the summer
•Meetings approximately six times a year for all Bears wanting to get more involved with the club
•And our biggest event of the year: The Big Game Viewing Party
Subscribe to CACNY's Yahoo! Group for up-to-date information on our events. You can subscribe by sending an
e-mail to [email protected]. You can also check-out our website at www.calnewyork.org.
It costs only $20 for a new alum to join ($25 for everyone else). Dues from members assure that CACNY can continue to
hold events like the new student reception, new member reception, Big Game viewing party, and also grant the two
CACNY scholarships given annually http://alum.berkeley.edu/clubs/AlumniClubofNewYork/getinvolved.asp
Good Luck and Go Bears!