New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [7]
When hailing a taxi, recognize which cabs to avoid flagging down. Don’t wave at cars whose rooftop lights aren’t illuminated; these already have passengers inside. Taxis whose roof lights are lighted only at the edges—not the center—are off-duty, and will rarely pick you up unless your destination is on their way to the garage.
Think twice about getting into a cab whose driver has cut across three lanes of traffic to get to you; if he’s willing to risk his life and the lives of others just to pick you up, he might not suddenly morph into a model of safe driving once you’re inside. Then again, he might be the only sure bet to get you to the airport when you’re running late.
Once you’re in a cab, know your passenger rights. Although your driver will likely careen at high speeds while simultaneously cursing, leaning on his horn, and chattering into his cell-phone headset, you’re entitled to ask him to slow down. You’re also allowed to ask him to turn off his phone or blaring car radio, and if he doesn’t comply, refrain from tipping him. Cabbies make almost nothing aside from tips, so tack 15% to 20% onto your fare after any satisfactory ride; all cabs are now required to take credit cards, too.
Lastly, hailing a cab between the hours of 4 and 6 pm is near impossible. It’s rush hour, when every workaday New Yorker is trying to get home, and available taxis are very scarce. They’re all but nonexistent between 4 and 4:30, when the driver shifts change, so don’t even waste your time trying to find one—head right for the subway or else hoof it.
Speaking of walking, it’s crucial that you be aware of the implicit rules of the New York City sidewalk. Most important, when walking here, move quickly. Realize that New Yorkers are like sharks: if they stop moving forward, they die (and if you stop moving, one might bite your head off). Unless you’re holding the hand of a small child, single file is the rule; walking two or three abreast will cause locals to jostle, sideswipe, and growl at you. Stopping on the sidewalk to take pictures of each other or consult your guidebook will also put you at risk for being hip-checked. If you need a moment to consult your map or text-message a friend, make like you’re on the highway: pull over and get out of the way.
DINING LIKE A LOCAL
The first rule of New York eating is, forget the heavy breakfast—at least on weekdays. Although weekend brunches are popular—as the lines in front of restaurants on Saturday and Sunday attest—when the rest of the city is on the clock, it’s better to get up and go. Grab a cup of joe and a bagel from a café, a deli, or one of the ubiquitous sidewalk carts (they’re passably good), and walk around while you eat. This will give you more valuable exploring time (trust us, there’s too much to see to waste the whole morning lingering over omelets), and will also help you save money for the most important meal of the day: dinner.
While we’re on the subject, you should plan to eat dinner later than you ordinarily would—if you want to experience the real New York dining scene, that is. Most New York restaurants are empty around 6 pm and don’t fill up until at least 7:30 or 8, so if you eat early, you’ll have your pick of tables. Prime-time dinner reservations—between 8 and 10 pm—are the hardest to score, but will ensure that you’re surrounded by chic dining companions.
Of course, if you can’t get a good reservation (and you don’t have young kids in tow), you can always do what many savvy locals do: eat at the bar. You’ll get the same great food and people-watching, plus you’ll get to feel like an insider while other folks are still waiting for a table.
GOING OUT LIKE A LOCAL
There’s one major rule New Yorkers abide by when hitting the nightspots: avoid, avoid, avoid the big clubs on Friday and Saturday nights. The only people