I want to move to New York City from Chicago in a year.?

cajun_godiva · 03-14-2008, 01:07 AM

I moved to chicago a year ago and not really feeling it. I was going to move back to Houston but a co-worker put New York in my head. I have a few questions.

Should I believe the bad press about New York. (way to expensive, mean and rude people, etc.)

If I would work in Manhattan what are good neighborhoods to live in that would have a easy commute to the city.

How is the hospitality industry in New York City ( I work for Hilton Corp right now).

Is it tough to make friends or socialize (I find it hard to make friends).

Thanks in advance

Cajiva

Gem · 03-14-2008, 01:58 AM

I don't think you should believe any of the bad press about New York. I find people to be friendlier than ANY other place I've been to, our crime rates are the lowest of any big city in the country.

Our biggest flaw is how EXPENSIVE it is to live here. You can look into neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens for possibly more reasonable rent.

There are TONS of hotels in Manhattan, so I would imagine it wouldn't be terribly difficult. Maybe you could start going to NYTIMES.COM and looking through their career listings to see if anything comes up.

As for socializing, it can be hard. I would also suggest joining something. There are tons of different classes you can take (check out craigslist classifieds: jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, events, forums ...they list events and classes) and see what you can find

Fanatic of NYC · 03-14-2008, 03:31 AM

NY has its good and bad. Things will be expensive ONLY if you don't know how to budget. People buy fancy cars which requires insurance, gas, parking fees and tolls when they can buy a MetroCard to get to and fro.

Sure you may have to get up a bit earlier but that's why NYC is "the city that never sleeps." If its hard to make friends, I'd start trying to make friends with your coworkers. That will make it easier. As you hang out with them outside the office/job you'll make more friends and their friends and it easier as their your "wing man."

I'd start saving now so you have something to use when you get here. It will come in handy for your rent and food etc.

In regards to hospitality industry See this article from January.
City's Hospitality Industry Inspires Cautious Optimism - January 31, 2008 - The New York Sun

Hope that helps

^_^ 411 New York

cibida1 · 03-14-2008, 04:44 AM

I won't be able to answer most questions because I am from NJ, but don't believe the hype about the rudeness, etc. There's nice people and mean people everywhere, it's not like NYers are genetically born to be mean.

mh · 03-14-2008, 05:51 AM

It probably depends what you aren't feeling about Chicago. For me, Chicago has everything New York has, but is easier to get around and navigate. If they only made the L underground it would be my favorite city, but I get so cold and gloomy!

In NYC, the subway is way better and will take you EVERYWHERE, but I found getting around and doing daily tasks just a little harder. For example, there are still lots of places that don't take credit cards, so you have to have cash. Even a few nice restaurants with expensive wine lists! Lots of little things like this that make daily life a little more effort. New York is more energetic, chaotic & quirky, while I found Chicago to be a pretty organized efficient city.

New York is expensive, and housing cost is the biggest factor in this. My rent nearly doubled from Chicago to NYC for a smaller space. Everything else is fairly controllable, but...There are very few of the suburban-type stores that provide good values that you get in Chicago - Target, Costco, grocery chains that have good weekly specials. It's also harder to buy larger packages or shop at the cheapest store further from your house because you have to lug the stuff home. I also found that I was spending more on services to make life easier, delivery services, cabs (because you REALLY can't have a car - it's so expensive and burdensome to keep a car - insurance, city sticker, tickets which you will get even when not using it b/c of wierd rules). Plus there is a NYC income tax.

New Yorkers aren't mean, I would say they are actually a little more friendly than Chicagoans, even though they can be abrupt. Just like in Chicago, being around so many people brings out bad things in people. In Chicago, people get angry and depressed in the winter, right? In general, they are a little bit more closed. New Yorkers are more genuine and open, whether they are saying something nice or rude. They have more attitude and personality. HUGE GENERALIZATIONS HERE!

Making friends...my husband and I both made more friends in New York than Chicago - at my grad school & his work, real friends we've kept after moving. We made virtually no real friends during our 3 years in Chicago. Can't really explain why...but NYC does have more people moving in from all over the world with no connections or social group in place.

Don't know anything about the hospitality industry other than that it is very present, lots of places to work.

Very hard to suggest neighborhoods without knowing more about you. Here is a neighborhood map with info on the most popular and convenient neighborhoods for people working in Manhattan. Look in Brooklyn & Queens: Neighborhood Map

LJ · 03-14-2008, 06:54 AM

I think if you are having trouble making friends, sometimes moving isn't the answer.

I live in NYC and think it's a great place to live. But I've seen people move from place to place because they were unhappy, and moving didn't really solve anything. Perhaps, you should join some organizations (a church, a musical group, a club) or try volunteering. Those are great ways to meet people like you!

I really love it here and frequently suggest to people that they come here when they express an interest. But I wonder if the place you live in is really what is bothering you?

Try some of the things I suggested, whether in NYC or Chicago. Big cities are better for meeting people this way, because there are more opportunities to join different kinds of organizations. (For example, I joined a choral group here in NYC. I had many choral groups to choose from in my part of the City, and even more if I chose to travel to a different neighborhood. That might not be the case in a smaller town.)

Good luck. I hope things work out for you.

03-14-2008, 01:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
cajun_godiva Newbie Join Date: Mar 14th, 2008 Posts: 1	I want to move to New York City from Chicago in a year.? I moved to chicago a year ago and not really feeling it. I was going to move back to Houston but a co-worker put New York in my head. I have a few questions. Should I believe the bad press about New York. (way to expensive, mean and rude people, etc.) If I would work in Manhattan what are good neighborhoods to live in that would have a easy commute to the city. How is the hospitality industry in New York City ( I work for Hilton Corp right now). Is it tough to make friends or socialize (I find it hard to make friends). Thanks in advance Cajiva

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
I want to move from New York City?	Y.C.	New York	18	01-13-2008 06:16 PM
Moving to New York City .. Which part of the city is the best to live in?	justin3067	New York	0	12-28-2007 03:17 PM
to new york city: kramer tells jerry:"if you dont want to be a part of...	army74bravo	New York	0	12-26-2007 03:15 AM
moving to New York City from New Jersey with roommates, who is hiring as...	moni m	New York	5	12-25-2007 03:46 PM
Should my husband, daughter, and I move to Chicago, IL or Green Bay, WI?	Tiffany A	Wisconsin	2	12-22-2007 12:21 AM

03-14-2008, 01:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gem Newbie Join Date: Mar 14th, 2008 Posts: 1	I don't think you should believe any of the bad press about New York. I find people to be friendlier than ANY other place I've been to, our crime rates are the lowest of any big city in the country. Our biggest flaw is how EXPENSIVE it is to live here. You can look into neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens for possibly more reasonable rent. There are TONS of hotels in Manhattan, so I would imagine it wouldn't be terribly difficult. Maybe you could start going to NYTIMES.COM and looking through their career listings to see if anything comes up. As for socializing, it can be hard. I would also suggest joining something. There are tons of different classes you can take (check out craigslist classifieds: jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, events, forums ...they list events and classes) and see what you can find

03-14-2008, 03:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Fanatic of NYC Newbie Join Date: Mar 14th, 2008 Posts: 1	NY has its good and bad. Things will be expensive ONLY if you don't know how to budget. People buy fancy cars which requires insurance, gas, parking fees and tolls when they can buy a MetroCard to get to and fro. Sure you may have to get up a bit earlier but that's why NYC is "the city that never sleeps." If its hard to make friends, I'd start trying to make friends with your coworkers. That will make it easier. As you hang out with them outside the office/job you'll make more friends and their friends and it easier as their your "wing man." I'd start saving now so you have something to use when you get here. It will come in handy for your rent and food etc. In regards to hospitality industry See this article from January. City's Hospitality Industry Inspires Cautious Optimism - January 31, 2008 - The New York Sun Hope that helps ^_^ 411 New York

03-14-2008, 04:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
cibida1 Newbie Join Date: Mar 14th, 2008 Posts: 1	I won't be able to answer most questions because I am from NJ, but don't believe the hype about the rudeness, etc. There's nice people and mean people everywhere, it's not like NYers are genetically born to be mean.

03-14-2008, 05:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
mh Newbie Join Date: Mar 14th, 2008 Posts: 1	It probably depends what you aren't feeling about Chicago. For me, Chicago has everything New York has, but is easier to get around and navigate. If they only made the L underground it would be my favorite city, but I get so cold and gloomy! In NYC, the subway is way better and will take you EVERYWHERE, but I found getting around and doing daily tasks just a little harder. For example, there are still lots of places that don't take credit cards, so you have to have cash. Even a few nice restaurants with expensive wine lists! Lots of little things like this that make daily life a little more effort. New York is more energetic, chaotic & quirky, while I found Chicago to be a pretty organized efficient city. New York is expensive, and housing cost is the biggest factor in this. My rent nearly doubled from Chicago to NYC for a smaller space. Everything else is fairly controllable, but...There are very few of the suburban-type stores that provide good values that you get in Chicago - Target, Costco, grocery chains that have good weekly specials. It's also harder to buy larger packages or shop at the cheapest store further from your house because you have to lug the stuff home. I also found that I was spending more on services to make life easier, delivery services, cabs (because you REALLY can't have a car - it's so expensive and burdensome to keep a car - insurance, city sticker, tickets which you will get even when not using it b/c of wierd rules). Plus there is a NYC income tax. New Yorkers aren't mean, I would say they are actually a little more friendly than Chicagoans, even though they can be abrupt. Just like in Chicago, being around so many people brings out bad things in people. In Chicago, people get angry and depressed in the winter, right? In general, they are a little bit more closed. New Yorkers are more genuine and open, whether they are saying something nice or rude. They have more attitude and personality. HUGE GENERALIZATIONS HERE! Making friends...my husband and I both made more friends in New York than Chicago - at my grad school & his work, real friends we've kept after moving. We made virtually no real friends during our 3 years in Chicago. Can't really explain why...but NYC does have more people moving in from all over the world with no connections or social group in place. Don't know anything about the hospitality industry other than that it is very present, lots of places to work. Very hard to suggest neighborhoods without knowing more about you. Here is a neighborhood map with info on the most popular and convenient neighborhoods for people working in Manhattan. Look in Brooklyn & Queens: Neighborhood Map

03-14-2008, 06:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
LJ Newbie Join Date: Mar 14th, 2008 Posts: 1	I think if you are having trouble making friends, sometimes moving isn't the answer. I live in NYC and think it's a great place to live. But I've seen people move from place to place because they were unhappy, and moving didn't really solve anything. Perhaps, you should join some organizations (a church, a musical group, a club) or try volunteering. Those are great ways to meet people like you! I really love it here and frequently suggest to people that they come here when they express an interest. But I wonder if the place you live in is really what is bothering you? Try some of the things I suggested, whether in NYC or Chicago. Big cities are better for meeting people this way, because there are more opportunities to join different kinds of organizations. (For example, I joined a choral group here in NYC. I had many choral groups to choose from in my part of the City, and even more if I chose to travel to a different neighborhood. That might not be the case in a smaller town.) Good luck. I hope things work out for you.