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Info About New York City:
The City of New York, most often called New York City, is the most populous city in the United States, in a metropolitan area that ranks among the world's most-populous urban areas. It is a leading global city, exerting a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, and entertainment. The city is also an important center for international affairs, hosting the United Nations headquarters.
 
Located on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, the city consists of five distinct boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. It is the most densely populated major city in the United States, with an estimated 8,274,527 people occupying just under 305 square miles (790 km2). The New York metropolitan area's population is also the nation's highest, estimated at 19,750,000 people over 6,720 square miles (17,400 km2) in three states.
 
New York is unique among American cities for its high use of mass transit, and for the overall density and diversity of its population. In 2005, nearly 170 languages were spoken in the city and 36% of its population was born outside the United States. The city is sometimes referred to as "The City that Never Sleeps" due to its extensive 24-hour subway system and constant bustling of traffic and people, while other nicknames include Gotham and the Big Apple.
 
Founded in 1624 as a commercial trading post by the Dutch (who later called it New Amsterdam), it served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790, and has been the nation's largest city since 1790. The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, has been a dominant global financial center since World War II and is home to the New York Stock Exchange. Today, the city has many renowned landmarks and neighborhoods that are world famous. The city has been home to several of the tallest buildings in the world, including the Empire State Building and the twin towers of the former World Trade Center.
 
New York is the birthplace of many cultural movements, including the Harlem Renaissance in literature and visual art, abstract expressionism (also known as the New York School) in painting, and hip hop, punk, salsa, disco and Tin Pan Alley in music. It is also the home of Broadway theater.
 
Safety and Survival Guide:
Whether you are living in New York or just visiting, street smarts will definitely help you feel more at home.
  • Finding a Bathroom: First things first. If you have to go to the bathroom, try a Barnes & Nobles, or a Starbuck's Coffee. Both usually have reasonably clean bathrooms, but your mileage may vary. At Starbuck's you'll need to ask for a key, maybe even buy something.
  • Avoid empty subway cars, ride with many people or in the conductor's car (usually the middle car of the train).
  • Never display large amounts of cash out in the open.
  • Don't keep your wallet in the back pocket of your pants or in a backpack. Moving the wallet to the front pocket of your pants will reduce your chance of being pick-pocketed.
  • Be aware of your wallet or purse in commotions Pick pockets often use helpers to create a disturbance nearby.
  • Telephone information from a payphone is free. Simply dial 555-1212 on any pay phone and ask for the number of the business or person you are looking for. You don't need to put in any change.
  • Stay in populated areas & Be aware of who is around you
  • How you carry yourself is crucial. Look confident in where you are going, how you walk and what you are doing.
  • Clutch your purse/bag securely under your arm.
  • If there are two of you, place handbags between you instead of on the outside.
  • Turn rings around, so the gems face your palm.
  • Keep necklaces tucked under your clothing.
  • If someone is harassing you on the street, then go into a populated store or shop or find a police officer.
  • Yell "Fire" not "Help". People will come look if they think there's a fire, but "Help" is like crying wolf.
  • If you are being mugged then it's better to give the mugger what he/she wants. Your life is worth more than the cash in your pocket!
  • Try to walk in the middle of the sidewalk and not next to the buildings or the street. At night, stay close to the street so that you can flag down help if the nearby stores are closed
If you have never been to New York before, don't be afraid to go out! Just keep these safety tips in mind and you should be just fine.
 
Watch out for Scams:  
 

  • Watch out for people offering you taxi rides at any transportation center such as the Port Authority, Grand Central, or Airports. Though many are honest, some are illegally evading a taxi dispatcher or just trying to lure you to a more secluded spot for mugging.

  • Do not deal with people who approach you on the street with some kind of a money making proposition, they are the ones who are most likely to try to grab your money and run.

  • Don't fall prey to people who ask to check if your money is counterfeit or stolen.

  • Be aware of the old public telephone coin scam and these metal detector scams.
  • When a homeless person asks you to exchange 4 quarters for a dollar, they may be trying to get you to give them a dollar for two or three quarters.

Enjoy your stay in New York City and be safe. Below are the links to some of the important government offices.

Useful State & Government Links

For more info on New York City goto NYC.GOV  & for New York State goto NY.GOV
 
For New Residents in New York City
  • First thing to do is get a Photo Identification Card from DMV (Dept. of Motor Vehicle). Here are the requirements for getting NY ID Card.
    • You need to have 6 points all together to receive the Non-driver Photo ID card from DMV. Here is the lists of documents required for you to bring with you when you visit NY DMV. Click here for the list 
    • The list includes Social Security Card which can be obtained from SSA (Social Security Administration). Click here to see how to obtain a new or replace S.S Card. This is an important step that needs to be done with no mistake. ** Spell your name correctly !! don't put your last name as first name and vice-versa. Enter Date of Birth (D.O.B) correctly !
    • Once you have your SS Card, which will be mailed to you if the paperwork goes fine, you can apply for ID Card. See the list of documents in step 1 and follow the instruction.
    • Last piece of advice, don't panic if you make any mistake in any document. It will take little long time but all mistakes can be corrected. It's always best not to make one but as humans we do all the time. So just chill. No big deal !!
  • Want to get vaccinated? Free Immunization walk-in clinics are available. Locate one near your area. Below are the lists of clinics.

Fort Greene Health Center

295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, at the corner of Willoughby Street, 5th Floor,

Brooklyn, NY 11201

(Near  the Fulton Mall and Long Island University, not on Flatbush Avenue Proper)

Adults and Children 4 years of age and over

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Directions: A, C & F to Jay Street, or 2, 3, 4 & 5 to Nevins Street, or  R, Q, B & M to DeKalb Ave
 

Chelsea Health Center

303 Ninth Avenue - 1st Floor

Manhattan, New York 10001

Between: 27th & 28th Streets 

Adults and Children 4 years of age and over

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Directions: C or E train to West 23rd Street or #1 train to West 28th Street
 

Corona Health Center

34-33 Junction Boulevard - 3rd Floor

Queens, New York 11372

Between: 34th Avenue & 34th Road

Adults

Wednesday and Friday 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Directions: #7 train to Junction Boulevard

 

Tremont Health Center

1826 Arthur Avenue - 1st Floor

Bronx, New York 10457

Between: Cross Bronx Expwy & Tremont Avenue

Adults and Children 4 years of age and over

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:30 AM to - 2:30 PM

Directions: #2 or #5 train to East Tremont Ave-West Farms Square, or # 4 train to Burnside Ave, then #40 or #42 bus to Arthur Ave

 

Richmond Health Center

51 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, 10301

Adults only for Influenza, Pneumococcal and Tetanus vaccines

Wednesday 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Directions: Near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. Walking North on Richmond Terrace, turn left onto Wall Street and then right onto Stuyvesant Place. It is on the right side.

 

For additional information about clinic services, and to confirm the days and hours of operation, please call 311. For more info goto http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/imm/immclin.shtml

All info taken from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

  • Want to admit your kid into NYC Public Schools? Follow the steps listed below.

Where to Go ?

 

For Elementary or middle school: Register at your zoned school. Your zoned school is determined by your home address. If you don’t know your zoned school, click here or call 311. If you don’t have a zoned school, please visit a Borough Enrollment Office.

 

For High school: Register at a Borough Enrollment Office in your borough of residence.

 

What to Bring when you go to register?

 

When you go to register, please bring your child with you. You also must bring the following documents:

 

  • Proof of residence. Any two of the following documents:
      1. A residential utility bill (gas or electric) in the resident's name issued by National Grid, Con Edison, or the Long Island Power Authority (for the Rockaways); must be dated within the past 60 days
      2. Documentation or letter on letterhead from a federal, state or local government agency, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), City Housing Authority, Human Resources Administration (HRA), the Administration for Children's Services (ACS), or an ACS subcontractor indicating the resident's name and address; must be dated within the past 60 days 
      3. An original lease agreement, deed, or mortgage statement for the residence
      4. A current property tax bill for the residence
      5. A water bill for the residence; must be dated within the past 60 days 
      6. Official payroll documentation from an employer such as a form submitted for tax withholding purposes or payroll receipt; a letter on the employer's letterhead will not be accepted; must be dated within the past 60 days
  • Child’s birth certificate or passport
  • Child’s immunization records
  • Child's latest report card/transcript (if available)
  • Child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and/or 504 Accommodation Plan (if applicable and available)
Info taken from NYC Department of Education, Visit http://schools.nyc.gov/default.htm for more info.
 
 

Airports:

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

JFK, in Queens,at the south end of the Van Wyck Expressway, primarily handles international flights.
General Info:718-244-4444
Parking Info:718-244-4168
 
 
 
For all other information, visit


 

LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

LaGuardia, also in Queens, on the Grand Central Parkway, mainly handles domestic flights. 

General Info: 718-533-3400
Parking Info: 718-533-3850
 
 
 
For all other information visit The Port Authority of NY & NJ 

Transportation:

 NYC Subway is the fastest & cheapest way to get around the city. CLICKHERE to find out the current fare. Learn more about MTA @www.mta.nyc.ny.us 
 
NYC Taxi Cabs a.k.a "Yellow Cabs" serve as a quick and easy means of transportation across Manhattan, a route not amply served by the subway. Learn more about cabs@ NYTLC

Museums:

Free Entry

Suggested Contribution

Hospitals in Manhattan:

 
 
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