# What can a person do in New York? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179 "2003-12-01T03:37:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/21 "2003-12-03T14:27:10Z")
I was in New York City for 4 or 5 hours once. That was way, way too long. But on the plus side I now know what a bee feels like in the middle of a hive. Except the bee only has to deal with a few hundred other bees all squashed up against it and not 10 million. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/22 "2003-12-03T14:38:51Z")
True **OxyMoron** , although there’s much to be said just for the experience and new venue regardless of whether or not you identify with the team. Jersey yes, but would you not see the Raiders if visiting San Francisco? **AS** , we visited a flea market in Soho last time we were there that provided a couple of hours of entertainment and a couple of momentos for the trip. Also, the two hours spent at the NYSE was absolutely fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/23 "2003-12-03T16:46:24Z")
**Lieu,** FWIW, unless they’ve reversed their policy very recently, they don’t offer tours of the NYSE anymore due to security concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/24 "2003-12-03T16:52:34Z")
**stuyguy** : how long do the Christmas lights stay up? My wife and I arrive in NYC Christmas night; what’s the last day we can catch the display? ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/25 "2003-12-03T17:24:43Z")
**Iterro,** good question. According to one source I’ve consulted they stay up until the Epiphany (Jan. 6th). But I, personally, would not trust that date as cast in stone. The reason I say that is that in the past few years the “lights festival” has become such an attraction that neighbors have bitched about the traffic and disruption. Their grousing may have forced the festooners to curtail the season somewhat. I think it’s a safe bet that the lights will be up until New Years. After that you _might_ be taking your chances. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/26 "2003-12-03T17:49:40Z")
Ah shoot. Thanks **stuyguy** , for the update. We toured the NYSE and later had dinner at Windows On The World if that tells you anything. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBarleycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@JohnBarleycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBarleycorn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/27 "2003-12-03T18:09:58Z")
Washington Square is the place to start. Has lots of unexpected serenity and atmosphere for being in the center of things. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBarleycorn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@JohnBarleycorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBarleycorn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/28 "2003-12-03T18:13:13Z")
Another good one is Caroline’s Comedy Club [http://www.carolines.com/index2.html](http://www.carolines.com/index2.html) ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/29 "2003-12-06T05:23:38Z")
Here is a page featuring some inexpensive NYC destinations: [http://www.newyorkmetro.com/urban/guides/nyonthecheap/pleasures/afterdark.htm](http://www.newyorkmetro.com/urban/guides/nyonthecheap/pleasures/afterdark.htm) Scroll down about 1/3 of the page to find the punk rock karaoke blurb. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179/30 "2003-12-06T22:20:55Z")
karomon, i think you are talking about the arlene grocery. That is also the home of my brother’s heavy metal band, Gods of Fire. Check em out if you can. They are over the top funny and good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-a-person-do-in-new-york/216179.md?page=1)