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Supershuttle
Category:
Airport Parking Areas
New York, New York
(212) 258-3826
You get what you pay for, and sometimes it's unexpectedly fun
You get what you pay for, and sometimes it's unexpectedly fun
I'd never thought much of the Supershuttle service in DC (it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either), but since moving to New York it's become my transportation of choice for going TO the...
I'd never thought much of the Supershuttle service in DC (it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either), but since moving to New York it's become my transportation of choice for going TO the airport.
Pricewise, it's cheaper than taking a cab out of the city (there are flat rates in place and nearly all end up close to $50). My fare as a single passenger is $18-20 with tip.
Timewise, they do pick you up a bit too early, but I'd rather have too much time at the airport than too little and run the risk of missing a flight. And, I admit, I enjoy that extra time at the airport to get checked in and partake in the relative novelties of junk food and trashy reading. I've never missed an international or domestic flight when running on the Supershuttle's schedule (though it sounds like other reviewers have...).
Ridewise, I enjoy the Supershuttle because it takes me through parts of the city that I otherwise don't normally explore -- it's nice to cruise through Harlem and the Upper/Midtown East Side as a passenger. The drivers are usually friendly and in relatively good spirits -- once, on a 4am drive, the driver roused our van full of zombie passengers with a breakfast of disco, and we were all singing along by the time we reached JFK (delirium could have been part of it, but honestly, it made the drive fly by).
In seven years of taking the Supershuttle (three years in NYC), I have only had two experiences that I can count as bad ones. Once, the Supershuttle called me an hour before they were due to pick me up and told me that there was no van coming -- I was able to call a car service and make it in time, no problem, but the cost was considerably higher. The other time, the driver got bogged in traffic around the Thanksgiving Day parade (what a nightmare) and we got stuck in Midtown. We hit a blocked street (trucks) and the snotty passenger who was our last pickup refused to walk to the corner to meet the van, insisting on being picked up at the door (which was impossible). It was pouring down rain, traffic was at a standstill, and honestly, I can't fault the driver too badly. He told us to all get out and try to get cabs, which we did. I still made my flight, though most of the other passengers missed theirs. At any rate, my good experiences far outweigh these two unfortunate incidents.
As far as getting from the airports back into the city, I rarely take the Supershuttle -- it just plain takes too long (plan on several hours). Also, at the end of my journey I usually just want to get home ASAP, and so I'll shell out for a cab.
But I do recommend taking the Supershuttle to the airports, if you don't mind going early and having a bit of fun along the way.
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Good solid experience with this Vet
Dr. Moses and Dr. Thompson are a husband and wife team who run a small, capable veterinary practice in Washington Heights. After a horrible experience with another vet in the neighborhood, I gave...
Dr. Moses and Dr. Thompson are a husband and wife team who run a small, capable veterinary practice in Washington Heights. After a horrible experience with another vet in the neighborhood, I gave them a shot and was delighted by the service, reception and treatment given to my cat. Unfortunately, they don't board, but the helpful staff of young women seemed to be constantly accomodating customer requests for petsitting, which is a nice alternative. Everyone seemed content at this place, even the animals, which makes a nice difference from the other neighborhood vet, which is dark and gloomy and depressing (and more expensive!). The vets themselves were professional but never condescending, gentle with my cat and happy to answer all my questions. I highly recommend taking your animals to them.
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Bird
Category:
Apparel
430 7th Ave
Brooklyn, New York
(718) 768-4940
Great little find
Great little find
I got sucked in by Bird's cool signage as I was walking one day in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The shop has lots of great stuff -- jeans and shoes especially! The staff was pleasant but not judgemental or...
I got sucked in by Bird's cool signage as I was walking one day in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The shop has lots of great stuff -- jeans and shoes especially! The staff was pleasant but not judgemental or intrusive and let me browse in peace, which I appreciated. I've since gone back to Bird to buy gifts for my friends -- there are lots of wonderful options. While Bird doubtlessly caters to many young hip Brooklyn moms, nearby Baby Bird (same great signage) offers plenty of options for their little New Yorkers.
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Satisfying, Stubborn Staple
Murray's has been around for a long time and has a great reputation. Pros: The bagels are big and proper, the toppings and fillings generous. They also make excellent soups. Cons: always crowded,...
Murray's has been around for a long time and has a great reputation. Pros: The bagels are big and proper, the toppings and fillings generous. They also make excellent soups. Cons: always crowded, they stubbornly refuse to toast their bagels (and treat you like an idiot if you ask for it).
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Hotel Bar is fun and just a bit cheesy
For some reasons, my friends all seem to want to celebrate their birthdays at the Maritime Hotel Bar. I'm not really a hotel bar type of person, but I do enjoy going to the Maritime. The bar is...
For some reasons, my friends all seem to want to celebrate their birthdays at the Maritime Hotel Bar. I'm not really a hotel bar type of person, but I do enjoy going to the Maritime. The bar is french bistro meets Hollywood, the lights are just the right level and there is plenty of eye candy. The servers are all a bit on the snooty side at first but then gradually thaw into smiles, the hosts are always amusingly tipsy, and the bartenders make a killer mojito. As I'm not a connoisseur of hotel bars, I can't really say if the Maritime holds its own, but I have fun every time. There is a relatively high atmosphere of pretention and possibility, but at a place like this that's to be expected. There is usually at least one celebrity on the premises or high profile party going on in another part of the hotel, which creates a certain amount of buzz. I dunno, for me, it's a novelty night out in an atmosphere that I don't usually frequent. Oh, and they have an incredible white pizza.
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Supercuts
Category:
Beauty Salons
460 3rd Ave
New York, New York
(212) 447-0070
Horrible Experience at this Particular Location
Horrible Experience at this Particular Location
I am a fan of Supercuts -- cheap, relatively stylish haircuts suit me fine. I've gone to Supercuts around the country in all the cities I've lived in, and generally had good experiences. This...
I am a fan of Supercuts -- cheap, relatively stylish haircuts suit me fine. I've gone to Supercuts around the country in all the cities I've lived in, and generally had good experiences. This particular location, however, on 3rd Ave near 32nd St, was the most dismal Supercuts I have ever come across.
The facility itself was not clean -- there was hair everywhere, and some of it had been there awhile. The staff barely communicated with me (I was the only customer on a weekend afternoon, which perhaps should have tipped me off). There was a brush/clipper salesman there and the woman cutting my hair was far more interested in him than me.
I asked for a 1-inch trim and a few layers around my face -- basically easy maintenance on my last cut. I tried to engage the woman to be sure she understood me, and after a few minutes she'd convinced me that she and I were on the same page. I must have said "very basic" about six or seven times...
She then proceeded to chop me like there was no tomorrow. She gave me something entirely different than what I'd asked for. I'm going to have to get another haircut to clean up the mess she made of my head. AND, in the middle of the cut, a bandaid flew off her finger and hit me in the forehead. Needless to say, I was far from satisfied with my experience at this location.
Supercuts in general are fine -- they are McCuts, and if that's what you need, they're more than capable. But avoid the 3rd Ave/32nd St location like the plague!! They were, in one word, AWFUL.
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Don't overlook the Design bookstore
The Cooper Hewitt is a great museum, yes, but their gift shop is really a great untapped resource of amazing art and design books. They have design-related gifts as well, stuff like bags and...
The Cooper Hewitt is a great museum, yes, but their gift shop is really a great untapped resource of amazing art and design books. They have design-related gifts as well, stuff like bags and office-type stuff, but the books are really the selling point for me. I can always find a great gift here, regardless of whether I stop into the rest of the museum or not.
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Nice used bookstore
Park Slope Books has a nice selection of used books, though (as with many/most used bookstores) you are likely to have more luck just browsing rather than hunting for something specific. It is not as...
Park Slope Books has a nice selection of used books, though (as with many/most used bookstores) you are likely to have more luck just browsing rather than hunting for something specific. It is not as crowded as some of the used bookstores in Manhattan, and has a wonderful old-school bookshop vibe.
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Bookcourt
Category:
Books
163 Court St
Brooklyn, New York
(718) 875-3677
Excellent selections, kid's books too
Excellent selections, kid's books too
BookCourt is amazingly still in business, even though a huge B&N looms on a nearby corner. Unlike some independent bookstores, BookCourt's shelves are always full, and full of a great selection...
BookCourt is amazingly still in business, even though a huge B&N looms on a nearby corner. Unlike some independent bookstores, BookCourt's shelves are always full, and full of a great selection (especially travel books). The staff is helpful but not over-eager (just right), and will special order just about anything you need. There is a cute separate kid's section. Every time I've gone to BookCourt there have been plenty of Brooklyn kids and moms browsing very happily through the aisles, which creates a nice neighborhood atmosphere.
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