| name | New York |
| slug | new-york |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| description | Navigate New York City as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transport, costs, safety, and local insights. |
| metadata | {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🗽","requires":{"bins":[]},"os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}} |
When to Use
User asks about NYC for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| Manhattan | neighborhoods-manhattan.md |
| Brooklyn | neighborhoods-brooklyn.md |
| Queens | neighborhoods-queens.md |
| Choosing guide | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & essentials | food-overview.md |
| NYC classics (pizza, bagels, deli) | food-classics.md |
| Ethnic neighborhoods | food-ethnic.md |
| Food halls & markets | food-halls.md |
| Budget & dietary | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety | safety.md |
| Weather | climate.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry | tech.md |
| Students | student.md |
| Startups | startup.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. Safety Context
NYC is one of the safest large US cities. Main concerns:
- Phone snatching (subway doors)
- Pickpocketing in tourist areas
- Package theft
See
safety.md for area-specific guidance.
3. Weather Surprises
| Myth | Reality |
|---|
| "Always cold" | Summers are HOT and humid (85°F+) |
| "Don't need AC" | July-August brutal without it |
| "Winters mild" | Can drop to 20°F, wind makes it worse |
Best weather: September-October (fall), April-May (spring)
4. Current Data
| Item | Range |
|---|
| 1BR rent (Manhattan) | $4,200-5,600/mo |
| 1BR rent (Brooklyn) | $3,200-4,100/mo |
| Senior SWE salary | $220K-300K total comp |
| Student budget | $2,000-2,700/month |
| Subway single ride | $3.00 (OMNY caps at $35/week) |
5. Tourist Traps
- Skip: Times Square dining, Madame Tussauds, most of Little Italy
- Do: Free museums (Met, AMNH pay-what-you-wish for NY residents), Staten Island Ferry (FREE Statue views)
- Book ahead: Statue of Liberty crown (3-6 months), Broadway shows, hot restaurants
6. Transit is King
- Subway covers everything 24/7
- OMNY (contactless) = auto fare cap ($35/week)
- Taxis/Uber expensive — subway faster for most trips
- Citymapper app essential
7. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|
| Young professionals | East Village, Williamsburg, LIC, Bushwick |
| Families | Park Slope, UWS, Astoria, Brooklyn Heights |
| Budget-conscious | Washington Heights, Jackson Heights, Crown Heights |
| Tech workers | Flatiron, DUMBO, LIC, Williamsburg |
NYC-Specific Traps
- Times Square dining — Tourist prices, mediocre food. Walk 5 blocks for better.
- Little Italy — 2 blocks of overpriced tourist traps. Arthur Ave (Bronx) is real Italian.
- Airbnb short stays — Mostly illegal since Sept 2023. Use hotels.
- Summer humidity — Heat index makes 85°F feel like 100°F. Subway platforms brutal.
- Phone snatching — Most common crime. Don't use phone at subway doors.
- Dollar pizza — $1.50-2 now. Spend $4-5 for actual quality (Joe's, Scarr's).
