SNYC Blog
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- Artisan Markets 2
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- Bars 5
- Bookstores 20
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- East Village 25
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- Greenwich Village 13
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- Restaurants 53
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- Specialty Stores 37
- Thrifting 6
- Upper East Side 3
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- Vinyl Stores 2
- West Village 4
- Williamsburg 5
Russ & Daughters Cafe, Lower East Side
The famous Russ & Daughters opened a restaurant after 100 years of business in their very popular store in 2014.
The Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Saturday 20 June 2026 is the 44th annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade. It will be my 16th time attending and photographing it.
Photography in NYC
Photography in general and street photography more specifically are legal in all public places in NYC so long as you are not obstructing traffic or sidewalks. My number one rule is be respectful. Remember that people live here. Don't block the sidewalks. Tripods are to be used with that in mind. Use them with caution.
Some Basics
New York City is not just Manhattan! It isn't all skyscrapers and traffic jams! There's also Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. The combined population is 8.6 million people with 1.6 million in Manhattan alone. It is the most culturally diverse city in the world!
Tour Guides
You should expect them to be polite and take your goals into consideration. I provide custom itineraries. That may not be the case for all tour guides. In my opinion they should also provide comfort, information, history, amusing facts, suggestions and show you the NYC that New Yorkers experience.
Festivals & Parades
There are so many festivals and parades and other events in New York City it isn't possible to list them all. This is a curated list and I will be adding to it on a regular basis.
Tipping in NYC
It may not be customary to tip where you come from, but in America and especially in New York City, people who work in service industry jobs are often paid less than minimum wage and they rely on tips to pay their bills.
Dress for Success
The weather in NYC varies quite a bit and sometimes we don’t even know from day to day what the weather will be like. Be prepared for the rain or cold.
Be Mindful on the Streets
Be mindful - NYC is a very busy and crowded city and New Yorkers tend to be in hurry and are very determined walkers. In a city of 8.6 million people with another 1.5 million commuters there are unwritten rules that make it possible for us to all live together peacefully – people live here.