NYC Insider Guide
About Me
NYC Insider - Melissa
Hi! I'm Melissa, a fourth generation New Yorker, who has been lucky enough to live in New York for over 30 years. I love just about everything in New York City, the very reason I started this web site, and I look forward to sharing it all with you.
I am privileged to experience slices of New York no tourist could see without some guidance. Some are not available to the public, or just won't be during your visit, but many are, and are all over this site. When I travel, I'm often surprised at some people's opinions of New York City. Dirty city, rude people? I just cannot figure out what city they were in - because it certainly wasn't mine!
The NYC Insider Guide
NYC Skyline View with Water Taxi. © Dad
The NYC Insider Guide came when I tried to help a friend plan her New York City vacation from another country. With all the information about NYC, little of it was targeted to visitors wanting to live like a "real New Yorker," a more sophisticated traveler or someone who had already been here and seen most of the typical tourist attractions.
While some New York City Tourism Guides have great reference material, none of them can address what's going in New York City now, today, this minute! Besides, do you really want to walk around carrying a Tourist Guide?
Family History
My Grandfather, Uncle and Father were all taxi drivers. Family folklore states my grandfather was the fourth licensed taxi driver in New York City, and bought his medallion for $5 in 1937 (today they sell for $600,000 and up). As a 'cabbie' for over 40 years, he put three daughters through college, and his driving stories are just incredible!
Mom and Cousin on my
Uncle's Checker Cab,
Circa 1950
My father is a passionate photographer and his NYC photos (and many others) are all over this site. He is the crazy man on the side of the Queensborough Bridge, next to 75 mph traffic, with a tripod, waiting for just the right light to take a picture of our famous New York City Skyline.
Through family and friends, my life has been filled with stories of old NYC, "back in the day," while experiencing modern New York City, which changes daily - but manages to retain so much of it's historical culture and charm.
About Me
Fortunately, I only have to head to my 20th floor roof deck to see amazing 360 degree views of Manhattan, including the Empire State, Chrysler, Met Life and Con Edison buildings, down to the southern tip of the island near the Statue of Liberty. I go up every morning with my coffee, most evenings with a glass of wine, and on a nice day, you may actually catch me doing yoga on my roof - talk about a surreal experience. My roof deck is my own little slice of heaven in the heart of NYC.
New York City Sunset View from Roof Deck
What often happens is I live my life, and then it appears on TV or in the Movies. My real life stories have been (unintentional) premises for Seinfeld, Friends, Sex and the City and so many more. The streets of our city are filmed every day - goodness, just look at Law and Order.
I've had the privilege of attending several MLB World Series games, Tennis U.S. Opens, Golf U.S. Opens, Stanley Cup games and NBA Finals (Superbowl is still on the list). Our venues host more than sports as we also have countless concerts of the world's greatest talents.
My high school was filled with some amazing people, many of whom have become Hollywood legends and Broadway Stars. Meeting famous actors, politicians and sports stars, or being invited to exclusive events and seeing history being made are wonderful. But, it's the "every day" happenings in NYC that are my favorites - and they are just like yours are at home, only our backdrop is different.
Please relax and enjoy the information on my site. I hope it helps you plan your New York City Vacation, so you not only go home as a NYC Insider, but plan to visit us again soon.
Thank you for visiting the NYC Insider Guide ...welcome to our city and I hope you love it as much as I do!
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Related Trip Planning Pages: Perfect Vacation Top 10, Cheap Flights to New York, New York City Hotel Deals, Statue of Liberty Tickets, New York City Broadway Tickets, New York City Bus Tour, New York City Pass Discounts, New York City Printable Guide
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Thank you for visiting the NYC Insider Guide ...welcome to our city and I hope you love it as much as I do!
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Welcome to New York City!
