Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: How to Be a New Yorker
Host: David Furst (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Julia Edelstein, Features Editor, New York Magazine
Date: April 2, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode explores “How to Be a New Yorker,” highlighting New York Magazine’s annual guide featuring 259 essential city-specific tips and tricks. Features Editor Julia Edelstein discusses how the latest edition moves beyond basic advice, delving into more advanced ways to thrive and enjoy life in New York City—covering everything from celebrations and raising city kids, to self-enrichment, navigating pet ownership, and making the most of the city’s unique culture.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Evolution of "How to Be a New Yorker"

• Building on Last Year’s Basics:
  The first edition focused on essentials like housing, transportation, and food. This year, the guide takes on more advanced, nuanced aspects of city living.

  "This year we thought about it as more advanced New Yorking... We really want to make this an annual tradition." – Julia Edelstein (01:27)

• Curating Tips:
  Suggestions come from staff, expert New Yorkers, and subject specialists. Notable contributors include Tina Brown and Isaac Mizrahi.

  "We hold these tips to a very high standard and we really want them to be things we didn’t know." – Julia Edelstein (02:45)

[03:12] Celebrate the Good Stuff

• Tips for unique celebrations: from upscale private dining experiences at La Vu d'Or to quirky, budget-friendly parties at B&H Dairy (which includes a tuna melt lesson and karaoke for $700).
• For kids’ parties, non-traditional venues like Twinkle Play Space in Williamsburg stand out, where teacup pigs can be part of the celebration.

  "You can have teacup pigs come to your party at this place at Twinkle Play Space, which we think is very special." – Julia Edelstein (05:18)

• Other unique venues include Circle Line cruises (up to 600 guests!) and the lively Zara Forest in Staten Island with singing staff and flaming plates.

[06:13] How to Raise a City Kid

• Daycare & Schools:
  Prioritize twos programs connected to free 3K & 4K for easier future admissions—a tip many parents wish they’d known earlier.

  "Finding a twos program that is in the same center as a free 3K and 4K program makes a lot of sense..." – Julia Edelstein (06:25)

• School Research:
  Direct advice: Stand outside schools to talk with parents, which is more valuable than online forums or tours.

  "A lot of parents told us that that was how they figured out where to send their kids, more than going on message boards or even tours." – Julia Edelstein (06:54)

[07:47] Volunteering: Building Community & Belonging

• Listener Leah calls in to recommend volunteering—at art fairs, Parks Department, Planned Parenthood, community fridges— as a fast-track to meeting people and feeling at home.

  "It's a great way to meet your community... you feel like an outsider. But it's a really great way to find people who will welcome you into the city and to learn how to be here." – Leah, caller (07:47)

• Julia notes the package includes unique animal rescue tips: walk an adoptable dog to connect and give back.

[10:15] How to Learn Something New

• Affordable Education: Residents 60+ can audit CUNY courses for $65. Borough of Manhattan Community College is cited as the best value for accumulating credits.

  "If you're over 60, you can audit for $65 any class in the CUNY system, which is really an amazing deal." – Julia Edelstein (10:42)

• Quirky Classes: Brooklyn Brainery offers one-off classes like the “History of Toilets” or dumpling-making. Urban foraging with Steve Brill and Central Park fly-fishing are also featured.

[12:16] Pet-Friendly City Life

• Tips for finding dog-welcoming areas, standout dog runs, and hidden gems like Bark in the Park at Citi Field (enjoy a Mets game with your dog).

  "Bark in the Park at Citi Field... is the most fun thing that you can possibly do with your dog in the city." – Julia Edelstein (12:38)

• Store recommendations for pet-loving families include Zoomies, Canine Styles, and Gone to the Dogs. Instagram-famous dog photographers' favorites are also shared.

[13:57] Interacting With Neighbors & Building Cross-Generational Friendships

• Listener Carla describes befriending elderly neighbors, running errands with them, sharing holiday experiences, and integrating families—a unique way to connect deeply in the city.

  "One of my closest friends I feel right now is Rosalyn, who's well into her 90s... I just feel like it's a really meaningful way to... give back to my community and, you know, feel like I'm doing something..." – Carla, caller (13:57)

• Julia highlights that making friends with neighbors is an underappreciated perk of New York living.

[15:37] How to Look Good: Salons, Spas, and Barber Shops

• Little-known suggestions for budget massages at student training centers (Swedish Institute, Mildred Ellie); West 8th Street as “foot massage row.”
• Specialized beauty tips: Eyebrow shaping, hair coloring for grays, and more, with a hyper-local, tailored approach.

[16:47] City Experiences: Botanical Garden Orchid Show and Celebrations

• Listener Carol shares that the annual Orchid Show at the Botanical Gardens is a must-see, especially this year’s Concrete Jungle-themed installation featuring NYC motifs made entirely from flowers.

  "They have a pizza place, a subway station, all kinds of iconic New York displays, all in flowers and seeds and bark and things, all natural ingredients. It's amazing." – Carol, caller (16:47)

• Julia puts it on her list, agreeing it’s an unmissable city experience.

[17:44] How to See Live Music

• Reporter Dan Riley’s tips:
  • Don’t worry if a Central or Prospect Park concert is 'sold out'—bring a picnic and listen nearby.
  • Operation Gig organizes free porch concerts in Ditmas Park.
  • Pioneer Works in Red Hook offers a unique, ever-changing concert space.
• Saving money: Buying tickets in-person at box offices can avoid Ticketmaster fees—be sure to check the irregular box office hours online.

  "The hours of the box office are not normal. So you need to go online and check when they are open... but you will avoid all the fees." – Julia Edelstein (18:39)

[19:04] Listener Shout-Out: Community Events

• A text recommends the annual Tulip Festival at West Side Community Garden (April–May), proof of the city's endless, evolving array of experiences.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Living in New York has gotten only more complicated. So we thought, let's dig into some sort of more micro, advanced categories.” – Julia Edelstein (01:53)
• “Everyone needs to take their backpacks off when they're on the subway... he will go to his grave just trying to get this message out.” – Julia Edelstein (04:45)
• “There's so much school choice in New York. It's unlike any other city.” – Julia Edelstein (06:54)
• “It's really crucial to find a community in New York... when you're walking around, you recognize people.” – Julia Edelstein (08:39)
• “Brooklyn Brainery... For example, they have a history of toilets class. History of toilets, sure.” – Julia Edelstein (11:26)
• “I just feel like it's a really meaningful way to, like, give back to my community... letting them give something to me.” – Carla, caller (13:57)
• “Depending on how old you are, you either know this and are like duh or you did not know this. And I think it's just an important PSA.” – Julia Edelstein, on box office tickets (18:39)

Structured Episode Timestamps

• 00:09 – Introduction; purpose of “How to Be a New Yorker”
• 01:27 – Advanced focus for this edition; sourcing tips
• 03:12 – Celebrating in NYC: unique venues
• 06:13 – Raising City Kids: school admissions, parent networking
• 07:47 – Caller: Volunteering as a newcomer; community tips
• 10:15 – Learning Something New: classes, quirky education
• 12:16 – Living with Pets: dog-friendly spots and events
• 13:57 – Befriending Neighbors: intergenerational stories
• 15:37 – Looking Good: beauty and wellness tips
• 16:47 – Key festivals and city events (Orchid Show)
• 17:44 – Hearing Live Music, saving on tickets
• 19:04 – Additional listener tips (Tulip Festival)
• 19:32 – Conclusion

Episode Tone

The conversation is lively, informed, and practical—mixing insider knowledge with communal warmth and humor. Julia’s expertise and enthusiasm are matched by spirited listener calls that further enrich the sense of community and city pride.

In Summary

This episode delivers a vibrant, well-curated trove of real-world advice for anyone seeking not merely to survive but to flourish as a New Yorker. Through detailed categories and crowd-sourced wisdom, it captures the spirit, resourcefulness, and neighborliness that define city life—inviting all listeners to find their own place, passion, and people in the city that never sleeps.