Hey New York City, newbies, what's going on? We've been coming at you a lot, what with NYC life hacks and with mistakes NYC rookies make.
Why? Well, we're generous like that. We want to give you the best shot to succeed in this insane city. The cartoons below, created by illustrator Nathan W. Pyle, help us with that.
Hilarious, informative, and well-drawn, Pyle's cartoons encapsulate some extremely poignant scenarios that occur upon living in NYC.
So, compadres, check out the cartoons below and become informed about NYC etiquette.
You'll become knowledgeable while probably even catching a laugh or two. For more cartoons like these, check out Nathan W. Pyle's blog.
1. Self preservation is entwined with etiquette
Via Nathan W. Pyle
Making out in the street does happen in NYC. If you're lucky, it may even happen to you.
How long is too long, though? As you can see in this graphic, Nathan Pyle has innovated a nifty trick. If you're wondering whether something you're doing is rude, consider whether it endangers your self preservation. If the answer is yes, then your lip lock has gone on too long.
No middle-of-the-street make out session is worth the loss of your luggage. Well, maybe there are a few middle-of-the-street make out sessions that are worth the loss of your luggage, but bring it somewhere you won't get your luggage stolen, alright?
2. Navigating the West Village is tricky
Via Nathan W. Pyle
The West Village, eclectic, energizing, and lovely to be in notwithstanding, has topsy turvy streets. It deviates from the rest of Manhattan's wonderfully constructed, easy-to-find-your-way anywhere grid system.
Pyle is right when he tells you to bring a map, your smart phone, someone who knows where they're going, etc. Orienting yourself in the West Village is not for the faint at heart.
The East Village is much more pleasant to navigate than its West Village counterpart. It's got delightfully numbered streets and even more delightfully numbered avenues. When you get even further East than First Avenue, the avenues switch to letters. How appealing!
3. Avoid solicitors
Via Nathan W. Pyle
We already told you not to make eye contact with solicitors, unless you feel like spending the rest of your afternoon ripping out your hair while they ramble on. Really, you shouldn't be making eye contact with any stranger out there in the concrete jungle, but that's another story.
The point is, you need to avoid solicitors at all costs. If you anticipate the opportunity to use a stranger to debunk a solicitor's approach, then you should do so guiltlessly.
4. It doesn't rain on sunny days
Via Nathan W. Pyle
If you're confused about why it's raining when there isn't a cloud in the sky, it probably isn't raining.
Sometimes in NYC, when water falls from the sky, it isn't coming from the clouds. One glance up will probably reveal to you that the splat on the head you just received came falling from an airconditioner overhead.
In order to be a real New Yorker you will occasionally have to endure the falling of "air conditioner" rain. Yes, it's gross, but it isn't the end of the world.
5. A sturdy umbrella is worth the cost
Via Nathan W. Pyle
In NYC, we do a lot of walking. Every single morning we have to walk from our apartments to the subway and then from the subway to work, and then at the end of the day all over again.
In fact, we walk more than anyone else in the country.
So when it rains, it affects us. It does seem tempting to buy the cheap, flimsy umbrella. That probably would have worked for you wherever you lived before, but Pyle is right that it's just not worth it to do here.
Your $20 umbrella will keep you dry, and it will outlast all your lame $5 umbrellas.
Having a great umbrella is really important in this city, because showing up at work like you just fell into a pool is not a great look.
6. Don't be the person who lets cold air into the restaurant
Via Nathan W. Pyle
Don't listen to what anyone says. Making everyone in the restaurant like you is important.
If nothing else, abide by the golden rule. If you wouldn't want someone to hold open the restaurant door, letting in a whole heap of frigid, icy air, then don't do that to others. Browse the restaurant from the outside and commit to coming in if you open the door.
Don't stand in the doorway holding it open and imposing frostbite on everyone inside. Just don't do it.
Check out 7 Harsh Realities for Transplant New Yorkers.