Welcome to NY by Halley Bondy

This article from Backstage.com covers some good stuff, especially on healthcare. I've reposted some of the info here:

Transportation

Subways and buses may be crowded, unpleasant, and unpredictable, but they're quite often the best way to get around New York, and your MetroCard will become your constant companion. Subway and bus rides cost $2 each way. Put $7 or more on your MetroCard and you receive a 15 percent bonus; for example, a $20 purchase gives you $23 on your card. The cost of a 30-day unlimited-ride card was recently increased to $81 from $76, and by the time you read this it may have gone up again. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority doesn't cut many breaks, but you can get the best bang for your buck by assessing your lifestyle and the length of your stay in the city.

You can buy MetroCards only in the subway or at participating bodegas, delis, and newsstands — not on buses. Single rides can be purchased on buses using coins only. Most riders learn that lesson the hard way, but by having an unlimited-ride MetroCard with you at all times, you can save yourself a lot of hassle, if not much money.

If you're out late and feel like taking a taxi, be sure to hail a yellow cab. They're metered and the fare is regulated by the city (fares can be found at www.nyc.gov/taxi). However, yellow cabs are often unavailable, especially in the outer boroughs, in which case it's best to carry the number of a reputable car service. Hailing an unlicensed "gypsy" cab could get you home, but you're risking high prices and unmonitored practice

Cable, Internet, and Phone

When it comes to cable television, high-speed Internet access, and landline phone service, your options are limited to giant multinational corporations. But they all offer cheaper, bundled options that put all three services on one bill. The basic rates do not include premium cable channels such as HBO and Showtime.

Cablevision serves Long Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Its latest bundled service, called Optimum Triple Play, includes high-speed Internet, digital cable, and phone service; each costs $29.95 a month for one year when you order all three. If you haven't memorized the catchy commercial jingle already, the number is (877) 393-4448. Time Warner Cable serves Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and western Brooklyn. Its bundle costs $100-$120 a month (with a three-year agreement) and varies by area. For Manhattan call (212) 358-0900; for Brooklyn and Queens call (718) 358-0900; for Staten Island call (718) 816-8686. RCN is the slightly cheaper option for Manhattan and several neighborhoods in Queens. Its bundle costs $90 a month; call (800) 746-4726.

Health Care

Before you purchase health insurance, first visit the New York State Insurance Department website at www.ins.state.ny.us/ihmoindx.htm, where you can compare rates among all the HMOs serving New York, such as Aetna, Oxford, and Cigna. The city government website (www.nyc.gov) also has information about free clinics around the city.

But you don't have to navigate the confusing options and paperwork alone. The Actors Fund, a service organization for entertainment industry professionals, offers counseling and seminars on acquiring health care. It also provides free health clinics and various social services. Contact the New York branch at (800) 221-7303 or go to www.actorsfund.org.

Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit service and advocacy organization for artists, also offers assistance in acquiring health care; call (212) 277-8020 or go to www.fracturedatlas.org. There is also the Freelancers Union (www.freelancersunion.org). Actors' Equity Association (www.actorsequity.org), the Screen Actors Guild (www.sag.org), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (www.aftra.com) offer health insurance plans for working members.

Power

Con Edison is the sole electricity provider in New York City and the gas provider for Manhattan, the Bronx, and parts of Queens. Just prior to moving in, you should make an appointment with Con Ed and open an online or pay-by-mail account, or else suffer without utilities until your schedule aligns with theirs. Though the company isn't afraid to shut off your lights if you haven't paid your bill, you can call to get a payment extension. Call (800) 752-6633 or go to www.coned.com to set up an appointment or check rates. National Grid (formerly KeySpan) is the gas provider in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island; call (800) 539-7726 or www2.nationalgridus.com.

Noise Control

New York may be the city that never sleeps, but you will need to. Unfortunately, the noise levels around town aren't always conducive to heavenly slumbers. Some apartments sit above 24-hour businesses, others have neon lights outside their windows, while others just have annoying neighbors. There are, however, small preventative measures you can take: earplugs, white-noise machines (such as the Sound Soother), eye masks (available at Bed Bath & Beyond), or, in the summer, a loud fan. But the best way to control your noise level is to be very discriminate when choosing an apartment. It's best to get one in a building with thick walls or on the upper floors of a tall building.

Pest Control

One of the dirtiest not-so-secrets of New York is its pest problem. Even the cleanest, richest inhabitants of the city are vulnerable to infestation, and everyone has witnessed the rats on the subway tracks. The same old enemies — cockroaches, mice, and rats — don't seem to budge, while a bedbug problem has grown in the past few years. Your landlord is legally obligated to keep your apartment vermin-free, so if you suspect an infestation — if you wake up with bug bites, for instance — don't wait to inform your superintendent. If your building does not provide extermination services within 30 days, you are within your rights to take legal action.

It is highly recommended that you leave dangerous pesticides to a professional exterminator. Not only are the sprays hazardous to your health, but they can be ineffectual if used improperly. In the meantime, take preventative measures: Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink, and wipe the counters and sweep the floor routinely. (Pests aren't likely to stick around if you don't feed them.) To avoid bedbugs, vacuum regularly, avoid clutter, wash your clothes frequently, and wrap your mattress in plastic.

Cheap Tickets

Enough with the drudgery; it's time to play, and what better way than to go to the theatre? With Broadway ticket prices rocketing above $350 at times, however, the Great White Way can seem out of reach. No matter. There are ways to get discounted Broadway tickets and plenty of theatre beyond Broadway besides.

Websites offering deep Broadway and other entertainment discounts include Play-by-Play (www.play-by-play.com), Audience Extras (www. audienceextras.com), and the Theatre Development Fund (www.tdf.org). Each requires a membership and/or yearly subscription fee, but members of Audience Extras, for instance, can purchase tickets for as little as a $3.50 service charge. TDF, a nonprofit organization, has certain requirements for membership, including full-time student status, full-time teacher status, or status as a performing arts professional; see the website for a full list.

If you're an employee of a company in the New York City area, check with your human resources department to see if you have access to Plum Benefits (www.plumbenefits.com), a service that provides discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, sporting events, family events, and attractions.

TDF also runs the TKTS discount booths in Times Square, at South Street Seaport, and in downtown Brooklyn, where you can purchase Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets for up to 50 percent off. The Times Square booth sells matinee tickets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. It sells evening tickets Mon.-Sat., 3-8 p.m. The South Street Seaport booth is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon.-Sat., but closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Brooklyn booth, located in 1 MetroTech Center at the corner of Jay Street and Myrtle Street Promenade, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and also sells tickets to Brooklyn performing arts events.

Taking advantage of TKTS, however, can swallow much of the day. The lines back up for up to three hours, and the tickets are sold only for performances on the day of purchase (except at the South Street Seaport and Brooklyn booths, where you can buy matinee tickets for the next day's performances should they be available). If you arrive at the Times Square booth closer to curtain time, particularly for evening shows during the week (say between 6 and 7:45 p.m. before an 8 p.m. show), the lines can be quite short. But after buying your ticket, be prepared for a brisk sprint to the theatre.

Off-Broadway is cheaper than Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway is cheaper than both, with prices from $10 to $20. The New York International Fringe Festival, which features more than 200 Off-Off-Broadway shows, runs Aug. 8-24 this year and offers tickets for $15 each. NYTheatre.com is a great resource for all New York City theatre, with a focus on the cheaper independent scene. And remember, if you have a valid student I.D., be sure to bring it anytime you purchase tickets anywhere, as many shows offer student discounts.