from me to yu

Still early….but…

We’ve seen what some New Yorkers have to say about tourist etiquette, but what about the other way around? The tourists put lots of money into our city’s pockets, so we might as well hear them out. We’ve rounded up some former NYC tourists, from Amsterdam to New Jersey and beyond—and they have a few etiquette tips (and observations) of their own:

• Don’t walk so fast!
• Don’t roll your eyes at me when I pronounce “Houston” Street like the city in Texas.
• Don’t say I’m stupid for calling the subways by colors.
• Don’t tell me I’m dumb for eating at the Olive Garden—I love breadsticks!
• Slow down! There is always such a rush at the restaurants… as soon as somebody is done with eating they take away the plate, even if other people at the table are still eating.
• At least make eye contact while “clinking glasses”!
• Stop talking about how you live in the greatest city in the world. We get it.
• Don’t cycle so fast in the bike lane on the Brooklyn Bridge while I am trying to capture the skyline.
• My advice would be, like here in Amsterdam, be proud of your city not only towards your neighbor but also to outsiders—just to show your hospitality. Allow us to ask for directions as we will do the same for you when you come over.
• Explain to us why the tipping in restaurants etc is the way it is in stead of getting angry if we tip less than you are used to.
• Say thank you if someone holds the door open for you. Also, while we’re on the subject, if you see me struggling with my bags and my coffee maybe wait the extra five seconds to hold the door open for me. I will even thank you for it!
• Tell me where to buy counterfeit purses.
• Give me correct directions… New Yorkers have too much pride, if you ask for directions and they don’t really know the answer, they will make something up rather than saying, “Sorry, I’m not sure.”

It is Tuesday, the first day after Labor Day. The calendar says summer has a few weeks left, but New Yorkers know the calendar lies. With Labor Day’s passing summer is over. The house shares in the Hamptons have expired. The sunshades are furled. Into the closet goes the seersucker. Out come the black, gray and midnight-blue outfits that sheltered there from the heat.

The city’s schools reopen on Thursday. But this is Back to School Day for adults. Recess is over. Even Mother Nature seemed to get the memo this year, or perhaps she’s the one sending it. The message: “Get off the beach. Get back to work.”

Since July critics for The New York Times have reviewed the inadvertent artistry of everyday life. Music critics visited Yankee Stadium and the tangle of traffic around the Holland Tunnel. A theater critic went to a restaurant and a dance critic to Grand Central Terminal. A book critic discovered the words of the streets and an art critic found the visually appealing happenstance of Manhattan.

I am the game critic. To me New York after Labor Day has always felt like a great game resuming. The whistle blows, and millions of people get back to the game of making money. With one day the feeling of the city changes. It becomes more urgent — strident even — less playful and more serious. New York City is not a game played for fun. It is a game played for keeps.