About
the Tours –
These are exploratory tours: I’ll take you anywhere publicly accessible
within the 5 boroughs of New York and can work with any kind of theme
or area - the stranger or more obscure, the better. Plan on
seeing things you’ve never even heard of before – heck, plan on seeing
things maybe even I’ve never heard of before. Most
tours are by a combination of subway and walking - the subway is one of
the most interesting parts of the city, and is part of the tour in and
of itself. However, I can do car or bus tours if you
have your own transportation, and I also specialized in bike tours,
which are one of the best ways to see the city. Pedicab
tours are also available.
My goal as a tour
guide is not just to show you the city - it's to have you
understand the city, and truly know the parts of it that interest
you. A good tour guide's job is to make him or herself
obsolete. After a tour with me, you'll feel comfortable
traveling and exploring anywhere in the city on your own.
Examples – I can work with absolutely
any area or theme. I’ve done tours in all 5 boroughs, at
all hours of the day and night. Three of my most popular
are:
Ethnic Blitz – Travel the world in an afternoon! Four
hours, an unlimited Metrocard, and a mission to see (and eat in) as
many of New York City’s amazing ethnic neighborhoods as
possible. Record is 12 countries, representing 5 continents
(and 3 boroughs).
The Bronx, Past and
Present – The Bronx today contains some of
most vibrant and interesting areas of the city. And
historically, it’s made some amazing contributions to American arts and
literature. The most unappreciated of the boroughs, the
Bronx IS New York City culture, yesterday and today.
The Other Jews of
New York – You know Seinfeld, “Oh Vey” and
the storied Lower East Side. But Jewish culture in New York
is much, much more than just what you’ve seen in Woody Allen
movies. Jewish communities from every continent, of every
religious persuasion and ideology, exist throughout the 5
boroughs. Meet some of the Jews you don’t see on Seinfeld.
Rates – there’s the boring way and
the fun way. The boring way is $50/hour base rate with a
2-hour minimum + $5/hour per person (so $55/hour for a one person tour,
$75/hour for a five person tour). Discounts are available
for large groups. The fun way is to make me an offer
- whatever you can think of; maybe I’ll go for it and maybe I
won’t. Access to anywhere interesting in New York (or
anywhere in the world for that matter) is sure to at least get you a
pretty decent discount.
Every once in a while I’ll also lead a casual group
walking or bicycle trip to an interesting corner of the boroughs if the
mood and circumstances hit. A couple of other people who do
this and are worth tagging along with are Kevin Walsh and Matt Green.
Contact – Moe@AllCityNewYork.com
About You – There are a few criteria
you’ve got to fulfill as well if you want in on the tours.
You must be curious. You must have an idea of the type of
things you want to see and discover. You must be willing to
walk (or bike) and spend time on public transportation. And
you must be willing to go anywhere in the 5 boroughs.
