When Will The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Be Lit?

Juan Tamad: When Will The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Be Lit?

Einstein: The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is typically lit the week after Thanksgiving.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is one of New York City's most celebrated events for over 75 years, and a world-wide symbol of the NYC holiday season. In recent years, the lighting has been broadcast live nationwide on NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center show.

Juan: Where is Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree located?

Einstein: The tree is located at Rockefeller Plaza, between West 48th and West 51st Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues, Manhattan.


Juan: Is it lit the whole time?

Einstein: The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is typically illuminated from 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. daily, except on Christmas and New Year's Eve. On Christmas, the tree is illuminated for 24 hours and on New Year's Eve the lights are turned off at 9:00 p.m.


Juan: How big is the tree?

Einstein: The tree, usually a Norway spruce, is about 69 to 110 feet (21 to 33 m) tall. It has been put up, with the exception of 1932, every year since 1931. The tallest Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center was a 100 foot spruce from Killingworth, Connecticut erected in 1999.


Juan: Where do these trees came from?

Einstein: Many Rockefeller trees were given to Rockefeller Center by donors. The late David Murbach, Manager of the Gardens Division of Rockefeller Center, scouted in a helicopter for the desired tree in areas including Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, upstate New York, New Jersey, and even Ottawa, Canada. Once a suitable tree is located, a crane supports it while it is cut, and moves it to a custom telescoping trailer that can transport trees up to 125 feet (38 m) tall, although the width of New York City streets passing through Rockefeller Center limits the height of the trees to 110 ft.


History of the Rockefeller Center Tree:

1931 - Workmen put up a 20 foot balsam fir Christmas tree on a muddy Rockefeller Center construction site.

1933 - First formal Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony. The 50 foot tree was decked with 700 lights in front of the eight-month-old RCA Building and the lighting ceremony was broadcast over NBC radio.

1936 - Two trees, each 70 feet tall, were erected. For the first time the Lighting Ceremony included a skating pageant on the newly opened Rockefeller Plaza Outdoor Ice Skating Pond.

1942 - Three trees were placed on Rockefeller Plaza, one decorated in red, one in white and the other in blue to show support for our troops serving during World War II.

1949 - The tree was painted silver, to look like snow.

1951 ­- The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was lit for the first time on national television on the Katie Smith Show.

1963 - After the 1963 Christmas Tree had spent three weeks on holiday display, its 60 feet of Norway wood was donated to a Boy Scout troop.

1966 - The first tree from outside the United States was erected. It was given by Canada, in honor of the Centennial of its Confederation. This is the farthest distance a tree has traveled to Rockefeller Center.

1980 - A 70 foot-tall Norway Spruce came from the grounds of the Immaculate Conception Seminary of Mahwah, N.J. Bob Hope participated in the Lighting.

1999 -­ The largest tree in Rockefeller Center history - a 100 foot high, 100 year old, 10 ton Norway Spruce - was chosen from Killingworth, CT.

2004 ­ - The Swarovski-designed star is created. It is the largest star to ever grace the tree, measures 9 1/2 feet in diameter and 1 1/2 feet deep, and is adorned with 25,000 crystals and one million facets illuminated by 720 LED bulbs make the star shine bright. It weighs 550 pounds.

2007 - The 75th tree marked the start of a new eco-friendly tradition in 2007. It was cut down with a two-person handsaw, and illuminated by 30,000 LEDs that used a fraction of the energy of normal bulbs. When the time came to take the tree down, Rockefeller Center partnered with Habitat for Humanity, which milled and treated it for future use as “green” lumber.

2010 - The Norway spruce towers 74 feet and weighs 12 tons. The tree is approximately 75 years old. 30,000 multi-colored LED lights wrapped on 5 miles of wire make the iconic tree glow.


More Tree Facts:

The Rockefeller Center's Christmas Tree draws millions of visitors from across the globe. 2.5 million spectators visit the tree each year.

The tree drinks up to 90 gallons of water a day at the outset, which lessens over time.

In 2007, the tree goes green with energy-efficient LED lights that save 2,213 kilowatt hours per day – as much as a single family would use in a month to power a 2,000 square foot house. Now, the tree consumes 1,297 kilowatt hours of electricity per day.

Although the official Christmas tree tradition at Rockefeller Center began in 1933 (the year the 30 Rockefeller Plaza opened),the unofficial tradition began during the Depression-era construction of Rockefeller Center, when workers decorated a small 20 foot balsam fir tree with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans" on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1931, as recounted by Daniel Okrent in his history of Rockefeller Center. Some accounts have the tree decorated with the tin foil ends of blasting caps.


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What is Black Friday?

Juan Tamad: What is Black Friday?

Einstein: Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day many U.S. retailers open very early, often at 5 a.m. or even earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season.

The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving. Use of the term began by 1966 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the period during which retailers are turning a profit, or "in the black."

One of the earliest recorded uses was September 24, 1869 was deemed Black Friday; a day of stock market catastrophe. The history of the day after Thanksgiving being the official start of the holiday shopping season may be linked together with the idea of Santa Claus parades. Parades celebrating Thanksgiving often include an appearance by Santa at the end of the parade, with the idea that 'Santa has arrived' or 'Santa is just around the corner'.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many Santa parades or Thanksgiving Day parades were sponsored by department stores. These include the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, in Canada, sponsored by Eaton's, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade sponsored by Macy's. Department stores would use the parades to launch a big advertising push. Eventually it just became an unwritten rule that no store would try doing Christmas advertising before the parade was over. Therefore, the day after Thanksgiving became the day when the shopping season officially started.

Juan Tamad: What is Cyber Monday?

Einstein: The term Cyber Thanksgiving, refers to online retailer's Thanksgiving Day promotions.

Thanksgiving Day is becoming increasingly important for online sales, according to e-commerce watchers. It has become the lead-in for five days of online deals experts say are causing some bargain hunters to shop online instead of standing in line at stores.

Some websites offer information about day after athanksgiving specials up to a month in advance. The text listings of items and prices are usually accompanied by pictures of the actual ad circulars. These are either leaked by insiders or intentionally released by large retailers to give consumers insight and allow them time to plan.

Tips: To get the most out of Black Friday, here are links to this year's deals...

• BlackFriday.info
• Bargainist.com
• DealTaker.com
• BFads.net
• TheBlackFriday.com
• TGIblackFriday

Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Juan Tamad: Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving?

Einstein: The exact menu of the very first Thanksgiving celebration, or more accurately harvest festival, is still a matter of debate among food historians. A letter written twenty-two years after the event suggests the main courses included lobsters, eels, fish and venison, all foods familiar to the native Americans and readily available in that region of North America. One food item conspicuously missing from that first menu is turkey, however. There is written evidence to suggest the governor of the Pilgrims did send men into the field to capture wild fowl, but it is highly likely the hunters brought back smaller birds such as quail, pheasant and duck, not the much larger and more elusive wild turkey. In addition to being a native bird, large birds like the turkey can be symbols of abundance, and the time and effort traditionally required to prepare them means they are often saved for special occasions.

The substantial size of a typical domestic turkey may also explain its popularity during Thanksgiving. The underlying theme of the holiday is to acknowledge a wealth of material and spiritual abundance, so the serving of a large and flavorful bird would fit that theme quite well. Much like the Christmas goose or the Easter lamb, a Thanksgiving Day turkey, at least during the time of the Pilgrims, still had an exotic rarity about it. The labor-intensive preparation and long cooking time, also meant that most settlers would have waited until a very special occasion to take on the challenge of serving turkeys. Although modern poultry farming methods have made turkeys much less exotic, preparing a whole turkey on Thanksgiving can be seen as a connection to the bountiful tables of the past.

The wild turkey almost became the national symbol of the United States, if American statesman Benjamin Franklin had prevailed in the debate. Franklin favored the wild turkey over the bald eagle, primarily because it was clearly a native species and possessed a number of strong personality traits Franklin believed defined the American spirit. The bald eagle was viewed as too predatory and ill-tempered by comparison. Wild turkeys are still viewed as formidable foes by small game hunters, unlike their domesticated turkey cousins destined for a spot on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table every fourth Thursday in November.

Juan: What is a typical Thanksgiving Dinner?

Einstein: The centerpiece of the contemporary American Thanksgiving is a large dinner (a.k.a. supper), starring a large roasted turkey. Because turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, thanksgiving is sometimes called 'Turkey Day'. Many other foods are served alongside the turkey, so many that, because of the amount of food, the Thanksgiving meal is generally served midday or early afternoon to make time for all the eating, and preparation may begin at the crack of dawn or days before.

Commonly served dishes include cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and stuffing. For dessert, various pies are served, particularly pumpkin pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie and pecan pie. Other dishes reflect the region or cultural background of those who have come together for the meal. For example, Italian-Americans often have lasagna on the table and Ashkenazi Jews may serve noodle kugel, a sweet pudding. Another good Thanksgiving dish is candied yams.

There are also regional differences as to the "stuffing" (or "dressing") traditionally served with the turkey. Southerners generally make theirs from cornbread, while in other parts of the country white bread is the base, to which oysters, apples, chestnuts, or the turkey's giblets may be added. These eating patterns are very similar in Canada.


Juan: So how about our Pinoy-style dinner?
Pedro: The turkey is picture perfect: it is golden brown on the outside, its juices and aroma sure to whet anyone’s appetite.

And so do the kare-kare and the bagoong, the dinuguan and the puto, and a host of other Pinoy dishes that adorn the dining table.

This, after all, is not just your ordinary Thanksgiving dinner. It is the traditional Thanksgiving feast, Filipino-American style.

From San Francisco to New York, Fil-Am families across America gather around a sumptuous banquet with family and friends, giving thanks for the many blessings each has received during the year and beyond before indulging in a culinary fete of epic proportions.

The crisp November air provides a perfect backdrop against this annual gathering.

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What is Thanksgiving Day?

Juan Tamad, seeing a lot of turkey displays and offers in food stores, asked.

Juan: Why is turkey so popular these days?

Einstein: Because it is Thanksgiving Day on Thursday.

Juan: What is Thanksgiving Day?

Einstein: Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in North America, generally observed as an expression of gratitude. The most common view of its origin is that it was to give thanks to God for the bounty of the autumn harvest. In the United States, the holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. In Canada, where the harvest generally ends earlier in the year, the holiday is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which is observed as Columbus Day in the United States.

Juan: Is there a story behind the Thanksgiving Day?

Einstein: The story of Thanksgiving is basically the story of the Pilgrims and their thankful community feast at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The Pilgrims, who set sail from Plymouth, England on a ship called the Mayflower on September 6, 1620, were fortune hunters, bound for the resourceful 'New World'. The Mayflower was a small ship crowded with men, women and children, besides the sailors on board. Aboard were passengers comprising the 'separatists', who called themselves the "Saints", and others, whom the separatists called the "Strangers".

After land was sighted in November following 66 days of a lethal voyage, a meeting was held and an agreement of truce was worked out. It was called the Mayflower Compact. The agreement guaranteed equality among the members of the two groups. They merged together to be recognized as the "Pilgrims." They elected John Carver as their first governor.

Although Pilgrims had first sighted the land off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, they did not settle until they arrived at a place called Plymouth. It was Captain John Smith who named the place after the English port-city in 1614 and had already settled there for over five years. And it was there that the Pilgrims finally decided to settle. Plymouth offered an excellent harbor and plenty of resources. The local Indians were also non-hostile.

But their happiness was short-lived. Ill-equipped to face the winter on this estranged place they were ravaged thoroughly.

Somehow they were saved by a group of local Native Americans who befriended them and helped them with food. Soon the natives taught the settlers the technique to cultivate corns and grow native vegetables, and store them for hard days. By the next winter they had raised enough crops to keep them alive. The winter came and passed by without much harm. The settlers knew they had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate.

They celebrated it with a grand community feast wherein the friendly native Americans were also invited. It was kind of a harvest feast, the Pilgrims used to have in England. The recipes entail "corn" (wheat, by the Pilgrims usage of the word), Indian corn, barley, pumpkins and peas, "fowl" (specially "waterfowl"), deer, fish. And yes, of course the yummy wild turkey.

However, the third year was real bad when the corns got damaged. Pilgrim Governor William Bradford ordered a day of fasting and prayer, and rain happened to follow soon. To celebrate - November 29th of that year was proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. This date is believed to be the real beginning of the present Thanksgiving Day.

Though the Thanksgiving Day is presently celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every November. This date was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941). Earlier it was the last Thursday in November as was designated by the former President Abraham Lincoln. But sometimes the last Thursday would turn out to be the fifth Thursday of the month. This falls too close to the Christmas, leaving the businesses even less than a month's time to cope up with the two big festivals. Hence the change.

Juan: Is it an important holiday here in the US?

Einstein: Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with a feast shared amongst family and friends. In the United States, it is an important family holiday, and people often travel across the country to be with family members for the holiday. The Thanksgiving holiday is generally a "four-day" weekend in the United States, in which Americans are given the relevant Thursday and Friday off. Thanksgiving is almost entirely celebrated at home, unlike the Fourth of July or Christmas, which are associated with a variety of shared public experiences (fireworks, caroling, etc.) In Canada, Thanksgiving is only a three day holiday and the holiday is not as important as in the US. Because of the shortened break there is far less travel on the Canadian Thanksgiving and it is far harder for families to come together. In part because of this, Christmas is far more family oriented in Canada than it is in the United States.

Juan: Are there also Thanksgiving Day around the world?

Einstein: Throughout history many cultures have given thanks for a bountiful harvest. They might differ in their forms and presentations. But their spirit - setting aside a date to reflect on life's blessings, remains the same.

As evident from most of the cultures people would associate these with harvest festivals in gratitude of the God who protects them and their crops.


The Greeks - The ancient Greeks worshipped Demeter as their goddess of all grains. Each autumn the festival of Thesmosphoria was held to honor the goddess.

The Hebrews - For over 3000 years Jewish families have been celebrating an autumnal harvest festival called Sukkoth. Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after Yom Kippur the most solemn day of the Jewish year.

The Muslims - At the end of Ramadan, Muslims throughout the world have a joyous three-day celebration called Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking). It is a time to give in charity to those in need, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.

This was a glimpse of the overwhelming unity in the spirit of the thanksgiving celebration in all ancient cultures across the world. Prayer, parade, feast and the fervor are common to most of them, though the mode of celebration differs.


Juan: What else do we expect on Thanksgiving?

Einstein: Since at least the 1930s, the Christmas shopping season technically begins when Thanksgiving ends. In New York City, the Macy's (department store) Thanksgiving Day Parade is held annually every Thanksgiving Day in Midtown Manhattan. The parade features moving stands with specific themes, scenes from Broadway plays, large balloons of cartoon characters and TV personalities, and high school marching bands. It always ends with the image of Santa Claus passing the reviewing stand. While the second-biggest day of shopping of the year in the U.S. is still the Black Friday after Thanksgiving (the biggest is now the Saturday before Christmas), most shops start to stock for and promote the holidays immediately after Halloween, and sometimes even before.

'Why do we eat turkey on Thanksgiving?' and 'What is a typical Thanksgiving Dinner?'

NYC Taxi

Taxi cabs are both loved and hated by New Yorkers. They serve as a quick and easy means of transportation across Manhattan, a route not amply served by the subways. The downside with having an abundance of cabs is the traffic that results. Most traffic-jams in mid-town are speckled with many of the over 10,000 yellow cabs that service the city.

Juan: How to hail a cab?
Einstein: The act of flagging down a cab is called "hailing"; there's not much to it, just stick out your arm above your head, and pretend you're the Statue of Libery. Yellow Medallion cabs are the only ones authorized to pick up hails. Avoid cabs that are not the typical "yellow cab", especially if you are new to New York.

Juan: How to get-off the cab?
Einstein: Just say to the driver "Please, pull over" (translates as "Para po sa tabi").

Juan: How do you know if it is available?
Einstein: When just the numbers on the roof of the cab are lit, it is available. When the number, as well as the side lamps are lit, the cab is off-duty.

Juan: Where can we report errant drivers?
Einstein: Taxi cabs are required to take you to your destination inside the metropolitan area. Record the ID number from any cabs that you have problems with and call 311 or report them to the Taxi and Limousine Commission (The TLC).

Juan: How do they differ with limos?
Einstein: Livery cabs are the for-hire kind without the official yellow color and the medallion on the front hood. These are sometimes called liveries, luxury cars, black cars, "gypsy cabs" (which is considered derogatory), limos, etc. These shouldn't be hailed from the street since it's technically against the TLC rules. If you ride one, always ask for the price to reach your destination before closing the car door.

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Rent A Car @ JFK Airport

Major car rental companies operating at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

There are approximately 6 major rental companies operating at JFK Airport. Each terminal's arrivals level (usually near the baggage carousel) has either a rental car counter or a courtesy phone for each rental car agency. The rental car offices for most of these agencies are located along the Van Wyck Expressway near the entrance to the airport. Take AirTrain to the Federal Circle Station for car rentals.

 

A - Federal Circle Station

 

Avis

Bldg 305 Federal Circle, Jamaica ,New York, NY 11430, US
Phone: (1) 718-244-5400
Hours: Sun-Sat Open 24 hrs


Budget

Bldg 310 Federal Circle, Jamaica, New York, NY 11430, US
Phone: (1) 718-656-1890
Hours: Sun - Sat open 24 hrs

Dollar Rent A Car

Bldg 312 Federal Circle, Jamaica, New York, NY 11430,US

Phone: (1) 718-244-1235
Hours: Sun - Sat open 24 hrs

Enterprise

149-05 131ST Street Jamaica, NY 11430-1510
Phone: (1) 718-659-1200
Hours: Mon-Sat 6:00AM- 10:00PM; Sun 7:00AM-10:00PM


Hertz

Bldg 318 , New York 11430-9508, US
Phone: (1) 718-656-7600
Hours: Sun - Sat open 24 hrs

National Car Rental

Bldg 308, Federal Circle New York - Jamaica , NY 11430, US
Phone: (1) 718-632-8300
Hrs: Sun-Sat: 12:00AM-01:00AM; Sun-Sat: 06:00AM-11:59PM


Click on the company if you want to reserve online.

JFK Airport to Manhattan

Still at the arrivals area, Einstein thinks of a faster way to commute from JFK Airport to Manhattan.

Einstein: Juan, I changed my mind. Since we can both hand-carry your luggage, we'll take the AirTrain.

AirTrain JFK

Juan: What is AirTrain?
Einstein: AirTrain JFK is the train service that brings riders to and from the airport via two subway stations (New York City Subway) and the commuter train (Long Island Railroad). There is no direct connection between JFK Airport and Manhattan. You have to switch from the train that directly serves the airport, to a subway or commuter train (LIRR).

Juan: Is it faster?
Einstein: Yes. The AirTrain will get you from your terminal at JFK to LIRR Penn Station in Manhattan in around 35 minutes for between $8.25 and $12.25 (depending on the time of your trip), which compares to $15 and an hour by bus, or a taxi for about $55, which also takes around an hour, although it could be more or less depending on traffic. You can have up to 4 people in the same taxi for the same price, so if you are traveling in a group of 3 or 4 then a taxi should be considered.

Juan: What is the cheapest ride to Manhattan?
Einstein: The cheapest ride is by AirTrain and New York City Subway. The cost is $7.25 ($5 for AirTrain + $2.25 for subway)

Juan: Where can we get the Airtrain?
Einstein: Walk outside the terminal, and you’ll see signs to stairs and elevators that will take you up to the AirTrain platform just ahead. JFK is huge, and the AirTrain circles around the inside loop between the terminals, and it’s actually free to ride between terminals or even out to the car rental facilities or airport parking lots.

The AirTrain station at JFK is linked to nine airport terminals by a system of moving walkways. All AirTrain stations are wheelchair accessible. Howard Beach subway and Jamaica Long Island Railroad stations are wheelchair accessible too.

AirTrains come every few minutes, so you won’t be waiting long. There are 3 different routes, so if you want to get to LIRR Penn Station quickly you’ll have to pay attention to which one is coming.

• Airline Terminal Route – This train just circles inside JFK, so it’s helpful if you want to connect to another flight, but useless otherwise.
• Howard Beach Route – This train goes to the Howard Beach subway station on the A line. If you are going somewhere other than Midtown Manhattan, you might find this useful, but it takes a long time to get into Manhattan on the A-line subway.
• Jamaica Route – This train goes to the Jamaica subway station on E, J, Z lines and on the LIRR Jamaica station, and this is the AirTrain you’ll want to get on.

Einstein: We'll get on the Jamaica-bound AirTrain, and ride it until the end of the line, which should be between 10 and 15 minutes.

Juan: Where do we pay?
Einstein: You don’t have to pay the $5 for the AirTrain until you get to Jamaica Station (or Howard Beach Station).

Transferring to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR)

After you get off the AirTrain you’ll need to pay $5 to exit the AirTrain terminal, and you have 3 options in doing this:

1. Pay the $5 and leave the building.
2. Pay $7 ($5 for the AirTrain and $2 for the subway) and enter the New York City Subway station.
3. Pay $5 plus the train fare for the LIRR, which takes you directly into LIRR Penn Station in Manhattan at the next stop.

There are attended ticket windows that can sell you tickets, but there are usually long lines at these if your AirTrain was crowded and you weren’t the first in line. There are also easy-to-use vending machines in the same area, where you can pay for any of the above options with a credit or ATM card. You’ll only have to pay once no matter which option you choose, so this is easier than it sounds.

Juan: How much is the fare for the LIRR going into Manhattan?
Einstein: Here's the fare:

Off-peak times: $5.25
Peak times: $7.25 (only 4pm to 8pm Monday – Friday)
Saturday & Sunday: $3.25

Follow the crowd to the platforms where all the Manhattan-bound trains stop. All LIRR trains on this route stop in Jamaica, and all of them go on to Penn Station as their final stop. The ride to Penn Station takes about 15 minutes total. Welcome to Manhattan.

At The Airport

Juan Tamad arrrived at the John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) via Korean Air.

New York City has three main airports through which millions of people pass each year. If you have questions about travel into and out of New York City, call (800)A-I-R-R-I-D-E during normal business hours. John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK), in Queens (at the south end of the Van Wyck Expressway), primarily handles international flights. LaGuardia Airport (LGA), also in Queens (on the Grand Central Parkway), mainly handles domestic flights. If you're flying in from anywhere in the U.S., chances are you'll come through here. Newark International Airport (EWR), in Newark, New Jersey, handles both domestic and international flights. It's a bit further from the city than the other two airports, but it is generally less crowded and has more modern facilities.

At the arrival area, Juan sees a man with a monitor-like device with a scrolling text that displays his name.
Juan: Hi... Einstein?
Einstein: Yes I am. Great to see you, Juan.
Juan: Nice to see you too. It's good that you're here early, our plane landed earlier than scheduled.
Einstein: I know. I got the info here, FlightArrivals.com on my iPad.
Juan: Ahh (gusto ko rin nyan)

Juan: How long does it takes to our place?
Einstein: Driving takes 30-60 minutes but since I didn't have a car we will take a cab.

Airport Ride Scams

NYC Taxi

Juan: Now I got the chance to see these famous yellow taxis. I always see them in movies and photographs.
Einstein: Taxis into the city take anywhere from 30-60 minutes. They cost $45 "Flat Fare" to Manhattan (as of 2010) NOT including bridge tolls and tip. Fares to Queens neighborhoods run a few dollars to the Rockaways or Jamaica, $12 for Main Street/Forest Hills, and $20+ for Astoria and Long Island City. Taxis are cash only. Make sure to hail a cab in the designated areas or ask a uniformed airport employee to help you. Generally, it's polite to tip at least a dollar per bag if the taxi driver assists you.

Juan: tip?
Einstein: Yes, tipping a taxi or limo driver in New York City is customary. Tip the driver 10% to 20% of the total fare, depending on how large of a bill it is and how good the service was. Consider how quickly and safely the driver got to your destination. Go with your instincts; if the driver seems to have taken advantage of the fact you are from out of town, then there is nothing wrong with giving a small tip or nothing at all. If you choose to not give a tip to a cab driver, be prepared to defend your choice and you may also receive a tirade of insults from these New York cabbies.

Tipping Guides - 1, 2