URBAN CODE FOR WEEKS 1, 2, 3 AND 4.

1. Coffee, coffee, coffee

The streets of Manhattan are surrounded by numerous amounts coffee shops. In order to complete the multiple tasks students, teachers, professional, etc have to do, a cup of coffee is always a must. Either it is to wake you up, enjoy a small break, make time while you wait for your friend to arrive or just go and work with free wifi, coffee shops are always there to save you. Just between the areas of Union Square and The New School, there are approximately 18 coffee shops. Coffee keeps people on the move.

2. Communal tables always handy

Communal tables are perfect for individuals to sit on a café or restaurant and enjoy a meal by themselves without feeling solitary. It is a great place to eat, work, meet people, or just relax. This table design is very common in café’s as it brings people together, takes more advantage of the space and invites more independent individuals. Restaurants who offer this service are more spread out, however, they are not hard to find.

3. Parks as magnets

Parks are perfect public spaces for people to hang out, walk around, relax and have a good time. As people in the city like to enjoy some fresh air and nature, businesses take advantage of the area and surround the park with their stores. Union Square is completely surrounded by all type of businesses; food markets, electronic shops, make-up stores, bookstores, cafes and more. Having a pathway to cross from one side to the other allows the people the flexibility and choice to cross easier from one side of the park to the other and making it easier to access the stores as well.

4. Food carts

Food carts are a simple and easy way to get “to go” food. They are found in most corners of the city where commercial areas are found. These carts take up space from the sidewalk as they are usually located in corners or sidewalks. They also cause congestion when people line up to buy the food. On another note, it prevents people from crossing from the middle of the sidewalk to the street, making the space safer.

5. Fruit trucks

Organic cheap farm raised fruits are almost impossible to find in NYC. This is why it is very typical to find fruit trucks placed just outside super markets such as Trader Joes, Food Emporium, Whole foods, CVS, etc. Taking advantage of the fact that fruits in these stores are really expensive, vendors are waiting with their fruit trucks for the customers to come out and offer them their fresh fruit much cheaper than the ones inside those stores.

6. Walk on the right or on the Left

By law, people walking to opposite sides of the street should always walk on their right side of the sidewalk. Even though this is the easiest way for people to avoid congestion and slowness of groups, technology and cellphones don’t allow for individuals to take this in consideration. Having their heads pointing down to their phones doesn‘t allow them to see in what direction or side of the street they are walking in.

7. Community buildings

Around 1^st avenue and down, community buildings are very common. Many individuals prefer to live in these communities as they have their own safety and share similar factors, including their socio-economic, status, geography, etc. Big communities attract more people and also more stores. Pet shops, laundry services, grocery shops, toy stores and more; start to develop in abundance in these areas.

8. Time Square and Tourists

Times Square is the place for tourists. The lights and the long hours of service are perfect for tourists to come enjoy the area at any time during the day. Some stores closing at around 2 am, and the 24-hour lights allow consumers to walk around this area at any time feeling secure and excited. This attraction attracts more stores, hotels, restaurants, shows and other entertainments around the area.

9. Soho for tourists

Soho is one of the favorite places for tourists. Walking between Houston St, Canal St, Broadway and Av. Of the Americas, Soho is home to most of the stores in NY. Even though many locals live around this area, during the day it is filled with people from all over the world, walking in groups and with shopping bags, entering every store that is in the interest between these streets.

10. Broadway is diagonal

Although most streets and avenues in New York City follow a grid like pattern, Broadway St. is one of the few who breaks the status quo. Broadway is one of the oldest roads in NYC and that is 21 km long in Manhattan and 3.2 in the Bronx. This streets carries with it a lot of history, thus it is one of the most known streets in NY.

11. The division of Manhattan

Manhattan is divided between 3 main areas; Uptown, Midtown and Downtown. Starting with Downtown South of 14^th st, this is the place where most hipsters and avant-gardes live and spend their time. Midtown, between 34^th st and 59^th st, is home of the more professional and corporate individuals surrounded by a mixture of businesses and Broadway shows. And last, Uptown, from 59^th st and above, this is where the most wealthy and sophisticated live. It is old and classical.

12. Importance of 5^th avenue

5^th avenue goes through almost all Manhattan. Known to be one of the best and most expensive shopping streets in the world, 5^th avenue is a great place to walk around with friends, family, etc. Another curious observation is that 5^th av is almost in the middle, dividing both the west and east sides of the city.

13. Grid pattern

A common observation from the city of Manhattan is its grid like form of streets and avenues. As most avenues run from North to south, streets run from west to east. This is a practical and simple way to get through the city without getting lost.

14. Doggies with booties

In Manhattan, most people live in buildings, this is why it is very common for them to take their dogs on a walk and having them use boots or plastic bags in their paws so they don’t get dirty their apartments. Dogs with booties are usually found in Parks with special dog areas and open public spaces.

15. Subway stations

Besides taking people form one place to another, subway stations are the best place to find free concerts and entertainment. Every morning when I take the L train from 1^st avenue to Union Square I find someone in the station playing an instrument or singing. People usually expose their talents in big subway stations where more people are constantly transiting the area such as Penn station, Grand Central terminal, Broadway-Lafayette st, Times Square, Union Square and more.

16. Trash in the night

Walking through the streets of NY during the day is beautiful, however, when the sun goes down, garbage trucks come out and the trash bags are found in every corner of the street. Especially in Soho, the numerous stores with large amounts of garbage a day, leave the streets covered in bags and less appealing than it once was.

17. Parking spaces

Parking spaces are LIMITED in the city. People compete in order to find space to park their cars. As soon as they find one, they take it, because chances are that if they don’t take it, a minute later they are gone and finding another spot is almost impossible. A big problem of the city? à There are more cars than parking lots. Take it or loose it.