The Big APPle: Free Apps for People Who Love NYC
Over 60 million people own iPhones or iTouches, so here's a list of 14 free apps I use regularly to make city living easier and more enjoyable. Many of them could also come in handy for visitors or people who live in other urban areas.
1) Coffee Spot (Lite) -- You wake up. You need coffee. One tap lets you see all open coffee spots nearby. 'Nuff said.
2) Sit or Squat -- Almost all of us have seen the "Seinfeld" where George boasts about his ability to name the best public toilet in any part of the city. Sit or Squat's users submit their restrooms of choice. With over 70,000 toilets added and a color-coded system that signifies if a bathroom is open or closed, you'll never get caught in an uncomfortable situation. Parents -- you can even find changing tables!
3) Hopstop -- HopStop provides door-to-door directions from point A to point B. This transit guide can be set to include walking, bus, subway and / or Metro North options. While it isn't perfect, it's often the first place I check when I'm headed somewhere new or trying to find the fastest route. Note: This requires an Internet connection, so remember to use it before you head underground on the Subway.
4) Subway Map -- Inevitably, you will forget to double-check your route on occasion and be left without Internet access when you need it most. Fortunately, the Subway Map app does NOT require a connection, and provides a simple map of the transit system so you can make sure you're on the right track (literally).
5) Simply Tweet (or any Twitter app you prefer) -- Twitter's great to have on the go for many reasons -- specifically because anyone in need of a real-time city recommendation can tweet a question to @eaterny. They'll put out the call to their followers, who will then tweet back ASAP with suggestions.
6) Time Out New York - TONY magazine is a well-known weekly resource of things taking place around the city. Their app brings up a map of your selected area and TONY's listings, along with critics' picks and reviews, which are divided into categories like art, music, nightlife, eat, drink and free stuff.
7) Urban Daddy -- Definitely a fun one, Urban Daddy's app adopts the same tone as its cheeky yet high-end newsletter / Web site. Tooling around within the search function could easily entertain you for hours, and lets you find the perfect place for occasions like: Friday...evening...NoLiTa...for drinks...with your mistress...and you want good scotch (all within the preset search options). The results can be a bit spotty -- in other cities, recommending a spot two miles away isn't a big deal, whereas here, a pick on the UWS when you're downtown is a bit off-base.
8) Happy Houred: Online or on the go, Happy Houred lists bars by name, neighborhood, type and deals (and when those deals are offered). With a user-submitted database that's loaded with 25,000 bars across the country, chances are you'll always know the nearest slider special or cocktail discount.
9) Yelp -- "Real People, Real Reviews" is Yelp's motto. While writers aren't professionals, you'll forgive the occasional typo or biased opinion to get the wisdom of the crowd. I've personally been writing for and using Yelp for several years and it's helped me find fantastic spots I otherwise wouldn't have known about -- in addition to like-minded reviewers whose taste I can trust.
10) Urban Spoon -- If you're in a hurry and don't want to read several reviews, Urban Spoon is another app that helps you find nearby places based on criteria like price, cuisine and location. And let's be honest, the casino slots-like sound it makes as it's searching makes you feel like you could hit the jackpot, even though that "jackpot" may take the form of a burrito takeout joint.
11) MenuPages -- Another great Web site with a new app to go with it. Heard of a new spot but not sure if its cuisine will fit your taste or budget? Menu Pages offers menus (with prices where available) and user ratings / reviews.
12) Open Table -- After you've browsed those menus, you might want to book a table. Just like its online counterpart, this app lets you search for and make reservations at thousands of city restaurants. Quick tip: if you don't find an open reservation for the time you want online, it's worth giving the restaurant a call. I find most times there are more tables available over the phone than online for some reason.
13) Chase ATM Finder -- Many New Yorkers choose Chase because they have ATMs in every Duane Reade drugstore. Whether you're a customer or not, it's always handy to know where you can get quick cash in a safe nearby spot.
14) New York Now -- This app is a nifty little portal into many city-related links you'll use, including: newspapers, television, traffic & transit and entertainment. Traffic & transit alone has traffic cameras for all five boroughs (and the bridges and tunnels), as well as advisories and Metropolitan Transit Authority Updates.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts. I'd love to know which apps you can't live without!
UPDATE: 3/8/10: Urban grocery service Fresh Direct now has a free iPhone app available. I've been a Fresh Direct customer for six years, and they were great at resolving the one major issue I had with their customer service, so I think this app will be incredibly useful for lots of people.
UPDATE 1/30/10: Super-savvy @doc_becca sent us word on this incredible app, and although it costs $1.99, it deserves a mention as well!
Shakedown -- Shakedown is for New Yorkers who like to eat at the Shake Shake in Madison Square Park. Powered by Four Square, you can receive notifications whenever your friends are holding a spot in (KRey ed. note: Shakeshack's infamous) line. You can also update and share approximately how many people are in line ahead of you.
