An expert expat’s tips for New York

You can get tickets to Broadway shows cheap if you go for last-minute tickets.Credit: iStock

Opera singer Daniel Sumegi grew up in North Bondi before moving to the US to join the San Francisco Opera in 1992. He switched coasts in 1994 and eventually cemented his relationship with New York, settling in the Upper West Side in an apartment that looks directly over Central Park. "It's my oasis in the big city," he says. Daniel returns to Sydney to perform the principal role of Escamillo in Carmen on Cockatoo Island (November 25 – December 18, 2022), opera.org.au

SEE

Obviously, because of my profession, I suggest seeing a Broadway show, a concert or an opera. Rich in cultural activities, the Upper West Side is home to the Metropolitan Opera, the NY Philharmonic, NYC Ballet, Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Juilliard, Jazz at Lincoln Centre, Symphony Space and the Beacon Theatre. You can access discounted, lottery or rush seats on broadwayforbrokepeople.com or, for $40 a year, join Theatre Development Fund, TDF.org, for access to heavily discounted tickets for an array of presentations – sometimes even the Met. First timers to the Met, brace yourselves – its scale is overwhelming.

DO

When the weather is nice there is nothing like a walk in gigantic Central Park, especially around the stunning Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, between 86th and 96th Streets. Or a bike ride. The park is also spectacular when it is snowing, but be careful of slipping.

Opera singer Daniel Sumegi.

EAT

I always take visitors to the Metro Diner, at 100th Street and Broadway. Everybody loves it, and I think it is one of the best diners in the whole city. It's great value, and you can get breakfast, lunch or dinner at midnight. They even serve alcohol. I usually order a chicken souvlaki or a cobb salad, or the lumberjack breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and ham, metrodinernewyorkny.com

DRINK
The Dive Bar, at 96th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, is a very good non-fussy neighbourhood bar, and also serves decent food. I order mojitos when it's warm, and negronis anytime, dive96.divebarnyc.com

AVOID

Bike riders - crossing the street can be hazardous with the multitude of dedicated bike lanes, and food deliverers think nothing of going the wrong way up one-way streets.

THRIVE

It is very easy to become insular in NYC and stay in your neighbourhood, without ever leaving. Make sure to get out and use the whole city. It really does have everything – somewhere. If you have enough time, also remember you don't have to get everything done today. Relax. Without easy use of cars in the city, one can get tired running around just achieving small errands.