My wife and I will be visiting New York City for a two-day trip and are wondering how tolerant institutions there are of bare feet. We're planning on seeing a show at the Shubert theater (spamalot), visiting the MMOMA, and other general tourist type things like the empire state building, etc... Would any of these places tolerate bare feet? Sandals? Any experience in this massive concrete jungle would be of immense help to a seriously out-of-place Micronesian...
I have been to New York only a few times and do not believe that I have seen anyone on the streets shoeless. However the last time I was there, The woman on the WB11 morning news was doing the weather at least a couple of days barefoot.
I remember I visited NYC for a few days for the US Open tennis in 2001. On the last day I decided to walk around the city streets barefoot, I recall that a hell of a lot of people were staring at my feet when they walked past me, even turning back to stare at me, so I felt a little uncomfortable, as I'm not used to this attention in Australia. I walked through Central Park barefoot though and didn't attract much attention, but I wasn't game to enter any buildings without my flip-flops on. I think the guy at the tennis wouldn't even let me walk up to my seat in the stadium unless I put my flip-flops back on.
Thanks for the feedback, Ozzie. I actually went out and bought a pair of foot coffins for this trip, as I have a feeling they'll be needed. Took a bit of looking, but I found the softest, thinnest-soled ones available. I'll push my luck as much as I can...
Hi, I live in NYC and barefooting here is not generally accepted. I barefoot in my House and my yard and short neighborhood trips, say to the mailbox, but that's about it. If I go to a theater, I wear shoes and then remove then once inside. You could spend all day barefoot in Central Park, but once on the streets and in public places (museums, restaurants), shoes will be expected. Enjoy your trip
Thanks, David We actually just got back late last week, and I only wore shoes in the museums, theatre and one fancy restaurant. Everywhere else, the Staten Island Ferry, subway, buses, street, deli, cafe, no one noticed. It seemed to me that folks in New York tended to be eyes straight ahead and they seldom looked around, much less down. It's amazing how little interaction happens between the residents, their environment and each other. It's so good to be home where a wave and a smile equals an instant friend...
