Tear sheet: What to read, watch, and listen to in NYC

So, you've graduated, tracked down roommates, an apartment, and even a job in NYC—you officially live here. Now what?

Whether you're discovering the city for the first time or have lived here for years, it takes a lot of work to stay on top of everything that's happening in the five boroughs, from the always-bonkers political fights to the never-ending stream of new bars and restaurants to the latest concerts and gallery openings. To get you started in the right direction, we've culled your need-to-know sources for staying on top of news and culture in a city that's chock-full of both:

All the news that's fit to print

• The New York Times A must-read for national and international news, obviously, but also key to keep tabs on now that you live in its home city. (We recommend their "New York Today" newsletter of local news so you can have all the latest city-centric headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.)
• Gothamist A mix of re-blogs, reported news, food and bar reviews, and more, keeping up with Gothamist pretty much guarantees that you'll always be in the loop with whatever everyone else in the city can't stop talking about on any given day. (They also cull a lot of the more interesting stories from the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and other local dailies, so you can stay abreast of the city's top stories without checking a million different papers every day.)
• DNAinfo For your neighborhood-level news, DNAinfo does a great job of reporting on everything from crime to politics to restaurant and bar openings in just about every neighborhood in the city.
• AM NY This is one of the free papers you'll see handed out on the subway each day. Take advantage! The news tends to lean on the lighter side, but they cover absolutely everything, so why not use your time on the subway productively?
• The Village Voice The city's storied alt-weekly has seen a lot of turmoil in recent years, but it's still home to serious reporting, sharp cultural commentary, and some of the city's most interesting up-and-coming writers.

Newsletters and blogs

• New York Magazine While you do have the option of subscribing two New York Magazine's bi-weekly print edition, their digital presence is really where it's at—for our purposes, we'd particularly keep tabs on Daily Intel (a mix of national and local news) and Grub Street, their blog covering all things, well, grub-related.
• Your local neighborhood blog Just about every neighborhood has its own blog in NYC (no surprise in a city full of writers), and it's worth keeping up with yours for local happenings, deals, restaurant tips, and more. We've got a list of time-tested city blogs here, but if your 'hood isn't represented, a quick google of "[Neighborhood name] + "blog" + "NYC"" is very likely to yield what you're looking for.
• Brokelyn This one has a bit more of a specific focus than a lot of the others, but for the cash-strapped Brooklynite it's an essential survival guide.
• Eater NY Eater has the inside track on all the latest food news in the five boroughs, and does a commendable job of keeping track of the city's best cheap eats, so you can nosh your way through the city even on an entry-level salary.
• Thrillist NYC If you ever find yourself itching for new ideas about where to eat, drink, or be entertained in the city, Thrillist's New York edition has you covered.
• Oh My Rockness If your goal for living in the city is to hit as many shows and venues as humanly possible without fainting from exhaustion and dehydration, this one's for you. You can check their site manually, but the best move here is to sign up for the newsletter, which will send you updates about just-announced shows, free ticket opportunites, and more
• Brooklyn Vegan Another great resource for all corners of the city's music scene (and in spite the name, it's not just Brooklyn-based), Brooklyn Vegan also has a handy "What's going on today in NYC" page for those nights when you get out of the office and realize you've got nothing on the docket for the evening.
• NonsenseNYC This beloved, long-running newsletter is a self-described resource for "independent art, weird events, strange happenings, unique parties, and senseless culture in New York City" What more could anyone ask for?
• The Skint If your first job in the city isn't one that happens to have an especially high-paying salary (join the club), you're going to want to subscribe to this newsletter for free and cheap activities in the city.
• The New Yorker, Goings on About Town Even if you don't want to pony up for a subscription to the actual magazine, the New Yorker's "Goings on About Town" section is a reliable resource for all things high-culture (think dance recitals, not DIY shows).

On the radio

• WNYC The city's public radio station is still the gold standard when it comes to thoughtful coverage of the issues facing our city, from the depressing to the delightful. We'd recommend starting with their recent "There Goes the Neighborhood" series for a digestible look at gentrification, a term you've probably noticed is on everyone's lips these days. (And the Brian Lehrer Show is a must!)
• The Bowery Boys It's easy to forget how much history is packed into this ever-evolving city, but with episodes covering everything from famous ghosts to the Chelsea Hotel, the Bowery Boys make city history fun and relatable.
• The Combat Jack Show While the Combat Jack Show is most noted as a podcast about hip hop, host  Reggie Ossé is still based here in NYC, and his wide-ranging coversations with guests cover way more than just insider industry material.

With additional reporting from David Colon

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