How to use the MT Online

From its first issue February 24, 2000, The Manhattan Times has been a vehicle for building community among the diverse residents of Washington Heights and Inwood. With the launch of its overhauled Web site in March 2009, The Manhattan Times began offering readers new ways to connect online through a number of interactive resources.

Features of the new Web site and how to use them:

The MT blog is updated several times a day with news and information. Registered users can post comments to the MT blog (Click here to learn how)
The Eat&Shop Uptown directory of businesses in Northern Manhattan has contact information, maps and customer ratings. Registered users can rate, review and pick their favorites places to Eat&Shop Uptown (Click here to learn how). Registered users can add new listings to the Eat&Shop Uptown directory (Click here to learn how).
The Stuff To Do calendar of events highlights what's happening in Washington Heights and Inwood. Anyone can submit an event to the Stuff To Do calendar (Click here to learn how).
The MT Video Online adds a new dimension to articles from the newspaper
The Online Community has links to blogs, Web sites and other Internet resources that focus on Northern Manhattan

In the future, we plan to add additional features:

Spanish
Searchable archives
A gallery of Users’ Favorites in the Eat&Shop Uptown directory
Photos in the Eat&Shop Uptown directory

Registering to use the Manhattan Times Online

The Manhattan Times aims to grow the Northern Manhattan community. We have always believed that the best way to do that is to make news and information available to the broadest readership.

In reporting on this diverse community we have applied a simple litmus test to maintain a balanced and fair perspective: What we print – both news and opinions – must be appropriate for a dinner time conversation where all the subjects of the conversation are seated together at the table. If users adhere to the same approach – that we’re all neighbors here – the comments sections of the Web site – just like our opinions pages – will be lively, respectful forums. Users who do not post in a neighborly fashion will not be welcome to leave comments and will be excluded from the conversation.

By registering for the Manhattan Times you are asking that your voice be added to the conversation about what’s happening in Washington Heights and Inwood and you agree to share your opinions in a respectful manner.

Please help us monitor the comments sections of the Web site. If you see inappropriate comments being posted, click the ! icon at the bottom of the post. The administrator will follow up.

To register, from the login screen on this page or the Home Page:

Click “Create An Account.”
Fill in the fields marked: Name, Username, E-Mail, Password and Verify Password (make sure you type in your password exactly like you did in the Password field).
Click Register.
You will be returned to the Home Page where you will see a message to check your email for an activation link. Open the email sent by the Manhattan Times and click the link.
The Activation Completed page appears.
Go to the Home Page to login.

If you forget your password or username, the login screen includes links where you can have either one sent to you. Also the initial email you were sent activating your account includes your username and password, so you can always search your email for it.

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Post comments on the MT Blog

NOTE: If you are not already a registered user of the Manhattan Times online, you need to create an account before continuing. Click here to learn how.

If you are not already logged in, enter your username and password from the login screen on the Home Page.
From the Main Menu, click MT Blog
Click a title of one of the blog posts to read the entire piece. If you are logged in, at the end of the blog post there will be a space to leave your comment. Enter your name, email (will not be displayed) and Web site (if you have one) and the title of your comment. In the comment field enter your comment.
You must click the box “I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.” before you post.
If you want to receive updates when another user posts a comment to the same thread, click the box in front of “Subscribe via email (registered users only).”
Click “Add Comment.” Your comment will appear above.
Once you post a comment you must wait 30 seconds before posting another one.

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Rate, review and pick your favorite places to Eat&Shop Uptown

The purpose of the Eat&Shop Uptown directory is both to encourage local customers to patronize local businesses and to recognize the businesses that are doing a great job satisfying their patrons in hopes of improving customer service everywhere. The Web site administrator will reject listings for businesses that do not focus on customers from Northern Manhattan. Reviews will be removed if they contain inaccuracies or are malicious in tone.

NOTE: If you are not already a registered user of the Manhattan Times online, you need to create an account before continuing. Click here to learn how.

If you are not already logged in, enter your username and password from the login screen on the Home Page.
From the main menu, click Eat&Shop Uptown.
Search through the directory of businesses until you find one that you can offer an experienced opinion on.
Click the name of the business to open the detail screen.
To Rate the business, cursor over the number of stars you believe the business deserves and click. After a moment, your rating will be registered. You may only rate each business one time. (NOTE: a business’s rating will not appear until at least five users have rated it.)
To Review the business, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click “Be the first to review this listing!” or “Review this listing,” as the case may be.
From the “Submit Review” screen, type in the Title of the review. If you already rated it, the rating will show in the drop down window.
In the Review field, type in your review.
When done, click “Submit Review.”
Your review will be sent to the administrator for approval.
To add a business as one of your Favorites, click “Add as Favourite.” A future upgrade of the Web site will include a gallery of Users’ Favorites.

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Add a new listing to the Eat&Shop Uptown directory

NOTE: If you are not already a registered user of the Manhattan Times online, you need to create an account before continuing. Click here to learn how.

If you are not already logged in, enter your username and password from the login screen on the Home Page.
From the main menu, click Eat&Shop Uptown.
Click either the Eat Uptown or Shop Uptown categories. Scroll to the bottom right of the screen and click “Add your listing here.”
Click “Manage Category” and pick the proper category for the listing. You will see the file structure of your selection at the top of the screen. NOTE: If none of the categories are appropriate, email the administrator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it what you believe is the right category after you finish creating the listing.
In the Name field, type name of the business. NOTE: Try to use the actual name of the business, not a nickname. The administrator may edit your listing based on the actual name.
Fill in the remaining appropriate fields as accurately as possible. (Some fields will not be applicable to every business, for instance “Delivery and Take Out Available?”.) For Address, include the street address and cross street. Include Postcode to activate Google Maps. Fields that are left blank will not show on the listing. NOTE: The image feature is not available with this release of the Web site. We plan to activate it with the next upgrade.
Click “Submit.”
The administrator will approve, reject or contact you for additional information about your listing.

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Submit an event to the Stuff To Do community calendar

From the main menu, click Stuff To Do.
From the top of the screen, click Submit Event.
The instructions on the screen are fairly concise, but here are a few tips for making event submission as painless as possible:
1. Any field with an orange * is required.
2. Authentication: type in the letters and numbers exactly as you see them. Hit refresh if you can’t tell some characters apart. This field is used to reduce spam.
3. Event Categories: pick categories carefully so users who filter by category will find the appropriate events they are looking for.
4. Location Information. Most of the most popular uptown locations have already been entered into Stuff To Do to ensure accuracy and reduce the amount of address information that must be typed in. In the Name Search field, type the first 4 or more characters of the location where your event is occurring. If there isn’t a match, consider if there is another spelling of the location (for instance: YM/YWHA or YM&YWHA). Only if you can’t find a match should you type in the full name and address information.
5. Click “Submit Event.”
6. If the required fields and dates were correctly filled in, a screen will come up indicating your event was successfully submitted. The administrator typically approves events every weeknight.
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