New York has more taxis per capita than any other city anywhere, but even in normal times, when the full quota of 20,000 is on the streets, it's difficult to get them at certain times.
Few New Yorkers use their own cars to come to the shopping or theatre centers of town, because of the traffic and parking problems. Cab fares are so cheap and distances so short in Manhattan that few people are too poor to use cabs.
Most difficult times of day to get taxis are between 5 and 6, at the close of business hours; 8 o'clock at the theatre rush; 11 P.M., when the plays let out; and 4 A.M., when the night clubs close.
At night you can tell if a taxi is vacant. The light over the driver's compartment is then shining. In the daytime, watch the flag on his meter. If it's up, he's free.
(INSIDE STUFF: If you have trouble flagging a cab at 8 P.M., it's because the driver doesn't want to take calls into the theatre district, where the fare comes to but a few cents. He gets stuck without a return load.)
So, if you're not going to a Times Square show, shout that fact to a cabbie. Maybe he'll stop if he hears you.
Better still, stand on a one-way street bound away from Broadway, and indicate with your thumb that you're bound opposite from the White Way.
Contrary to general belief, New York is not an overly "dressy" town.
In many midwest metropolises people "dress" more at night than they do here, but certainly without as much success.