The Vanderbilt YMCA

August 22nd, 198*, my first night in NYC ever. I arrived at this Y in a stretch black limo(no lies) and stayed for 1 month as there was no student housing left at FIT and the Y rented out rooms to some college students. I arrived in the lobby and rang the desk bell for help w/my luggage. Yah, no help. (I was a clueless Cali girl)The price was $400 per month for a room which was about 4'x 8". There was a twin bed, a tiny desk w/a chair and 1 small tall dresser. The room was so narrow, the chair did not fit between the bed and the desk. I piled up my 9 pieces of luggage on top of the dresser to the ceiling. There was 1 payphone on the floor (creepy men in bathrobes would stand and stare at me on the tel) and a shared unisex shower/bathroom. Shower did not lock and I was worried every time using it. I cried a lil' every week but would not tell my parents I was scared staying there. I was not going to leave NY. A few weeks later I met another college student in the Y's weight room that had previously stayed there. Mark from Irvine Calif. Mark said, "Hey, we are looking for another roommate, come over and meet everyone" Within a week, I moved into Mark's huge 3,000 sq. ft loft w/5 of his other college friends down in Wall Street. We are all mostly still friends to this day. Whenever I pass by the Vanderbuilt on 47th today, I smile and think of Mark..:)
R.I.P. Mark, I miss and love you..xxx ~Love your NYC sister

Have patronized this branch more than 15 years on and off. On recent visit, lobby and basement sitting area both smell like marijuana. The hotel has turned into a homeless shelter, so bums are coming in and out. I saw only a handful of people who could have been members, while here. One has to wonder who is paying for everything. They put up a "Stop Asian Hate" sign next to the BLM banner to make it look like they aren't preoccupied with promoting a single race..

This review is about YMCA CAMP at the Vanderbilt location.

My father grew up around a YMCA in Indiana in the 1930s (reallly), I went to a Y on Long Island sometimes -took swimming lessons there and more. But this Y...is really not geared for kids. They haven't thought it out. Its relatively safe day care, and that's all.

My 6-year old son is attending their 'camp.' Really, it doesn't succeed as any form of day camp. The activities are de minimis. They congregate in a gym most of the time. They promised field trips and excursions to the park(s) but these have been very few, if at all. They provide no amenities at all -no lunch, or snack, or towels for the swimming pool (one day a week at most, unless you sign up for the swimming camp -we've moved over. Maybe it will be better).

There does not seem to be much thought put into their activities and the 'counselors' seem young and mainly untrained. My son is usually an optimist. But both he and a friend from school who is in the same camp say the same thing: bored. Forget any intellectually challenging activities.

We ran into another friend of his, Josh, on a bus there one day. He had gone to the YMCA last year and was at a camp across the street (I was told). His mom said he didn't dislike it while there, but then realized how much better camp could be at the other camp.

One day, one of the few 'crafts' projects, they did 'tye dying' and my son brought home a plastic bag with a small green-dyed cloth knapsack in it. The counselor gave it to me. No one mentioned it was still full of wet dye. And then, on the way home, there was a leak... Not happy. My hands were green for a day and a half. They are not really much good at arts and crafts. My son missed the day they painted a cheap wood slide whistle (he had a nosebleed in the morning). So, rather than spend 10 minutes with him to help makeup and to make a nice painted whistle the next day, he just got the plain unpainted version to take home. Altogether, just kind of a flop as a place.

The city is full of opportunity. And there are camps throughout the city that do interesting things. It seems this YMCA.... is not one of them.

Update: I received a response. It asks me to 'contact' them with more information and that they are very eager to respond and improve their services, EXCEPT.....

(1) they don't provide a contact person or number, except "Vanderbilt YMCA Team" (go team!);
(2) the response is perfectly generic and does not even show that they read the critical review but asks for "specific details" (-itself a sign they don't read -anyone doubt I was ?specific?")
(3) generally, seems about as insincere and mindless as one could expect.
(4) Originally I gave them 2 stars, we're now down to one. Anyone agree?
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This is a review for the YMCA camp. Bottom line: it really is a failure. My son is the easiest boy in town. He's 6. But, for a day camp, he feels let down. There are supposed to be activities, field trips and, at least, excursions outdoors to a park. ||Miostly they sit in a gym. They play 'duck duck goose' and a number of other similar games -in one place, with little real camp experience. Both my friend and a friend from his school are there, and they both said it. Bored and uninspired. Basically one day in the week if fun. Two weeks ago they got to dress up for a 'fashion show.' -nice, but thirty minutes of fame and... a boring week. At one point they couldn't go outside, I was told, because there weren't enough counselors. -And, of the 'counselors' not much to say. They seem untrained, too young, with few ideas in their heads for the kids. ||They provide nothing. No lunch or snacks. Or towels if they go swimming (1 time per week, maximum, unless you choose the swim camp). ||Interestingly, we ran into another boy, Josh, and his mom whom my son knew. He had been to the YMCA camp last year. His mom said he only realized how bad it was in comparison with the camp he went to this year. It seems relatively safe.

Recently, I had an unsettling experience at the YMCA. When I inquired about membership prices, the receptionist, who seemed to be a woman of Asian Indian descent, displayed a noticeably impatient attitude. It felt as though I was intruding on her important work, and her level of irritation was quite unpleasant. She carried herself with an air of superiority, as if she were the owner of the establishment, despite likely earning the minimum wage of $15 an hour. She seemed to relish a sense of authority she perhaps had never experienced before, which made me very uncomfortable.||What was even more surprising was that she demanded my parents sign a document, yet she provided us with no paper to do so. This lack of professionalism was quite shocking.||To add to my frustration, after I signed the document and returned, I observed her interacting with white customers in a completely different manner. She was extremely friendly and polite to them, smiling and eagerly offering assistance. Furthermore, when I asked to see the YMCA membership prices while she was holding the price list, she completely ignored my request. This stark contrast in treatment and lack of professionalism made me seriously question the quality and fairness of the service at the YMCA.

Ive been to this gym a few times over the years and i have to say Ive always been greeted well. Im impressed they keep it clean and even throw in new equipment! Brava! I had so much fun today! I will bee back!

The pool is overly crowded. They really should require members to make appointments to go in so it’s not crowded all the time. I ran into a male maintenance person when I walked out of the shower in women locker room. That was a terrible experience and they did not make any announcements ahead.

Jacob Gordon opted not to leave a text review of The Vanderbilt YMCA

Saurabh opted not to leave a text review of The Vanderbilt YMCA

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