Great Great Great thread, it came on its time, because this year my trip will be to New York, and i was asking one question about that which is where i can find workshops [about lighting and/or photoshop] there, but i didn't ask about the permit or what to shoot and what not and how to behave/act there, so this thread enlighten me, and it will help me.
I went to Switzerland, Paris, Scotland, and New Zealand, and in all those countries i never had a problem of shooting anywhere, i am very polite guy and i respect everything and i don't stay if troubles are around me, but i hope if that New York is full of people all around the world so they don't got annoyed that i am from middle east [Arabic and muslim guy], i am so peaceful, kind, and friendly guy, and using tripod in fact i don't do use tripod in so crowded busy places, in the day time i just handhold the camera, and at night i try to find a place where there are enough space and i don't get into people ways, but i hope in all cases i don't face any troubles because of my arabic/middle eastern look like [my beard grown fast but not long at all, i always shave it in goatee before i travel, hehe].