wow, thanks for all the advice.
So i'm not really worried about missing fast food -- though a few tears will be shed over the taquarias (maybe i should get a burrito for lunch...). and while i originally thought the no car thing would drive me crazy after spending some time in NYC i realized that I wouldn't even miss it. In SF going without a car would be hell, public transit just isn't good enough -- but in NYC I could very easily get anywhere i wanted to go on the subway and cabs are much cheaper. (also my best friend in NYC has a car -- i plan on mooching on the rare occasion when i need to get out of dodge).
I think my biggest concern is that i may not be posh enough for NYC! Being a California techie i've never even had a job that considered PJ inappropriate work wear. granted the new job does have a casual dress rule but still -- east coast casual and west coast casual are two different things.
Halx: i'm currently looking for someone to clean my house for like $5/day, let me know if you're interested.
oh and yeah the apartments are expensive but that's the beauty of moving from SF you're so used to paying for rent with limbs that nothing fazes you anymore.