Check you health insurance coverage, some policies offer reimbursement for acupuncture and other therapeutic techniques. I'm 20 female Italian. I do not think you will have any problem in New York City. The New York people are friendly and helpful. The past few years has seen a great increase in tourism in New York and there are many people on the streets day and night.
Crime is down and people are enjoying themselves.
As when traveling anywhere else, your common sense is your best friend. Pepie, thanks for bringing this to our attention. The date, as of Jun 6th, sometime at the end of 1999.