I live in a smaller city, so I havent been conditioned to look down and noy make eye contact, which is what I always experience when I travel to NYC. I look all around, up at the sky, down at the sidewalk, at people... try to notice the beautifuk things around you like the light in the trees, in the buildings, cute dogs etc. Im a romantic so i love walking around people watching. If i ever come across someone intimidating I just keep my head up a bit higher and stare dead ahead, it seems to work haha.