Hi, if I can request some free transport advice, I'd appreciate it. I'm taking a day-trip to nyc and getting dropped off at 51st St. between 6th & 7th Aves. I want to go the Gershwin Theater at 222 W. 51st St. to see Wicked. What's the best way to go, subway or bus? If subway, which line to take?

This would be my first experience using the subway in Manhattan. I almost took it last time, but got scared and got a cab instead, lol.

Also, could you recommend a spot withing walking distance of the theater, for lunch? Maybe a casual spot for some seafood or Italian. Thanks, Greg

Is this a trick question?

You are being dropped off at 51st between 6th and 7th and you are going to the theatre on 51st between 7th and 8th?

You have less than a block to walk.

What am I missing here? :-O

Walk -it's about a block.

Oops, big blunder on my part. I was looking at a map and didn't look closely enough. Sorry. Greg

Enter the address on google maps and search for "italian restaurant". You'll see lots just around you. Google also gives you a chance to see the cumulative star rating with reviews you can read.

ellenem, thanks you so much for the bus description thats perfect, the only part I didn't understand was """ Ask for a transfer if you use coins""""?

I just played with this site http://tripplanner.mta.info/subway_m...SubwayMap.aspx

I put in our hotel address (by the UN) and the Tenement Museum (that would be going 'down town' correct???)and WOH, thats fantastic. It has us going on a bus. So I may print out a few key directions and take with me. We will have a laptop, but printing and connection isn't always easy away from home. I chose subway and/or bus and it gave me 3 bus options. So would I be right that it is the better option? I like the thought of bus's that way we can site see as we go.

ellenem would I be pushing my luck for a similar descriptive explanation for the subway? I found it very easy to understand and will definately be printing to take with us. I guess the nrt, sth, east west thing is easy when you know, might see if my new phone has a compass :-)

Maria Pia or Roberto Passon for casual Italian for Greg. ViceVersa is better but more expensive. Look on menupages.com for details.

If you have a smartphone, hopstop has an app. that you can load to use it on your mobile. FWIW.

All these directional issues were so much easier before 2001 . . . "oh, there's the World Trade Center--this way must be north."

"Ask for a transfer if you use coins."
Before the days of MetroCards, the buses used coins--always exact change, no paper currency--and they still have that option since it can be difficult to buy a MetroCard without visiting a subway station. Much of the advantage of riding a bus is making the crosstown bus connection in the alloted amount of time. When a rider used coins to ride the bus, the rider would pay and then request a transfer (an official slip of paper/ticket) that allowed you to transfer to another bus within the alloted time. Drivers only give them to those who ask for them. So if you pay with coins, always ask for a transfer. You'll receive a white paper MetroCard to use on a connecting bus within 2 hours. When you use a MetroCard on the bus, it keeps track of the transfer.

Since the subway system was originally built as a number of independent companies, there is no uniform subway station setup, though there are a few typical types. The station is generally a block or two long underground, with an entrance at the station-name street. The entrance stairs are at the relative middle of the platform. However, some stations have entrances at each end of the platform, even though the station is called by the name at one end. The major stations where many subway lines intersect have many entrances. It is only through constant use that one learns all the options available.

As previously described, in some cases you must chose the uptown or downtown staircase while still on the street. In others, you make this choice once below ground in the station. Read the signs. and if you're still unclear, ask someone for help.

Typical subway ride: Find the subway station from which you will begin your journey. Read the signs that this stair serves the correct direction--uptown or downtown or both. These signs will also indicate if this particular entrance is closed during off-hours. Walk down the stairs. (Some subway stations have elevators and escalators . . . few and far between.)

Just down the stairs, you will find a "token" booth (still called this, though there are no longer tokens in use), MetroCard machines, and turnstiles. Also in this area are wall-mounted subway and local street maps, as well as--VERY IMPORTANT--small white signs that explain any route changes for construction and maintenance, which is very prevalent on weekends and at late night.

You can buy your MetroCard from a human being (who may also have subway maps for you to take) at the booth or on your own at a machine. You can buy as few as one fare if you like. The machines takes you through a relatively straightforward dialog. The only mysterious part is choosing "Unlimited MetroCard" (the 1-day, 7-day monthly passes for one person to use) or "Regular MetroCard" (as much or as little as you want, though the more you buy you are rewarded with bonus fares--regular cards may be shared). Unlimited cards may be scanned every 15 minutes or more, thus avoiding people trying to share them. Regular cards may be scanned four times in a row, so four people could share one card--it keeps track of the four transfers.

Now that you've bought the card, go to a turnstile and slide the card through the slot on top. It make take a few tries to get the speed right. If it doesn't work, DO NOT CHANGE TURNSTILES, or you may be charged again (or not be able to scan for another 15 minutes). When you slide correctly, a small screen will flash GO and you can move through the turnstile.

In some subway stations you may now be directly in front of the train tracks. In others, you may need to go down another set of stairs. Read the signs to make sure you use the stairs for the correct directions and trains. Larger stations may have a series of walkways and tunnels to negotiate to find the correct train.

Some stations have only one train that stops there. In others, more than one train may stop on the same platform, so watch the numbers on the front and side of the train to be sure it is the one you want. In others, the platform may have two sides, with local trains running near the wall and express in the middle--read the signs above the platform to be sure. Some platforms may have two sides, one uptown and one downtown--read the signs.

When the train arrives, stand back from the door to allow riders to get off. Don't dawdle about getting on the train--the full time the train doors are open may be only 15 seconds in less busy times.

Subway etiquette has been described by others in earlier posts. Newer trains will keep you posted with electronic signs and voices announcing where you are and the next stop to come. Older trains may feature announcements from the conductor, but are often unintelligible, plus there are no electronic signs reporting progress. As you pass or stop at stations, you can tell where you are because ALL the station columns next to the train feature station names, plus there are large wall signs.

Watch for your stop. If the train is crowded, it's a good idea to try to get near the door at the stop before yours since it might be difficult to squeeze through the crowd when it reaches your stop. Once the train stops, hurry to get off the train. Say a loud EXCUSE ME or GETTING OFF if necessary to get people to shift out of your way.

Read the Exit signs which indicate the street location each staircase offers ("NW corner of . . ." or the like). If you're not sure, it really doesn't matter that much, so don't overthink this. NYers who make these trips everyday like to figure the shortest route, but as a tourist it's less important.

This sounds much more intricate than it really is.

You're a good egg, ellenm :-)

starrs, Did I miss anything?

"I chose subway and/or bus and it gave me 3 bus options. So would I be right that it is the better option? I like the thought of bus's that way we can site see as we go."

The bus may not be the "best" option, even though there are three possibilities compared to one by subway. It depends on if you are interested in saving time, saving your energy, or seeing some sights.

In general, the subway is that fastest way from Point A to Point B, but it may require a longer walk from the station to your destination. A bus may get you closer to your destination than a subway may be able to do, but will probably take a good deal longer if traveling through midtown because of all the traffic. Taking a Limited bus can speed your trip significantly. If you're not in a rush, a bus can be an inexpensive enjoyable way to see the city. Subways remain underground through most of Manhattan so no sightseeing, unless you include people watching and subway entertainers.

Most NYers are also good walkers, so they wouldn't usually take a bus or subway to go just one stop--the equivalent of 8-10 blocks, a 10-minute walk--since you might spend that much time getting to a station and waiting for a train when you could have just walked. Similarly, NYers probably wouldn't transfer to a crosstown bus just to go one block (longer blocks east/west than north/south) unless you could see the bus approaching.

One of my favorite bus rides is up 1st Avenue (usually after jury duty downtown). But.. it depends on getting a seat so one can see all the sights passing by... like the UN at 42nd etc.

Fantastic....... thanks for taking the time. Know this, this will printed and taken with us. Unfortunately connecting to the 'net' on our mobile to use any websites is shockingly expenive for us o'seas as it routes it back to AUS.

Again thank you I'm sure this is being printed out by a lot of posters,not just me. Can't wait to report back on how 'easy it was' thanks to you ellenem and all. :-)

It's funny . . . we do these things every day and never really think about how mysterious it may seem to visitors, nor how lengthy it can be to put it into words. I'm happy to know that this may help visitors have less fear about using our public transit system.

And a few odds and ends:

Be sure you are holding onto something if you are not in a seat. The train can really jerk when it starts and stops and you can lose your footing if you aren't prepared.

The average car will contain riders from at least 5 ethnic groups and every social class. At least half the riders will be reading, listening to an i-pod, or sleeping.

New Yorkers don't say "subway" unless they want a particular brand of sandwich. It is, as you may have guessed, "the train." However, the train is not reached through a "train entrance." It is a "subway entrance." Above ground, the underground area below the subway entrance is referred to as a "subway stop," but below ground the same place is a "station" or a "stop."

Houston Street is pronounced "HOUSE-ton." If you ask for it with the pronunciation similar to the US city of the same name, you will get either a blank look or directions to Texas.

So, I think we should get 1 pay-per-ride metrocard that we can share with for eg. $20 on it. We can then ride the subway/bus's 'till it runs out or we top up. One question, if the transfers are free do I still swipe/scan the card on the connecting train/bus? I guess we do and the card is 'smart' and 'knows' it a transfer within the alloted 2hrs and doesn't reduce the value?

Hows that sound?

Yes--you swipe the card again when you transfer. The card will track up to four riders at one time, including their transfers. When transferring from uptown/downtown bus to crosstown bus, crosstown bus to uptown/downtown bus, subway to any bus, or any bus to subway, you will scan the card again. You can get a sneaky roundtrip if you take the train in one direction and the bus in the other.

From the MT website:
"Put $8 or more on your card and receive a 15 percent bonus. For example, a $20 purchase gives you $23 on your card. 10 trips for the price of 9, with $.50 balance. Refill your card to use the balance."

So for $20 you'll get one extra fare with $.50 leftover. Because of the odd math with the fare of $2.25, it's trickier to earn exact extra fares with no extra leftover. The machines let you buy any amount, but also offer some set amounts, like $45, that will earn you full fares with no leftover amounts.

Before you buy your card, be sure to check the price points for extra value credits.