The colors mean nothing - they are just a way to make the map clearer. The subways have either letters or numbers. That's the only info that's really useful (several lines that are the same color can go in completely different directions once outside midtown Manhattan.)

To really understand the map blow it up so you can see which letters/numbers stop at which stations (some letters/numbers indicated on the lines are express and stop only every 3 or 4 stations).

Each color represents a line. The letters and numbers are the various trains that run on that line. Some are local and some are express. The locals stop at all stations and the expresses only stop at the white dot stations.

From Times Sq to Canal take the 1 (7th ave local.) You'll have to walk 4-5 blocks east to get to Chinatown. From Chinatown/Canal, you can save some walking back to the 1 by taking the 6 from Canal to Fulton St. It's only a couple of blocks from the heart of Chinatown. If you want to go directly to South St Seaport from Times Sq, take the 2 or 3 (7th ave express.)

You guys are going to have a great time while you are here, the city is always at it's best over the holidays.

The TKTS booth is actually pretty easy to find, and the subway looks a bit difficult, but it really is pretty easy to figure out so don't worry.

I would suggest finding the #6 train and the #1 train and stick to them to find your way around.

The 6 is on the east side and the 1 is on the west side.

The TKTS booth at the South Street Seaport is right on the East River, so I would suggest taking the #1 train to South Ferry (be on one of the first cars) and walk Water St to the SSSP.

You will walk by several well known buildings and Wall St will be on your left. 3 more blocks from Wall St is the SSSP. Figure it will be less than a 10 minute walk.

From there you can walk up Fulton St (which is right in front of you) to Broadway, one more block and you will be at the World Trade Center. You also might stop at St Paul's Chapel as well.

From there you can walk up to Canal St for lunch and some shopping. For Dim Sum I can highly recommend Mandarin Court on Mott St.

You can get a subway map online and print it out or buy one when you get here at book stores or gift stores.

Have a fun time and enjoy the holiday!!!

"if there is nothing you want to pay full price for, try TKTS, but NOT in Times Square, you will be waiting for HOURS in line, and that is the line for tourists"

wantsomesun, I imagine vicki is on her way but I think that more time would be spent schlepping downtown for tickets than waiting in line at Times Square on any given day. I think that "HOURS" of waiting time may be a slight exaggeration - don't you agree?

I've never waited more than 1/2 hour once TKTS opened but then I don't stand in the line waiting for it to open. Often, I walk up and get the tickets with no line at all just before curtain time.

If someone just absolutely has to see a certain play I would pay full price and buy tickets in advance on-line or go directly to the theater box office and buy them there full price same day or right before the performance.

To me part of the fun of TKTS is the serendipity of what is available. You do have to study a bit beforehand though. I've seen some amazing plays and performances that way.

To be honest, I've also seen a couple of plays verging upon stinkers but that's part of the fun of having so many plays to choose from.

Subway cheat sheet:

The Bronx=Uptown

Brooklyn=Downtown

Subways don't really go East/West (yes there are some but lets generalize) so think of everything in terms of North/Uptown/Bronx and South/Downtown/Brooklyn.

New York, New York, it's a wonderful town,
The Bronx is up and the Battery's down,
The people ride in a hole in the ground,
New York, New York!


Sorry, couldn't help myself, just watched the movie (On The Town) recently while staying in NY!

We are back.
All I can say is.
Wow.
OMG.
*sigh*
Wow!
All said with a wistful smile. Wistful because it was so wonderful and now it's over, and because I loved it so!!!
New York City is unlike ANYTHING I've ever experienced. This was just about the most exciting thing this 52-year-old woman has done in about 10 years! Maybe 20! Daughter is such a great traveling partner, and she and I laughed and walked and ate and shopped and WALKED. Although we had ever intention of visiting the World Trade Center area, including Canal Street, and Greenich Village, as well as SoHo, we never made it out of Midtown. I just loved being there. I loved the crowds and the streets. At night, you didn't even realize it was dark because of all the bright lights. When we were in the hotel room, I hovered at the window, watching the streets. I just wanted to get back out there.

Well...I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed myself and how visiting NYC made me feel, but all that is a little subjective and may not be of interest to most of you, so I will just tell you a few things that we did.
We rode the Amtrak, and it was ok. The seats are much more comfortable than airline seats, with more than adequate leg room. Here is a little tip for anyone who may be taking their first train trip in the near future. Using the bathroom on a train is NOT like using the bathroom on an airplane. The cars sway, and you are easily thrown off-balance at inopportune times. At one particularly indelicate moment, the car pitched, and I was thrown against the wall so hard, I flushed the toilet! (hit the flush button on the wall). I vowed to only use the facilities when we were stopped at a station, on the return trip. BUT, there is a sign that says "do not flush the toilet when the train is stopped for loading at a station...workers are doing safety checks under the train." !!! ???
Anyway, our arrival at Penn Station was uneventful, and we walked out onto the street, clutching our luggage, and began to walk toward our hotel. Many thanks to McLaurie, who gave us our day of arrival itinerary. Without it, we probably would have wandered around, not knowing where to start. We walked from Penn Station to the Mariott Marquis and checked in. Our room was ready at 11:00 a.m.!!! We then proceeded toward Central park South, having lunch at Le Pain Quotidien, which of course, is just too cool for words. After lunch, we entered Central Park, and strolled toward 5th Avenue. We enjoyed the park immensely. It is lovely and historic. To think that I was strolling in the same park that Jackie Onassis frequented! (although I realize that she lived on the other end and may have avoided the Midtown area of the park). It was upon our exit of the park that we had a mini-crisis. I suddenly felt something hit the top of my head. I put my gloved hand on my head and when I brought it down, it was covered with thick nasty, brown oatmeal-like stuff! My daughter looked at me and gasped "OMG!!! You've got major bird poop running down your head" I was horrified. Now some of you may be thinking of a little whitish "squirt", but this had to be a quarter-cup of yuckiness. Well. Maybe not 1/4 cup -- but close!! And my beautiful new gray mohair glove was wet and stained. We had nothing to wipe my head with -- by now, it was approaching my eyebrows. Well, desperate times call for desperate measures, and we hurried to Bergdorf-Goodman in search of the ladies room. A clerk kindly directed us to "downstairs". We got in the elevator with a very sophisticated-looking matron. Just the three of us. My daughter said "well Mom, you're probably the only woman in Bergdorf-Goodman today with poop in her hair!" The woman looked startled and looked at my hair, so I briefly explained what had happened. She shook her head and look concerned. When we emerged from the elevator, she said "follow me" and led us through the chic cosmetics department (GAWD I felt so tacky)to the restroom filled with lovely women. My daughter helped me clean my hair, and we washed out my glove (using the nice Laura Mercier soaps and creams that were available). We were in awe of the merchandise carried by Bergdorf Goodman. We continued on to H&M, which daughter enjoyed quite a bit. Then, we just walked and walked some more, taking everything in. Did alot of backtracking because, for some reason, we often got a little confused as to which direction we needed to go. But, even if we didn't know exactly where we were going, there was always plenty to see and admire.

more later....
I have to stop for now.

Vicki

Great report so far Vicki. Even though I lived in NYC for 3 years, I still stare out my hotel room window on every visit there. It's hard to be unaffected by the energy of the city. Stinks about the bird mishap though.

Waiting for the rest...

Do you realize it's considered very lucky to have a bird sh*t on you?

Am loving your report. A happy and healthy New Year to you both.

Vicki,
Didn't I tell you New Yorkers are much more helpful than they are given credit for? ;-)

And I know what you mean; no matter how tired I am, the city always energizes me.

Eagerly awaiting the rest of your report.....

And didn't *I* tell you that 'you'd find plenty to do wihtout leaving Midtown?

Anyway, SO sorry to hear about your sh*tty experience, but you got to see a side of Bergdorf's you wouldn't have experienced without it!

Thanks for writing the trip report; we were all very curious about how it turned out, with so many possibilities discusesed. I know exactly what you mean about the thrill of the energy of the place!

So, when's your next visit?

Great trip report so far.

I can picture a woman with bird s*** on her head walking through bergdorf's for the first time. that's really funny.

looking forward to the rest.

I'm hooked on this report, and I know Vicki will never forget washing the bird poop out of her hair at Bergdorf's. What a hoot!

As a New Yorker, I have to tell you that all of us have had a bird poop on us. Many believe that it's good luck even though it's incredibly disgusting. I'll bet the rest of your trip was fantastic!!

And don't forget Baltimore isn't that far, so you'll have to do it more often! (not the bird part...)

okay...where was I...
After we left Bergdorf, we walked and explored. We admired the window decorations at Saks and went inside to check it out. What a lovely old store! With visions of $69.99, $79.99 or $89.99 price tags dancing in our heads, we eagerly made our way to a table of marked -down purses piled haphazardly on a table. First purse I looked at was $1200. How could purses this expensive just be put on a table in the middle of an isle?

We also stopped at the CBS store so daughter could buy my in-laws matching Price is Right shirts. They are big fans.

We made our way to Rockefeller Plaza, and I crashed on a cold concrete bench near the Swarvoski booth. Told daughter I had to have some coffee and a few minutes to rest. I had gotten up at 4:30 a.m. that day. After some coffee, though, I felt revived enough to go to the TOP OF THE ROCK. Wow. So glad I hadn't decided to skip it. After coming down, I had my "second wind", and we decided to head for the garment district to see some of the bead stores that I had addresses for (I make beaded jewelry). Browsing in the quirky "jewelry and fine art" shops was fun. Daughter bought a sapphire pendant from a shop which advertised "70% off!!" in the window. Yeah, right. As she was paying for it, I wandered toward the back and peered into cases full of Oriental carvings. Some were labeled "Ivory" (but isn't ivory illegal?) They were very pretty...lots of birds and animals, and......WHAT IN THE WORLD? I moved in closer and saw......ummmm...I believe it is called erotic art. LOTS of it. Little carvings, 4-6 inches long, depicting...well LOTS of things! : ) I discreetly called daughter over, and we silently studied the display, trying not to make utter fools of ourselves. I wondered how much these little things cost, but the only person around who even vaguely resembled a clerk was sitting in a chair reading a paperback novel. I said "do you work here?" He said, without taking his eyes off the book, "uh huh." I said "ummm...what is the price range of these figurines?" He said "$350 and up." *gasp* Can you imagine? But, on the way out the door, we passed a little shelf that had some little figurines marked $10.00. I studied one and then put it down and walked away. But, I went back and picked it up again and carried it to the cash register. I just thought it was so funny. The expression on the little figurine's face is....amusing, to say the least. I also bought a small ceramic teapot so the man at the cash register wouldn't think I was a total perv.

This lead to a discussion between daughter and I about what is art and what art is. I said "this doesn't make you think, and it is not pretty at all, so REALLY -- how can it be called art? This is just a case of the emperor having no clothes. Do people actually look at this kind of stuff and say "ahh....what a lovely example of fine erotic art." Of course not...they just look at it and snicker. So, I don't think this is art."

Daughter laughingly reminded me that "sex is just sex until someone makes a picture of it, then it becomes art."

Anyway...my husband wonders why I bought such a silly thing, and I guess I do, too. But it still makes me chuckle.

On our way back to the hotel, we saw that Fiddler on the Roof was playing right across the street! Starring Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O'Donnell! I was so excited and we were thrilled to get $50.00 tickets for the next night.

However, unfortunately, we then stumbled across the Walter Kerr Theater, where Doubt was playing. Daughter said "look Mom, that's the play you really wanted to see -- let's go see if we can get tickets for tomorrow night." So -- we ended up buying Doubt tickets for $25.00 each for the same time! Daughter said "we'll just walk back over to the theater where Fiddler is playing tomorrow and sell the tickets to someone in line." So that was our plan, although I had mixed feelings ab out missing a chance to see Harvey Fierstein. And Rosie McDonnell. But, Doubt did win a Tony for best dramatic play this year, so I figured we ought to see it if we possibly could.

By that time, my feet were throbbing and I just wanted to get horizontal, so we headed back to the Mariott Marquis (stopping at a deli for dinner -- can't remember the name), and I was tucked in by 8:30 p.m.!! I know, I know. But, I was soooo tired. I slept like a log. Daughter set the alarm clock for 4:45 a.m., so we could get to the Today show by 6:00! The next morning I vaguely remember her shaking me and saying "don't you want to go see Matt Lauer?". Finally, she said "meet me at the studio at 8:00." We had NBC tour tickets for 9:00. I woke up at 7:00 and was horrified to realize that I had sent my daughter off into the streets of New York when it was STILL DARK!!! She's 26, but still so naive, and she really has a bad sense of direction. I tried to call her cell phone, but no answer. I turned the Today show on just in time for their first outdoor shot and THERE SHE WAS! Waving!

She was thrilled, and her husband and my husband immediately called her to say "OMG!! I JUST SAW YOU ON TELEVISION!!

I joined her at the Today Studio, and we had the NBC tour, which was quite fun. We even had a cheesy picture made at the Dateline NBC desk. Enjoyed chatting with the tour guides, two 23 year old girls, one year out of college, who accepted these one-year positions as NBC pages. One confided that she makes enough to only pay her rent, with $75 left over to cover food and everything else. She said "on the one hand, it's so exciting to be working in New York City for NBC, but I its a bummer to have to call my parents for food money."

This is getting too long. You would think we did lots of lots of stuff! I tend to tell too many unimportant details.
More later.

Vicki

Vicki,

This is a super funny and entertaining report. Sounds like you had an unbelievably memorable time. Good for you! I wish you'd stayed longer.

kakalena

I'm enjoying your trip report so much and can't wait for the next installment! You cracked me up in the part about sending your 26 year old daughter off alone on the streets of NYC--that sounds like somethimg my mom would say (I'm 33!).

Can't wait to see what happens with the 2 sets of show tickets...

Vicki, I never thought of giving someone erotic art as a souvenir, LOL It's the perfect gift for someone who has everything!

Great report -- I am also looking forward to hearing the outcome of your ticket delemma!

Great report! Isn't NYC fun??? I went once with my mom when I was about 28 yrs old and we had SO MUCH fun. We still talk about it today (many years later..).