New York City Questions
 

I'm in the preliminary stages of planning a trip to New York City in October of 2005 to attend the Breeders' Cup races at Belmont. I know it's a year away, but I'm trying to put together a budget and get some idea of an itinerary.

1. I plan to arrive on Friday the 28th via Amtrak and I'll be staying at the Sheraton Towers on 7th and 52nd. If Amtrak's schedule remains the same next year, the train is scheduled to arrive at 3:25 PM. I read that as anytime between 4 and 9 PM. What would be my best alternative for getting to the hotel? I don't want to spend a ton of money on a taxi in rush hour traffic, but I'm also not too keen on the idea of getting on a crowded bus, even with a small suitcase.

2. I plan to take the LIRR to Belmont on race day, but have since read accounts from people who've said that the LIRR is a logistical nightmare on Belmont Stakes Day. The BC isn't nearly as heavily attended as the Belmont stakes, but I do wonder if it will be a similar situation. Does anyone have any experience with taking the LIRR to the previous BCs that have been held at Belmont?

3. I need to get to Hostelling International on Amsterdam and 103rd on Sunday morning the 30th. I looked up the transit map and found the bus route that goes there, however, I'm wondering about the area. Here, I've read that it's an okay area, but at another travel board, I've read many comments saying that tourists should not go above 96th. Should I be okay taking the bus there or would I be better off taking a taxi?

1. I've always found Amtrak to run more-or-less on time for its NYC routes. A taxi isn't going to cost "a fortune" to 52nd and 7th. Lastly, you'd be taking a subway rather than a bus. The subway with a small suitcase at 3:30 p.m. is no problem.

2. Leave early.

3. The neighborhood should be fine, but take a taxi if you're concerned. Once again, you'd be taking the subway rather than a bus. I'd take the subway over a taxi to that block.

To get to the Sheraton I would take a cab or walk if you prefer - its only about a mile. The bus will take much longer. You could also do the subway - faster - but by 4 pm it will start to get crowded and your suitcase will not be especially welcome.

Have been to the Breeder's Cup a couple of times - but never by train. From Manhattan I would suggest this is your best choice - by car would be a huge traffic jam. Just be aware the trains will be very crowded - SRO I would assume (some people from outside of NYC expect to always get seats - this is often not possible).

Also - about half the people in Manhattan live above 96th Street - where you will find Columbia University, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, the Cloisters etc. - and a lot of incredibly expensive real estate.

And while there are uptown neighborhoods I wouldn;t want to walk alone in the middle of the night, Amsterdam and 103 is a perfectly safe neighborhood - mixed middle/working class residential. But I wouldn;t take the bus - it will be interminable - just grab the subway.

Hope this helps!

Thank you both. All of your input is extremely helpful.

May I ask why you feel the bus is a bad alternative? Is it the time factor? I don't own a car, so I take the bus everywhere at home and I really don't mind bus rides up to an hour. I've ridden light rail and subway systems in other places that I've visted and found that I'm more comfortable on buses if there are no transfers involved, even if it takes longer. Is it something other than length of time?

It's that buses in a city like New York are going to be incredibly slow because of traffic. Snails pace slow.

In contract, the subway is going to be much quicker and more efficient.

You could walk faster than the bus would go.

Penn Station is on 32-34th Streets and the hotel is only 20 blocks north. If you have a small rolling suitcase, it is a wonderful walk.

I've walked it many times and it is no problem.

A taxi would be less than $5.

A bus is about as fast as walking, when you consider the wait and the terrible traffic (esp. around Penn!). Subways run much more often and are often faster than taxis. If riding a bus you'd have to have either $2.00 in quarters or go down into the subway to buy a Metropass (though some delis and other stores sometimes sell them too).

I have taken the LIRR train to Belmont Stakes about 5 times. I never had a problem getting a seat. It's not a logistical nightmare at all (though the train is often full of drunken, loud 20-somethings, I highly doubt that the BC would be like that). The train runs from Penn directly to the racetrack. Piece of cake.

Ugh, where is my head today - MetroPass?? I mean Metrocard. It works on both subways and buses. Same price for each ($2). Likely to increase though by the time you get here.

This isn't about transportation, but I couldn't resist. I am new to the group. I went to New York in 99, and I LOVED it! I stayed at the Sharaton across the street from where you will be. You are one block from Broadway and Times Square, and a short walk to Central Park.
If you have time, I highly recommend the resurant on top of the Marquie (sp) on Broadway. It's called The View, and it's New Yorks only revolving rooftop resturant, as of 99 anyway. They have a prix fix menu if you go early. We met Billy Graham there. Great food, pleasant service, and "reasonable" under the circumstances.
By contrast The 21 Club was EXTREMLY stuffy, about 6 people who waited on us, and I dont think any of them ever smiled.

The sub way is great, like the others said. Very fast, efficient transportation.

Okay, you all have talked me into using the subway. I know that there's a station right near the hotel, but what is it called? I'm looking at the subway map now, but it's late in the workday and my brain is laughing at me for even trying to figure it out.

If you are coming into Penn Station, you will take the Subway up to 50th street and 7th Avenue.

The 1 or 9 train will take you from 50th & 7th to 103 and Broadway. The stop is called 103 st. I think it used to be true that above 96th was dicey but, while I haven't been there recently, I think it's slowly being gentrified and should be fine. On a Sunday morning you could really take the bus, subway or a taxi, whatever makes you comfortable. Here's a website that lists every shop etc. by block on the upper west side. You can see what kind of places are on the block.

http://www.nysite.com/westside/blocks/a104.htm

What's this about not going above 96th? I live on e 103rd Street near Broadway, and I don't thonk you'll have too much of a problem. We are not living in the dark ages up here! It's a nice neighborhood for the most part. The Hostel, in 103 and Amsterdam, is situated near some housing projects, so you should be aware of that, but our noeghborhood has plenty to recommend it. There are a couple of niice restaurants on Broadway around 105th. The M7 Bus will drop you just a block from the Hostel on Amsterdam. The M104 will drop you at 104th st and you can walk east 1 block to the hostel.
The subway lets you out at 103rd, where a new faculty residence for Columbia University is being constructed, and again, you are one block from the hostel. You'll be just fine. Come on up here whenever!

My rude, late afternoon brain frogot to thank everyone who posted yesterday after my initial thanks. Each and every one of you have offered invaluable advice.

I'm playing around at nysite now. Very helpful site. It's good to have a block by block reference of what's around and it's never too early to start studying maps.

I'm now reassured about going above 96th St. Heck, in the affluent, read: overpriced, suburb that I live in, the road that I live on has a couple of transitional housing projects and low income apartments sharing space very nicely with expensive homes, condos, and apartments, so that doesn't bother me.

lisa, my experiences at '21' were the exact opposite of yours. Efficient, curtious, prompt, excellent service.

I must apologize for my horrible spelling- if my editor had read this post, I definitely wood looz my job! Although the word "thonk" does have a certain cartoonish ring to it....

Sognatrice maybe you can help me. I remember being stunned to discover, quite by accident, some shingled single family homes in the upper wet 90s or low 100s. They had some amazing history and were at one point featured in the NYTimes RE section on a Sunday. I now can't remember <i>where</i> they are or find anything about them. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Google to the rescue! A search on &quot;upper east side&quot; wooden houses turnedup the following info in the very first link, just go to this page and search for &quot;wooden&quot; to see photos of a few of them, they're on 92nd street.

http://www.thecityreview.com/uesintro.html

There is an enclave of small houses - but connected I believe - around a private inner green between 94th/95th on West End towards Broadway. They were featured in the Times RE section a couple of years ago. Don;t know if this is what you mean.

nyt, You're thinking of Pomander Walk.

A row of connected wooden houses farther up on the West Side would be Sylvan Terrace:

http://www.redkat.de/newyork/newyor18.jpg