We are coming to New York the last week in March. We chose to stay at the newly re-opened Marriott on West Street in the Financial District--may sound lame to you, but, along with our visit, it is our small way of showing support to the city's valiant effort to rock-on after 9/11. Anyway--two questions: First: What is the current subway access for traveling from our hotel to other parts of the city? Second: Our first visit was in 6/01 and this time we would like to see other than the usual highlights, e.g. Manhatten neighborhoods and Brooklyn/Queens. Suggestions?

Andriette
Use this for subway info: http://www.nyc.gov/html/em/subway.html

Subway service isn't great down by your hotel, but see the link that Tammy posted for complete info.

If I were you, I would patronize the downtown neighborhoods, as they could use the business: Tribeca, Soho, the East and West Village. Other places most tourists don't hit the first time are the Cloisters, a fabulous museum way up in the northern part of the city; Brooklyn Heights (walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and have lunch or dinner at Patsy's Pizza). And if it's warm enough, take a stroll through Central Park. You may have been there before, but who can tire of it?

You may also want to see Chelsea or Gramercy Park. And for great food stores, head to the Upper West Side, where you can take in Fairway, Citarella, Zabar's, and H&H.

In Queens, you may want to see Astoria. There are also lots of other ethnic sections as well.

Kudos to you for patronizing downtown!

Hi Adriette,
Subway service is almost completely restored so you won't have any trouble getting around. There are now only 4 closed stations downtown (Cordlandt Street WTC stops of the N/R and 1/9 lines and the Rector and South Ferry stops of the 1/9 lines). The Rector Street stop of the N/R is open and very near your hotel. There are several other subway lines just a few more blocks away.
Since you are staying downtown I suggest you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn Heights and take a walk along the Promenade, see the beautiful architecture in the neighborhood and have a coffee or something to eat along BH's main thoroughfare, Montague Street.
Have a great trip!

Thanks to John, Gab and Tammy for your responses. We are so excited about coming--we even purchased heavy convertable all-weather coats just in case. I know, coming from San Francisco, that tourists, like me in this case, often don't see the real stuff of a city, so thanks for both the subway info. (your public works dept. is incredible--it would take SF about 10 years to be where NYC is in less then 6 months)and the neighborhood info. One other question--I just read about a "Little Italy" in Bensonhurst--any info. on that area and the Good Friday street march to the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe?

You should walk across the brooklyn bridge. There have been posts about it on this board. maybe if you do a text search you'll find more info.

Will do, Arthur. I've done some research on the web in general as well, and the Brooklyn Bridge is definitely on our list of must-do's. We especially like the fact that we will end up in an interesting neighborhood.

One of the hardest hit neighborhoods has been Chinatown - I know, I know, you're coming from San Francisco, but It is still fascinating to see the stretch of Chinatown extended beyond the traditional Canal Street border and grow into Little Italy. And the "new" pan-asian is also fascinating.
If you walk over the Brooklyn Bridge (just did it Saturday, a great walk) stop at the terrific Ice Cream store right on the east river next to the river cafe. There's also the great pizza place, Grimaldis just off of front st. Thanks for coming - we appreciate it.

Thankyou Mel. Yes, we're San Franciscans and have the more famous, I suppose, Chinatown, but your city has the largest and fastest growing. Besides, every city has it's own flavor, and we will certainly take a stroll through the nabe and stop for some tea and dim sum.Any ideas about where to take a stroll in Queens and/or in Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn (as I posted earlier, we had heard about a Little Italy section of Bensonhurst that sounds very interesting).Thanks to all responders--this is just great.

some other suggestions;
-take the free ferry to staten island and don't get off.
-shop at century 21 on a weekend
-have dinner at lucky chengs@ ave.A for some drag queen fun
-if a nice day watch the sunset have a picnic at the esplenade by the hudson river