NYC which way is south?
 

Here are two scenarios then to help me know which way is "up" so to speak. <BR> <BR>If I'm at St. Patrick's Cathedral facing Rock Center and I want to go towards Radio City Music Hall..am I headed South, North, East or West? <BR> <BR>If I'm standing on Broadway at the Virgin Megastore, if I begin walking towards Lincoln Center (45th Street to 66th St), am I walking North, South, East or west? <BR> <BR>Thank you.

Provided you are north of Greenwich Village in the portion of Manhattan that has numbered streets bisecting avenues it's very simple. Starting at first Avenue when you head towards any avenue with a higher number you are heading west (Avenue of the Americas is actually 6th Avenue). If you head towards a numbered street with a higher number than your starting point you are heading west. All avenues run north - south and all streets run east west. I believe Broadway is the starting point for specific address numbers on streets which have both an "east" and a "west" (e.g. East 42nd and West 42nd). if this is no the case I'm sure someone will clarify. I suggest going to any shop selling magazines etc. when you arrive and buying one of the small laminated sectional street maps. They will simplify the process. NYC is one of the easiest cities in the world to navigate.

Oops... meant to say that if you head toward a numbered street with a higher number you are heading NORTH.

Chach, I tried Yahoo's Mapquest link and I think I see where the confusion sets in. To people who live or work there, all avenues on Manhattan Island run north and south, and all streets run east and west. In reality, Manhattan is "tilted" about 30 degrees clockwise. <BR> <BR>Once you're in Manhattan, though, it's much easier to go with perception. So, if you're on the steps of St. Patrick's cathedral, which is on the "east" side of 5th Avenue, you're looking west when you look across the street to Rockefeller Center; and Saks Fifth Avenue, which will be on your left and also on the east side of 5th Avenue, is to your south. <BR> <BR>If you're at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square, and you start along Broadway toward Lincoln Center, that's the one time you'll actually be walking "true" north. But in the alternate reality that is Manhattan, you'll be walking north-northwest. Broadway is the one thoroughfare above 14th Street that breaks the Manhattan grid. Broadway crosses Fifth Avenue at 23rd St., Sixth Avenue (or Avenue of the Americas) at 34th Street (Herald Square), Seventh Avenue at 42nd St. (Times Square), and 8th Avenue at 59th St. (Columbus Circle). <BR>

thank you so much! you were right on. Mapquest has confused me to no end. I believe I understand it much better.

Owen, you asked to be corrected, so I'll add my two cents. It's 5th Ave which delineates East addresses from West addresses, not Broadway. Since Broadway is the only street that breaks the grid, it would really be confusing if that was the line between east and west!