New York City help needed

[susandennis]

I have a guy I know coming to NYC from New Zealand. He's scrappy but not real sophisticated. He'll be on his own with his (funny, I think) list of things he really wants to do.

He's asking me about transporation/geography issues. I lived in the middle of Manhattan, but that was 30 years ago. I'm thinking some of the details might have changed. Anyone out there have any pointers they can share that I can give him?

He has 2 mabye 3 days. Of those, the evenings will need to be spent at Shea Stadium. He wants to see the Empire State Building and Ellis Island and maybe Yankee Stadium and possibly the David Letterman show.

I know it used to be an easy subway ride to Shea from the middle of Manhattan... is it still? Is it safe to take it back at the end of a night game? How would he get to Yankee stadium - let's say he just wanted to see it as opposed to going to a ball game there.

What's the best way from him to get to Ellis Island?

All of this will be in August if that matters.

Comments

[henare.livejournal.com]

nyc transit info: http://www.mta.info/nyct/index.html (see the nav bar on the left for a tourist resource)

official nyc government info: http://www.nyc.gov/portal/index.jsp?pageID=nyc_visitors&catID=740 (again, see the nav bars for resources)

ellis island is a national park, so go here: http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm

david letterman show is on the west side ... see http://www.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/ for details

yankee stadium is in the bronx ... in a neighborhood that's kinda intimidating. i don't recommend that your friend try this on this trip. besides, it's only a ballpark. (my dad was a carpenter on the team that helped rebuild it in the 1980's ... so i've been inside and out.)

[judith.livejournal.com]

I went to Yankee STadium in summer 1998 and LOVED it, even though I am no ball fan. I first went on my bike, which I rode all over Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens that summer. It was terrific just seeing it that way, from the outside. Then I went to a game at night, cheap tickets. I thought it was a beautiful stadium and an experience not to be missed.

I think August does matter. A lot of people are out of town because of the muggy heat. The weather, therefore, not so wonderful, but there are many many activities going on throughout the city, like in the parks and museums. the New York Times has an email list you can join that just tells of upcoming happenings in the city. I think that's well worth getting onto.

Battery park - Ellis Island. Crowds of tourists in the summer, so be prepared to wait in line. I thought it was worth it to see the restored center there.

No New Yorker but I loved it the summer I was there.

[susandennis]

That's so funny - the bit about it's only a ballpark. The reason this guy is coming to the US from NZ is for baseball. To a baseball guy from NZ there's really no such thing as only a ballpark and especially not Yankee Stadium. But he is concerned about safety so I'll pass along your thots. In the old days we used to drive out there for games.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Nonetheless I pity anyone who needs to spend multiple evenings at Shea Stadium.

I'm pretty sure the #7 train still goes to Shea, and the #4 (and I think the D) will get you to Yankee Stadium. I haven't been there in s while, but I gather that the neighborhood gets a bit of a bad rap. In any case if he goes there near game time there should be lots of people around.

[hlee.livejournal.com]

Be sure he finds out how long security checks at the stadium are estimated to take. Or if it's ok to wander around near an empty stadium. Pre 9-11 subways to and from games were, uh, festive events (full of loud, tipsy fans). Subways in general are safer that ever but trains are subject to "police invesitgations" which can last from 10 to 20 minutes.

[jawnbc]

#7 to Shea Stadium, from 42nd St. take about 40 minutes.

Letterman tickets are pretty easy to get via their website...make sure he requests them as an international tourist. I went last year and it was so worth it.

[susandennis]

Great tips! Thanks!