The website for each airport has more information on various transportation options to and from Manhattan. The Ground Transportation counter at the airport can also provide more information.

Newark (EWR) Airport (http://www.newarkairport.com)

Newark airport is the most convenient to various points in New Jersey and to Manhattan. New Jersey Transit trains leave from Newark Airport to various parts of New Jersey and to New York Penn Station. The Northeast Corridor line goes south to the Edison area and the Princeton area. The North Jersey Coast line goes south to Jersey coast, and the Morris and Essex lines go west to the Morristown area.

Also, several New Jersey Transit lines go east to Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station. PATH trains from Newark Penn Station go to Hoboken and Jersey City. The subway and buses leave from New York Penn Station to various points in New York City. To take the subway to the conference venue, see the directions in the "Public transportation" section below on directions from Penn Station.

To drive to Manhattan, take Interstate 95 north and Route 495 east to the Lincoln tunnel. To get to the conference venue, see the directions in the "Driving" section below.

LaGuardia (LGA) Airport (http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/lgahomemain.htm)

You can take the M60, Q33, or Q47 buses to Manhattan, and transfer to the subway. To get to the conference venue, take the R train (Q33/Q47 buses) to the Union Square station or the 4, 5, or 6 trains (M60 bus) to the 14th Street station.

To drive to Manhattan, take the Grand Central Parkway west. Follow signs to the Triborough Bridge. Take the Manhattan exit and follow signs to FDR drive. To get to the conference venue, see the directions in the "Driving" section below.

John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport (http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkhomemain.html)

A shuttle bus is available from the airport to the Howard Beach subway station. From the Howard Beach station, the A subway train goes to various points in Manhattan, including Penn Station and Times Square. To take the subway to the conference venue, take the A train to the Broadway-Nassau St/ Fulton St station, change to the uptown (Bronx-bound) 4 train, and get off at the 14th Street stop.

To drive to Manhattan, head north on the Van Wyck Expressway (Interstate 678) and west on the Long Island Expressway (I-495) to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. To get to the conference venue, see the directions in the "Driving" section below.

Interactive map of Manhattan

Map of Manhattan neighborhoods

Maps of various parts of Manhattan

For the most part, Manhattan is laid out as a grid. Streets run east-west, while avenues run north-south. Knowing the nearest cross-street and avenue of an address is important. For example it determines which bus or subway line to use, it gives you an indication of how far away a restaurant or shop might be, and it is very helpful if you can give a cab driver the exact location for an address.

Fifth Avenue divides the city between east and west. Street numbers begin at Fifth Avenue; thus, Two West 57th Street is just a few steps to the west of Fifth Avenue, while Two East 57th Street is just to the east.

Most streets in Manhattan are one-way. With a few exceptions, traffic on even-numbered streets travels east, and traffic on odd-numbered streets goes west. Traffic on major crosstown streets, including Canal, Houston, 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 72nd, 79th and 86th streets, travels in both directions.

To New Yorkers, "downtown" does not mean the city center. Rather, "downtown" simply means "south" and "uptown" means "north."

You can obtain driving directions to Manhattan from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce website. The conference venue (Washington Irving high school) is located at 17th Street and Irving Place. This is one block east of Union Square (or three blocks east of Fifth Ave) or one block west of Third Ave. Parking (which is expensive) can be found in a garage on Irving Place between 17th and 18th Street.

Driving in Manhattan

Most streets in Manhattan are one-way. With a few exceptions, traffic on even-numbered streets travels east, and traffic on odd-numbered streets goes west. Traffic on major crosstown streets, including Canal, Houston, 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 72nd, 79th and 86th streets, travels in both directions.

To New Yorkers, "downtown" does not mean the city center. Rather, "downtown" simply means "south" and "uptown" means "north."

Public Transportation

Subways and Buses (http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/)

Subway trains run daily, 24 hours a day through Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Buses run through all five boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx). Tokens for one way fare are $1.50 and are available at newsstands and inside the subway stations. MetroCards (prepaid plastic fare cards) are available for anywhere from $3.00 to $80.00. The bus fare is also $1.50 and is payable with exact change (no bills), a subway token or a MetroCard. Subway/bus transfers are free when using Metrocard.

Keep in mind that express trains do not stop at all stations, and that some trains may stop at different stations depending on the time of day.

Getting to Manhattan

Trains into Manhattan usually arrive into Grand Central station or Pennsylvania station. PATH trains from Jersey City and Hoboken arrive at Herald Square. Buses usually arrive into the Port Authority bus terminal.

The following are suggestions on routes to reach Manhattan. The best route may vary, depending on your starting point.

1. New Jersey Coast: Take New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast line north to New York Penn Station (not Newark Penn Station).
   
2. Princeton: Take New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor line north to New York Penn Station (not Newark Penn Station).
   
3. Edison: Take New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor line north to New York Penn Station (not Newark Penn Station).
   
4. Morristown: Take New Jersey Transit's Morris or Essex lines east to New York Penn Station (not Newark Penn Station).
   
5. Parsippany: Take the Lakeland bus line to Port Authority Bus Terminal.
   
6. Westchester or Connecticut: Take a Metro-north train into Grand Central station.
   
7. Queens, Brooklyn, or the Bronx: Take the subway or a bus into Manhattan.
   
8. Staten Island: Take an MTA bus into Manhattan.
   
9. From Jersey City or Hoboken: Take the PATH train to 33rd Street (Herald Square).
   
10. Long Island: Take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to Penn Station.

To reach the conference venue (Washington Irving high school) from:

1. Grand Central station: Take the 4, 5, or 6 trains downtown (Brooklyn-bound) to 14th Street.
2. Penn Station / Herald Square: If you're at Penn Station, walk one block east to the Herald Square subway station. Take the N or R trains downtown (Brooklyn-bound) to Union Square.
3. Port Authority bus terminal: Port Authority is connected to the Times Square subway station through a series of underground tunnels. Take the S subway train (Times Square - Grand Central shuttle) from Times Square to Grand Central station. Take the 4, 5, or 6 trains downtown (Brooklyn-bound) to 14th Street.

New York Visitor's Center - includes maps, itineraries, things to do, and a calendar of events

New York Magazine's website - includes sections on food, nightlife, the arts, and shopping, as well as a Best of NY section

New York Citysearch - includes information on restaurants, nightlife, events, and sightseeing

Zagat's Guide to Restaurants - free access to lists of restaurantss, access to ratings/reviews requires a subscription

About.com's Guide to New York - includes sections on restaurants, free stuff to do, and sightseeing

TimeOut Magazine's New York Survival Guide - includes itineraries as well as an A-Z guide to New York

TKTS booths - discounted same-day theater tickets. You must buy in person and cannot use a credit card.