AQU assistance please

[-BT-]

headed up to NYC this weekend, and seeing as how i've never been i figured it would be a good excuse to check out the big A this saturday.
so, i'm asking for any/all transportation suggestions.
my hotel is around 3 blocks from Grand Central Station, but i'm not sure what would be the most efficient mode of transportation, airplane, bus, cab, train, subway, etc.

your help is much appreciated

-bt-

[blackthroatedwind]

A cab will cost you upwards of $60 each way.

The subway is the best way to go. They're actually pretty easy and it's a two train trip to the Big A from Grand Central. You take the 4 or 5 DOWNTOWN, both the same for your needs, from Grand Central to Fulton Street ( the first station stop after 42nd/Grand Central will be 14th Street...if it's 59th you're going Uptown...the wrong way ). If you can, be near the back of the train, as that's closest to the stairs when you switch at Fulton, though it's no big deal. At Fulton, you switch to the A train, which is very close to the 4/5 platform. The stairs you take will lead you to the back of the A, which is where you want to be when you get off at the Aqueduct/Conduit stop. You want the DOWNTOWN/BROOKLYN train ( in this case, your first stop is High Street...which is the first stop in Brooklyn, Once again, if your first stop is Chambers, you are going Uptown and you need to get out and get the Downtown train on the other side of the platform ). Now, here's the mildly tricky part, there are TWO A Trains, one goes to Lefferts Blvd and the other to Far Rockaway. You need the Far Rockaway train. Depending on when you go on Saturday, the Rockaway trains come every 15 to 20 minutes. Tell me when you want to leave and I will give you a close approximation as to when Rockaway trains leave Fulton. It will take approx. 35 minutes from Fulton to Aqueduct. It will take about 10 minutes from Grand Central on the 4/5 to get to Fulton, so if you leave your hotel 30 minutes before an A hits Fulton you should be fine.

You will realize when you are at Aqueduct. It is the fourth stop ABOVE ground. You will see the track...and a lot of people will get off the train there. It is a short walk to the track from the Station and following others won't be a problem.

I do this every day on the A Train.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

A cab will cost you upwards of $60 each way.

The subway is the best way to go. They're actually pretty easy and it's a two train trip to the Big A from Grand Central. You take the 4 or 5 DOWNTOWN, both the same for your needs, from Grand Central to Fulton Street ( the first station stop after 42nd/Grand Central will be 14th Street...if it's 59th you're going Uptown...the wrong way ). If you can, be near the back of the train, as that's closest to the stairs when you switch at Fulton, though it's no big deal. At Fulton, you switch to the A train, which is very close to the 4/5 platform. The stairs you take will lead you to the back of the A, which is where you want to be when you get off at the Aqueduct/Conduit stop. You want the DOWNTOWN/BROOKLYN train ( in this case, your first stop is High Street...which is the first stop in Brooklyn, Once again, if your first stop is Chambers, you are going Uptown and you need to get out and get the Downtown train on the other side of the platform ). Now, here's the mildly tricky part, there are TWO A Trains, one goes to Lefferts Blvd and the other to Far Rockaway. You need the Far Rockaway train. Depending on when you go on Saturday, the Rockaway trains come every 15 to 20 minutes. Tell me when you want to leave and I will give you a close approximation as to when Rockaway trains leave Fulton. It will take approx. 35 minutes from Fulton to Aqueduct. It will take about 10 minutes from Grand Central on the 4/5 to get to Fulton, so if you leave your hotel 30 minutes before an A hits Fulton you should be fine.

You will realize when you are at Aqueduct. It is the fourth stop ABOVE ground. You will see the track...and a lot of people will get off the train there. It is a short walk to the track from the Station and following others won't be a problem.

I do this every day on the A Train.

Really pay attention to this part, otherwise it's a long walk!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Really pay attention to this part, otherwise it's a long walk!

It's actually not that far. If you get off at 110th Street, the stop before Lefferts, it's a mile to the Main entrance at Aqueduct and one half mile to the parking lot.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

It's actually not that far. If you get off at 110th Street, the stop before Lefferts, it's a mile to the Main entrance at Aqueduct and one half mile to the parking lot.

Any distance would feel treacherous in the sleet.

[asudevil]

Re: The A Train

Bring a few extra bucks...There are great buys on DVD's, fruit snacks, and tremendous sermonettes from the many religions of the world.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by asudevil

Re: The A Train

Bring a few extra bucks...There are great buys on DVD's, fruit snacks, and tremendous sermonettes from the many religions of the world.

No there aren't.

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

No there aren't.

Aren't what? I experienced all of that and more on the A. Rode it for 2 weeks and loved it! It's a snapshot of the world in 35 minutes.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by asudevil

Aren't what? I experienced all of that and more on the A. Rode it for 2 weeks and loved it! It's a snapshot of the world in 35 minutes.

You have a vivid imagination.

[asudevil]

Thanks.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by asudevil

Thanks.

Back in the 90s, when I was going every day, there was a crazy Jesus screamer that got on the same train, every day, on the way home. Thankfully you don't encounter too many of those anymore. And, you can always switch cars.

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Back in the 90s, when I was going every day, there was a crazy Jesus screamer that got on the same train, every day, on the way home. Thankfully you don't encounter too many of those anymore. And, you can always switch cars.

The first day I didn't know the difference between Far Rock and Lefferts. Needless to say I looked out of sorts on the Lefferts platform waiting to get back to Rockaway Blvd. I really fit in.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Back in the 90s, when I was going every day, there was a crazy Jesus screamer that got on the same train, every day, on the way home. Thankfully you don't encounter too many of those anymore. And, you can always switch cars.

He's doin mornings now on the PATH trains...................

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

He's doin mornings now on the PATH trains...................

They're a little more crowded.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by -BT-

headed up to NYC this weekend, and seeing as how i've never been i figured it would be a good excuse to check out the big A this saturday.
so, i'm asking for any/all transportation suggestions.
my hotel is around 3 blocks from Grand Central Station, but i'm not sure what would be the most efficient mode of transportation, airplane, bus, cab, train, subway, etc.

your help is much appreciated

-bt-

You must have enough money to burn a wet mule. Don't forget in a few weeks that there will be poker tables too.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by GPK

You must have enough money to burn a wet mule. .

Kev,
Help me here. I may not be hip to all southern vernacular so please explain what the hell this means.

This should help with the above:

http://nmisscommentor.com/politics/e...rn-a-wet-mule/

[3kings]

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

This should help with the above:

http://nmisscommentor.com/politics/e...rn-a-wet-mule/

Thanks OM.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by GPK

You must have enough money to burn a wet mule. Don't forget in a few weeks that there will be poker tables too.

Bob's post in the luck thread made me think of this. I know there will be wagering on Horses, Golf, Dogs, midget tos...I mean poker, but is their a jai-alai option available there as well?

[golfer]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

Bob's post in the luck thread made me think of this. I know there will be wagering on Horses, Golf, Dogs, midget tos...I mean poker, but is their a jai-alai option available there as well?

I know we pass a sign for a Jai-alai fronton every time we drive through Ocala on the way to TBD (http://www.jai-alai.info/ocala-jai-alai.html). Needless to say (I think it's needless), we have never stopped. There is also one in Orlando.

The one and only time I have witnessed live Jai-alai was in 1982 in Bridgeport CT. That was enough for me