Thanks, dear. Depending on what time we plan this event, I’ll probably go to the New Hamburg station, and then I’ll come to Grand Central. There seems to be trains all day, there’s a 11:43 and a 10:43, both of which i could make with ease. And it takes about 2 hours to get down there.
Let me confess, too - this will be the first time I’ve taken a train in the States. No reason, and Og knows I’ve traveled plenty on my own (bus plane car) but never ended up on a train.
Well, Metro-North isn’t a “real” train, in the sense that it is commuter rail and lacks the amenities of long-haul trains. Typically though, there should be available outlets, a bathroom every few cars, overhead racks for luggage and padded seats (not hard subway-style ones). You buy your ticket from a machine located in the station (although you can buy a ticket on the train, its a LOT more expensive) that takes cash and credit cards.
When the train comes, get on and sit anywhere (no assigned seats). A conductor will clip your ticket at some point during the trip – not necessarily right when you get on. Grand Central is the terminus, so you pretty much can’t miss it. 
No problem! I’m not too afraid. As I said, I have travelled plenty alone, and I know that even if you can’t find anything else in NYC, you can find Grand Central.
I’ve been to the New Hamburg station, too (dropping off) so I know generally what it’s like.
Do we have a plan for the day yet?
Not yet,
Annamika my email to you got bounced, so email me.
Ok,
Here is a partial listing of events both free or very inexpensive in NYC.
Very few are on Sunday the 22nd.
But
bottom of this page for Saturday and top of this page for Sunday are some free concerts in Central Park.
Just throwing this info out, oh and there may be some suprise guests at the gathering.
And here are concerts in Brooklyn’s Prospect park for the months of June and July.
Lou Reed and others on Saturday the 21st.
I looked at that and saw “Brazilian Girls” on the 22nd and got all excited until I saw that the group “Brazilian Girls” contains only one, non-Brazilian girl.
Damn.
Really? I thought he was dead.
He got better.
Beter than dead? Anyway, he’s just fooling himself, you know.
How could one tell the difference if he’s dead or alive?
Ok, you win the thread.
Anaamika,
If’n you want to, there is easy parking near our place in downtown Jersey City. Then you can take the PATH train to the subway to wherever in NYC (1 hr to most places in Brooklyn?). A friend drove us to Albany a few weeks ago, and it wasn’t a bad drive at all.
Has anyone here been to any of these places? If so, what do you suggest? I took a look at Google maps, and I noticed that many of the barbecue areas are several blocks away from the nearest subway station, which could be a real pain for those of us (most of us, I assume) who don’t live nearby and don’t want to mess with the busses.
Getting to Randall’s Island and Wards Island looks particularly problematic for anyone travelling by subway. Is there an affordable and reasonably fast ferry option? (I know I could look it up, but I’d like to hear from someone who’s actually used the ferry–is it really crowded? Is the ride smooth or choppy? Would it be a pain to carry food and picnic stuff on it, are there lots of slowdowns and delays for whatever reason? etc.)
The only two barbecue areas that look like they’d be pretty easy to get to by subway are the ones at St. Nicholas Park (3 blocks from a stop on the A, B, C, and D lines) and Marcus Garvey Park (close to a stop on the 2 and the 3).
If we chose to have a non-barbecue picnic, transit might be easier for everyone, but, of course, there’ll be no barbecue.
Oh, and, if we want to do a barbecue or a picnic, we should have a back-up plan in case of rain. Anyone have any ideas?
One place I’ve always wanted to visit in NYC is City Island - is there any general interest in a trip there?
Okay! Time to kick this into gear! Let’s make some decisions. I nominate Zebra as President Pro Tem of the dopefest, as tis Zebra’s place we’re basing out of. This means Zebra gets final decision power about what we’re actually doing.
We need a sun plan, a rain plan, and a night plan.
Sun Plan options and contents: Museums, concerts in the park, barbeque.
Rain Plan options and contents: Museums, movies, eating indoors.
Night Plan options and contents: Movie theater, Zebra’s movies, share-a-DVD, my Wii.
We need a travel plan.
Metro North people: I am your friendly commuter, having driven into the City for (mumble) years, as well as taking the train in. I volunteer to arrive at Grand Central and/or 34th and pick up everyone from there, and shepherd them to Zebra’s house. Who needs the help?
(Eve can vouch that I’m perfectly safe.)
Personally, I’d kind of like to see Lou Reed in concert. I mean… damn.
The first thing to do, let’s kill all the lawyers.
raises hand I’d be one.
I looked up Lou Reed. Is that the one? That Lou Reed is gay it seems, and received electroshock therapy at an early age to cull it out of him. :eek: He’s part of a group called the Velvet Underground.
They were one of the founding stones of alt rock. Here one can hear some of his music and his rather nice voice.
I never ever would have known all of that were it not for this thread. It inspired me to go look it up. So thanks.
But I don’t see that he’s dead anywhere. 
Ok,
Here is my email address
Just put include SDMB in subject line.
Email me with day preference Sat the 21st or Sun the 22nd.
If we are going to just do my place for the cookout, then let me know if you can bring say a side dish or something else.
We’ll probably make this BYOB, but if you can bring some sort of BBQ side dish that would be great.
If we use my place at least there will be a clean restroom nearby.
Now Prospect is not far from my place, so if people want to go to the concert from there, if we are meeting on Saturday, then it shouldn’t be too hard to either shuttle everyone up or a nice stroll for the less lazy.
OK, Let’s do this thing.
Well, I’d be coming into Grand Central from northern NJ via train, but I don’t spend much time in the city and would very much appreciate the tour guide.