Two NYC Subway questions and Restaurant questions?

More fun NYC questions. Here goes:

#1 - From Battery Park, find the Rector Street stop. Take the 1 train (on weekends, it may be the 2/3 train) to 34th Street Penn Station. Exit by 7th Avenue and 34th Street. Then walk two or three blocks east (past 6th Ave and Broadway) to 5th Avenue and 34th. That's where the Empire State Building is.

As a backup plan, I highly recommend using HopStop.com. That should give you detailed directions via subway throughout NYC.

#2- From the Empire State Bldg to the UN, continue walking East on 34th Street until you get to Lexington. Go one block South to 33rd and Lex, where you'll see a #6 train station. Take the #6 train to 42nd Street.

The Empire State Bldg area isn't the best for food, although there are probably a ton of places around. However, Mustang Sally or Mustang Harry's are both on 7th Avenue a few blocks south of Penn Station (approximately 7 blocks at most) and if you walk to 34th and 3rd, there are a ton of restaurants all by that corner. I suggest Baby Bo's for mexican food (34th and 2nd avenue) or The Barking Dog (on 34th by 3rd Avenue), but there are so many around, that it might be worth walking around on 3rd Avenue from 28th through 38th. Hudson Place is also great and is located on 36th and 3rd. Frankly, you can walk from 34th north until you get to the high-40s, lower 50s, which I believe is the area where the UN is. It is about a 15-20 minute walk from 34th and 3rd, and a 30 minute walk (but a nice walk) from the Empire State Bldg to the UN.

Good luck.

1 .the subway map is a little confusing at first But I got the hang of it after a day or so the trains have their letter or number on every carriage. 2.the stations all have there names on the platform and some trains have a announcer telling you which stop you are at. 3.Yes just follow the map if you miss a stop as I sometimes did just get off at the next and get the train going in the opposite direction back to your stop. 4.times square is not that far from the empire state building You might want to walk and see all the sights at night .You are definitely OK to take the subway up till midnight so you should be fine in the evening.I found the cabs a little much for my budget but there safe and fast. 5.How long is a piece of string? I ate at the cafes dinners where I saw locals eat at.You are right to avoid fast food joints,Whats the point of going all that way?I would say $5-$10 for breakfast $10-$15 for main meal .For a treat go to The Brooklyn dinner near times square ,It cost a little more but it's very nice.There is a dinner in Brooklyn called Joe's and it has the best Cheesecake in the world believe they also sell there cheesecake from a place near the theatres on Broadway (I think it's out side the Shubert ).Hope this helps

#2 - No good answer here. Crosstown subways are quite limited. I think you're going to have to take a bus from Fifth ave (Empire State) all the way to the east side (UN).

#1 Don't over think it. Just hop on the 1or 9 at South Ferry and take it up to Penn Station (34th St). Exit Penn Station and walk the two blocks to the Empire State Bldg.

Good luck.

1) 1 or 9 at South Ferry to 34th Street is Right on.

2) Best Be would be to take the N at 34th to Times Square and then Grab the 7 line to Grand Central. You are still going to have to walk a few blocks to the UN though.

Take a walk to 32nd Street between 6th and 5th. There are a bunch of good Korean BBQ places on that street.

#1 you actually have 3 choices, but the one i would do is to walk up to the northern end of Battery Park to the Bowling Green station of the 4 & 5 trains, take either one up to 14th Street / Union Square, then go across the platform to the 6 local up to 33rd Street / Park Avenue South. from there it's 2 shortish blocks west (Park to Madison to 5th) to 5th Avenue and 33rd Street and the ESB. you can also take any uptown R & W train from Whitehall Street to 34th Street / Herald Square and walk one long block east, but i think the ride will be a little slower, because of the slow turns and more stops.

#2 the time and trouble it will take using the subway may be better spent just walking to the UN. it would take about 20-30 minutes or so. OR, walk over to Madison Avenue, take any bus, M2,3,4 up to 42nd Street and walk the rest of the way, or change to the M104 or M42 bus to the last stop. (btw, you can also catch the M4 bus at 5th Avenue and 32nd Street, which will turn north at Madison Avenue...) OR, back to the 6 train at 33rd Street / Park, one stop to Grand Central, then walk from there. Grand Central is the farthest east you can go by subway...

there are plenty of places to eat right around the ESB, as well as some right at street level in the ESB. if you are at all adventurous you will be right next to Koreatown on 32nd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway, and go have some Korean barbecue and kimchi...

(BTW: if you do ride the "Lexington Avenue" 4/5/6 trains, be aware that this line runs under PARK AVENUE SOUTH and PARK AVENUE until Grand Central / 42nd, and only shifts over to Lexington Avenue north of that!)

I'm sure by now everyone has told you which subway to take, so let me put in a plug for a restaurant I really like near the Empire State Building. It's a fun place, it's not too expensive, and the food is really good!

It's called Todai, and it's a Japanese/Korean buffet style restaurant. They have a fantastic variety of food, and wonderful seafood! The salads are also to die for!

It's located at:

6 E. 32nd St.

New York, NY 10016

Tel: 212-725-1333

My husband works near the Empire State Building, and he started off taking our kids there, when they visited him at work. One day I was in the area shopping with my oldest daughter while he watched our little one at his office. We all met at Todai for lunch. I loved it! I've been sold ever since.

And since it's buffet style, you really can eat just what you want. I don't know what kind of food you like, but there's lots of selection at this place.

From Battery Park, best ways are take uptown 4/5 express from Bowling Green to 14th St, then transfer to (6) to 33rd St, then walk west to 5th Av because M34 Crosstown bus can be messy because 34th-42nd Sts are part of street that meet traffic from both Queens-Midtown and Lincoln Tunnels.

Another thing, you could also check Dining Guide on NYC Visit's website, choose your cusine, your price, then location 14th-33rd Sts or 34-41st St area.

One of best Japanse food is located on E. 41st St and called Zaiya Cafe. Japanese has best bakery and Japanese food!!

I can give you good advice if you ever decide to come to philly.