How to Survive NYC Subway and Taxis

Last week, Josh posted his tips and tricks for surviving NYCC. It’s a good read on etiquette and good behavior for NYCC and conventions as a whole. But what if this is your first time in NYC? Well, as a lifelong resident, I offer you a guide to help get around and survive NYC Subway and Taxi rides.

What is NYC?

Here’s a brief history lesson for those who only know about NYC from the movies. New York City is comprised of five boroughs, three of them which are individual islands. Think of them as counties, because that’s what they are.

The island of Manhattan is pretty much what everyone thinks of as New York City. This is where NYCC is going to be, and where pretty much everyone in NYC commutes to for work and play. Queens and Brooklyn (and Long Island) are on their own island together, west of the city. If you’ve heard about a place called Astoria or Williamsburg, this is where they are. You’ll need to cross a bridge to get to them, or take the subway.

Then there’s The Bronx, north of Manhattan, which is the only part of NYC that’s connected to the continental US. It’s a great place to visit for great ethnic food, and to experience some deep NYC culture. Hip Hop was essentially born there, but if it’s your first time in NYC, it can be a bit daunting.

Nobody wants to go to Staten Island on purpose, but I hear they have some of the best Italian Food in the city. Stay off any ferryboats and you'll be just fine.

How to get around

In NYC, we use the subway to get around. Only a crazy person would want to drive in the city proper. This explains taxi drivers. First thing you should do is get yourself a Metrocard, then learn the subway. You can only get a Metrocard at the subway. Avoid anyone trying to sell you theirs.

The Metrocard works in two ways; pay per ride or unlimited. For about $30, you can get an unlimited ride metro card that lets you into any subway station at any time of day. Yes, the subway runs 24/7, but late nights service is reduced, and kinda crappy.

If you’re planning on seeing the city and are going to be in NYC for more than 5 days, get an unlimited ride. If you’re here only for the convention and will only use it once or twice, just pay per ride. It’s the best value.

Follow this Gizmodo suggestion on why you should put $19.05 on your Metrocard. The MTA just recently figured out that tourists don’t know how the Metrocard works, and are starting to nickel and dime you guys. It’s probably a Hydra plot.

The downside of the convention center is that it’s quite a walk from the closest subway station. If you’re commuting to the convention center, take the ACE trains to 34th and then walk West. On the bright side, you’ll probably meet a bunch of cosplayers or attendees on the way. Just follow them and you can't miss it.

The convention center is about three blocks from the subway at 34th Street. However, they’re long blocks. I mean really long. If you don’t want to walk it, take the M34 bus. It's the blue that runs East to West on 34th Street on on this Manhattan Bus Map.

Your Metrocard gives you a free transfer between trains and busses. Use it!

Taxi!

If you need to call a taxi, remember what I said about driving in Manhattan. The convention center is located on one of the western most parts of Manhattan, and the island is full of one way streets. Taxi drivers are pretty aggressive, which is cool if you’re in a rush, but you’re more likely to win a speed record swimming in molasses than getting through crosstown traffic. If you’re staying on the west side, it’s not so bad, since north and south traffic is pretty fast. Protip: avoid staying on the East side!

There’s some other tips about riding a taxi that are beyond this post. Check out this site and know your rights.

For those of you who use Lyft or Uber, I would lean towards using Uber over Lyft in NYC. I’ve not used either (I use Hailo) but I’ve heard Lyft has had problems with local government in NYC, and there’s not much adoption of the service.

Come on and see us sometime

If you manage to make it to NYC and the convention, stop by Booth 1266 and see us. Tell us you survived the subway and we'll give you a buck off our books!

More to come

On the next installment of this survival guide, I’ll talk more about nightlife and dining in NYC and around the con.

I’ll just leave you with this video of Johnny T, and his advice on how to appreciate NYC. Hint: Get the @#$% out of our way!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LmPBPWHJu4

How to Survive NYCC - Part 2

We continue Josh's list of tips on How to Survive NYCC. If you missed the previous installment, you should check that out.

4) Check the weather before getting dressed

Attire: comfortable and with opportunity for adaption. NYC in October is a surly and cantankerous variable. The morning can be comfortable for Frost Giants but by the afternoon you'll need to be Hellboy to enjoy it. So bring a light jacket in the morning, one you can stash in a backpack or tie around your waist, and wear cotton that breathes nicely. As for cosplayers, you're sh*t out of luck ;)

Also, the lines are vast and foot traffic moves very slow so  breaking in those new shoes is a bad idea. Whatever kicks you don, make sure they are comfortable for walking and standing around for a long, long time.

[note: if you are going to wear perfume or cologne, in moderation please. We know you want to smell pretty or musky, or whatever sensibilities that threads itself through your perception, but if people start blinking rapidly in your presence or flies wings' shrivel as they plummet to the ground, you might have applied more than the desired amount. Also, showers are your friend... and ours.]

5)Plan for panels

Panels fill up quick. Use the NYCC website and create a guide. Most artists will be at their tables in Artist Alley most of the time so it's not the end of the world if you miss one of the exclusive panels. Be prepared to wait in line though and plan on adding 30 minutes so you can get there on time as you will need to navigate the throngs and thick crowds that will inevitably get in your way. We recommend bring some light reading, digital comics perhaps. Maybe like ours on ComiXology?

6) Cash Rules Everything Around You

Save some cash for Sunday. We know you need to put aside the money to grab art from Greg Capullo or Skottie Young right when the doors open, but on Sunday there are deals to be made. Most vendors want to leave as light as they can. Might get a nice discount. We do it.

7) Be Nice. And Patient. And Respectful.

Yes, there is a ton of cool stuff to see and do. We promise you'll get to enjoy more than your fair share. In fact, expect to go home feeling exhausted and overstimulated. You cannot possibly see and do it all.

With that in mind, remember everyone else wants to have a good time too. Don't push and shove. Watch where you are going, be respectful of the booths and tables that the exhibitors have spent so much time preparing for your enjoyment. Don't do stuff you wouldn't do in a normal setting. Ask that nice cosplayer if you can take a picture. And no, don't take it of her (or his) butt when he/she isn't looking. Before doing something, ask yourself if you do that in your home town. If the answer is no, shut that behavior down ASAP.

Basically, just be cool to everyone and we promise they will be cool to you.

8) Make Friends

You're going to make friends if you play your cards right. Everyone who attends a NYCC is there to share their love of comics, so don't be afraid to mingle or say hi to someone who loves what you love.

If you're a bit nervous, stop by Booth 1266 in the Small Press. That's where you'll find us, Wayward Raven Media, and we'd be happy to talk with you. We'll be right by Marvel's booth, so you can't miss us.

Mention this post and you'll get a $1 off anything!

Ars longa, vitae brevis!

-The Wayward Raven Crew

How to Survive NYCC: tips to Survive and Thrive at NYCC 2014

We want to help you survive and thrive at the upcoming NYCC 2014, otherwise known as New York Comic Con, with a few tips. It is the premiere event on the east coast and is, in a word, HUGE. Not only do the complexities of the event itself make for an overwhelming experience for those unacquainted with the enormity, it is also in Manhattan, which is in itself an event that occurs everyday. So, we decided to share a few things we've learned over the years that might help you navigate this world of wonder.

1) Travel: learn the ways of the subway.

It will save you on cab fare. But  east to west travel is mostly on foot, so avoid the Theater District in Midtown on the weekend. A safe way to think of it is to avoid anything between 6th and 7th avenue and 35th to 47th street. Remember, streets are east to west and avenues are north to south. Though Broadway follows its own path of meander. This is advice for if you wish to move swiftly. If not, go wherever you please.

2) You don't have to stay in Manhattan

If you've already booked a room, then this tip isn't for you. NYC is an expensive city, and if you can hunker down with a friend, that is the most thrifty of choices. But, if you don't mind a minor commute in the morning, there is an option that could save you hundreds of bucks a night. That is take the train out to NJ or to Westchester County, NY. NJ is accessible by way of Penn Station, (just below Madison Square Garden). You also have the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd Street. Both are just a few blocks from the Javit's Center where NYCC is being held. Find a town along the NJ Transit rail lines and look for a economy hotel/motel. Instead of spending $320 a night at a Marriot in Midtown, you could find a Red Rood Inn or something of the sort for probably around $150 a night. Same goes for Westchester County, NY. Look at the stations for towns along the New Haven or Hudson lines for the Metro-North railways. A thirty minute ride could save you a lot. Don't go into CT though. It starts getting more expensive once you are in the Nutmeg State.

3) Don't starve

Food is difficult thing to tackle. There are just too many choices but Yelp can help. But a better thing to do is follow C.B. Cebulski on Twitter. He is intimately acquainted with the NY food scene and offers tips. He also works for Marvel so you can get info on their NYCC events too. Normally, he issues or passes along a food guide to NYCC and they are most helpful. As for hydration, pick up water or energy drinks from the numerous Duane Reade stores near the convention center. Smaller deli's and such will cost more. You can buy beer if you want too but we don't promote the idea of going to conventions drunk. That can cause some problems you probably don't want to get into.  C.B.'s Twitter handle is @CBCebulski and he has a food blog called Eataku.com.

4) Stop by Our Booth

We at Wayward Raven Media do hope you have a glorious time at NYCC 2014. It will take effort but it will be worth it. We are located on the show floor at Booth 1266 in the Small Press section right next to Marvel, so please swing by and say hi. Mention this post and get $1 off anything we have. Most importantly... have fun!!

We will post about the New York ComicCon 2014 on here and also on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/waywardravenmedia as well as on Twitter at @waywardraven

There are more con tips here: http://waywardraven.com/20-tips-for-comic-book-conventions/

And, another fun thing to read while in line at NYCC is the webcomic Damn Heroes http://www.DamnHeroes.com

Feel free to checkout our shop that has some, but not all, of our offerings at NYCC. http://waywardraven.storenvy.com/

Ars longa, vitae brevis!

-The Wayward Raven Crew

Horsemen 2 on sale now!

The cosmic battle continues on a contested planet between the Horsemen and their nemesis. A challenge of mind, body and soul will determine who rules… or will it?

We are proud to announce that Horsemen 2 is now on sale on our shop. We have both digital (PDFs) and print copies available and are eager to ship them out.

Cover by Mathew Fletcher. Art by James Biehl

Buy Print

Buy Digital [PDF]

Use coupon code DECIMATE at check out for 10% off your order and save!

Click below to view samples of Horsemen 2

The Ascendant Issue 2 is now on comiXology!

Cail's supernatural tale continues as The Ascendant issue 2 goes on sale at comiXology today! If you haven't read about the mordant demon of royal blood, now is a great time to start! Both The Ascendant issue 1 and The Ascendant issue 2 are marked down to the low price of $0.99 each.

So what's it about?

After epochs of debauchery, a Duke of Hell named Cail escapes the underworld and masquerades as a human so he can send other denizens of the pit back where they belong before they cause an imbalance in the cosmos. Unfortunately for him, he has grown a conscience, the very worst thing a demon can do, and so becomes hunted himself...

The Ascendant Issue 2 finds Cail...

Book two finds Cail on the hunt in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius after entangling Dr. Faustus in his epic mission. Cail clashes with demon dogs and a mysterious  beauty. Then, the Duke of Hell discovers more powerful enemy and risks his very existence to vanquish the foe.

On this New Comic Book Day, we would most appreciate it if you took a peek and spread the word. Thanks for giving The Ascendant issue 2 a shot!

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

-The Wayward Raven Crew