NationStates Jolt Archive

Latter this week I'm going to New York, and I'm going to be in the area of 252 West 45nd street and 8th Av., about half a block east from Broadway, near the Golden Theater and the Port Authority Bus Terminal untill late at night (my show gets out at around 11, my bus home leaves at 1:30). I don't know New York very well, and I wanted to know how dangerous of an area that is. Is my best bet to go straight to the bus terminal after the show lets out? If I'm wearing nice clothes, is it safe for white 20 year old me an my female friend to be walking around at 8? How about 11?

Also, what's good to eat in that area? We're ganna have about 2 hours before and after the show, is there anything interesting to do or see around there?

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Latter this week I'm going to New York, and I'm going to be in the area of 252 West 45nd street and 8th Av., about half a block east from Broadway, near the Golden Theater and the Port Authority Bus Terminal untill late at night (my show gets out at around 11, my bus home leaves at 1:30). I don't know New York very well, and I wanted to know how dangerous of an area that is. Is my best bet to go straight to the bus terminal after the show lets out? If I'm wearing nice clothes, is it safe for white 20 year old me an my female friend to be walking around at 8? How about 11?

Also, what's good to eat in that area? We're ganna have about 2 hours before and after the show, is there anything interesting to do or see around there?

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm, haven't been to the Port Authority area in quite a while. You could catch a cab, should be fairly cheap for such a short ride, or you could walk. I'd go down Eighth Avenue to the bus station. Inside the bus station you should be fine, there's waiting areas that are well-lit and patroled and all. Should be the same for the area where your bus leaves, too.

What show are you seeing?

The streets directly around the PA are still a bit sketchy. (Or they were when I picked someone up last year), but nothing that bad.

If you go north on 8th avenue, there are literally tonnes of places to eat.

Hmm, haven't been to the Port Authority area in quite a while. You could catch a cab, should be fairly cheap for such a short ride, or you could walk. I'd go down Eighth Avenue to the bus station. Inside the bus station you should be fine, there's waiting areas that are well-lit and patroled and all. Should be the same for the area where your bus leaves, too.

I'm not worried about being in the bus terminal, I just want to know if it'll be safe to wander around outside before or after the show.

What show are you seeing?

Avenue Q, it was my Christmas present to my best friend.

I'm not worried about being in the bus terminal, I just want to know if it'll be safe to wander around outside before or after the show.



Avenue Q, it was my Christmas present to my best friend.

I wouldn't wander west of 8th. You can certainly wander up and down 45th Street to look at the other shows and all, and over to the north end of Times Square.

C'mon dont be a puss, just enjoy the city.

I don't wander over to the west side often, but as far as I can remember, you don't really want to go west of the port authority. It's not known for being dangerous or anything, but slightly sketchy. They're probably 24 hour diners or resturants close. You can get a cab and go anywhere in the city and do pretty much anything, I guess. I wouldn't risk the subways late if your not familiar with them.

C'mon dont be a puss, just enjoy the city.

I fully intend to. But as I said, I don't know the city, and I just wanted to make sure I'm not bringing my friend into a dangerous area.

Thanks to all who responded, I feel better about this now

Times Square sure has changed since the 1970s. Back then, I wouldn't set foot in it, for any reason.

Now it's been heavily commercialized and sanitized.

Michael Moore says stop worrying, stop being gripped with fear, thats why we murder each other.

*continues watching Bowling for Columbine*

Michael Moore says stop worrying, stop being gripped with fear, thats why we murder each other.

*continues watching Bowling for Columbine*

Not to highjack my own thread or anything, but I have little respect for Micheal Moore. You know the opening scene of that movie was entirely staged? The part with the gun and the bank. There's an extansive application process, and they don't give you a gun, they give you a voucher for a gun at a local gun store. They gave Moore the gun directly because he said he was from some pro-gun group and wanted to shoot a spot about their offer, then totally ambushed them.


And as a side note, fear is hardly the reason America has so much gun violence.

Bone up on your profanity. Practice saying, "Go Fuck Yourself" at every opportunity. :)

Latter this week I'm going to New York, and I'm going to be in the area of 252 West 45nd street and 8th Av., about half a block east from Broadway, near the Golden Theater and the Port Authority Bus Terminal untill late at night (my show gets out at around 11, my bus home leaves at 1:30). I don't know New York very well, and I wanted to know how dangerous of an area that is. Is my best bet to go straight to the bus terminal after the show lets out? If I'm wearing nice clothes, is it safe for white 20 year old me an my female friend to be walking around at 8? How about 11?

Also, what's good to eat in that area? We're ganna have about 2 hours before and after the show, is there anything interesting to do or see around there?

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Port Authority hasn't been a dangerous area in about 20 years and by NYC standards 1:30 AM is practically broad daylight. Don't stress yourself.

Times Square sure has changed since the 1970s. Back then, I wouldn't set foot in it, for any reason.

Now it's been heavily commercialized and sanitized.

Yeah. Fucking economic revitalization. Who the fuck said we wanted Times Square cleaned up? Back in my day riding the subway at 3:30 AM meant something. How are you supposed to feel tough riding through the South Bronx unmolested when at the other end of the subway car you see an elderly cleaning lady who just got off the late shift being assisted with her bag of cleaning products by a gang of teenagers in Tommy Hillfiger outfights? :D

The Theater District is VERY SAFE. The areas surrounding Times Square and the Port Authority bus terminal are always crowded and very well guarded by police, especially now after 9/11. New York is a lot safer than people give it credit for. The idea that you are going to get mugged at the drop of a hat is just silly. Places like Washington DC, Miami, Houston, and Detroit are far worse. So enjoy New York. Of course, if you venture out to some unknown area of the South Bronx or sketchy neighborhood in Brooklyn, then you are just asking for trouble. So use a little common sense. There are so many great restaurants and hangouts in that area too, not just the Times Square tourist traps. And for gods sake don't eat at any of those overpriced theme places, they are for the lame midwestern tourists. And NO, not all New Yorkers are rude and dismissive of their tourists. Ive lived in New York for 7 years now, trust me, its the best city in America.

Places like Washington DC, Miami, Houston, and Detroit are far worse.

Yeah, no shit. I wouldn't even set foot in the Southwest side these days, because some assfucker might accidentally shoot me in a crossfire with a rival gang member, or something equally screwy. My satellite town is very safe (children can walk all over town without a worry), though it's not exactly wonderful, whatever that's worth.

And NO, not all New Yorkers are rude and dismissive of their tourists. Ive lived in New York for 7 years now, trust me, its the best city in America.

You're quite correct about that. I'm not saying that all New Yorkers are great people (every area has dickheads), but every single New Yorker I've ever dealt with has been very nice. My sister and brother-in-law can testify, as they took a trip to NYC to stay with an old friend (of my sister's --- they knew each other when we lived on South Padre Island ages ago). They couldn't believe just how nice the people were.

Yeah. Fucking economic revitalization. Who the fuck said we wanted Times Square cleaned up? Back in my day riding the subway at 3:30 AM meant something. How are you supposed to feel tough riding through the South Bronx unmolested when at the other end of the subway car you see an elderly cleaning lady who just got off the late shift being assisted with her bag of cleaning products by a gang of teenagers in Tommy Hillfiger outfights? :D

That's so true. I remember the Dinkins era. Everyone is a pussy these days.

Not to highjack my own thread or anything, but I have little respect for Micheal Moore. You know the opening scene of that movie was entirely staged? The part with the gun and the bank. There's an extansive application process, and they don't give you a gun, they give you a voucher for a gun at a local gun store. They gave Moore the gun directly because he said he was from some pro-gun group and wanted to shoot a spot about their offer, then totally ambushed them.

I used to have an account at a branch of that bank. They weren't doing the gun offer anymore :(

I fully intend to. But as I said, I don't know the city, and I just wanted to make sure I'm not bringing my friend into a dangerous area.

Ahhh the people who fear the big city always make me laugh. There's no real place in NYC that you have to worry about as long as you aren't leving the Island of Manhattan. There are a large number of eateries right around where you are so just go wondering. You'll be perfectly safe there with no problems as Rudy G took care of all the crap left over from the Dinkins era. If you're looking for cheap eats go to Grey's Papaya for the best dogs in the city. There's a ton of chains in that area too if you'd rather pay $14 for a cheeseburger at Friday's. You can't travel too far without running into a place that will serve you edible food and remember there's a reason they call it the city that never sleeps. Cab rides will take you anywhere for a good price and if you're not familiar with the subways stay off them or you'll wind up in Queens or Brooklyn without knowing it. If you do travel away from the center and the park do not go aboce 125th street as you'll be entering Harlem and Spanish Harlem. I'm not afraid to go there but you would be. is one of the safest cities in the world. Don't believe me, look at the world fact book and see. Enjoy the show as it's a good one I've seen once.

Ahhh the people who fear the big city always make me laugh

I'll admit I had a great deal of trouble when I first moved near a big city. I grew up in a rural town of 400 people, and the largest city within 30 miles had 10,000 people. No one in either town ever locked their car or house because there wasn't any reason to. The only big city I'd ever been to was Detroit, so as you might imagine I had a rather negative opinion of big cities. When I moved to Germany with the Army I was stationed right outside of Frankfurt, and it took me quite awhile to be remotely comfortable. Eventually I got used to it, but going from 400 people to 1.5 million is a bit overwhelming at first.

I've been to NYC twice now and rode the trains late at night, early morning and never once felt in danger. I walked around different parts of the City and never had a person say a mean word to me. Now when I wore my MN Twins baseball hat into the right field bleachers--that was scary. Just keep your eyes open, act like you know what you are doing and you should be ok.

Ahhh the people who fear the big city always make me laugh . . . I'm not afraid to go there but you would be

I suppose I came off a bit like some small town guy afraid of the big city, but I assure you that I'm not. I grew up in DC (southeast, not Dupont), and now live in Baltimore. I'm no stranger to cities or "sketchy" areas. Like I said, I just wanted to know what the area was like before taking my friend somewhere I've never been. So you can drop the tone.