Tips to make your Chevra Kadisha Conference stay in New York
a little more fun and little easier

Manhattan streets are highly entertaining, relatively flat, relatively safe, and relatively easy to navigate. Walking is a great way to get around. The city is on a grid. Avenues run N/S and begin with 1^st Ave on the East side. Streets run E/W with lower numbers south.  Central Park is roughly between 5^th and 8^th Avenues and extends from 59^th St to 110^th St. If you get lost, ask for directions. New Yorkers are friendly.

• In your conference packet, we are providing subway and bus maps. However frequent construction and repairs sometimes lead to changes in subway service. You may want to check with the token booth clerk before starting your trip, or call Transit Information at 718-330-1234 for the most up to date information.

Two very large events frame our conference. Both focus on 5th Avenue. If you participate in either one, plan your route carefully. Both events will have a major impact on traffic

• The annual Salute to Israel parade is on Sunday, June 5^th. The parade route runs 22 blocks up 5^th Ave, starting at E. 57^th an ending on E. 79^th street. It is from 11am to 4pm, with up to 100,000 marchers expected. Streets around the parade route will be jammed with parked buses, parade observers, marchers lining up and marchers finding their buses. We suggest that you avoid driving on the East side and instead use mass transportation. If you are driving into the city Sunday morning, be sure to check the travel reports for road closings and/or detours. If you want to attend the first part of the parade before the conference, we suggest going to E. 59^th St about 10:30am and heading back no later than noon.
  

• The Museum Mile festival, New York’s biggest block party and visual art celebration (23 car free blocks on 5^th Ave from E. 82^nd to E. 105^th Streets) is on Tuesday, June 7^th from 6-9 p.m. Visit any of the nine Museum Mile Festival Museums, including the Jewish Museum and the Metroplitan for free. See live music, street performers and participate in art activities for kids. Rain or Shine. Call 212-606-2296 for more information.

If you want to take in a show while you are in New York, be sure to check out the tkts discount ticket booths or playbill.com. Playbill.com is an on-line club you can join for free to receive e-mail offers of discounted theater tickets, which can then be purchased on-line, by phone or in person when you get here.

If you want to be more spontaneous, the tkts booths sell discounted tickets for same day performances (Times Square) and one day in advance (South St Seaport). NOTE: The tkts booths take cash or travelers checks only. They do not accept credit cards of any type. And you will have to wait on line for a while. There are more shows available through the midtown booth at Times Square, the center island off 47th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue, but the lines are much longer than the South Street Seaport branch (corner of Front and John St).

Enjoy New York!