A completely brand new section as of December 2005. Some archived material will shift in here shortly, to be followed be some great map links. These should get you started:
Greg Brail’s transit map - Easy subway, walking directions
HopStop - Point-to-point transit directions
MTA - Official bus and subway maps
Trips123 - Tri-state transit maps
Google Maps Mania - Unofficial map mashup guide
Boat Parade to light up East River tonight
A small convoy of tour boats, work boats, private and charter yachts will take part in tonight’s Third Annual New York Harbor Lighted Boat Parade.
Everyone who felt snubbed by the Macy’s fireworks the past few years will be happy to know this year’s boat parade skips the Hudson River and instead spends more time in the East River.
This year’s best views will be from Brooklyn Bridge Park and South Street Seaport from 7 to 8 p.m., according to event organizers.
The boats will muster at Pier A in Battery Park at 6:50 p.m. At 7 p.m., the schooner Adirondack will lead the parade toward Governors Island and then into the East River first along the Brooklyn side until just north of the Manhattan Bridge, then head back down along the Manhattan side.
The boats will make two loops on the East River portion of the route, according to the U.S. Coast Guard permit.
At least three webcams should offer views of the parade:
Livestream of NY Harbor from the Statue of Liberty
ABC 7’s view of Lower Manhattan and the East River from Brooklyn
World Trade Center’s webcam view of the East River
Some of the webcams alternate views (including the WTC one, which switches to a skyline view every few minutes.) For more views, see the New York City webcam gallery.
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November 26, 2011 9:59 AM Comments (0)
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Balloon inflation map for Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
The day before the 85th anniversary of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the public is once again invited to the Upper West Side to watch the characters come to life with the help of a whole lot of helium.
 Balloon inflation will be open to the public from 3 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 23 on the streets surrounding the American Museum of Natural History.
The balloons will be inflated on 77th and 81st streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. The official Macy’s balloon inflation map for 2011 lists 79th Street and Columbus Avenue as the only entry point, although the B/C subway exit at 81st Street usually gets you on the right side of the barricades as well.
This year, balloon watchers arriving on 81st Street after 5 p.m. will also get to see the free laser show, Hubble’s Heartbeat On Hayden Sphere, which is projected onto the sphere at the Rose Center for Earth and Space until 11 p.m. nightly through Nov. 27.
Nearby, the Anderson School will operate at Thanksgiving Eve Carnival in its schoolyard on Columbus Avenue between 76th & 77th streets. The carnival will be open to the public 4 to 9 p.m. with game and ride tickets priced at $3.
Admission to Macy’s balloon inflation is free.
List of helium balloons in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
Buzz Lightyear
Clumsy Smurf
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
“Super Cute” Hello Kitty
Julius by Paul Frank
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November 21, 2011 1:10 PM Comments (0)
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Macy's fireworks guide: map, VIP viewing, lineup
Editor’s note: The July 4, 2012 Macy’s fireworks will be on the Hudson River. See the list of 2012 NYC fireworks shows for more options.
The 35th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks will begin tonight at 9:20 p.m. on the Hudson River, with more than 40,000 shells fired from six barges positioned between 20th and 55th streets.
The Sousa fireworks will rise as high as 1,000 feet, with 50 different shape effects, 17 colors with an average of 1,600 shells launched per minute for 25 minutes, according to Macy’s officials.
The West Side Highway will close late this afternoon and spectators will be allowed access to the free viewing areas at only certain cross streets (which will close as the related viewing areas fill up,) according to the NYPD advisory. Along 11th Avenue, access points will be located at 24th, 26th, 28th, 29th, 33rd, 34th, 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 47th, 49th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th streets. Large backpacks, lawn chairs, lawn blankets, coolers and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the viewing areas.
Public viewing will also be available from Pier 54 and Pier 84. Also, if capacity issues warrant, NYPD may open the West Side Highway above 59th Street, according to an advisory from Macy’s.
Fireworks-related street closures start around 4:30 p.m. but the NYPD advisory asks drivers to steer clear from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., which includes cleanup time.
Spectators camped out early along the Hudson River will also have excellent views of the blimp race that starts at 5 p.m. at the Statue of Liberty and heads to a Midtown finish line. The competitive blimps are sponsored by Hangar One Vodka, DirecTV and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.
F-15 Eagle jets and NYPD helicopters will do a flyover from the Verrazano Bridge to Pier 86, according to an NYPD advisory, which doesn’t state the specific time. Update as of 6:30 p.m.: The jets will flyover at approximately 7 p.m.; the NYPD helicopters will flyover around 8 p.m., according to Notify NYC, a public alert service operated by the New York City Office of Emergency Management.
FDNY fireboats will also offer a pre-fireworks water show.
In all, 3 million spectators are expected to see the show live, not counting the TV viewers.
This year’s theme celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, which was dedicated Oct. 28, 1886.
Macy’s did indeed hope to move the 2011 fireworks to the Statue of Liberty, the New York Times reported Friday, but was rejected by city officials who said Lower Manhattan could not handle the crowds.
Macy’s tonight will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 with a tribute in light while “Amazing Grace” is sung by LeAnn Rimes.
Other songs scheduled for tonight include “God Bless America,” “The Star Spangled Banner” sung by Jennifer Hudson, “Firework” sung by Katy Perry, “This Land is Your Land,” sung by Everclear, “America the Beautiful” by James Taylor, “Down By The Riverside” played by The All Star Marching Band, “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz, “Liberty Fanfare” by The Cincinnati Pops and a new bilingual tribute to Lady Liberty, “Gift of Light,” sung by Broadway stars Anika Noni Rose and Karen Olivo.
See the Macy’s lineup for what type of fireworks are scheduled for each song.
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July 4, 2011 10:12 AM Comments (0)
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Brooklyn's Friday ferry to Governors Island begins today
Brooklyn today gets its first Governors Island Friday ferry for the season, with free service only until the $4 fare kicks in as of July 1, NY Waterway officials said.
While Brooklyn has had free weekend ferries since the Governors Island season started May 27, the Friday service was delayed as NY Waterway launched its new East River Ferry service.
 Today’s new Fridays-only loop ferry will travel from Manhattan’s Pier 11 at Wall Street to Dumbo at the Fulton Ferry Landing in Brooklyn, down to Pier 6 at Atlantic Avenue, over to Governors Island and then loop back to Pier 11. The Friday ferry will make a loop only to those four stops and will be branded as a NY Waterway boat separate from the East River Ferry service, Paul Samulski, the chief creative director of NY Waterway told NewYorkology. The main East River Ferry will actually dock at Governors Island on weekends, but on Fridays its riders would need to make a free transfer to connect to the loop boat, he said.
The Friday loop schedule begins at 10:30 a.m. at Pier 11, making its last drop off at 4:30 p.m.
Brooklyn’s free weekend service remains unchanged, with one boat traveling between the island and Pier 6.
The primary Governors Island ferry between Manhattan’s Battery Maritime Building and Governors Island also remains free at all times the island is open: Fridays, weekends, holiday Mondays, and for the Wednesday and Thursday free tours operated by the National Park Service.
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June 17, 2011 9:57 AM Comments (0)
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20 more parks to get free Wi-Fi; DUMBO fully covered
New York City is taking another stab at expanding free public Wi-Fi in the parks as AT&T has signed on to provide the service in 26 locations.
The free wireless Internet was turned on today for Battery Bosque in Battery Park, the northern playground at Joyce Kilmer Park in the Bronx, and near the recreation center at Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said today.
In all, AT&T will ultimately provide 26 hotspots in 20 parks:
Manhattan: Battery Park, Thomas Jefferson Park, multiple Central Park locations, the High Line, Holcombe Rucker Park, Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park
Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Fort Greene Park, Herbert Von King Park, McCarren Park and Prospect Park
Queens: Astoria Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and MacDonald Park
Staten Island: Clove Lake Park and South Beach
Bronx: Joyce Kilmer Park, Bronx River Park and Devoe Park
Many other parks and public spaces already have free Wi-Fi, including Bryant Park, Madison Square park and Union Square. See the NYC Wireless hotspot map for the big map.
Last week, NYCwireless, the Two Trees Management Company and the DUMBO Business Improvement District turned the area Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass into the city’s first full neighborhood with free Internet.
The DUMBO network was built and installed by the non-profit NYCwireless, which will also maintain the Wi-Fi.
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June 9, 2011 2:30 PM Comments (0)
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First cherry blossoms blooming at Brooklyn Botanic
 Finally, the map we’ve been waiting for all winter. Late this afternoon the Brooklyn Botanic Garden tweeted: “Get ready for cherry blossom season at BBG! A few cherry trees have already begun to bloom.”
The cherry blossom status map indicates three of the early bloomers are in action.
Soon, the garden will look like this:
On April 2, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden begins Hanami, the month-long celebration of the cherry blossoms. Events peak during the Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival on April 30 and May 1.
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March 25, 2011 5:30 PM Comments (2)
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Brooklyn tourism gets boost with 78 new signs, maps
In just a few short years, Brooklyn tourism has come a long way from the guerrilla-style handmade signs directing tourists to the most iconic of NYC bridges. Today the big borough unveiled the first of 78 pedestrian-friendly signs highlighting 12 downtown neighborhoods: Fulton Landing, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Dumbo, Brooklyn Civic Center, Fulton Street, Fort Greene, Vinegar Hill, MetroTech, Boerum Hill and Clinton Hill.
The New York City Economic Development Corp. secured a $1.4 million funding agreement to underwrite the project, according to the office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
The first of the signs today were unveiled at Brooklyn Borough Hall by Michael Weiss, executive director of the MetroTech business improvement district; David Gibson of the design firm TwoTwelve Associates; Markowitz and Victoria Aviles, president of the MetroTech BID (pictured, left to right.)
Picture credit: Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
Related: Old tourist maps of Brooklyn on the Brooklyn Historical Society Blog.
Earlier: Shake Shack confirms Brooklyn location
Barneys opening in Brooklyn; Coney pops up in SoHo
Luna Park opens at Coney Island: pictures and video
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 debuts, lawns open later
Free maps from the Brooklyn Historical Society
Brooklyn rocks Lonely Planet’s 2007 Blue List
Brooklyn is where the hip is - Sunday Times (2006)
November 16, 2010 2:38 PM Comments (1)
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Jay St-Borough Hall fades away, but lingers on maps
 Heads up if you’re traveling to Downtown Brooklyn. Jay Street-Borough Hall is gone.
Subway platform signs for the A/C and F trains have been replaced with the new name, Jay Street-MetroTech.
On one hand, it will eliminate confusion as it’s not connected to the main Borough Hall station two blocks away with 4/5 and 2/3 service and an R train connection. But short term, the subway maps and the in-car announcements are still saying “Jay Street-Borough Hall.”
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November 15, 2010 12:27 PM Comments (0)
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Bicycle news roundup: bike share, Unicycle Fest, new path
Here’s a batch of bicycle news, events and maps for NYC:
Roosevelt Island will get a preview of a bike sharing program today from 2 to 7 p.m. (Roosevelt Islander blog)
Social Bicycle, a wireless bike-sharing system, may be coming to NYC in the fall. (via NYConvergence)
NYHarborway Bike and Boat NYC Weekend runs this Friday through Sunday, combing a bicycle rental with a New York Water Taxi pass.
 The NYC Unicycle Festival begins Sept. 3 with a Brooklyn long-distance ride. The main event takes place Sept. 4 on Governors Island. (via @NYCParks)
The interim bike path last week opened along the water at Brooklyn Bridge Park. (BBP Corp.)
Free bike Fridays continues at Governors Island through Oct. 8.
Five upscale NYC bike boutiques. (Racked)
Earlier this year, Ride the City launched an iPhone app for NYC.
Google Maps also added biking directions earlier this year.
The NYC Department of Transportation has pledged to make annual updates to its free New York City Cycling Map.
Pedicabs are prohibited on NYC bridges, a judge ruled. (Wall Street Journal)
Envisioning a New York Where Cycling Isn’t Just for Cyclists, an American Institute of Architects panel, as covered by StreetsBlog.org.
Earlier: New maps of NYC for bikers, history buffs, geeks
August 24, 2010 11:19 AM Comments (0)
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NightSeeing Map illuminates NYC's light makers
 Although the architects usually get the attention, New York City’s ligting designers get the spotlight in the NightSeeing Map, which was released earlier this year by the Illuminating Engineering Society and Designers Lighting Forum of New York.
The map comes with its own self-guided walking tours of Uptown, Midtown, Downtown and a route through the villages. The guide hits the outer boroughs as well, including the “This Way” installation at the Brooklyn pedestrian entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge by Tillett Lighting Design.
Not all of the tour is outdoors, as you’ll also be guided into the Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History. The lighting design by Brandston Partnership, which features programmed “underwater shadows,” won the 2004 Lumen Award of Excellence.
The online version is free, but hard-copy can be purchased at The Center for Architecture at 536 LaGuardia Place; GL Lites On Showroom at 511 W. Canal Street; or the Times Square Information Center on 7th Avenue between 46th and 47th streets.
July 27, 2009 1:10 PM Comments (0)
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