1. Javits sucks, okay? It’s really far from public transport (except the 7 train at Hudson Yards), and you’ll have to stand in line for a long time to get in. And to go to the bathroom. (The bathroom lines are LEGENDARY.) Plan shoes / outfit accordingly.
Please note ref the 7 train / Hudson Yards station:
2. The other thing that sucks about Javits: bad, overpriced food and NOWHERE nearby to get outside food easily. Go to a supermarket / bodega in the morning and bring snacks / gatorade / protein bars! So much cheaper and healthier.
3. The closest decent place to eat (and best Kosher bet) near Javits is Friedmans. Expect to see half of Comics having breakfast meetings: friedmansrestaurant.com
For folks staying near Times Square, Gotham West Market at 45th & 11th and Annie’s bakery at 46th and 9th are also good breakfast. Ollie’s, the Sichuan place on 42nd at 9th, is actually v good for cheap dinner, & can handle big numbers.
In general, 9th Ave from 44th to 54th is restaurant and bar heaven, you don’t even need to pick a place, there are a billion. Rudy’s, at 9th and 44th, is for all your dive bar needs. On the Rocks, at 49th and 10th, is the best whisky bar in Manhattan. Go, walk, eat.
Last minute art supplies? Blick at 237 W 23rd has got u
Things to do other than the con!!! The High Line *begins* right at Javits and ends at Gansevoort St / the Whitney Museum. LOVELY walk. Get off at 21st for the big Chelsea modern art galleries; 16th for Chelsea Market.
See a Broadway show! We all use the @TodayTix app; there are often same-day tickets available.
Do some exercise! The Hudson River path goes up the West side of 12th (the river side of Javits) from the Battery to the George Washington Bridge. Run it, walk it, or rent a bike (rental place at 42nd on the path) and bike it!
Also, most New Yorkers use @classpass to take exercise classes at various gyms / dance / yoga studios; you can, too!
The Intrepid (aircraft carrier and submarine) at 44th and 12th is FUUUN. Put on your X-Men cosplay and go touch ALL THE JETS but especially the Blackbird obvs, also post pics and tag me, tyvm for making the internet a better place
Go to a museum! The Met’s Costume Institute show closes on Oct 8 & it’s GREAT. Met Breuer has a cool art & conspiracy show up, also lots of Egon Schiele erotic nudes. Times Square folks: you can walk to MoMA and you absoutely should. Or go to the Frick for peace & impressionism
Eat outdoors! My fave outdoor-space restaurants are Pig Beach in Gowanus (huge, cheap, awesome) and Gilligan’s at the Soho Grand (small, posh). You won’t see comics people at either.
That’s all my #NYCCtips right now, please feel free to ask specific questions! New York is so big and so cool, if I were to name all my favourite things this thread would never end.
Also hello, I’m at table H13 in Artist Alley when I’m not doing publisher signings (I’ll pin my schedule in a day or so), come buy my books, or get them digitally here: m.comixology.com/Alex-de-Campi/…
Duh! One last food tip: like Korean? 33rd and 35th streets between 6th and 5th are Little Korea, there’s about six restaurants on each of those blocks.
If you have little kids: the Childrens Museum on the Upper West Side is great for the 5-and-under set (go to Good Enough to Eat after, on 85 & Columbus); the Cooper Hewitt right across Central Park is amaze for 5-10 year olds. Trust me.
If you are LGBTQIA 🏳️🌈, the neighborhoods flanking Javits (Chelsea and Hells Kitchen) are traditionally & proudly queer neighborhoods. I mean, we’re so theatre our fire engine says “Never Missed A Performance” on it. Be your best self, you’re very welcome here :D
Note that lots of cool replies to this thread/ extra tips can be found under the #NYCCtips hashtag, also feel free to add your own
