Getting to New York City

Ok, so maybe you’re from around here. Great, skip this part.

If you’re traveling from out of town, we can suggest that you fly into one of three airports:

  1. LaGuardia (LGA) – the newest and shiniest of New York’s airports, and one of many things Andrew Cuomo would rather you remember him for. Some say it’s one of America’s best airports, though it might just be because it’s new and the airport it replaced was once described by Joe Biden as “third world”. It’s pretty nice and easy to get to even though it’s in Queens; the Lyft/Uber fare to the venue will be the cheapest of the airport options. The actual cheapest way to get from LGA to Brooklyn is to take the Q70 LaGuardia Link Bus to Roosevelt Av and then the F train from there, to experience the glory of the MTA (NYC’s transit system), one of the many things Andrew Cuomo would rather you not remember him for.
  2. John F. Kennedy (JFK) – New York City’s other airport – also in Queens, also a good option. At JFK you can visit the TWA Hotel, a boutique hotel project that was kind of a big deal at Mat’s office that won a bunch of accolades.1 It was a re-envisioning of the original Eero Saarinen terminal into a modern hotel and even if you don’t choose to stay there (it’s actually quite far from our wedding venue and the rest of the city), you can check out the bar in the fake plane and it’s a nicer lounge than the plastic seats at Terminal whatever.
  3. Newark Liberty (EWR) – sounds like New York but actually in Newark – a completely different city and state! It’s in New Jersey but it’s close enough that one could call it a NYC airport. Getting to/from EWR might be a bit costlier by cab but you can get the full Jersey commuter experience and enjoy a scenic hour-long ride through infrastructural decay into the saddest chapter in NY architectural history.

Staying in New York City

Any of the hotels on Schermerhorn Street (Hilton Brooklyn; Holiday Inn Brooklyn Downtown2; Ace Hotel Brooklyn) or the surrounding Downtown Brooklyn area (the Sheraton on Duffield, NU Hotel on Smith) is nice and safe and are a fairly quick cab ride to and from the venue. One such hotel, Fairfield Inn & Suites (at 181 3rd Avenue Brooklyn 11217) is close and Danielle’s mother’s stayed before so you know it’s fine!

If you have hotel loyalty points, there are also dozens of hotels in Downtown Manhattan; it’ll be a 30-minute subway ride or 20 minute cab ride under or over the river. 

Great! You’re Here! Now what?

We will add some recommendations for what else to do in this fun city, since you’ve made the trek!

Notes

  1. Mat was not involved in this project but he was such a fan of Saarinen that his beloved reading chair (a womb chair in that classic red boucle) was the gift he justified to himself upon architectural licensure. Danielle frequently uses the chair to read for work and take naps when the reading for work is boring. ↩︎
  2. This Holiday Inn is pet-friendly so be mindful if you have any allergies or sensitivities or if you want to bring your pet but have to leave them at the hotel because Frankie’s is not pet friendly. ↩︎