Stupid Mistake - Could Use Advice

[AvenueQPat]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 6:18pm

Hey Everybody.

So silly me, I got a ticket for Spring Awakening which should let out at about 10:15 PM on Wednesday near 49th and Broadway, and I thought my train out was at 11:45 but it's actually at 10:45 from Penn Station on 34th.

Since I can't change my ticket, and that is the latest train out that night - wondering what might be my best bet for getting to the train station on time - cab, bus, subway, or just on foot.

Thought I would ask on here because people may know if the traffic is worse than usual, or if the streets are going to be more clogged trying to walk because of other shows ending times.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 6:23pm

Subway. Should take 5-7 minutes from the downtown 1 on 50th street. Walking would take 15 minutes if you walked at a fast pace and it would be hard to catch a cab at that time with other shows letting out (I never take them).

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 6:27pm

The subway might be your best bet, but you could walk and get there with enough time to spare. When I walk from theatres in that are it takes me around ten minutes to get to Penn.

[jess20882]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 6:29pm

subway, definitely. it'll take you 10 minutes max to get from 50th street (on the 1 train) or 42nd street (on the a, c, e, 1, or 2 trains) to penn station.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 6:32pm

Assuming you hit the stations when the trains are getting in. Personally I'd just hoof it...down 8th since it's slightly less crowded than Broadway. You can cut over at 42nd if you want.

[AvenueQPat]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 6:33pm

Cool beans.

Thanks for the helpful advice - I'll just get to the theater an extra 10 minutes early and see exactly where the southbound stop is, and plan my escape route from the show.

Thanks again for the helpful advice.

EDIT-----------------

If by chance their are major delays expected I'll just hoof it by way of the last post, but the subway site says I should be OK in getting one if they are running on time.

Updated On: 5/7/07 at 06:33 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 6:39pm

If you're going for the subway, I'd probably go to 42nd street station ~ you can get to the A, C and E lines on 44th. Gives you a much better chance as there are 3 lines there and they're on the same level. At 50th, you've got only the 1 on that set, then on the other side (8th) you've got the C ane E, but they're on 2 different levels.

[jewelchk]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 7:18pm

Believe it or not, the subways (theoretically) run on schedules. I take the red and blue lines all the time-- the C is great if it comes, but that can be rarely, so at night I'll often go to the 1 or 2/3. Going to 42nd street and catching a 1/2/3 may be best, because I know I've waited 20 minutes for an A/C before, but then you're only 8 blocks away from Penn Station anyway, so it may be faster to walk? I agree with walking down 8th Ave, less traffic.

http://www.mta.info/nyct/service/schemain.htm for the approximate subway schedules.

Updated On: 5/7/07 at 07:18 PM

[Neverandy]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 7:22pm

8th avenue. Definitely faster than anything else. Walk on the west side of the street to avoid the theater crowd getting out from everything east of eighth ave. Shouldn't be a problem at all unless it's an all reserved train.

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 7:26pm

i think walking is your best bet... definitely on 8th, it shouldn't take that long if you walk quickly...

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 7:26pm

Just to let you know, the show will get out closer to 10:25 than 10:15.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 7:32pm

Walking. My friend and I had a race once. I walked on foot middle of summer down 7th avenue and she took subway from Penn. I beat her by 2 minutes or so to 52nd street. Our friends who took the cab won though. 8th at night is the easiest or a cab.

[whatever2]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 8:24pm

definitely walk. and DEFINITELY take 8th avenue over 7th.

(walk QUICKLY, if it's really more like 10:25p.)

i ride ramtrak ALL the time (i even have status -- "preferred selct" ... you all may admire me!). track access is much closer to 8th avenue than to 7th ... everyone goes in @ 7th, but the trains are @ 8th. plus the crowds are slightly more manageable at street level walking down 8th ave, and you will definitely lose time trying to negotiate once you are *in* penn station if you enter @ 7th. the 7th avenue escalator alone is a disaster ... then you have to get across the entire concourse to 8th avenue where most track access is located.

(there are a few track access points underground b/t 7th and 8th avenues, but you have to know: (a) where they are; and, (b) what track your train is leaving on ... unless you take the same train EVERY DAY, you cant know the latter.)

i also think you are a little tight taking the subway. when you actually factor in the time to get up and down, PLUS the variable of a just-missed train, i definitely say hoof it.

and at intermission warn the people b/t you and the aisle that you will be knocking them over to get out the door. seriously, you have no extra time once the curtain drops! forget the nicities ... skip the applause -- you have no choice.

dont be fooled ... you can do this, but your timing is VERY, VERY tight. if you can swing it, scope out your route from the station entrance at the SE corner of 8th and 33rd right to the tracks BEFORE the show. find the monitors so you can check your track number as soon as you arrive. then head right to the track. it will help to know what youre doing in advance.

not sure whether youre headed north or south, but your train is probably not originating in NY (more likely DC or boston, depending.) your train will be well en route by you intermission, and in theory you could check status at half-time to see if by chance it's running late (the Regionals frequently do). however, the information in my experience is not altogther reliable, and trains do make up time (tho rarely do they make up time coming into NYC from jersey or CT).

prolly more than you wanted, but i have been in your shoes many, many times.

good luck and enjoy!

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 5/7/07 at 8:35pm

Definately walk. I've used Amtrak before from Penn...took me 10 minutes MAX...it's better than risking missing a train and having to wait.

[craftymarley]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 2:18am

Subway from 50th- no question. I walk down 8th every night from 53rd to 42nd and it takes nearly 20 minutes navigating through the slow moving tourists and waiting for all the lights. Once you get past 42nd it will of course be a lot quicker- but even if you just miss a train and have to wait 20 minutes for another one it will still get you there faster than walking- which is a bad, bad idea.

Also- 10:15 is a much better estimate than 10:25. On the rare occassion that I'm working there I can do all of my post show and still be gone by 10:30 with the audience long gone.

[Mamie]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 8:53am

I'd have to agree with the recommendation to walk. I don't know where your seat is located in the theatre and I don't normally suggest leaving before the curtain call, BUT.... You might consider taking a seat in the back of the theatre for act 2. This will allow you to exit the theatre immediately at the end of the show and you won't be held up by the rest of the audience's leaving.

[whatever2]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 9:53am

craftmarley: if walking is such a bad, bad idea why do you "do it every night?"

even w/ the pokey tourists walking is better, imho.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 10:42am

I agree. I am very suspect with people telling you to walk, particularly the ones who say it only takes 15 minutes. There are several shows letting out at the same time, buses are lined up on eighth Avenue, locals are on the other side loggong 8th Avenue. It would take about 20 minutes to walk to Penn Station IF you manage to make every light and the tourist crowds don't get in the way. I'm assuming you're taking Amtrak, in which the entrance at Penn Station is on 8th. Just take the C or the E (when the people start running to the stairs from the C platform, follow them. It'll be much quicker.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 5/8/07 at 10:48am

However, the subways are very slow in coming at that hour of the night. It might be better to walk. Just walk in the street, right off the curb, to avoid tourists.