I like to plan, what can I say..

So, hello! This will be my first Fest, and my first 'real' trip to the States (discounting a tourist/Orlando excursion ten years ago..), so..

I fly into Newark at 6pm on the 23rd October. I am looking for someone who might be able to kindly offer the following in the NY/NJ area;

- General advice on how to get around, seriously. I am clueless.

- Floorspace for a few nights maybe, please?

- Someone to show me around please! I would like to do mega tourist bullshit. Ground Zero, Coney Island, whatever. I am in.

- Info nearer the time as to what shows are going on? I know Young Livers is planned to be the 26th, but psssh what's a night without a gig.

- I think there's a plan for UK vs US.. bowling at Asbury Lanes - I hereby suggest that maybe we try to make this a Saturday 25th afternoon 'til late affair. Set me straight if this is a stupid plan.

- How are you planning on travelling down to Gainesville? Flying? Driving? I'd planned to fly down on the 28th, but if anyone is driving and has a spare space (obviously, I'll put towards rental/gas) then I am interested. Fuck, I'd even probably drive the whole thing if you wanted me to. My only real Florida plans is that I need/want to be in Tampa on the 29th, as The Cost Of Living are playing the pre-fest show there, then.. back in G-ville on the 30th. I'd planned to head back to New York on the 3rd, straight after Fest. But again I am open to suggestions.

I'd need to be at JFK for about 2pm on the 6th November.

And that's pretty much the jist of things.
Full o'thanks,
-Daniel.

don't drive the whole thing, I almost killed everyone doing that... drifted off and swerved in Georgia then yelled "someone else is driving now" fuck 24 hour straight drives, shit is bad for your health

Shhhhhh quit ruining my getting a ride sweet-talk!

Okayokay, maybe I'll go halfsies.

I hereby counterpropose that the Asbury Lanes bash be any day after the 26th, since Sarah and I don't get in 'til 2pm that day.

I could also do with a place to crash if anyone can help? I'll probably stay in a hostel somewhere central for a couple of days so I can do the touristy crap and a bit of shopping but if anyone has floor space for a day or two especially on any night when there's a show then that would be awesome as I don't much fancy finding my way home alone and drunk after watching bands! Jay, are you reading this!!?

Are you two hostelling or do you have grander plans?

Probably a little grander. Private rooms in hostels don't seem to much cheaper than hotels, and balls to get involved in dorms and such.

As far as shows go, its honestly a little too soon. The Young Livers show is an exception but normally, a lot of times shows/tours don't get announced this far in advance. Aside from YL, the only shows I know of for October in the NY metro area are:

October 8th - Streetlight Manifesto, The Swellers, The AKA's at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale (Long Island)
October 11th - Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Ben Nichols, Frank Turner @ Asbury Lanes
October 13th - ^same show @ Gramercy Theater in NYC


Though those are all happening before you get here so that doesn't really help. Sorry! As it gets closer more shows will start to get booked.

As for other stuff, you can go to Coney Island but it might be a little cold out! However, they do run a pretty nifty haunted house type thing at one of the amusement park's funhouses around Halloween time so I definitely recommend that. I'm pretty sure it runs for at least three weeks in October till after Halloween.


I don't know if you have any dietary restrictions, but if you're vegetarian or vegan, there's SO many places to eat at. Let me know and if you are, I can give you a list.

Record shopping in NYC - go to Generation Records on Thompson Street.

Or, if you venture in Willamsburg in Brooklyn, there's a number of stores down there too, including Academy Records and Passout Records.

Um, what else, there's the typical tourist-y stuff: museums, Central Park, Times Square (overrated if you ask me, but I guess a must-see at least once if you've never been here). You could go to the spot where CBGB once stood and take a picture in front of the street corner sign, I'm pretty sure it still says "Joey Ramone Place" at the top.

My suggestion when you get here, get a MetroCard - it's the NYC public transportation card that allows you to easily ride the subways and/or buses without paying full fare. You can get daily rides, or weekly/monthly ones, and if you're gonna be here a week I recommend getting a weekly one so you won't have to refill it every time you use it.

As for me, I'm probably flying down to Florida but it won't be until the morning of the 31st.

yeah, screw driving to the Fest. by the time you get there you are exhausted! we did 35 hours straight and I can't believe I survived the weekend and the ride home.

another NYC question while we're here

assuming i don't find a place to crash, what would be the best part of town to look for a cheap but not horrible hotel/b&b?

i really want to explore brooklyn as well as the usual manhattan spots so would that be a good place to stay?

If there are enough of us it could be worth looking into the cost of getting a private dorm at a hostel. I remember from last year that NYC was really bloody expensive for accommodation but we didn't much like the idea of sharing a dorm room with your typical student backpackers which was the only cheap solution as there were only two of us. It looks like there could be quite a few Fest bound people there this time though so it could be worth thinking about.

Thank you for the info! Really appreciated! Especially the Metro card thing! I would like to go to Coney Island, however cold.. you do know I'm from England, right? Do you guys, y'know, like.. get rain over there?

Coney Island is the butt of Brooklyn. Do be prepared to be on the subway for an hour-ish. Lived in New York all my life and I have never been to coney island. Maybe this year will be my year.

You might want to go to Generations (west village) for vinyl shopping.
Take advantage of the lunch specials. One of my favorite things is going out to lunch.
If you like chocolate, make your way to Jacques Torres on Hudson St. South of Houston.
Pomme Frites (east village) is delicious.
I like food ;] Food tastes good.

I would use hopstop.com to get around. You can even have the site send you the direction to your cell phone.

Comedy Cellar is great stand up venue.



Driving from NY isn't bad. did it last year. Got there in like 14 hours and had a blast driving down with friends.
CMJ is Oct 21st to the 25th so there will be a lot of happening shows.


I'm chock full of junk to do feel free to pm me.

Ooooooh more killer info! CMJ could make for some interesting happenings. As far as other reccomendations flying about.. I am all about the vegan eats, and unfortunately.. and this is embarassing, I'm ... gosh, not a record kind-of guy, so record stores aren't really high on my agenda.

Will fire dumb questions via PM, when it's not 4am in the morning.

Sounds good. Any questions just let me know...

Toy R Us is a pretty fun time and known as one of the cleanest turdlet facilities in Manhattan.

One of my favorite bars is Local 138 in the lower east side (138 Ludlow).
We'll chat.