New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [311]
Information MTA Reduced Fare hotline (718/243–4999 | www.mta.info).
SPORTS AND THE OUTDOORS
The City of New York’s Parks & Recreation division lists all of the recreational facilities and activities available through New York’s Parks Department. The sports section of Time Out New York, sold at most newsstands, lists upcoming events, times, dates, and ticket information.
Contact Information Department of Parks & Recreation (311 in New York City, 212/639–9675, | www.nycgovparks.org).
BASEBALL
The subway will get you directly to stadiums of both New York–area major-league teams. A fun alternative, the Yankee Clipper cruises from Manhattan’s East Side and from New Jersey to Yankee Stadium on game nights. The round-trip cost is $25. The regular baseball season runs from April through September.
In 2009 the New York Mets moved from Shea Stadium to the neighboring, newly constructed CitiField, at the next-to-last stop on the 7 train, in Queens; the New York Yankees also got a new home at the new Yankee Stadium. Affiliated with the Mets since 2001, the minor-league Brooklyn Cyclones are named for Coney Island’s famous wooden roller coaster. They play 38 home games at KeySpan Park, next to the boardwalk, with views of the Atlantic over the right-field wall and views of historic Astroland over the left-field wall. Most people make a day of it, with time at the beach and amusement rides before an evening game. Take the D, F, or Q subway to the end of the line, and walk one block to the right of the original Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand.
For another fun, family-oriented experience, check out the Staten Island Yankees, one of New York’s minor-league teams, which warms up many future New York Yankees players. The stadium, a five-minute walk from the Staten Island Ferry terminal, has magnificent panoramic views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
Contact Information Brooklyn Cyclones (1904 Surf Ave., at 19th St., Coney Island, | Brooklyn | 11224 | 718/449–8497 | www.brooklyncyclones.com | Subway: D, F, Q to Stillwell Ave.). CitiField (Roosevelt Ave. off Grand Central Pkwy., Flushing, | Queens | 11368 | 718/507–8499 | www.mets.com | Subway: 7 to Willets Pt./Shea Stadium). Staten Island Yankees (Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, | Staten Island | 10301 | 718/720–9265 | www.siyanks.com). Yankee Clipper (800/533–3779 | www.nywaterway.com). Yankee Stadium (161st St. at River Ave., | Bronx | 10451 | 718/293–6000 | www.yankees.com | Subway: B, D, 4 to 161st St.–Yankee Stadium).
BASKETBALL
The New York Knicks arouse intense hometown passions, which means tickets for home games at Madison Square Garden are hard to come by. The New Jersey Nets play at the Meadowlands in the Izod Center, but have plans to relocate and possibly become the Brooklyn Nets. Tickets are generally easy to obtain. The men’s basketball season runs from late October through April. The New York Liberty, a member of the Women’s NBA, had its first season in 1997; some of the team’s more high-profile players are already legendary. The season runs from mid-May through August, with home games played at Madison Square Garden.
If the professional games are sold out, try to attend a college game where New York stalwarts Fordham, Hofstra, and St. John’s compete against national top 25 teams during invitational tournaments.
Contact Information Madison Square Garden (www.thegarden.com). New Jersey Nets (201/935–3900 box office, 800/765–6387 | www.nba.com/nets). New York Knicks (212/465–5867 | www.nba.com/knicks). New York Liberty (877/962–2849 tickets, 212/564–9622 fan hotline | www.wnba.com/liberty).
BICYCLING
Central Park has a 6-mi circular drive with a couple of decent climbs. It’s closed to automobile traffic from 10 am to 3 pm (except the southeast portion between 6th Avenue and East 72nd Street) and 7 pm to 7 am on weekdays, and from 7 pm Friday to 7 am Monday. On holidays it’s closed to automobile traffic from 7 pm the night before until 7 am the day after.
The bike lane along the Hudson River Park’s esplanade parallels the waterfront from