Greetings from the staff of the North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference (NATEAC).  We have put together this information packet to help make your stay in New York City as pleasant as possible.  You may want to save this for reference when you get to New York.

The Weather.
 
Hey!  It's New York City in July.  It's a safe bet it will be hot and humid.  
 
The good news is...
     The conference venue is air conditioned.
     The subways are air conditioned.
     Taxis, for the most part, are air conditioned.
     Your hotel room will be air conditioned.  
 
The bad news is that the streets, sidewalks and subway stations/platforms are not.
 
NATEAC does not have a dress code. Please dress casually and comfortably.  (I am hoping that there will be more than a few Hawaiian shirts on the harbor cruise on Saturday night.)

Getting Around
 
We will be using red balloons as markers and information stations. When you see a bunch of red balloons there will most likely be a staff member (black T-shirt & NATEAC baseball cap) holding them who can give you directions.
 
The big apple may seem a little daunting at first, but if you take it in small bites you’ll do fine.
 
The Conference takes place in the financial district.  On Sunday morning when you go to Pace University at 8:00 am you’ll probably be surprised by how quiet it is.  Monday will be an entirely different adventure.  As you make your way to Pace on Sunday, take a look around and get your bearings.  Look for landmarks that you can use again on Monday.  You’ve seen the commercials on TV with the zillion people walking the sidewalks of Manhattan?  On Monday you’ll get to experience that first hand.  
 
For those whose hotel is not within walking distance of Pace, the subway is the way to go.  You will want to buy a Metro Card.  For fare information, multi-trip discounts, etc. go to http://www.mta.info/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm

For a map please go to http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

http://www.hopstop.com/?city=newyork is a new destination program that you can use to figure out how to get from one place to another.  
 
Finally, if you do get a little disoriented, it’s OK to ask someone. Honest. Contrary to popular folklore, New Yorkers are almost always happy to provide information.  

Harbor Cruise
The first event of the Conference is the Harbor Cruise on Saturday night, July 19th. This will be a 3 hour tour of New York on the Circle Line flagship, the Zephyr. For more information on the cruise please visit http://nateac.org/cruise.htm

Here's what you need to know to get on board.

Location:
Pier 16, South Street Seaport. Far end (waterside) of the dock
12 Fulton Street
Time:
Sign-in begins at 7:00 pm.
Boarding promptly at 7:30pm.
Departure at 7:40pm
Return at 10:30.

To take advantage of the tides, we're told that the boat sails at 7:40 sharp, so please try to be there by 7:15 to sign in and pick up your name badge and complimentary drink ticket.

Sign-In for the boat will take place at the end of the pier near the boarding ramp. Look for the red balloons.

When you sign in you will receive a nametag and a drink ticket. The drink ticket serves to not only get you a complimentary drink onboard but also as a boarding pass. This is how we'll keep the tourists from accidentally boarding the wrong boat. So, even if you are not going to get a drink with it, keep it handy. Please note that the ticket is good for one drink. After that is it a CASH bar. Credit cards are not accepted. (You've been warned.)

For those not within walking distance of the Seaport, the subway does run at that time of night and there will be cabs. (Cabs take credit cards)

For a map of the area please go to http://www.nateac.org/images/Maps.pdf

This area is a favorite tourist attraction. Pier 16 is vaguely reminiscent, in a New York sort of way, of Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The pier will be crowded. Look for our guy at the street end of the pier with the red balloons if you are unsure where to go.

Please Note: The Zephyr will NOT be at the dock when you arrive, so don't look for it when you get to the pier and then wander off trying to find it. If you are standing near the four-masted, metal clad sailing ship the Peking, then you are in the right place.

What to wear:

Casual and comfortable. This is a party, after all. I will be wearing my very best Hawaiian shirt. However, we'll be on the water. Even on a hot day it can cool off a bit out on the river. Donna and I went to the Seaport on Saturday to do a little reconnaissance. The temperature in the city that day was 88F/31C. On the dock at 7:00 pm, as the sun sank behind the skyline, a nice breeze came up. Donna put on a sweater. You get the picture.

By the way, we sail rain or shine. Conference Site
 
Location:   Michael Schimmel Performing Arts Center
               Pace University
               3 Spruce Street
 
 Time:      Opens at 8:00 am for breakfast and registration
              Keynote addresses begin at 9:30 am
 
For a map of the area please go to http://www.nateac.org/images/Maps.pdf

At registration you will be given your Conference badge.  Please keep this badge visible at all times.  Classes are in session and Pace takes their security very seriously.
 
At registration you will also be given tickets to any other events you may have ordered, including show tickets.  Please be warned.  The show tickets cannot be replaced.  Please keep them in a safe place (and remember where that safe place is).  If you lose them there is no guarantee that we will be able to replace them.  (But contact us anyway and we’ll try)
 
Smoking is not permitted inside Pace University.  Smoke at designated locations only.  Use the butt cans.
 
Please do not leave bags, packages, luggage, etc. unattended.  Unattended items will be removed by Pace security. Pace University and NATEAC cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen personal property.

Sunday Evening Shows July 20

You are on your own for this.  There will be no red balloons or friendly NATEAC staff person.  We needed to give them a night off.
 
Spamalot is at the Shubert Theatre.  225 west  44th street.  It’s 100 feet from Times Square.  Getting to Times Square is not difficult. Almost every subway line runs through Times Square.
 
Blue Man Group is a little more of an adventure.  The Astor Place Theatre, 434 Lafayette Street,  is directly across from the Public Theatre/NY Shakespeare Festival.   It’s a very small place in the East Village.  It does not have a big neon sign outside.  You walk down the steps to get into the theatre.  Small steps.  Think of it as a treasure hunt. The reward is you get to see a really fun show.  
 
 There is a map of midtown here http://www.nateac.org/images/Maps.pdf   Blue Man Group did not make it onto this map.

Conference Dinner Monday evening  July 21
 
Location:       Sardi’s Restaurant
                   234 West 44th street  Between 7th and 8th avenues  (closer to 7th Ave)
 
 Time:          7:00 cocktails (upstairs)
                   8:00 dinner
                   9:00 dinner speech
                   10:00 they kick us out.
 
Dress:  We have the place all to ourselves so the only people you will have to impress will be your peers.  Frankly, I’ll be so happy that the conference is over that I won’t give a hoot what you wear.  But it is NY and it is Sardi’s, so I’m leaving the Hawaiian shirt at the hotel.  I am NOT promising I’ll wear a tie, however.

Backstage Tours Tuesday Morning July 22
Reservations are required.  Seating is limited.
Please check in with Donna.  <Donna@NATEAC.org>  
 
Do not count on balloons.  We’ll have them there only if any survived the weekend.   
 
Location:       State Theater.  SE corner of Lincoln Center.  63rd and Columbus.  Stage Door.
Time:           9:45 AM  
                  11:00 am, Jazz at Lincoln Center
                  1:00 PM  Radio City Music Hall
 
Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes.  If possible, leave your luggage with the bell cap at your hotel and pick it up after the tour.  If you have time.  If not, you’ll have to bring it along.  I’m sorry but we do not have a place to store it for you.
 

Fun Stuff

Some stuff we like and thought you might also.
 
If you are staying downtown you might want to walk around the Financial District.   You could maybe say hello to your stocks at the NYSE  http://www.ny.com/sights/neighborhoods/financial_district.html


Veniero's  Italian Pastry.  Best pastry shop in NYC.  It’s out of the way and you’ll have to walk a bit from the subway, but it’s worth it.  (You’ll want to walk after you eat there.  Trust me) http://www.venierospastry.com/  
 342 East 11th Street    (between 1st and 2nd Avenues.  Closer to 1st Ave) New York, NY 10003 (212) 674-7070


 Le Zie Restaurant.  Excellent Venetian cuisine.  Great mussels. http://www.lezie.com/
172 7th Ave. (between 20th & 21st streets.  west side of 7th ave) New York,NY 10011
 Ask to sit in the back room.  They do not take reservations for parties of less than 6.
 

 http://menupages.com   A citywide restaurant guide.    If you can’t find it in there, it doesn’t exist anywhere.


 Top of the Rock Observation Deck.  Rockefeller Center.
 Best view of the city.  Even better than the Empire State Building. http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/


 Central Park Zoo If you have the time it’s well worth it. http://nyzoosandaquarium.com/cpz


 Simulated Helicopter ride at the Empire State Building. It’s on the 2nd floor
 http://www.skyride.com/media.html (note.  Not a real helicopter.  It’s a simulation ride)


 Finally, NY is a city of museums.  Many you know about, many you do not.  Visit this site for a relatively complete list.
 http://www.ny.com/museums/all.museums.html