WEB EXCLUSIVE : Plastec East 2002 show preview

Buses. The M-34 runs east/west on 34th St. and stops at 11th Ave. outside the Javits Center. The M-42 runs east/west on 42nd St. and stops directly outside the center. Buses require either exact change, a Metro Card, or a token. The fare is $1.50. New Jersey Transit and other buses arrive at the Port Authority terminal at 42nd St. between 8th and 9th Ave., and the M-42 will bring you from there to the Javits Center.

For further MTA bus information visit www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/bus.

Trains and stops. Here are just a few of New York's subway trains and stops to get you to Javits Center, Times Square and Grand Central Station.

To get to 34th St. and Penn Station (near Javits) from the 8th Ave. subway stop, take the A, C, or E line, or The Long Island Railroad. From the 7th Ave. stop take the 1, 2, 3, or 9 line, or The Long Island Railroad. From the 6th Ave. stop, take the B, D, F, N, Q, or R line; and from the Lexington stop take the 4, 5, or 6 line.

To get to 42nd St. and Times Square (Broadway) from the 8th Ave. stop, take the A, C, or E line; from 7th Ave. take the 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, N, Q, R, or S line. From the 6th Ave. stop take the B, D, or F line, and from Lexington take the 4, 5, 6, or 7 line.

To get to Grand Central Station at 42nd St. (between Lexington and Vanderbilt Ave.), take any Metro North train.

For further information about subway trains and stops, call MTA subway information at (718) 330-1234, or visit www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/subway.

Ferries. For attendees coming in from the west, the Weehawken/Port Imperial Ferry travels between Port Imperial in Weehawken to 38th St. in Midtown Manhattan, which is right outside the convention center. All-day parking is available at the Weehawken Ferry Terminal, in addition to connecting bus routes in New Jersey and Manhattan. The ferry runs Monday through Friday from 6:15 am to midnight, with trips every 10 minutes during rush hour and every 15 minutes during off-peak hours. Fares are $5 one way, and $45 for a 10-trip pass. Parking is $6 a day. For more information about ferry services to Manhattan, go to www.panynj.gov/ferry/fermain, or call NY Waterway at (800) 53-FERRY.

LaGuardia Airport transportation. The following are just a few of your options for getting from the airport to your hotel or the convention center. Prices and times are subject to change, so call the company beforehand for verification.

The New York Airport Service Express Bus runs between LaGuardia and the Port Authority Bus Terminal (42nd St. and 8th Ave.) in Midtown Manhattan. The fare is between $10 and $12. Buses run every 20 minutes from 7:20 a.m. to 11 p.m., and travel time is 30 to 45 minutes, longer at peak hours. Call (718) 875-8200 for information.

Express Shuttle USA (formerly Gray Line) is a shared minibus that runs anywhere in Manhattan between 23rd and 96th St., including all hotels. The fare is $13. Minibuses run on demand between 7 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., and trips typically take from 45 to 60 minutes, longer at peak hours. For more information call (212) 315-3006 or (800) 451-0455.

SuperShuttle Manhattan is a shared minibus that runs anywhere between Battery Park and 227th St., including all hotels. Fare is $15, and minibuses run on demand between 7 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Call (800) 358-5826 for more information.

A uniformed taxi dispatcher is available at taxi stands during flight hours if you'd like a private ride into Manhattan. Cost is $6 to $26 plus tolls, and the trip time is 20 to 30 minutes, longer at peak hours.

Newark Airport transportation. The Olympia Airport Express runs between Newark Airport and the Port Authority Bus Terminal (42nd St. and 8th Ave.) in Midtown Manhattan. The fare is $11, and buses run from 4:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Travel time is approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Call (212) 964-6233 for more information.

From the Newark Airport, the Express Shuttle USA runs anywhere between 23rd and 63rd St. The fare is $14. Minibuses run on demand between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., and trips typically take from 30 to 60 minutes during off-peak hours. For more information call (212) 315-3006.

SuperShuttle Manhattan's minibus runs anywhere between Battery Park and 227th St. The fare is $15 to $19, and buses run on demand 24 hours a day. Trips take from 30 to 60 minutes, longer at peak hours. Call (800) 258-3826 for more information.

The AirTrain will take you from Newark to NY Penn Station (34th St. and 8th Ave.) for $11.15. Trains run three times an hour between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Call (800) AIR-RIDE for more information.

Taking a taxi from the Newark Airport into Manhattan will cost between $34 and $55 plus tolls for destinations between the Battery and 96th St. Trip time is about 40 minutes, longer at peak hours.


NEW YORK ATTRACTIONS

Central Park: 59th to 110th St.

Times Square: Broadway at 7th Ave.

Statue of Liberty: Battery Park and Liberty State Park; (212) 269-5755

Empire State Building: 350 5th Ave.; (212) 736-3100.

Yankee Stadium: 161st St. and River Ave.; (718) 293-4300.

Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1000 5th Ave. (212) 879-5500.

Museum of Modern Art: 11 W. 53rd St.; (212) 708-9400.

Frick Collection: 1 E. 70th St.; (212) 288-0700.

Rose Center for Earth and Space, American Museum of Natural History: West 81st St.; (212) 769-5920.

Carnegie Hall: West 57th St. and 7th Ave.; (212) 247-7800.


WHERE TO PLAY

AMC Empire 2: 234 W. 42nd St.; (212) 398-3939. This movie theater has 25 screens on 11 floors with stadium seating and massive screens, all conveniently located near Times Square. Check out the great view from the deck—not a common feature in most New York megaplexes.

ESPN Zone: 1472 Broadway; (212) 921-3776. For all the sports enthusiasts crowding Times Square, ESPN has built its own behemoth sports bar and grill. The restaurant has two 16-ft video walls featuring continuous live sports coverage, plus a 10,000-sq-ft arcade of games and other sports-related attractions. The Sky Box—a private VIP dining room—has the best seats in the house.

Cibar: 56 Irving Pl.; (212) 460-5656. This small hotel bar at the Inn at Irving Place offers marble tables and an assortment of modern furnishings mixed in with loveseats, tortoise-shell ceiling fans, and boudoir-pink walls. The hidden bamboo garden in back could be the perfect summer spot. Drinks include a selection of single malts, bourbon, vodka, and 23 martini blends.

Hammerstein Ballroom: 311 W. 34th St.; (212) 564-4882. Hammerstein originally opened in 1906 as a classical opera house before becoming—in order—a vaudeville hall, a movie hall, a Freemason's temple, a union hall, an abandoned hall, and finally a concert hall. The floor and orchestra seats have been removed to accommodate general admission concert-goers.

Grace: 114 Franklin St.; (212) 343-4200. This is an update of an old-school pub with all the thoughtful details. Highlights of the drink list include 14 single-malt Scotches, 12 tequilas, a crisp Apple Martini, and the Black Forest made with vodka, cherry brandy, and white creme de cacao. They even refrigerate the ales and lagers at different temperatures.

Macy's: 1441 Metropolitan Ave.; (718) 828-7000. You can find nearly anything you want in this huge department store.

New York Stock Exchange: Broad and Wall St.; (212) 656-5168. The NYSE opened on March 8, 1817. In the original market, stocks were called out and bid upon one at a time. The permanent headquarters on Broad and Wall Streets opened in 1865. Watch the hustle and bustle of the trading floor from a gallery overlooking it or take a self-guided tour. Free tour tickets are available at 20 Broad St.

Sporting Club: 99 Hudson St.; (212) 219-0900. This sports bar with six projection TVs is located in Tribeca and is frequented by a mix of golf, pro sports, and hoop fans (college alumni celebrate their colors here too). The menu includes a big, flat-pounded burger, a tasty cheese-slathered steak sandwich, and chicken and steak with a side of garlic mashed potatoes.

BROADWAY SHOWS

Beauty and the Beast: Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., NYC; (212) 575-9200.

Cabaret: Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St., NYC; (212) 239-6200.

Les Miserables: Imperial Theater, 249 W. 45th St., NYC; (212) 239-6200.

Rent: Nederland Theater, 208 W. 41st St., NYC; (212) 921-8000.

The Full Monty: Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 W. 49th St., NYC; (212) 239-6200.

The Lion King: New Amsterdam Theater, 214 W. 42nd St., NYC; (212) 282-2900.

Mamma Mia: Winter Garden Theater, 1634 Broadway, NYC; (212) 239-6200.

The Phantom of the Opera: Majestic Theatre, 245 W. 44th St., NYC; (212) 239-6200.


CASUAL DINING

There are few good restaurants within walking distance of the Javits Center, so your best options are to stick with the fare in the convention center food court, or grab a cab to one of the following restaurants.

Corner Bistro: 331 W. 4th St., NYC; (212) 242-9502. Besides cold beer and a full bar, the Bistro offers tasty fries, small, juicy burgers, chili, a BLT, and a huge, marinated grilled chicken sandwich.

The Hog Pit: 22 9th Ave., NYC; (212) 604-0092. If you're looking for a watering hole that serves up soul food, barbecue favorites, country music, and a rough-and-tumble atmosphere, The Hog Pit is the place to be.

Island Burgers & Shakes: 766 9th Ave., NYC; (212) 307-7934. This West Coast-style, fryless burger joint features waiters in tropical print shirts and sandals, and a menu with 63 varieties of burgers and grilled chicken breast sandwiches.

Jackson's Hole: 232 E. 64th St., NYC; (212) 371-7187. Jackson's Hole is decked out in `50s Americana and offers outdoor dining in the garden out back. Order a milkshake or root beer float and peruse the diner-style menu including more than two dozen burgers made with beef or turkey.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: 2 Penn Plaza, NYC; (212) 947-7175. Doughnut lovers flock to Krispy Kreme all over the country. They may be smaller than the average doughnut, but they're made right in the store with fresh custard and creme fillings, glazed toppings, and jelly centers.

Nathan's: 1310 Surf Ave., Brooklyn; (718) 946-2202. Known as Famous Nathan's, this restaurant opened in 1916 and its period chrome design reflects old-time Coney Island. These days Nathan's is a franchise, but the original is still the best serving hot dogs and fries.

Tortilla Flats: 767 Washington St., NYC; (212) 243-1053. Located in the outer reaches of the West Village, Tortilla Flats offers great margaritas and tasty dishes for a group fiesta.


FINE DINING

Babbo: 110 Waverly Pl., NYC; (212) 777-0303. Located in a charming two-level Waverly Place townhouse, Babbo is decorated with warm yellow walls, glowing sconces, heavy mirrors, and tan banquettes, and serves over-the-top Italian food. A small bar sits near the entrance, along with a handful of tables set aside for patrons without reservations.

Blue Ribbon Sushi: 119 Sullivan St., NYC; (212) 343-0404. The bar at Blue Ribbon Sushi is the best bet for walk-in patrons and the sushi and sashimi dinners are a good value. Also recommended are the deep-purple cuts of toro and the creative entrees, which are sparked with interesting flavors.

Chanterelle: 2 Harrison St., NYC; (212) 966-6960. This legendary Tribeca spot offers understated elegance with rigorous attention to the minutiae of the fine-dining experience. The menu changes monthly, but favorites like the famous seafood sausage appetizer remain permanent fixtures.

Churrascaria Plataforma: 316 W. 49th St., NYC; (212) 245-0505. Great for groups! When you're ready to eat let the expert cutters know by flipping the small disc at your place setting, and you'll be presented with rounds of pork ribs, short ribs, rib eye, sirloin, flank steak, brisket, top round, special top round, chicken legs, sausage, pork loin, lamb, and the fish of day.

Daniel: 60 E. 65th St., NYC; (212) 288-0033. This French restaurant has a dramatic interior, fine art, comfortably spaced tables, and Haute French cuisine.

Gramercy Tower: 42 E. 20th St., NYC. This restaurant offers a mix of urban chic and Midwestern charm. The front room serves as a more casual dining area and a waiting area for those with reservations in the main room. The menu includes braised short ribs, a grilled lamb sandwich, a wonderful cheese plate, and the affordable $17.50 filet mignon.

Le Cirque 2000: 455 Madison Ave. (Palace Hotel), NYC; (212) 303-7788. Purple, one-armed velvet chairs, neon tubing, and stainless steel sculptures combine with high gilded ceilings and pre-Raphaelite murals in Le Cirque 2000. An unusual combination, but this place has some of the best cuisine around, including paupiette of sea bass with Barolo sauce and leeks, and a sauteed veal chop with bacon-wrapped asparagus.

Ruth's Chris Steak House: 148 W. 51st St., NYC; (212) 245-9600. For "serious steak served sizzling in butter" visit this New Orleans-based franchise started by Ruth Fertel. The interior is spacious with dark-wood paneling, gilt-framed paintings, and a steady corporate clientele. Steaks average $29, and an extensive wine list starts at $21.

Tavern on the Green: Central Park West, NYC; (212) 873-3200. Set in a fairy tale backdrop, the Tavern on the Green features a lush garden filled with lighted trees and Chinese lanterns. The menu includes shrimp cocktail, soups, caviar, chilled artichokes, veal cutlet, sauteed turbot, and rack of lamb.

Union Square Cafe: 21 E. 16th St., NYC; (212) 243-4020. The Union Square Cafe has three dining areas: balcony seating, lower-level seating with tables and booths and a long bar, and a main dining room. The Tuscan-influenced menu features grilled lamb chops, pan-roasted salmon, wild striped bass, and famous homemade garlic potato chips.

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