Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
especially early in the season, when the Yankees are out of the playoff race, or not facing an arch-rival.
Yankee Stadi-
um, 1 E. 161st St., at River Ave., the Bronx.
718/293-6000.
www.yankees.com
.
Subway: B/D/4 to 161st St./Yankee Stadium.
Playing the Horses
Horse racing has seen its bottom line repeatedly gouged by the dumb luck of state lotteries. With fewer fans trekking out
to the track, Belmont and the Big A will be happy to see you when you go. So happy, in fact, that they'll let you in for only
a nominal charge (or no charge at all). While it's possible to lose some real money on the ponies, I have a system. Always
pick the first horse off the rail that's wearing red, or any horse whose name begins with
B.
You can't miss.
AqueductRacetrack
Thoroughbred racing runs from late October or early November to late April or early May.
110th St. and Rockaway Blvd., Rockaway Beach, Queens.
718/641-4700.
www.nyra.com
.
Clubhouse and Skyline
Club admission is free, parking is $2. Closed Mon-Tues. Subway: A to North Conduit.
BelmontPark
When the season ends at Aqueduct (see above), the ponies run here, from May through July, and Septem-
ber through October. Hempstead Ave., Belmont, Long Island.
516/488-6000.
www.nyra.com
. Tickets $3-$5, with free
parking. Closed Mon-Tues. Train: LIRR Belmont Express from Penn Station or Flatbush Ave.
Knicks & Cut-Rate Seats
Ten-dollar Knicks seats are about as elusive as Knicks playoff victories. They do exist,
but they're in the nosebleed sections and they tend to sell out quickly. If you don't pick them up in September
when they first go on sale, your best bet is to check StubHub, where season-ticket holders unload their spares
at list (or below) after another disappointing season.
Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Seventh Ave., at 34th St.
212/
465-6741.
www.nba.com/knicks
.
Subway: A/C/E/1/2/3 to 34th St./Penn Station.
Mini Mets
No one confuses the
Brooklyn Cyclones
for “dem bums” of old, but the newish stadium near the
Atlantic Ocean and the Coney Island boardwalk has fast become a borough fave. Box seats are $14 to $17. General
admission and reserved bleacher seats will only set you back $9 ($10 on game day). Though some of the sheen
is off the stadium, tickets still go quickly. And you see both the Parachute Jump and the Atlantic Ocean just past
the outfield fence!
MCU Park, 1904 Surf Ave., at W. 19th St., Coney Island, Brooklyn.
718/449-8497.
www.brooklyncyclones.com
.
Subway: D/F/N/Q
to Coney Island/Stillwell Ave.
Rumble on the River
Practitioners of the sweet science assemble every summer on the Hudson at this of-
shoot of the Church Street Boxing Gym's legendary amateur bouts. There's a full-on ring and no punches pulled
as a series of pugilists go three rounds apiece. The event takes place at Pier 84, usually on a Thursday night in
midsummer.
Pier 84, at W. 44th St. and the Hudson.
212/533-7275.
www.hudsonriverpark.org
.
Subway: A/C/E/7 to 42nd St./Port Authority. Walk toward
the river.
Sweet Land of Liberty
The Liberty are an NYC team in name only at the moment; summer renovations of
Madison Square Garden have sent All-Star Cappie Pondexter and crew across the river to the Prudential Center
in Newark, New Jersey, until their old digs are refurbished. Though prices go as high as $250, you can find a
fair number of tickets for as little as $10, and discounts (often including food and drink) abound.
Prudential Center, 25
Lafayette St., Newark, NJ. Tickets:
212/465-6766.
www.wnba.com/liberty
. Accessible by PATH train and NJ Transit.
11 Into the Drink
Free Wine Tastings
The intricacies of wine are endless, which is excuse enough to try as much of the stuff as possible. The wine shop
tasting experience can be frustrating because you're only getting sips, but if you've come for edification and not
to catch a cheap buzz, there's little chance of going away disappointed. Besides, many shops throw in free snacks
for your trouble.
