You can take a city bus from La Guardia over to one of two different train lines, and take the train (subway) to your stop. Buy a Metrocard from one of the folks selling stuff (newspapers, etc.) at La Guardia for the number of days you'll be there, and you're set. There is also a train/bus combo to Kennedy. Personally, I fly into La Guardia and take the M-60 (a Manhattan bus that swings through Queens and La Guardia) over to the N train at Astoria Blvd. and 30th St. It's several miles, but still in Queens. The train is elevated there. The Metro card works in the buses and the trains. The ones we used on the last trip were for up to 7 days, unlimited use, and cost about $21. That's a good savings if you ride the train a lot when visiting. I think they also have three day cards.

Numbers on streets don't correspond to the cross streets, but according to Map Quest you're staying on West 23rd St at approximately Seventh Avenue. I stay in NYC with a friend who lives at Seventh Avenue and 14th St, so at 42nd St (Times Square) would change from the N to a local train on the 1/2/3 track. There's a stop at 23rd. There are other trains that have stops at 23rd on different avenues, and if you don't mind walking a few blocks, I like waliking from near Union Square, or Sixth Avenue or even Eighth Avenue. Depends on how much luggage and the size of the musical instruments you're carrying if you want to get more adventurous also.

You'll find all of the maps and information at the MTA site. The RTF versions of the maps are marvelous, but they do take a while to download, even on DSL. When you get there ask for maps at any train stations where you see clerks.

I saw an absolutely marvelous air fare last week--$129 round trip from Dallas to NYC, on Northwest Airlines. Regular departures, no wierd days to travel. If I could have thought of an excuse to go, I would have.

SRS