Question about Chinatown bus lines up to/back from NYC

so here's the deal: I have to be in NYC Thursday for a concert at Irving Plaza..I guess its doors 6:30… the last bus I can find to DC is at 11 pm which I fear is too early.. are there any later ones? I'd really like to be back home that night/early morning.

Looks to me I'll have to kill a few hours and take the 7 am one back putting me in DC at 11 am.

Also can you buy a ticket for the 11 pm and if you miss it simply take the 7 am??


Any good places to kill a few hours on Thursday late night?

I've never dealt with Chinatown buses, but I know Greyhound has real early morning (1AM) buses back to DC from NYC.

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:
I've never dealt with Chinatown buses, but I know Greyhound has real early morning (1AM) buses back to DC from NYC.

hmm. i'm not seeing that.. 1 am would be perfect but i am not seeing that.. i don't think they have that.


whoa score.. MEGABUS mus be what you were thiking of..seems like they have a 1:15 am..perfect.

hutchy for the radiohead show i took the thur 6am bus thru megabus and took the 115am bus back that morning good deal i thought. ;D

wml7 wrote:
hutchy for the radiohead show i took the thur 6am bus thru megabus and took the 115am bus back that morning good deal i thought. ;D

that is a good deal..its $30 total

i'm going to do just that…

my only remaining issue is the venue itself.. never been there….

anybody been to irving plaza? I understand its run by the dark side…

Haven't been to Irving but here are some tips on megabus if you haven't been on it before.  The pickup point is Union Station but not right outside.  It's about a 10 minute walk or so from Union Station.  Also the pickup point in NY is quite a hike away from everything.  The Roseland Ballroom was at like 52nd street and the megabus pickup was at 33rd street.  If your show ends at midnight then you would have no problem making it there, walking wise.  I was way up in front for Radiohead so I had to judo chop and give people elbows to get out of there ASAP or I would have been in there forever  ;D

wml7 wrote:
Haven't been to Irving but here are some tips on megabus if you haven't been on it before.  The pickup point is Union Station but not right outside.  It's about a 10 minute walk or so from Union Station.  Also the pickup point in NY is quite a hike away from everything.  The Roseland Ballroom was at like 52nd street and the megabus pickup was at 33rd street.  If your show ends at midnight then you would have no problem making it there, walking wise.  I was way up in front for Radiohead so I had to judo chop and give people elbows to get out of there ASAP or I would have been in there forever  ;D

all good tips thanks

i will commence judo chop training post kung fu ticketing seminar…


:D

hutch wrote:
anybody been to irving plaza? I understand its run by the dark side…

yup, seen several shows there - waddaya wanna know?

the claimed capacity is the same as the 930's but sight lines aren't as good from the back.  there is a balcony but chunks of it might be reserved to VIPs.  no risers either, so unless you get balcony rail you're probably better off on the floor.  drinks are spendy and bar have been cash only every time i've been.  

irving plaza is just east of union square, so you'll need to metro or taxi it from and to the MBus drop-off.

hutch wrote:

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:
I've never dealt with Chinatown buses, but I know Greyhound has real early morning (1AM) buses back to DC from NYC.

hmm. i'm not seeing that.. 1 am would be perfect but i am not seeing that.. i don't think they have that.


whoa score.. MEGABUS mus be what you were thiking of..seems like they have a 1:15 am..perfect.

That's strange. Both times I've gone to NYC for shows (once from Richmond, once from DC) I've taken 1:00AM buses (Greyhound. Definitely Greyhound) back right after the show. The trip is a bit rough, and sleeping on the bus sucks, but it's been better than having to book hotels and whatnot. Round trip from DC was like 34 bucks.

CAll me crazy, but I can't inagine taking a 1am Greyhound bus from NYC to DC as being better than staying the night in a hotel.

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:

hutch wrote:

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:
I've never dealt with Chinatown buses, but I know Greyhound has real early morning (1AM) buses back to DC from NYC.

hmm. i'm not seeing that.. 1 am would be perfect but i am not seeing that.. i don't think they have that.


whoa score.. MEGABUS mus be what you were thiking of..seems like they have a 1:15 am..perfect.

That's strange. Both times I've gone to NYC for shows (once from Richmond, once from DC) I've taken 1:00AM buses (Greyhound. Definitely Greyhound) back right after the show. The trip is a bit rough, and sleeping on the bus sucks, but it's been better than having to book hotels and whatnot. Round trip from DC was like 34 bucks.

James wrote:
CAll me crazy, but I can't inagine taking a 1am Greyhound bus from NYC to DC as being better than staying the night in a hotel.

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:

hutch wrote:

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:
I've never dealt with Chinatown buses, but I know Greyhound has real early morning (1AM) buses back to DC from NYC.

hmm. i'm not seeing that.. 1 am would be perfect but i am not seeing that.. i don't think they have that.


whoa score.. MEGABUS mus be what you were thiking of..seems like they have a 1:15 am..perfect.

That's strange. Both times I've gone to NYC for shows (once from Richmond, once from DC) I've taken 1:00AM buses (Greyhound. Definitely Greyhound) back right after the show. The trip is a bit rough, and sleeping on the bus sucks, but it's been better than having to book hotels and whatnot. Round trip from DC was like 34 bucks.

crazy  ;D

Oh it's certainly not better.

But I'm cheap.

So it is better.

I have a kid I have to get back for..


but, having said that, hotels in NYC are Expensive man!

Don't take the greyhound 1 am bus…they always overbook. The next one is 4 am. Megabus at 1:15 is the better choice but it stops in philly…

Greyhound sucks. Never again!
Chinatown bus made me think I was going to die throughout the trip.
Megabus are OK but it is still a bus and cramped quarters for that long start to get to me.

I am paying the $45ish each way for train from here on out. Sure, it costs more but the room you get, more comfortable seating, fewer smelly people and expediency are worth it to me.

Irving Plaza has sucky sightlines. As its all ages - people tend to line up early for shows. Most the bars are cash-only but I think theres an ATM on the premises. If youre a fast(ish) walker you can easily get x-town from there and over to Megabus (although I cant remember if their pick up is still on 7th Ave or if theyre on 8th now). Then again - theres some bus that stops at 24th(ish) and B'way. If thats the case - its really close to Irving Plaza.

NQR456L all go into union square - so you can easily make it up there from anywhere downtown. Going x-town is not a good option for late night - best bet is cab or walk. The venue is a LN venue -I avoid it like the plague (not for that reason - but last show I saw there I couldnt see a thing - so rarely go back there).

And if you think the N is a good option to get you back — DONT. Its one of the worst lines- and if Im in a hurry Id never rely on that past 10pm (its my train line - the yellows are horrendous at night).

FYI (I cant remember if youre the one who always posts about the shows you recorded/videos, etc). This place will confiscate cameras quite quickly or at least tell you to put them away.

Tickets subject to all applicable facility fees and service charges. Please note we may cancel any ticket orders that exceed the published ticket limit. Tickets may not be available in all price levels and sections. Small personal cameras are allowed in the venue. Commercial photography, flash photography, professional cameras and recording devices are not permitted.

xneverwherex wrote:
FYI (I cant remember if youre the one who always posts about the shows you recorded/videos, etc). This place will confiscate cameras quite quickly or at least tell you to put them away.

well i don't think I am the one but this happens to be very useful info for me!

if youve got any more specific questions - feel free to PM me. Glad thats of help.

hutch wrote:

xneverwherex wrote:
FYI (I cant remember if youre the one who always posts about the shows you recorded/videos, etc). This place will confiscate cameras quite quickly or at least tell you to put them away.

well i don't think I am the one but this happens to be very useful info for me!

thanks for all the suggestions..

I wanted to add that Irving Plaza blows… they either oversold the show or do this regularly but there were people watching from the lobby! Its like a smaller 930 with worse sightlines- the same amount of people in audience and the second level pretty much every spot with a view was VIP only..perhaps this explains why a 6;30 when doors opened there was a line clear around the block; people knew they had to get in early if they were going to be able to see.. not that i wasn't before but reinforced how grateful i am for the 930… i doubt i'll go back to this venue.

as far as buses..I guess James Ford was onto something.. the megabus was fine on the way up…. but on the way back the 1:15 am was almost torture..took over five hours due to a ridiculous stop- as I'd been warned- in Philly to drop off a few people… the bus was packed too… unpleasant and if I ever do this again I'll come up with something better… also as opposed to the chinatown bus lines i've taken before the megabus drivers seemed dangerous (even though they drove slower!).

on the plus side: great show, got to go backstage and hang with the man himself…..