Helpful information about the Beyond the Bars Conference, the surrounding area, and fun things to do!
Hotel Suggestions
We do not have any conference specific discounts in the area but Columbia does have some negotiated discounted rates for visitors that you can explore here. They also have a list of recommendations of hotels in the area.
Airports
The major airports in NYC are Newark International Airport (Newark, New Jersey), JFK International Airport (Queens, NY), and LaGuardia Airport (Queens, NY). LaGuardia is the closest airport to where the conference will take place.
Transit options from airports:
JFK: The JFK AirTrain will take you to the subway, bus lines, and Long Island Railroad. Here is the AirTrain map. If you are coming to the area near the conference, you will most likely take the A train all the way to 125th street. But you can put your address into your google maps and it will give you step by step transit directions. You can expect this will take about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes to get to your destination if it is in Manhattan.
LaGuardia: There is no subway line to LaGuardia, only buses. If you are coming into the city/where the conference is, you will most likely take the M60 SBS (select bus service). This will take around 45 minutes to an hour depending on the time of day. Please note that you must either get a ticket from the machines outside where the buses pick up or use apple pay on the bus and have proof of payment as MTA transit officers may come through to check for payment. Here is detailed information on the bus lines out of LaGuardia. You must request your bus stop by pulling on the yellow cord or pressing the “stop” button on the railings. You can follow along in your google maps so you know when your stop is approaching.
Newark: Newark is a little more complicated and will take around an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half to get to the area of the conference. You will take the Newark AirTrain to the last stop, the Newark Airport Train Station. Here is the AirTrain map. You will then either purchase a ticket on your phone through the NJ Transit app or at the kiosks once you go up the escalators. You will purchase a ticket to New York Penn Station, which is the last stop on the train (please note that there is also a Newark Penn Station so do not get off at that stop, they sound similar over the announcements). The train to Penn Station usually picks up on Track A or Track 1. Look at the schedule on the screens for more information. Once you get to New York Penn Station you can then take a few train lines from there. If you are coming to the area of the conference you will most likely take the 1 train. Or follow the directions from your google maps.
Taxis: there are taxis lines and Uber/Lyft pickups areas at each airport. Cost varies greatly but LaGuardia will most likely be the cheapest as it is the closest.
MTA subway and buses: Google or Apple maps will give you step by step transit directions anywhere in the city. The MTA app will also and show you the status of the buses and trains.
Transit information:
The easiest way to pay for the train and buses is “tap to pay” with your phone or physical debit/credit card. NYC now uses the OMNY system and has machines in the station where you can purchase an OMNY card if you do not wish to use your phone or card to pay. Subway and buses cost $2.90 and you can go as far as you want in the city for the same price. When you use tap to pay, if you use the same card or phone, it will calculate how many trips you take, and if you take 12 trips before the week is up, the rest of your trips for the week will be free. Here is the FAQs for OMNY.
Columbia School of Social Work is about a 7-10 minute walk from the 1, A, B, C, D train (125th Street stop) and the M11 and M60 buses (there are other bus lines within walking distance as well).
Neighborhood suggestions
Note: These suggestions are for the area around where the conference will take place, which is in Upper Manhattan/Harlem/Washington Heights.
Restaurants:
Massawa (Gluten free and vegan options)*
Nikko Hibachi
The Expat (Gluten free and vegan options)*
El Porton Mexican Grill
Falafel on Broadway
Subs Conscious
Yemeni Restaurant
Sylvia’s*
Blvd*
Harlem Shake*
Tsion Cafe (fully vegan, kosher, with gluten free options)*
Uptown Veg (fully vegan)*
Fumo (Gluten free and vegan options)
Sottocasa Pizzeria Harlem (Gluten free options)
Red Rooster*
Melba’s*
Bars and Jazz Clubs:
Harlem Tavern
Harlem Public
At the Wallace
The Honey Well
Harlem Hops
Minton’s Playhouse
Bill’s Place
Harlem Late Night Jazz website
Cool things to do:
Visit the Apollo Theatre
Visit the National Jazz Museum
Take a picture at Eddie Ellis Way (W 151st Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd)
Visit the Schomburg Center for Black Research and Culture
Visit Abyssinian Baptist Church
Stroll St. Nicholas Park
Visit El Museo Del Barrio
Visit Classical Theatre of Harlem
Visit Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market
Walk Through City College’s Campus
Harlem Swing Dance Society to learn about the history of the lindy hop and how Harlem is preserving it https://www.facebook.com/@HarlemSwingDance/
Explore Central Park’s North End–Harlem Meer, Gottsman Rink, Butterfly Gardens, Gate of the Exonerated, Duke Ellington statute
Cool shops:
Word Up Bookstore or Recirculation*
Coffee shops/cafes:
I Like It Black*
The Oma Shop*
Ginjan Cafe*
NBHD Brulee*
Sugar Hill Creamery*
Sipsteria
Kuro Kuma
Max Caffè
*Known to be Black/POC owned or co-owned