47th-50th street rockefeller center (B/D/F/M)

So even just looking at the name of the station you know this is another hard one... it spans 4 blocks right off the bat! Although, the reason this is a tricky one has more to do with the fact that it's a combination of a large complex that is the Rockefeller Center and the subway station itself. It's hard to draw the line between which is part of the station and which isn't, since there are a few spots underground where the station mezzanine connects directly to the buildings above ground, and some of them connect to concourses. I'll take more pictures next time!

47-50th Street Rockefeller Center sketch

47-50th Street Rockefeller Center sketch

LEARNING FROM TOKYO

I went travelling in Tokyo back in February, and I was intrigued and inspired to see how graphics and information work in their subway system.

Even though I took on the quest to illustrate NYC's subway stations in 3D drawings, I have come to realize that because of the intricacy and complexity of the stations, a single drawing that shows one entire station often proves hard to understand. Therefore I have been looking for ways to represent the stations and directions in bite-size, easy-to understand information for subway riders.

In Tokyo, each train car has a digital display that shows the number of the car, the train's travel direction, as well as the location of escalators and elevators on the platform. Some of them also show transfer directions. My friend Ana told me that it was invented by a mom who could never get home on time because she was always lost in the stations - I find it very clever and helpful - comprehensive yet easy to understand!

NEW PRINTS ARE HERE!!

I am excited and proud to share that the new batch of four prints are finally here! This batch includes four stations from downtown: Delancey Street - Essex Street (F / M / J / Z), Chambers Street - Park Place - World Trade Center (A / C / E / 2 / 3), Chambers Street - Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall (J / Z / 4 / 5 / 6), and Bleecker Street - Broadway - Lafayette Street (B / D / F / M / 6). I have to say, once the stations are not on numbered streets and avenues, I found it way harder to wrap my head around things - but I did it!

Check them out in our gallery and shop page! Apply promo code DOWNTOWN to get 10% off all orders.

 
Delancey - Essex

Delancey - Essex

Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall

Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall

Broadway - Lafayette

Broadway - Lafayette

World Trade Ceter

World Trade Ceter

Stations, Escalators, and High Fives

Like other stations on 53rd street, the 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue station is a really deep one. Look at the sketch and the numbers I wrote down, there are 5+ sections of stairs of 15 steps each that lead you to the E/M tracks - that's more than 3 stories in one run of escalator (and that only brings you to the mezzanine! You'll have to go up one more to reach ground). 

Giant Escalator in 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Giant Escalator in 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Sketch of Stair and  Escalator in 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Sketch of Stair and  Escalator in 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

And then I suddenly thought to myself, that looks familiar - that's where the "imrpov everywhere" people did the "high five escalator"! 

This is another example of how understanding these circulation spaces in the stations can offer so many interesting opportunities.

And when you reach the top of it, there is a really beautiful, yellow mural on a curvy wall:

Mural at 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Mural at 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Mural at 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Mural at 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Sketch of Mezzanine Level at 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

Sketch of Mezzanine Level at 53rd Street - Lexington Avenue Station

W TRAIN!

The W train has been back in service since November this year and I finally found the time to update my graphics accordingly. R and W run local on the outside while N and Q run express on the inside. Check them out in our Shop page! 

Times Square N / Q / R / W lines

Times Square N / Q / R / W lines

Apply discount code BYE2016 for 15% off on all orders.

WORK IN PROGRESS - FULTON STREET STATION

This weekend I made it to the Fulton Street station. It was special to me because this is the station which inspired me to do this project in the very beginning. I no longer work in that area so it has been a while since I went down there... somehow it's even more complicated than I remember!

Snapshot from Mezzanine

Snapshot from Mezzanine

Fulton Street Station Sketch 1

Fulton Street Station Sketch 2

And needless to say I have to go back...

34th ST HERALD SQUARE STATION EXPLAINED – HOW TO GET TO KOREAN TOWN

Midtown is one of the busiest areas in Manhattan, especially during rush hours, with all the people, cars, and bicycles going full speed in every direction, it could be annoying and sometimes dangerous to walk around there. 

The 34th Street Herald Square station is big – it spans three blocks north-south, from 32nd to 35th street, and it’s at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Broadway. Now if you want to avoid all the hustle and bustle on the streets, getting out of the exit closest to your destination is the key. It will not only make your life easier but also save you some precious time!

I personally go there a lot for Korean food (Seoul Garden is my go-to for get-togethers.. kalbi and tofu soup is the perfect combo!). And so I decided make a diagram to illustrate the most efficient way to get out of it:

How to get to Korean Town in NYC
Disclaimer: Drawing is not to scale and only shows the approximate and relative location of things

WHERE YOU ARE GOING

Korean town (a.k.a. the “Korea Way”) is the block on 32nd street between 5th and Broadway. The closest subway exit is on the NE corner of 32nd and Broadway. To get there, simply follow the red dotted line in the diagram, or follow these instructions:

Korea Way (image source)

IF YOU CAME FROM THE B / D / F / M LINE

1.  First, no matter where you are, walk to the far south end of the platform.* 
2. Go up the stairs, to the mezzanine. There, you will see a bunch of turnstiles, but do NOT go out of them. Instead, look for the N / Q / R sign and follow it, and go up the stairs:

Follow this red arrow

Go up these stairs

3. Then you will be on the upper mezzanine level. Now go through the turnstiles, and go to the exit on your far left. There is a sign that says “32nd Street and Broadway NE Corner”. That’s your exit!

This is the exit closest to Korean Town!

IF YOU CAME FROM THE N / Q / R LINE

  1. Go to the far south end of the platform and go up the stairs.*
  2. Go to step 3 of above.

* If figuring out which way south is isn’t intuitive to you, do this: if you were on an uptown train, walk opposite to the direction the train is going, and vice versa :P

And that's it! Once you find that exit and get out of it, it's all the glorious Korean food waiting for you. Yum!