Location, location, location:

In both your convention and housing confirmation packets (which you'll receive in the mail after you register) you'll find lots of detailed information about FIT, the surrounding area, and the convention process itself.

The convention site (Friday evening through Monday) will be on the campus of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

FIT Info:

Registration for convention is in Building C, and registration for housing is at the Residential Life Office in Alumni Hall (210 West 27th Street). Suite housing is in Alumni Hall.

Before you come:

First, of course, don't forget to register for the convention! And if you want to stay in the FIT dorms, register for housing, as well. Also see the links in the sidebar to the left.

You might want to print out and bring along this convention location map and address info page and carry it with you as needed. (You'll also receive more maps and information in your confirmation packet.)

Travel around New York is complex, with many overlapping systems - bus, train, subway, taxi - so we highly recommend you find yourself a good guidebook. The "Lonely Planet" series of guidebooks are generally excellent, and, for our international visitors, they publish in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. Find a guidebook you like, and definitely read it before you come! There are also many websites to help plan your visit.

A detailed map of New York will be helpful if you plan on doing any sightseeing before or after the convention; transportation maps are available at major bus and train stations.

There are bus and subway stations very close to FIT, making it an easy spot from which to launch trips around the city.

And if you think you might need some extra assistance before or during the convention - whether with language, first-timer questions, or any other special requests - please get in touch with us at convention-info [at] origamiusa.org and we'll see if we can help. Please remember that we're all volunteers, and so we cannot guarantee assistance with every special need, but will do our best to accommodate you.

Entering the U.S.

If you'll be coming from outside the United States, remember that Customs and Immigration processes at U.S. ports of entry have becoming increasingly strict; please make sure you understand what paperwork is necessary for travel from your country to the U.S.

See:

Some countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program - from these countries, a visitor's visa is not required. See the U.S. State Departement website for details:

If you are traveling from a country not participating in the Visa Waiver Program, then you will need a visa - and need to allow for sufficient time prior to your departure for visa processing - plan ahead! Some countries require an invitation letter in order to obtain a visa. If you need one, contact convention-info [at] origamiusa.org and we will provide you with an invitation to attend the convention.

Getting to NYC

By air:

New York is served by three major airports, run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

General information on getting to and from the airports is accessible here:

Specific information on each airport, including terminal maps and other details:

By train:

Long-distance, interstate travel by train is served by Amtrak; all Amtrak trains arrive in New York at Pennsylvania Station (abbreviated "Penn Station" by locals; and with station code "NYP" within Amtrak) which is a 4-block walk from FIT. (Map courtesy Amtrak)

If you're coming from the surrounding areas, you have several other choices:

  • Long Island Railroad, serving Long Island, NY, and terminating at Penn Station in Manhattan
  • Metro-North Railroad, directly serving stations East of the Hudson River out of Grand Central Station in Manhattan, and West of the Hudson via connections to New Jersey Transit's Hoboken station.
  • New Jersey Transit, serving stations in New Jersey, with service terminating in Hoboken, New Jersey, and in New York's Penn Station

By bus:

There are a huge number of bus lines running to/from New York, too numerous to list here. Most bus lines use the Port Authority Bus Terminal located between Eighth and Ninth Avenues from 40th to 42nd Street. With luggage, it's a long walk to FIT, but a short taxi ride.

By car:

Driving in New York is, perhaps, famously difficult, and street parking is hard to come by, so we recommend you take public transport to the area if at all possible. (There are a number of parking lots in the area of FIT, but they are very expensive, and sometimes fill up, making finding even paid parking something of a challenge.) If driving is still your best choice, you can use this Google Map to help find directions to FIT.

Getting around NYC, generally:

On foot

Manhattan, in spite of its size, is a very walkable city. The roads are (mostly) laid out in a grid: "Avenues" run approximately North/South, and are either named or numbered; "Streets" run approximately East-West, and are (generally) numbered. Streets are designated "West" if they are west of 5th Avenue, and "East" if they are to the east of it. South of approximately 14th Street the strict grid begins to break down, and navigating is a bit more of a challenge.

Bus, Subway and Train

Public transportation in the city is run by the New York City Transit, part of The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

All parts of Manhattan are easily accessible by bus and subway.

Taxi

New York's famous yellow taxicabs are another very useful option for getting around the city, particularly if you're traveling with a small group. Some information on the cab system in the city, including fare information:

Wheelchair Accessibility

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission provides this information to request demand-responsive wheelchair accessible service. Information is here: