Being a big fan of Chuck Close's artwork, this sleek 86th St. Second Avenue station provides…read moreexceptional large format tile mosaics of his portraits, worthy of a museum. These images employ those photorealism to pixelated techniques he used in his paintings. You may recognize the iconic faces he captured of Philip Glass, Lou Reed, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, Alex Katz, Pozsi B. Color, Cecily Brown, his own self-portrait in the center of the mezzanine, plus others. Worth a stop if you want to admire some of the great public art created to make everyone's subway ride more enjoyable. Oh, and this 86th St. 2nd Ave. subway station is also easy to get in and out of too!

I've never written a review for the subway, but I'm so happy with this station, I can't help…read moremyself. If you're getting on in age and/or have mobility limitations, the 86th Street 2nd Avenue stop is a game changer. We recently moved to the neighborhood. The first time I got off at the station I couldn't believe our good luck. Train tracks are way below street level -- I've never seen such a subterranean line -- but a series of steep escalators take you all the way to the top. (I think of the Queens Plaza station where I'm inevitably huffing and puffing with all the steps.) The station is clean. The graphics on the wall are beautiful. (Sorry, no photos. Look at someone else's review.) As it's the second stop going south, you'll likely get a seat. And the officers I've spoken to who monitor the turnstiles are actually friendly! BTW, if you're senior, remember to apply for half-priced fare. (There are some advantages of old age!)

The station itself is nothing spectacular, there's an uptown bound train the stops on the east side…read moreof the street on 3rd Ave, (meaning you need to enter on the east side) you can't cross over within the station to the downtown bound side on the west side of the street. The opposite is true of the downtown train. For cleanliness--i wouldn't suggest the 5 second rule if you drop anything here or on any public transit surface in NYC for that matter, ie. comparable to most subway stations. The one bright spot is mosaic artwork by painter Robert Kushner, titled Four Seasons Seasoned installed during renovations to the station in 2003-4, alluding to four depictions of flowers associated with each of the four seasons. Parts of this installation are visible on the overhead decoration as you pass the turnstiles and down several stairs to each platform, both on uptown and downtown platforms. The flowers use soft tones with gold trimming, and look like they belong next to a Gustav Klimt painting, a little out of place on a dingy subway platform, though adds a splash of beauty to an otherwise grey (from dirt and dust) and monotonously designed subway platform. For more info on this mosaic: https://www.mta.info/agency/arts-design/collection/4-seasons-seasoned https://www.robertkushnerstudio.com/4-seasons-seasoned-robert-kushner

This stop only serves the 6 line. You have to make when you are entering the station, you enter in…read morethe direction you need to go, Uptown or Downtown. You won't be able to cross over once you swipe thru. The entrance and exit is only in the middle of the platform as well.

The 86th Street Subway Station is a useful transfer point between Express and Local Lexington…read moreAvenue Line trains (i.e., 4,5,6) and will be easier to navigate once the accessibility upgrades are completed. That being said, having just dealt with no local Downtown trains from 125th Street due to track work, it would have been useful to have an in-station transfer crossover between Downtown and Uptown lines to allow returning to a station in-between. Czech artist Peter Sis designed the 86th St. station's 2004 bright, playful tile mosaics entitled "Happy City," which utilizes large eyes and circles, as well as incorporates stars, buildings, city folk, birds, assorted winged animals, and (my favorite) a flying winged Guggenheim Museum! It's fun to look at!

Popular train station in a central area. Many stores and food options near this area. The train…read morestation isn't clean and booths don't always have workers in them but it's easy to walk around and know where you need to go

This modern, bright 72nd St. Second Avenue station, for now serviced mainly by the Q train,…read moreprovides for your pleasure the fantastic 2017 mosaics entitled "Perfect Strangers" are based on the photographs of Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz. Those life-size characters, mostly joyful and in somehow recognizable situations, portrayed provide color and images to connect with throughout the station's entrance zone and mezzanine. Muniz exceptionally captures them like Norman Rockwell, and it's like they are standing there next to you. In addition, the street level entrance glass canopy incorporates images of a flock of birds. All in all, this station's public art is just fun to look at! This 72nd St. 2nd Ave. subway station, ADA compliant like the other new stations, is easy to get in and out of too!

MTA 72 Street Q line is still one of my favorites. It's spacious and clean with easy access to the…read morestreet. It's been my experience that the trains run on time. Naturally the tile work is maintained and just as beautiful as when the station opened. Five Stars easily.

The Six Train was always home to me. I don't take it as much these days since the Q train opened…read more It is convenient to and from my doctors office. The way they keep me coming back I'll be using this station more again. I know it's not a great station but it's historic to me. It's always the feeling I get when I'm entering the station. I know I'm home. I always felt secure because there's always been employee in the booth if I had a question. I didn't look to see today if there was someone on duty. I heard they were all going to be placed working on the platforms now! I'm not recommending one way or another. This station is a necessity so take the train and come see me. Plus I like that it has the look of a classic old school train station.

NYC has a phenomenal subway system. Took the 6 to the 4 to Yankee Stadium. For free, also received…read morea dissertation on how awful and evil the Rockefellers are from a crazy old man

This Lexington Avenue / 63rd St. station, provides in-station service for the Q train and various…read more6th Avenue trains bound for Roosevelt Island and Forrest Hills / Jamaica in Queens (either M or F, depending on when you're traveling). It also has provides free out-of-station transfers via a short walk to the Lexington Avenue / 59th Street Station with both local and express Lexington Avenue Line trains (i.e., 4,5,6) plus the remainder of the Broadway line trains which also head to various points in Queens. [Keep in mind, which lines service this station can be particularly confusing because MTA shifts service for here due to time of day, weekday vs. weekend, maintenance work, etc., etc.!] Nevertheless, with the opening of Phase 1 of the Second Avenue line in 2017, MTA added absolutely beautiful public artwork throughout its 3rd Ave access entitled "Elevated" by Korea-born artist Jean Shin, incorporating urban imagery capturing the essence and emotion of 20th century New York. Wow! It's hard for me to decide which section is my favorite: The street level entrance of girders being built into a sky level construction of an elevated train line, the mezzanine with early 20th century black & white photo style figures under the light blue silhouette of the elevated; or both train platform levels' colorful panels reminiscent of the period view from atop the elevated tracks a la D.A. Pennebaker's film "Daybreak Express" (which captured a trip along the 3rd Avenue El before it was torn down). Each level of Shin's masterpiece is worth checking out! Note - This Lexington Avenue / 63rd Street subway station, is ADA compliant, making it easy to get in and out! That's particularly helpful, given the importance of this location for offices, shopping and other stuff!

MTA at 63rd is one of my favorite stations to take the subway home. I love the tiles and the…read morestation is always clean. The trains come quick and there's plenty of police presence these days. If I'm shopping, tired and ready to get home fast then this is as good as it gets!!

This modern, bright 96th St. Second Avenue station, for now the uptown terminus of the Q train,…read moredisplays for the public 2017 sleek, bold, massive blues and white art piece entitled "Blueprint for a Landscape" by Sarah Sze, an American artist and Columbia University professor. This extensive work is visible throughout the station including along outside fare control down the stairs and into the 96th St. entry plus along the mezzanine. Evoking designs of architect blueprints and other renderings, Sze's images also convey motion, particularly in the inner mezzanine where it focuses on a storm of white papers against the blue background. It all keepis this station vibrant and worth a visit. This 96th St. 2nd Ave. subway station, ADA compliant, is as well easy to get in and out of too!

To get to Yorkville take the Q train to 96 St. This station has escalators, elevators, and…read morebathrooms. You can see artwork created by Sarah Sze in this station.

For most this is a station close to Central park. For me however, I was changing trains so never…read morepopped up to see what was above ground. It was you basic but large subway station. Predictably was average in terms of dirt and oddly much much warmer than any of the others I used during my 3 day stay. Aside from that its another station

I was SO happy when this opened the Q and I absolutely love the escalator service in and out, then…read moreagain to go down to the subway level. There is also an elevator on the SE corner of 86th and 2nd! Wonderful!! There is WiFi service in the station, and plenty of kiosks to get tickets. Not manned, but there are blue light kiosks for emergencies. Everytime I step on the Q, I swear the cleaning team has just stepped out the other door. Every morning it is freshly mopped and I want to be sure they know how appreciative I am and I spoke to others who agreed with me while we sat there. Masks are required, for good reason - too many people in a closed subway car - I wish everyone ALWAYS wore masks on there!!

The 68th Street-Hunter College Station on the Lexington Avenue Local Line (6 at all times and 4 at…read morenight) offers a great perch to watch the trains through the expansive windows at the Mezzanine crossover sitting area! It's easy to use, being ADA compliant, and also has colorful artwork within the station. African American artist Lisa Corinne Davis employs layered representations of maps in these 2024 public art mosaic murals taken from her paintings made of a combination of glass smalti, engraved glass cakes with color infill, and hand-painted glass. Before you enter fare control is "Tempestuous Terrain" and on the Mezzanine, flanking both stairs down the platforms are "Liminal Location." They're all worth checking out when you stop to take a moment to enjoy the trains passing by below!

To get to Hunter College take the 6 train to 68 St. You can check out the mosaics created by artist…read moreLisa Corinne Davis.

My local subway station the Q entrance at 94th street has finally gotten rid of the horrible…read morescaffolding that was covering it forever and a day. Multiple working escalators here but no elevator. There is usually a food cart next to the entrance where you can score a bottle of water for a dollar. A new deli market recently opened next to it. Also, at this entranceway this is no MTA booth here being manned and usually no staff guarding the turnstiles. I've viewed many people not paying and hopping over or crawling under the turnstiles over the years.

MTA East 94th Street Q remains a mess on the west side of Second Avenue. The East Side Entrance and…read moreExit is improved. There's a Heavenly Market/Deli opening soon. There's also a Public Space area. The food carts are still doing a good business on this side of the street too. When I was there today people were waiting in line at my favorite vendor. I used to get a Raisin Free Muffin from him. I'll be adding the new market when it opens. For the commuters you can't miss the market. It butts right up close to the train escalators!