Y'all, for the first time ever in my life--and I'm 50--I'm going to New York. I've deliberately avoided it up until now because I'm a deep-down Texas country girl at heart and big, crowded cities with lots of people make me nervous.

But since I'm on the US Women's Kayak Polo Squad, I need to go compete in a competition up there (three words: indoor swimming pool. We will NOT be paddling outside), so I'm going Austin to Newark and back on Friday, the 23rd and returning on Monday.

(San Antonio airport is closer to where we live in the hill country, but they have no non-stops to Newark, the fares are more, and it's not as nice an airport as Austin.)

I think we will be playing in New Jersey and I think I'll stay at a nearby Ramada Inn. I won't have much time, but I will have a little bit on Saturday morning as the competition doesn't start until 2pm.

Any suggestions?

I already know I can't bring el pistolos for self-defense thanks to bliss-ninny-yankee-nanny-state laws up there. But I can take knives, right? Under a certain length?

(And I've got my shave travel stuff down pat--I'm just looking for local tips.)