Here's a nice article on subway systems for you. It says that Akzidenz Grotesk, "precursor to Helvetica" is the one you're looking for.

Thanks Chris,

Thats great, only I don't fancy Akzidenz or Helvetica. It's gotta have some soul because its for a Bar and I want to give it a New York feel. Any modern looking New York style fonts that come to mind. I've never been...

The Empire State Building and a lot of other parts of New York City were built when Art Deco was in vogue. Deco fonts are the most reliable way to say "New York," but be careful they don't say "diner" instead or people might get confused about your bar.

There's this...?

http://www.fontbureau.com/fonts/font_frames.tpl?cart=10740168171328003&fontname=GrandCentral

And then there's a font called "NewYorkerType" from FontFont - based on the famous magazine.

hhp

Hoefler Type's Gotham is a nice example of New York typography, but instead of being source-specific, it's more of a general vernacular look, taken from skyscrapers, office buildings and other urban architecture. It's got a decent range of weights as well, along with a condensed version. There's a helpful article on its origins, as well.

FF Bau has a little more character than Akzidenz or Helvetica. You can get it here.

Wow, how inbred is that? One Carnegie Mellon Alum recommending a typeface designed by another Carnegie Mellon Alum in reference to a post by a third Carnegie Mellon Alum. Pah!

Once my payment clears, the third CMU Alum can post a response to the other CMU Alum while wearing a t-shirt designed by the other CMU Alum, who recommended the typeface designed by another CMU Alum, in reference to the post by the third CMU Alum.

At which point, we'll all be pulled towards Pittsburgh by the sheer self-referential gravity.

Now all we need is Ryan McGinness wearing an Andy Warhol wig and we'll be all set.

Sorry to get off topic. I do that too much.

Giacomo by James Montalbano (Terminal Design). As advertised at Typophile. It's better than retro. He's a New Yorker.

Thanks a million folks
Help was much appreciated.

Sl�n,
Ian

Ian look at one of the splash screens at Typophile, its of a stop at one of the subways. Its name is done in tiling and is very new york. Also depending on your bar graffiti art is a good alternative.

You might be able to pick up a few visual clues about the NY Subway from the pictures here or here.

Graham, I'm gonna waste serious time over there.

I've got some shots taken at the NY Transit museum of vintage NYC Subway signage. I will post them when I get a chance.

MTA keeps typophiles on their toes by mixing Akzidenz and Helvetica. My wife is getting good at telling the difference (she is a patient with my neurosis). They also toss in Franklin Gothic for spice, but only on posters. � R

Ian,

I've lived in NYC a very long time, and I think it is fair to say that you will not be able to sum up the city with a single typeface, or visual style. The only way to proceed in branding your Bar is to be very specific.

5th Avenue, Subway, Neighborhood Bodega, Art Deco, Lower East Side, West Village, Chelsea, 14th Street, etc.

Sweet. My goal is to lower the world productivity rate by 25 percent.

I spent like an hour last night reading on one of those sites about why there are no mole people in the NYC subway.