NEW YORK ON THE CHEAP

A common conception of New York City is that it is expensive. This is not true - at least it doesn't have to be. With a little bit of sleuthing and common sense, you can survive in the Big Apple comfortably with plenty to eat, do, and see. And when you are lonely, there are always the skyscrapers, the rivers, the museums, and the sheer number of people to keep you company.

First of all, I love that water is free. You never have to pay to keep hydrated because tap water is filtered and meets all drinking water quality standards. For reading, there's Strand Bookstore and The New York Public Library and all its branches in the city. You just have to have a NY address to get a card. I've taken to visiting the NYU library for study time and an excuse to walk through the beautiful Washington Square Park.

Just the other day, I went bike riding in Central Park with my friend L and her brother who was visiting. You can rent beach cruisers for just $9/hour, and $5 thereafter. Afterwards, we saw a bunch of paparazzi outside the Boathouse - we thought it might have been Katherine Heigl filming 27 Dresses II - but they were waiting for Kelly Ripa. Next time I'll try the tandem bike or even rent a boat ($10/hr).

Lunch Specials and Happy Hours: the not-so-well-kept secret of a student. Check out the Spice (Thai) Restaurants and Benny's Burritos (another misconception: we DO have decent Mexican food!). Some bars even give complimentary snacks with your booze. Example: Meatballs at Spain Restaurant in the Village. Pizzas at Crocodile Lounge of course, and hot dogs at Rudy's. Free popcorn is my favorite.

Before I give everything away, I'll just say that summer's a great time to be here. There's always a street festival or some sort of outdoor concert going on. There were screenings at The 3rd Annual Food Film Festival and look - free swag! A nice lunch bag and some items that related to the shorts we were watching at the Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City.


xo, C

Other resources:
New York Magazine's Cheap Guide NYC
Cheap Eats from Citysearch
MoMA's Target Free Fridays
NYCgo.com
Music performance schedule at Prospect Park