<p>We are going to NYC Nov 7-11, and we spent all our money on a hotel. I’ve already reviewed previous threads. This time, though, I’m looking for stuff to do that is relatively inexpensive. We’ve been there before, and have done most of the typical tourist stuff. So this time I’m looking for things I might have missed the first time around.</p>
<p>They don’t have to be free, but money will be a concern. Central Park is always fun, but we’ve seen most of it. We’ve also already seen the toy piano, taken the Ellis Island ferry, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge…</p>
<p>We haven’t done any museums, so I might spring for one - but which one is best value for money? Frick? Museum of Natural History? Something else? (We’ll skip the modern art - just about anything else goes.) I’ve never been in any of the stores, besides the toy stores - are any others worth it if I’m not buying - just to say I’ve been there?</p>
<p>I want to go see the Lincoln Center exhibit at the Library. And we will attend a recital at Juilliard. Both of those are free. What else? I like “culture” but I also like merry-go-rounds and zoos and historical places… </p>
<p>The hotel serves breakfast, but other good restaurant suggestions (good as in decent, but less expensive) are welcome. I imagine I will end up cooking at least one meal in S’s apartment - he says he wants a homecooked meal. I think he owns one pot and a frying pan…</p>
<p>The Frick is amazing. And small enough that you can see everything in it, without rushing, in a couple of hours. (If you have any young children, keep in mind that you have to be 10 years old to be admitted. I remember how excited my son was when he reached that age and knew he’d be allowed to go!) But the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the equal of any large museum I’ve ever been to. The Museum of Natural History is obviously a very different kind of museum. It all depends on what you like!</p>
<p>We were there last weekend. We had a nice dinner, not too expensive at a Greek Restaurant called Kefi, on Columbus near 84th st. I would definitely eat there again.
Try to make reservations, they were busy on Saturday evening.</p>
<p>I have a book that recommends the backstage tour of the Metropolitan Opera House, it’s not too expensive. Try looking at their website for details. I want to do it the next time we go.</p>
<p>We love to shop at Zabar’s, this time we discovered the second floor! Didn’t know they had one.</p>
<p>I spent a day in NYC with my oldest son last week. We went to the huge Public Library, then to Grand Central Station and the markets inside, lunch was going to be at the Soup Restaurant where some Seinfeld episodes played, but ate instead at another soup place that WAS open across the street. Our next to last stop was the MOMA (which you said you don’t want to see) and then dinner with my daughter at a great little Italian restaurant that I’ve been to a few times. I really really wanted to go to the Tenement museum [Tenement</a> Museum—New York City Tenement Museum](<a href=“http://www.tenement.org/]Tenement”>http://www.tenement.org/) but it was a cold, rainy day and I wanted to stay mid-town. We live close enough so we’ll do that another time.</p>
<p>Research the museums you’re interested in visiting - many have “voluntary” admission not “required” admission costs. When I was freelancing I would go to museums in the summer to cool off and pay very little. The High Line is great as is the Tenement Museum, both already suggested. Little Italy and Chinatown are fun and cheap, you can also venture into the boroughs - Arthur Avenue in the Bronx for great Italian food for example. There’s more to do in NYC for free than for any amount of money in other cities - just do a little research!</p>
<p>The Met can be free if you are just assertive enough not to pay their ‘recommended’ admission at the desk.</p>
<p>I found the High Line threadbare. Some planks on top of a railroad with some wildflowers planted on the side. The concept is far more substantive than the visuals. </p>
<p>I think you should walk neighborhoods - Broadway on the Upper West, the East Village, the Lower East Side, Brooklyn Heights, Chelsea.</p>
<p>Exactly. The Met is supported by the city, and you can pay as little as you like (or nothing) for admission. The same is true for the Museum of Natural History.</p>
<p>Yep, as others have said, you do NOT have to pay the suggested donations. I always feel compelled to explain at the Met when I don’t-“I’m just meeting a friend for a drink in the roof garden,” Or “I can only stay for an hour” or whatever. But when you are in a large group, don’t even think twice. </p>
<p>Free stuff? One of my very favorite places in NYC is the research library --the famous one at 42nd &Fifth with the lions out front. Check at the [The</a> New York Public Library](<a href=“http://www.nypl.org%5DThe”>http://www.nypl.org) site. There are tours of the building which are free and interesting. There is often a really interesting exhibit in the hallway of the third floor–you can find out on-line. You may luck out and be here when some interesitng talks are going to happen–they do cost, but usually not much. </p>
<p>I am embarrassed to admit that I’ve never been there, but there is a special performing arts library. Since that seems to be your field of interest, check that out. </p>
<p>I don’t know if you have any little ones in your party–nobody under 10 in the Frick, unless the rules have changed. </p>
<p>There’s also a tour of Grand Central Station, which I THINK is still free. You can check times on-line. Just walking through the food market there–not to be confused with the food court–is fun. </p>
<p>For looking but not buying, Bergdorf . If you want to see dresses for $12,000–which is silly to me–take a look on the designer floor. </p>
<p>If anyone likes to draw or is otherwise artistic, go see Pearl Paint --the selection is AMAZING-- and have fun looking at the stores in Chinatown. </p>
<p>Ride the tram to Roosevelt Island–your metrocard will work and if you buy one for X # of rides you’ll get a free transfer. The views are nice. </p>
<p>The last time we were in New York for a day, my wife and daughter spent about 90 minutes in the perfume section of the Saks flagship on 5th Avenue opposite Rockefeller Center. It is one of two stores in America that has a full line of Chanel scents – not just standbys like #5, #19, Coco, but obscurities like #31 and #28 – maybe 15-20 total. I was there for a while, too; it was interesting and impressive. Your son may not fully appreciate it, though.</p>
<p>I spent most of that time at the Librairie Francaise in Rock Center, but I think it closed its doors for good at the end of September. It was already very threadbare then, in late July. Very sad – it was the last remaining original tenant there, over 60 years. And, in the days before Amazon, a visit there was pretty much the only way I ever got to buy books in French or Spanish that don’t get assigned for college classes.</p>
<p>Museums: For heaven’s sake, if you have never been to the Met, and you have some time, go there. Come on! It’s the greatest art museum in this hemisphere! Don’t try to see it all in one visit, though.</p>
<p>And I don’t know what exactly you mean by “modern art”, but the Museum of Modern Art is also a breathtaking (if pricey) experience. Do you really not like the Impressionists? There’s a lot to love there.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies so far - I’ll look a bit closer later. Just finished with my piano students and now need to come up with some supper.</p>
<p>For the record - only H will be with me, and occasionally S. No little kids. I actually like art museums a lot. When we lived in Germany we visited art museums everywhere we went. But my family just doesn’t appreciate the really “modern” art - really random stuff that left us scratching our heads, like the sculpture made out of urinals. </p>
<p>Don’t know a thing about the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, but I do like impressionists - especially the ones that looks dabby up close, but morphs into some amazing things when you back up a bit, and everytime you see it, you find something else. If that’s what is at MMOMA, I’d probably like it.</p>
<p>We do like to walk, but I wanted some destinations because my knees are only good for about 2 hours at a time. And I have no idea what kind of weather to expect.</p>
<p>Violadad - As I recall, it was a fairly small pot and frying pan, since I had to fit them in his suitcase. I also packed a cutting board, a cookie sheet, and a casserole dish (which doubles as a mixing bowl, I am told.) I expect to eat out a lot. Although I’d love to cook up a few meals for his freezer.</p>
<p>The Cloisters is my favorite place. I can’t remember if the admission was required or suggested, but it was worth it to me. My H and both sons enjoyed it as well.</p>
<p>MOMA has a fabulous gift shop, the kind of place that even dedicated non-shoppers will like. Free to look, though it might end up costing you in the end.</p>
<p>I’ve heard there are excellent walking tours in Harlem, maybe longer than works for your knees. You could also visit the part of the Met museum that’s at the northern end of Manhattan, the one that looks like a castle. We did a nice self-guided and free walking tour of Morningside Heights, looking at Grant’s Tomb and the Cathedral Church of St. John and stopping for hungarian pastries along the way. The Manhattan chowhound board has a lower east side walking tour. Add on the Doughnut Plant if you do this.</p>
<p>I agree with the museum suggestions. But if you want REALLY cheap fun I can suggest sitting at the Battery watching traffic on the Hudson … or take the Staten Island ferry across New York Harbor … or shop street vendors outside the old Customs House … or people watch in Grand Central Station (or 42nd Ave if you’re so inclined) …</p>
<p>Adding to pageturner’s post…
We do a Lower East Side noshing tour
In addition to Economy Candy, we make stops at the Doughnut Plant, Kossar’s Bialys and the Pickle Guys. Kossar’s and Pickle Guys are probably closed on Saturdays… :)</p>
<p>Just to clarify, there are two museums: [The</a> Metropolitan Museum of Art](<a href=“http://metmuseum.org%5DThe”>http://metmuseum.org), one of the great museums of the world, and [url=<a href=“http://moma.org%5DMoMA%5B/url”>http://moma.org]MoMA[/url</a>], which is the Museum of Modern Art (and also world-famous). I also second a trip to the Cloisters, if you’re at all interested in medieval art and sculpture, or just want to visit a very peaceful and beautiful place. Because it’s part of the Met, you can also pay as little as you like.</p>
<p>Re: museums in NYC – another vote for the Tenement Museum, it’s really very special. There are also are several really amazing exhibitions on right now: Monet waterlilies at MoMA, Kandinsky at the Guggenheim, Vermeer at the Met, and an important Lincoln show at the N-Y Historical Society. Something for everyone in that selection…</p>
I’ve already reviewed previous threads. This time, though, I’m looking for stuff to do that is relatively inexpensive. We’ve been there before, and have done most of the typical tourist stuff. So this time I’m looking for things I might have missed the first time around.</p>