NYC on a Budget: What New York City Has to Offer without Breaking the Bank

I know that being in college should be enough enrichment, but there is so much that we don’t see and don’t get to experience since our time there is limited. New York City has so much history and culture to offer and so many different ways to see and experience it.  One great way to take advantage of this, is to go to the many museums that NYC has to offer. Thankfully many of them are free or you can get discount tickets or a small donation. Let’s take a brief look at some of these fine establishments:

1.  For all you fashionistas out there, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology is always free. There are always new and inspiring exhibitions.  In January they will have fashions from the 1930s and how they were able to overcome the economic crisis when it came to their wardrobe.  Right now they have an exhibition entitled Trend·ology.  The Museum @ FIT says, “Trend-ology examines the diverse sources from which fashion trends have emerged over the past 250 years, including urban street style, art, music, film, and socio-political movements. The exhibition also highlights industry developments that have had an impact on how trends spread.”

Fashion and Technology Exhibition – photo credit : The Museum @ FIT

2. The Museum of Biblical Art seems like a vey interesting place.  No matter your religious beliefs, the art is beautiful and you can interpret it as you like.  There are some beautiful pieces that you can look at for hours and still find new details and there are exhibits with pictures and music so you get the feel that the artists wants.  It is free everyday, so why not stop by when you have nothing else to do, but want to go out?

Abel’s Offer, 1908 by Hans Andersen Brendekilde – photo from MOBIA

3.  For all you economic fans and finance majors, I think its cool that the Federal Reserve Bank of NY is always free as well.  You just have to register ahead of time.  You get to see the vault with all the gold and get to actually see a part of history and a part of the economy. The self-guided visit and the guided tour are both free and you can sign up for these here. I have visited with my high school before and it is a great experience and they gave us a little bag of shredded money.  Believe me, we tried to put it together to make one bill, but sadly we failed. Consider this historical “gold – mine” (ha ha) for your next outing. Just remember to follow the instructions and suggestions when visiting so that you can have a smooth entrance (wouldn’t want to raise any suspicions at the Federal Bank).

picture from newyorkfed.org

4. Of course the infamous MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) is free on Fridays if you enter from 4pm to 8pm. There are so many wonderful exhibits there and they are always changing.

What’s the art? The skeleton or the shadow? (taken by me @ MoMA)

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For more free and discounted museums visit this page and you will have of list of their locations and what days they are free.  Also remember when a museum says that they have a “suggested admission fee” (like the Museum of Natural History which has a suggested general admission of $17 for students and $22 for adults, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art  which has a recommended admission fee of $12 for students and $25 for adults) is exactly what is implies: “suggested” or “recommended”.  I paid $1 a couple of times to get into the Museum of Natural History since I had to write a couple of papers on pieces in the museum. As a struggling student I see no shame in doing this.  If I went now, since I have two jobs, I may give $5, but no where near their “suggested” amounts.

So with this information in mind and a few pointers, I hope you enjoy all the culture and history and art this city has to offer.  Who knows… you may be inspired and be the next Picasso (just remember little ‘ole me when you do)!

So, I am a huge Broadway enthusiast. I love Shakespeare and ballet and any production that I can get into.  Sadly, a lot of these productions are just way over my budget and are usually something I just have to pass up. Fortunately, I have a friend that works in the industry and through his connections, I can get many reduced price or even free tickets to plays and performances.  The most recent one, I got to enjoy last night.  I was able to go see Romeo and Juliet starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad. It was awesome. How often does anyone get to see Orlando Bloom run past them in the aisle or take his shirt off… in person! I was able to go for free, but in my research of the play, I found that they offer student tickets for $20.  I know that is a lot of money if you compare it with cheap lunches, but if you have an interest in theater and the arts, you know that this is a steal.

Seeing that the Richard Rogers Theater offered student tickets to a production with such a celebrity, got me thinking that there must be other places and offers where one can score seats to a great play.  You can use being a student to your advantage.  There are many opportunities out there to get reduced tickets to a great production. Tix4Students.com offers tickets to many different events and venues.  There are even tickets for the Brooklyn Nets if you are a sports fan.  There is a $5 membership fee, but it is worth it.

There is also the ticket booth at Baruch that sells tickets to our productions.  You can find the performance schedule and ticket purchase options here.  Some performances don’t even require a ticket.  So they are completely free.

Groupon also has the option to search for reduced priced theater tickets.  There are many opportunities that are affordable, not only for theater plays but also sports events and comedy shows.

In the end it always goes back to the resources.  We need to know where we can search for things that we want to do with the price tag that we can afford.  Also, calls theaters that are hosting shows that you want to see and ask about student discounts.  Make that school ID work for you 🙂

Now that Halloween is over , the holidays are coming up real soon.  They will be here before you know it.  Don’t let some great opportunities pass you by. Plan a head of time, so that you can fit in as many things as possible before the New Year.

Thanksgiving is a great time to spend with your family, stuffing your face with amazing food until you pass out. In some homes the football games are on, in some the classic “A Christmas Story” is what you’ll see.  In most households, in the morning, before the evening’s festivities, the Thanksgiving Day Parade is on.  This year, instead of watching the parade on TV, skip the commercials and head over to midtown and get the full affect.  Watch the parade in person! When I was younger, my family and I would always head down early in the day to the parade and then come home, put the turkey and pork (thanks to the Latino roots) in the oven and take a nap until dinner time.  The Thanksgiving Day Parade is so magical to see in person.  There are performances by stars we all know and love and there are floats that are built so beautifully with many different characters from our childhoods.  The HUGE GI-NORMOUS balloons of characters are a sight to see in themselves.

The Rockettes at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – taken by Avi Gerver

Of course, to get a good view you do need to get there really early… like 6am early! If you are willing to sacrifice some sleep for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, then you won’t regret it.  If you have never seen the Thanksgiving Day Parade, then I just shed a tear for you. Below is the COMPLETE footage of the 2012 parade.  Please take some time to experience some greatness…

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012

Of course you didn’t see the whole thing, but that’s okay.  Hopefully you’ll see the whole thing in person this year 😉

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Once you are completely broke from Black Friday shopping for your holiday gifts… and of course for yourself, you have no money to spend on Christmas festivities.  Well have no fear, your budget buddy is here! My absolute favorite thing to do close to the Christmas holidays is pay a visit to the infamous Rockefeller Center tree.  It is a magical feeling to see the tree lit and to see it twinkling.  It is so surreal to stand under the tree and feel so small.  It is something I have done every year I live in NYC and I plan on doing this year as well.  Also, don’t miss out on your surroundings when you are there.  Yes… the tree is the main attraction but the smaller details around it make it that much more special.  There are beautiful sculptures blowing trumpets that give the setting that whimsical feel of Christmas. Throughout the night, Saks Fifth Ave puts on a light show on its building with music.  Is it a sight to see and it definitely adds to the experience.  Make sure to save a couple dollars for the roasted peanuts/cashews/almonds.  The smoky scent is going to drive your senses crazy and you will be craving some all night long. Make sure to leave some room for some hot chocolate from Starbucks (my preference, but you can drink whatever you like).

Saks Fifth Ave Lights – borrowed from blogger ifitshipitshere

Make sure to enjoy the holiday season with those you love the most and do what makes you happy 🙂

Whether you love it or you hate it, fall is here and in full effect.  I myself am not a fan of cold weather, but I can appreciate the beauty that comes with the fall season.  The changing of the city’s color scheme and the adapting of the fashion to fit the chilly needs… this is exciting to me.  Walking down the streets in my neighborhood I realized that leaves are changing their colors and even blowing in the breeze in a soft goodbye to summer.  This had me thinking… why not have a picnic in the park.  I know I previously mentioned my first picnic in Central Park, but there are other beautiful in parks in NYC that have not been given the proper attention.

In Washington Heights, there is the beautiful Fort Tryon Park.  There is a beautiful garden at the top and plenty of trails at street level.  There is a tower at the top that has beautiful sight lines of the Hudson River and NJ. If you are someone that likes to hike, the trip to the top of the park is beautiful and once at the top, you are rewarded with breathtaking views and the aromatic sweetness of the season’s flowers in bloom. If not in the mood to hike, the A train has an option of getting off at the bottom or the top of the hill.

Fort Tryon Park Garden – taken by Marcia Garibaldi

Central Park is always a good go-to park since it does offer many different areas with distinct scenery. There is Sheep Meadow that is like a big open field.  And there are different bodies of water that offer beautiful views and some cool bridges. You can plan a picnic surrounded by the tall trees and amazing landscapes, or you can go on a walking tour thanks to a new app that they have.  You can wander around all day long without the fear of falling down the rabbit hole and getting lost forever.

Fall in Central Park – taken by Malcolm Pickney

Although Washington Square Park is a small park, there is always a free show going on.  Surrounded by the artsy NYU community, there are always performers showing off their musical skill, or highly coordinated dancers.  There are even artists that portray a beautiful picture with different colored sand on the cement. You can indulge in some fine NYC cuisine: hot dogs and pretzels. Or you can visit any of the local restaurants.  There are places that can fulfill any craving.  If you take a small walk to St. Marks place, there is the infamous dollar pizza.  In this case you do not get what you pay for: you get SO much MORE.  It is worth it.  Enjoy your food in the park on a blanket or on the benches.  It is a great park to sit down and watch the bustling crowds walk in and out of the park.  It is a piece of tranquility in the middle of a busy area.  Be careful with the NYU students going from class to class: they will run you over!

Washington Sq Park in the Fall – taken by Jeffrey Bary

In order to escape into a completely different world, where you do not even notice you are in New York City, visit Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. It has huge open fields, a fresh water lake, woodsy hiking trails and even an outdoor pool to cool off in those NYC summer heat waves.  This park holds a lot of races because of its laid out track and a lot of sport events since they have many open fields.  There are picnic areas and areas where you can hide out and escape from everyone and everything.  They are even the home of the first public golf course if that tickles your fancy. They have a historical house that you can tour for $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors (children under 12 are free) although Wednesdays are free.

Van Cortlandt Park Lake in the Fall – taken by Malcolm Pickney

All five boroughs have so many different parks with so many different options. I am sure that you can find one that fits you and your interests.  The best thing is that they are all free.  During this season it is great just to take a stroll in the park and take some time out of the hustle and bustle of the city and appreciate what is going on around us.

When I speak to people that are relatively new to New York City, they speak about all these different festivals and free concerts and park events and all the places to see in the city that they have been to.  When thinking about what I have seen, I do not measure up in any way. As a native New Yorker that is always on a budget, I have stopped myself from seeing the city.  I always believed that I had to break the bank in order to enjoy the richness of NYC.

To clarify, when I speak of NYC I am including all 5 boroughs (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island).  Many foreigners believe that NYC only consists of Manhattan, but there is so much more to the city than the little island that hold so much attention.

Now that I finished that rant, I decided that I was going to see more of my beloved city before my final exit.  I lived out of state a couple of times and I have decided that I eventually want to leave, but not before I can say that I have truly seen a large amount of NYC. For the first time last weekend I actually sat down and had a picnic with friends in Sheep Meadow and that made me realize how little of the city I have seen.

When considering what to do next, I needed some means of resource to know where to go next. NY1 news is a handy channel and website to set your attention to, since they have a special segment that tells you about all the free or cheap events that are going on in the five boroughs. They have a handy Community Calendar where you can see all the events going on and you can even add an event if you so wish to share with the rest of us.

This weekend I will be going to the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. There is always free entertainment and if you have some extra bucks, get some funnel cake or fried zeppolis or sausage and peppers.  The possibilities are endless.  I have heard many good things and it doesn’t hurt to try a little Italian food.