Exciting. Busy. Loud. Fun. Crowded. You may think any of these things
when you think about New York City. But only for the rare individual (who
is unlikely to be reading this right now) does the word “cheap” spring to
mind in reference to this bustling metropolis.
Admittedly, NYC is no mecca for budget travel. Club cover can be $20 even
before heading to the bar, and a movie for two costs the same. Dining,
hostels, entertainment all take their toll… and there’s nowhere to pitch a
tent to save those extra American dollars.
So what’s the good news, you ask?
Welcome to Summer ’99 in New York: Season o’ Free Shit. (This is not a
Giuliani-endorsed official motto). Thanks to benevolent donations, selfless
volunteers and shameless corporate sponsorship, visitors and residents
alike are virtually bombarded with entertainment in these summer months.
From the first warm days of June until the last die-hard Great Lawn tanners
pack up their bikinis in September, various organizations provide a
landslide of festivities — and all for nothing or close to it.
Sure: the streets are scorching, the subway platforms steam, and crystal
blue beach fronts elude us… but where else can you spend a week enjoying
Brazilian rock, string quartets, and Shakespeare, all while conserving funds
for more critical things like Pete’s Wicked Summer Brew?
To kick off July, the first weekend brings Independence Day. Banish all
thoughts of that embarrassing movie (in which the U.S. leads the rest of the
world – represented by confused generals in funny hats and tribesmen
throwing spears – against alien invasion… ahhh, America) and grab a spot
by the East River for the Macy’s fireworks display. There will be assorted
concerts at South Street Seaport on Friday and Saturday at 7pm, and Sunday
at 3 and 6pm. Luscious Jackson will perform on Central Park’s Summerstage
at a free show that is sure to be packed.
Celebration is not reserved for the 4th, however… the well-informed can
find a free event almost any day of July. More complete listings are
available at NY.com and
but here is a sampling of the best:
Shakespeare in the Park – Until July 11, the company will be performing
Taming of the Shrew on Tuesday through Sunday at 8pm. Tickets are free (2
per person) and are available at the Delacorte Theater in the park at 1pm,
or from 1-3pm at Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street. Thousands of New
Yorkers enjoy this performance each summer, so in the ticket line during the
last few days forms hours before the box office opens.
For a slight variation, try Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot, offering
slightly more, um… unconventional, but also complimentary, performances of
Richard III in the Ludlow Street parking lot. Shows are Wednesday through
Sunday at 8pm. Call ahead 212-253-1813 for reservations.
Those who are brave and coordinated can take advantage of Midsummer
Night’s Swing at the Lincoln Center. A wide range of bands – including mambo,
polka, waltz, and disco – play from 8:15 to 11pm on Tuesday through Sunday,
and dancers fill the fountain stage ($11) as well as the surrounding plaza
(free). If you have always longed to samba under the stars but are unsure
of your footing, spring for the stage tickets, which go on sale at 6pm (line
up at 5), and take advantage of the lessons given at 6:30. Check out
Lincoln Center’s web page for the schedule.
Central Park is home to Summerstage, a collection of diverse musical and
dance performances in the outdoor arena. In the first week alone, you’ll
find jazz, flamenco, and Brazilian rock. Shows are around 7pm on
weeknights and 3pm on weekends. With too many events to list here, explore
their site. This is a really unbelievable set
of performances – even before you take into account that they are provided
at no cost.
Union Square Park is home to Summer in the Square, a weekly assembly of
assorted arts performances. Every Wednesday brings three events: a musical
selection at 12:30pm, dance at 5pm, and a poetry reading at 6pm. The square is
a few blocks from the Strand (828 Broadway), arguably the best used
bookstore anywhere, so pick up some travel reading and take advantage of
this small but well located park. For hot days, Mister Softie usually parks
his truck on the southeast corner.
The New York Philharmonic gives several free concerts around the city in
July. The most convenient are on Central Park’s Great Lawn on the 20th and
26th at 8pm. They also play in Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx on the 27th and
Prospect park, Brooklyn, on the 28th. All concerts are followed by a
fireworks display.
South Street Seaport – usually known for its
overpriced tourist shops and boat cruises – hosts a number of bands
throughout the summer. It’s a great place to stop on a sunny day to rest by
the sea after walking across the Brooklyn Bridge or checking out Wall
Street. Latin Jazz is on every Wednesday night from 6 to 9pm; on Thursday
the 1st and the 8th, the venue will hold outdoor dance parties. They close
the month with a Jerry Garcia tribute at 6pm on the 31st.
Summergarden at the Museum of Modern Art happens every Friday and Saturday
night. The theme this season is international female composers of the late
twentieth century. The sculpture garden opens at 6pm, and the orchestra
begins at 8:30. For a schedule, look over the MOMA site.
Bryant Park offers HBO-sponsored movie showings Monday nights. Get there
by 5pm if you want to claim some lawn, and bring food, reading, etc to pass
the time until the showings start at sundown. If it rains, they reschedule
on Tuesday.
Finally, the Hudson River Festival brings together outdoor events in
Battery Park – such as dance performances on July 14, 20, and 28 at 7pm –
and indoor performances at the World Financial Center Winter Garden, on July
21 and 27. For details call 212-945-0505. Battery Park is also the scene
of a drumming circle, Friday nights at 6:30.
SO, there you have it: A few hundred ways to entertain yourself in New York
City, and you don’t need a dollar or an i.d. for any one of them. Now, if
we could just work something out with the hostels and the bars…
New York. The Big Apple. The City That Never Sleeps.
Home of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Village, Broadway.
Hundreds of "Gap’s", thousands of suicidal taxi drivers, millions
of residents, and – for those of you uninterested in any of the
above – infinite places to get a cold beer.
Pack light: you can buy anything you’ve forgotten at an exorbitant price.
Longing for Milo or Vegemite? Try Chinatown. Unable to sleep without
your foreign brew? Try Peculiar Pub. Looking for company? Just step
outside…
NYC is comprised of five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the
Bronx, and Staten Island.
Most travelers stick to Manhattan, but the more adventurous (and those
with a few more days here) will find that exploring the outer boroughs
is about as "off-the-beaten-track" as you can get here.
Whatever your scene may be, you will not be disappointed: museum goers, fine
diners, people watchers, tormented writers, sight-seers, all-night
clubbers… this is the place.
Descend into the smoky depths of a no-cover jazz club, retrace the
steps of your favorite Seinfeld episode, enjoy lo mein while being
serenaded by scantily clad transvestites. Be brave. Blend in. (it¹s
hard to stand out). And don’t sleep too much… you¹ll miss something.
When you arrive, check out the tourist office in Times Square. Grab
a subway map and get oriented. Figure out your priorities, drop
off your pack, and set out.
Some helpful sites on NYC:
Try New York sidewalk.com
for more mainstream current info.
There’s always the Village Voice, although picking up an actual copy (free) would be better, because the real scoop is in the ads.
The "Official" NYC site.
New York related sites
(museums, teams, etc).
For listings of arts events in the city, try the front of The New Yorker
magazine.
The Author
As for me, I’ve spent the last 5 years here in Manhattan. I’m originally
from Philadelphia.
Despite
my love of NYC, I take every possible opportunity to flee the country.
It’s part of a running dilemma I have, choosing between streams/stars
and public transport/great used book stores.
Currently
I teach science in Brooklyn, but I am eagerly awaiting my unemployment
in June so I can un-settle down.
As a warning, I am slightly biased towards places of interest for people- watching,
hiking, stout beer, and all things chocolate.
Happy travels!
