New York City on the cheap.It’s possible not to break the bank on a Big Apple trip
By Terah Shelton
When I lived in New York four years ago, I wanted to see all the Broadway shows, tour all of the museums and visit every attraction. However, there was a problem, the same one that faces most tourists planning a trip to the Big Apple: money.
I soon discovered, though, if you know where to look, New York has its share of free and cheap attractions, events and museums. Especially if you're willing to wake up early.
Shakespeare in the Park
One of the most popular free events in New York is Shakespeare in the Park. Every summer since 1962, the Public Theater has hosted productions of Shakespeare plays at Central Park's Delacorte Theater.
Famous actors and actresses ranging from Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep to Morgan Freeman and Christopher Walken have performed plays under the night sky. Since this is a popular and free event, tickets can be hard to come by. If you're interested in securing tickets, the line usually forms in the wee hours of the morning the night before the performance. Be prepared. Bring a blanket, food and water.
For more information, visit www.publictheater.org.
Bryant Park's HBO Summer Film Festival
Every Monday from June through August, Bryant Park, located behind the New York Public Library, hosts a series of free movies sponsored by HBO.
On a large screen, the park shows classic movies including "The Wizard of Oz," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "To Sir with Love." The show begins at sunset; usually between 8 and 9 p.m. But access to the grass begins at 5 p.m., so arrive early for a choice spot. Bring a blanket, food and wine to make it a special night out.
Visit www.bryantpark.org for a complete list of upcoming movies.
Opera in the parks
If a full-price ticket to the opera is not in your budget, consider attending one of the free performances given by the Metropolitan Opera.
Every summer, the prestigious Met performers leave their comfortable digs at Lincoln Center and embark on a tour of outdoor venues in each of New York's five boroughs and a few parks in New Jersey. The tour introduces the award-winning opera to residents and tourists. Past performances have included "La Traviata," "The Magic Flute" and "Rigoletto."
Tickets are not required, just show up, snatch a piece of grass near the bandstand and enjoy. Like all of the mentioned events, it's best to arrive early and pack a picnic. Don't forget the citronella candles, which serve double duty - to keep the bugs away and add a little ambiance.
For a list of performances and venues, visit www.metopera.org.
Morning talk shows concerts
What do the "Today Show," "Good Morning America" and the "Early Show" have in common? Yes, they're morning talk shows, but they also host free, live concerts during the summer from performers that have included Mark Anthony, Maroon 5, John Legend and Big and Rich.
The catch? Because the concerts - usually on Fridays - are for morning shows, they begin early in the morning, usually before 8 a.m. The artists normally perform three to four songs. If you want an unobstructed view close to the action, arrive before dusk. Don't forget a pair of comfortable shoes and a camera.
For a complete concert schedule, visit www.msnbc.msn.com, www.abcnews.go.com/GMA and www.cbsnews.com.
New York museums
There are hundreds of museums in New York, and a day of museum-hopping would likely blow a budget. However, most of the museums - including the popular ones - offer either suggested or free admission on certain days.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a $20 suggested admission, which means they would prefer you paid 20 bucks, but will accept any amount of money. On Fridays, both the Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum of American Art have free admission from 4 to 8 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. respectively.
Also, for a break from the long lines found at the crowded museums, visit a few of the lesser-known ones, including the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, National Museum of the American Indian and Forbes Magazine Galleries, all of which boast free admission.
By Terah Shelton
When I lived in New York four years ago, I wanted to see all the Broadway shows, tour all of the museums and visit every attraction. However, there was a problem, the same one that faces most tourists planning a trip to the Big Apple: money.
I soon discovered, though, if you know where to look, New York has its share of free and cheap attractions, events and museums. Especially if you're willing to wake up early.
Shakespeare in the Park
One of the most popular free events in New York is Shakespeare in the Park. Every summer since 1962, the Public Theater has hosted productions of Shakespeare plays at Central Park's Delacorte Theater.
Famous actors and actresses ranging from Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep to Morgan Freeman and Christopher Walken have performed plays under the night sky. Since this is a popular and free event, tickets can be hard to come by. If you're interested in securing tickets, the line usually forms in the wee hours of the morning the night before the performance. Be prepared. Bring a blanket, food and water.
For more information, visit www.publictheater.org.
Bryant Park's HBO Summer Film Festival
Every Monday from June through August, Bryant Park, located behind the New York Public Library, hosts a series of free movies sponsored by HBO.
On a large screen, the park shows classic movies including "The Wizard of Oz," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "To Sir with Love." The show begins at sunset; usually between 8 and 9 p.m. But access to the grass begins at 5 p.m., so arrive early for a choice spot. Bring a blanket, food and wine to make it a special night out.
Visit www.bryantpark.org for a complete list of upcoming movies.
Opera in the parks
If a full-price ticket to the opera is not in your budget, consider attending one of the free performances given by the Metropolitan Opera.
Every summer, the prestigious Met performers leave their comfortable digs at Lincoln Center and embark on a tour of outdoor venues in each of New York's five boroughs and a few parks in New Jersey. The tour introduces the award-winning opera to residents and tourists. Past performances have included "La Traviata," "The Magic Flute" and "Rigoletto."
Tickets are not required, just show up, snatch a piece of grass near the bandstand and enjoy. Like all of the mentioned events, it's best to arrive early and pack a picnic. Don't forget the citronella candles, which serve double duty - to keep the bugs away and add a little ambiance.
For a list of performances and venues, visit www.metopera.org.
Morning talk shows concerts
What do the "Today Show," "Good Morning America" and the "Early Show" have in common? Yes, they're morning talk shows, but they also host free, live concerts during the summer from performers that have included Mark Anthony, Maroon 5, John Legend and Big and Rich.
The catch? Because the concerts - usually on Fridays - are for morning shows, they begin early in the morning, usually before 8 a.m. The artists normally perform three to four songs. If you want an unobstructed view close to the action, arrive before dusk. Don't forget a pair of comfortable shoes and a camera.
For a complete concert schedule, visit www.msnbc.msn.com, www.abcnews.go.com/GMA and www.cbsnews.com.
New York museums
There are hundreds of museums in New York, and a day of museum-hopping would likely blow a budget. However, most of the museums - including the popular ones - offer either suggested or free admission on certain days.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers a $20 suggested admission, which means they would prefer you paid 20 bucks, but will accept any amount of money. On Fridays, both the Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum of American Art have free admission from 4 to 8 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. respectively.
Also, for a break from the long lines found at the crowded museums, visit a few of the lesser-known ones, including the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum, Sony Wonder Technology Lab, National Museum of the American Indian and Forbes Magazine Galleries, all of which boast free admission.
Central Park in New York City is a great attraction for visitors hoping to enjoy the city without spending much money. One of the most popular free events in New York is Shakespeare in the Park. Every summer since 1962, the Public Theater has hosted productions of Shakespeare plays at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater.
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. The bridge stretches 5,989 feet over the East River, connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
No comments:
Post a Comment