Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nyc and cheap

How to get cheap tickets for Broadway shows?

howgenerica — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:33:23 -0800

A couple of my friends are coming to New York to visit near the end of July, and we want to take in a show (preferably a musical). We're all students and we're trying to find cheap tickets, but we want to have this sorted out in advance instead of waiting to buy tickets day-of. Does anyone know a good way to do this? I'm in New York if it's something that needs to be done in person, although through a website would be preferable. We're just looking for good deals or discounts, or something. Also I know nothing about Broadway, so recommendations for fun shows would be very welcome!

Like I Need Another Hole In My Head.

The Whelk — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:01:15 -0800

No Insurance-Filter: I suspect I need some minor dental work done, where can I get it done cheaply and quickly in NYC? Caveat: No Insurance, but some savings. I've heard horror stories about NYU Dental school, but I've gone to Dental Schools for cleanings and minor work all through childhood without a problem (No Cavities! ever!), is it really that bad?

Anyone know a decent dentist in the metro area or know where I can find one?

Free samples in NYC

HotPatatta — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:37:43 -0800

Where can I find the best free samples (of anything!) in NYC? My roommate and I look forward to raiding the cheese samples at our local grocery store every weekend. As I unabashedly stuffed my face this time, I started wondering about other places that are generous with free samples, e.g., beauty products, food, drink, pie(!!!), cleaning products, etc. Your suggestions, please.

Cheap, healthy Flatiron lunch?

ocherdraco — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:36:39 -0800

NYCfilter: I work at the Flatiron (at 23rd and Broadway), and I'm looking for cheap (~$7), healthy (more veg, less fried) lunch places within five to ten blocks. Where would you recommend? I'm trying to keep costs down and eat more healthfully. So, no Shake Shack or Eisenberg's. What places do you like?

Culture me for cheap!

zoomorphic — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:21:03 -0800

Help me pick out the best play, opera, lecture and art exhibit to see this winter in NYC. I'm a lowly wage slave who can't shell out $300 to see every Broadway sensation that comes to town, so I'd like to attend one incredible event in each category with a high return-on-awesome factor so I can walk away cultured but not impoverished. My criteria for lectures is open-ended: I'll easily enjoy most anything aside from hard science data, so if you've got a lecture marked on your calendars that is truly, earth-shatteringly rad, share. No Nerd Nite stuff--it's a great concept that devolved into a meat market. I enjoy lots of concept art about social issues, as long as it's smart: more like Kara Walker at the Whitney, less like the frothy superhero costume exhibit at the Met. I've never seen an opera in the US, but I'm a sucker for decadent costumes and pageantry more than the quality of voices (which my philistine ears can't really distinguish from the understudies' performance, I'd imagine), and I have no idea how to judge the merits of the Met calendar based on subject and talent. Should I spring for a Mozart/Wagner staple or a more modern piece? As for plays, I lean towards lovely dialogue over experimental acting or camp, but I'm such a theater rookie that I'd rather not take my own advice on such matters. I hate hate hate most musicals, so advise with caution.

So what would you sleek New York MeFites attend if you rarely spend more than $80 on anything beyond a metro card? I'm going alone, so I've got only myself to worry about. Let's assume I can spare $25ish on the art exhibit, $100 on a play, $100 on an opera, and $50 on a lecture.

Cheap travel from Delaware to NYC?

viewofdelft — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:23:54 -0800

What are the cheapest ways to get from Newark, Delaware, to New York City? I'm a research assistant at the University of Delaware and as part of a long and wonkish I-95 corridor project, we've decided to produce a map or informational pamphlet letting students know the cheapest ways to get from here (Newark, Delaware) to New York City.

A few things to keep in mind:
1. Any mode of transportation is fair game (air, rail, highway, seaports, etc.), as is any type of vehicle (plane, train, automobile, bus, shoes, etc.).
2. Be creative, but within reasonable limits of safety (i.e., no airmailing oneself).
3. It's alright if many of the suggested travel methods begin in Philadelphia (and maybe even Baltimore) if these departure points are more familiar to you.
4. Cost is the most important factor, although I don't want to discourage that outlandish teleportation idea you've been waiting to uncork.

After we've completed the map or pamphlet, I'll contact each of the contributors about mailing them a finished product. Thank you.

Chinatown bus from Providence to NYC: Does it exist?

goingonit — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:16:51 -0800

Does anyone have any information about a Chinatown bus that goes from Providence to NYC? One time, I was walking down Thayer st. and saw an ad for a $15 bus that left from downtown Providence and went to New York. I took down the phone number on the ad--but I lost it. And the Internet has no knowledge of this bus!

Do any Providence Mefites know about this bus? Does anyone know how I could get a ticket? Thanks!

Cheap NYC fun

HotPatatta — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:43:20 -0800

The Staten Island Ferry is said to be "one of the best values in New York City" because it's free and offers great views of the city. What are other "best values" in NYC, including shopping, food, activities, and anything else that's surprisingly inexpensive. I'll be moving to the City later this summer I need to not blow my nestegg.

Manhattan Alternatives

jasondigitized — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:36:27 -0800

I have to be in Manhattan Dec 6th - Dec 9th. My flight is booked and my appointments are scheduled. I am flying solo. My plan was to stay in Manhattan, and goof off after my appointments. Unfortunately, every hotel in Manhattan for those days is $600+ a night. Ordinarily I can Priceline $150 and get bites, but even after a $250 bid, I got nothing on a 3 / 4 *. So......where should I stay and still be able to explore Manhattan without freezing my ass off?? I can be a bit of a snob and would prefer not to stay in something lower than 3*. Any secret Manhattan hotels that I can get into that are not sh*t holes? Brooklyn? New Jersey? Connecticut?

Help break my fall.

hermitosis — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:13:40 -0800

Where can I buy the most throw pillows for the least amount of money? I want to buy a whole bunch of big soft pillows or cushions.

Requirements:

1. Price: cheap! I can buy rink-a-dink pillows at bargain outlets here in my neighborhood for about $8 apiece. If I wanted ten of them, that's $80 plus tax. Unacceptable! If I was to spend that much cash, they'd have to be bigger and better.

2. Quality: low, they are for sitting on the floor. They don't have to be attractive, but they shouldn't be disgusting. No secondhand. I can make my own covers for them.

3. Size/shape: no preference. The larger the better.

Perhaps you know a place? Perhaps you work somewhere where you can get me a discount (you will be rewarded)? Or know someone who does? Or have some sort of creative solution?

Where to sleep in NYC?

btkuhn — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:12:01 -0800

I'm a college student, being flown up for a job interview in Manhattan this Friday. I asked the firm I'm interviewing with to schedule my return flight for Saturday morning instead of Friday night so that I can explore the city, but now I'm finding out how expensive lodging in the city is. I'm from North Carolina and don't know anyone currently living in NY, which is fine with me because I was looking forward to walking around by myself. I don't mind my own company, and enjoy exploring new places alone and meeting new people. I'm looking for suggestions for a place to sleep for a few hours Friday night. Here are my sole requirements: safe, reasonably clean, and most importantly cheap. I'm just going to be sleeping for a few hours and heading out, so all that is essential is a mattress and a roof. I saw the Gershwin Hotel suggested on a previous thread for $40/night which is within my budget, but there are no rooms available for this Friday. I'm going to be stretched for money as it is, so heavy emphasis on cheap. My interview is in the financial district but I'm not deadset on staying in that area afterwards, so recommendations for anywhere in south/central Manhattan are fine. Thanks!

Free or cheap conversational Spanish language lessons in New York?

madman — Mon, 09 Aug 2004 14:33:53 -0800

Any free or cheap Spanish language lessons in New York? [reasons for miserliness inside] One of my friends is doing a Masters in Journalism at Columbia Uni. She's been assigned to cover the Bronx beat as part of her course. As expected, she's a struggling student without lots of money, so she needs to learn conversational Spanish without busting the bank.

So... anybody know any place / person where she can learn Spanish for either free or at an affordable price? Apparently, there are free Chinese lessons in the city, but nothing on the Spanish front yet.