You, a hundred bucks, and New York City
March 26, 2009 2:51 PM Subscribe
You, a hundred bucks, and New York City
Ok. I've been in New York for on a working vacation for a week now but I've basically been busy working. I have the whole weekend to explore. What to do? I've been here a million times, but does anyone know of any good exhibits I shouldn't miss, plays I should see, neighborhoods I should walk through? Anything. I've got about a hundred bucks to drop this weekend, which doesn't go far in this city, but I have places to stay so other than that, whatever.
Ok. I've been in New York for on a working vacation for a week now but I've basically been busy working. I have the whole weekend to explore. What to do? I've been here a million times, but does anyone know of any good exhibits I shouldn't miss, plays I should see, neighborhoods I should walk through? Anything. I've got about a hundred bucks to drop this weekend, which doesn't go far in this city, but I have places to stay so other than that, whatever.
MoMA's always worth the price of admission to me, even if $20 feels a bit steep for a museum... and it's free after 4:00 on Fridays, now! I really liked the Martin Kippenberger exhibition when I saw it in L.A. in January.
posted by scody at 3:13 PM on March 26, 2009
posted by scody at 3:13 PM on March 26, 2009
Have you explored Brooklyn much, or mostly "done" Manhattan? I ask b/c Brooklyn can be a blast this time of year: the Botanical Gardens, the Museum, an afternoon stroll through Prospect Park and/or the brownstone neighborhoods of Park Slope or Fort Greene, dinner at a trendy restaurant on Smith Street of 5th Avenue. There's some cool used book shops, vintage boutiques, etc, and it's not all about Williamsburg, either. Have fun.
posted by ornate insect at 3:32 PM on March 26, 2009
posted by ornate insect at 3:32 PM on March 26, 2009
I have to disagree about MoMA - it's not worth the admission unless you specifically want to see the art in there - a lot of it is like, "huh? why did I pay to see this?" And this isn't only my opinion, I've heard a lot of people say the same.
posted by KateHasQuestions at 3:33 PM on March 26, 2009
posted by KateHasQuestions at 3:33 PM on March 26, 2009
it's not worth the admission unless you specifically want to see the art in there
I guess this is what I assume the primary point of the museum is. But I work at an art museum and I am a hardcore modernist, so YMMV.
posted by scody at 3:36 PM on March 26, 2009
I guess this is what I assume the primary point of the museum is. But I work at an art museum and I am a hardcore modernist, so YMMV.
posted by scody at 3:36 PM on March 26, 2009
I've always wanted to walk the length of Broadway in Manhattan, from Bowling Green to Marble Hill.
posted by gyusan at 3:37 PM on March 26, 2009
posted by gyusan at 3:37 PM on March 26, 2009
Go to Fried Dumpling and get 500 dumplings with your cash.
posted by dcjd at 3:53 PM on March 26, 2009
posted by dcjd at 3:53 PM on March 26, 2009
My wife and I spent a few days in NYC last summer, and the first thing we did (after finding our hotel and figuring out the subways) was spend an afternoon doing RGR's Lower East Side Food Excursion. It was the most memorable and enjoyable part of our time in the city -- great way to explore a neighborhood and eat lots of tasty foods we'd never had before. Definitely spent way less than $100 on the food, which leaves you some extra to spend in some of the other great shops you wander past along the way. I also wanted to visit the Tenement Museum in the area, but it was closed by the time we got there.
oh I would kill for an egg cream right now
posted by Emanuel at 5:30 PM on March 26, 2009 [1 favorite]
oh I would kill for an egg cream right now
posted by Emanuel at 5:30 PM on March 26, 2009 [1 favorite]
My Dad and I just did the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and that was really cool.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:41 PM on March 26, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:41 PM on March 26, 2009 [1 favorite]
How many ferries can you take around the bay for $100? Sounds like photo time to me.
posted by mdonley at 6:38 PM on March 26, 2009
posted by mdonley at 6:38 PM on March 26, 2009
Why spend 1/5th of your budget at MOMA when you can walk the Chelsea art galleries for free? Most of the galleries are on 19th through 26th streets between 9th Ave and the West Side Highway, listed here. Not everything will be great but you're bound to find something interesting, and going from gallery to gallery breaks up the monotony of the museum.
posted by hamsterdam at 6:46 PM on March 26, 2009
posted by hamsterdam at 6:46 PM on March 26, 2009
What are your interests? That would help us a lot.
I'd like to go see the Holzer exhibit at the Whiteny this weekend, but that's me.
Also seconded the Chelsea exhibits, and would rec that you check out MePa after as it is close, but there are also tons of other 'hoods, depending on what you're looking for.
Some restaurants are extending restaurant week through the end of March.
And, as has been recommend here many times before, check out nonsense for off the beaten path options.
posted by cestmoi15 at 7:25 PM on March 26, 2009
I'd like to go see the Holzer exhibit at the Whiteny this weekend, but that's me.
Also seconded the Chelsea exhibits, and would rec that you check out MePa after as it is close, but there are also tons of other 'hoods, depending on what you're looking for.
Some restaurants are extending restaurant week through the end of March.
And, as has been recommend here many times before, check out nonsense for off the beaten path options.
posted by cestmoi15 at 7:25 PM on March 26, 2009
There's a bacon cookoff in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Sunday at 5pm.
For the record -- I am COMPETING in said cookoff, so if you show up, you could also meet me!
Presuming you want to, of course. :-)
One way to stretch money is to see which museums have free nights. Target has some deals with some museums in this city, where on certain nights once a week or once a month they waive the admission price and everyone gets in free. Usually you're not able to see the special exhibits free, but the regular stuff, you can see. I know MOMA is one of the free-once-a-week places.
As for shows to see -- check out the web site nytheatre.com. They review every show that runs in the city -- Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway. (disclaimer: I have written for them.) So you can check that out first and then actually save money by going to an off-off-Broadway show for only $20 a ticket, or even less, but still be reasonably assured that it is actually good rather than "some performance art thing thrown together in a church basement somewhere".
There's always TIME OUT NEW YORK for ideas for free and cheap stuff to do. I also am seconding the "explore Brooklyn" option; even just walking around can be a good thing (the weather is supposed to be pretty nice this weekend, I believe). I'd concentrate on Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, Park Slope and Prospect Heights for Brooklyn neighborhood strolls. Actually, I also dug Red Hook; but you can only get there by bus, and I don't know your comfort level with figuring out the bus maps. If you trust that, though, Red Hook is another choice.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:59 PM on March 26, 2009
For the record -- I am COMPETING in said cookoff, so if you show up, you could also meet me!
Presuming you want to, of course. :-)
One way to stretch money is to see which museums have free nights. Target has some deals with some museums in this city, where on certain nights once a week or once a month they waive the admission price and everyone gets in free. Usually you're not able to see the special exhibits free, but the regular stuff, you can see. I know MOMA is one of the free-once-a-week places.
As for shows to see -- check out the web site nytheatre.com. They review every show that runs in the city -- Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway. (disclaimer: I have written for them.) So you can check that out first and then actually save money by going to an off-off-Broadway show for only $20 a ticket, or even less, but still be reasonably assured that it is actually good rather than "some performance art thing thrown together in a church basement somewhere".
There's always TIME OUT NEW YORK for ideas for free and cheap stuff to do. I also am seconding the "explore Brooklyn" option; even just walking around can be a good thing (the weather is supposed to be pretty nice this weekend, I believe). I'd concentrate on Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, Park Slope and Prospect Heights for Brooklyn neighborhood strolls. Actually, I also dug Red Hook; but you can only get there by bus, and I don't know your comfort level with figuring out the bus maps. If you trust that, though, Red Hook is another choice.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:59 PM on March 26, 2009
NYC Virgin: if there's some quintessential thing you haven't done yet, why not do it this weekend?
Now in NYC on Newyorkology.com.
Also, if you've been listening to This American Life recently, you may recall a comic/writer named Mike Birbiglia telling a story about being the "other" boyfriend. Mike Birbiglia's one man show Sleepwalk With Me is playing at the Bleecker Theater.
Some more links:
unique culinary experiences in NYC, available on short notice
Fun things to eat in NYC that you don't find elsewhere
A self-guided gustatory tour of the Lower East Side
Events listings:
New Yorker Goings On About Town (scroll down)
Flavorpill this weekend (if you like old school graffiti the photos of Work To Do look intriguing)
NYC Government Citywide Events Calendar
posted by kathryn at 11:36 PM on March 26, 2009
Now in NYC on Newyorkology.com.
Also, if you've been listening to This American Life recently, you may recall a comic/writer named Mike Birbiglia telling a story about being the "other" boyfriend. Mike Birbiglia's one man show Sleepwalk With Me is playing at the Bleecker Theater.
Some more links:
unique culinary experiences in NYC, available on short notice
Fun things to eat in NYC that you don't find elsewhere
A self-guided gustatory tour of the Lower East Side
Events listings:
New Yorker Goings On About Town (scroll down)
Flavorpill this weekend (if you like old school graffiti the photos of Work To Do look intriguing)
NYC Government Citywide Events Calendar
posted by kathryn at 11:36 PM on March 26, 2009
You can always see rock of ages. tickets are $50 this weekend.
posted by majortom1981 at 4:20 AM on March 27, 2009
posted by majortom1981 at 4:20 AM on March 27, 2009
Oh, dear. There's all this MoMA bashing in here. But I will bravely recommend this exhibit. The artist, Tehching Hsieh, has been linked to on MeFi before, and here's an article about him in the Times. It was after reading the article that I went to the exhibit last weekend (it's free on Friday evenings). I really enjoyed it -- it was fascinating.
posted by bluefly at 6:07 AM on March 27, 2009
posted by bluefly at 6:07 AM on March 27, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pokeydonut at 2:57 PM on March 26, 2009