NEW YORK
— You don’t need big bucks to enjoy the Big Apple big time. Here are some strategies.
GETTING AROUND: Subway fare is $2. A MetroCard with unlimited rides on subways and buses is $7.50 for the day or $25 for seven days.
FAMOUS PLACES: Stroll the serpentine paths of Central Park on your own or take a free walking tour from the Central Park Conservancy, . Carousel rides are $2. For $8, hang out at the zoo ($3 for ages 3-12).
At Fifth Avenue and 50th Street is Rockefeller Center. The elegant art deco skyscrapers, Channel Gardens, and statues of Prometheus and Atlas are worth seeing in person.
Grand Central Terminal, at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, is worth a visit too. Spend a few minutes inside gazing at the arches, cathedral windows and ceiling that make the place so grand.
Head west on 42nd Street to Times Square, but wait until after dark to fully appreciate the neon lights. Don’t worry — the place is packed, even at night. You’ll be perfectly safe.
Take the No. 1 train to the South Ferry stop and hop on the Staten Island ferry. It’s free and offers fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty and city skyline, not to mention the man-made waterfalls on the East River, in place through Oct. 13. Details on other vantage points and boat rides for viewing the falls at nycvisit .
Free ferries to Governors Island (govisland.com/) also offer waterfall views with boats Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 12.
Another way to see the city from the water is by kayak. The Downtown Boathouse (downtownboathouse.org) offers free kayaking weekends through Oct. 13 on the Hudson River.
ENTERTAINMENT: David Letterman, Stephen Colbert or Maury Povich — whatever your taste, if the TV show is filmed in New York, you may be able to see it live for free. Details at .
A few Broadway shows hold nightly lotteries for cheap front-row tickets ($21.50 for “Avenue Q,” $26.50 for “In The Heights,” check websites for details). It’s a great deal if your plans are flexible. Or try the TKTS booth in the Marriott Marquis Hotel, West 46th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, which sells tickets at up to 50 percent off for that night’s performance at many Broadway and off-Broadway shows.
Many city parks host free shows in the summer, but they mostly end in August. In September and October, though, parades and street fairs abound. The West Indian-American Day Parade is a massive carnival-style pageant Labor Day along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Look for politicians and other celebrities in the Columbus Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, 44th to 79th streets, noon-3 p.m. The Feast of San Gennaro street festival takes place on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, Sept. 11-21.
MUSEUMS: Most museums have some free hours. Arrive early and be prepared for crowds. (What, you thought you were the only one on a budget?)
The Museum of Modern Art, 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue, hosts free Fridays, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. The Whitney Museum of American Art, Madison and 75th Street, has “pay what you wish” admission Fridays, 6-9 p.m. The Brooklyn Museum (Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum stop on the No. 2 or 3 train) has free admission the first Saturday night of each month except September, 5-11 p.m.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, always has a “suggested admission” of $20, which means that no, you really don’t have to pay the full amount. Don’t be embarrassed; New Yorkers on a budget do it all the time.
In Lower Manhattan, the National Museum of the American Indian is always free. Its thought-provoking exhibits include ancient artifacts; masterpieces of pottery, basketry, apparel and other objects; and contemporary art. The museum is at One Bowling Green in the former U.S. Customs House, a stunning 1907 Beaux Arts building.
FOOD: For breakfast, a bagel with cream cheese is the real deal. In many parts of the city, corner coffee carts sell decent java, pastries and doughnuts for about $1.
A cheap lunch might be a hot dog from a cart, a slice from a pizzeria or a sandwich to go from a deli. Also popular are “halal” grill carts selling falafel, chicken in pita and other Middle Eastern fare for $5 or less.
For a sit-down splurge, try Dawat, 210 E. 58th St., an Indian restaurant with impeccable service and an outstanding menu created by the writer and actress Madhur Jaffrey. There are several $16 lunch specials.
Supermarkets often sell whole cooked rotisserie chickens to go for under $10. Add a loaf of Italian bread, a readymade salad, and find a park for a picnic for two. Chinatown has many inexpensive restaurants but one of my favorites is Joe’s Shanghai at 9 Pell St. You may need a map to find it, but the dumplings are divine. At Aura Thai, 462 Ninth Ave., near 36th Street, panang curry with chicken, beef or tofu is $8.95.
NEIGHBORHOODS: Spend an afternoon exploring. Take the No. 7 train to Jackson Heights and soak up the sounds, sights and smells of the Latin and Asian shops and restaurants. Wander around the Lower East Side, where bargain stores still sell housedresses on racks, but trendy bars and cafes are encroaching. Don’t forget Coney Island, last stop on the D, F, or Q trains to Brooklyn. A ride on the Wonder Wheel is $6 while the Cyclone roller coaster is $8. Stroll the boardwalk or wade in the ocean for free.
ACCOMMODATIONS: If you don’t have a friend or relative to stay with, the Pod Hotel — 230 E. 51st St., . — has some rooms under $200. Or book a Sunday-Monday stay through NYC Sunday Stays at . with room rates 20-30 percent off, free breakfasts and other deals.
