Friday, March 27, 2009

Free NYC Stuff 2009

special days:
//Brooklyn Botanical Garden (Tuesdays, weekdays during winter are free, Saturdays from 10-noon unless there's a special event)
//Bronx Botanical Garden (Wednesdays, Saturdays from 10-noon unless there's a special event, grounds only, doesn't include special exhibits)
//MOMA (Fridays 4-8pm)
//South Street Seaport Museum (Third Friday of every moth 6pm-closing)
//Brooklyn Museum (First Saturday of every month)
//Jewish Museum (Saturdays)

note: I didn't include "suggested donation" museums like the Met because I never seem to be able to pay less than suggested price there. Maybe the people there are good at guilt-trip me into paying. Some other museums also have special days where you can pay a "suggested donation".

always free:
//Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology (small but well put together exhibits)
//Brooklyn Bridge (I usually make fun of the tourists for walking across this, but really, it is awesome. try it, and do help the tourists out by taking their group photos. put a smile on someone's face, and they can take a pic for you too)
//Governor's Island (Summer only. biking, walking, they even have plays in the summer. oh, did I also mention it's a great place for photos?)
//NY Public Libraries (Always free, you should check out their exihibit schedules)
//Central Park (probably the best place for those warm sunny days, keep an eye out for free summer symphony concerts)
//Forbes Galleries (awesome collection of toy ships and toy soldiers. convieniently located near union square too!)
//Nicholas Roerich Museum (free classical concerts, check listing)
//Natural Museum of American Indians (also check out Bowling Green and Battery Park nearby)
//Brooklyn Heights Promenade (haven't been there but sure looks nice)
//Astor Wines & Spirits Wine Tasting Calendar (the list always look great but I have yet to go!)

tours:
well they're free but please tip the tour guide!
//Central Park Tours (Various dates/times, see link)
//Grand Central (Fridays 12:30pm, not for working people I guess)
//Flatiron Tour (Sundays 11AM). and you can pick up something from the Shake Shack afterwards!
//Union Square Tour (Saturdays 2pm)
//Wall Street Tour (Th/Sat noon)
//Lower East Side (Sun at 11am)
//Brooklyn Brewery Tour (Saturday)
//Chelsea Brewery Tour (Saturday, check website for details)
//Columbia University Tours (link) Well, the campus is quite famous and worth the time for photos. Also you can walk across Broadway to Barnard College which is even more scenic.

music:
mostly during the summer, keep an eye out for the following sites for updates
//brooklyn $3 concerts. prospect park. very very energetic venue. I liked it much better than central park summer stage. probably your best bet for getting someone who you first heard from SXSW or wfuv alternate side or your friend who can't stop gushing about the indie scene.

//river to river free concerts. well organized. utilizes variouis locations in the city. a great chance to hike to parks you've never visited before. I didn't always know the band but you can't beat a free live performance in the summer!

//summer stage concerts. inside central park. mad crowded. must remember to bring towel and forget going into the venue. You can still hear plenty outside.

//Hudson River Park. good view of skyline. summer concerts/outdoor screenings.

//South Street Seaport. yes, it's touristy but I still like the ships as a backdrop to any summer outing. some concerts too. good happy hour specials for the selected restaurants.


links:
Free NYC Events Listing http://freenyc.net/
NYC Citywide Events (mayor's office) Calendar (includes parades, music, etc)

1 comment:

st2128 said...

Catherine,

Hope your GRE/GMAT studies are going well. Sorry I have been MIA. I was on vacation for a bit in CA for a family friend's wedding. I've also been heading to princeton for a few weekends since there were work-related events. I like the list you put together of NYC events. Thanks for doing all the legwork. Please keep me posted on which events you decide. saturdays work best for me or early sunday.