There's this urban myth going around New York that you need to earn at least a million bucks a year to live well in the Big Apple. What nonsense!
The vast majority of New Yorkers live on a fraction of that and still manage to enjoy some of the best cultural events in the world. Learn from the locals, get savvy and access unforgettable culture on the cheap.
Lesson one: Cheap is good, free is better
As soon as you land, head to the newsstand and buy copies of
Time Out New York,
The New Yorker and
New York magazine. Inside you'll find listings for theatre performances, comedy clubs, classical music recitals, festivals, gallery openings and much more. There
is something to do every minute of the day and night in the city that never sleeps, and many of the listings are free. A random sampling of freebies revealed a primer on sexting, a book fair, a concert in
Central Park and a Hitchcock film screening, just to name a few.
Lesson two: Cinema special for a sixer
Film buffs will get a thrill from watching all the latest releases in New York, often months before they're screened in Australia. Regular admission prices hover around the $13 mark, with extra charged for 3D or IMAX films. Here's an insider tip: AMC cinemas throughout the city have a $6 deal on all films shown before mid-day. Popcorn and soda still costs an arm and a leg, so smuggle your snacks.
www.fandango.com is the best site for screening times and cinema locations.
Lesson three: You can dance if you want to
The
New York City Ballet can thank the film
Black Swan for the public's renewed interest in all things tutu.
Natalie Portman's real-life love interest
Benjamin Millepied is one of the company's principal dancers and up-and-coming choreographers. Tickets can be pricey ($200 and up for the very best seats), but there are special discount seats for just $31 (they sell out fast so book early).
Lesson four: The sound of music
Famous conductors, controversial opera divas and some of the finest orchestra musicians in the world: that's what you can expect during the
New York Philharmonic season at
Lincoln Center. There are affordable tickets — from $35 — for most performances, an impressive price point for such an acclaimed orchestra and elegant venue. But if you want to score a
real bargain, attend one of the Phil's rehearsals on the morning of an evening's performance. You'll get an insight into the working logistics of a show, see musicians in their civvies, and perhaps even witness a maestro meltdown. At just $18, the tickets are a steal.
Lesson five: Broadway bargains
One of the most popular tourist activities in NYC is also one of the most expensive: tickets to the hottest Broadway shows can easily set you back over $300 ... each. Do as the locals do and never pay retail. There are a few options for discount Broadway tix; one is to queue at a
TKTS Discount Booth, either in Times Square, at South Street Seaport or Downtown Brooklyn. Tickets to that evening's performances are sold at up to 50% off (but still tend to cost $50+).
A cheaper (though less reliable) method is to try for Rush or Lottery tickets for that night's performance. A limited number of Rush tickets are sold at participating theatres as soon as the box office opens (usually around 10am); with an average price of $25, expect long queues so get there early. Some Rush tickets are reserved for those theatregoers with valid student IDs, while others are open to all. Current shows offering Rush tix for all include Chicago, Sister Act and Spider-Man.
Lottery tickets are slightly different: some theatres sell a limited number of cheap tickets (usually $25-30) for each performance through a lottery system. Get to the box office two and a half hours prior to the performance, print your name on the card provided and drop it in the hat. Two hours before curtain, names are drawn at random and those people can purchase the cheap tix. Current shows offering a lottery include Rent, The Book of Mormon and Wicked. Check www.playbill.com
for details of more theatres participating in Rush and Lottery tickets.
Lesson six: learn for a little
New York is an endless delight for museum lovers. From the
Metropolitan Museum of Art to
MOMA,
the Frick, the
Guggenheim and the scarily real dinosaurs at the
Museum of Natural History, there is just so much to see and learn. Admission can be upwards of $20 — a real slug if you're paying for the whole fam. Many museums offer free admission or pay-what-you-wish on certain days. Fridays, in particular, are a great time to explore the city's museums: free admission from 6-9pm at the
Asia Society and Museum, from 5:30-7:30pm at the
American Folk Art Museum, from 4-8pm at MOMA, and from 7-9pm at the
Morgan Library and Museum.
See gonyc.about.com for a round-up of free and cheap museum days; confirm details with the venue as deals can change according to season.
Fact file
Getting there: United flies daily-direct from Sydney to both San Francisco and Los Angeles, and then directly on to all three New York airports.
Staying there: the Hotel Beacon on the Upper West Side is close to many museums, theatres and the Lincoln Center. Rooms are very spacious by New York standards and many include kitchen facilities. Element New York Times Square West is a central eco-chic hotel in Midtown, just a few blocks from the bright lights and theatres of Times Square.
Must buy: Get a CityPASS for entry to a host of the best museums and experiences in NYC at one low price.
Save even more: Get your NYCguide books online
