New York http://www.trifter.com/USA-&-Canada/New-York/index.858 New posts in New York 10 Things to Do in New York City for Under $25 http://www.trifter.com/USA-&-Canada/New-York/10-Things-to-Do-in-New-York-City-for-Under-25.148895

  • Stay at the Jazz on Lennox Hostel (West 128th Street)

    Trendy Harlem from $17 a Night. This New York hostel in the heart of the Harlem community is an ideal base from which to explore the sights and sounds of the city. A short metro ride from Manhattan, there's also heaps of culture and history to explore on your doorstep in this energetic district famous for its poetry and music.

  • Take the Subway to P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City

    Although an affiliate of the MoMa (Museum of modern Art), P.S.1 stands out from New York's host of museums through its radical approach to exhibitions. A former school, the corridors, classrooms and toilets are now all part of the displays of contemporary and conceptual art. It's one of the oldest and largest non-profit organizations in the USA and they suggest a donation of just $5 to enter.

  • Eat a New York Burger With All the Works

    For under $6 at Blue 9 Burger on Third Avenue. A budget but quality fast-food restaurant, they use only fresh beef and hand cut the potatoes in-house for the fries. The specialties are "the blue 9 burger" - a monster of a double cheeseburger - and a mayo-based spicy mango sauce. Add classic-cut fries and a thick American milkshake if you dare!

  • Drink Fresh-Squeezed Lime Margaritas

    At Mole Mexican Bar & Grill on Allen Street for $5 at happy hour between 4 and 7pm every day. This family-run bar in East Houston serves authentic Mexican fare in a friendly, casual atmosphere. Indulge in cocktails or add nachos, quesadillas and guacamole (also $5 at this time) and a $3 draft beer to your order.

  • See One of the World's Largest and Most Impressive Collections of Art

    At the Metropolitan Museum on Fifth Avenue. Although admission is a pricey $20 for adults, a trip to New York can't be complete without a visit to the Met. There are more than two million works of art from classical antiquity to modern day in the permanent collection and numerous special exhibits.

  • Shop at Beacon's Closet on 11th Street

    This vintage superstore in Brooklyn is a haven for unique second-hand pieces and hip shoppers. The sound system blasts indie while a fashionable crowd hunts for bargains. With tops starting from $15, there are some real deals to be had - if you have the patience to sift through their wares.

  • Walk Along Broadway Towards the Rockefeller Center

    A stroll down this busy thoroughfare among New York's famous skyscrapers and frantic commuters is the perfect way to soak up a little of the city's unique atmosphere for free.

  • Browse New York's Up-and-Coming Talent in the Chelsea Art Galleries

    Located in Manhattan's up-market West Side, Chelsea is the cultural center for New York's art scene with around 200 galleries displaying work from both new and established artists. Venues are open Tuesday to Sunday and are free to enter.

  • Dance Your Friday Night Away to the Biggest Names in Techno

    At "The Bunker" at Galapagos Art Space (North Sixth Street, Brooklyn). A weekly $10 entry into one of Brooklyn's ultra-cool cultural centers will guarantee cutting-edge electronic dance music until the early hours with the city's trendy American Apparel and neon wearing youngsters.

  • Watch a Fresh New Show

    At the New York Theatre Workshop in the East Village In comparison to expensive Broadway productions, all seats at NYTW are $20 for Sunday performances and students can get a ticket at this rate at any time. But lesser prices don't mean lesser theater - many of Broadway's biggest hits have been seen here first
    • ]]>     Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:44:06 PST     Five Days in NYC & Philly http://www.trifter.com/USA-&-Canada/New-York/Five-Days-in-NYC--Philly.56392 In the never ending quest to see Michael BublĂ©, my best friend and I (who are both huge fans) took a little road trip to catch his show in Philly. We spent the bulk of our time in New York City because there's more to do there, and I have free accommodations.

    In 5 days, we had a fabulous time and here are the highlights the things we did them.

    Food Memories

    • Wonton Garden on Mott St:

      They don't have an official website, but this link will help you find it. As far as inexpensive Chinese food goes, this is pretty good. If you like soupy noodles, regardless of whether it's ho-fun, vermicelli, or chow mein, this is definitely a place to hit. The food is flavourful and the portions are substantial. It's your typical Chinese fast food venue, so it's got the sticky floors and condensate dripping HVAC ducts, but for $6 you can totally stuff yourself full.
    • Balthazar really *is* worth the wait (luckily for us, we didn't have to wait). The food was delicious. The service was fantastic. And if you like the hubbub of a French bistro, you will love this place.
    • What does it mean to go to Dim Sum with my Uncle? It means eating dim sum in rounds.
      • Round 1: Dim Sum dishes
      • Round 2: Fried dishes (noodles, rice, etc...)
      • Round 3: Dessert

    So although I don't recommend that you gorge, I will say that no trip to New York City is complete without going for Dim Sum in one of New York City's many Chinatowns (side note: it's easier to find parking if you go to the Chinatown in Brooklyn).

    • Dale & Thomas Kettlecorn is the best popcorn ever! I brought this stuff home and my mom was instantly addicted to it. That is only a significant tidbit of information because prior to trying Dale & Thomas, my mother has always hated popcorn.
    • The Chinese bakery at 59th St. & 4th Ave in Brooklyn makes the best yuan yang (served in a Dunkin' Donuts cup).
    • Whole Foods at Union Square is *way* better than Whole Foods in Yorkville. If the salad/food bar was *that* good at the Yorkville location, I'd eat lunch there every single day! Eating lunch here was fabulous. It's quick, it's healthy, and incredibly convenient if you're shoe shopping at DSW.
    • Bubba Gump Shrimp... that's not real scampi! But it still tastes great.

    • Going to brunch/lunch with my aunt means eating until you enter a food coma (recall, ice cream tempura)
    • Garrett Popcorn is only good in Chicago. It just didn't taste the same in New York. The popcorn was harder
    • I paid $3 for "the best hot dog" in the city (more details to follow in the Memories of New Yorkers section below)
    • Ciro makes great pizza, but next time, we'll have it at the beginning of the trip instead of the end. Our particular favourite at Ciro is their Chicken Salad Pizza.
      It's basically an entire Chicken Salad spread over a pizza crust and baked. It sounds strange, but it tastes amazing! If you're ever out on Staten Island, this is definitely a place to stop for a meal.
    • When we couldn't find Corner Bakery, we settled for the first Philly Cheesesteak place we could find. Big mistake. We should've went for *real* Philly Cheesesteak.
    • Corner Bakery... it was just at 17th and JFK... our hotel was at 17th and Locust... and we wandered all over the place in the wrong directions because we didn't check the map before we left the hotel. bah... we'll know better for next time. Corner Bakery is good... but still better in Chicago.
    • The complimentary spring water in our hotel room was opened. Ewww! Gross! But the hotel did send us unopened bottles of water when we mentioned it at the front desk.

    • Just how much Starbucks did we drink on this trip anyways? Too much!

    Memories of New Yorkers

    • You don't need to search for knock-offs when standing on Canal St. If you wait long enough (i.e. less than 2 minutes) someone will ask you if you're interested in knock-offs or bootleg videos. How many times did we get approached? 6?
    • Not only do the waiters at Balthazar's speak with a French accent... they actually speak French.
    • Who says New Yorkers aren't friendly?! While waiting for a subway, we encountered a screenwriting professor from NYU. He overheard us talking about museums and then kindly informed us that The Met is closed on Mondays (rats!). But, he did tell us that The Museum of Modern Art was open, and he would've given us free passes if he hadn't left them in his office. He also helped out by directing us on what trains we could take to get there since there were many route changes due to summer maintenance. Amazing, the people you meet on the subway in Brooklyn.
    • The security guard at the front door of the NBA store:
      • My Best Friend: Do you know what they're filming out there?
      • Security Guard: No
      • Me: You should kick them out. They're blocking the store front.
      • SG: lol
    • The Egyptian hot dog vendor:
      • Me: I'd like a hot dog
      • Hot Dog Vendor: Just one?
      • Me: Yes. The best one you've got.
      • HDV: I've got the best in the city
      • Me: laughs
      • HDV: Where are you from?
      • Me: Toronto
      • HDV's friend: Have you ever been to Montreal?
      • Me: I was born there
      • HDV's friend: I'm from Egypt. Very far from Montreal.
      • Me: Uh... yeah.
      • HDV: So have you ever been to an Arabic cafe?
      • Me: No
      • HDV: Then you must go. We can go. We have two pairs. You two and us two.
      • Me: Maybe some other time
      • HDV: When?
      • Me: We'll come find you

    Shopping Memories

    • How many pairs of shoes did we try on in DSW? My best friend should've bought the Jimmy Choo's. They were only $400; marked down from $1300.
    • How many times did we go back into DSW and Filene's Basement just to use the restroom? I guess that happens when you spend all morning shopping and eating lunch at Union Square.
    • And we finally found Balducci's.
      I love gourmet grocery stores. I could live there. The closes thing we've got in Toronto is Pusateri's, but Balducci's is much better.
    • Remember what happened when we stumbled upon Dale and Thomas? We both exclaimed "Popcorn!" And then, two days later, when we saw Garrett, we did the same thing. We're such geeks.
    • How much Bath & Body Works stuff did we (ahem... I) buy?
    • How many long distance calls did we make on the iPhone at the Apple Store on 5th Ave?
      • Me: Hi, hunny! I'm calling you on an iPhone at the Apple Store
      • Boyfriend: You called just to torment me?
      • Me: Now you can tell people you talked on the iPhone... sort of.
      • Boyfriend: Argh!
        side note: the boy is dying for an iPhone to use in Canada

    Show Memories


    • Avenue Q was so funny. It was worth the wait in that long tkts line. It's too bad we had to deal with that scary usher at the John Golden Theatre when your camera flash went off... and the jerk who snitched on you.
    • The Michael BublĂ© concert was the whole purpose of this trip. The perfect end to a perfect holiday. Although it was insanely hot, and despite the fact that this was an outdoor venue (the Mann Center), I think it was a sensational concert and I'm glad I was able to share this trip with my best friend.
    ]]>     Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:46:08 PST