48 hours in NYC on the cheap, what to do?

Linas · #1 04-06-2011, 02:28 PM

Long story short, i got a free car rental for 4 days gas included. As a person who hasnt owned a car for 2 years this is kinda exciting, so im taking a kinda ridiculous road trip to new york with a couple friends.

I've got a place to stay with my friend whos a grad student at NYU, so that expense I dont have to worry about.

Im sure he will take me out at night, but during the day will probably be busy. What would you recommend for not so touristy activities in NYC on the cheap? As well as food spots. The only thing i have set that I want to see is MOMA.

MatticusMania · #2 04-06-2011, 02:38 PM

Drive that sucker into the ground!

Linas · #3 04-06-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Drive that sucker into the ground!

Not a bad car to do it in either...

MatticusMania · #4 04-06-2011, 03:07 PM

Sweet!!!! You gotta!!!!

Bob Lee (QSC) · #5 04-06-2011, 03:22 PM

Cool, but aside from the transit to and from, NYC isn't a great place to use a free car rental! I hope your friend has a convenient place to park it?

MJ5150 · #6 04-06-2011, 03:39 PM

Go to Carlos Bakery.

-Mike

**smperry** · #7 04-06-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

Cool, but aside from the transit to and from, NYC isn't a great place to use a free car rental! I hope your friend has a convenient place to park it?

emphatic +1 to that.

There are tons of cheap/free things to do in NYC. Here's a start:
MOMA is "pay what you can"
Walk/run across Brooklyn Bridge
Staten Island Ferry goes close to the Statue of Liberty and is cheaper than the Ellis Island ferry
48th Street Guitar shops
People watching in the East & West Village
Central Park
Grand Central Terminal
Times Square

MakiSupaStar · #8 04-06-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

emphatic +1 to that.

There are tons of cheap/free things to do in NYC. Here's a start:
MOMA is "pay what you can"
Walk/run across Brooklyn Bridge
Staten Island Ferry goes close to the Statue of Liberty and is cheaper than the Ellis Island ferry
48th Street Guitar shops
People watching in the East & West Village
Central Park
Grand Central Terminal
Times Square

+1. I've done all these things. Would do it again. Also go to Ground Zero. Heavy, but something you kind of have to do, if you know what I mean. You won't regret it. Not sure what it's like now. Last time I was there was about about 2-3 years ago.

nocontrols · #9 04-06-2011, 10:54 PM

It's NYC. NOTHING is cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

emphatic +1 to that.

There are tons of cheap/free things to do in NYC. Here's a start:
MOMA is "pay what you can"
Walk/run across Brooklyn Bridge
Staten Island Ferry goes close to the Statue of Liberty and is cheaper than the Ellis Island ferry
48th Street Guitar shops
People watching in the East & West Village
Central Park
Grand Central Terminal
Times Square

Well, I guess they can't charge you to wander around and stare at people.

**smperry** · #10 04-07-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocontrols

It's NYC. NOTHING is cheap.

As someone who lived there, it can be done...but it is difficult.

I forgot about this cool secret subway stop:
The Abandoned City Hall Subway Stop Now Visible To Tourists (PHOTOS)

By the way, I misspoke in my other post, It's the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) that has the suggested admission rates. I just went a couple weeks ago and saw a great exhibit on guitar luthierie.

Edit: Found it - http://blog.metmuseum.org/guitarheroes/

odin70 · #11 04-07-2011, 08:08 PM

I would go to 55bar and listen to Mike Stern. With Kennedy or Jackson on bass.

Linas · #12 04-07-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

I would go to 55bar and listen to Mike Stern. With Kennedy or Jackson on bass.

Wow, thanks for the heads up. Should be a great show.

Deluge Of Sound · #13 04-07-2011, 09:09 PM

Not for the destination, for the trip:
Whenever I'm driving through upstate New York, I like to count the confederate flags and think about geography.

Linas · #14 04-12-2011, 10:30 PM

Bump for more recommendations including food spots. I finally got my tax return, and as a result, my budget for the trip has increased a bit.

Bob Lee (QSC) · #15 04-13-2011, 10:51 AM

Great Italian food at a decent price (or at least it has been all the years I've gone there): Il Vagabondo on E 62nd St between 1st and 2nd Aves.

DWBass · #16 04-13-2011, 11:14 AM

Ummm.............you don't wanna drive in NYC! Traffic is horrendous! Parking is even worse! Take the trains to wherever you want to go. I'm a born and raised New Yorker.

Linas · #17 04-13-2011, 12:09 PM

I dont plan on driving once i get there. Hopefully i'll be able to park my car near my friends house (greenwich village) and leave it there for my stay. He says its hit or miss... so we'll have to see.