Free and Discounted Museum Days in New York City

Want to become the most cultured New Yorker ever?  Unemployed and looking for ways to spend these cold February days while your friends are at work?  Think it is highway robbery that museums have admission prices of $20?  Oh wait, this is ME!!!  Here is a shameless pick-up straight from about.com on everyday deals, free days, and discounted rates to the city's top museums.  I guess you now have your Friday night planned out 'till after the thaw.

Enjoy, and huge thanks to Heather's NYC Travel Blog!

Everyday Deals

• Forbes Magazine Galleries
  Admission is always free to this interesting museum featuring collectibles such as toy soldiers, Monopoly games and more.
  62 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street)
  212-206-5548
• Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology
  Admission to the museum displaying articles from the permanent collection, as well as changing exhibits on fashion, is always free.
  Seventh Avenue at 27 Street
  Phone: 212-217-5970
• National Museum of the American Indian
  Admission to the the sixteenth museum in the Smithsonian Institution is always free.
  1 Bowling Green, George Gustave Heye Center
  Phone: 212-668-6624
• Goethe Institut
  Weekdays you can experience German language and culture exhibits for free at the Goethe Institut, which is conveniently located across from the Met.
  1014 Fifth Ave
  Phone: 212-439-8700
• Sony Wonder Technology Lab
  Admission is always free to this entertainment and technology museum located in Midtown.
  Sony Plaza Public Arcade at 56th Street and Madison Avenue
  Phone:212-833-5414

Museums With Suggested Admission
In order to make museums affordable for all, these museums have "suggested" admissions. That means you can pay the amount of admission that you can afford and still enjoy access to the museum.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art Although they raised the "suggested" admission to $20, you can pay what you can afford to see one of the greatest art museums in New York City.
  Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue
  Phone: 212-535-7710
• American Museum of Natural History
  The "suggested" admission at the American Museum of Natural History is $15, you can make whatever contribution you see as appropriate to enter the museum (though you'll have to pay full price for planetarium shows, etc.).
  Address: Central Park West at West 79th Street
  Phone: 212-769-5000

Shitty-Chic Goes to Savannah!

I love it when I go on a trip somewhere, and it is everything I hoped it would be and more.  This is exactly how I felt about Savannah, GA.  I had an amazing long weekend, and it was the perfect getaway from NYC: two-hour flight, completely relaxing, and a city truly unique in it's architecture and flavor.  I know this is sacrilege, but I was not ready to come back to NYC....especially since I returned to rainy, wintry temperatures.  Calgon, take me back to the heat!  Here are my top picks on where to stay, what touristy things to do, where to eat, and unique places to shop.

To Stay:

The Mansion on Forsyth Park was just up my alley: quirky, well decorated, and not a cookie cutter hotel in any sense.  Our standard room was about $200 a night with taxes.  The best thing was the location--right on Forsyth Park which was perfect for morning jogs and late afternoon lounging.  There are tons of bed-and-breakfast spots in the historic downtown as well, so you can make your lodging just as much a part of your Savannah experience.

To Do:
- I really like to go jogging in the cities I visit (yes I know I am on vaca...trust me, it's more like plodding than running).  I think it is a great way to go exploring on your own "self-guided" tour, and it helps me get my bearings in a new place.  Obviously it helps when the city is laid out in a grid so I don't get lost.  This is how I discovered most of the restaurants and shops we visited during the day.  Best of all---it's free....and it let's you say OK to that extra slice of peach cobbler.

- There are about a million tours of historic Savannah: trolleys, carriages, walking, etc.  We wanted something different so we sprung for a Segway tour of the city.  Our guide, Sherri, was a firecracker, and it was really funny to see the stares we got.  Best of all, it was basically a private tour for us since it was Mother's Day Sunday.  Cost: $45 for an hour.

- We kept hearing how Savannah is a haunted city so we decided to go on the Paranormal Tour inside the Sorrel-Weed House....the most haunted home in Savannah (no really, this house has been on the History Chanel's Ghost Hunters show).  Our tour started at 10:30pm and began with a walking tour around the city's most famous haunted spots and the stories behind them.  Then, we went back the the Sorrel-Weed house to get the crap scared out of us some more.  Seriously, I think we ran back to the hotel.  This is a must. Cost: $18

To Relax:
- After a hot, humid day of walking around the city we were in a state of delirium.  We walked past the Sweet Water Spa on Abercorn St. and decided a massage (and air conditioning) sounded just up our alley.  The waiting area is chock full of goodies like brownies, lemon bars, wine, and even tequila, but what I loved most were the treatment rooms.  The spa is in an old home, and each room is fully decorated in its Savannah finest.  This was not your usual sterile, sleek, NYC spa experience with dried fruit and nuts, and I loved it.  Our massages were out of this world, and one of the best I have ever had.  Highly recommended to escape the afternoon heat and do some relaxing.

 To Shop:

- One Fish Two Fish is a smart shop of home decor, linens, and a small selection of clothing.  They had a candle there called Savannah, and I heavily regret not buying ten of them.

- The Paris Market was my favorite shop.  Fun, unique bits for the home that would look great anywhere from Savannah to Paris.  My favorite purchases were a unique silver bud vase for my mom (belated Mother's Day gift) and a sachet of fresh lavender to keep my travel bag smelling divine.

- E. Shaver bookstore-- I am a complete sucker for small independent bookstores.  I love nothing more than to putz around the aisles and flip through anything that catches my eye.  This store reminded me of my beloved Biography Books on Bleecker Street that recently closed and to my chagrin will be filled with a Marc Jacobs bookstore. 

To Eat:

Coffee: The Sentient Bean - This coffee shop at the south end of Forsyth Park reminded me of Austin with it's quirky, laid back vibe.  Great iced coffee, and the banana bread was to die for.

Breakfast: J. Christopher's - Another spot I found during my morning run.  Perfect for breakfast or lunch and packed with locals so you know it must be good.  Huevos Avacados---so yum.

Lunch: Six Pence Pub - The only English pub in Savannah.  Great sandwiches, sweet waitstaff, and lots of tea...or beer.  Be sure to get the potato salad with whatever you order.

Cocktails: 700 Drayton - Have cocktails on the outside terrace overlooking Forsyth Park.

Dinner: Lady & Sons - Paula Deen's famous restaurant and a glutton's dream.  If I were to go back, I would order the buffet and not off the menu so I could get a little taste of a bunch of classic Southern dishes.

The Deets:
The Mansion on Forsyth Park
700 Drayton Street

Segway Tours of Savannah
102 E. Liberty Street, Suite 106

Savannah Paranormal Tour
6 W. Harris St. @ Bull


Sweet Water Spa
148 Abercorn St.

One Fish Two Fish
401 Whitaker St.

The Paris Market
36 W. Broughton St @ Whitaker

E. Shaver Booksellers
326 Bull St. @ E. Harris

The Sentient Bean
13 E. Park Ave.

J. Christophers
122 E. Liberty Lane

Six Pence Pub
245 Bull St. @ W. Perry Lane

700 Drayton
700 Drayton St.

Lady & Sons
102 W. Congress


Photos by Barbara K.

Savannah Here We Are!

I tore these pages out of my beloved Domino magazine (RIP) in 2008 to save for the long weekend I would one day spend in Savannah, GA.  Well, the time has come, and I am so excited.  I constantly forget how many cool places there are in the US that I need to visit. When I talk vacation my mind always goes international or beach, but you can do some amazing exploring in just a few hours of flight time and sans passport.  Have a great weekend, and I'll see you on Tuesday!

PS - This trip was spurred by a silent auction win at the GO Project fundraiser.  The weekend getaway package featured (drum roll please......) going to a taping of Paula Deen's cooking show! I once was a Food Network junkie, and I just can't wait to meet her in person. :-)

Insiders Guide for Outsiders - NYC Day 4

Ok, onto the fourth, and last, day of my little bro's visit.  The humidity was high, the allergies were awakened, and we were running on fumes.  What's a brother and sister duo to do?

- Back to Murray's Bagels for breakfast.  I usually don't take guests to the same place twice, however, my brother loves bagels, and we had to attempt maple walnut raisin cream cheese again.  Had my brother wanted something more savory, eggy, or pancakey, I would have gone to La Bonbonniere on 8th Ave. near 12th Street in the West Village.  

- Now we got to the 'touristy' part of the trip.  We got off the F train at Bryant Park (42nd Street) and wandered around, made our way up 5th Ave. to Rockefeller Center, laughed at people waiting in line to shop at Abercrombie, then headed to The Plaza to sit and chill by the fountain.  I recommend doing these things before noon on a Sunday after which it turns into a mob scene of out-of-towners.

- What's a hot, sweaty pair to do next? Head to Central Park: Lounge in the Sheep's Meadow, take pictures, and just sit on a bench and chill out.  At that point we had hit a wall--no more outside, no more walking.

- Let's go to the movies!  Be sure to take the bus somewhere during your stay: you get to see the neighborhoods transition and don't just pop out of the earth in an entirely new place like one does on the subway.  I think a great movie theater is Quad Cinema.  It's in the heart of Greenwich Village and is a total gem.  This way you can see a movie and not feel guilty you spent 2 hours inside.  It is a vintage movie house from before the time of stadium seating, Dolby surround sound, giant screens, and 3-D.

- Dinner at Westville, one of my favorite places.  Great sandwiches, salads, sides, etc.  YUMMM!  Delicious and laid-back, it is perfect for a Sunday night.

- Head to Hudson River Park for a post-dinner walk and to escape the heat.  Go out to the end of a pier;  it is 10 degrees cooler and will most likely have a view of the Statue of Liberty.

- Magnolia Bakery cupcake time.  My bro got two cupcakes, I had two iced molasses cookies, we shared a milk, all was right in the world.

- Heading back to the apt. we strolled through Washington Square Park and found the piano man playing in the middle of the fountain (of course it was turned off).  This guy is truly amazing.  He wheels around an upright piano and plays in the park during random times.  I've seen him weeknights, weekends, day, and night.  We sat for a solid hour and just listened to him play everything from The Postal Service, to The Beatles, to classical music.  Pure heaven.

- Bed time and to EWR in the A.M. 

Insiders Guide for Outsiders - NYC Day 3

It's Saturday....but it feels like Sunday because of not going to work on Friday.  Don't you just love that feeling?  We were so tired from all the walking and Yankee-ing the night before that we ended up sleeping until 11am.  No problem---we are on vacation!  Saturday took us through a complete fest of gluttony: an entire day of delectable delights. I am most likely 10 pounds heavier from i, so thank goodness for all the walking we did this past weekend!

- Roll out of bed around 11 and get out the door by 12:30.  In hindsight this was perfect because there is no way we could have fit in breakfast on top of all the food we ate throughout the day.

- I discovered tickets to the Tastes of the East Village on thedealist.com.  This is a great site for locals and visitors alike.  It is dedicated to deals on great stuff to do in NYC: yoga classes, eating events, boat cruise around Manhattan, etc.  If you are visiting NYC, sign up for their email about two months out and see if anything hits your inbox that tickles your fancy.  Back to the food tour: We went to five restaurants in the East Village, got a tasting of their signature dish at each one, explored the neighborhood, and tried to stay in the shade as much as possible.  

- Between restaurants 4 (cupcake and macaroon at Chicklicious) and 5 (sandwich at Baogette) we needed a breather and went to Washington Square Park to people watch, listen to live jazz, and veg.

- After our sandwich at Baogette it was back to the apt for a quick nap and on to dinner at Cucina di Pesce (glutton!) on E. 4th Street.  I had a friend in from London, so I had to soldier on and continue to nosh.

- Then it was on to Whiskey Ward on the Lower East Side for a friend's birthday (just a quick hello, happy birthday, hugs, muah muah).  Back to the apartment and off to dreamland.

Tomorrow: Batteries dwindling and heat/humidity rising!

My bro eating a lobster roll.  Originally uploaded by B. Kratus.

Insiders Guide for Outsiders - NYC Day 2

Friday was beautiful!  I felt like Ferris Beuller, except I did let my boss know I wouldn't be in.  In honor of the movie, I kept saying, "How can anyone be expected to work on a day like this?"  Then I would pan my eyes around the blue cloudless sky just like in the movie.  And, based on our activities it was more Ferris than ever.  No, we didn't have a vintage Ferrari to buzz around town in, nor did we crash a parade float, however, we did go to a museum and a baseball game.  So here is Day 2 of the insiders for outsiders guide to NYC.

- Head to Murray's Bagels for breakfast.  My bro's favorite is the cinnamon raisin bagel with maple walnut cream cheese.  No maple walnut in the house.  Bummer.

- It's Friday, so the Union Square Greenmarket is amazingly unpacked (the opposite of Saturday's) and we are able to see and sample tons of goodies.

- Up to Central Park on the subway.  We went exploring through the Rambles which really makes you feel like you are in the woods and not anywhere near NYC.

- Then we stopped by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for two hours or so.  The suggested donation is $20.  We gave them $5 each since we wouldn't be there all day.  The roof garden in the summer is a must: amazing views of the skyline and the bamboo jungle installation is very out of this world.

- Time for a snack! Whole Foods is easy, quick, tons of choices, and has a great view of Union Square.

- Back to the apartment for us to have a quick rest, change into some pants, and grab a jacket.  Head to the 4 train to go to Yankee Stadium!  It only takes 25 minutes on the train. :-)

- You always hear about how expensive Yankees tickets are.  I found our tickets on StubHub.com for about $30 each.  We were in the third deck, but due to the marvels of modern engineering you can't see anyone below your tier and feel really close to the field.  Perfect for watching the game and scarfing hot dogs and fries.

- Yankees win!  Baseball cap was purchased to commemorate my first Yankees game.

- Back to the apt on the D train (25 min!) and off to bed....

Image originally uploaded by B. Kratus

The Bro Has Arrived

My little bro is in town this weekend, so I will be testing out new cheap places, revisiting my favorite haunts, and trying to do the coolest New-Yorky thinks on a budget.  I will keep you posted of our goings-on each day for an insider's guide to showing an out-of-towner the city.

Thursday evening:

- Subway from Penn to my place - yay got A train--only 2 stops.

- Drop the bag off and cruise to The High Line (my favorite thing in NYC at the moment)

- Dinner at Bill's Bar and Burger.  Great burgers and fries on a budget.  It's exactly what you want to get your burger fix, and just the right amount of food (ie no food baby/coma).  We split the Oreo shake for dessert.  The menu touts "loads of Oreos" and it does not dissapoint.

- Walking tour of the West Village.

- Swing by The Park for a fundraiser for my NYC AIDS Walk team, The Harvey Milkmen.  Tres successful! 

- Mosey back towards Washington Square Park---bedtime.

Tonight: Yankees game!

Photo courtesy of thehighline.org