It's expensive to live here in New York. Maybe not London-expensive or Tokyo-expensive, but plenty expensive nonetheless. Probably the only US city where it costs more simply to let the force of gravity hold you in place is San Francisco.
Still, even with our high housing costs and such, there are ways to have a good time for little or no money. Sure, it costs more to go to the movies in The Big Apple than it costs anywhere else. And it's long been rumored that one needs a winning lottery ticket in order to buy a ticket to a Broadway show.
But why would you want to spend your money to see 42nd Street? That's for tourists, as we're fond of saying. And you didn't move here to go to the movies, now, did you?
There are all kinds of other entertainments available. Some include poetry readings, art openings and concerts in small spaces. And you can even get into most museums for little or no cash--as long as the admission price is "suggested" or a donation. Of course, if you're a student with a valid ID card, you can get into a lot of places for free or not much.
(Once, years ago, I was dating a woman from Italy. I made it a point of showing her some of our fair city's cultural treasures. One day we went to the American Museum of Folk Art. I got us both in for free when I told the young man and woman at the counter that we were both students: I was teaching her English and she was teaching me Italian.)
But the real entertainment in this city is found on its streets. I guess you could say that about other large cities. Here in New York, though, you can see things that you never imagined. Then there are the performers. The best, to me, are the ones who don't have to rustle a hair on their heads to perform. I have seen folks made up and costumed as various public statues and other structures, and their ruse wasn't apparent until they passed their donation cups!
Better yet are people who can stand, sit or lie beside street signs and other markers:
I'd put money in that guy's donation cup!
Still, even with our high housing costs and such, there are ways to have a good time for little or no money. Sure, it costs more to go to the movies in The Big Apple than it costs anywhere else. And it's long been rumored that one needs a winning lottery ticket in order to buy a ticket to a Broadway show.
But why would you want to spend your money to see 42nd Street? That's for tourists, as we're fond of saying. And you didn't move here to go to the movies, now, did you?
There are all kinds of other entertainments available. Some include poetry readings, art openings and concerts in small spaces. And you can even get into most museums for little or no cash--as long as the admission price is "suggested" or a donation. Of course, if you're a student with a valid ID card, you can get into a lot of places for free or not much.
(Once, years ago, I was dating a woman from Italy. I made it a point of showing her some of our fair city's cultural treasures. One day we went to the American Museum of Folk Art. I got us both in for free when I told the young man and woman at the counter that we were both students: I was teaching her English and she was teaching me Italian.)
But the real entertainment in this city is found on its streets. I guess you could say that about other large cities. Here in New York, though, you can see things that you never imagined. Then there are the performers. The best, to me, are the ones who don't have to rustle a hair on their heads to perform. I have seen folks made up and costumed as various public statues and other structures, and their ruse wasn't apparent until they passed their donation cups!
Better yet are people who can stand, sit or lie beside street signs and other markers:
I'd put money in that guy's donation cup!
