Now that my hometown is back on top of the must visit destination list, here’s how to enjoy NYC on the cheap.
Current deals and must-see events include FREE museum admission and concerts, cherry blossoms, Macy’s Flower Show, Holi celebrations, New York Auto Show, Black Comic Book Festival, Cinco de Mayo music and dance, $10 Broadway theater tickets for students and more, which help make New York City the greatest city on the planet year-round, not just in March/April/May.
Nearly everything here is FREE, and nothing is more than $20 per person unless it is a free program with museum admission, supports a charity, or otherwise is a noteworthy special event. Some free events require registration to manage space.
Pick one, some or all and enjoy the best of New York City FREE or cheap.
This best things to do in NYC on the cheap guide is updated at the beginning and middle of each month, with at least six weeks of events to help you plan how to enjoy the greatest city on the planet.
Who is a real New Yorker? It depends on who you ask.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter was interviewed recently by
Time Out New York
NYC Museum News
Frick Madison Closed Permanently
After three years at its temporary space called Frick Madison at 945 Madison Ave. while Henry Clay Frick’s historic and ornate Fifth Avenue mansion underwent a massive renovation, the artwork is returning “home” to East 70th Street, and reopens before the end of 2024.
It will take that long for curators and designers to re-install the precious items, which includes works by Fragonard, Holbein, Rembrandt, Turner, Vermeer, and Whistler, as well as significant sculptures, Chinese porcelain, Oriental carpets, bronzes, and other decorative arts objects.
I really enjoyed seeing the luscious historic collection in the stark, modernist setting of Marcel Breuer’s iconic building, formerly home of the Whitney Museum of American Art, before it moved downtown to new digs in Chelsea. The “brutalist” architecture made the romantic, ethereal artworks feel so much more romantic and ethereal.
The building has been purchased by Sotheby’s, to become an exhibit area for auctions and offices.
Final Exhibition at the Rubin Museum
The home of Himalayan and East Asian art is closing permanently in October, to become a “museum without walls”, offering virtual tours and workshops and loaning its treasures to other museums around the world.
Fittingly, the final exhibition is a look ahead, focusing on current artwork by modern Himalayan and East Asian artists, all focusing on their cultural heritage in new ways, including some artists born here in New York City.
Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now is a Museum-wide exhibition featuring artworks by 32 contemporary artists, many from the Himalayan region and diaspora. Explore all six floors of the Museum, which have been transformed with new commissions and recent works in dialogue with objects from the Rubin’s collection, inviting new ways of encountering traditional Himalayan art.
I attended a media preview, and was most impressed by the new exhibit, which is dominated by a six-floor fabric sculpture blazing with color and dotted with traditional symbols and animals.
FREE admission opening weekend, March 15-17, including a special event on Friday, March 15,
The Opening Night Celebration includes free admission, cocktails, remarks from the curators, a performance by YESHE, live DJ music by Miho Hatori, and a dance party. Attendees can also pick up a free copy of the Spiral magazine “Reframe” issue and will have a unique opportunity to engage with select artists featured in the exhibition in the galleries.
The building – with an architechurally-significant five-story circular staircase – was previously a department store. A museum spokesperson told me the building would be sold, probably in 2024. I told her I hope the sale contract requires that the building NOT be razed for a high-rise condo.
- The Rubin Museum is at 150 W. 17th St. in Chelsea.
NEW – The Awe of the Arctic: A Visual History
This is a must-see an exhibition of narrative accounts, prints, photographs and ephemera from the New York Public Library’s collection documenting Arctic depictions from the 16th century to the present.
FREE through July 13 at the NYPL main building on Fifth Avenue – you know the one – with the lions out front.
There also are FREE talks connected with this new exhibit –
The Mysterious Demise of the 1845 Franklin Expedition
Friday, March 22 at 2pm – Hear author and Arctic historian Ken McGoogan discuss his book Searching for Franklin: New Answers to the Great Arctic Mystery, which offers a surprising new explanation regarding the mysterious demise of the 1845 Franklin expedition.
- FREE, but Register to attend
The Arctic Throughout History: Visual and Cultural Conceptions
Thursday/Friday, April 4/5 – This two-day symposium will bring together scholars working across the humanities who are interested in questions about how the Arctic has been represented and understood historically, and its relevance in our global culture today.
- FREE but Register to attend.
ICYMI – News Worth Noting
Loeb Boathouse in Central Park has reopened, for lunch, brunch and dinner, and for weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other celebrations.
The grand dame of Central Park (at East 72nd Street and Park Drive North) is now run by Legends Hospitality, the food and beverage behemoth responsible for the menu at Yankee Stadium
Loab Boathouse is open Monday-Saturday 11am to 9pm and Sundays 11am to 8pm.
- The new menu features such continental classics as oysters Rockefeller, clam chowder, prime rib, chicken Milanese and Trout Almandine.
- Entrées are $22 to $64, and desserts are all $14.
- There’s also a full bar with everything from champagne to Cosmos.
Shakespeare in the Park moves to multiple parks this summer.
Shakespeare on the move: The Delacorte Theater in Central Park is being renovated, so the Public Theater, which presents the iconic FREE performances, plans to send a smaller production of “The Comedy of Errors” to several parks and plazas around the city between Memorial Day and the end of June.
That will be followed by outdoor screenings of a filmed production of “Much Ado About Nothing” in July, August and early September
Bow Bridge in Central Park has re-opened after repairs that included replacing its wood decking.
- Designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould, the cast iron bridge’s name comes from its signature bow shape.
- A popular spot for photographs, the bridge was constructed by the Bronx-based iron foundry Janes, Kirtland & Co., which also built the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building.
The Bow Bridge is featured on the cover photo of one of my NYC guidebooks.
Brooklyn Public Library locations are no longer be open on Sundays, due to NYC budget cuts in response to the billions being spent to support more than 100,000 recent asylum seekers and other migrants
These NYPL branches also are now closed on Sundays for the same reason:
- The main branch on Fifth Ave., officially known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
- Also in Manhattan – Jefferson Market, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) m Washington Heights
- Bronx – Bronx Library Center, Grand Concourse, Parkchester
- Staten Island – Todt Hill–Westerleigh
Viselka, the iconic Ukranian restaurant on the Lower East Side, has opened an outpost in the downstairs Dining Concourse at Grand Central Terminal.
- The LES location plans to return to 24/7 operation soon. It was halted by the Pandemic.
Junior’s, the iconic cheesecake (and more) restaurant in Brooklyn and Times Square has opened an outpost in Las Vegas.
See Also
More FREE Things to Do in NYC
Things to Do in Staten Island
Best NYC Airport Transportation
Cherry Blossom Season
Where to see cherry blossoms in all five boroughs of New York City, and in New York State
Macy’s Flower Show
Through April 7 -You can also enjoy FREE flowers at the annual display that takes over the main floor and windows of Macy’s Herald Square, with a different theme and designers each year.
New this year: a fragrant pop-up with Christian Dior Parfums celebrating “Miss Dior,” the brand’s first fragrance, which debuted in 1947.
Legendary nose and Dior Perfume Creation Director Francis Kurkdjian has reinterpreted the historic parfum, “infusing it with today’s youthful spirit,” which guests can sample in the “Miss Dior” Gallery.
In addition to a garden of blooms, there are FREE events, focusing on flower arranging, landscaping and such. Details on the Macy’s website and at the store.
Broadway Bridges $10 Theater Tickets for Students
The Broadway League also sponsors a program for NYC public high school students to attend a Broadway show for just $10.
As with Kid’s Night on Broadway, the goal of Broadway Bridges is to make Broadway more accessible to young people.
A teacher or administrator at the High School must also be registered as a chaperone with the Broadway League.
Twenty shows are partnering with the Broadway League and the United Federation of Teachers to make the $10 tickets possible. They are
- Aladdin,
- & Juliet,
- A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical,
- Back to the Future: The Musical,
- Chicago,
- Hadestown,
- Harmony,
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,
- How to Dance in Ohio,
- Kimberly Akimbo,
- Merrily We Roll Along,
- MJ,
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical,
- SIX,
- Spamalot,
- Sweeney Todd,
- The Lion King,
- The Outsiders,
- Water for Elephants and
- Wicked.
Find out more about Broadway Bridges $10 tickets at https://www.broadwaybridges.org/
New York International Auto Show
March 29-April 7 – Kick the tires and small that new car smell. Hundreds of new 2025 and current 2024 model cars, SUVs, trucks, six-figure specialty vehicles and historical ones will be on display at the Javits Convention Center, including the opportunity to drive some of them yourself.
Camp Jeep is back, outdoors, where you can drive multiple models on obstacle courses . There’s a large indoor EV test track downstairs, where you can test drive everything from an affordable Chevy Bolt to a powerful luxury Lucid sedan.
Brand new models to see include –
- Ford is displaying several Mustang models, including the Mach-E and GTD
- Kia is introducing its new luxury sedan, the K4
- Infiniti is introducing its new flagship SUV, the QX80
- Nissan is introducing its new Kicks SUV
- Toyota is showing the newest version of the beloved Land Cruiser
- VW is back with an update to the EV version of its iconic Microbus
- Polestar is introducing its latest model, the Polestar 4 EV sedan
- Honda and Acura also are introducing new models
- Porsche is introducing the all-new EV Macan, plus a display of vintage vehicles
- Audi also returns to the show after several years, with the best-selling models in its line-up
Tickets are $8 for children ages 3-12, $22 for anybody $13 or older. Children under 2 are FREE with a paying adult.
- Purchase tickets online to save time waiting on line at the front door.
- Download the FREE app, for maps of the display area and other information.
Note –
- ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter, a longtime automotive journalist and current President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA) is attending two full days of media events, including conferences on traffic safety and EV infrastructure, and will be reporting from the show with intel and photos.
Bargemusic FREE Concerts
NYC’s floating concert hall, moored under the Brooklyn Bridge is back for the 2024 season, with FREE weekend concerts.
Walk across the gangplank of a renovated coffee barge into a “wonderfully intimate wood-paneled room with thrilling views of lower Manhattan and excellent acoustics.”
This is the Spring performance schedule – the day’s program is announced at the beginning of the program.
There are no reservations, so arrive early enough to get a seat. FREE, but contributions are welcomed. There also are ticketed concerts – check the link for the schedule.
- Saturday, March 23 at 2 pm
- Saturday, March 30 at 2 pm / Sunday, March 31 at 2 pm
- Saturday, April 6 at 2 pm
- Saturday, April 13 at 2 pm / Sunday, April 14 at 2 pm
- Saturday, April 20 at 2 pm / Sunday, April 21 at 2 pm
- Saturday, May 11 at 2 pm / Sunday, May 12 at 2 pm
- Saturday, May 25 at 2 pm
Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden
Through April 21 – It’s a sure sign of spring when the fabulous Orchid Show return to the fabulous NY Botanical garden.
There is no more fragrant display of beauty in the Bronx than the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show, and this year’s theme, “Florals in Fashion,” is perhaps its most glamorous iteration yet, and fits with New York City being the fashion capital of the world (Sorry Paris and Milan)
NYBG tapped contemporary designers Hillary Taymour, Olivia Cheng, and Kristen Alpaugh to create pieces inspired by the vibrant blooms, and it’s also inviting guests to “walk the runway” and show off their own orchid-like looks.
- Tickets are $35 for adults, $31 for students, and $15 for kids, for the entire garden, including the orchids.
Holi Celebration at South Street Seaport
Saturday, March 23 – Join the South Street Seaport neighborhood Holi celebration and enjoy free admission to the South Street Seaport Museum and historic ships at Pier 16, puppet shows dance shows and more.
Holi originated on the Indian Subcontinent as a vibrant festival of colors, symbolizing the onset of Spring. Today, this joyous celebration has transcended borders and is embraced worldwide as a spirited way to welcome the season, promote inclusivity, and revel in playful and colorful festivities. The festivities start at 11am aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree, where you’ll discover the culinary delights of Holi and savor a tasty treat. The celebration continues on Seaport Square, featuring the Colors of Krishna’s Love puppet show, which shares the history of Holi; interactive dance workshops and performances; and the iconic throwing of colorful pigments––the quintessential part of Holi. After the colorful revelry, head to Pier 16 and participate in the creation of a collaborative mural inspired by the balloon fights that characterize Holi celebrations across India. These activities, presented in collaboration with The Culture Tree and the Seaport, promise a day filled with cultural richness, interactive experiences, and the shared spirit of Holi. Foods of Holi – 11am | Wavertree | FreeBegin the Holi celebration with a family-friendly book reading and a captivating talk on the traditional foods of Holi by Priya Krishna, an award-winning food reporter for The New York Times. Priya will share insights from her new book, Priya’s Kitchen Adventures, an illustrated cookbook for kids and parents that draws inspiration from her childhood experiences traveling the globe with her family. Following the reading, there will be an interactive cooking segment led by Anu Sehgal, founder and CEO of The Culture Tree, which will culminate in a tasting of Shahi Toast, a sweet Holi delicacy. Participants will also receive the recipe to recreate this treat at home. Advanced registration is encouraged for this free family program but walkups will be accommodated as possible. Please be aware that the treat contains nuts, dairy, and gluten. Holi Collaborative Mural – 11am–5pm | Pier 16 | FreeVisitors of all ages are invited to continue the Holi celebration on Pier 16 with the Museum by joining in to create a vibrant collaborative mural inspired by the colorful pigment and balloon fights of the annual festival. Every participant will be provided with a colorful paintball to add their touch to the mural, creating a collective masterpiece. Let’s roll up our sleeves together and celebrate the kaleidoscope of colors that define Holi. Supplies are limited. This activity takes place outdoors at Pier 16 and walkups are welcome. No additional registration required. |
12th Annual Black Comic Book Festival
Friday/Saturday, April 26/27 – Get ready to cosplay, discover the newest names in graphic novels, meet groundbreaking artists, designers and writers, at the 12th Annual Black Comic Book Festival.
It’s FREE to attend, but registration is required both for in-person and for virtual events.
SchomCom Exhibitors will be onsite at the Schomburg Center on Friday from 10 AM- 7 PM & Saturday from 10 AM- 6 PM.
You can find a complete list of our vendors here: www.schomcom.org.
You can also purchase featured titles and merchandise from the Schomburg Shop: https://schomburgshop.com.
- The Schomburg Center is a branch of the NYPL, at 135th St. and Malcolm X Blvd.
See Also
Best FREE Things in NYC Year-Round
Late Night Shows Taped in New York City
The late night shows taped in NYC are one of the most popular tickets in town. Here’s how to get FREE tickets to be in the audience.
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
-
Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
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Jon Stewart Returns to The Daily Show
First Weekend of the Month Museum Deals
Free Admission to Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Friday, April 5
UNIQLO NYC Nights are the first Friday of each month, 4–8 pm.
New York City residents get free admission courtesy of UNIQLO, but everyone can enjoy an evening out in our galleries with paid admission.
See new art in the galleries, enjoy music by DJs from The Lot Radio, grab a drink at the pop-up bar, get creative with drop-in drawing sessions, see a film in the theaters, and enjoy the spring weather in the lovely outdoor sculpture garden.
Free First Fridays at Neue Galerie, Friday, Fri., April 5
First Fridays at Neue Galerie offer free admission and extra hours to closing, the first Friday of the month.
Visitors are admitted free at 5 p.m. and the galleries remain open until 8 p.m. No registration is required, and admission is first-come, first-served.
Special exhibition “Max Beckmann: The Formative Years, 1915-1925” is now on view, and the Book Store and Design Shop stay open late, too.
Free First Fridays at Poster House, Friday, Fri., April 5
Poster House is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the global history of posters. First Fridays free admission is all day, 10am to 9pm
The two main exhibitions currently on display for the fall season are Art Deco: Commercializing the Avant-Garde and We Tried to Warn You! Environmental Crisis Posters, 1970-2020. Both exhibits will be open through February 25, 2024.
Every First Friday is different, with tours, workshops, performances, and activities, to further engage visitors with the exhibitions.
- Poster House is at 119 West 23 St. in Chelsea. tel. 617-447-7453
Free Fridays & Sundays at The Whitney Museum of American Art
The Meatpacking District art museum has dropped its “pay-what-you-wish” system on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on the second Sunday of every month, when admission will be free for all visitors.
Second Sundays offers free all-day admission to visitors and special programming for families. On the second Sunday of every month, guests can enjoy all-ages arts & crafts activities, tours, classes, and other special events connected to exhibitions on view at the Whitney or significant community events like Earth Day or Pride Month.
The inaugural installment on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend celebrates Black artists whose work is featured in the Whitney’s collections and current exhibitions, like “Henry Taylor: B Side.”
Other programs on view during the launch of both Free Fridays and Second Sundays include “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten: The Art of Harry Smith, Inheritance, Ruth Asawa Through Line,” and “Natalie Ball: bilwi naats Ga’niipci.” Also on view will be the museum’s permanent collection exhibitions, featuring artists such as Edward Hopper, Kara Walker, Georgia O’Keeffe, Kevin Beasley, Faith Ringgold, Lee Krasner, Jasper Johns, Alexander Calder, Jacob Lawrence, Carrie Mae Weems, Andrea Carlson, and Clarissa Tossin.
The Whitney hopes free admission will make the museum more enticing to potential visitors and open the doors to a wider audience.
Tickets during the free admission periods must be reserved in advance.
Free Saturdays at the Jewish Museum
There is FREE admission every Saturday.
Israeli artist Zoya Cherkassky’s “7 October 2023,” a collection of 12 graphic, gut-wrenching drawings depicting the horrors of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, is currently on view at the Jewish Museum.
It’s the first time these works are displayed in public. “It’s cultural activism; it’s art activism,” James Snyder, the museum’s new director, tells our Julia Gergely. “It’s not about the complex politics of what’s going on. It’s about artists producing work in response to trauma and tragedy happening in the world.”
- The Jewish Museum is at 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St.
Cinco de Mayo Festival in Queens
Saturday, May 4 – Celebrate the culture of Mexico, with music and dance performances, at this annual celebration at the Kupferberg Center.
Tickets are on sale now for just $20 – and no service charge
Free Tours of Hart Island
Hart Island is now open to the public. Since 1869, more than 1 million New Yorkers have been laid to rest on the island.
NYC Parks is now offering visits twice per month so New Yorkers can learn about its important history and see the beauty of the island and enjoy picture postcard views of the city.
You can put your name in the lottery for a free walking tour here.
- Tours are Tuesdays, 10am to 1pm
This NYC Best Things to Do Calendar is updated at the beginning and middle of each month.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is the author or editor of numerous NYC guidebooks and apps.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and a current member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA).
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
Nancie Steinberg says
This is great! I love exploring my city and being made aware of what’s going on and where to go!