Editing New York City (section)

=== Local suggestions ===

[http://www.nikkiyeager.com/apps/blog/show/5325171-what-i-wish-i-could-tell-every-couchsurfer-about-nyc Tips from a NYC host]

==== Tourist Destinations ====
* '''Central Park''' LOVE the free tours (Wed./Sat./Sun.)(http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/programs_walkingtours
* '''Union Square''' there always seems to be something going on, and if not, you can either shop, or just walk around or people watch.
* '''Staten Island Ferry''' cheap and fun to get out on the water (and see the Statue of Liberty).
* '''Broadway''' Hit up the TKTS booth at 46th between 8th and Broadway for day-of tickets. Line-up usually starts around 12/1 for the 3 pm sales for shows that night. You can also try the rush tickets for Rent, Avenue Q, and Wicked the day of for 25 dollar tickets.
* '''St. John the Divine''' is spectacular, one of the significant architectural spectacles in the city. Check out Sunday Mass. I'm not a believer, but it's pretty.
* '''Frick''' The MOMA and the Met are amazing (but the MOMA is $20 a pop, except Friday nights, for free) but the Frick has a lot going on. The Bellini, St. Francis in the Desert, is one of the greatest paintings you'll ever see. The Whistlers, Turners, Goyas, and all kinds of cool stuff, are just terrific. And it's not as crowded as the other two.
* '''Top of the Rock''' was magical (still amazed at quality of my pics of Empire State Building from there) as was rest of that area like the ice skating at Rockefeller

==== Best NYC View ====
* Take the PATH Train to '''Hoboken or Jersey City''' for a great view of the Manhattan skyline while you walk along their waterfront promenade. When you return to the WTC station, you circle through the entire pit and get a good view. 
* Take the PATH out to Hoboken, and take '''NY Waterways''' back from Hoboken to Pier 11 - you circle the south end of Manhattan, get a good view of the buildings, Governor's island, and you can see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty (from a distance). $5.50/person.
* Walk across the '''Brooklyn Bridge!''' Perfect views of the city, and awesome pictures. Head over to Grimaldi's for Pizza, or the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, both down by the river (under the bridge). Take the train over to Brooklyn and then walk back towards Manhattan. Much better than the other way around and having to turn around to see the skyline.

==== Shows ====
* $5 improv show in the '''UCB theater''' (26th and 8th Ave).
* Indie performance art show at '''the Kitchen''' (19th and 10th Ave)
* '''Comedy Cellar''' Pricey but have always had a great time there.
* movies at '''Angelika''' http://www.angelikafilmcenter.com/angelika_index.asp?hID=1
* Free '''David Letterman''' standby tickets on taping days on West side of Broadway South of Ed Sullivan (heading down into heart of Times Square) Theatre between 12:30 (thereabouts) till about 3pm, people with green clip boards saying "Free David Letterman Tickets!" You have to answer an EASY Question for the ticket... When I went main guest was Alec Baldwin...
* '''ABC NO RIO''' has great punk matinees and art shows. The history of ABC is inspiring. Hopefully they have copies of the zine that tells the history. Maybe Blue Stockings will have it. www.abcnorio.org

==== Hangouts, Bars & Clubs ====
* '''Fat Cat!''' Just by Christopher Street station on Christopher Street. Big basement, live jazz 'til the following morning - table football, ping pong, pool, scrabble and chess. Love it.
* '''The Revival''' of course, with its floor of couches and a nice backyard ... And so many memories from thursday nights. 15th street bw Irvin Place & 3rd Ave
* '''The Crocodile Lounge''', one free full pizza for every drink ! 14th street bw 2nd & 1st Ave
* '''Hotel QT''', free indoor swimming pool/steambath. 45th street bw Broadway and 6th Ave
* '''Lit''' every tuesday night, the most horrible live music you can hear in town, and free vodka from 11 to midnight. 2nd Ave at 5th street
* '''McSoreley's Ale House''' - 7th st bet 2nd / cooper ave
* if you like '''hookah''', '''Cozy's''' on 1st ave and 1st street is wonderful.
* '''Karaoke'''- there are SO many great karaoke bars in the city. I especially like the karaoke room idea (share a room with friends) Try Sing Sing on the Lower East Side.
* '''Xunta''' (174 1st Ave, cross 11th street), Spanish tapas place with great Flamenco performers on thursdays and saturdays. Their tapas list is just mind blowing (their prices too, alas)
* '''Swift''' (308 Spring street), Irish pub with traditional irish music on tuesdays. Makes me really feel like being in Ireland :)
* ''''Slate''' - Great for pool, ping pong in a sort of clubby setting.
* '''Shade''' On the corner of W 3rd and Sullivan. Amazing wine bar, great crapes. Very small, trendy, and chill.
* '''No Malice Palace'''. E 3rd Street between Avenues A and B. A bar/lounge with a back patio and a DJ on weekends. Gets really crowded, but is really fun.
* If you're willing to venture into Queens a bit...the '''Beer Garden'''. Take the N, W to Astoria Blvd. Go E on 31st St towards 24th Rd. Turn left. You can't miss it. A great place to hang out when the weather's nice. A very mixed crowd.
* Best night out- '''Don't Tell Mama's Piano Bar'''- 343 West 46th Street. So fun! Slighty pricey drinks but the entertainment is worth it! Get there before 9 for seats for your whole group!
* '''South Street Sea Port''' is another favorite spot in NYC- there's shopping, the Bodies exhibit, you can watch the ships go by, sitting out along the East River. Great at sunset surrounded by the bridges.
* '''Kurve''' - Restaurant/bar/lounge - corner of 5th st and 2nd Ave. Open LATE. Thursday nights are free live jazz. It's a hip, modern looking place, with couches on one side of the bar and tables on the other. The bar is constantly growing, with many interesting mixed drinks. They just got a brand new set of whiskey. The food is a wonderfully unique modern Thai. The owner, Andy, is a great guy. Tell the bartender's that Al sent you.
* '''Nu Blu''' - Live Latin Jazz club - East side of Ave C between 4th St and 5th St. Music every night of the week. Always a cover, from $5 to $10. Gets a little packed on weekends. Hard to find, but always amazing music.
* '''Spike Hill''' - Live Jazz and Irish Bar - Corner of Bedford Ave and N 7th St in Wiiliamsburg - Great selection of whiskey and scotch in the irish half, great jazz in the jazz half.
* '''Tea Lounge''' at 837 Union Street in Park Slope has really good wine, coffe, cakes and other goodies. The live bands are really good (all bands are from brooklyn) and the area you sit in looks really nice. Total eye candy.
* '''The Royal''' at 506 5th Ave in Park Slope: on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each mounth has a really good dance party that is off the hook. Early in the night you have really upbeat dance music, then in the middle of the night you have some hip hop mixed with soul and some latin music. Then at the end of the night you have a live drummer and the DJ spins some really trippy beats.

==== Shops ====
* '''The Strand bookstore''' 18 miles of new and used books and really cheap! Corner of Broadway and 12th, near Union Square.
* '''Midtown Comics''' 200 W 40th Street (Corner of 7th Avenue)- is a great place to see alternative nyers and load up on comic books...
* '''The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company''' in Brooklyn (372 Fifth Avenye), for when you need to get your hands on a cheap supply of wonderflownium for your freeze ray. They are the exclusive dealers of Aardvark Bros. MFG Co (purveyors of Truth Serum, Invisibility Potions, and other supplies) However, you can only purchase anything as long as you swear that it will only be used for good... (all proceeds go towards 826 NYC) 
* '''McNally Johnson''' (formerlly McNally Robinson) bookshop in NoLita on Mulberry and Spring Street. I buy books here all the time, even when I get a pretty decent discount at another place. The cafe is lovely and gets pastries from Bathlazar, the staff is friendly, and there's free wi-fi a with purchase. Plus there are plenty of chairs around for browsing purposes.
* '''Blue Stockings Bookstore''' puts on low cost or free cultural events. It´s locate in the Lower East Side.
* Brooklyn Based's [http://brooklynbased.net/email/bb-guide-vintage-shops/ '''Guide to Vintage Stores''']

==== Free & Cheap Events ====

[http://www.freenyc.net/ Free NYC]

[http://www.theskint.com/ The Skint]

[http://www.nycgo.com/free/Official NYC site of Free Activities]

[http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/nyc/ Free Tours By Foot] Like tours offered in Europe, this company offers free, tip-based New York sightseeing tours that are informative and not aimed at your typical tourist. Fun!

==== Summer Events ====

[http://www.rivertorivernyc.com/ River to River]

[http://www.celebratebrooklyn.org/ Celebrate Brooklyn]

[http://www.summerstage.org/ NYC Summerstage]

[http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/ Hudson River Park]

[http://www.lincolncenter.org/ Lincoln Center]

[http://www.centralpark.com/ Central Park]

[http://www.bryantpark.org/ Bryant Park]