Although New York is an expensive city, there are plenty of things you can do for free or cheap. The city is best seen on foot. In addition to the most current cheap options listed below, check out the web sites Cheapo New York and FreeNYC.
VII gallery puts photojournalist focus on Georgian War
Top-shelf photo agency VII opened their own gallery in Dumbo almost a year ago, but the current work is the first time they’re showing an exhibition designed specifically for this space with their own team’s pictures.
It also unusual as it has a very ripped-from-the headlines feel as the topic is the maybe-it’s-over-maybe-it’s-not war in Georgia.
“Georgia: The August War” showcases of the work of three VII photographers sent to cover the fighting for three different purposes. Ron Haviv was on assignment for Dispatches magazine, Marcus Bleasdale shot for Human Rights Watch, and Donald Weber was working for Newsweek.
In case there’s any doubt which Georgia, one of the portraits is of a giant Stalin mural still displayed in one of the schools damaged in this past summer’s attacks. The powerful images capture not just the brutality but the deep worry on everyone’s faces, even the children. Mixed among the destruction is a darkly comic moment on video as the photo team realizes the unexploded cluster bombs a few feet away will explode if any one of the chickens milling about merely steps on one.
The Georgia exhibition will be on display through January 5 when it comes down to make way for a series of exhibitions on war crimes in Bosnia and Iraq that will ultimately coincide with the New York Photo Festival from May 14 through 24.
The play stars John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer and Haley Joel Osment.
“If ticket sales spurt dramatically, I’ll be glad to extend the show,” Producer Ben Sprecher told Playbill.com.
Judging by the clip (above) from the show, it’s pretty clear what the cast, or at least Mamet, would have to say about the provisional closing notice.
“American Buffalo” had been scheduled to play through April 29 at the Belasco Theatre, located at 111 W. 44th St., map. Regular tickets for the five remaining shows are priced from $51.50 to $116.50. Premium tickets are priced from $226.50 to $251.50.
The show is also offering a deal that lets you buy one ticket and get another ticket for a nickel at some performances.
Ripped-from-your-pocketbook New York T-shirt slogan
There’s a good bet the perky trademark lawyers at I (heart) NY won’t let this live for long, but for now you can now get the latest sign-o-the-times riff on the NY state tourism slogan.
For other NYC-themed Ts, check out the Queens collection (including the Sunnyside Arch and the World’s Fair Pavilion,) as well as the Brooklyn collection at Live Poultry, (including the Kentile Floors sign and the “R” building in Red Hook.)
Free museum hours in NYC for Fall/Winter 2008/2009
Many New York City museums set aside at least a few hours each week when the public is allowed in for free.
That’s in addition to the museums that are always free, or operate under a not-well-advertised “suggested donation” admission, which allows everyone to pay whatever admission price they like anytime. For example, at the Met Museum, you’re required to pay only a penny for full access, but their website does carry this request: “To help cover the costs of special exhibitions, we ask that you please pay the full suggested amount.” Also note that free hours don’t always get you full museum access at some spots.
The good news is that since NewYorkology’s June survey of free museum hours most of the changes are in the favor of the museum goers. Among the museums recently reopened after renovations, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum now has free weekend hours and the Museum of Arts and Design has resumed free Thursday night admission, (but its normal admission has jumped to $15 from $9 now that it’s on Columbus Circle.)
The Studio Museum in Harlem now has free hours on Sunday and the Museum at Eldridge Street is now free Monday mornings.
Mondays Museum at Eldridge Street - opens for free tours every half hour from 10 a.m. to noon (normally $10) Rubin Museum of Art - Free admission to seniors only (65 and up) all day, but only on the first Monday of every month (normally $7 for seniors)
Tuesdays Brooklyn Botanic Garden - Free all day every Tuesday, all year around, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (normally $8) China Institute Gallery - free from 6 to 8 p.m. (normally $7) Wave Hill gardens - Free all day during off-peak months (November through April, and again in July through August) and free 9 a.m. to noon during peak months (May, June, September and October) (normally $6) Museum of the Moving Image is closed for renovations, except for the “Behind the Screen” exhibition which is free with an “optional contribution of $5” Morgan Library & Museum - Free access to the McKim rooms (Mr. Morgan’s library and study) from 3 to 5 p.m. (full museum access $12)
It’s not quite time for Winter Restaurant Week, but something like it.
Today marks the start of OpenTable Appetite Stimulus Plan, which allows diners to get three-course $24 lunches or $35 dinners at some of New York City’s best restaurants including the 21 Club, Bar Boulud, Grayz, Perry Street, Bryant Park Grill, Kittichai, Mai House, Nougatine at Jean Georges, Tabla and Frankie & Johnnie’s Steakhouse.
The prices are per person and do not include drinks, tax or tip.
The deals run through Friday.
OpenTable.com is a free, highly reputable online booking site that lets you make meal reservations painlessly.
On that same theme, Crain’s has an unsettling story about restaurant recession specials that quotes one chef calling the business climate worse than after Sept. 11.
That certainly means closures to come.
In the meantime, Crain’s outlines several deals, including Park Avenue Bistro’s two-for-one meal deal on Mondays and Tuesdays starting next week.
Elsewhere, NYConvergence points to the launch of LunchTimeDeals, which has text coupons including 10 percent off at Johnny Utah’s and The Waterstone Grill or an $8.95 Three-Course Prix Fixe Winter Lunch Special at Focacceria.
Rock Center tree arrives Friday; lighting set for Dec. 3
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree — a 72-foot-tall Norway Spruce — will arrive in New York City on Friday, in anticipation of the lighting ceremony set for December 3.
That’s the official word from the PR team at Rockefeller Center who won’t reveal the tree’s location until midnight tonight. However, they did say this year’s tree is 40-feet in diameter, weighs 8 tons and is currently growing at a location about 90-minutes away from New York City.
The big lighting ceremony is set for a Wednesday night, December 3. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will be broadcast live from 7 to 9 p.m. with the actual lighting set for 8:55 p.m.
After that, the tree’s lights will stay on daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., switching to a 24-hour schedule on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
The tree will remain on display above the Rock Center ice rink until January 9.
For details, call (212) 632-3975.
Update: The tree is coming from the home of the Varanyak family in Trenton/Hamilton, New Jersey.
Picture credit: The 2006 Rockefeller Center tree under scaffolding. Amy Langfield/NewYorkology
Tickets are now on sale for Kids Night on Broadway, the annual promotion that allows you to get a ticket for free for a child age 6 to 18 … as long as you buy a non-discounted adult ticket to go along with it.
And considering all the deals out there, the Kids Night bargain might not be the best bang for your buck. However, you can rest assured that dragging a tantrum-prone tyke to Broadway on February 3 and 4 might get you more sympathetic looks than glares.
Tickets went on sale Monday, and unfortunately some shows have already sold out, including, you guessed it, “Wicked” and “Billy Elliot.”
However, you can still get tickets to “Shrek,” “The American Plan,” “Avenue Q,” “Chicago,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Grease,” “Gypsy,” “In the Heights,” “Lion King,” “Mamma Mia,” “Mary Poppins,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “39 Steps” and “Young Frankenstein.”
Participating Off-Broadway shows are “Altar Boyz” and “Stomp.”
Note that note all shows are suitable for all ages.
Ticket holders also get to attend a pre-theater party February 3 at Madame Tussauds New York. Rosie O’Donnell is the National Ambassador for this year’s Kids’ Night on Broadway.
What's open Thanksgiving Day in New York City 2008
The Macy’s 82nd Thanksgiving Day Parade is the main event in New York City on turkey day, but there are a number of other places open for business on the holiday.
In addition to the always-there, always-free attractions in New York City — such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Staten Island Ferry, Central Park and Times Square — here are some of the places you can expect to find open on November 27, 2008:
Broadway Thanksgiving Week schedule includes Thanksgiving Day performances at “Avenue Q,” “Chicago,” “Spring Awakening,” “Phantom of the Opera” and White Christmas” — all are 8 p.m. shows
Euripides' 'Bacchae' set for Shakespeare in the Park
As the Public Theater prepares a Broadway launch for “Hair” - one of last summer’s Shakespeare in the Park offerings — it’s also quietly mentioned a plan for Central Park 2009: Euripides’ Greek Tragedy “The Bacchae.”
The full notice on the theater’s Shakespeare in the Park webpage states: “Shakespeare in the Park 2009 will include THE BACCHAE. Check back soon for future updates!”
Meanwhile, plans have been announced for “Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” to move into Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theater with previews set to begin February 13. Opening night will be March 5.
