Cheap Hotels

This is a picture of the famous Plaza Hotel on Central Park South and Fifth Avenue, a New York City landmark and one of the world's finest hotels. Isn't it beautiful? Well, you're NOT staying there! It's closed until 2007 for renovations, but even if it were open, at four figures per night, only your rich uncle could afford a room there. As Manhattan is generally not cheap, the budget-minded traveller has to do a little work.

There are a lot of nice places to stay in Manhattan, from luxury to bargain basement, and a lot of travel sites promising great deals on accomodations like Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, or Hotels.com. Finding a hotel that's clean, cheap and in the right neighborhood, however, can be a bit of a challenge. Suggestion: in addition to checking out the popular travel sites and reading their summaries or going directly to a hotel's website, look for and read all the customer reviews you can find on any place you are seriously considering. Sites like Epinions.com are good for this. Although you'll run into the occasional guy venting about a particularly unlucky, bad experience, on the whole you will get a good feel for what a place has to offer, from a generally unbiased perspective.

That said, I've dug up a few decent options for those wanting to stay in New York City on the cheap. Beyond their being affordable, other important criteria were that they also are clean, safe, friendly and convenient. Here ya go:

Chelsea Star Hotel
If you're coming to NYC to party, then this is the place. The rooms are small, but many are waaay cool, with various themes -- like the Star Trek room or the Buddha room. There's the option of going the dorm-style route with a shared bath or getting an entirely private room. It's also just a block away from Penn Station, which means it's very convenient to the buses and trains. Dorm rates start at $25, private rooms at $75. Not bad at all for Manhattan.

Hostelling International
Uptown on the west side, near Central Park and Columbia University, this one also offers dorm style or private rooms, along with laundry facilities and big lockers. There's good local ethnic food in the area, and it's convenient to the subway. Beds start at $29.

Jazz on the Park
They're hostels, but good ones. They actually have three different locations now, at Central Park West and 106th street, "Jazz on the Town" on the lower east side (E. 14th st.), and "Jazz on Harlem" on the upper east side at 128th st. All are convenient to the subways, are clean and friendly and have good facilities like lockers, a lounge, and linens included. Beds start at $22, and the Central Park location offers private rooms too. Group rates are available as well.

Wherever you choose to stay, make reservations as well in advance as possible. This may be common sense to some, but the good places can fill up months ahead of time, especially during busy periods. You don't want to get stuck in some overpriced, rat-infested, droopy-mattressed hell hole -- which can happen if you're not careful.

International Bizarre

For our viewer that appreciates Danish crafts, I thought you might enjoy visiting Salvior Kiosk. Though they don't currently feature Danish merchandise, the owners of Salvior Kiosk search different regions and frequently rotate their wares with the treasures they find.

The store is filled with unique and rare finds. Currently on display are items from Japan. Every three months the store celebrates a different part of the world. Next up... Sweden, April 1st - August 1st. Mexico, August 1st - December 1st.

Many of these items make one-of-a-kind gifts without having to travel the world to find them... and without spending a fortune. You'll find everything from whimsical jewelry, electronics, nifty gadgets, home decor, stationery, and my favorite... journals!

You'll find Salvor Kiosk at one of the busiest shopping arteries of Manhattan: 95 Spring Street, Second Floor, NYC, PH: 212-226-5155... or salvorkiosk.com.

楽しみなさい (Enjoy!)

Me gusto Mexican Food!

New York is full of those taco places, that look like Chinese take out places, but serve mexican food. Yes, it's confusing. Ok, I digress. Those places are cheap and are good in a hurry, but don't provide you with the true Mexican flavor I crave. Let me take you to the East Village where delicious, belly filling cheap food is in abundance and you may even have money left over for a tattoo. Mary Ann's is a great Mexican restaurant with amazing food and no matter what you order, you will be satisfied. I have to give Mary Ann's the award for best salsa and chips-crunchy, yummy and you can't just have one. The menu is huge with a mix of traditional Mexican fare, to safer dishes like overstuffed burritos and taco platters. Don't forget to try their Margaritas, cause they are lip smacking good as well. Oh, and this place is great for vegetarians as well. They have several dishes including enchiladas, that are meatless and delicious. Mary Ann's opens at 5pm daily and they only accept cash. No credit cards...but there is an ATM on 2nd Ave/E 3rd, so cash is not too far away. Enjoy the music and have fun at Mary Ann's.

Mary Ann's is a local NYC chain and they have a few locations. I have only been to the East Village location-but heard they are all great.

Mary Ann's
86 2nd Ave/at 5th Street
New York 10003
212-475-5939

Also try the Mary Ann's at 2454 Broadway (212 877 0132)and 1803 2nd Avenue (212 426 8350).

http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=5&restaurantid=2479&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=43&home=Y

Cheap theater you say?

Cait here with this week's batch of cheap tickets for hot shows in NYC.
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If you are feeling short on time and cash, try Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind for $11 to $16 at The Kraine theater on 85 E 4th St. in Greenwich Village. The Chicago-based Neo-Futurists perform their collection of 30 short plays in only 60 minutes. The goofball concoction is the longest-running theater show in Chicago's history, with over 15 years of performances to its credit. Fri & Sat 10:30pm Call 212-352-3101 Fri, Feb 24, 10:30 pmSat, Feb 25, 10:30 pmFri, Mar 03, 10:30 pmSat, Mar 04, 10:30 pmFri, Mar 10, 10:30 pmSat, Mar 11, 10:30 pm
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Or if you want something more touching - Valiant - A multimedia docudrama in which 13 women detail their war experiences, presented by the Unofficial New York Yale Cabaret theater. It is playing at West Bank Cafe's Laurie Beechman Theatre 407 W 42nd St in Midtown Phone: (212) 695-6909 Price Info: $15 Schedule varies. Opens Feb 24, thru Mar 11 Call for this event: 212-352-3101 Fri, Feb 24, 08:00 pmSat, Feb 25, 08:00 pmFri, Mar 03, 08:00 pmSat, Mar 04, 05:30 pmSat, Mar 04, 08:00 pmSun, Mar 05, 02:00 pmThu, Mar 09, 05:30 pmFri, Mar 10, 08:00 pmSat, Mar 11, 08:00 pm
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In the mood for something more classical for your cheap tickets? A Parsifal at P.S.122 theater 150 1st Ave in the Village John Jahnke, a director with a splendid visual eye, presents the world premiere of Sontag’s script, which depicts a contemporary Parsifal engulfed in aimless cruelty. Price Info: $10-$20 Wed-Fri 8:30pm, Sat 5 & 8:30pm, Sun 5pm. Opens Feb 23, thru Mar 5 Call for this event: 212-477-5288 Thu, Feb 23, 08:30 pmFri, Feb 24, 08:30 pmSat, Feb 25, 05:00 pmSat, Feb 25, 08:30 pmSun, Feb 26, 05:00 pmWed, Mar 01, 08:30 pmThu, Mar 02, 08:30 pmFri, Mar 03, 08:30 pmSat, Mar 04, 05:00 pmSat, Mar 04, 08:30 pmSun, Mar 05, 05:00 pm
Phone: (212) 477-5288
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Remember to swing back soon for more great deals and leave us a comment!!

Music School Concerts

Not up for forking over $80+ per ticket for decent seats to see the NY Philharmonic, or $30 each plus drink minimums for a measly hour-long set at the Blue Note? Frankly, 99% of the time neither am I! Fortunately, there's plenty of the finest music to go around for those on a budget.

NYC attracts many of the most talented music students in the world. Top notch classical, jazz, and experimental music can be heard for FREE or very little coin at the conservatories. The Juilliard School, for example, gives orchestral, small ensemble, and solo performances regularly at popular Lincoln Center venues like Alice Tully Hall, the Juilliard Theater, even Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. The Manhattan School of Music, further up the west side in Morningside Heights, also has fine classical groups and fantastic jazz ensembles. If you're thinking downtown, there are great jazz programs to catch from NYU and The New School down in Greenwich Village. There are free (or very cheap) concerts of every conceivable variety that are open to the public and happening every day at these area universities and conservatories. Check 'em out.

MoMA Sale

If you can’t find it in New York, it likely doesn’t exist. New York City has it all… culture, art, design, history, music, food, diversity, technology and not to mention shopping. And The Museum of Modern Art captures the essence of NYC.

It’s easy to spend an entire day in MoMA as it’s much more than a museum. A mecca for tourists and residents alike, the Midtown haven also offers two cafes, a restaurant and bar, a bookstore and a design store. Not to mention a second design store in SoHo.

And while we’re on the topic of stores… the MoMA store currently has several items on SALE. Posters are $3.95 (originally $17.95-$25.00)… what a great way to cover the cracked plaster in the studio apartment without spending a fortune. 2006 wall calendars are now just $1.00… with 10+ months remaining in the year, so worth the dollar investment. Personally, I have an obsession for journals and couldn’t pass up the Icons assortment consisting of a journal, sketchbook, address book, diary and a travel journal… each under $5. And check out this ingenious duffle bag… it folds flat into a circular pouch for ease of travel and storage… what makes it even better is it’s now just $4.95 (originally $30).

And if you become a member, you receive an additional discount of 10%.

If the sales weren’t enough to entice you, what would you think of FREE admission to the museum? Oh yeah… admission to the museum is FREE for all visitors during Target Free Friday Nights, sponsored by Target, every Friday, 4pm – 8pm.


The Museum of Modern Art
PH: 212-708-940011
West 53 Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, New York, NY 10019-5497
Museum Hours
Saturday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Sunday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Monday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Tuesday closed
Wednesday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Thursday 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Friday 10:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Closed on Christmas day and Thanksgiving day

MoMA Design and Book Store
11 West 53 Street, New York, NY
PH: 212-708-9700.
Open daily Saturday–Thursday 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

MoMA Design Store
44 West 53 Street, New York, NY
PH: 212-767-1050
Saturday–Thursday 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

MoMA Design Store, Soho
81 Spring Street, New York, NY
PH: 646-613-1367
Monday–Saturday 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

http://www.moma.org/

Havana Alma de Cuba, where the flava of Cuba meets the taste palette of NYC

Let me take you to the West Village of NYC to a small restaurant where the taste and ambiance are out of this word. As you enter this tiny place, you are greeted with the sounds of a two piece band. The music adds that extra feeling of comfort to this place. You want to drink, socialize and stay for awhile. My friend and I started off with some sangria, which I tell you was the best sangria I ever tasted in my life. The combination of flavors and fruit kept me wanting more, 3 glasses to be exact. It was smooth and I felt no pain! Then on to the next order of business: the food. Instead of ordering a main entree we decided to go with a whole bunch of appetizers. Some of my favorites include the Papas Rellenas ($3.95 stuffed potatoes with ground beef and grated cheese) and if you are a true seafood lover the ceviche ($9.95) with red snapper was flavorful with fresh snapper, cilantro, lime and possibly a hint of spice. I also enjoyed the piping hot sopa de polla ($3.95) which was a mildly spicy mix of corn, chicken and avocado soup. Oh, I did order a side order of fufu de platano ($3.95) which was a sweet mashed plantains....Sinfully delicious. To finish off the marathon of food goodness we decided to order some dessert. I am not historically a big fan of flan, but I was strongly encouraged to try and I was so glad I did. It was sweet with a texture of coconut and caramel. I will never snub the flan again. The whole meal was incredibly declicious, but the flan was the perfect way to end a scrumptious meal. This restaurant is perfect for friends, coworkers or that special date. Havana Alma de la Cuba will fill your belly, but will not break your budget.


Havana Alma de Cuba, Cuban, Spanish, Latin American
94 Christopher St, New York 10014/At Bleecker St
Phone: 212-242-3800

They are easy get to a you can check out the menus at: http://www.havanavillagenyc.com/media/websitehavanavillage.html

I love to eat and try cheap and chic restaurants, but NYC is filled with so many good places to eat. Check out my favorite websites for all the best flavors of NYC, no matter where you are.
http://www.menupages.com/index.asp

Toodles for now,
Alecia

cheap eat restaurant frugal fun delicious chic new york city nyc tourist attraction

Hi, Cait here with your weekly scoop for seeing NYC theater tickets on the cheap. Don't worry these discounts aren't just for students. movin out theater

I found some great advice that I thought you all would love. If you have used any of these organizations or have a tip of your own, please post a comment ... come on, its fat-free. movin out theater

Rush theater tickets to Broadway and Off Broadway shows can sell for as little as $10. Go to the box office of the theater on the day of the performance (most open at noon) and wait in line. Some sell rush theater tickets starting in the morning, others an hour before curtain. Many shows also offer discounted theater ticket rates for students and seniors. movin out theater

Discount theater tickets are available for same-day performances through Theatre Development Fund/TKTS, located in Times Square at 47th Street. The hours are Mon–Sat 3–8pm; Wed, Sat 10am–2pm (for matinee theater tickets); Sun 11am–7pm. Cash and traveler's checks only; no phone or credit card purchases. Don't assume that your show will be available; it's best to arrive with a few alternatives in mind. You can also visit TDF's lower Manhattan booth at South Street Seaport, located at the northwest corner of Front and John Streets. Hours are Mon–Fri 11am–6pm; Sat 11am–7pm; Sun 11am–4pm. At the Seaport TKTS booth, matinee theater tickets are sold the day before performance only. Check to see if you qualify for TDF's Mailing List Program. You could get theater tickets to Broadway shows for as low as $28; students, teachers, retirees and theater professionals are among those eligible. Visit www.tdf.org or call 212-768-1818. movin out theater

Discount codes—which can be used when purchasing theater tickets through Ticketmaster—can be found at www.broadwaybox.com. This useful site provides links and phone numbers that will help you purchase Broadway and Off Broadway theater tickets for up to 50 percent off.
Half-price theater tickets can also be purchased at box offices by presenting Hit Show Club vouchers, available at the club's office, 630 Ninth Avenue at 44th Street, eighth floor; call 212-581-4211 or visit www.hitshowclub.com. movin out theater

Coupons for discount theater tickets are also available through Broadway Bucks. Go to the box office at 226 West 47th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, tenth floor; call 800-223-7565, ext 214; or simply visit www.bestofbroadway.com. movin out theater

Junior-high and high-school students: Some theaters offer special rates (Mon–Thu $5 for two tickets; Fri–Sun $5 for one ticket). For more information, call High 5 at 212-445-8587 or visit www.high5tix.org.movin out theater

Librarians, teachers and students can pick up vouchers for 30 to 50 percent off at the School Theater Ticket Program, 1560 Broadway between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, suite 1113 (Mon–Fri 11am–4pm). For more information, call 212-354-4722 or visit www.schooltix.com movin out theater

Looking for somewhere fun to hang, have a few drinks, listen to some good jazz and blues, and experience classic Greenwich Village charm? Try Arthur's Tavern, at 57 Grove Street, just west of 7th Avenue South. Check a map to get around this part of the city, 'cause it's not like the grid around midtown and uptown in Manhattan, and can get a little confusing if you're not familiar with the area. Anyway, Arthur's has NO COVER charge, and music that's actually good to listen to and won't drive you deaf. There supposedly is a two drink minimum, but you're going there to have a few anyway, right? The joint features some rather eclectic decor, and can get somewhat crowded and loud, but it's a lot of fun and won't break your wallet. Check it out next time you're planning to head downtown. You won't regret it.

Hey, Hey true believers ... this is Cait with some theater ticket picks that you won't believe for about $15. Don't forget to call ahead to confirm dates and times.

Laundry & Bourbon and Lone Star (classic Texas)
Theater 54
250 W 54 St - West Side theater tickets
212-591-2396

All-in-One (classic one acts)
Clurman Theater
410 W 42 St - Midtown theater tickets
www.theatrerow.org
212-239-6200

American Theater of Actors (Tony winner Trezana Beverley directs Oedipus in the antebellum South)
314 W 54 St - West Side
212-581-3044

Triple Threat (three new works by emerging playwrights) theater tickets
Theater 5
311 W 43 St - Times Sq
212-247-2429

Ham and Eggs (comedy sketches by chicks)
Under St. Marks theater tickets
94 St Mark's Place - East Village
btwn First Ave & Ave A
www.ththeater.org
212-868-4444

Paradise (three NYC couples and a priest) movin out theater
Access Theater
380 Broadway, 4th Flr - Soho
212-966-1047 movin out theater

Separating the Men from the Bull (Unofficial Yale Cabaret)
West Bank's Cafe 's Laurie Beechman Theater
407 W 42 st - Midtown
www.westbankcafe.com/theatre.html
212-695-6909

ENJOY!!! movin out theater

American Idol said NO, but here is your chance to SING.

If you are in NYC tomorrow night (2/9), I just got a tip on a hip and fun thing to check out. I know its cold outside, but warm up those vocal chords and get over to:

A Piano gig where you can belt out all your favorite songs. Sing your heart out and Simon will not KICK you off the stage. Bring your inner fun and funk and belt out some Broadway. Don't be shy-your wanna be Broadway diva Alecia will probably be singing Annie or better yet, Fame. ;)



Marie's Crisis Cafe
59 Grove Street, just west of 7th Ave So.
212-243-9323
Take the 1/9 to Christopher St/Sheridan Square, walk one block south to
Grove and walk a short distance west. It's right next to Arthur's
Tavern, and you have to go down some stairs.

NO COVER! NO MINIMUM! CHEAP DRINKS!

Fun and Frugal: Indian Rowe NYC with Alecia

If it's a little tacky decoration mixed with curry that you desire, head over to the East Village for some fine Indian cuisine. The food in every restaurant on 6th Avenue is deliciously inexpensive and you won't go away hungry. If it's real ambiance you desire, many of the restaurants offer tacky decorations and fine music. I actually prefer the restaurants that are a complete decoration fire hazard-adds an extra thrill to the dining experience. These restaurants cater to both small and large groups and are perfect for families looking for something different, while managing a travel budget to a great local place for a friends or couples to gather at. Most restaurants do not serve booze, but welcome you to bring your favorite alcoholic beverage and will gladly uncork it for you. There is a little liquor store on 5th Street between 1st and 2nd, that is perfect for a last minute wine pickup.

Some of my favorite dishes are Chicken Malei, chicken in an almond cream sauce or the banana pakora, banana wrapped in dough and fried. Don't forget to order bread-there are many choices to choose from including your basic nan to varieties stuffed with nuts and raisins. Try the dipping sauces they provide to you on the table and remember the green one is HOT!

Indian is fun and filling and if your are able to snag a coupon on the corner of 2nd Ave and 6th street, you might even feel guilty about how cheap your meal is.

Take the 6 to Astor Place. Indian or Curry Rowe is located on 6th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. You may even catch someone handing out coupons on the corner on 2nd Ave and 6th Street.

Some notable restaurants:
Brick Lane Curry House 306 E 6th Street
Havel 100 2nd Avenue
Banjara 97 1st Avenue