We love freebies, but sometimes you have to spend a little money to have a great time – emphasis on a little. Once you’ve made the rounds of New York City’s finest freebies, pull out the piggy bank and pamper yourself with these cheap treats.

1. Get a massage in Chinatown.

Don’t expect scented candles and aromatherapy, but you can get an hour-long massage for $30 at places like the Relax Foot Spa. I recommend waiting until your feet have swollen to twice their normal size from all the urban hiking to really get your money’s worth.

2. Eat dumplings in Chinatown.

OK, it doesn’t have to be dumplings, but if you’re local Chinese takeout joint doesn’t offer these deliciously inappropriate-looking yummies, take this opportunity to try them out. Anything you eat in Chinatown is going to be cheap and (most likely) the best Chinese food you’ve ever tasted. Joe’s Shanghai is a tasty experience and a great place to try dumplings for the first time.  Read More »

There’s nothing like a good flea market to reflect a city’s essence.  Show me a sprawling, outdoor, market and I’ll show you the nuances and hallmark’s of the place it calls home. The Brooklyn Flea showcases all the artiness and whimsy of the borough’s people. Unlike New York’s other flea markets in Manhattan, the Brooklyn flea manages to give a sense of neighborliness and intimacy in big ,outdoor spaces. Held every Saturday in Fort Greene and Sunday in Williamsburgh through November, the Brooklyn Flea has developed into a can’t miss New York event. Read More »

Anna Fader is a NYC native and is an expert on how to entertain kids in the Big Apple. There is a lot about New York City that typical tourists simply don’t know about and miss. This is especially the case when traveling kids. As Anna explains, there are five key things you need to know when visiting NYC.  Taking her advice will likely save you sanity in terms of keeping kids engaged in learning while traveling – and probably save you money too.

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Forty-seven million people visited Times Square in 2008—making the New York City crossroads the most popular tourist destination not only in the United States, but in the entire world. Sometimes, in fact, it feels like all 47 million are there at once.

A relatively quiet day in Times Square, the Crossroads of the World

When I first moved to NYC nearly nineteen years ago (gee, I’m old) Times Square was still swarming with adult “bookstores” and crack vials in the gutters. Broadway theatergoers tried to overlook the eyesores and stayed within the acceptable boundaries. There weren’t many megastores (if any) or restaurants that you’d want to bring your family into. But that’s changed.

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