So I am spoiled, therefore I went to NYC for a few days. I spent a fair amount of money, but got a lot accomplished. Here are a few tips if you want to go to NYC without going broke...
1. Go by bus- The Bolt Bus and Megabus are amazing to get from DC to NYC. You get free WiFi, comfy seats, a bathroom, and the tickets are usually $20 or less, so you're paying at the most $40 to get there are back, which is much less than you'd spend on gas or a plane.
2. Finding cheap housing- honestly this one is a bit difficult, but try and find a friend willing to let you crash on their couch for a night or two and you'll save tons.
3. Grocery shop- my friend and I bought some milk and a box of cereal and spent much less than if we'd gone out to breakfast every day.
4. Raffles/Student Rush- If you're like me, one of the huge benefits of NYC is Broadway, and Broadway takes pity on the poor. Many shows reserve discount tickets and raffle them off, and entering the raffle is free! If you go for a matinee/not busy night the raffles become even easier to win. Also, if you're a student many shows have student rush tickets where you can get discount seats.
Broadway Show Reviews
My friend and I arrived in NYC on a Sunday afternoon, too late to catch a matinee but not too late to enter a raffle for a night show (you have to show up 2 hours early for the raffle). We decided to try and raffle our way into Alice Ripley's last night in "Next to Normal", but many other people wanted to do that as well so we didn't win. We still wanted to see a show though, so we looked at thes shows with student rush tickets and went to "Rock of Ages" for just under $40.
"Rock of Ages"- This show is goofy. Take the most stereotypical, thin plot of boy meets girl, add 80s rock music, and you have "Rock of Ages." It's biggest star? American Idol's Constantine Maroulis. Sounds terrible, right? Actually it's not. What saves RoA is that even the actors don't take the show seriously. They invite you to drink in your seat, sing along, and have a good time, and it is a good time. It's more of a concert than a Broadway atmosphere, but it's fun if you don't try and take it seriously. The best part? They give you a fake lighter to wave during slow songs, and watch out for "Hit Me With Your Best Shot", it just may be the funniest part of the show.
The next day my friend and I decided we'd do whatever it took to see "In the Heights". I'll admit, I was skeptical about seeing this show at first. It seemed like a lot of rapping about the Hood, and the lead role is now being played by High School Musical's Corbin Bleu. However, my friend really wanted to see it and I was intrigued so we went to the raffle- and WON. We each paid less than $30 for our seats.
"In the Heights"- I said a bit ago I was skeptical about this show. I was wrong. It was fantastic! The storyline revolves around Usnavi and his neighbors in Washington Heights, and what happens when one of them wins $96,000 dollars playing the lottery. Needless to say, this made us even more excited about winning the "lotto" for our seats (which ended up being in the FRONT ROW). The music is beautiful and the dancing is intense. I can't stop playing the soundtrack in my car, and I'm in love with the Piragua Guy.
Since we went to "In the Heights" for my friend, we decided to go to whatever show I really wanted to go to next. I picked "The Lion King". It's been my favorite film since it came out and I'd been meaning to see the show for a long time. We almost didn't get to go though, because "The Lion King" doesn't have student rush or raffle tickets. But my dad had seen the show in the West End and loved it so he helped us out so we could see it.
"The Lion King"- It was everything I dreamed it would be and more. They overwhelm you with "Circle of Life" and the animals parading down the aisles, and they never lose that intensity. The costumes are brilliant, the acting is great, and they had all my favorite lines from the movie. The only downside- the song "Morning Report" has been cut from the show. I don't mind the song being cut, but I did wish they'd left the pouncing scene in the show. Overall though this show knocked me off my feet and brought tears to my eyes once or twice.
Due to funds and timing those were the only shows we saw, but we did one more fun thing I have to mention, we went to the Met.
The Met- I'd never been to the Met before, and I like museums, but they're not usually my favorite thing ever. I also really didn't know what to expect of the Met. When I realized in this museum I could look at Renoir and Monet paintings up close, not to mention countless others and a great Egyptian artifacts section, I was delighted. When you add in the great Medieval Arms & Armor section, I got a great deal for my $10 student ticket. I highly recommend going, especially if you've never been before. You also never know how long those paintings will be around, I'm pretty sure they get shifted from museum to museum.
Well, sorry I haven't written in a while. Hopefully I've made up for it with this super-long post. Enjoy and, as always, feel free to comment.
