Recently moved to New York... advice?

i just moved to new york this summer, and i currently live on long island. my job is a live in position, and i really REALLY need to get out on my days off. i am interested in venturing into the city... hopefully more regularly to experience new york fully.





my question is, what is the best way to travel into the city from long island? i have a vehicle, and i live really close to the LIRR.





also, i work non profit and i make hardly any money. what are some cheap things to do in the city for someone venturing alone? (i am easily entertained... i was raised in the midwest. but i love art and fashion, and anything thats unique and fun.)





sorry for all the questions, but i would love some input from those who know it best! :)Recently moved to New York... advice?
Start off by taking the LIRR in. It is much easier than worrying about traffic and where to park. NYC is a great place to explore, pick a neighborhood and each time you come into the city come and explore a new one. Central Park, East Village/Alphabet City, Chinatown/Little Italy/Lower East side, Grenwich Village, Tribeca, Chelsea, Midtown/Times Square and don't be afraid to venture a little into some of the outer boroughs, Brooklyn is the best in my opinion. Williamsburg and Park Slope are very cool neighborhoods. Bring a camera and document yr journey. There are many museums you can go to pretty cheaply, and keep your eye out for cheap eats. Feel free to email me for more ideas.Recently moved to New York... advice?
go to:


ellis island


statue of liberty


city bus tours and view all of manhattan


times square


any of the museums


brooklyn aquarium


bronx zoo


central park








eat at great renowned places like:


bleecker street pizza


mongolia's bakery


serendipity III


dylans candy bar


joe's shanghai


china grill


mr chows


alfama's


max and minni's ice cream


bobby flay's


dos caminos


and soooo much more!
Check out the City Reliquary Museum: mybarbaricyawp.tumblr.com. It's a donation-only museum, and it's the most unique one I've ever been to.
listen to nina or mpalmernyc, going to broadway is wicked expensive, even ';off-broadway'; shows can be pricey
drive down and go see a show on broadway :)


Or just get some friends and go clubbing. can't go wrong there :)





(btw albany clubs suck!)
I agree with checking out Brooklyn. I live in Park Slope and I think it's a terrific place to poke around.





But truely, the best thing to do in NYC is just walk! It's wonderful just to pick a starting place and a destination and just walk and look around.





I did this just last week. I got off the subway at Union Square (thought I'd check out the greenmarket, but they were filming something and the whole thing was closed off.) I had lunch, and then just started walking. I walked all the way up to Rockefeller Center. On the way, I walked through Madison Square Park, where they had an art exhibit that looked like someone had built tree houses in all the trees (too cool) and I walked in and around Grand Central Station, something I hadn't done in a while. I had a great time.





This is the best way to check out the City.





Other nice free or cheap things to do:





Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge


Take the Staten Island Ferry


People watch in Bryant Park.


Go to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park


Take the Roosevelt Island Tram (for a great view)


Stroll on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade (for another great view)


Go to Grace Church in the Village (Broadway and 10th Street) on Tuesday through Friday at 12:30 in the afternoon and hear a free Bach organ recital.


Walk through the Washington Mews in the Village