Just a Metro Swipe Away From Fun In NYC

The economy tanked. Jobs evaporated. State tuition rose. Housing prices nose-dived. CEO pay increased. The global economic collapse may just be the next installment of this joyless rollercoaster the past few years brought.

Yet, from all this desolation there lies an opportunity: a chance to capitalize on the free time unemployment brings. Without the over-extended credit lines of the past, New Yorkers spend more time hunting for that elusive price point- zero, zip, nada, zilch, free. For the cost of a single swipe of the metro card, one can enjoy a number of the free attractions this city offers. Below a list offers several choices to fill all that wondrous time and elevate the spirit from the depths of economic despair.

The High Line Park, located on the west side of Manhattan, gives people a chance to stroll 30 feet above city streets on a former rail freight line. Running from Ganesvoort Street to West 34th street, the park runs directly under the Standard Hotel and also provides a sunken overlook of a busy street intersection.

 

• Manhattan’s skyline should be appreciated in all its grandeur. However, one needs to step off the island to truly appreciate it. Take the free 25-minute Staten Island Ferry ride to witness the awe of the city’s waterfront. As an added bonus, the ferry service offers the chance to travel to a land few New Yorkers ever step foot on- Staten Island.

• For a chance escape from the concrete jungle, travel north through the Bronx to the tiny nautical town of City Island. The wide streets provide a perfect spot for a weekend bike ride, while the anti-Times Square quaintness will provide a welcomed relief within the city’s limits.

• The Cyclone. Nathan’s Hot Dogs. The freak shows. The boardwalk. All reasons to flock to the far reaches of Brooklyn and explore Coney Island. Though the rides and food cost money, just the beauty of people watching and strolling the boardwalk should be enough to entertain.

• Looking for a bit of creative inspiration? It’s sitting just across the East River in Queens. 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, a massive warehouse covered in an array of street art, beckons as a graffiti mecca. Take the 7 train and keep an eye out once the subway emerges from the tunnel to view much of the work not accessible from the street.

• To find some live music, step into the city’s subway and stay there. Every day the MTA’s Music Under New York program brings musical offerings ranging from opera to Mississippi delta blues to this subterranean venue.

• New York’s flea markets provide a terrific amusement to forget about not having enough money to buy anything new. How much is that skull? Who needs an entire bag of watch parts? The fun will last for hours. And, if one is a lucky member of the underemployed, bargains run aplenty. For the rest, check out two of the largest Hell’s Kitchen and GreenFlea for a new take on window shopping.