September 2016
Who says you have to be a big spender to fully embrace the Big Apple? You can step into an Empire state of mind without ever opening your wallet. Local writer Zach Udko picks 26 free things to do if you’re on a budget in New York City.
Best for… foodies
1. Graze your way through Union Square Greenmarket (open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday), where local farmers will greet you with free samples of lavender honey goats’ cheese, wild blueberry jam, and bison jerky.
2. The vendors at Chelsea Market, New York’s largest indoor food hall, are always eager to offer you bites of brownies, cupcakes, and homemade pasta – not to mention the generous pours at Chelsea Wine Vault’s tasting room.
3. For a taste of old New York, visit the iconic Upper West Side gourmet epicurean emporium Zabar’s, complete with a display of 600 cheeses to sample.
4. The Aperitivo Hour at Ovest (next to the High Line) features a buffet of complimentary Italian appetizers and live music to accompany happy hour cocktails, weekdays between 17:00 and 20:00.
5. Free meals are nearly impossible to find in the Big Apple, but if you crawl over to the East Village hipster hangout Crocodile Lounge (or its Brooklyn sister, Alligator Lounge, you can chomp on a free individual Margherita pizza with every drink you buy, every night of the week.