Eat, Drink And Play In New York
New York City: concrete jungle where dreams are made, true. Crazy big city full of tourists traps, also true!
Take New York City local, freelance writer and editor, Billie Cohen’s recommendations below to experience the city in the footsteps of a New York native, who can spot the best Brooklyn food truck from a mile away.
Food
Red Hook Food Vendors – Be sure to explore the food scenes outside Manhattan. These Brooklyn vendors have been serving delicious Latin American food every summer for 40 years – way before food trucks were trendy!
After Dark
(Le) Poisson Rouge – LPR garners music-nerd kudos for its eclectic roster, from classical to art rock. But this is no stuck-up spot – ’80s dance parties and drag-queen bingo make the schedule too!
Play
Conservatory Garden – Explore the northern end of Central Park, where you’ll find this trio of formal gardens with French, Italian and English-style nooks.
Day Trip
Niagra Falls by Air – Visit one of the most majestic waterfalls in the USA and travel there in style – by air. You'll get to see the falls from above and also up-close on a boat tour during your visit.
Secret Tip
Insider info – For decades, Marjorie Eliot has been hosting Parlor Jazz in her unassuming apartment at 555 Edgecombe Avenue. It’s never advertised, but it’s not to be missed.
New York Insider Secrets
Bargain lunch deals at top restaurants
Eat at some of New York’s most expensive restaurants for a quarter of the price. Manhattan’s best restaurants, including Del Posto, ABC Kitchen and Gotham, offer prix fixe lunch deals Monday to Friday, from as low as US$29 for three courses.
Cheap theatre tickets in NYC
Don’t pay full price for Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera or Kinky Boots. Instead head to the TKTS ticket booths in Times Square and Brooklyn where tickets are reduced by 25% to 50% on the day of the performance. Arrive early to avoid the lines.
Free art & culture
See some of the world’s best art for free at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on 85th Street, near 5th Avenue. You might think that the entry fee is US$25 from the sign at the ticket booth, but if you look at the small print, it is in fact a voluntary donation.
