NEW YORK CITY!

This installment of FAAT focuses on the Big Apple.  New York City, baby!  Flying into Newark Airport from Toronto via Porter Airlines is the only way to go.  A 45 minute flight makes sucking back Porter's free drinks a challenge, but we do our best and pray for no turbulence.  The AirTrain from the terminal connects to the New Jersey Transit system, and you can save money by purchasing a return ticket from the machine at the airport.  Put the ticket in a safe place during your trip, and make sure to keep your stub, as it needs to be punched by the NJ Transit fare collector on the train.

The ride to New York's Penn Station takes about 45 minutes.  Don't disembark at the identically named Penn Station in New Jersey, or you could find yourself stuck in the endless Jersey Swamp.  So unless you wanna 'sleep with da fishes' stay on the train until the last stop.

Penn Station is a crowded underground maze confusing to even seasoned commuters, so follow the signage and keep moving with purpose.  Eventually you'll make your way to the subway, where you can buy a Metrocard for unlimited subway and bus travel around New York City.  Depending how long you are there, a 7 or 30-day unlimited ride option may be the best value (at the time of writing the 7-day price was $29.)  When using a credit card at a Metrocard Vending Machine, it will ask you to enter your zip code for verification. If your credit card has a billing address outside of the United States, entering “99999” when prompted for a zip code will indicate an international card is being used.

Now that you're in the subway, make sure to get on the right train, as not all trains stop at all stations.  Even native New Yorkers have difficulty distinguishing between 'express' and 'local' trains, so it is worth taking a few minutes to study a printout of the MTA map available from a ticket collector.

NYC accommodations vary according to your budget and needs.  Popular websites like Expedia, Priceline and Hotels.com provide discounts according to availability, but I prefer to book a private apartment through Airbnb.com.  For a party of 2, having a private apartment for around 75 dollars a night each represents huge savings, and Airbnb hosts are a great source for neighborhood tips.  But then again, we are Lower East Side/Greenwich Village folk who only enjoy the neon lights of Times Square on a sporadic basis, so if the entirety of your trip will be spent in Midtown, perhaps one of the discount websites is for you.

Entertainment

The aforementioned Penn Station is right below Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks and Rangers, and is the best place to score a ticket to a Rangers game from fans who may have extras.  I hooked up with a group of fans who were congregating at a Penn Station Pizza place before the game, and they happened to have an extra ticket which they sold me at face value.  According to locals, tickets sold by scalpers outside on the street are often fakes, so buyer beware.

Broadway is without question the number one entertainment attraction in the city, but while tickets are expensive, there's no need to pay full price to see award winning shows.  The TKTS booth in Times Square sells same day discounted tickets to many popular shows, and is also a place where lucky theatergoers have been known to receive free tickets from others who can't make the performance.  There's no formal procedure for the giveaways, it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time, keeping your eyes open, and leaping at the magic words 'Anyone want a free ticket?' 

A New York Citypass provides discounted rates to NYC Attractions such as the Empire State Building, Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met and Rockefeller Centre.  Details on attractions and rates are available certain museums often have free, 'suggested' or discounted admissions on certain days.  You can avoid long lineups at the Empire State Building by going at night, the evening view is spectacular, and be sure to use the free interactive audio tour of the city, recorded by a NYC local.

For free entertainment in New York City, how about checking out some of the live television shows you know and love?  Tickets to The Late Show with David Letterman, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Colbert Report can be obtained online.

You can also hang around outside the Today Show window in the early morning, and line up to try and see Saturday Night Live. TIP: If you do get to SNL, try and watch the earlier Dress rehearsal.  You get to see an extra half hour of sketches that never make it to air, plus it leaves your late night open for the best part of NYC- bar hopping!

The Happiest City in the World

Visitors to New York often complain about how expensive it is to eat and drink.  Those are the folks that do zero advance research, and do all their eating and drink within a 2 block radius of Times Square, the biggest tourist trap in the world.  While even Midtown bars offer Happy Hour food and drink specials (usually between 3-7 weekdays) It is truly amazing how cheap it can be to get your drink on in the Village and Lower East side.  Even the trendy Upper West side has pubs and bars that offer great deals if you keep your eyes peeled.  Another great thing about New York is that even if your favorite dive bar doesn't serve food, you're more than welcome to go grab a slice of Famous Ray's or other great pizza and bring it in.  As always, make sure to tip your bartender.  A buck per round of drinks goes a long way when you are enjoying a beer and a shot for 6 dollars.

Time to Eat

For me, every NYC excursion begins the same way-drop the bags off then head for Katz's Deli at Houston (pronounced HOW-ston...don't ask) and Ludlow Streets.  Although always crowded, the lineup moves quickly and is short if you move in past the door to the left.  Don't lose the ticket your order is written on, you need it to pay upon exit.  Always tip the sandwich maker, and he'll stuff your sandwich to the max.  There are a wide variety of menu items, but the house specialty is Pastrami, best ordered 'Fat', and sliced thin. It can be tough finding a table at the front, but if you head to the back around the corner there's a little more space, but for me eating at a crowded table near the front is part of the experience.  A great activity to do afterwards to burn off the calories from that huge meal is walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, it's fairly close to Katz's and provides some great views of the city.  It can get crowded on weekends though, and watch out for cyclists who use the bridge as part of their commute.

The breakfast experience for most New Yorkers on the go isn't usually a sit-down at a diner, but rather grabbing a hot wrap and fresh squeezed juice at one of the thousands of deli/convenience stores scattered throughout every neighborhood in the city.  Since your time is limited, it's probably your best option as well.  If you're local to the east side, a bagel with Lox and Cream Cheese from the famous Russ and Daughters is also an attractive option.

There are thousands of restaurants in the city serving every cuisine for every budget imaginable.  It would be impossible to do justice to every great place we ate here, but these are a few standouts:

The $40 Prix Fixe lunch at Jean-Georges Columbus Circle is probably the best lunch value in the city.  Jean Georges himself supervises the operation, and is friendly and approachable.

Should you be in the mood for something a little more Mediterranean, the charcuterie platter at Boqueria (53 W 19th St, also 171 Spring St in Soho) is exceptional and reasonably priced.  The accompanying glass of wine is what will pad the bill here, but is definitely worth it.

By far our most surprising discovery was the Asian Comfort Food served up at Mooncake (Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea and Soho locations, www.mooncakefoods.com) My pulled pork sandwich was enormous and tender; my girlfriend's tuna salad with sushi-grade tuna was divine.

I always wrap up the trip by getting a fine bottle of whatever Scotch is on sale at Astor Wine and Spirits (399 Lafayette Street in the Bowery.)  The staff there is extremely knowledgeable and generous with their tasting pours.  Pack it carefully in your checked luggage so you don't lose it at Security.  For the cheap stuff oriented to mass consumption, whatever's on sale at the Airport Duty Free is a great bet.  Speaking of cheap stuff - The trinkets, keychains, T-shirts and shot glasses that are mandatory to bring home for family and friends should be purchaed only at the kiosks on Canal Street Downtown.  The same tacky gifts you'll overpay for in Times Square can be had for a fraction of the price.  Buy souvenirs elsewhere at your peril!

City/Museum Info 

http://gonyc.about.com/od/museums/ss/Free-Admission-And-Discounted-Admission-At-New-York-City-Museums.htm

http://www.citypass.com/new-york

TV Ticket Info

http://www.colbertnation.com/tickets/

http://www.thedailyshow.com/tickets

http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/tickets/

http://www.nbc.com/tickets/

View of Manhattan from Brooklyn

View from the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Centre

Best Sandwich ever at Katz's

An example of amazing NYC architecture

Central Park