As a Brooklynite of 20 years and still going strong, I hear a lot of comments from friends, family, and random encounters who don’t live in NYC say, “NYC is so expensive, so crowded, so many people… I don’t really like it.” Listen, I get it. Meals out that cost $100 a person minimum for just brunch, front row Broadway tickets at $500 or more a pop, crazy expensive hotel prices, long queues to get into MoMA or Whitney museums… but let me tell you something. Sure, that’s one way to go, but that’s not really NYC. You want to feel what a little of New York is like?

Check out the resources below to find the nooks and crannies of the city. Remember, the city is comprised of five boroughs. So get the hell out of Manhattan, start exploring, and have a lighter hit to your wallet.

The Skint: Not sure when I was initially introduced to this newsletter, but it has become my go-to resource. Perfect when I wake up with no plans but don’t want to just sit home. And don’t want to do the boring gym, grocery, laundry routine. This no-frills resource gives great recommendations for recurring monthly and weekly events. With art gallery openings, discount MET tickets, trivia nights, LGBTQ+ creators markets, and more… The Skint offers a robust curated lineup for the week. Focused on the free and cheap places to go and events to attend that are accessible to all demographics of the five boroughs.

TodayTix: Back in the day, in order to buy cheaper Broadway tickets, there were two TKTS locations to hit up. One was in Times Square and the other in the Financial District. Locals and visitors alike stood in line, seeing the shows removed as they were being sold out, only to have slim pickings if you didn’t line up at least 30 minutes before they opened. From what I remember, only on Sundays in Times Square or Saturday and Sunday in FiDi. I first heard about TodayTix on the pop culture-focused podcast Los Culturistas, hosted by the extremely talented and hilariously funny Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers.

Atlas Obscura: A couple of years ago, while visiting Rome, I was staying in the neighborhood Coppedè. Being unfamiliar with the area, I cracked open this app and found that I was next to the location where the movie House of Gucci was filmed. Specifically, the scene at the end when Maurizio Gucci, played by Adam Driver, gets shot and killed on the steps. It was an unexpectedly colorful stroll through The Quartiere Coppedè. A surreal, fairy-tale enclave in Rome, blending Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Medieval, and Greek styles, that stood out from the surrounding architecture. An experience that I would not have thought to have if not for the Atlas Obscura app.

Hotel Now Now NoHo: As a solo traveler, I just want a cute, comfy room with a cozy bed. Toss my stuff down, splash some water on my face, and head out. Money should be spent on experiences, not how cool the place you’re staying at appears. I used to suggest the Jane Hotel in the West Village for other solo travelers. Originally built in 1908 as the American Seamen's Friend Society Sailors' Home and Institute, it served as a boarding house for sailors and even housed survivors of the Titanic. Most recently, it was converted into an East Coast outpost for a private members-only club. Luckily, someone realized there is still a need for a compact, updated version of the Jane called Hotel Now Now. As described on their website, this hotel is “Small but sumptuous single-occupancy sleeper cabins have open ceilings and shared, but lockable, bathrooms. Rooms are kitted with luxury linens, towels, robes, hooks, hangers, a safe, two outlets, and a wireless charging dock, plus earplugs and an eye mask to help you recharge.”

Just go see Bryan Safi’s off Broadway deput called Are You Mad at Me. Don’t ask questions. Long time fan of this performance artist and his years log running podcast Attitudes with equally talented co host Erin Gibson.

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