{"id":1282,"date":"2013-12-11T18:34:38","date_gmt":"2013-12-11T22:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.renthop.com\/news\/?p=1282"},"modified":"2013-12-11T18:35:17","modified_gmt":"2013-12-11T23:35:17","slug":"4-great-ways-to-experience-nyc-culture-on-the-cheap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/4-great-ways-to-experience-nyc-culture-on-the-cheap\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Great Ways to Experience NYC Culture on the Cheap"},"content":{"rendered":"
New York City<\/a> has more cultural events than anyone could possibly enjoy in a lifetime. But museums and theater can be very expensive. Real New Yorkers know the ways around expensive admission fees and budget-busting tickets. Here are some of the best ways to experience NYC culture.<\/p>\n MoMA: (11 W. 53rd Street, Manhattan, between 5th and 6th Avenues.\u00a0 Subway: E\/M (5th Ave – 53rd Street), B\/D\/F (47th-50th Streets \/ Rockefeller Center))<\/p>\n MoMA, a New York fixture since 1929 and the first art museum in NYC devoted to the modern era, reopened in 2004 after a major renovation and is one of the most celebrated museums in the world. \u00a0With works by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Andy Warhol, and many others, the museum is a must-visit — but admission isn\u2019t cheap.\u00a0 Normal price at MoMA is $25 ($14 for students), but if you go on Friday evenings (4pm-8pm) you get in for free.\u00a0 Yes, you have to line up early, and the museum might be a bit more crowded than usual, but if you\u2019re looking to save money, it\u2019s hard to beat free.\u00a0 (NOTE: Bank of America and Merrill Lynch credit card holders can also get in for free on the first weekend of every month — to MoMA and other NYC museums, and over 150 museums nationwide<\/a>.)<\/p>\n (Photo<\/a> by ana carina lauriano)<\/p>\n Many of New York City\u2019s top museums share a secret: if you squint at the sign, beneath the hefty admission fee, you\u2019ll see the word \u201crecommended.\u201d\u00a0 An 1893 New York State law requires certain museums to be open to New York residents for free. Even though the cashiers may first quote you the full price of admission, you are permitted to pay whatever you wish to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cloisters, the American Museum of Natural History, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, and more. You may need to show your ID or a piece of mail with your address to receive the discount. A 2013 lawsuit fought for the word \u201crecommended\u201d to appear larger on the signs, and for the museums to have to be more forthcoming about the policy, but the museums won, leaving the \u201cpay what you want\u201d option as still a bit of a New York secret.<\/p>\n Despite what might be a longer subway ride, definitely don\u2019t miss the Brooklyn Museum. Its installations and exhibits are world-class.\u00a0 Plus, you can avoid the crowds at the Met.<\/p>\n (photo<\/a> by Rob Young)<\/p>\n Times Square under the red steps at Broadway and 47th Street; Subway 1\/2\/3\/7\/N\/Q\/R\/S (42nd Street – Times Square);<\/p>\n Theater-loving New Yorkers know that for same-day Broadway and off-Broadway tickets, the place to go is TKTS.\u00a0 These three booths, located in Times Square, Downtown Brooklyn<\/a>, and at the South Street Seaport, offer tickets at 40% and 50% off for shows that aren\u2019t sold out — virtually every show playing<\/a>.\u00a0(Editor’s Note: The Downtown Brooklyn and South Street Seaport locations are permanently closed)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n And while those discounts are terrific, for many shows you can do even better. Depending on the theater, most shows have last-minute student rush tickets available for $20 or $30, or same-day raffles for a handful of cheap seats.\u00a0 But the true theatergoer knows an even bigger secret — a handful of subscription services exist, costing around $100\/year, offering tickets to Broadway and off-Broadway shows for as little as $4 per seat.\u00a0 It won\u2019t be the hottest shows, and tickets will often be last-minute, but for shows in previews or that aren\u2019t selling well. Or if you\u2019re looking to see lots of shows, and don\u2019t always want to pay a fortune, these services are perfect for you. (Check out theaterextras.com and play-by-play.com. The services are all very similar to each other.)<\/p>\n (photo<\/a> by JessyeAnne)<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to imagine in the dead of winter, but as the weather turns warm, the city becomes a beautiful backdrop to watch a movie. A number of locations throughout the city offer free movies in the park, weekly throughout the spring and summer months when weather permits. Each park releases its schedule closer to the summer, but it\u2019s often a mix of classics and newer films. And, especially for a night out with a group of friends, you can\u2019t beat the price!<\/p>\nFree Friday Evenings at the Museum of Modern Art<\/h2>\n
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Pay What You Want at Many Museums<\/h2>\n
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Half-Price Broadway Tickets at\u00a0TKTS Discount Booths<\/h2>\n
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Free Summer Movies in the Park<\/h2>\n
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