Thursday, August 18, 2005

Cheap and Free Fun

A commenter asked about what I do for fun, and how to do it cheaply. Here are a few suggestions:

Gym: I haven't researched the cheapest gyms in the city, but I think the YMCA is a pretty good deal. Other ideas: in the summer, all the outdoor city pools are free. Most offer dedicated times for adult lap swimming in the early morning, and some in Manhattan also have times in the evening. You can also join the city recreation centers that have indoor pools for only $75 a year.

Free kayaking: Head to Pier 26 on the West side for the Downtown Boathouse free kayaking. It's fun to paddle around and get a different view of the city. Just don't expect to go too far, as you have to stay within an enclosed area.

Staten Island Ferry: it's free, and a great way to cool off out on the water. You get wonderful views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

Battery Park City: there are free ping pong and pool tables in one of the parks along the river, and in general it's a nice place to hang out.

Foreign language lessons: Again, I haven't researched all the options but I know the Alliance Française (French) and the Instituto Cervantes (Spanish) offer classes and can help you find a private tutor. See if other people at your office would be interested in sharing a small class during lunchtime. Baruch College also had reasonably priced classes last time I checked. See if your employer offers tuition reimbursement. Also, check out Craigslist for people who would swap conversation practice. Sometimes conversation groups also meet in bookstores such as Barnes & Noble.

There are millions of other fun things to do for free, here in New York and in other cities-- check out TimeOutNY magazine, or whatever paper has the local listings.

But if all else fails:
Get drunk, get naked, and vacuum.

3 comments:

Alsymer said...

Had to let you know that I loved this post ... especially your "if all else ..." statement at the end! :-)

My wife and I were both chuckling ... considering how many times we've done "emergency housecleaning" in our birthday suits or underwear in between jumping in the shower and/or getting dressed to go somewhere ...

Funny thing, it only seems entertaining after you've done it!

Jose Anes said...

Wow! That Gym membership for $75 is a steal. The cheapest in my town is $400 / year. Still it is cheap fun compared to other things, and allow me to remain healthy.

Money and Investing

Caitlin said...

Oh Henry!