I have three words for you.
And here are some ways you can do that in New York, whether you're a "cashmere velvet candy cane" or not. If you're stressed, remember to take care of yourself and blow off some steam--if not, you can wear yourself down and you'll be unable to take action when you want and need to. I know I'm particularly guilty of this, so perhaps this list can be of help when you need some ideas.
Free:
Go for a walk! In nature! Or as much as we have of it in New York...
It seems like a no-brainer, but people don't say they're "going to get some fresh air" without reason. Some of my favorite walks are:
It seems like a no-brainer, but people don't say they're "going to get some fresh air" without reason. Some of my favorite walks are:
Visit an art gallery. Here are some of my favorites:
Or try a museum! There are several really interesting spaces in the city, like the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, or the American Folk Art Museum that are always free. Here is a more comprehensive list.
Dance yourself clean (or dirty) at the deliciously trashy Hell's Kitchen gay bar/club The Ritz. The last time I went, I was there until closing and covered in sweat in the middle of November. It was awesome.
And of course, remember to laugh. There are always *good* free comedy shows listed in The Skint. If there's a show with Myq Kaplan, Phoebe Robinson, Khalid Rahmann, Jo Firestone, Sam Taggart, Julio Torres, or Joel Kim Booster on the lineup, I *highly* recommend going.
Under $5:
A Brooklyn Blackout Cupcake from Two Little Red Hens on the Upper East Side: it has chocolate pudding in the middle. Sweet Jesus. $3
A ride on Jane's Carousel at Brooklyn Bridge Park: ride the restored antique overlooking the water and pretend you're a (very well kept Park Slope) kid again (or for the first time). $2
A hot dog from Papaya King/Gray's Papaya on the Upper East Side/East Village and Upper West Side: these salty/crunchy dogs are New York classics for a reason. $3/$1.75
Ride the Roosevelt Island Tramway: for the cost of a MetroCard swipe, you can get out of town (sort of) for a little while and explore Roosevelt Island.
A Pretzel Croissant from City Bakery near Union Square: it's everything you wish a pretzel was. $4
Go to the American Museum of Natural History (Upper West Side) or The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Upper East Side): these classic museums are donation-based for permanent exhibitions, so there's a suggested donation but you can give whatever you like. Other museums are donation-based, too
An egg cream at Russ & Daughters: my favorite in the city, it's bubbly, sweet and made with seltzer shot out of a siphoned bottle like they were originally. $3.75
Under $10:
I still love the cheap-ass jewelry at Claire's. Don't judge me.
A giant bowl of hot borscht with sour cream at kosher vegetarian lunch counter B&H in the East Village: perfect if you're feeling especially Jewish in the winter. They'll give you free buttered challah, too. $9.50
A small Cheeseburger Mac at MacBar in Soho: gooey, creamy, cheesy, meaty goodness from a tiny storefront. You are not avoiding carbs today. Plus: a small is really filling. $7.99
Pernil Asado at Casa Adela in Alphabet City: Roast pork served with beans and rice, Puerto Rican-style and made by somebody's grandmother. My mouth waters just thinking about it. $9.95
Funky keychains, notepads, and pencils from Greenwich Letterpress in the West Village: They have the Dr. Frank-n-Furter notepad you didn't know you needed.
Any show at Bizarre Bushwick: for under $10, there are amazing burlesque and drag performers and musicians nearly every night of the week.
Any show at Bizarre Bushwick: for under $10, there are amazing burlesque and drag performers and musicians nearly every night of the week.
Take a yoga class at Yoga to the People. It's a $10 donation for their hot and non-hot classes. They believe "Yoga is meant to help strengthen and stretch your arms and legs, not cost you one!" In Brooklyn and multiple locations in Manhattan.
Under $20:
Under $20:
Buy yourself a book or a journal at McNally Jackson in Nolita or The Strand by Union Square and support independent bookstores.
Go to a luxe foreign, classic, cult, or indie film at Film Forum, Anthology Film Archives, the IFC Center, Sunshine Cinemas, or The Metrograph. Or just see a blockbuster at an AMC/Loews. About $15.
Grab a meal at the fabulous, yet very tiny, Mr. Donahue's in Nolita. It's a '70s inspired diner with doilies on the table and almost every entree on the menu is $19.99--and you get two sides with it. I want to write a whole blog post about it at some point...it's that good.
Go for a cocktail at the wonderful Suffolk Arms on the Lower East Side. The menu is practically book-length, and they're masters of their craft.
Listen to jazz, blues and funk at 55 Bar in the West Village. Cover charges vary but are low, they have a full bar, and you never know who will stop by.
Grab oysters and bubbly at The Mermaid Inn's happy hour. With $1 east coast oysters and wine, beer, and cocktails all under $10, you can eat like a king even if you're only royalty in your mind.
Under $50:
See a show at Joe's Pub. From wild cabaret performances to concerts to comedy, the acts are always high quality in the intimate space.
A 16.9 oz bottle of handmade shower gel from Lush to relieve stress, inspire positive energy, and more. $29.95
Luxe Jo Malone scented candles at Bloomingdale's on 59th and Lexington in a variety of clean scents. $35
Go to a concert and sing your heart out. Here's a listing of all the ones coming through NYC in the Village Voice.
A pitcher of refrescos at Huertas in the East Village. Enough for two, the super delicious and refreshing Spanish cocktails made with wine and soda. Serves two. $30.
Dinner at the utterly delicious Filipino restaurant Jeepney in the East Village. Order family style from this menu filled with meats, citrus flavors, noodles, fried awesomeness...you'll love it here even if you've never had Filipino food before.
Cashmere socks if you really want to be like Tom: $14-30 at Bloomingdale's.
