Free is key...
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The cost of living in New York City can be obscene but savvy greenies have been navigating around it for decades. From dumpster diving to freeganism and beyond, big cities offer ample opportunities for the opportunist...and always have. In his classic tome, Steal This Book, Abbie Hoffman wrote of the free services once available at (the now defunct) Wallach stores (sewing on buttons, punching extra holes on belts, free shoe horns, etc.) along with contact information for the Black Panther Free Clinic in Brooklyn, the St. Mark's People's Clinic, the Lawyer's Commune, "dial-a-demonstration," or "dial-a-freakout."
I'm not sure I have any freak-outs in store for you in this posts but hey, it's all in the eye of the beholder.
WATCH VIDEO: G Word Shorts: Freeganism
Almost Free (Included in the Cost of One Subway Ride):
4 Super Cheap Ways to Enjoy the Big Apple
1. The Arsenal Gallery in Central Park
Regular readers here know that I love Central Park but did you know you can check out free, kick-ass art shows there? The Arsenal Gallery is located at 64th Street and Fifth Avenue inside Central Park, Third Floor of the Arsenal Building. Gallery hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
2. Foundation Center
After perusing all that free art, you may feel inspired to express yourself as a path toward social change...but how in the world might you fund such a venture? Time to visit the Foundation Center where:
"Every day thousands of people gain access to valuable resources through the Center's web site and in its five regional library/learning centers and national network of more than 425 Cooperating Collections at libraries, nonprofit resource centers, and organizations in every U.S. state and Puerto Rico and in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Korea, and Thailand. The Center's online subscription database, Foundation Directory Online, provides detailed information about more than 98,000 U.S. foundations and corporate donors and 1.7 million grants. It can be used free of charge on site at all Center locations and Cooperating Collections."
3. Sampling
Hunting for grants and fellowships is an excellent way to work up an appetite but food usually costs money. However, thanks to Time Out New York's free food sample guide, you can discover the joys of grazing. From Greenmarkets to Whole Foods and even to Macy's, there are enough free food samples in the Big Apple to keep you full without spending a penny.
4. Hugs
Big Apple Linkage
The Ultimate Central Park Staycation: 20 Low Impact/High Excitement Ways to Explore the Big Apple's Backyard
Top 12 Staycations in Queens, NY
