There are many different options when buying a metrocard but lets stick to the two most basic options. You can buy an “UNLIMITED” or a “REGULAR” metrocard.
Lets begin with buying a “REGULAR” metrocard. A “regular” card means that you can buy a single ride which is $2.00, or buy a specific amount of rides. For instance, lets say you have figured out that you will be riding the subway 8 times, you can then put $16 , the exact amount for eight rides on your metrocard. Another option is to go with one of the bonus options the MTA gives you. For example if you buy a $10 card the MTA gives you a $1.50 bonus. If you buy $20 card they give you a $3.00 bonus on that card. These options are all under the “Regular” metrocard option.
Now lets explore an “UNLIMITED” metrocard. Please remember that you can only use your unlimited card in 20 minute intervals. This prevents people from buying one card and swiping their whole family, extended family and all their friends in at one time. So remember, “One unlimited card per person.” Unlimited cards can be purchased for a day, week, or month.
“Unlimited Day Card” $7.50 - If you think you might be riding the subway more then 4 times throughout the day, a daily unlimited card is the way to go.
“Unlimited Weekly” $25.00 - If you are in NYC for a week or close to it, and anticipate using the subway to get around most of the time, the unlimited weekly is the way to go.
“Unlimited Monthly” $81.00- This is the best option for anyone staying in NYC for an extended period of time and will be using the subway daily. I recently tallied that i saved $120 in a month when buying an unlimited monthly card. Not bad!
So thats it. It might seem a little confusing the first time you buy a card. A lot of different options come up but just keep it simple by remembering the two basic options of “Regular” and “Unlimited.” Also, you can use your metrocard on New York City buses as well. You can also check out our “How to Buy a Metrocard” video below.
My girlfriend was in from Seattle last weekend, and we did one of my favorite things to do in the city, shop the Flea Markets! There are a few great ones in the Manhattan. On the top of my list is the Antiques Garage on West 25th Street between 6th and 7th Ave in Chelsea, open Saturdays and Sundays. A little closer to midtown you can check out the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market on West 39th Street between 9th and 10th Ave.
If you happen to head to Chelsea, two great spots to stop from lunch would be either RUB or Cafeteria. RUB BBQ is a new york staple BBQ joint (208 W 23rd between 7th Ave and 8th Ave). You don’t even have to like meat. The fried pickles and cheese fries are AMAZING! Cafeteria is a bit fancier, but still just as much a new york staple. You can try to go for brunch… if you can get in. There is always a pack of people waiting outside for a table. It is definetly one of the “it” places to be in Chelsea.
Wow! I just love New York. You never know what you are going to see when walking the streets. While on a tour yesterday i saw a middle aged chinese woman with a samurai sword practicing her moves on the sidewalk . Why, who, what? Yes, that was my reaction. I’ve seen a lot of things during my years in NYC, but never this. Check out the video below.
Downtown in Greenwich Village there is a quaint restaurant, Tavern on Jane (31 8th Avenue at Jane Street). Great neighborhood bar, very cozy, dimly lit, and mid-range prices. The salmon, the hamburger, the turkey burger, and cobb salad are our favorites. The bar is co-owned by Horton Foote Jr. who is the son of the famous director Horton Foote Senior and Michael Stewart. What makes this place so special is beyond their great food is that Horton is a Red Sox fan and Michael a Yankee fan. There is hope for world peace after all!
Over the Holidays the Romp family heads in from Vermont and sets up shop across the street form Tavern and sells Christmas Trees. This family is a neighborhood staple, and so kind, they are worth a visit. Stop by and say hello to Billy and Timmy, they also have a book Christmas on Jane Street that is a heart warming holiday read.
You can click on the link below to view Tavern on Jane’s menu.
In midtown can be tough to find good places for a nice dinner. TGI Fridays, The Olive Garden, please no. In the midtown area we have found a gem of an Italian place called Trattoria Dopo Teatro (125 West 44th Street between 6th Avenue and Broadway). The food is fantastic, the prices reasonable, and the atmosphere feels like Tuscany. If you decide to go there ask for Marco the manager and tell him Luke sent you, they will make sure you get a table if they are crowded.
We even brought my mom and her husband Luigi here. Yes, Luigi! Together they own three Italian restaurants in Seattle, WA and they loved it. I can’t think of a better endorsement.
Finally! The South Ferry Station is open! I know some of you non locals might not be as excited, but we New Yorkers wait years for changes like this to our metro system. The MTA’s Arts for Transit program has done amazing things, including a map mosaic of Manhattan and glass walls with silhouettes of trees. After taking the 1 train to South Ferry, take a walk through Battery Park, home to the AIDS memorial, World War II memorial, Coast Guard memorial, the Sphere, a memorial to 9/11. Lots of memorials!
After soaking in some history on the waterfront, head to Fraunces Tavern (54 Pearl Street @ Broad Street) where George Washington had his farewell dinner with Generals of the American Revolution. After your food and beer, walk it off down Stone Street, the first paved street in New York City. How’s that for a historical day!
One of the great things about living in New York is being able to recognize all the sites used in movies and television shows. It seems like tourists always relate and identify landmarks from film and television. Amber and I are shamelessly addicted to Law & Order. We just can’t help it. We love sitting around at night after a long day of doing tours, eating ice cream and watching SVU and Criminal Intent. The only problem is that we have seen just about everyone so we were very excited to seeing them filming in front of our building last week. We were able to catch a quick scene on video and i have to say that it was pretty cool to watch them film, even though their gun shot sounded more like a lame cap gun then a real fire arm. Oh well. Enjoy the video.
Amber and I are huge promoter of broadway and off broadway theater in NYC, but sometimes the best entertainment in the city is totally free. The subway is often a great stage for street performers to make a buck and i love when they pull all of us straphangers out of our heads and make us smile. Yesterday was one of those days when a bunch of young break dancers got on the train and blew me away. Check out the video below and you’ll know what i mean.
Tuesday the 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, and if you are up for the crowds and craziness you can head to 5th Avenue from 50th Street to 86th Street at 11am for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Luke and I prefer more low key options, and our picks for the day are St. Dymphna’s (118 St. Mark’s Place between 1st Avenue and A) for a traditional breakfast, and then over to Paddy Reilly’s Music Bar (519 2nd Avenue at 29th) for live music complete with fiddles and pipes, and of course Guinness.
If you are not feeling very Irish this week, head over to the Free Store (99 Nassau between Ann and Fulton Streets). This is an art installation and thrift shop where you can donate anything you might have on you, and take whatever catches your eye. It is also a great place to people watch!
If you are in the Wall Street area, Ulysses’ Bar (58 Stone Street) is a great place to stop in for a drink. The Wall Street crowd can pack this place on weekdays, but we think weekends are the perfect time to head to the Wall Street area. There is something so beautiful about all these tall buildings when paired with the empty streets. Stone street is especially wonderful when the weather is warm and you can sit out on the picnic tables and enjoy an early evening.
Luke and I live in the area, and we love heading to Chinatown for an evening out. Our first stop is Joe’s Ginger at 25 Pell Street for their famous soup dumplings. Joe’s Shanghai is just down the street and is very popular though what most people don’t know is that both restaurants have the same owners, but Joe’s Ginger usually has no wait and you are also more likely to get your own table rather than sitting at a large group table. You get eight soup dumplings per order for around $6, and if we are not starving Luke and I will just split an order and call it a night. You can’t beat the price!
After some soup dumplings we head to Foot Heaven at 16 Pell Street. Here you can get a 30 minute back rub for $26 or a 30 minute foot rub for $25. I always ask for Jenny, but we have never had a bad experience with anyone there. These massages are not for the delicate. Luke and I always like to feel a little beat up after a massage, and Foot Heaven always appeases. You can always tell them to go easy, but just know you have been warned.
Our last stop in Chinatown is on Doyers Street, right across from Foot Heaven. At 9 Doyers Street is there a great bar called Apotheke, but don’t look for a sign cause there isn’t one, just find the address and head on in. This place used to be an old opium den and just by looking around at the exposed brick walls one can just imagine the past lives of this old building. The drinks here are amazing, and they should be for the $15 you will pay for the speciality cocktails. But not to worry, it will be worth every sip!