Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Best Investment of $2.50 (Pizza Bread):
The pizza
bianca
at the
Sullivan St. Bakery
(533 W. 47th St.;
212/
265-5580
) is closer to a piece of bread than a
NooYawk
slice, but it's long on old-world charm. Subtly flavored
with rosemary and olive oil (no tomato or cheese), the dough manages to be simultaneously fluffy and chewy.
•
Best Investment of $3 (Tacos):
Served in a double layer of supple corn tortillas and topped with fresh tomatillo
sauce, the tacos at
Zaragoza
(215 Ave. A;
212/780-9204
) burst with flavor. At just $3 for standouts like beef
tongue and roast pork, they're the cheapest way to get south of the border without leaving NYC.
•
Best Investment of $4 (Buffet):
The competition between two Chinatown buffet restaurants has driven prices
into the ground. An almost comical price of $4 covers four fresh, tasty Chinese entrees over rice at my favorite,
Yi Mei Gourmet Food
(51 Division St.;
212/925-1921
).
•
Best Investment of $4.50 (Sandwich):
For me, the
bánhmì
sandwich (pork pâté, pickled carrots, daikon, onion,
and cilantro on a baguette) is more than just an ingenious blending of European and Asian flavors—it's one of
the apexes of human civilization. You'll find my favorite at
Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli
(369 Broome
St.;
212/219-8341
).
•
Best Inexpensive Sit-Down Meal with Atmosphere:
Affordable Asian too often means overlit, dingy cafeteria
settings. Not so at the Uptown oases of
Land Thai Kitchen,
with outposts in the west (450 Amsterdam Ave.;
212/501-8121
), and east (1565 Second Ave.;
212/439-1847
). Stylish, modern interiors make for great date
atmospheres—enough that the spicy, fresh Thai food seems almost a lagniappe.
•
Best Burgers:
Although it doesn't have the long history of some of the competition, East Village bar
Royale
(331 W. 4th St.;
212/242-9502
) serves a classic burger. Big patties full of Black Angus flavor rest on brioche
buns ($7), cooked to order and served fresh. The city's $18 rivals at the fancy-shmancy places don't even come
close.
•
Best New York Slice:
First-time visitors to
Sal's & Carmine's Pizza
(2671 Broadway;
212/663-7651
), spurred
to spontaneous compliments by the spectacular pies, can expect to hear back, “Well, where the hell you been
this whole time?” One taste of the crispy crust and character-full sauce and you'll be asking yourself the same
question.
3 Best Living Bets
•
Best Free School:
With college tuitions spiking endlessly upward,
Cooper Union
(Cooper Sq.;
212/353-4120
)
is an anomaly: The 1,000 students get their education for exactly $0. The rest of us are invited in for exhibitions,
readings, and lectures.
•
Best Free Smarts:
The
Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY)
(365 Fifth Ave.;
212/
817-8215
) keeps adults educated with a terrific selection of lectures, seminars, and panel discussions. Fees are
reasonable, and big chunks of the program are on the house.
•
Best Gyms:
Stay thin without a fat wallet. For less than 28¢ a day, 49 rec centers can belong to you. The facilities
of the
Department of Parks and Recreation
(
311
) include tracks, weight rooms, dance studios, and boxing
rings. For $150 a year ($50 more), you get access to the swimming pools, too.
•
Best Grooming:
Style-conscious New Yorkers flock to Bumble and bumble salon for the latest looks. Savvier
souls sign up for the model calls at their school,
Bumble and bumble.University
(415 W. 13th St.;
866/
7-BUMBLE
[728-6253]). If you're selected for the stylist training program, you'll get a free cut, a head full of
product, and an invitation to call back in a few months to do it again.
•
Best Boat Ride:
Transform yourself into river traffic through the programs at the
Downtown Boathouse
(Pier
40, Pier 96, and at 72nd St.;
www.downtownboathouse.org
)
. They'll loan you a kayak and let you paddle
around their West Wide piers. If you get your strength up, you'll be eligible for a longer ride into New York
Harbor.
