Bucket List for New York Foodies This Summer

Zagat came out with a summer bucket list of New York's most favorable food and beverages, so you have few day head start to fulfill your foodie fantasy. I wanted to share this with Pinoys and get your feedback whether you have or have not had any of these 30 on the list or how far did you go?

1. Fish taco with guac at Rockaway Taco
2. Watermelon margarita at Gilligan's at the Soho Grand Hotel
3. Connecticut-style lobster roll from Red Hook Lobster Pound
4. Nutella crêpe at the Eataly Nutella Bar
5. Frozen S'more at Dominique Ansel Bakery
6. Kalimotxo or Tinto de Verano at Huertas
7. Snacks on Ivan Ramen LES's back patio
8. Fried clam and lobster roll sandwich at The Clam
9. Raspberry pink peppercorn sorbet at Oddfellows East Village
10. Shakerato at Kings Roasters in Brooklyn
11. Bacon pretzel from Bronx Baking Co. at Smorgasburg
12. The deckle from Smokeline on the High Line
13. Shrimp taco from Cafe El Presidente
14. Fernet Branca ice cream sandwich at Pearl & Ash
15. Frozen dark 'n' stormy at Battery Harris
16. A beer at Berg'n
17. Frozen limoncello at Sonny's Soda Shoppe
18. Katsu corn dog at Asiadog
19. Local sea scallops at Tavern on the Green
20. Corona from The Frying Pan
21. Leaves of Grass sorbet at Ample Hills Creamery
22. Michelada at Calexico
23. Boozy Kelvin Slushie at The Beach at Dream Downtown
24. Roasted oysters at Bo's Kitchen & Bar Room
25. Hardbody Cheeseburger from Rippers on Rockaway Boardwalk
26. Crudo at Barchetta
27. Watermelon gazpacho at Lambs Club New York
28. Pickled-carrot martini at Empire Diner
29. Spring-pea guacamole at ABC Cocina
30. Beef heart and scallop ceviche at Mission Cantina

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NYC SURVIVAL GUIDE EVERY TOURIST SHOULD KNOW

New York City: the concrete jungle that attracts people from all over the country and the world. Everyone comes with the intention of making it big.

However, in a city with over 8 million people – you’re bound to take a wrong turn and get in someone’s way.

That’s why author and artist Nathan Pyle decided to explain the basics of living in New York City. Having experienced the pains and inconveniences of being “new to the city,” Pyle created an illustrated handbook for the uninitiated, aptly named NYC Basic Tips and Etiquette, which was just released a few days ago for the eager reading pleasure of New Yorkers everywhere.

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Filipinos Living in NYC on a Budget

In the current economy, many Filipinos in New York are living on a budget and looking for ways to reduce food and other living expenses while still enjoying the greatest city on earth has to offer. With the right tips and a little planning, it is possible to enjoy healthy food on the cheap turo-turo style and tips on living the Newyorkers way.

New York City is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Just ask anyone on the subway how much they pay in rent, and you'll be talking for hours. But Filipinos know,  you never pay tourists rate in this town! Above photo is the most common way busy Filipino workers enjoy their daily meals on a budget. Here below I listed some free guides, websites, discounts and tourist attractions for the penny-pinchers or a buck!

FREE NEWSPAPERS

• New York Press (free nightlife and culture weekly)
• New York Metro and AM New York (free news dailies sponsored by major newspapers)
• The Village Voice (free nightlife and culture weekly)
• The L Magazine (free nightlife and culture weekly) 

GETTING AROUND - MASS TRANSPORTATION ; The subway and bus system is safe, cheap and runs 24-7-365. The best transportation bargain around. Buy a MetroCard and go! 

MUSEUM FREE DAYS: This is one of the best things about NYC. They have a long-standing tradition of making world-class art and culture availble to all, regardless of income or ability to pay. If you love museums, then New York is the place to go for the most abundant variety of museum deals. There are a couple of sites you can start with: freeMuseumday and Museum Free Days .

WALKING TOURS

• New York By Foot - Offers a huge variety of "name your own price" tours around the city. 
• Big Apple Greeters - See New York through the eyes of a New Yorker! FREE but place a request 3-4 weeks in advance.  A volunteer New Yorker will show you a favorite neighborhood, answer your questions and demonstrate how easy it is to use public transportation.
• Wall Street - Every Thursday and Saturday except Thanksgiving, and no tours on Christmas when it falls on either of those days.
• Lower East Side Free walking tour (April to December) and Cell Phone Tour
• 34th Street and the ghosts of the original Penn Station
• Central Park
• Times Square
• Grand Central Terminal - Inside the station, or the station and neighborhood - Usually lasts over 2 hours, rather than the advertised "90 minutes". Feel free to jump ship whenever.
• Bronx Tours
• Federal Reserve Bank
• 
  

SHOPPING: Before you make your purchases, show your out-of-state ID or passport at the visitor's desk at Macy's and Bloomingdale's for a visitor's discount on certain items!

SAMPLE SALES are also a great way to find deals:

• Top Button
• NYC Insider Guide Sample Sales
• Sample Sale Avenue

FREE OR CHEAP MUSIC, MOVIES AND LIVE PERFORMANCES: Most of these festivals are seasonal, during the spring and summer, so check their websites for schedules:

• Celebrate Brooklyn ($3.00 suggested donation, except for charity fundraisers. Check prices.)
• River To River Festival
• Central Park Summerstage (some events are free, some are charity fundraisers. Check prices.)
• Shakespeare in the Park (requires lining for up for first-come-first-serve tickets)
• Bryant Park
• Hudson River Park programs - RiverFlicks, Blues BBQ, Moondances and more! Activities for kids and adults.
• World Financial Center programs - dance, music, films, flower shows, and art exhibits year-round.
• Indie art and otherwise fringe events - subscribe to Nonsense NYC orToxic Pop to get email listings of oddball, cutting edge, underground and off-beat performances and events. Most are free or very cheap.

CHEAP STUFF TO DO

• Get a Big Apple Greeter - this all-volunteer organization offers FREE customized tours! Sign up way in advance! 
• Staten Island Ferry - FREE
• Walk the Brooklyn Bridge - FREE
• Visit Grand Central Terminal - FREE
• People-watch in a park - FREE
• Visit New York Public Library Main Branch - see Astor Hall & the reading room - FREE
• Volunteer to usher at an Off-Broadway show - FREE. Ask at each theatre.
• Roosevelt Island Tram - $2.00
• Parades - there's nearly one every month!
• Walking - the best way to see the streets of NYC - FREE (minus cost of new shoes and Dr. Scholl's insoles!)
• Kayaking - FREE! On the Hudson. Walk up and jump in the river. Seriously.
• High Five Ticket program - $5.00 theatre, dance and performance tix for teens ages 13 - 18 (plus one adult guest)
• Food from street carts! - From falafel, to fruit smoothies, to exotic coffee, to bratwurst, to samosas and dosas, to arepas.
• Gallery openings - Check listings on the web, in Time Out magazine and the Village Voice for free cheese and wine!

CHEAP EATS

It is very easy to find cheap eats throughout NYC. Most international cuisine, such as Vietnamese, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Latino offer amazing tasty bargains. And there is always The Recession Speical - 2 hot dogs and a drink - at Gray's Papaya. Sample the metling pot that is NYC. Google yearly "best cheap eats" and you'll find best cheap eat LOL.

• NewYorkled (music, culture, street fairs - an excellent website with a lot of depth, so click around a bit.)
• Cheap Guide (New York Magazine's on-line budget guide)
• DrinkDeal (happy hours and drink specials all over town.)
• MyOpenBar (weekly listings and user reviews/ratings. Sign up for email alerts.)
• Automobile Club - If you are a member of AAA or CAA, flash your card at shops, museums and attractions! It works! 
• NYC Cheap Travel (Regularly updated with entertainment, dining, transportation, and hotel deals for NYC visitors)

For more freebies in NYC check out my other page CLICK HERE.

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Kinding Sindaw in Pagpabalik Tracing the Path Home Showing in NYC

Let us all show our support to the Filipino Culture & Arts. Kinding Sindaw is a dance theater ensemble resident of La Mama Experimental Theater since year 2000. Office and rehearsal space is located at 47 East, Great Jones Street , 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10003. This space is provided to Kinding Sindaw by Ellen Stewart ,La Mama , ETC Founder and Artistic Director in support for the group’s mission. 

To buy ticket, Click Here

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Spring is in the air!

Free Summer Concerts: NYC 2014 (Official Guide) CLICK HERE

Looking for free concerts in New York City? Well, you found it! Music, concerts, play is the city's most abundant form of entertainment. Whether you get your kicks dancing, at the club or along the South Street Seaport, there's always tons of live music option and surprisingly enough not all of them will cost you. Free shows are everywhere, especially during the summer months. Click the image above for direct link to free concerts in NYC.

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NYC Restaurant Week February 17th - March 7th, 2014

New York City winter Restaurant Week February 17th through March 7th (Monday-Friday) featuring a sumptuous menu of the season's finest ingredients at an exceptional value. As proud Filipino New Yorkers and a professional chef myself I'm proud to inform anyone, this nyc has one of the most diverse dining scenes in the world. You can have a Michelin-starred tasting menu overlooking Central Park one day, and an unforgettable $15 feast in Flushing's Chinatown the next.

Enter New York City's famed Restaurant Week. From Monday, February 17, through Friday, March 7, 2014, some of the city's hottest tables will provide three-course, prix fixe menus starting at $25 for lunch and $38 for dinner. 18 days of great dining experience with hundreds of participating restaurants, hungry travelers should plot their course strategically. Enjoy the party!

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Seahawks vs Broncos, Super Bowl XLVIII Sunday February 2, 2014

The Broncos will meet the Seahawks in New Jersey for Super Bowl XLVIII, and New yorkers & Jersey people had a lot to say about who would win. While some NFL fans were eager to get their picks out there for who will win the match up, others were hating on Richard Sherman’s post-game interview, while still others were making comments about weed.

The Broncos beat the Patriots on Sunday afternoon, while the Seahawks beat the 49ers in the evening. Shortly after the final game, the Broncos congratulated the Seahawks in a classy way, welcoming them into the Super Bowl.

Other football fans were also in a congratulatory mood and looking forward to the match up.

Then there were the fans who were less than thrilled, or even a bit confused, by Richard Sherman’s post-game interview, in which he declared himself the best corner back in the game.

Finally, there were the fans who alluded to the legalization of recreational marijuana and this year’s Super Bowl teams. Colorado and Washington both legalized weed through a popular vote in the 2012 election. While Colorado’s sales began this month, Washington’s will start later this year.

And, well, then there was this guy, who was either extremely confused or trying to make a joke. We’re not sure.

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