25 Fun Free things to do in NYC

In no particular order:

1.  Any park in NYC.  Put in your hotel address and find the closest one here. A nice break for the kids to relax.  And you too...

2.  The Staten Island Ferry.  Great views of downtown Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty.

3.  The Bronx Zoo:  Free on Wednesdays.

4.   Brooklyn Botanic Gardens:  Free on Tuesdays.

5.  Libraries.  The main library in Manhattan is amazing, as is the Central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, seen here.

from here

6.  Parades.  From Saint Patricks Day to Thanksgiving Day and all of the ones in between.  Some even in the other boroughs...

7.  The Brooklyn Brewery.  They give free tours on the weekends.

8.  African Burial Grounds.  They are currently renovating, but are scheduled to be open October 4.  Check back here to find out the status.

9.  City Hall.  Lots of history here.

10.  Coney Island.  The boardwalk and beach are amazing.

11.  Federal Reserve Bank.  Free, but you have to make reservations.

12. Forbes Collection.  I went years ago, and should really go back soon...

13.  Grand Central Tour with Justin Ferate.  About 2 1/2 to 3 hours, and amazing.

14.  Greenwood Cemetery.  A nice afternoon's walk in Brooklyn.  Events sometimes held here also.

15.  Walking the Brooklyn Bridge.  Here is a great guide with the ins and outs.  I recommend walking across to Brooklyn and checking out the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

16.  South Street Seaport.  Yes, it's shopping and restaurants, but still just going doesn't cost.

17.  High Line.  Really cool elevated park that used to be railroad tracks.

18.  See a baseball game... Staten Island Yankees.  So close to the SI Ferry you can walk.

19.  Governor's Island.  Weekends all summer.  Free ferry, and tons of events.

20.  Winter Windows.  See the display windows of Barney's, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord and Taylor, and Macy's.

Macy's 2011

 21.  TV Audience tapings.  You'll need to have advance planning here, but so worth it.  Whether it's Live with Kelly or SNL, here is a list of shows that look for audiences.

22.  Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.  The Unisphere.  Worlds Fair 1964.  Big Park, surrounded by Queens Museum, Queens Zoo, NY Hall of Science. 

23.  MOMA.  Free from 4 to 8 on Friday's.

24.  American Museum of Natural History.  Free for the last hour (4:45 to 5:45)

25.  Brooklyn Museum.  Free every first Saturday.

Mermaid Parade at Coney Island

This Saturday at 2 pm the Mermaid Parade will begin.  This parade has been going on for almost 30 years.  It was founded in 1983 by Coney Island, USA, a not for profit organization.  It is a celebration of the beginning of the summer season.  The parade starts at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, and ends at the boardwalk, officially opening the beach for the summer.  I takes place on the Saturday closest to the calendar start of summer, rain or shine.

     This Saturday's weather is definitely cooperating.  Sunny with a high of 84 degrees, you can't get much better than that.  Expect to see some breasts bared, because it is legal in NY, as long as it's not for business. Most have pasties, but I think there are probably some that just go full topless.

     I have never been to this parade, and it is a little too much for me, crowd wise.  I am not a fan of a lot of people in smaller spaces.  I know, I live in NYC, and hate crowds and small spaces, why am I still here?  Simple answer: I love city life.

     The following pictures are from previous parades, it is amazing to see the colors and the makeup, and even in the pictures it looks like so much fun. I imagine being there would be a blast.

     This year's King Neptune is Lou Reed and the Queen Mermaid is Laurie Anderson.  He is best known for being in The Velvet Underground, and she is a performance artist, who also happens to be his wife.

From 2007:

Last year's King and Queen:  Harvey Keitel and Daphna:

After the parade ends on the boardwalk around 5 or 5:30, there is a Mermaid Ball from 6 to 11:30: