New York,
New York
Where to I begin? I know I’ll only be scratching the surface of the city I lived in for such a short time. My current dream is to return and I’m working on making that happen. Meanwhile, I’m going to tell you about some of my favorite haunts.
Transparently, I had no money when I lived there. Like pretty literally no money. So I found fun and cheap and free ways to spend my time. Outside of that, I took walks and sometimes drank coffee or grabbed a drink with a friend. I think I went to restaurants twice. It simply wasn’t in my budget. So this guide will reflect that. It’s a broke girls experience of falling in and out and in and out of love with a city that forced her to learn who she was and what she wants.
I think everyone should live in New York, even for a short time. It’ll change you, create you, and make you see yourself and other people differently, in a good way if you let it.
P.S. I’m combining/including Brooklyn, don’t come after me for that! A good amount of these recommendations will be in Bushwick, simply because that was my home.
walkability & transit
New York is the most walkable city. Don’t bring a care, don’t rent a car: it’s simply not worth the ordeal. Everything is walkable and nothing is that far. I could walk home from Manhattan to Brooklyn easily in two hours, and find a dozen side quests along the way.
My recommendation would be to get an unlimited public transit pass. Then you don’t have to worry about finding a station to reload your card or having cash for the bus and if you take the wrong train—no big deal! You can hop off at the next station and switch directions at no extra cost. It’s definitely going to save you money and hassle in the long run to get one of these for your adventure. Between walking and public transit, you’ll be set.
I’d recommend Google Maps for transit and walking directions—just be sure to put it on silent or use headphones, so everyone else doesn’t hear that you don’t know where you’re going! It’s okay to ask for help if you get lost, but it’s also safest not to announce via a loud app that you have no idea where you’re at—you know?
coffee & tea
Transparently, mostly I got coffee at work, and then I frequented the same few convenient places. I’d encourage you to find you own spots, become a regular, create community in your neighborhood
Variety Coffee
Neighborhood: Bushwick (multiple locations)
Address: 1105 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642
Transit access:
66 bus, Chicago & Milwaukee stop
Blue Line, Chicago stop
Food: pastries
Vegetarian/vegan options: veggie burrito, almond milk, oat milk
The amount of time I spent here, trying to sort through job applications and dreams, was more than anywhere else. There was typically enough seating and outlets, which is a big requirement for me. Sometimes it was full and I had to sit outside or go home, but that was more of a rarity.
Bourgeois Pig Cafe
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Address: 738 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Transit access:
Red Line, Fullerton stop
Brown Line, Fullerton stop
Food: breakfast food and sandwiches
Vegetarian/vegan options: veggie panini, salads, fruit bowl, toast
One of my favourite bands posted that they loved this coffee shop, so clearly I had to go there. I spent many mornings and afternoons editing in this cozy spot. My go-to drink at the time was a mocha bianca, which I think is basically a white chocolate mocha. It’s sweet, but if you’re into that, it’s worth a try!
Sawada Coffee
Neighborhood: West Loop
Address: 112 N Green Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Transit access:
Blue Line, Grand stop
Green Line, Morgan stop
Pink Line, Morgan stop
20 Bus, Madison stop
Food: pastries
Vegetarian/vegan options: most of the food is bread-adjacent—not sure if it has milk in it, so possibly
This spot is close to Soho House, so you can explore both in one trip!
bars
I found a few favorite spots to meet friends, chill enough to have a conversation, but upbeat enough to feel like life was happening around you. I’m more of a dive bar girly, so that ‘s reflected in my recommendations.
Rays
Neighborhood:
Address:
Transit access:
Drinks: beer, basic cocktails, occasional pop-up menus
Food: burgers and fries
Gluten-free or vegan options: possiby fries
This bar used to be tucked away, but it has since become the place to see and be seen. However, I still quite enjoy it on an afternoon or early weekday evening, before the crowds of nepo baby influencers show up to take their selfies under the disco ball. I’ve gotten tattooed here 3x, and so I carry this place with me forever.
Abe’s Pagoda Bar
Neighborhood: Bushwick
Address:
Transit access:
Drinks:
Food:
Gluten-free or vegan options:
This bar has some of the cheapest beer I found in New York. If you want a cozy cheap drink with friends, this is the spot.
Break Bar
Neighborhood:
Address:
Transit access:
Drinks:
Food:
Gluten-free or vegan options:
The way I love this place. You can rent a room to break things, or you have the lovely alternative of buying a single beer, drinking it, entering the back room, putting on goggles, and throwing your glass at the wall. Let me tell you, it’s amazing stress relief and if I lived nearby, I’d be here every week.
thrifting
Contrary to what the Tik Tok girlies proclaim, New York is not the epitome of thrifting. It’s oversaturated and the prices have escalated, so finding a true thrift store is rare. However, there’s gobs of vintage stores and if you’re savvy, you can find a deal. I found a Balenciaga sweater for $8, and have scored Ganni and Rick Owens for almost as cheap. Because so much fashion happens in the city, more of these brands are accessible secondhand than in other places.
L Train Vintage
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village (this is my favourite one)
Address: 2043 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
Transit access:
Brown Line, Paulina stop
This is my favourite thrift store in all of Chicago. They have tons of stuff, but you’ve got to hunt for it. If that’s your jam, this is your place. It’s also only a short walk away from my favourite taco place, Tony’s Burrito Mex.
Salvation Army
Neighborhood: Logan Square (yes, it’s the same chain—different location)
Address: 2032 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Transit access:
Blue Line, Western stop
This is my second favourite thrift store, or at least it’s tied for second with the Family Thrift down the street. The best part of these two shops is you can hit them both up on the same adventure.
Other People’s Clothes
Neighborhood: Logan Square (just a few blocks from Village Discount, so you can make a thrifting day out of if if you’d like!)
Address: 2160 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Transit access:
Blue Line, Western stop
This is where I found my vintage Bryan Adams longsleeve tour tee. It’s a gem of a thrift store and worth the treasure hunting.
Rogue
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village (this is my favourite one)
Address: 2043 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
Transit access:
Brown Line, Paulina stop
This is my favourite thrift store in all of Chicago. They have tons of stuff, but you’ve got to hunt for it. If that’s your jam, this is your place. It’s also only a short walk away from my favourite taco place, Tony’s Burrito Mex.
Salvation Army
Neighborhood: Logan Square (yes, it’s the same chain—different location)
Address: 2032 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Transit access:
Blue Line, Western stop
This is my second favourite thrift store, or at least it’s tied for second with the Family Thrift down the street. The best part of these two shops is you can hit them both up on the same adventure.
Other People’s Clothes
Neighborhood: Logan Square (just a few blocks from Village Discount, so you can make a thrifting day out of if if you’d like!)
Address: 2160 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Transit access:
Blue Line, Western stop
This is where I found my vintage Bryan Adams longsleeve tour tee. It’s a gem of a thrift store and worth the treasure hunting.
music venues
You never forget your first show at MSG, whether you’re playing, photographing, or just attending. But I feel that way about most of the venues I frequented. The spaces become more than a space because of the songs that fill them. This list isn’t exhausted, but these are definitely a few places to look up prior to visiting the city.
Sultan Room
Neighborhood: River North
Address: 329 N Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Transit access:
Blue Line, Clark and Lake stop
Brown Line, Merchandise Mart stop
Red Line, Grand stop
Capacity: 1,800
This venue is where I shot my first show, so it holds a place of fondness in my recollection.
Bowery Ballroom
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Address: 329 N Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Transit access:
50 bus, Damen and Belmont stop
77 bus, Belmont and Hoyne stop
Brown Line, Paulina stop
Capacity: 275
Irving Plaza
Neighborhood: Wrigleyville
Address: 3730 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613
Transit access:
22 bus, Clark and Waveland stop
Red Line, Addison stop
Brown Line, Southport stop
Capacity: 1,100
Warsaw
Neighborhood: Wrigleyville
Address: 3730 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613
Transit access:
22 bus, Clark and Waveland stop
Red Line, Addison stop
Brown Line, Southport stop
Capacity: 1,100
Shows I saw here: Inhaler
Other info: This venue has FOOD and seating alongside it. This is a major win in my book.
Mercury Lounge
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Address: 2424 N Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614
Transit access:
Brown Line, Fullerton stop
Red Line, Fullerton stop
Capacity: 507
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Address: 3159 N Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
Transit access:
Brown Line, Southport or Belmont stops
Red Line, Belmont stop
77 bus, Belmont and Southport stop
Capacity: 165
I photographed Billie Eilish for the first time here!
Brooklyn Steel
Neighborhood: Wrigleyville
Address: 3730 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613
Transit access:
22 bus, Clark and Waveland stop
Red Line, Addison stop
Brown Line, Southport stop
Capacity: 1,100
Madison Square Garden
Neighborhood: Wrigleyville
Address: 3730 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613
Transit access:
22 bus, Clark and Waveland stop
Red Line, Addison stop
Brown Line, Southport stop
Capacity: 1,100
Shows I saw here: Billie Eilish, Harry Styles
Baby’s Alright
Neighborhood: River North
Address: 329 N Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60654
Transit access:
Blue Line, Clark and Lake stop
Brown Line, Merchandise Mart stop
Red Line, Grand stop
Capacity: 1,800
Webster Hall
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Address: 2313 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
Transit access:
Blue Line, California stop
74 bus, Fullerton and California stop
Capacity: I didn’t find an exact number online, but it’s also a coffee shop, so it’s relatively small.
Terminal 5
Neighborhood: Wrigleyville
Address: 3730 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60613
Transit access:
22 bus, Clark and Waveland stop
Red Line, Addison stop
Brown Line, Southport stop
Capacity: 1,100
food
Let’s be honest, when I bought food, it was almost always bagels. Sometimes it was a BEC, sometimes it was a 6-pack of day old’s. But you’re missing out if you visit the city and don’t partake. It will ruin any other bagels for you.
La Bagel Delight
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Address: 122 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215
Transit access:
F train, 7th Avenue stop
G train, 7th Avenue stop
Price: $4-20
Food: bagels, bagel sandwiches
Vegetarian/vegan options: bagels (vegetarian, not vegan)
This is my current favorite bagel shop. I had the best bec of my entire life here and the staff is the perfect combination of direct, yet kind. They were quick and the food, I swear it’s delicious.
Bad Bagel
Neighborhood: Bushwick
Address: 40 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Transit access:
L train, Jefferson stop
Price: $2-20
Food: bagels, bagels sandwiches, coffee (not lattes)
Vegetarian/vegan options: bagels (vegetarian, not vegan), and it looks like they have salads now.
This was my neighborhood bagel shop; anytime I was hungry, hungover, or in a hurry, I put in an online order and picked it up half an hour later. The fellows working there began to recognize me and my order: a bec on a french toast bagel. I swear the french toast bagel will change your life.
Bus Stop Cafe
Neighborhood: West Village
Address: 597 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
Transit access:
L train, 14th Street/8th Avenue stop
E train, 14th Street/8th Avenue stop
F train, W 4th Street-Washington Square stop
Price: $6-50
Food: classic American comfort
Vegetarian/vegan options: yes, even advertised
At the end of a long walk, I ended up on the Bus Stop Cafe patio, for a happy hour glass of wine and fries. That was all I could afford, but being outside and journaling with a glass of wine really hit the spot. The folklore girlies get it.
other addventures
These are some of my favorite spots, beyond the secondhand ones. If you’re going to spend money on something new or support a business on your visit, these are the places I’d recommend.
Casa Magazines
Neighborhood: West Village
Address: 22 8th Ave, New York, NY 10014
Transit access:
E train, 14th Street/8th Avenue stop
C train, 14th Street/8th Avenue stop
F train, W 4th Street-Washington Square stop
L train, 14th Street/8th Avenue stop
3 train, 14th street stop
Y’all this is one of the best places. It’s not hidden, but it’s a gem. The owners are friendly and love what they do. They have every magazine you could possibly think of—and merch so you can support them even more directly. I always find something that reminds me why I create here.
Angelika Theater
Neighborhood:
Address:
Transit access:
This was my favorite spot to see movies. There’s several locations, but I prefered the one on 3rd if I could make it work because the ambiance is simply stunning. It’s an old theatre remade into a movie theatre, and those mustly old rooms are my favorite ones.
business
Neighborhood:
Address:
Transit access:
free & cheap
The best free thing you can do in New York is walk. I’m so serious. Explore the city. Follow your curiosity around the corner. Be open to conversations with strangers, but don’t force them. Allow the city to lead you.
Outside of that, I found a few money-saving tricks to help navigate the city. I was making $17/hour and living in one of the most expensive cities in the US, and still somehow paid rent every month. These resources helped me still enjoy the city and feel like a person, despite not having expendable income.
To Good To Go
This is an app, not a place, but it’s AMAZING. On top of not having a lot of money, I also didn’t have a lot of time, so meal prepping fell to the wayside. Too Good to Go is an app where grocery stores and restaurants list mystery bags of leftover food to pick up at the end of the day (or whenever they’re about to close).
I found restaurants to be a better bet than grocery stores because you might end up with a bunch of random ingredients you can’t use. Pastry and bread shops were a great deal, as were pizza places. One shop gave me an entire pizza for $5. This gave me the joy of getting fresh food from a restaurant (even though it’s all to-go) without the cost typically associated. It’s fun and humanizing and helps lower food waste—good all around!
Adventurous Anders
One thing that sets New York apart from other cities is there is always something free to do. There are giveaways, pop-ups, displays, meet-ups. There’s always something, and you never have to be bored.
I got free makeup, free nail polish, free sunscreen, free pimple patches, and a free bouquet. I went to the 818 Blank Street Coffee pop-up and the Harry Styles merch pop-up (I just took photos and didn’t buy anything). I know there are other free things I did that I’m just not remembering, but I promsie you won’t be bored.
One of my favorite creators that shares fun free things to do is Anders. I’d check his page regularly, and it helped me stay on top of upcoming events and giveaways.
1iota
If you like going to events or pre-screenings, this is the site for you. I went to a couple movie pre-screenings, including Downtown Abbey, and another film where I sat just a few rows in front of Jennifer Garner and Blake Lively. My friend Michael and I went to a tiny Ed Sheeran concert as part of the VMA’s, and I was in the audience of almost every show filmed in New York (pro tip: the Drew Barrymore show is the most fun). Make an account on the site and check back regularly for new events! All of it is free! I love having something to look forward to and this fulfills that need exactly.
the end
It’s not really the end though. Because I’m always learning. There’s always old places closing and new places opening and places that have always been there that I just haven’t seen yet.
If you have recommendations of other places in New York or other cities to check out, email me! I don’t have an email address for this site yet, but I’ll link the contact page of my personal site here.
