The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City, 2nd Edition: A Native New Yorker's Secrets of Living the Good Life--For Free! [Paperback]

Rob Grader (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cheap Bastard | Publication Date: July 1, 2004

From the obvious to the obscure, the sophisticated to the sophomoric, this book catalogs the endless free opportunities available in the Big Apple, surprising visitors and natives alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A thoroughly impressive roundup of freebies and cheapies found throughout the boroughs."
--New York Post

"A penny-pincher's nirvana--it's as if we wrote it!"
--Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine

From the Back Cover

No place offers more for free than New York City - but only if you know where to find it. Luckily for everyone, "The Cheap Bastard" has found it all and shares his secrets in this witty, exhaustively researched guide. From the obvious to the obscure, the sophisticated to the sophomoric, this book catalogs the endless free opportunities available in the Big Apple, surprising visitors and natives alike.
With attitude and humor, author Rob Grader, a born-and-bred New Yorker, reveals even more great finds in this second edition:
How to gain free entrance to plays, concerts, museums, and television tapings Where to find free classes in anything from yoga to small business development How to land a low-cost apartment in a luxury building - without paying a broker's fee
Where to find half-price meals and free food, including coffee, sushi, and pub grub
How to get a free haircut, color treatment, or low-cost massage
When and where to find great furnishings in other people's trash
More concerts, more free food, more comedy, more theater, more, more, more. With The Cheap Bastard's Guide, anyone can celebrate life on the cheap!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 2nd edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762730374
• ISBN-13: 978-0762730377
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,487,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for New Yorkers on a budget, February 10, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City: A Native New Yorker's Secrets of Living the Good Life--for Free! (Paperback)

This book is the best I've read of its genre. Rob Grader means it when he says something's free, and he gives away the catch where there is one.
After reading his book, I have now
*seen a Broadway play...for FREE
*seen the Knicks at Madison Square Garden...for FREE
*found a bar with $3 mixed drinks and free popcorn
*furnished my apartment FREE
*bought half-price bagels to last a whole week
*seen FREE acoustic performances.
The one I haven't got yet is the free movie tickets, but that's coming.
Oh yes--I've been in New York less than six weeks, living off savings, working as an intern and not getting paid.
BUY THIS BOOK! (But if you're really cheap, you'll do what I did and read it at a bookstore first, then buy it used online).

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To hell with my out of town friends! I'm keeping this!, June 14, 2004

By 

Rocco Dormarunno (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City: A Native New Yorker's Secrets of Living the Good Life--for Free! (Paperback)

Several of my old college friends still trickle into New York for a visit, and I gladly play the city's goodwill ambassador. One of my friends from Iowa (one alma mater of mine) was toting this book. I thumbed through it and thought, "This is pretty good. I'll pick up a copy for whenever other friends come to the Big Onion."

I did pick up a copy, and as I read through this very well written book, I started to learn a few things for myself. Now, it's a keeper FOR ME. This is something every New Yorker should own, but I hope doesn't. If too many people discover the secrets in this book, they might go away.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New to NYC...and poor!, July 4, 2003

By 

Maddie Yan (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City: A Native New Yorker's Secrets of Living the Good Life--for Free! (Paperback)

As a relatively new resident of New York City, I found this book to be a great source of ideas. I have already done a number of the activities suggested by the Cheap Bastard including Sunday jazz in Washington Heights, swing dancing on the Hudson River pier and at a dancing school, and free outdoor movies downtown. It seems especially good for the summer months, with lots of outdoor events. My boyfriend is not a big spender so it suits us well! Thanks!