New York is a very expensive place to live and visit…but there are many exciting and interesting offerings at bargain pricing.

Last year, I wrote about NYC for free and the response was overwhelming https://ifthedevilhadmenopause.com/start-spreading-the-news-2/. This past weekend, I planned a fun filled Father’s Day for David that was relatively inexpensive.

We own bikes so no expense was incurred to take a fabulous ride on the exquisite and accessible Hudson River Park Bike Path. (If you rent online now, Bike and Roll has a 1 hour rental for $3 and a full day for $13. For shorter trips, rent Citibike).

We hook up with the Hudson River Bike Path at Riverside/Trump Place and 68th Street.

We frequently stop at the Pier i Cafe at 70th Street and the Hudson River which has good food and the prices are not inflated. Sunday, we ordered a delicious plain yogurt bowl with fresh and tasty blueberries and strawberries ($4.95), 2 cappuccinos and a fresh, flaking almond croissant. The total for 2 was $13.

We then took off and enjoyed the scenery and smooth, easy ride down to the Statue of Liberty. Consider setting out early…less bike traffic and uninformed tourists that do not adhere to the road rules.

I discovered a charming new restaurant in SoHo with a genuine neighborhood vibe. Navy, which opened about 4 months ago, is a  very pleasurable place to take in the passing parade on a glorious Sunday morning. Ask for a window seat…you are sitting in an elevated position on the sidewalk. Sullivan Street looks just like charming side streets in France or Italy.

Chef Camille Becerra, a former Top Chef contestant, focuses on seafood (not surprising given its name). The offerings are unique. We indulged in a whitefish salad with quinoa, served in a crunchy hash brown form, gently topped with a poached egg and salad. ($15). We split a delectable oyster po boy sandwich on a grilled bun with chorizo. ($14).

The interior is meticulous, beautiful woods, an antique feel to the bar and a great throwback ambiance. Navy is open Sunday through Thursday 8am-midnight and Friday and Saturday, 8am-1am. The bar is open until 2am. navynyc.com

We rode home, wiggle waggling our way through SoHo and the west village, taking in the street action of the eclectic, trendy neighborhoods and window shopping.

We hopped off our bikes and walked along the water in the West 50’s. That part of Hudson River Park has many lounging areas and always has artwork on display from the The Art Student’s League of New York.

Now in its fourth year, the Art Students League’s Model to Monument Program (M2M), directed by Greg Wyatt, is a partnership with the New York City Parks Department that places monumental sculptures along the Hudson River in Riverside Park South. The work is fabulous and well worth checking out and it is always free for all.

We dashed into our apartment, showered for free and zoomed down to TKTS and picked up $50 orchestra seats for the Off-Broadway musical, Heathers: The Musical, based on the 1988 iconic black comedy movie.

We ended the evening at Taboon, sitting at the bar with the lovely Tanya who we stalk in restaurants she works from NYC to Santa Monica and back again.

Taboon’s magical freshly baked house puffy focaccia bread brushed with olive oil and finished with rosemary, sage and fleur de sel is a delicious bargain (loaf $4.50). Accompany the crunchy, warm bread with Taboon’s trio of dips ($14) which include your choice of hummus, tzaziki, taramosalata, baba ghanoush and schoog. You can also order the dips individually. The combo is a meal in itself.

Taboon is located at 773 10th Avenue and 52nd Street. Read full Taboon review at: https://ifthedevilhadmenopause.com/taboon-makes-tuesday-tantalizingly-tempting/

Enjoy New York. You don’t have to be a Rockefeller, Trump or Bloomberg to indulge and revel in the beauty, wonder and excitement of Manhattan.