10 Cheap Ways To Spend Marathon Weekend In NYC

New York City is ready and waiting for the 45,000+ runners who will partake in the world’s greatest road race – the ING New York City Marathon! Not taking a stab at the 26.2 miles? Yeah, me neither, but there are plenty of other ways to run around New York City this weekend for a mere few bucks! Get your walking shoes and MetroCards ready…set….go!

1. Marathon Opening Ceremony – Central Park, enter at Central Park West & 67th

Friday 6PM-8PM, Free!

The kickoff to The New York City Marathon, the Opening Ceremony will feature special performances, a parade of international delegates, appearances by pro athletes and most importantly fireworks over the dazzling skies of Central Park! If you get there early enough you may be able to catch the tail end of NYRR International Taste of Travel (2PM-5PM) with complimentary international food, drinks and giveaways.

2. Health & Fitness Expo – Javits Convention Center – 11th Ave @ 35tth St.

Saturday 9AM – 5PM, Free!

Gear up for Marathon weekend…. literally! Browse a slew of vendors at the Marathon Store, sponsored by ASICS, and load up on running accessories and souvenirs. The Expo features special events throughout the day including a “Road to the Finish” presentation, offering a panoramic viewpoint of a Marathon runner racing through Central Park and crossing the finish line.

3. The Antiques Garage Flea Market – 112 W 25th St.

Saturday & Sunday 9AM – 5PM, Free!

Arguably, one of the best places in Manhattan to scope out antiques, this weekly flea market draws in crowds browsing tables and displays with the hope of finding their next accent piece or collectable. Prices are a bit steeper than your average flea market, but it is worth a visit if only to gain ideas for your next obsession.

4. West 4th Street Festival – 6th Ave @ LaGuardia Place

Saturday, 11AM – PM, Free!

With clear skies and sunshine a near guarantee for your Saturday, what’s better than spending the afternoon outside? Take a stroll downtown and nosh on grilled corn and zeppoles as your browse unique art and one of the kind jewelry at West 4th Streets weekly festival.

5. The New York Museum of Conan Art (NYCocoMoCA) – The Shops at Columbus Circle, 2nd Floor

Saturday, 10AM – 9PM, Sunday, 11AM – 7PM, Free!

Blimps, life-size sculptures, edible creations, and charactertures are just a few of the wacky pieces of art you can expect to see by diehard Conan O’Brien fans, ala members of Team Coco, that are on display on the second floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Building .

6. The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park – Bryant Park

Saturday, 10AM – 9PM, Sunday, 10AM – 6PM, Free!

Beat the December chaos and get a head start on your holiday shopping! The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are freshly opened for the season, awaiting crowds to increase as days creep closer to the inevitable gift giving celebrations. Aside from the individual shops, and standard Bryant Park cafes, the Columbia Freezer Tour is on hand at The Citi Pond where you can get in touch with your inner pop star while standing in a 7-foot freezer, belting karaoke in a Columbia Omni-Heat jacket.

7. The Ice Skating Rink @ Rockefeller Center – Rockefeller Center

Saturday, 8:30AM – Midnight, Sunday, 8:30AM – 10PM, Free for non-skating spectators!

Another chance to beat the winter crowds – make your yearly visit to the Ice Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center (sans Christmas Tree) this weekend while all the tourists are occupying themselves with Marathon related events!

8. Incomparable Women of Style – Fashion Institute of Technology – 227 W. 27th St.

Saturday, 10AM – 5PM & Sunday, 12 – 9PM, Free!

Incomparable Women of Style: Selections from the Rose Hartman Photography Archives, 1977-2011, displays vintage prints and over sixty photographs from the legendary Rose Hartman. Her ability to capture the enigmatic presence of style from legendary idols such as Anna Wintour, Bianca, Jagger, Betsey Johnson, Diane von Furstenberg and Madonna is a must see.

9. “Behind the Screen” – Museum of the Moving Image – 36-01 35th Ave @ 37th St, Astoria, NY.

Saturday & Sunday, 10:30AM – 7PM, $10

Essentially the only event on your weekend itinerary that will cost you money (aside from all those goodies you purchased), “Behind the Screen” is a fun, interactive experience for film novices and cinephiles alike! Old fan magazines from your youth are collected in the artifact section, along with old costumes, make-up and film merchandise. Dub your voice into a scene from the Wizard of Oz or learn first hand how to edit an episode of White Collar after you screen infamous clips from classic films like The Jazz Singer.

10. The New York City Marathon Finish Line! – Columbus Circle

Sunday, Ongoing

Cheer on runner’s feats as they wrap up their grueling 26.2 mile course. Tickets to sit at the actual finish line are pricey; instead head over to Columbus Circle for the final two-tenths of a mile and clap along with encouraging live music. Just don’t complain how much your feet hurt from exploring the city all weekend…

By Caitlin Colford

Daily Sales Email, or Subscribed to our RSS Feed? Don't miss a Sale!

Posted by Bindra at 02:39 AM
bargain news , Places , The City |