100 Free Things to Do in New York City

New York isn't expensive if you know where to look or are willing to think creatively. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.

1. Win fun prizes and oggle celebrities at Rapture Cafe's bingo night.

2. Realize that there's more to New York City than pigeons on a Department of Parks and Recreation birding hike.

3. Get feedback on your novel at a Gotham Writers' Workshop event.

4. Chat with indie film professionals at the indieWIRE Presents Series.

5. Fish in the Harlem Meer with a pole borrowed from the Dana Discovery Center in Central Park. However, this is not a free lunch--catch and release only.

6. Frame a house or paint a child's new bedroom with Habitat for Humanity.

7. Sip wine at one of LeNell's tastings.

8. Then drink some more at Union Square Wines and Spirits.

9. Cheer or jinx commuters trying to make their trains as you people-watch from the balcony in Grand Central Station.

10. See what the Germans are up to at the Goethe-Institut, which offers free exhibitions, screenings, talks, and more.

11. Blush at the sexy stories and poems read each month at the Happy Ending Lounge.

12. Come out to support the runners in the New York City Marathon.

13. Count the places where George Washington slept on a self-guided Heritage Trails walking tour.

14. Serve meals and reach out to homeless men and women at one of the city's churches.

15. Tango in a TriANGulO Beginner Workshop.

16. Be a typical Brooklyn hipster and do things differently. Scorn the subway for Heart of Brooklyn's weekend trolley.

17. Hunt for Native American artifacts at Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve.

18. View the Statue of Liberty from Castle Clinton National Monument.

19. Track down as many of the public works in the Percent for Art Program as you can.

20. Build a sandcastle or relax at Rockaway Beach.

21. Gorge on architecture and history during the annual Open House New York weekend.

22. Build a bicycle with found parts after learning how from the Freegan Bike Workshop.

23. Go on a Central Park ecology tour.

24. Play Marco Polo in the outdoor pool at the Asser Levy Rec Center.

25. Free love: snag some condoms courtesy of the Department of Health.

26. Try a new haircut from Bumble and bumble.

27. Get your fill of ballroom and swing dancing during one of Dance Manhattan's open houses.

28. Talk Democratic politics at a Democracy for New York City event.

29. Or be more conservative with the Young Republican Club.

30. Visit the lobbies of fancy hotels and rate them on their impressiveness.

31. Read to children at a public library.

32. Barter your stuff or find out about giveaways on Craigslist.

33. Lurk outside celebrity hotspots and see if you can get any autographs.

34. Chat with other dog owners while Rover gets some exercise at one of the city's dog runs.

35. No dog of your own? Volunteer to walk a pooch from an animal shelter.

36. If you prefer felines, play with and care for kitties instead.

37. Design a crazy interview with questions like: "Have you ever had an imaginary friend?" or "Where were you this time yesterday?" Then politely approach people in public places and ask if they'll take a survey. Say it's a psychology experiment or writing project if that helps you feel less creepy.

38. Find inspiration at a free meditation talk sponsored by Meditation in New York.

39. Find a pickup game in a park.

40. Come up with an interesting question about your neighborhood or the city, and then ask your local librarian to help you research it. Any good librarian will relish the challenge.

41. Find some of the sights listed on the Forgotten NY website.

42. Delight in the Bard's wordplay at Shakespeare in the Park.

43. Liberate yourself from the patriarchy at a Bluestockings Bookstore reading.

44. Attend one of the Third Street Music School Settlement's faculty concerts.

45. Munch on samples at Whole Foods. Last we heard, they put out goodies on Thursday nights.

46. Groove to DJ Morsy at The Good Foot Monthly.

47. Take a Saturday morning walk with Step Out New York City.

48. Browse an art exhibit at the World Financial Center.

49. Discover independent films at the Brooklyn Arts Council's annual film festival.

50. Explore all the nooks and crannies of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on one of their tours.

Find the last fifty events and other things to do at Network-Twenty.com, a web community for twenty-somethings.