December 12, all day and night / free

Macy’s / 151 W 34th street / btw 6th and 7th / 10001

macysbelieve.com

Nana-Oye Addo-Yobo entered the blogosphere in 2006 as the publisher of Freedom Love-Fest, an online magazine that features free and affordable events in New York City. Motivated by her passion for international relations and conflict prevention across the globe, she has also worked for the Council on Foreign Relations and the Legon Centre for International Affairs at the University of Ghana – organizing international conferences, study tours, and events to explore and actualize the possibilities of obtaining sustainable peace and preventing conflicts. This socially conscious bargain hunter was recently featured in Uptown Magazine’s Winter ‘08 issue on Philanthropy as an agent of change for her Goal6 initiative. If you’re seeking inexpensive fun with a conscience, Nana-Oye and Freedom Love-Fest just might be for you!

We spoke with Nana-Oye, Freedom Love-Fest’s Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, to learn what New Yorkers can do for fun…even when funds are tight!

Tell us about your blog: What is the premise, what are your main coverage areas and how did you get started? One of the reasons why I live in the city is to take advantage of and enjoy all of the wonderful and enriching cultural, musical, artistic events, and happenings in every zip code in New York City. So in the past I would send an e-blast to family and friends to tell them about a compelling and fun event that I found and invite them to attend. I have a diverse range of friends and whether they are doctors, investment bankers, lawyers, professors, artists, or fundraisers, everyone was looking for free and affordable events to go to in order to help them broaden their options and stretch their dollars to enjoy as much as they can in the big Apple.

About two years ago, I was exploring different ideas to publish an events-related blog and I came up with the idea to turn my informal e-blast into a blog and since free and affordable events were well received by everyone, it just became a great vehicle to bring all types of people together regardless of what they can afford. So my blog, Freedom Love-Fest, became a celebration, a love-fest, for anyone and everyone who wanted to be financially free to enjoy everything New York City has to offer.

In addition, I am also a freelance event producer and I have many friends that are performing in or producing events, festivals, and projects around the city and this was a great way to help spread the good word, keep in touch with people, and meet new people in the arts and entertainment and events fields.

For Freedom Love-Fest (FLF), everyday, I select 3-4 events, mainly after work and weekend events that I would like to attend or find interesting and fresh and new. I cover all the boroughs but I must say that definitely Manhattan and Brooklyn have the most free and affordable events on a daily basis.

The motto of FLF is that it is for all New Yorkers; whether they make $200K or more, or $30K or less. I understand that our beloved city is an expensive place to live and everyone has bills and financial responsibilities, perhaps an upcoming costly wedding or vacation, saving for a rainy day, or might just be lovers of frugality. Whatever the case FLF answers a common need and helps all New Yorkers enjoy the culture, art, music, entertainment, and landscape of New York at little or no expense.

What brought you to New York?

Actually I’m from Westchester Country, I was raised in Hartsdale, New York but as soon as I was old enough to jump on the Metro North, New York City was calling me to it and I was at its doorstep any chance I could get. When you’re young and curious about the world, in this country, New York City is a great place to start that exploratory journey. It’s the personality of the city and its cultural diversity as well as its artistic talents that draw me ever so closely to it.

What do you love about living in New York?
I definitely love the arts and culture of the city such as the wide array of different music concerts, restaurants, dance performances, and cultural events. On top of that the United Nations is here and it is truly an international center for world politics and culture. The complexity of the city is unique in the world and compelling. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that my backyard, Central Park, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and on the weekends, I can go kayaking for free on the Hudson. What more could a girl ask for?

What do you think makes a New Yorker?

I don’t think that there is a stereotypical New Yorker, which is great! But one thing I believe all New Yorkers have in common is that they stay in ‘awe’ of the city and are captivated by its personality, willingly embracing the challenges of being in New York. The city is every New Yorker’s great waxing and waning love affair and we take the good and the bad together and it remains an unforgettable experience.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?

New York has a beautiful landscape, the hills, valleys, parks, shores, and magnificent views from a bridge or skyscraper are always captivating. Beyond the concrete of the city, if you walk around the boroughs, you will always find a quiet and beautiful space “a best kept secret” that you never saw before. From the Bronx to Staten Island, it is always surprisingly beautiful and inspirational.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?

I miss the diversity of art and music events, everyday, all year round, in every Borough. I lived abroad for two years and I definitely missed Central Park, Summerstage, the Guggenheim, the Studio Museum, the Joyce Theater, and breezy evening walks on Central Park West when all is well and quiet.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?

Visit Freedom Love-Fest on a daily basis of course! A little trick I often tell people is to use FLF as a way to curate a great affordable date with quality and creative time built into it. For example, on any given Sunday you could do the following (and all for free):

From 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Pack a lunch and start your date either Kayaking on the Hudson at West 72nd Street or hiking on the Tree-mendous Hike in Crotona Park in the Bronx, all for free.

From: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Bring a blanket and listen to a live concert on the Harlem Meer such as a local artist, Raquel Lima, the Queen of Bossanova, for free.

From 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Pack a dinner picnic and find a spot to eat somewhere on Hudson River Park then join the party and dance the night away under the stars with live music from New York’s hottest dance bands on Hudson River Park’s Pier 54, for free.

Post 8:30 PM
If you want to grab dessert and a drink in a cozy and comfortable place, venture to the Village and stop by Shade on West 3rd and order a dessert crepe starting at $6 or so.

I recommend if you do this for a date, you will really get to know someone or just spend interactive and quality time with your dearly beloved. Plus you can save a buck a two for tickets to the Opera or a Broadway show at a later point.

So, if you stop by Freedom Love-Fest, you can always curate a date and good times for free abound!

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?

I’m probably not the best person to answer this question because I love being a tourist and I am the type of person that will buy a tourist guidebook with an attached pen holder and stick a yellow highlighter in it and post-its to help me outline what I need to see. For example, it doesn’t matter how many times I visit London, I will go on tours again and again. Nothing is really corny to me. There is one tourist attraction that perhaps the average New Yorker overlooks and that is the Circle Line. When I was younger, family members from various points on the globe would come to New York to visit and I somehow was designated the family representative that would take our guests on a Circle Line cruise. So I don’t know how many times I’ve been on the Circle Line but it is always a great, relaxing, and worthwhile experience.

Best place to dine late night?

I really like Boucarou in the Lower East Side. It’s a nouveux West African/Asian Fusion restaurant with late night DJs that spins really great music. The owner of the restaurant, Patrice Bihina, used to be a NYC party promoter and is a foodie, so he wants people to eat and drink well and party at the same time. One stop shopping…

Best music venue?

It is a split tie between B.B. Kings Bar and Grill on 42nd Street and the Sounds of Brazil on Varick Street. It would be impossible for me to decide between the two venues. They both offer a little bit of something for everyone in New York from Basement Bhangra with DJs Rekha and Phil Money and Salsa lessons at SOBs to Sunday Gospel Brunch, hoofing with Savion Glover, and rocking with oldies like Chuck Berry and Pat Benatar at B.B. Kings. These two venues are one stop shopping for music and dance lovers.

I also must make a special mention for free and affordable music events and recommend Rose Live Music in Williamsburg. What great programming! Every week there is something different from Monday Night Soul Sessions with percussionist Chauncey Yearwood and the best of Colombian music at Nueva Colombia nights. Rose Live Music is a must to bookmark in one’s calendar.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)

I always look forward to Summerstage in Central Park. It is a staple and important part of my summers in New York City. The programming is amazing and I recently attended a concert featuring Vieux Farka Toure, Fallou Dieng, Kaleta & Zozo Afrobeat, and DJ Sirak. It rained, the sun came out, it rained again but it didn’t deter anyone from staying and enjoying the concert.

Best place to people watch?

The Hudson River waterfront at West 72nd Street is a great place to people watch. You can just bring a blanket, sit, relax, and watch people walk or skate up and down the boardwalk.

Best tip for thrifty yet tasty eats?

Free chocolate demonstration with Mr. Chocolate himself, Chef Jacques Torres at his downtown store on Hudson Street is a great way to fit in a tasty treat and learn a trick of the trade at the same time.

I’m also a fan of Roti Roll Bombay Frankie and its Dive Bar next door on Amsterdam Avenue. They have great Indian sandwiches starting at $3; then you can walk into their dive bar (no cover), get a drink and sit and eat your roti. Then eventually venture onto their small dance floor with a disco ball from the 70’s spinning around. It is a surprising good time and open to 2am in the morning.

Best new place to discover new art or artists?

Yet another tie…

Lava Gina is a great place to discover new World Music artists. It is a small venue without a stage and dance floor, sort of like the size of an average New York city apartment. While you are there, sitting by the bar before you know it, there is an amp and someone next to you is grabbing a microphone and singing with some dancers. Talk about up close and personal! You can really feel like you are part of the show. It is great!

I am a little biased because I used to work at the Apollo Theater but I must say the non-televised Wednesday Amateur Nights at the Apollo is a traditional platform for artists from all over the world and throughout the country. It’s a raucous good time and only brave and confident artists grace the stage on a regular Wednesday night. Now that is real talent in itself.

freedomlovefest.typepad.com

How do you make the most of New York?

Post a comment below and give some lip about the city’s coolest zips.

The word “free” is hardly one most associated with New York City. But as two of its denizens are happy to point out – low cost entertainment can be found in many zip codes. That’s why two New School students launched FreeNYC, to let New Yorkers know that there’s more to this fine city than budget busting cab rides and absurdly priced lattes. In fact, there’s an endless array of events & activities that can be enjoyed FREE OF CHARGE!

But don’t take our word for it, check out what FreeNYC publisher Christopher Lehault and editor Lindsay Udo have to say about their incredibly cost efficient blog.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started? FreeNYC.net is New York City’s premier daily guide for free and inexpensive events. Every day we scour through dozens of submissions and hand-select what we find to be the most interesting, most unique, or best values the city has to offer. Most listings tend to cover Manhattan and Brooklyn but we do list events from all 5 borough and we try and concentrate our efforts on nightlife, art openings, live music, community activities, and activism events. 99% of our listings are free with an occasional listing up to $5 simply because it’s a great value.

FreeNYC started in 2005 on a complete whim. I often found people asking that inevitable question: “What’s going on tonight?” At the time, I was fascinated with blogs and wanted to explore the medium so I figured events and nightlife (something near and dear to my heart) was the perfect subject matter. And like everyone else fresh out of collage – or living here in general – I was always on a tight budget and hunting down cheap stuff to do. Everything kind of came together and it’s been a labor of love ever since.

What brought you to New York?
Chris – Initially to study Graphic Design at Parson School of Design (which is my secret day job)

Lindsay – a left wing, communist, hippie, liberal arts college

What do you love about living in New York?
Chris – The accessibility of just about everything in the world. Just about every great musician, artist, author, or thinker comes through this town at one point or another. You can only say that about a handful of cities around the world. It can be overwhelming sometimes when there are two or three great concerts in a night, plus an art opening and a lecture.

Lindsay – The diversity of the people, culture, music and art that just doesn’t exist anywhere else.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Chris – Oh wow, NYC is so amazingly diverse that it’s a hard one to pin down. I think everyone here has a dream and that’s the common denominator. For some it’s to become a great artist or make it in a band. For others it’s to give your children the opportunities you didn’t have. And some just want to become stinking rich or become a superstar. Whatever it is, everyone here has something they are driving for that makes all the hard work this city requires well worth it.

Lindsay – You are officially a New Yorker once you have memorized most of the MTA subway map.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
Chris – I guess its how small “your New York” is. Have you ever noticed that after you live here for a few years that you start to run into people on the street, or in a random bar? In a city with a surplus of eight million you’d never expect to have so many random encounters on the street. But then you look at how much of the city you actually cover on a daily basis, week to week, and you realize that “your New York” is tiny… a handful of bars, a dozen restaurants near work, and a couple blocks around your apartment. That always amazes me.

Lindsay – This one is twofold… What surprises me about New Yorkers is that even with trashcans on every single corner and about every 20 feet in the subway, people still continue to litter. On the other hand, I am constantly surprised how resilient New Yorkers are. From blackouts to giant water pipe explosions, whatever happens New Yorkers can really roll with the punches.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
Chris - 24hr Bodegas (and with that, ATMs.) I’ve really gotten used to having all the comforts of life within a two block walking distance no matter where I am or what time of day it is.

Lindsay – I miss being able to get food at almost any hour of the day!

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
Chris – A ton of them! Most of which end up on FreeNYC.net. Here are a few quickies that may be obvious to some and eye-openers to others:
- Taxis are only available (technically) when the light on top is on so don’t waste your time waiving at all those light-less ones in the rain, save your strength.
- Museums can be expensive but galleries are free. Some of the best art in the world can be found in Chelsea. And on Thursdays it is one of the cities biggest parties so you can get your snacking and drinking in as well without spending a dime.
- You can go to the bathroom just about anywhere in the city (unless there is a maitre ‘d)… just don’t ask. Walk in and head straight to the back. Most places will think you’ve come back from a cigarette or cell phone call and are already eating/drinking there. I know the bars and restaurants are going to hate me for this one but its kind of necessity!

Lindsay – One of my favorite things about the city is how many awesome museums there are. What most people don’t realize is that a lot of them are “suggested donation” which means that they are only suggesting that you pay their obscenely high prices to get in. You can actually pay-as-you-wish. You should keep in mind though that many of these places rely on your contributions to stay afloat, so try not to short change them too much. Plus, most of the museums (and botanical gardens) have at least a few hours a week where admission is totally 100% free!

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Chris – Staten Island Ferry… its like a poor man’s cruise! Grab a few tall boys and take a tour of the harbor on a nice spring day. You get some (relatively) fresh air, a nice view of the Statue of Liberty, and its totally free! My other would be watching the sunset over Central Park from the top of the Met all summer long. It’s usually pretty mellow up there that late in the day but if you go by yourself, be prepared to take a lot of photos for people. Tourists tend to think that since you are sitting there quietly with a glass of wine that you can be easily interrupted for a photo.

Lindsay – 4th of July Fireworks.

Best neighborhood bar?
Chris – Hmm… thats a tough one since all my good ones were really these country dives that are now closed (Village Idiot) or might as well be (Coyote Ugly). Depending on the neighborhood: Loki (Park Slope), Alligator Lounge or Bushwick Country Club (Williamsburg), Finnerty’s (NYU-ville), Botanica (Soho/Village), Welcome to the Johnsons (LES), Heartland Brewery (Anyplace where tourists go).

Lindsay – Well that is a bit of an interesting predicament here in Park Slope, there really seems to be a shortage of good neighborhood bars (see Community Board 6’s feelings on Union Pool). But there are some good ones including Union Pool, and The Royale.

Best late night joint?
Chris – Nublu (Ave C and 4th St) or Smalls (10th St & 7th Ave). Both these places always have a small cover, a great laid back vibe, and seem to have magic happening after 2am. Smalls is also 18+ which is golden in a city with little nightlife for the under-21 crowd.

Lindsay – Crooked Disco at Galapagos… I swear I am not saying this because its our party, its really one of the most fun late night joints around!

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
Chris – Murakami exhibit during the day at BMA followed by a picnic and then caught the Wood Brother’s at Bowery Ballroom. Like I said, only in New York.

Lindsay – The Takashi Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum which was awesome! Before that it was the new Harold and Kumar movie at The Pavilion, totally hilarious!

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
Chris - I’m not much for fancy schmancy but I’ll make an exception for Buddakan. The space is stunning and the food amazing. A close second would be Dressler in Williamsburg.

Lindsay – Al Di La in Park Slope, mmmmm! While it isn’t fancy schmancy (you can go in your jeans) it will put a dent in your wallet, but it’s totally worth every penny. Their menu changes pretty often so its hard to steer you in the right direction, but their pastas are always perfect, and the hanger steak is a good staple. Oh, and be sure to get dessert!

Best place to meet members of the opposite sex?
Chris – If longevity is a concern then I would say anywhere you are doing something you love (other then drinking and dancing) and there’s an easy conversation starter. Chelsea on Thursdays for a gallery hop can be great or the Upstairs in the Square series at Barnes and Noble if these are things you are into (if your more outdoorsy, just try EMS or Chelsea Piers). If longevity is not a concern then Down the Hatch (for college types), Happy Ending (for hipsters) or late night at Crooked Disco (there seem to always be these random makeout sessions going on).

Lindsay - I haven’t had to meet members of the opposite sex in a while (yay boyfriend!) but I will say that I was kinda over the whole drunk dudes in a bar thing. I’d say the best places are bookstores, coffee shops, even the park. Any place that encourages conversation beyond “wooo whooooo shots!”

Best live entertainment venue?
Chris – Smalls or the Village Vanguard for Jazz (no one takes advantage of the great Jazz here). Mercury Lounge for bands. SOBs for Urban/Latin/Caribbean culture and Nublu for the electronic/DJ culture. RIP Wetlands, Coney Island High, Tonic, The Academy, and The Cooler. Each would have won out had they not been forced to close down.

Lindsay – For bands I’d say the Bowery Ballroom. But for other types of performances, I love BAM!

Best “deal” in the city?
Chris – Oh man, anything on FreeNYC! For real, I have seen so many unbelievable things for free that its hard to pick one (or remember them all). I’ll go with the Celebrate Brooklyn series. They are at night in Prospect Park so it’s easier then dealing with the 90º heat at Summerstage with much shorter beer lines. Plus, you get to see an amazingly diverse line-up on music for a $3 suggested donation (see above).

Lindsay – Honestly the entirety of the summer is the best deal in the city. Free concerts at Summerstage, Prospect Park Bandshell, McCarren Park and on the Piers. Then there are free movies outdoors at Bryant Park, Hudson River Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Check FreeNYC for all the summer calenders!

Find out what’s free at www.freenyc.net

What is your favorite Free Activity in NYC?
Post a comment below and let us know what’s funky and frugal.

Take a dip into Astoria Pool and beat the heat all summer long. This Olympic-sized swimming pool was built to hold 3000 of your closest friends, and is accompanied by a diving pool and a wading pool for the wee ones.

Originally opened in 1936, Astoria was the model for 11 other swimming facilities in New York City. It’s the only one with a clear view of the Triborough Bridge, and boasts views of the Manhattan skyline. The best part of all? Entrance to the pool is free. But, make sure you bring a combination lock with you to secure your stuff. You’re not allowed into the pool without one, and you probably wouldn’t want anyone messing with your stuff while you’re splashing around anyway.

19th Street and 23rd Drive, 11105