5. SEE A BROADWAY SHOW

As long as you are in New York, you really should take advantage of something you can't do anywhere else…see a Broadway Show (no, that revival of The Sound of Music you saw at the County Fair last year doesn't count).

Most people think that seeing a show isn't for them because 1) they think they will be bored or 2) they don't want to pay ridiculous prices for decent seats. Fear not, dear reader; we will now give you indispensable tips on how to pick, pay for, and enjoy a Broadway show and a cheap price.

  1. Picking the right show - there are several shows playing at any given time, so there is sure to be something for everyone. Things to consider while choosing a show are whether you prefer a musical or a play, if you want a comedy or a drama, and whether you will be attending with children. Then, you can narrow down the field. The New York Times lists the running shows every day in the Arts and Leisure section so you can easily see all your options. To give you a little help though, here are some guidelines:

    • Revivals (shows like Annie Get Your Gun and Kiss Me Kate) are often good family fare.

    • Disney shows (The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aida) are always kid safe.

    • Off-Broadway shows are often more risky (and risqué) than Broadway fare (if you don't believe us, then check out the accurately titled Naked Boys Singing) but they are usually great fun and very unique. Off-Broadway shows are also much cheaper.

    • Long running shows (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera) are always safe bets and usually have tickets available.

    • Plays vs. Musicals: it completely depends on your own taste, but we suggest that you try for at least one of each.
  2. Buying tickets to a Broadway show can be a daunting experience since seats can sometimes go for as much as $100 each. Still, there are ways to see theater without breaking the bank.

    • The most popular way to get a discount is to go to the TKTS booth located in Times Square (Broadway and 47th St.). You can get half price tickets to most shows at this booth, although the most popular shows are never available. Prepare to wait in line for at least an hour. The booth opens at 3:00pm Monday through Saturday and at 10am on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday for matinee tickets. At the TKTS booth you can only buy tickets for a show that day and you must pay in cash. The most expensive tickets run about $35. There is another TKTS booth at 199 Water Street on the corner of Front and John Streets, and you can buy tickets for some shows a day in advance there. The times for the WTC booth is 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00 to 4:00 on Sunday. Be forewarned, however, that this booth may have less variety and crappier seats.

    • If standing in line to get a ticket to a show that might be sold out before you ever get to the front of the line doesn't sound like the ideal way to spend your afternoon, try getting a discount ahead of time by going to the Playbill site. This site publishes discount codes for numerous shows. You have to subscribe to the site to have access to the discounts, but membership is free. These codes are good to use in person at the box office or over the phone.

    • Many shows have a "Rush Seat" policy. This means that if you get to the theater about 2 hours before the show and enter a drawing, you can get seats in the front row for $20. It lets poor folks (like the struggling workers of SoYouWanna.net) have a chance at kick-ass seats for a great show. Rent is one example of a show with this opportunity. Each show works a little differently so you need to call the theater to get the specifics. Some theaters require a student ID while others do not.
  3. If you followed steps 1 and 2, you are already well on your way to #3: enjoying the show. In order to really have a great time, you must have a decent seat. This doesn't necessarily mean 5th row center; different types of shows are best seen from different vantage points. Big musicals with huge props, costumes, and special effects (e.g., The Lion King or Miss Saigon) are actually easier to appreciate from the mezzanine (balcony), while you might want to sit closer for a play. One word of advice - NEVER settle for "obstructed view seats." These seats are a cheaper, but it means that you'll have a big pole in front of you. Also, whatever the show, seats in the center are better than seats to the right or left.

    When you purchase your tickets, be sure to have a seating chart for that theater on hand so that you can make sure you get seats you're happy with. If you purchase tickets online (at Tele-charge or TicketMaster, for example) the sites will have links to seating charts. If you're calling via telephone, the operator won't be able to help you. Luckily, seating charts for every theater are available at the Playbill site.

And that's everything there is to enjoying NYC. There's tons that we left out (The World Trade Center, Gray's Papaya, the Bronx Zoo, Washington Square Park, the amazing restaurants, Chinatown…), but our advice should get you started on the right track. So grab a friend and start spreading the news… you're leaving today.