Global Microfinance Investment Congress

Entertainment

New York offers a dizzying array of entertainment options. So much so that the enormous number of choices often overwhelms even the most jaded New Yorker.

Cinema
Walking down Fifth Avenue or St. Marks Place ( two streets as different as they can be ) entertains New Yorkers far more than most Hollywood movies. However, if one sees a movie at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX or Cinema Classics, New York does not disappoint. Art films from all over the world play at the Film Forum.

Galleries and Museums
Whatever the month, art museums and galleries mount shows, street performers entertain in the parks, Gus the Polar Bear swims the backstroke at the zoo and rollerbladers enjoy the sunshine while basking in the city's spectacle.
Year round, most museums offer a day of free admission during the week. Many other galleries and museums are free all the time. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is technically free, although they do push you for an optional donation.

Music
Those without means will find summertime particularly rich with options. From concerts by the New York Philharmonic to Shakespeare in Central Park, free culture is everywhere. Catch all types of performances at Symphony Space.
Downtown, with its traditionally youthful edge, offers numerous free choices. The Sidewalk Cafe is a great venue overflowing with every kind of band trying to make it in this big, bad city. Some are better than others. See well-known bands up close at the Bowery Ballroom.
Frank Sinatra was wise when he sang, "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere..." The world's best performers know that without success in the Big Apple, they aren't really successful. Thus, big stars perform at Madison Square Garden. From the latest diva at the Metropolitan Opera House to Irving Plaza's hottest band, the best of the best make it all look easy.

Nightclubs
New York is the very last word in club culture, with places in every corner of the city blasting music all night long. S.O.B.'s showcases world music, while the Knitting Factory provides a mixed bag of music, spoken word and art. If you're looking for a trendy, upscale establishment, Tenjune fits the bill; for the yuppie hipster there's Niagara.

Attractions
Even without a concert, from Belvedere Castle to Sheep's Meadow, Central Park itself provides numerous amusements for its visitors.
Bowling at Bowlmor Lanes and spending a day at the Bronx Zoo are longstanding New York City pastimes.

Theater
Many days, visitors may choose between a pricey Broadway extravaganza or one of the city's many free parades. Adventurous theatergoers eschew Broadway for off- and off-off-Broadway while those seeking to express themselves haunt the city's many nightclubs. Meanwhile, divas and drag queens prove nightly that cabaret is not a thing of the past.
De La Guarda and Blue Man Group are totally funky yet accessible ongoing off-Broadway shows. The historic Clearview's Ziegfeld Theater mesmerizes moviegoers no matter what it shows. Inside and out, the Guggenheim Museum will blow your mind.
In addition to being a museum, the MoMA ( Museum of Modern Art ) is a performance and cinema mecca.
See world-class comedians perform at Dangerfield's and Carolines on Broadway. The Metropolitan Opera and The New York City Ballet dazzle at Lincoln Center.

Sports
Ice-skating at Wollman Rink is a great way to see Central Park. In the summer months, the Lincoln Center Festival showcases innovative performances from around the world at reasonable prices. Watch the Rangers and the Knicks defeat their rivals at Madison Square Garden.

Dining & Bars

Despite all its diversity, New York City social life revolves around a single ritual—dining out. Whether it be a power broker paying hundreds for a meal at Asia de Cuba or a slacker scraping together some money for a pizza at Lombardi's, each experiences the city's unique culinary fusion. Add lively conversation with friends, and voilá!—you've found the real New York City. With the sheer number of ethnic influences, talented chefs making a name for themselves, hot spots, hidden gems, delis and diners—New York offers something for everyone's palate.

Diners enjoy gastronomic delights across the five boroughs, but the following districts are particularly noteworthy:

Midtown
Old money dines at prestigious and elegant classics like 21 Club. Meanwhile, cell phones ring and young turks wheel and deal at hip locales like the China Grill. Superstar Jean-Georges Vongerichten reinvents fine dining at his eponymous Jean-Georges and the French-Asian Vong. For something completely different ( but quintessentially Big Apple ), true New Yorkers stop by the famous Carnegie Deli for a massive sandwich.

Hell's Kitchen
A few steps west of the Times Square tourist trap lies this former slum now transformed into an enclave of eclectic eateries, many ideal for pre- and post-theater dining. From the spicy and romantic Puttanesca to the family-run Chez Napoleon, there's something for everyone. After, or even instead of the meal, the Cupcake Cafe supplies some of the best desserts in town.

Gramercy & Union Square
This notable area of fine dining boasts top-rated, understated establishments like the Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Cafe. A neighborhood rich in history, the landmark Pete's Tavern still draws a relaxing pint and serves up old-fashioned pub grub after over a century in the business.

West Village
World-class restaurants like the favorite Gotham Bar & Grill and the stunningly romantic One if by Land, Two if by Sea work their magic in the brownstones of this historic neighborhood.

East Village
Funky, inexpensive ethnic restaurants and hip bars draw people here from all over the city. Well-known bargains like the Life Cafe are usually filled with local hipsters and students as well as visitors. Meanwhile, traces of old New York can still be found at the Lanza Restaurant.

Soho
Where the art world congregates, trendy dining establishments follow. The Mercer Kitchen serves some of the city's most innovative cuisine as the world's most fabulous people vie for tables there ( not to mention a couple of blocks over at Balthazar ). Elsewhere amongst the galleries and posh shops, black-clad sophisticates socialize at oh-so-very-Soho classics — Raoul's and Boom.

Tribeca
Among Tribeca's spectacular loft spaces, masterful restaurateur Drew Nieporant has created a mini-kingdom for himself, along with friend and investor Robert DeNiro. Nieporant offers diners amazing Japanese food at Nobu and New American cuisine at Tribeca Grill. For something outside Nieporant's empire, try the flashy Odeon or just sip champagne at the Bubble Lounge.

Little Italy
That's amore! Along bustling Mulberry Street old-country restaurants blare Frank Sinatra into the street while barkers summon the crowds. For those who love red sauces with their pasta or veal, choices abound. From Pellegrino's to Casa Bella, it's difficult to go wrong. For pizza, Lombardi's serves some of the best pies in the city.

Chinatown
Like a trip to Asia but without leaving Manhattan, the scores of restaurants on Chinatown's dynamic streets offer every variety of Asian cuisine (often at bargain prices ). For those in search of quality dumplings, Joe's Shanghai Restaurant is the place. Seeking Chinese-style barbecue? Big Wong King fits the bill; and if one craves noodles at three in the morning, New York Noodle Town always hits the mark.