Time Out New York just published their Essential New York Guide, and it’s chock-full of goodies! The kind writers of TONY broke it down into different sections for us click-happy folks, so I waded through a couple NYU-friendly selections that we could all appreciate.

ART
We all know that the MoMA offers free entries on Fridays (starting at 4 pm), but TONY takes it one step further by recommending we go to extra mile and hit up the Whitney afterwards (Pay what you wish from 6 to 9 pm) and then the Guggenheim (Pay what you wish from 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm) and then rounding the night off at the Met (Pay what you wish all the time) , which closes at 9 pm. TONY also recommended the Studio Museum in Harlem, which showcases a different type of art from the usual SoHo/Chelsea venues.

BOOKS
Every NYU student knows about Strand, since we are usually trying to sell them our used books that were rejected by NYU Bookstores (damn you, new editions that come out every three years!), but it’s nice to see it touted by TONY as the place to go for classics and rare literary treasures. Housing Works is also a popular spot to pawn off your books (though they deal only with donations, not sell-backs) but TONY recommends going there for their “literary programming,” which this Friday includes a benefit concert by Fran Healy and the Bowmans.

FILM
The Paris Theatre (yes, the British spelling, not the American) recently celebrated its 60th birthday, making it one of the oldest art-houses in the United States. TONY recommends a seat in the balcony while you watch the latest in Parisian cinema.

COMEDY
The last time I went to a Upright Citizens Brigade show that I went to, I felt incredibly old because I was surrounded by people who looked like they were in high school and I was the only one who got beer. But TONY singles out the free ASSSSCAT shows that have previously featured writers/performers from SNL and The Daily Show.

GAY
If you love dive bars (I do!) and would like to see the gay version of it, stop by the Cock, where drinks are cheap (average is $5, says TONY) and Monday nights are hosted by DJ extraordinaire Jon Jon Battles. If you’re short on cash (and the Cock is a cash-only bar) TONY recommends daily viewing of MSNBC newest media darling, Rachel Maddow. This straight-forward newscaster (who talks with her mouth slightly lopsided) has gained popularity among viewers for her insightful coverage, and I would compare her to CNN’s Campbell Brown.

There are also other helpful sections, including Clubs, Music, and Sex & Dating. I also found the conversation on Multiculturalism, which includes Talib Kweli, to be really interesting.