There have been dozens of anniversary events and exhibits, each one motivated by the impulses to remember that day and to honor the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001, as well as the people whose health was affected irrevocably that day and in the days and weeks that followed during the recovery, and who have died since.

In a way, the number and variety of these events have been overwhelming, insisting that we not bypass this year’s anniversary without a long, hard pause.

On Friday morning, the public art collaborative Illegal Art chalked the sidewalk of Fifth Avenue, running from 14th Street for a length of 1,368 feet, the height of the taller of the two Twin Towers. People passing by could take a piece of chalk and write a message on the sidewalk.

Francisco was dissatisfied with most of the photos of this art installation, complaining that none of the photos gave the full scope of the project.

But I told him that was like 9/11 itself– that none of the TV coverage, none of the magazine or newspaper articles, and none of our individual accounts of the day, including mine or his (he was at his apartment, a few blocks away, sleeping, when he heard the first plane crash) — give any sense of the scale or scope of loss and grief and confusion.

Sometimes, just a fragment makes enough sense and lets us move forward.

Rain couldn't deter this fabulous decked-out woman.

Lots of rain and few people, but the 30th anniversary of the Dominican Day Parade went on as planned yesterday. The parade marks the beginning of celebrations to honor Dominicans’ presence in the United States, and to acknowledge the steady growth of this community, whose members are planting roots in the diaspora.

Although this immigrant group is relatively new, its members have made great strides in arts, sports, politics, and in the social life of New York. Recognized figures include Senator Adriano Espaillat; Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez; actress/model Celines Toribio, who starred in “Trópico de Sangre”; singer Juan Luis Guerra; fashion designer Oscar de la Renta; Yankees pitcher Rafael Soriano; infielder Eduardo Michelle Nuñez and many others.

There are also humble, hard-working people who aren’t well known, as is true among every community of immigrants who have left their homeland in search of success and economic stability. It is estimated that about 600,000 Dominicans live in NYC.

Like all communities, this one has had to confront many difficulties and challenges, including AIDS, drug addiction, unemployment, under-education, and a lack of affordable housing, especially here in New York, where the cost of living is among the highest in the country. As a group, though, they’ve responded to these challenges and obstacles and overcome them, often managing to also help their families back on the island while working hard to establish themselves here.

Despite the rain, the sounds of merengue and bachata filled the air, and the sense of shared pride in their heritage was evident at Sunday’s Dominican Day Parade.

**

Mucha lluvia, poca gente

Mucha lluvia y poca gente, pero la marcha que celebraría su 30 aniversario no se detuvo. Esta es el comienzo de las fiestas para celebrar su herencia, las contribuciones de esta comunidad en los Estados Unidos, y para recordar que es una comunidad que esta creciendo de manera significante poco a poco y echando raíces en los lugares en que ellos residen.

Aunque es un grupo de inmigrantes relativamente nuevo, ya cuentan con representantes y figuras conocidas en las artes, deporte, política y en la vida social en Nueva York (Senador Adriano Espaillat; Concejal Ydanis Rodríguez; actris/modelo Celines Toribio (de la pelicula “Trópico de Sangre”); cantautor Juan Luis Guerra; diseñador de moda Oscar de la Renta; lanzador de los Yankees Rafael Soriano; jugador de cuadro Eduardo Michelle Nuñez (quien “ocupa la posición de Jerek Deter como suplente”); y muchos otros mas.

Celines Toribio

Gente humilde y trabajadora que al igual que todos aquellos grupos de inmigrantes que han dejado su tierra en el pasado son guiados por el deseo del triunfo y la mejoría económica a todos los niveles.

Orgullo Dominicano

Dominican pride

En el día de hoy hubo mucha lluvia, mucho merengue, bachata, y muchas esperanzas de estar unidos y en esa unidad esta la fuerza, la fuerza de la inmigración dominicana.

A couple leaps into Sebago Lake at Migis Lodge

I love this photo of a couple leaping into the water at Migis Lodge in Maine.

We stayed at Migis last week and were one of the few families there who were new guests; most guests are repeat visitors. One guest mentioned that he’d been at Migis every summer since he was 8 years old, and he was well into his 40s, if not into his 50s.

Migis is my favorite place we’ve stayed in the US this year. I love the clean, comfortable well cared-for cottages, the outdoor lunches, the dinners where men have to wear jackets and no one can use cell phones, and the fact that even when the property is almost full, one cam still feel that they’ve got their own private spot.

I look forward to writing more about Migis soon.

More photos from Migis and our Maine trip can be viewed here.

A related exhibit that documents the “behind-the-scenes” backstory of the “Zodiac Heads” show is at the Arsenal Gallery inside Central Park.

Few visitors to New York know about the city’s many cultural centers (The Korea Society, Scandinavia House, Instituto Cervantes, and the Mexican Cultural Center of New York, to name just a few); there are probably plenty of locals who don’t know about them, either.

The cultural centers are generally open to the public and offer a range of free programming–films, art exhibits, concerts, lectures and discussions, and live music performances–intended to promote awareness and knowledge for the cultures and countries the centers represent.

One of New York’s cultural centers is the Austrian Cultural Forum. Francisco and I had been to the ACF before–it hosted one of the panels for the PEN World Voices Festival last year– but hadn’t thought about it since then. We happened to be walking past the ACF recently and noticed that its current exhibit (running through January 11, 2011) is about Serbia.

The works in the FAQ SERBIA show are exhibited on several floors, and include photos, videos, and installations, as well as drawings and other media. According to exhibit materials, the show “reflects on two decades of drama in the Balkans with a special focus on Serbia. The artists expose the culturalization of the Yugoslav conflict…, [serving as] a powerful guide to a tumultuous and painful chapter in recent European history.”

The show runs now though January 11, 2011. The Austrian Cultural Forum is located at 11 East 52nd Street. Admission to the exhibit, as well as the remaining event associated with the show (a roundtable on January 10), is free.

To see all of Francisco’s photos from the FAQ SERBIA show, click here.

“Children need fats….”

You’d never see this ad on the subway in 2010. A modern ad about fat, courtesy of the NYC Department of Health, shows a cup of soda overflowing with revolting adipose, the calories from the sugary soft drink converting into fat like magic.

But the ad above is from a different era.

The New York City MTA has brought old train cars and vintage buses out of its Transit Museum and back to the tracks and streets. Now through the end of December, you can ride on the decommissioned subway cars and buses (trains on Sundays only; buses on weekdays only. The full schedule and more information are available on the MTA’s site).

The reappearance of the old transit vehicles, which happens every once in a while, brings out all types of folks– parents who are looking for a cheap way to entertain their kids; train aficionados and former MTA employees; vintage-loving hipsters who even dress the part of the mid-century New Yorker; and camera-toting locals and tourists who just want to capture the image of these vehicles in motion.

But more interesting than the people who show up to ride the old trains (which were in service from the 1930s until the 1970s) and buses, and even more interesting than the old light fixtures, the ceiling fans (!), and the subway seats with a cane-like upholstery, are the advertisements of the period that decorate the cars. They’re an indication of what life was like in those decades–and how much New York and society at large have changed (and how much they haven’t, too) since then.

When was the last time you saw an advertisement for… NATO?

Or heard about a public celebration of American Citizenship Day?

I’ve never heard of Bond Bread, have you?

And what happened in our society that 84 out of 100 women in 2010 aren’t like their 1950s counterparts, who preferred men in hats?

One thing that hasn’t changed– the MTA’s guilt-trip tactics intended to inspire common courtesy:

See Francisco’s complete set of vintage subway photos here.

New York City is a destination on many travelers’ bucket lists, but its reputation as an expensive city deters visitors from booking flights and making travel plans. They believe that if they save enough money they’ll be able to visit New York someday, and for too many people, that someday never comes around.

It’s true that New York is expensive, but there are lots of ways to stretch your travel dollar to ensure you make the most of your visit. Here are 8 insiders’ tips:

1. Skip the obvious tourist traps.
Guide books and hotel concierges don’t tend to encourage visitors to stray from the tried and true touristy activities. Not that any of those activities are bad; they’re just not all New York has to offer. Plus, they tend to take quick, deep hits on your wallet.

Instead, visit some of the places locals frequent. Some of the city’s most interesting museums don’t charge an entrance fee. Some of the best shows cost a fraction of a Broadway ticket. And some of the most photogenic views can be had for free. If you want to know where some of these places are, check out my article “What NOT to Do in New York City” on MatadorTrips. You can also read our “Overlooked New York” series right here on this site.

2. Book hotels offline.
Smaller New York City hotels, such as The Inn on 23rd Street, don’t sell rooms through online fare aggregators. You’ll get the best deal by calling directly and asking for the lowest available rate. Even hotels that do sell rooms through online aggregators will often match the online rate if you call directly and mention the site through which you were considering booking. Many hotels prefer that you book directly with them, so they’ll meet or beat the price you find online.

3. Take the subway.
Don’t let anxiety or fear prevent you from using New York City’s subway system. Millions of locals and visitors ride the subway every day (5 million + in 2009), and more than a billion people use the subway every year. Don’t waste your money on taxis or a rental car here; buy yourself an unlimited Metrocard and take trains or city buses.

4. Eat a heavy lunch…
Go light on dinner and eat a heavier lunch instead. One of my favorite quick, inexpensive lunches is the “Rickshaw Regular” at the Rickshaw Dumpling Bar on 23rd Street. For $9.00 you get six dumplings and a soup of your choice. The portions are generous and filling. Rickshaw has a strong social media presence, too; if you’re on Twitter or Foursquare, check out the occasional deals they post through their channels.

5. Or wait for the afternoon deals and have a late lunch/early dinner.
Some shops offer half-price specials once the main lunch rush has died down. Amy’s Bread in Chelsea Market sells sandwiches 50% off after 4 PM.

6. Use your social media savvy.
Where do you want to stay? What do you want to see and do? Where do you want to eat? Check to see if the places you want to patronize have Twitter, Facebook, and/or Foursquare accounts. Hundreds of New York businesses do, and they often announce exclusive deals for their online followers.

Waterfront Museum

7. Take advantage of New York’s free attractions.
We shared 30 of our favorites in this list.

8. Find out what’s happening in the city.
Newyorkology and NYC GO are two comprehensive websites listing what’s happening in New York on any given day. By checking their online calendars in advance, you can plan to take advantage of free or low cost activities that won’t be mentioned in guide books.

Have you done New York Cit on the cheap? Share your tips in the comments!

As far as experiences go, I’m willing to try almost anything once.

So when the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism invited us to the US Open, I immediately said yes.

No matter that my knowledge of tennis is limited to this: two people hold rackets and bat a neon green ball back and forth across a net.

Seriously, that’s all I know about the sport.

Francisco and I headed out to Flushing last week to watch a few of the qualifying matches before we attend the games with the USVI this week. The qualifiers, held the week before the Open itself, are free. And they’re a lot more fun than I expected.

If you’re attending the US Open for the first time this year, here’s a beginner’s guide. And if you’re interested in attending next year–or you’re on a budget–consider the qualifiers.

*
1. Don’t bring a bag.
Security isn’t as tight as I expected–no metal detectors–but they’re picky about what you bring into the venue. No backpacks. Period. There are lots of other prohibited items, too, so read the full list before you show up with a flag, banner, sign, noisemaker, or laser and get turned away.

2. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Though there are evening matches, daytime matches are brutal, and the Monday and Tuesday games, at least, are going to be scorchers; the temperature is predicted to top 95F. There’s little, if any, shade on the courts, especially the numbered courts outside the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums. Is there some unwritten rule that says the fans must sweat and squint along with the players?

3. Bring cash.
The venue is a small city, with food vendors (everything from BBQ to sushi) and shops, all waiting to capitalize on your enthusiasm and your lack of alternatives. A bottle of water can set you back $5.00 or more, and you’ll need to shell out $13.00 for a Grey Goose “signature” US Open Cocktail.

There’s gear, of course- t-shirts, hats, tennis racquets, books, and oversized balls you can buy, made especially for autographs.

In short, bring cash. Or your ATM card; Chase has machines placed strategically for your withdrawing convenience.

4. Brace yourself for the bourgeois.
Tennis is not football.

Ball boys and girls stand with their hands clasped behind their backs (which, by the way, are emblazoned with enormous Ralph Lauren logos; he’s a sponsor of the games). You are asked to put your cell phone on vibrate, to refrain from talking, and to restrict your coming and going to breaks between sets. Which, by the way, is when the ball boys and girls produce gigantic umbrellas to hold over players’ heads, shading them from the punishing sun:

It’s more formal than Broadway theatre.

**
To see all of Francisco’s photos from the 2010 US Open qualifying matches, visit his portfolio.

Whether you live here or you’re visiting, this city isn’t cheap.

For all of its expenses, though, there’s plenty to do and see for free in New York City, so save your money for New York City hotels or a memorable meal at one of the five boroughs’ thousands of restaurants.

Here are 30 of our favorite free things to do in New York City:

1. See a live performance of world music during the annual Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival. Susana Baca, Buika, Carlos Varela, Ruben Blades. We’ve seen them all give full length concerts for free at this festival.

2. Visit The Bronx Zoo on a Wednesday.
Wednesday is suggested donation day at the zoo.

3. Check out the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s calendar.
Public art installations and performances, lectures, and programs like “Poems and Pints” are mostly free. The goal of all projects is to “draw audiences to little known or overlooked locations citywide.” Check their calendar to see what’s going on while you’re in town.

4. Take a photo with the New York Public Library’s lions, Patience and Fortitude. They stand guard outside the main branch of the library on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue.

5. Then, go inside and see the NYPL’s current exhibitions…
The main branch of the NYPL hosts rotating exhibits in two main floor galleries and on the third floor. The listing for exhibits and other library events (most of which are also free) can be accessed here.

6. And visit the Main Reading Room.

7. Visit the United Nations.
If you want to take a tour, there’s a fee, but visiting the main hall and the gift/book shop is free. The main hall hosts exhibitions, often of photographs.

8. Swing in a hammock at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens.
Getting one of the hammocks is almost a competitive sport in the summer, but if you’re not successful, there are plenty other places to spread out a blanket or take photos of the Manhattan skyline from this park on the East River.

9. Listen to a lecture at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center.
You could almost get a college education for free by attending the lectures at CUNY that are open to the public. Some of the university’s departments also host their own lecture series; one such department is the Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies, which presents lectures about the Americas.

10. Attend an event at the Americas Society.
The Americas Society presents lectures, talks, and readings that are intended to “promote the understanding of the political, economic, and cultural issues that define and challenge the Americas today, from the Arctic Circle to the southernmost tip of Argentina.” These events are held in the Society’s headquarters, a lavishly designed building on Park Avenue.

11. Participate in the PEN World Voices Festival.
The festival, held each April, brings together writers from around the world to venues around the city. They read their work, they talk about it, they discuss current and historical events. Always something fascinating on the agenda at this festival.

12. Go kayaking.
There are plenty of launch points around the city: Red Hook, Long Island City, Piers 40 and 96, and the pier on 72nd Street. These are volunteer run, so drop a donation if you can.

13. Visit the dead.
Just because you don’t know anyone buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go pay your respects. The cemetery is an incredible place to learn about New York history, architecture, and design. Read more about it here.

14. Explore New York’s Masonic Hall.
One of the entries in our ongoing series, Overlooked New York, the Masonic Hall offers free tours.

15. See sculpture at Socrates Sculpture Park.
In addition to the sculpture on display at this outdoor, interactive museum, Socrates hosts summer movie festivals, an annual “Makers Market,” an arts and craft fair, and other seasonal events.

16. See a Rooftop Film.
During the summer, the group Rooftop Films shows films on large screens on rooftops and in parks around the city.

17. Participate in a cultural day parade.
Puerto Rican Day Parade, Dominican Parade, Greek Parade… practically every community has an annual parade. Check the city’s calendar to see if a parade coincides with your visit.

18. Take advantage of museums’ free admission days.
Most museums have a day when admission is free or by donation. Newyorkology maintains a comprehensive list of these museums here.

19. Browse the Union Square Greenmarket.
Even if you’re not buying, it’s fun to browse the farmers’ stalls at the Union Square Greenmarket, a popular farmers’ market for the city’s chefs.

20. Spend time in Hudson River Park.
When we moved here in 1999, the Hudson River Park was just starting to be developed. 11 years later, it’s New York’s best park, running the length of western Manhattan and offering recreation opportunities for almost everyone. There are many paid activities, but plenty of free things, too.

21. Visit a memorial.
The Irish Hunger Memorial is our favorite; you can learn about that one and some others here.

22. Pass by Poets House.
With cozy places to read a book and windows overlooking the Hudson River, Poets House is a lovely place to visit any day. They also offer readings and other programs.

23. Go to Governors Island.
It’s incredible how Governors Island has become an epicenter for arts and cultural programming in the city in just a few short years. Hop on the ferry (free!) and enjoy some of the programming.

24. Participate in OpenHouse New York.
Each year, OpenHouse New York gives people a peek into places they can’t normally visit.

25. See Scandinavia House.
New York has many cultural institutions open to the public that offer loads of free programs. Scandinavia House is just one.

26. Go to an auction.
As long as you don’t plan to buy, attending an art auction at Sotheby’s, Christie’s, or one of the other famous auction houses won’t cost you a penny.

27. Go through Grand Central Terminal.
Walk through the main hall and look up at the gorgeous ceiling. And check out that clock… it’s valued between $10 and $20 million.

28. Check out Chelsea Market.
You could spend some cash here, but it doesn’t cost a thing to browse the shops here (Posman Books, Anthropologie, Imports from Marrakesh) and you can usually find a free sample at Fat Witch Bakery.

29. Visit FAO Schwarz.
Even if you don’t have kids, visit FAO Schwarz to see just how crazy American consumerist culture can be. Thousand dollar stuffed toys? Yes.

30. See the US Open.
The qualifying competitions the week before the US Open are free! See top-seeded players without a ticket.

Riverside Park South isn’t really overlooked, but it’s just far enough beyond the daily path of the majority of New Yorkers that walking through sections of the park this weekend felt strangely solitary. We could hear the cars speeding by on the West Side Highway, but we couldn’t see them. The tall grasses and thistles going to seed made me think of rural South Carolina, where I grew up, but these were juxtaposed by Donald Trump’s persistently controversial condo complex overlooking the Hudson River.

Riverside Park South runs from 59th Street to 72nd Street on Manhattan’s West Side. For more information about the park, visit the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and to find out what’s going on in the city, check out our favorite local site, Newyorkology.