Street Performances; one of the cheapest things to do in New York City

“Young singers ask me, ‘Do I have to live in New York?’ I say, ‘You can live wherever you want-as long as people think you live in New York.’”
- Benita Valente (Soprano)

“New York has more hermits than will be found in all the forests, mountains and deserts of the United States.”
-Simeon Strunsky (New York Times)

“I miss New York. I still love how people talk to you on the street – just assault you and tell you what they think of your jacket.”
-Madonna (you should know who Madonna is)

These three quotes sum up the basis for this site’s mission. New York is great. But New York has 8 million anxious, abrasive, asocial people living hikokimori lives between insane bouts of working, and for some their only chance to socialize is on the subway ride or walk home. These same people, who hardly make eye contact with others during the day, are rewarded for living in the city with the best artists in the world; street performers, musicians and artists bring color, music and dance to them, for free!

Like many here I find it tough to pay for the entertainment on offer in the city. Luckily, Manhattan is one of the world’s hotspots for street art (busking), bustling with talented contortionists, jugglers, violinists, drummers, breakdancers, mimes, singers, guitarists, folk bands, jazz quartets, barbershop quartets, painters, sculptors, collectors, oddities and more.

Thomas Wolff said “One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.” It’s true. But what you get after five years is the ability to go where one wants to belong most. Of the 44 million tourists who come here each year, perhaps half choose either the Empire State Building or shops on Fifth Avenue. But why, when New York’s people are more interesting than New York buildings?

Google holds 227,000 results for websites about “things to do in new york city.” Many of the responses are identical, commonplace or expensive. This one is different. Here are profiles and stories of New York’s most public form of free expression, mapped out.

— Welcome to Undercover New York.