Travel for Pennies

The frank, the dog, the weenie, the frankfurter…the hotdog.  This is subject of the quest that I was asked to take with my father.  He had recently retired from the Phoenix Police Force.  After 20 years of patrolling South Phoenix, and another ten years as a detective working with stolen cars, he wanted to take it easy, but not do nothing.  So he bought a hotdog cart.  He told me that he wanted me to come with him to New York City, the home of the “best hotdogs in the world” he said, recalling a story when he was 7 and had the best dog of his life on Coney Island.

This was a “research trip” to find the best hotdogs and bring them back to Phoenix to sell from his new hotdog stand. I told him I would go, but that the hotdogs must be strictly daytime fare.  At night I wanted to go to the nice restaurants of the city, I wanted to experience the variety of cuisine, made by some of the top chefs.  He agreed.  I found my list of my desired nighttime destinations at this site, and we were on our way.  On the plane ride he began to tell me the history of the hotdog.  He said they come in all sizes, from the large frankfurter to the tiny cocktail weenie.  This I knew as one of my grandmother’s favorite holiday dishes was the BBQ cocktail weenie delight.

My father went on to tell me the statistics, that most hotdogs in the United States are eaten between the months of May and September, “a summer time treat” he said.  He noticed that my eyes had begun to cross, as too much information about something like hotdogs just kind of tended to scramble my brain.  This is when he pulled out ancient Greek mythology, and informed me that hotdogs were basically a sausage, and were mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey.

Pushcart hotdog sales became popular with the German immigrants in the city of New York during the late 1800′s and to this day the lines at lunch time, in the carts from 5th Avenue, to Brooklyn, to those outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art stand testament to the time trial of the love of the hotdog.

I loved traveling through the city with my father, and enjoyed his stories along the way, but I must say that each night I looked forward to a sit down meal in one of the lovely restaurants the city has to offer.  He did bring home the world’s best hotdog, and each day at lunch, hungry Phoenicians line up to buy one of my father’s dogs, and to listen to his stories while they take their lunch breaks.

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This summer many will be traveling to the Big Apple, and staying in the top New York hotels, to enjoy some of the many activities, festivals and shows that the city has to offer. Many of them, as in the River to River Festival are offered free of charge. One of the performers is non other than the legendary son of Brooklyn, Arlo Guthrie. Arlo is the son of Woody Guthrie, a well loved singer-song writer, and Marjorie Guthrie who had been a dancer in the, also legendary, Martha Graham Dance Company. He was born on Coney Island, in 1947 and grew up in a world surrounded by the arts, musicians and dancers, such as Leadbelly, Pete Seeger and Sonny Terry to name just a few. It is said that the man was born with a harmonica in one hand and a guitar in the other. When he was just thirteen years old, he performed for the first time on stage and quickly became a pivotal player in the folk music explosion of the 1960s. He became a regular performer at the Gaslight, the Bitter End and Gerdes Folk City. He experienced the changes in the music scene, going from the ballad singers such as Mississippi John Hurt to the songs and lyrics of Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Jim Croce.

In 1967, a film staring Guthrie, and one that told a story of his life, accompanied by his music secured his fame. The film was called “Alice’s Restaurant“. This became such an anthem during the 60′s for social activism and a higher level of consciousness, that in subsequent years, he has been known to leave it off his set list, depending on the current state of the world, and the wars that the United States is involved in at any given time. While he has never had a ‘hit’ per se, due to the length of his songs or the controversial nature of some of the lyrics, he has become a legend in the US as well as throughout Asia, Africa and Australia. He plays a variety of instruments and is a prolific and intense story-teller through his music. Guthrie will be performing in New York, at the festival this summer, and it is well worth the price of admission…wait, it’s free…this is a man who those that love music of any genre, should not miss the opportunity to see live.

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Spring is a wonderful time to plan a visit to New York City.  The warmer weather provides an abundance of opportunities to enjoy the many outdoor activities in the city. In addition, there are a number of festivals and cultural events to keep visitors occupied.

Central Park in spring is not to be missed. The temperatures rise, but not to the unbearable levels of summer. The sun comes out of hibernation and trees, plants, and flowers all bloom. The warm weather also makes Time Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Bronx Zoo, and many other New York attractions more hospitable.  Spring is a great time to venture to the top of the Empire State Building or to visit the many parks and gardens throughout the five boroughs.

Shoppers find that New York in Springtime is irresistible. With Fashion Week just complete, the many designer boutiques and flagship stores on Fifth Avenue are teeming with new merchandise. Even if you can’t afford to buy anything, the weather is usually perfect for window shopping.

Accommodations range from five star New York hotels to budget chains and cozy B&B options.  The struggling economy actually translates to some great deals on lodging and airfare as the tourist industry. With a little research, visitors will can find some great bargains when planning a spring trip to NYC.

Theater in New York is in full swing in the spring.  Broadway pulls out all its best productions in the lead up to the Tony Awards, scheduled for June 7, 2009. Film also takes the forefront. The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival takes place March 19-26 and the Tribeca Film Festival gets underway on April 22nd and runs through May 3rd.

The metropolis hosts a plethora of neighborhood festivals and fairs in the spring.  These include food festivals, art events, and ethnic fairs as well as street fairs and parties. These offer an opportunity to be immersed in a specific neighborhood or group as they celebrate together.

Of course, there are countless other things to do in New York. Carnegie Hall, the World Trade Center site, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and the city’s many beautiful museums never lose their appeal.  The restaurants in the city are amazing, and some offer outdoor seating once the weather warms up. The many street vendors seem to multiple once the cold weather passes and a trip to Coney Island is always an adventure.

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