Thrifty Fun Way Back When
May 24, 2008 by Deborah Ng
Filed under Fun Stuff, Simple Pleasures
Taking our son to the Memorial Day parade and picnic or the Fourth of July picnic and fireworks always takes me back to when I was a kid. My parents always looked for fun, yet inexpensive things for their six kids to do, and they didn’t usually disappoint.
A lot of times on the holiday weekends there would be street fairs in Manhattan or festivities in Battery Park or Central Park. Mom would prepare the night before by filling eight large plastic canteens with Kool Aid and putting them in the freezer. In the morning she would pack 8 backpacks with lunches and dinners and a frozen canteen, plus a sweatshirt, and we would add books, balls, a situpon, or anything else we wanted to take a long. Dad and Mom would also carry blankets to sit on in their own backpacks.
We always took the subway. First of all it was inexpensive, return trips were always free. Plus there was no place to park in the city anyway, not without paying astronomical parking fees. Besides, Mom and Dad didn’t believe in driving everywhere. New York City had (and still has) arguably the best public transit system anywhere. Why would anyone needs to drive. Mom and Dad were green long before it was trendy.
After we got into the city we’d watch various performances and festivities. There were always shows and things to see. We watched tall ships sail, climbed rocks in Central Park, listened to symphonies and folk music performances and watched puppet shows and plays. If there was something free to do in the city, Dad found it. We’d cap off our outing with a dinner picnic at Battery Park while listening to the symphony. Sometimes we’d play ball or Frisbee, other times we’d read or talk and enjoy the music.
Mom and I were reminiscing the other day and she was saying how difficult it would be some times to get six sleepy kids on and off the subway to go home, but it was worth it.
Today we’re going into town for the parade and picnic afterwards and we’ll cap off the evening with a barbecue. I really can’t think of a better way to spend the day. Can you?
Image: Buy at AllPosters.com
I’m glad I stopped by–this is a lovely blog! I came this way from Handprints on the Wall. Your stories about frugal activities in NYC are great–you were lucky to live in a place with so much to do. I grew up in a small town and want to raise my kids in one as well, but you have to look a lot harder for fun, free activities!