The eclectic Mission District is somehow both quintessential San Francisco and a world apart. Like the hip Marina and tony Pacific Heights, the Mission has a large population of ravishing Victorian homes but here the genteel structures keep company with tall palm trees, colorful murals and ornate Spanish-style architecture. And while its edgy, artsy flair resembles the vibe in neighboring SoMa, the Mission is more down to earth.

I recently enjoyed an entire blissful day of Mission flavor and sunshine (this micro-climate at the base of Twin Peaks is also often sunny even when the rest of the city is not). I dove in to the nabe’s offbeat, contagious energy. And I spent just $30—three meals included.

Breakfast
$2.50 scone + $1.25 coffee = $3.75

While it holds true that my usual Mission mainstay, Tartine Bakery (600 Guerrero Street), is every bit as good as its seductive smells and around-the-corner lines imply, the cheaper and equally tasty option is new kid on the next block, Arizmendi Bakery (1268 Valencia Street).

Arizmendi scones.

The Mission shop is the latest in a series of outposts (the others are in the Sunset and the East Bay) of the worker-owned coop that’s earned a cult following for its crusty pizza and rotating menu of artisan breads.

For breakfast, though, look no further than the self-serve case of corn-cherry scones, a crumbly delight that has inspired dreams and sonnets (okay, maybe just a few special trips out to the Sunset).

Art Walk
Free

My scone fix managed, I wandered down 24th Street, also known as “El Corazon de la Misione,”  (the heart of the Mission), for a little artistic flair.

First stop: Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors Center (2981 24th Street at Harrison), the energetic arts organization responsible for the mural projects that have been beautifying San Francisco and enriching its communities for more than 30 years.

The center leads tours, but I chose to peruse the gift shop, get a general sense of history and then tour the murals on my own, heading back the way I came, with a stop at Balmy Alley, a tiny, colorful haven where more than 30 vibrant murals mingle with cascading bougainvillea.

Sunshine and Views
Free

Then it was off to Dolores Street, a lovely incline lined with palm trees and exquisite Victorian homes, with the vast green expanse that is Mission Dolores Park holding court at 20th Street. Though this neighborhood recreational center hosts everything from the “Really Really Free Market” to free movies movies al fresco, when I visited on a quiet weekday morning, it was all sunshine and spectacular city views.

Mission Dolores
$5 suggested donation

I could have gazed at San Francisco’s iconic skyline, with the elaborate tower of the Spanish-style Mission High School floating in the foreground, all day, but instead I moved on down Dolores to visit the lovely structure that gave the neighborhood—and the city—their names.

Just another street in the Mission.

Built in 1776, Mision San Francisco de Asis (also known as Mission Dolores) is the oldest building in the city. Though it’s dwarfed by a massive (and stunning) cathedral next door, this modest adobe structure is equally impressive, with a woven ceiling patterned after the basket-weaving of the native Costonoans who built the chapel.

Out back, the garden and cemetery are a lush and poignant tribute to some of the more unfortunate aspects of the city’s history (along with several California dignitaries, many of the Native Americans who died building the Mission are buried here).

Lunch
$4

When it comes to a tasty, cheap and authentic Mission District lunch, head to unassuming Panchitas (3091 16th Street at Valencia). This simple, friendly joint serves up traditional Mexican and Salvadorean eats with a smile. Tuck into a well-stuffed burrito or try Salvadorian enchiladas. Either way, you’ll fill up for under $5.

Window Shopping
Free

Yes, we’re on a budget, but I couldn’t visit the Mission without browsing in its quirky shops. I started with the  musty smell and stacks of well-loved pages at Adobe Bookshop (3166 16th Street), then visited the used bookstore’s Backroom Gallery, a unique, alternative space for emerging artists to showcase their work.

Next I checked out the funky chotchkes to retro clothing at quirky Therapy (545 Valencia Street), and “got my beat on” at Aquarius Records (1055 Valencia Street). The city’s oldest independent record shop, Aquarius is still the spot for music lovers, with an unbelievable selection of musical magic, and a surprisingly unpretentious vibe.

Peace, Art and Oddities
Free

In between those shop windows are tucked some other eye-candy elements worth looking out for. I checked out more murals on Clarion Alley (off Valencia, just past 17th Street) and then took in the “Troll Window” (yes, you read that right) at 18th and Valencia.

Also on 18th Street is the Women’s Building (3543 18th St.), a testament to girl power best known for Maestrapeace, the impressive mural on its facade.

Curiosity Shops
Free

It just so happens that two of the most, um, interesting addresses in this crazy ‘hood are right next to each other. We’ll start with 826 Valencia, a children’s literacy organization founded by author Dave Eggers. In addition to an educational space, though, this whimsical spot is also outfitted with fake trees, a tented reading spot and, naturally, a pirate store.

Next door at Paxton Gate (824 Valencia), curiosity killed (and stuffed) the cat. The brainchild of a couple of landscape designers, this bizarre yet delightful space is gardening store, natural history museum and curiosity shop in one, with a peculiar stock that includes everything from bulb vases to taxidermied animals.

Dinner
$17

Post-taxidermy store, drinks were the only logical next step, and, it seems, all Mission roads lead back to Arizmendi. I avoided the temptation to devour another scone, though, and instead opted for its ultra-cool neighbor, Heart Wine Bar (1270 Valencia Street). In true tribute to its up-and-coming yet laid-back neighborhood, Heart is both sleek and unpretentious.

Wine wall at Heart Wine Bar.

Jeff, Heart’s proprietor, wanted to combine the menu of an upscale wine bar with the fun, relaxed atmosphere of a beer garden. He did up the space, originally built to house Wells Fargo stagecoaches, with reclaimed wood (some from Katrina houses), antique mirrors and rotating art exhibits.

The wines, all natural, small-production artisan varietals, are served in mason jars and priced as low as $6. They also come with amusing, off-the-wall descriptions. (My favorite: “Sort of like that Italian fishmonger in Genoa, but smells better.”)

As for eats, the menu is minimal but tasty, with local meats, cheeses and snacks (olives, almonds, pickles…) on offer, in addition to some salads and a few sandwiches. I had a yummy sandwich and a glass of good wine for a remarkable $15.

Grand total: $27.75!

Do you have any tips about Cheapo-friendly ways to spend the day in the Mission District? Share with us in the comments section.

Glamorous it is not, but today we’re talking about toilets in New York City. On a recent trip, a friend teased me for taking every opportunity to use the restroom: before we left the house, when we walked through a historic building, upon leaving a restaurant…

But during our bike tour, I had the last laugh—he had to stop and use the outhouse (and guess who didn’t). Turns out mom wasn’t so ridiculous after all when she used to urge, “Why don’t you just try?”

In New York, long days of walking around can often leave one with her (literal) pants down in the first disgusting restroom to be found. And so I present to you, dear Cheapos, some of the best public (or somewhat public) toilets in town, plus a few tips for finding others.

In Soho/West Village…

It’s a (surprisingly well-known) secret that one of the best public restrooms in all of Manhattan resides in the Crate & Barrel (611 Broadway) on the corner of Houston and Broadway (just below, it so happens, EuroCheapo’s headquarters in the historic Cable Building). The second-floor bathrooms are clean, accessible and you can head straight through the expansive housewares store without drawing too much attention to yourself.

Near Union Square…

In the past I’ve found myself (more times than I’d like to admit) cruising past the stacks in the Barnes and Noble (33 East 17th Street) on Union Square’s north side to use the third-floor restroom. But the truth is, they aren’t that clean and there is almost always a line.

Then the Nordstrom Rack (60 East 14th Street, between Broadway and Fourth Avenue), the “outlet” version of the fab West Coast department store, opened and I closed the book on Barnes. Now, my East Village/Union Square bathroom break can double as an excuse for browsing the store’s bargain designer duds.

The Lower East Side

On the northwestern edge of the Lower East Side (Bowery and Houston, to be exact) sits not only a clean restroom but one of the city’s most gorgeous food emporiums. I’m talking about the massive Whole Foods Market (95 East Houston), replete with tons of fresh eats, an entire room devoted to cheese and a second floor that houses an incredible food court (hello rotating sushi bar), art exhibits and a small but tidy restroom.

The potties can be used for free, but while there why not browse the aisles and maybe grab a delicious, healthy and cheapo-friendly meal. Stock up for later noshing in a park (just outside) or other public spot. You’ll be happy that you’ve just saved yourself a trip to the oft-icky outdoor facilities.

Another note: In general, the Whole Foods chain is a reliable source of clean restrooms throughout the city. Others can be found in Tribeca (270 Greenwich Street), Chelsea (250 7th Avenue at 24th Street), Union Square (4 Union Square South) and the Upper West Side (808 Columbus at 97th Street).

Midtown West – Columbus Circle

Just north of Times Square is the (in my humble opinion) far more civilized area of Columbus Circle (59th Street and Broadway). Located at the southwestern base of Central Park, and quite attractive in its own right, this business and traffic hub is marked by a lovely fountain and flanked by the entrance to the park on one side, and the Time Warner Center on the other.

The latter is part office building, part upscale shopping mall (also known as “The Shops at Columbus Circle“). For our purposes, it’s also the source of the neighborhood’s best respectable restroom. Head into the building and up the escalators to the second floor. Then beeline it to the right, through the kiosks and just past the Eileen Fisher clothing store that will be on your left-hand side.

Other Toilet Tips

I know the next question: What if you find yourself far from all of the above when nature calls? Here are a few other baño best practices for New York.

1. The Apple Store has four locations in New York, all large, all inviting and all with squeaky-clean facilities. Plus, they’ve got plenty of toys to play with on your way out. Stores are located in Soho (Prince Street and Green Street), Chelsea (14th Street and 9th Avenue), Midtown East (5th Avenue and 59th Street, at the southeast end of Central Park) and the Upper West Side (67th Street and Broadway).

2. The New York Public Library: Not only is it an oft-missed institution, but the New York Public Library has branches throughout the city, most with very clean facilities. (Note that some libraries, however, do not have facilities at all. Yikes!) Want a royal flush? Head to the gorgeous, lion-guarded main branch (40th Street and 5th Avenue), which, it must be notices, is well worth a visit in its own right—don’t miss the map room, one of my favorite spots in the city.

3. Parks: There are also excellent clean public toilets directly behind the main library branch in Bryant Park, between 40-42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues (facilities are located near 42nd Street). Note that many city parks (including Central Park) have public restrooms, however they’re quite often dingy, gross-out affairs. A private-public partnership maintains Bryant Park and keeps the bathroom facilities very clean.

4. Department Stores are plentiful in the city, especially in Midtown and the Upper East Side, and their restrooms are always well maintained. Some, like the one at Henri Bendel (56th Street and 5th Avenue) even verge on extravagant. And don’t fret, Cheapos, you can use these luxe loos without having to plunk down a hefty sum on designer duds.

5. Hotels. They’re everywhere. And whether cheapo or “un-,” any moderately-sized hotel will have a lobby bathroom. Just waltz in like you belong there and look for relief.

6. Additional resources. Believe it or not, there are entire sites—and apps—devoted to finding a toilet in New York City. The best I found (yes, I looked) is sitorsquat.com. This helpful site and mobile app provides a comprehensive map of New York, with public restrooms marked. Best of all, it rates them, gives a brief description and sometimes even provides a photo. Bonus points for a fantastic name.

Your public toilet suggestions?

Where do you find relief when out and about in New York? Tell us in the comments sections.

We’ve heard the odd rumor that the cupcake is on its way out, but it doesn’t seem like New York is edging out those bites of happiness-with-sprinkles-on-top any time soon. In fact, new cupcake shops just keep popping up, which introduces the sweet freak’s dilemma: Where to get your cupcake fix?

That’s why this week in Cheapoland our staff held a “cupcake taste-off” to suss out the very best in baked goodness (a tough job, we know).

Here’s how it worked: This Cheapo hot-footed it to three downtown cupcake purveyors and picked up two cupcakes at each: one red velvet to serve as the “control” cupcake, along with one other “unique” flavor. Back at the office, Team Cheapo—also known as Tom, Meredith, Pete and Kari—embarked on a blind tasting to analyze each shop for taste, texture, frosting, looks and variety.

Meet the Contestants

Though the West Village mainstay Magnolia Bakery helped to kick-start the cupcake craze with a cameo in Sex and the City, I left it out of this competition, partly based on personal preference (I find their frosting to be too sweet) and partly because the shop, while still within walking distance of the EuroCheapo offices, is in the opposite direction of the other contenders. That said, the “Mama” bakery’s influence can be felt in a couple of the bakeries you’re about to meet.

The contestants.

Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington Street
Web site

The vibe: This cozy Lower East Side spot with the oh-so-adorable name is simple and unpretentious. Furnished with mismatched thrift store finds, including a comfy couch and armchair, it gets major points for setting a homey scene.

The Bakers and Baked Goods: Owner-bakers Debbie Weiner and Peggy Williams are long-time friends and Magnolia alums who set off to create a welcoming, yummy spot of their own. The shop is named for a cement etching they spotted one day while looking at bakery spaces.

Sugar Sweet serves up colorful cakes in fun flavors like pistachio, “Ooey Gooey” and “Lemon Yummy.” But, come summertime, their light, creamy strawberry-lemon trifle is the treat to beat.

The Cakes: Where other bakeries seem to gouge you, cupcakes here cost a Cheapo-friendly $1.75 each. Our tasters tried the Strawberry Cream Cheese, a new addition to the Sugar Sweet menu, and the “Sassy Red Velvet,” which is topped with “The Moose” frosting.

The Verdict: I’ll admit to some surprise that my stand-by bakery did not hold up in this particular competition. With a few exceptions, the tasting team was less than impressed with the Sugar Sweet cakes. The breakdown?

Looks: The Sugar Sweet cakes are unabashedly simple. Bakers here are not concerned with fancy, instead creating simple cupcakes with sunny sprinkles. While the strawberry cake was festive with its pink frosting and sprinkles, the red velvet, with its disheveled whipped frosting, left the team less than excited. (Meredith: “It has a kiddie lemonade stand look.”)

Cake: The strawberry cake came in last with just about everyone in the group, mostly based on its crumbly texture and mysterious flavor (both Tom and Meredith noted that they did not know it was strawberry until told). As for the red velvet, there were similar concerns, though Pete ranked that “giant, delicious sponge” his number two overall pick.

Frosting: The strawberry cake had an unremarkable frosting, neither terrible nor earth shattering. Feelings on the red velvet, however, were far more varied. We ladies found it to be overly sweet and not complementary to the cake, but Tom loved its “whipped, lighter than air” texture.

Overall: I’ll admit that I was a tad disappointed with the strawberry cake, especially given that I sometimes dream about the shop’s incredible lemon cupcake. As for the red velvet, the reviews were mixed, and surprisingly divided down a “battle of the sexes” line, with the gals unimpressed and the guys enjoying both cake and frosting. In all, the shop is sweet and its treats worth trying, provided, it seems, you choose correctly.

Looking into the Little Cupcake Bakeshop.

Little Cupcake Bakeshop
30 Prince Street
Web site

The Vibe: This may be the cutest little cupcake shop in New York. It’s both a blast from the past and a step into a big green future. The black-and-white floor, marble counter and retro clock contribute to a sweet, old-fashioned Americana vibe, but hidden out of sight are sundry modern eco-friendly additions.

The Bakers and Baked Goods: As though it couldn’t get any, um, sweeter, the LCB is owned and operated by three brothers from Brooklyn (they have another store in Bay Ridge), who pay special attention to making their colorful confections with local ingredients—including some that come directly from their own mother’s garden. They also work with local organizations to better the community.

The wide array of cupcakes here ranges from the traditional to the very unique, like the “Mott Street” (tiramisu inspired in a nod to the shop’s location in old Little Italy) and the “Coney Island” (infused with cotton candy flavor in tribute to the shop’s Brooklyn roots).

The Cakes: It seems you pay for the pretty here: $3 a cupcake. In addition to the red velvet, tasters tried the peanut butter, though the choices here are seemingly endless.

The Verdict: When it comes to atmosphere, this bakeshop takes the cake. But what of the cupcakes? The brothers get mega points for variety and creativity, but the cakes themselves were just sort of middle of the road. Here’s what our tasters had to say.

Looks: LCB does a great job with aesthetics, and these were probably the prettiest of the cakes, each with big dollops of frosting and festive garnishes.

Cake: In this category, the goods didn’t fare so well. Nearly all of our judges felt that both cakes were disappointingly dry.

Frosting: Everyone enjoyed the peanut butter flavor, which was yummy but not overpowering, but it was a mixed bag when it came to the red velvet’s cream cheese frosting. Half of us loved the rich buttery frosting, which Pete ranked numero uno because it “packed a punch,” but Meredith felt that the flavor overpowered.

Overall: For the most part, the two LCB cakes ranked among everyone’s second and third choices (out of six cakes). These are certainly not the best cupcakes when compared side by side, but I do say this bakery wins in terms of creativity, ambiance and overall mission. It’s the spot to go for a coffee and cupcake break during your travels.

Billy’s Bakery
268 Elizabeth Street
Web site

The Vibe: Nestled on pretty Elizabeth Street, literally a block from LCB, Billy’s is tiny and bright, with a cheery turquoise awning and two small tables. Where Sugar Sweet is homey and LCB old-fashioned, this shop wears its sleek modernity in its yellow lights and straight lines. It’s cute, but felt a bit less personal than the others.

The Bakers and Baked Goods: Another former Magnolia employee, Billy Reece branched out on his own in 2003 and now has three shop locations (the others are in Chelsea at 184 9th Avenue and in Tribeca at 75 Franklin Street).

It’s all about simplicity here: basic flavors topped with generous amounts of frosting with little in the way of adornment. As for variety, in addition to the usual chocolate and vanilla variations (and the now quite common red velvet), Billy’s offers banana and carrot cupcakes.

The judges hard at work.

The Cakes: Like LCB, the cakes here run $3 a pop. We tried red velvet and, for variety, banana.

The Verdict: Given its somewhat larger “chain” feel and its well-known history as a Magnolia offshoot, I must admit I hadn’t given Billy’s a ton of credit. But, while the bakery verged on “vanilla” in terms of atmosphere and flavors, its cakes edged out the others overall.

Looks: This is the one category where Billy’s did not really stand out. The cakes were simple and topped with silky smooth pillows of plain white frosting. They’re pretty, but more in a sophisticated sense than a fun “cupcake” sense.

Cake: With the exception of Pete, who said his was dry, all the judges ranked Billy’s red velvet as their first or second of the six, mostly for its consistency and, for Meredith, “a bit of a chocolatey touch.” The banana was also among the top-ranking for its moist cake that Tom likened to a banana bread texture. (Kari, though, did not like the “cakey” aftertaste.)

Frosting: Tom and Meredith both loved the “utltra-rich” banana frosting, but I found it to be on the over-sweet side. The red velvet again topped many of the frosting reviews, with Tom calling it a “buttery with more intense flavor” and Kari raving that the icing and cake “melt together.”

Overall: Though Billy’s seems to place stylish over whimsical when it comes to shop and actual cupcakes, in terms of taste it came out the winner, with both cupcakes taking first or second place for most of our judges.

We hated them.

The Final Verdict

Our elaborate testing mostly proved that everyone has different tastes. While Billy’s ranked highest overall, most enjoyed LCB’s frosting, and I still stand by Sugar Sweet’s other flavors.

In short, Cheapos, I suggest you administer our own test. And, since all three shops are within a 20-minute walk of each other, it would be quite easy to set up a little cupcake crawl.

If you choose to do so, also look out for the cupcake carts that sometimes hang around. There is often one in Washington Square Park (West 4th Street and Thompson Street) and I’ve also seen one on Broadway and Houston.

Also on the route is Baked by Melissa, a veritable hole in the wall at 529 Broadway (the opening is on Spring Street) that serves up teeny-tiny cupcake bites, in crazy flavors like “Smores” or “Cookies and Cream,” for $1 a pop.

Your favorite cake?

Do you have a favorite cupcake in the city? Tell us, Cheapos!

Over the past few weeks, they’ve been filming a new movie just around the corner from EuroCheapo offices here in New York. Yes, we freely admit that we’ve craned our necks, when passing, for a glimpse of Robert Deniro. We also admit to a certain amount of pride in the fact that New York, setting for many a blockbuster, is also a cinema center for indie and foreign films galore.

So, in celebration of our city’s generous share of movie-going choices, here are our favorite theaters for taking in a foreign film.

Film Forum
209 West Houston Street
Web site
Normal Ticket Price: $12.50

What started in 1970 with 50 folding chairs and a projector has become a New York institution. Film Forum is the only autonomous nonprofit cinema in New York (and one of few in the U.S.). A self-described “cinema of ideas,” Film Forum screens myriad independent films from all over the world. Two of its three theaters are devoted to ongoing film programs: One premieres American indie and foreign art films and the other shows repertory classics.

Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street
Web site
Tickets: $10 for a day of screenings (see below)

The MoMA has an excellent and diverse film screening program, showing some American and many foreign films in its three theaters. The week starts with Modern Mondays, an exploration, through screenings and discussion panels, of the cutting edge in cinema. More traditional screenings from the MoMA film library happen daily, with many festivals and special exhibitions, as well.

Film tickets for all three theaters can be purchased at the lobby information desk starting at 9:30 a.m. daily. You can also purchase tickets for the Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters 1 and 2 at the film desk beginning at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on weekends, and for the Celeste Bartos Theater (Theater 3) at the lobby desk of the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building starting at 1 p.m.

All tickets for a day of screenings cost $10 ($8 for seniors and $6 for students, free 16 and under). Tickets are (our favorite word) free during Target Free Friday Nights, every Friday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. (as is the rest of the museum). Planning to attend more than one film in a day? Simply present your ticket stub at the film desk to receive your ticket for the next film. Hello bargain!

Sunshine Cinema
143 East Houston Street
Web site
Normal Ticket Price: $13

Built in 1898, the beautiful building now known as Sunshine Cinema has gone through incarnations as the Houston Hippodrome movie theater, a Yiddish vaudeville house and a hardware warehouse. Currently run by the art-house company Landmark Theatres, the Sunshine shows first-run indie and foreign films on five screens.

Get there early to check out the Japanese rock garden, or head up to the impressive third-floor glass annex for some jaw-dropping city views.

Cheapo tip: While regular ticket prices are $13 ($9 for seniors and the under-12 set), Sunshine offers special midnight showings cult favorites like Clue and the bizarre The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things for just $10. Check the Web site for featured weekend films.

Quad Cinema
34 West 13th Street
Web site
Normal Ticket Price: $11

This Greenwich Village mainstay has been showing great foreign, independent and documentary films since 1972—and has played a role in popularizing many of them (think Cinema Paradiso and Hoop Dreams), to boot. Given its Village location, expect many a social-issue film and an old-school “boho” vibe.

Angelika Film Center
18 West Houston Street
Web site
Normal Ticket Price: $13

This pretty little art house theater is located just around the corner from EuroCheapo headquarters in the Village. It’s so close, in fact, that our afternoon coffee runs often involve glancing at posters that line the building’s outer wall for the latest and greatest in edgy, artsy and foreign flicks.

The Angelika café on the main floor is a great place to dabble in pre-movie lattes or even organic sandwiches (dinner and a movie all in one place!). It’s so popular, actually, that it’s not uncommon for non-moviegoers to stop in to enjoy tasty treats and health shakes among chandelier and columns of the lavish, old-fashioned lobby.

BAM Rose Cinemas
30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Web site
Normal Ticket Price: $12

Across the river, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, hub of all things art, operates a four-screen theater in what was formerly the academy’s music hall. That means pretty, historic spaces with excellent acoustics. Three screens show first-run independent and foreign films, and the fourth is dedicated to BAMcinématek, a program that shows repertory classics. Also keep an eye out for special film festivals.

Tickets cost $12 for adults and $9 for seniors and students 25 and under (do note that the student price is valid only Monday through Thursday). Matinees, Monday through Thursday before 5 p.m. and Sunday before 3 p.m. can be seen for $8.

Your favorite movie theater in New York?

Have a theater to add to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section.

You visit with them regularly, perhaps even nightly. They entertain you, keep you company on your travels, sometimes lull you to sleep. These are the magic, ubiquitous folks we call the personalities of late night, of course, and you can visit many of them in person in (where else?) New York.

It would figure that “the city that never sleeps” is home to many of the late night greats, from “Saturday Night Live” to “Late Night with David Letterman.” And where there are late night shows, there are studio audiences. The coveted (and free!) tickets to these shows are hard to come by, and usually require some advance planning. Because each show has a different set of rules, it can all amount to quite a headache.

But before you reach for the aspirin, check out our handy dandy breakdown.

Saturday Night Live

Really, “SNL” simply wouldn’t be the same without the phrase, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night!” Tickets to the weekend mainstay are issued by a lottery system. To be entered, send an email with your contact information to snltickets@nbcuni.com. If selected, you’ll be granted two tickets to a randomly determined show date.

Important Note: The email must be sent in the month of August (for the 2011-2012 season) and specific date requests are not allowed. Only those selected will be notified.

Standby: Try your luck, and line-waiting, at standby tickets for either the 8 p.m. dress rehearsal or the 11:30 p.m. live show. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at 7 a.m. on the morning of each taping. Plan to line up at the 49th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza early (read: sleep over). Note that a standby ticket does not guarantee admission, and tickets are limited to one per person.

The Late Show with David Letterman

Letterman tickets are also distributed via a lottery, and you can either request either by using their online form or visiting the theater (1697 Broadway). In-person hours are Monday through Thursday 9:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Note: Arriving prior to 9 a.m. will disqualify you!)

Tickets may be requested for up to one month in advance of the taping date, and those with flexible dates should note that listing multiple date requests increases the likelihood that you’ll be selected.

Standby: To be placed on the standby list, call the phone line (212-247-6497) at 11 a.m. on the morning you wish to attend. Then show up at the time you are given (the show tapes in late afternoon) and keep your fingers crossed that seats will be available.

The phone line remains open for 30-60 minutes, depending on the number of standby slots, so call as early as possible. Government-issued IDs matching the names given over the phone are required for all standby tickets.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Fun fact: Crush-worthy late night host Jon Stewart is this New Yorker’s favorite New York celebrity sighting. Unfortunately—though not surprisingly—said sighting does not make up for the fact that his show books up quickly. When available, up to four tickets and be acquired through an online request form. Simply choose from the dates offered, fill out your form and wait for a response.

If nothing is available, be persistent. The site changes quickly (we visited three times within one night and each time offerings were different) so keep checking back for available dates. You can also email requesttickets@thedailyshow.com, but we prefer following up with the form. Those with flexible dates can sign up for the email list for alerts to new shows.

The show tapes Monday through Thursday at 733 11th Avenue (at 52nd Street), and doors open at 5:45 p.m.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

To watch funny-man Jimmy Fallon do his late-night thing, call (212) 664-3056 to request up to four tickets. Tickets are usually booked one month in advance.

Standby: Follow Late Night’s Twitter updates for updates on last minute ticket openings, or head to the “NBC Studios” marquee on the 49th Street side of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (GE Building) on the morning of the taping. Arrive no later than 9 a.m. to receive tickets (one per person), or visit the NBC Studio Tour Desk on the second floor of the NBC Experience Store in Rockefeller Plaza later in the day to see if there are any extra tickets available.

Tickets must be picked up by 4:15 p.m. for the 5:30 p.m. taping. As with all shows, visitors should note that a standby ticket does not guarantee admission.

Ah, March. You signify spring and longer days—and St. Patrick’s Day. And here in New York we love our Irish holiday almost as much as we love our Irish bars (and the Irish booze that’s served in them). And so, Cheapos, we bring you a downtown Irish pub crawl, New York-style.

Start with these four bars...

1. McSorley’s Old Ale House
15 East 7th Street
Web site

Call us sentimental, but we feel pretty strongly that a good New York Irish pub crawl (or any New York pub crawl, for that matter) should start with a pilgrimage to this New York City institution, the city’s oldest operating saloon.

Another reason to start here, incidentally, is that McSorley’s is one of the few New York bars that closes at 1 a.m., as we realized on a recent late-night visit. But when you’re this cool (and old), you can close whenever you want to.

Why do we gush so?

1) The bar, which was established in 1854, is a living museum, littered lovingly with everything from yellowed photographs to the chair in which Abraham Lincoln enjoyed his share of McSorley’s ale.

2) You get two drink options here, light or dark McSorley’s ale, and for $5 you get two glasses of it.

3) It’s been the subject an E.E. Cummings poem, a John Sloan painting and several short stories. Plus, its walls talk—and you can usually sweet talk the famously curmudgeonly bartenders to pick up where they left off.

2. Bull McCabe’s
21 Saint Marks Place
Web site

Just a block north of McSorely’s, the gritty little dive bar Bull McCabe’s dominates a somewhat kitchy block of St. Mark’s. The crowd here tends to be on the young and rowdy side, but the drinks are cheap, the music is fun and the pool table is… well, a pool table. There is also a great patio for those nice-weather days.

3. The Thirsty Scholar
155 Second Avenue
Web site

Those who like their pubbing on the more “refined” side (snobs!) would do well to check out Bull’s sister bar, the Thirsty Scholar. You bring your best James Joyce commentary, they supply the charcoal portraits of Samuel Beckett. Oh, and the libations of course, which are cheaper during daily happy hour, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.

4. Puck Fair
298 Lafayette Street
Web site

This tri-level bar just a block from EuroCheapo’s headquarters has a lot going for it, including a fun atmosphere and a crazy-comprehensive array of beers, both bottled and on tap. If the options are overwhelming, know that you’ll never go wrong with the Guinness, which, thanks to a schmancy cooling system, tastes almost as good as it does in Dublin.

A little trivia tidbit: The bar’s across from the gorgeous red Puck Building, but its name actually comes from the goat-themed festival that takes place every August in Killorglin, County Kerry (read about its history on the wall above the bar).

5. Molly’s Pub and Shebeen
287 Third Avenue
Web site

Still standing? Take a little breather by way of hopping on the “6″ train (at Bleecker and Lafayette) and making your way up to Gramercy Park. There awaits a gem of a joint, with sawdust-covered floors, stucco walls and a working fireplace. Molly’s has been doing its thing since 1895, paused only by a brief stint as a grocery store during Prohibition.

Molly’s is the adorable, friendly sort of spot on which modern Irish pubs model themselves. But Molly’s has experience on its side, and what better way to wrap up the night than with a few beers, a crackling fire and a bit more history. Oh, and don’t forget about your umpteen new friends (also known as the rowdy, cheerful crowd that goes hand in hand with any good Irish bar).

Winter. Gusty, chilly, bone-numbing winter—this writer is not a big fan. Don’t get me wrong: Those first frosty days are magical, the snow beautiful. But this time of year, I’ve about had it with the crazy wind tunnels created by those incredible buildings I love so much.

In New York, slinking into hermit-dom is not an option. Instead, this New Yorker’s winter survival guide involves lots of inside breaks. But one can only take so many cups of coffee before that jittery caffeine feeling sinks in, so why not mix it up with a little hot chocolate? I’m not talking a powdery packet of Swiss Miss (this is New York after all), but rather creamy, frothy and decadent, grown-up style hot chocolate. And here, because even this comforting cold weather favorite can get pricey (this is New York after all), a list of the best, and most affordable, cups of chocolately goodness in the city.

City Bakery
3 West 18th Street
Web site

Part cafeteria, part bakery, part café, this bustling New York mainstay pretty much does it all—and does it well. In terms of the treat in question, well, let’s just say hot chocolate has its very own month-long festival at City Bakery. Each February, the bakery takes its already gush-worthy hot chocolate (made from pure melted chocolate bars) to a whole new level, with daily-changing specialties like Tropical Hot Chocolate, Sunken Treasure Hot Chocolate and Bourbon Hot Chocolate (yes please!). At $5 per cup, this is the priciest pick of the list, but a hot chocolate with its own festival is well worth the splurge.

Shake Shack
Various locations: 11 Madison Avenue (Madison Square Park); 691 8th Avenue; 154 East 86th Street; 366 Columbus Avenue
Web site

It started as, literally, a shack in Madison Square Park, serving mouthwatering burgers and crazy-delicious ice cream treats called “concretes” to miles-long lines of enthusiasts. The shack now has multiple locations throughout the city, but that doesn’t make its take on American classics any less yummy. For those looking to swap an icey treat for something warmer, I’ve five words for you: Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. Oh yes, they went there. This decadent concoction is Shake Shack custard creamy, with a mix of sweet chocolate, sticky peanut butter and a dash of salt to round it all out. And only $3.75.

OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria
1 Fifth Avenue
Web site

Aroma hot chocolate

Mario Batali’s most casual—and affordable—outlet is one of this writer’s favorite restaurants in all of New York. Yet despite semi-regular visits to dip into the extensive wine list and indulge in fresh and creative pizzas and pastas, I had not, until writing this story, tasted the Gianduja Calda ($4.50), the pizzeria’s smooth, nutty hot chocolate made by melting milk and hazelnut chocolates into hazelnut-steeped milk. Imagine a piping hot cup of rich, melted Nutella.

The verdict: Molto bene! And a tip: While it’s perfectly acceptable to sidle up to the long marble bar and order a Gianduja, keep in mind that OTTO is a restaurant, not a café. Its roomy bar area is nightly packed with discerning foodies sipping wine, nibbling appetizers and awaiting tables, so get your hazelnut fix during the day.

Popbar
5 Carmine Street
Web site

This fun and funky dessert spot specializing in gelato-on-a-stick wins the award for “most fun hot chocolate.”  Here the sweet treat is partially DIY: You get a cup of steamed milk and a cube of Belgian chocolate on (you guessed it!) a stick for dipping. The starting price is $3.75 and if for some reason you need a second cube—or you simply can’t choose between dark chocolate and caramel—a second stick costs$2.50.

Aroma Espresso Bar
145 Greene Street
Web site

Israel’s most popular espresso bar chain can always be counted on for great coffee. This sunny location is, incidentally, a favorite EuroCheapo coffee purveyor, given its location just around the corner from our headquarters. Here at EC, we love Aroma’s fresh food, tasty coffee and the tiny chocolate bars that come with each cup. Which brings me to the subject at hand. Hot chocolate at Aroma is a simple but delicious affair, made by dropping a couple of the chains original chocolate into a cup of hot milk ($4).

The effect is a sort of layered drinking experience. First you encounter a sweet, cool dollop of whipped cream, topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar. Next you stir (this step is key), since the chocolate resides at the cup’s bottom. The drink itself is lighter and less rich than most of the New York hot chocolates, but still quite tasty. But the best comes last, in the form of the clumps of melted chocolate that remain at the bottom of the cup. A helpful hint: Don’t stir too thoroughly.

Regular admission to the MoMA: $20. An adult ticket to the Guggenheim: $18. A calendar of free hours at New York’s favorite museums: priceless. Hang on to your hats, Cheapos. Follow our list and you can spend an entire week in New York museums without forking out a cent in admission fees!

Monday

Let it be known that many of the smaller museums are closed on Mondays. That being said, many do stay open, and some even for free.

The Museum at Eldridge Street (12 Eldridge Street, Manhattan) is worth visiting for the building alone. Adorned with spectacular stained-glass and 19th-century gas fixtures, the impeccably restored landmark building dates back to 1887, and its museum tells the story of generations of Jewish in New York. Admission is free on Mondays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Monday is also the day to check out some of the “free all the time” museums:

At the Rose Museum on the second floor of Carnegie Hall (154 West 57th Street, Manhattan), you can dabble in a little music memorabilia.

The Madame Alexander Doll Factory (615 West 131st Street, Manhattan) also offers an interesting, if a tad creepy, expedition. Free guided tours depart every 45 minutes Monday through Friday, starting at 9:30 a.m., with the last tour at 4:15 p.m. On the tour you’ll learn the history of the company and see more than 600 dolls made from the 1920s to today, including a few prototypes that were never manufactured (First Lady doll, anyone?).

Tuesday

Get a taste of the highbrow at the Morgan Library & Museum (29 East 36th Street, Manhattan), home to some of the rarest books and manuscripts in the world. Admission to the McKim rooms, former private study of Pierpont Morgan himself, is free every Tuesday from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Inside those gilded walls you’ll spot some of the lush original furnishings, along with precious items from the Morgan collection, including his life mask of George Washington (don’t go trying to steal that now) and copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Star-Spangled Banner.

If you’re after a bit of fresh air, you’re also, uh, free, to commune with the flowers at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1000 Washington Ave, Brooklyn) every Tuesday during opening hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in winter months, until 6 p.m. from mid-March to mid-November). Admission, incidentally, is free on all weekdays in winter.

Wednesday

Wednesday is not the friendliest of weekdays to museum freeloaders in New York—or at least for those unwilling to leave Manhattan. If you head up to the Bronx, however, you can get free entry to the pre-Revoluntionary War Van Cortlandt House (Broadway at West 246th Street, Bronx). Washington himself (not to be confused with his life mask) is said to have sheltered there at the beginning and end of the war.

If the the Bronx is too much of a schlep for you, today’s a good day to hit up museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. Both post suggested donations but technically have “open donation” policies every day.

Thursday

Thursday night kicks off a weekend of free museum festivities. Start it right with with some contemporary art at the New Museum (235 Bowery, Manhattan), free from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Uptown, the the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center is a cool public space with two vertical gardens, some impressive architecture and rotating art installations. On Thursday evenings at 8:30 p.m., it’s also a performance space. Free shows might feature anything from spoken word to country or world music, or talent from The Juilliard School, Jazz at Lincoln Center and more. In short, anything goes. Check this calendar of events to see what’s happening every night, and note that you should arrive early because capacity is limited for this popular event.

Friday

Welcome to the free museum free-for-all that is Friday night in New York City. Behold, Cheapos, the museum is your oyster:

Free admission or pay what you wish on Friday nights:

Museum of the Moving Image: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.; 35 Avenue at 37 Street, Astoria, Queens

Museum of Modern Art: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.; 11 West 53rd Street, Manhattan

International Center of Photography: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.; 1114 Avenue of the Americas, Manhattan

Whitney Museum of American Art: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.; 945 Madison Avenue, Manhattan

New York Historic Society: 6 pm. – 8 p.m.; 170 Central Park West, Manhattan

Saturday

The massive art collection (and incredible architecture) at the Guggenheim (1071 5th Avenue, Manhattan) can be enjoyed for free on Saturday evenings from 5:45 p.m. until 7:45 p.m.

Other Saturday festivities are limited to once a month:

The Brooklyn Museum of Art (200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn) dominates first Saturdays, with free admission, plus live entertainment, from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. Learn more here.

El Museo del Barrio (1230 5th Avenue, Manhattan) hosts “SUPER SABADO” on the third Saturday of the month, in all months except January and August. Admission is free from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. and events range from film screenings to walking tours.

Sunday

Round out the week with some fine art, housed in a gorgeous mansion at the Frick Museum (1 East 70th Street, Manhattan), pay what you wish from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

For a livelier vibe, head uptown to the Studio Museum (144 West 125th Street, Manhattan) in Harlem, where Target Free Sundays grant free access to the vast and provocative collection of art, as well as access to special tours, talks and hands-on activities.

Full confession: While I do love the holiday windows I wrote about last week, the crowds that go along with them put me a little bit on edge (okay, maybe a lot on edge). That said, one can’t help but get swept up in the holiday spirit in New York, and while this New Yorker may not like crowds, she’s certainly no lump of coal. So what’s a holiday-loving, line-avoiding girl to do?

The Other New York Lights

Enter the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dkyer Heights, known this time of year by its second moniker: Dyker Lights. Now, Dyker Heights is a bit of a trek from Manhattan, but it’s well worth the trip. (It is, after all, home to actor Scott Baio.)

Toyland light display

But “Charles in Charge” aside, the real draw compelling more than 100,000 people to flock to outer Brooklyn each holiday season is that the folks in this primarily Italian-American neighborhood know how to do it up for Christmas. We’re not talking a string of lights here, a few trees there. We’re talking incredible houses with light displays that outshine the Las Vegas strip.

The Dyker Lights tradition started somewhere around the 1940s and has grown to beyond spectacular. Think tens of thousands of bulbs—on a single house. That’s to say nothing of larger than life Santas and other props, like the pair of 15-foot nutcrackers that serve as only part of Lucy Spata’s extravaganza. Spata, who started putting out a few humble ornaments with her parents 40 years ago, has grown her collection to well beyond “humble” and “few.” And her neighbors have taken up the cause handily.

Get Your Lights On

But how to get out to the far reaches of Brooklyn? Well, Brooklyn native Tony Muia runs a three-and-a-half hour Christmas Lights and Cannoli tour on weekends. But, though it does include a round-trip transfer to and from Manhattan’s Union Square (plus coffee and a cannoli), I still find the $55 price tag to be decidedly un-Cheapo.

That’s why this Cheapo ventured out for some light-viewing of my own. I mapped out a route and tips for all those who may want to follow, sans $55 price tag. Here’s the plan:

Getting There

You can reach the heart of Dyker Lights via the D train to 18th Avenue. From there, walk south on 18th and turn right on 86th Street, then head down to 13th Avenue. You can also catch the B1 bus at 18th and 86th (toward Bay Ridge) and ride it to 13th.

A second alternative is the X28 bus, which picks up at Union Square (go towards Sea Gate or Bensonhurst) and drops off at 86th Street and 12th Avenue. Both options will take around an hour from the city.

Check HopStop for detailed directs from wherever you are in the city. Your destination will be 86th Street and 13th Avenue.

Go Towards the Light

The Dyker Lights reside in a square formed by 86th Street and 83rd Street, and 11th Avenue and 13th Avenue. The heart of the action is the block of 84th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues.

It’s along this block that you’ll happen upon the Spata house, whose display includes a series of angels, a ferris wheel and a miniature blimp, in addition the to aforementioned giant nutcrackers. On the night I visited there was also a tray with one lone chocolate cannoli, whose delicious friends, we assumed, must have been devoured by earlier visitors. (Get there early!)

Across from the Spata house is, in my opinion, one of the most incredible displays—a veritable toyland, complete with massive toy soldiers, moving merry-go-rounds, reindeer guarding each balcony (also moving, of course) and a two-story Santa. I do not exaggerate: From the lore I’ve read, the mechanized horses here weigh a ton each and the toy soldiers reach 29 feet.

Around this house you’ll start to hear the music in the distance. Follow it over to 12th Avenue, making stops along the way, of course. There you’ll find a giant tinsel Frosty standing guard over a group of “It’s a Small World” children (yes, that’s one of the songs you’ll hear).

And these are just three houses. There are so many more that do it up big, and even the “subdued” homes twinkle up a storm.

Bottom line: If this place can’t get you into the holiday spirit, well, Ebenezer, there’s not much hope for you.

The Rest

Most houses leave their lights up through January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. The lights will be lit just about any night of the week, but weekends are obviously the liveliest, and most likely to be graced by special visits from Santa.

And, lest we forget the true spirit of the holidays, many of the houses collect money for various charities, including St. Anthony’s and the American Cancer Society. Don’t forget to bring along a few extra dollars to spread good spirit.

Cookie case at the Mona Lisa Pastry Shoppe

The Dish

All that light-looking is likely to leave your hungry. At least it left this gal looking for a little warmth and something sweet. Lucky for me, with Italian neighborhoods comes good Italian cooking. Head back out to 86th Street and over to 14th Avenue, and you’ll find a few good options along that stretch.

If it’s a full meal you’re after, pay a visit to the legendary Tommaso’s (1464 86th Street), a neighborhood mainstay marked by cozy furnishings, large walls of wine and big tables of Italian families that put those uncomfortable Olive Garden commercials to shame.

For a lighter bite, head next door to sweet-lovers’ heaven, in the form of Mona Lisa Pastry Shoppe. The display cases here are a rainbow of deliciousness: cookies, cannoli and just about any other Italian sweet you might want. Grab a bunch to go, or have a seat in the adjoining cafe to complement your treat with coffee.

There are few cities that do the holidays like New York does the holidays (and we’re not even biased). Whether it’s the trees on Park Avenue that become a parade of gleaming white or Radio City Music Hall all done up with its enormous tree of lights (and its long-legged ladies), Gotham doesn’t mess around when it comes to “festive.”

Then, of course, there is the holiday extravaganza that is 5th Avenue. And Macy’s. And, well, any department store that is worth its salt in window displays. But where to go? And how to fight the crowds and actually enjoy the festival of lights without losing your mind? We’ve got your holiday window walking tour right here.

Stop 1: Macy’s
34th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
Subway: N/Q/R/B/D/F to Herald Square

Click to see these windows on a map.

Let’s start at the very beginning. Macy’s kicked off the holiday season with that little parade it held on Thanksgiving Day. Santa made his first appearance of the season and the holidays were off to a rip-roaring start. Enter 34th Street, home not only to Macy’s but to that magical holiday story, “Miracle on 34th Street,” which is retold in adorable animatronics nodding their heads and flying their reindeer legs in the Macy’s windows on 34th.

Stop 2: Lord & Taylor
424 5th Ave at 39th St

From Macy’s, head east to 5th Avenue and north to 39th Street to check out Lord & Taylor’s incredible, and historic, panes. In 1938, this upscale department store displayed the first ever animated holiday windows. To this day the trendsetting store does it up right. To maintain the unadulterated Christmas spirit, windows are simply the festive animated scenes, no merchandise allowed.

Detour: For a fun treat, and a quick bout of warmth, make a pit stop on the way to Lord & Taylor. At 36th Street, head an extra block east to Madison Avenue to the Morgan Library. Yes, you’ll have to pay an admission price here ($15), but you’ll see the original manuscript of a quintessential bit of Christmas: Charles Dickens’s Christmas Carol, all bound in lovely leather as once gifted to his solicitor.

Stop 3: Saks Fifth Avenue
611 5th Ave between 49th and 50th

From Lord & Taylor, you have a bit of a stroll along 5th Avenue (stop into the New York Public Library at 42nd Street to see their giant tree) to the next set of windows. But once you reach Saks Fifth Avenue you’ve got lights galore for miles—or at least several blocks.

But we’ll start with Saks, where the windows are grand but the highlight is the glorious light show which has snowflakes dancing across the 10-story building. Arrive here after dark to partake in the full spectacle, and since you’re in the neighborhood, make a pilgrammage across the street to Rockefeller Center and its famous tree.

Fun fact: The snowflakes, inspired by William “Snowflake” Bentley’s snowflake photos from the 1920′s, are made from more than 40 LED modules (that’s 2.5 miles of lights) but consume only 2600W, the energy equivalent of three toaster ovens. Go Saks! Out of town Cheapos can see the snowflake dance here.

Stop 3: Fifth Avenue
50th Street to 59th Street

After gaping at the at the snowflake show, which takes place every 15 minutes, it’s a slow stroll up Fifth Avenue for some incredible windows and gorgeous lights. Highlights include the gleaming UNICEF snowflake which hovers over 5th Avenue at 57th Street, the red bow of lights that wraps the Cartier building at 52nd (we’ll unwrap that!) and, of course, the classy and captivating displays at a certain store whose signature bows (and boxes) are not red but blue. Not sure what we’re talking about? You’ll happen upon this little shop of Audrey Hepburn fame at 727 Fifth Ave between 56th and 57th.

Also in the hood are Henri Bendel (712 Fifth Avenue at 56th Street), where the windows this year celebrate scenes from The Nutcracker, and Bergdorf Goodman (754 Fifth Avenue at 58th Street), with its futuristic “Wish You Were Here” travel theme.

Stop 4: FAO Schwarz
767 5th Avenue at 58th Street

When you hit 58th Street, take a detour into FAO Schwarz, toyland itself, where you can warm up in the cafe or pounce on the giant piano a la Tom Hanks in Big. Nothing says Christmas like being a kid again.

Stop 5: Bloomingdale’s and Dylan’s Candy Bar
59th Street and Lexington Avenue

If you’ve still got energy after all that, head east on 58th Street to Bloomingdale’s (59th Street and Lexington Avenue), where the digital screens give a more modern, techie holiday feel. Then replenish your energy with a pit stop at the colorful Dylan’s Candy Bar (1011 Third Avenue at 60th Street).

Cheapos take note: This last stop, a candy heaven founded by Dylan Lauren (daughter of Ralph) is certainly sweet with its 5,000-plus types of candy, but it’s sensory overload, especially at this time of year. Be prepared to fight crowds for your candy fix. And please refrain from shoving small children—there are plenty of chocolate-covered gummy bears to go around.

For a quieter respite, you might instead head over to the iconic Serendipity (225 East 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues) to, er, warm up over a heaping glass of their famous frozen hot chocolate ($8.75). Sound coutnerintuitive? It may be cold, but it’ll warm the heart!

Browsing Tips:

Here’s the thing Cheapos: You’re going to run into crowds on this gazing excursion. There may even be lines to see some windows. To minimize the headaches, try going later in the evening.

Stores close between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., so have dinner, maybe a drink (or two) and then make your way out to check out the lights. You’ll still run into fellow light-gawkers, but at least the shopping throngs will have dispersed by then.

Did Ya Know?

A few fun facts about holiday windows…

1) The holiday window tradition started in the 1840s, when stores displayed wrapped gifts and evergreens. Then in the 1870s the public was fascinated by the toy trains in the windows of L.P. Tibbals’ toy store.

2) Macy’s took decorating up a notch in 1874, when it displayed $10,000 worth of dolls, effectively setting the window-watching trend—and the annual “What if my toy is sold out?” panic.

3) In 2010 Bergdorf spent nearly $300,000 on real antiques and quartz crystal bling for its windows, themed “Wish You Were Here.”