By MEGHAN V. MALLOY

Staff Writer

As stimulating as the central Maine social circuit can be, there are times when an out-of-town weekend adventure is needed.

Last weekend was just that. It was time to leave the wide open spaces of Maine and head to the concrete jungle of New York City.

I admit I'm frugal. Heck, I throw a fit if a six-pack of Ramen noodles is more than $1. With out-of-sight gas prices, driving to New York City didn't make sense and neither did dropping $180 on plane tickets from Portland to New York City, which, by the way, was recommended by my not-so-thrifty neighbor, Nate.

Former newspaper seatmate and writer Elizabeth Comeau provided a cheap travel alternative: The Fung-Wah bus. For real, this is a legit bus service. A coach bus, it runs from Chinatown in Boston to Chinatown in New York City.

Good ol' Lizzie, who has ridden the bus on the cheap, gave only two bits of info when it came to riding on the Fung-Wah: There's a rumor that passengers carry live chickens along for the ride, and that, "whatever you do, don't sit by the bathroom."

Fung-Wah, which means "magnificent wind" in Cantonese, initially was established in 1997 as a dollar -- yes, $1 -- van service for Chinese immigrants who wanted to visit family in New York. More than a decade later, the service has blossomed into a fleet of 20 buses and has become a favorite of college kids, young families and even folks on business.

Though the Fung-Wah bus hasn't always had the best track record -- one bus burst into flames in 2005, another tipped over on its side in 2006 and a third became lodged in a toll booth because it tried to pass through the "autos-only" slot just last year -- I decided the $30 round-trip fare was more important than safety. After all, what's the worst that could happen (besides bursting into flames)?

Fung-Wah passed the first two tests. The bus was clean and as for the poultry rumor -- it was just that, a rumor. My new (and very chatty) travel friend, Nurjan Mamajunusova of Boston, said she has taken the Fung-Wah bus several times because it's faster than other coach bus competitors.

"I've taken it at least four times," Mamajunusova, a graduate student, said. "The price, first of all, is great. And I just like to travel."

The downside?

"It doesn't always make stops in between (Boston and New York) and that can make the trip kind of long if you're sitting the entire time," she said.

Numb bums or not, Fung-Wah generally takes four hours each way. From South Station in Boston, the bus abruptly drops you off at the intersection of Bowery and Canal streets in New York's Chinatown, in the middle of the action.

Trying to find your way out of there to Midtown is an another adventure. Lucky for me, I encountered an elderly Jewish couple who pointed me toward the correct subway line.

But it gets better. The couple figured since they had helped me, they should accompany me to the subway. All along the way, they tried to convince me that I should marry their grandson, as a kind of repayment for helping me out. I told them I'd mull it over. But that's a different story for a different time.

So what to do once you reach the Big Apple? If you're like me, it's all about checking out the local food scene. If you're looking for an inexpensive sit-down dinner featuring some of the freshest steaks and seafood, check out Rosie O'Grady's Saloon just north of Times Square (800 7th Ave. and crossing 57th Street).

Looking for something more low-key and Bohemian? The Bourgeois Pig has fondue and an involved wine list (111 E. 7th St., between First Avenue and Avenue A). This little hole-in-the-wall wine and fondue bar came highly recommended by a good friend, also named Meghan Malloy. So naturally, I trusted her judgment.

The weekend ended too soon and I decided to take the Fung-Wah bus service back to Boston. After all, I made it to New York in one piece.

Despite a few reported mishaps, the bus service is perfect if you're looking to jet down to New York City for a weekend and want to save money doing it. I wouldn't recommend using the service as a connector to catch a bus to Washington D.C. Eight hours is a long time to travel on a bus.

Weekend excursions are a must for the adventurous Mainer. In fact, I try to travel around New England once or twice a month. That being said, it was great to come back to Maine, where we don't ever have to worry about getting on the wrong subway.

Meghan V. Malloy -- 623-3811 Ext. 431 or

mmalloy@centralmaine.com