Things to do in New York City
-
A
A Voce
Inside the swanky Time Warner mall, light, airy and modern A Voce combines sweeping views of Central Park with high-end interpretations of Italian classics – think caramelized onion-filled ravioili with foie gras, balsamico and breadcrumbs; or grilled swordfish with chickpeas, broccoli and a sucker-punch nduja (spicy salami spread) vinaigrette. The well-versed wine list includes almost 20 drops by the glass. Book ahead.
reviewed
-
Complete New York, New York Helicopter Tour
20 minutes (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Take the ultimate helicopter tour over New York! This 20-minute aerial tour covers all five Boroughs. You'll see the Statue of Liberty, Chrysler Building,…Not LP reviewed
-
2-Day Best of New England Tour from New York: Newport Mansions, Cape Cod and Boston
2 days (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Take advantage of New England's proximity to New York City with this two-day historical tour through Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts! From New York…Not LP reviewed
-
Pizza Walking Tour of Manhattan
2.5 to 3 hours (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Take a guided walking tour in New York City and taste pizza at three of Manhattan’s top pizzerias along the way! Choose either the Little Italy/Greenwich…Not LP reviewed
from USD$37.99 -
Statue of Liberty Evening Cruise
60 minutes (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
lt;pgt;Unwind as you watch the sun set over the world's most beautiful skyline on this 1-hour cruise aboard an iconic water taxi. Sail along and experience the…Not LP reviewed
from USD$24.99 -
B
Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum
Built in 1765 as a country retreat for Roger and Mary Morris, this columned mansion is the oldest house in Manhattan. It is also famous for having served as George Washington’s headquarters after it was seized by the Continental Army in 1776. The mansion’s rooms contain many original furnishings, including a bed that reputedly belonged to Napoleon.
reviewed
-
C
Craft
When super chef Tom Colicchio opened this fine-food palace in a sweeping architectural space several years ago, the concept was completely new: create your own meal with à la carte items, and enjoy the feeling that not a plate on your table was cookie cutter. Copycats sprang up around town, but this spot still reigns – and still feels fresh – as ingredients change seasonally, and are always finely prepared. Menu Items can be found under their appropriate subject headings – fish, ‘farm egg, ’ meat, vegetables, salad – and it’s up to you to make the matches (or ask for some expert direction). You might wind up with a plate of Spanish mackerel with fennel, mizuna with…
reviewed
-
D
Marjorie Eliot
The renowned Eliot offers free jams in her home every Sunday at 4pm in honor of her two deceased sons. Warmly recommended.
reviewed
-
Classic Schooner Sailing Tour in New York City: Wine-Tasting, Craft Beer or Jazz Sail
Varies (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Step aboard a historic sailing ship and cruise around New York Harbor, taking in magnificent views of New York City. Choose from three themed sails: the…Not LP reviewed
-
E
Arthur Avenue/Belmont
Called New York’s ‘real Little Italy,’ the Belmont area – on the blocks south of Fordham University between Bronx Park (to the east) and Third Ave (to the west) – is clearly marked with ‘Little Italy in the Bronx’ banners. Here you’ll find pizzerias, trattorias, bakeries, fishmongers and butchers with bunnies in the window – many working without breaking into English. Many New Yorkers claim that Roberto Restaurant offers the finest Italian eating in the city.
The famous scene in The Godfather – where Al Pacino gets the gun from behind ‘the toilet with the chain thing’ and blasts his way into the family business – supposedly takes place at Mario’s (2342…
reviewed
Advertisement
-
F
Le Petit Versailles
Le Petit Versailles is a unique marriage of a verdant oasis and an electrifying arts organization, offering a range of quirky performances and screenings to the public.
reviewed
-
G
Museum of Jewish Heritage
This waterfront memorial museum explores all aspects of modern Jewish identity, with often poignant personal artifacts, photographs and documentary films. Its outdoor Garden of Stones – created by artist Andy Goldsworthy (and his first permanent exhibition in NYC) – in which 18 boulders form a narrow pathway for contemplating the fragility of life, is dedicated to those who lost loved ones in the Holocaust.
The building itself features a six-sided shape and three tiers to symbolize the Star of David and the six million Jews who perished in WWII. Exhibitions aside, the museum also hosts films, music concerts, ongoing lecture series and special holiday performances.…
reviewed
-
H
9th St Garden & La Plaza Cultural
reviewed
-
I
Coney Island USA
A complex called Coney Island USA is home to various activities. The best of the bunch is the Sideshows by the Seashore (adult/child $7.50/5), where you can see a face-tattooed fire-eater and a Mormon sword-swallower. Upstairs, the small Coney Island Museum ($5) showcases local memorabilia. Most attractions operate in the afternoon from Wednesday to Sunday in summer. Check the website for details.
reviewed
-
J
Sperone Westwater
The Sperone Westwater gallery represents heavy hitters like William Wegman and Richard Long, and its new home was designed by the famed Norman Foster, who’s already made a big impact on NYC with the Hearst Building and his plans for the new Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.
reviewed
-
K
Queens Museum of Art
Undergoing a massive expansion at the time of research, the QMA's most famous drawcard is the Panorama of New York City, a gob-smacking 9335-sq-ft miniature New York City, with all buildings accounted for and a 15-minute dusk-to-dawn light simulation of a New York day. The museum also hosts top-notch exhibitions of modern art, from contemporary photography to site-specific installations.
The QMA is housed in a historic building made for the ’39 World’s Fair (and once home to the UN), and you'll find a retro-fabulous collection of memorabilia from both the ’39 and ’64 fairs on display (with reproductions in the gift shop).
reviewed
-
New York Pub Crawl
3 hours 30 minutes (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Find out why New York is known as the city that never sleeps on a classic New York pub crawl! Choose from three exciting itineraries centered on New York’s…Not LP reviewed
-
Circle Line: NYC Liberty Cruise
75 minutes (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
If your time in NYC is limited, hop aboard for a quick, 75-minute harbor cruise to the Statue of Liberty from Midtown Manhattan. On this fully narrated cruise,…Not LP reviewed
-
L
American Folk Art Museum
The main museum, housed in a beautiful, eight-story building designed by the noted Billie Tsien and Tod Williams, as well as the smaller location at Lincoln Square, focus on traditional arts tied to moments in history or personal milestones. The expansive collection features objects such as flags, liberty figures, textiles, weather vanes and decorative arts, and recent visiting exhibits have ranged from ‘Up Close: Henry Darger and the Coloring Book, ’ which examined the artist’s big influence, and ‘Thomas Chambers (1808–1869) : American Marine and Landscape Painter, ’ about the artist, who was obscure in his own lifetime. The museum also runs several worthy programs,…
reviewed
-
Phantom of the Opera On Broadway
2 hours 30 minutes (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
While you are in New York, don't miss your chance to see the longest-running Broadway show in history, Andrew Lloyd Webber's magical lt;emgt;The Phantom of…Not LP reviewed
Advertisement
-
M
Museum of the Moving Image
Fresh from a $65-million upgrade, this super-cool complex is now one of the world's top film, television and video museums. State-of-the-art galleries show off the museum's collection of 130,000-plus TV and movie artifacts, including Robert De Niro's wig from Taxi Driver, Robin Williams' space suit from Mork & Mindy and the creepy stunt doll used in The Exorcist.
Try your hand at film editing (including re-dubbing the ‘We’re not in Kansas anymore’ scene from The Wizard of Oz), and get nostalgic over an impressive booty of vintage TVs, cameras and retro arcade games. The museum's temporary exhibitions are usually fantastic, as are the regular film screenings – check…
reviewed
-
N
Brisas del Caribe
Le Petit Versailles is a unique marriage of a verdant oasis and an electrifying arts organization, offering a range of quirky performances and screenings to the public. The 6 & B Garden is a well-organized space that hosts free music events, workshops and yoga sessions; check the website for details. Three dramatic weeping willows, an odd sight in the city, grace the twin plots of 9th Street Garden and La Plaza Cultural. Also check out the All People’s Garden and Brisas del Caribe, easily located thanks to its surrounding white-picket fence.
reviewed
-
O
Carl Schurz Park
Idyllic gardens and walkways make-up this placid riverside park that was designed in part by Calvert Vaux, one of the landscape architects behind Central Park.
reviewed
-
Everything Goes Clothing
In Staten Island, Ganas – a rare NYC commune of about 90 people – runs one of NYC’s best-kept shopping secrets: a collection of vintage shops called Everything Goes. Run as cooperatives, each location specializes in a different sort of item: there’s Everything Goes Clothing (718-273-7139; 140 Bay St; 10:30am-6:30pm Tue-Sat); Everything Goes Book Café (718-447-8256; 208 Bay St; 10am-7pm Tue-Thu, 10am-10pm Fri & Sat, noon-5pm Sun); and Everything Goes Furniture & Gallery (718-273-0568; 17 Brook St; 10:30am-6:30pm Tue-Sat), which features eclectic artwork, antiques and collectibles. For directions to each store, which are all within walking distance from the Staten…
reviewed
-
P
Blossom
This Chelsea veg oasis – with a sinful new wine and chocolate bar attached – is a peaceful, romantic dining room that offers imaginative tofu, seitan and vegetable creations, some raw, all kosher. The stellar Autumn Sweet Potato Rolls have raw strips of the orange root wrapped around tangy strips of coconut, carrots and peppers, and will leave your taste-buds reeling.
Seitan scaloppini has a perfect blend of richness and a light lemony zing, while the hickory-roasted tempeh gets tempered with creamy horseradish crème fraîche. Desserts are so rich, you’ll swear they’re filled with butter and cream. A second Upper West Side location is Cafe Blossom.
reviewed