Things to do in New York City
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Double Crown
One of the tastiest – and most gorgeous – elements of the Bowery’s ongoing upscale makeover is this Asian-inspired, design-detailed den of sophisticated treats. Chef Dan Rafalin marries Britain, India and other spots in the East to create wow-factor foods: spicy-pork stuffed lychees, house-cured ham with figs, twice-cooked chicken with ginger-garlic relish, butternut squash curry with snake-bean salad (plus bangers and mash!). Sunday afternoon tea lets you choose from sweet or savory spreads, and brunch has rarities like grilled sambal prawns and mackerel and green-apple salad. It’s also an excellent choice for an end-of-day cocktail, as its lush Madam Geneva lounge…
reviewed
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East Harlem Artpark
Mayor Bloomberg has been a great supporter of the Public Art Fund, as well as the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art, initiated in 1982 by then-mayor Edward Koch, requiring that 1% of the city’s budget for construction projects be spent on integrating art into the design or architecture of new facilities. Since its inception there have been more than 220 such projects at public schools, libraries, parks and police stations, and projects have included Valerie Jaudon’s brick-and-granite mosaic at Manhattan’s police headquarters, Jorge Luis Rodriguez’ bright-orange steel flower in the East Harlem Artpark, and a Holocaust Memorial (State Supreme Court,…
reviewed
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New York City Wall Street Insider Tour
75 minutes (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Explore New York's financial district on this exhilarating and educational walking tour of Wall Street. This behind-the-scenes tour, created by a former Vice…Not LP reviewed
from USD$35.00 -
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Mamajuana
This hoppin’ local joint, which also has outposts in Coral Gables, Florida, and Santo Domingo, DR, gets its moniker from the traditional Dominican brew of rum, wine, roots and spices. It’s believed to cure whatever ails you, and so is this wine bar and eatery, where locals pack in tight on weekends to celebrate with the tastes of home. Starters like octopus and crabmeat empanadas and shrimp ceviche get the party started, while a range of tapas, including salted cod salad and smoked pork loin with quince paste, and big plates – three types of paella (one vegetarian), for example – keep it going into the night. The Mamajuana mojito gets a touch of sweetness from tamarind…
reviewed
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Irish Hunger Memorial
Artist Brian Tolle's compact labyrinth of low limestone walls and patches of grass pays tribute to the Great Irish Famine and Migration (1845–52), which prompted hundreds of thousands of immigrants to leave Ireland for better opportunities in the New World. Representing abandoned cottages, stone walls and potato fields, the work was created with stones from each of Ireland’s 32 counties.
Tolle's proposal was the winning entry in a design competition organized by the Battery Park City Authority in 2000. Ironically, the sculpture is an even more fitting metaphor than Tolle probably meant it to be: it’s turned out to be a delicate piece, having required extensive repairs…
reviewed
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Holocaust Memorial
Mayor Bloomberg has been a great supporter of the Public Art Fund, as well as the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art, initiated in 1982 by then-mayor Edward Koch, requiring that 1% of the city’s budget for construction projects be spent on integrating art into the design or architecture of new facilities. Since its inception there have been more than 220 such projects at public schools, libraries, parks and police stations, and projects have included Valerie Jaudon’s brick-and-granite mosaic at Manhattan’s police headquarters, Jorge Luis Rodriguez’ bright-orange steel flower in the East Harlem Artpark (Sylvan Pl & E 120th St), and a Holocaust…
reviewed
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Il Bagatto
A bustling yet romantic little nook, this spot has thoroughly delicious Italian creations at exceptionally reasonable prices – plus an excellent wine list and a dedicated sommelier who will pour you tastes before you decide (a wonderful oddity in such an affordable and casual dining room). The frazzled yet warm and quirky owners will greet you like old friends – though be prepared to wait a while even if you’ve made a reservation; that’s just the way it works at this laid-back neighborhood spot. Menu items tend toward the sinful side, with highlights that include cheese and spinach ravioli swimming in butter and sage sauce, homemade gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce, and…
reviewed
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3-Day Best of the Border Tour from New York City: Niagara Falls, Toronto, Lake Ontario and 1000 Islands
3 days (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
lt;divgt;Head north from New York City in a climate-controlled coach on this exciting 3-day tour to experience the best of the Niagara Falls region in both New…Not LP reviewed
from USD$430.00 -
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Brooklyn Industries
This is where the cool kids shop for hooded sweatshirts, silk-screen T-shirts and slinky knit dresses. It may be a chain but this one has the cachet of actually being in Brooklyn.
reviewed
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Castle Clinton
Built as a fort to defend the New York Harbor during the war of 1812, this national monument has played numerous roles, including opera house, entertainment complex and aquarium. It's now a visitors center, with historical displays, as well as a massive performance space, where outdoor concerts are held on the open-air stage for summer shows under the stars.
The circular structure got its current moniker in 1817 to honor then mayor DeWitt Clinton. Later, and before Ellis Island opened to immigrants, Castle Garden (as it was then known) served as the major processing center for new immigrant arrivals, welcoming more than eight million people between 1855 and 1890. Rangers…
reviewed
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Rice ‘N’ Beans
The decor in this teensy storefront is nothing to speak of – but the high-flavor, low-priced Brazilian favorites that grace the small yellow tables certainly are. Start with a salad of hearts of palm or avocado, then get completely sated with picks like the coconut-milk-rich and coriander-spiced Amazon fish stew, thick with chunks of white fish and green pepper. Chicken gets sautéed with okra, pork chops are spiced and grilled Brazilian style, and the classic feijoada – a scrumptious black-bean stew with pork loin, sausage and beef – gets served with collard greens, rice and farofa (fried yucca flour). Even vegetarians are well cared for, with sautéed veggies,…
reviewed
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Craft-Beer Crawl of Manhattan or Brooklyn
3 hours (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Tired of ordering the same old brew? Find a new favorite on this craft-beer crawl in New York City! Join your knowledgeable guide on a tour of Manhattan or…Not LP reviewed
from USD$70.00 -
Circle Line: Harbor Lights Night Cruise
2 hours (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Take an early-evening New York City Harbor Lights cruise and bask in the glow of the setting sun and glistening harbor lights. While listening to an…Not LP reviewed
from USD$33.99 -
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Municipal Building
Built between 1913 and 1918, this massive, Federal-style skyscraper houses various city government agencies, from the city’s Marriage Bureau and Office of the Comptroller to the local NPR affiliate public-radio station, WNYC. The U-shaped, 25-story behemoth sits over an open-sided, column-ringed plaza that’s about three stories tall, and walking through here will surely have you rubbing elbows with all manner of government employees (an interesting, if motley, crew). The building is best admired from a distance, though, and walking or cabbing it across Chambers St, especially at night when it’s all lit up, gives you such a sense of its grand immensity that you’ll feel as…
reviewed
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Brooklyn Navy Yard Tour
2 hours (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
See a unique part of New York City and learn something new about US history on this guided tour of Brooklyn Navy Yard, located on the borough’s historic…Not LP reviewed
from USD$30.00 -
Spider-Man on Broadway
3 hours (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Experience Spider-Man like you've never seen him before! Based on the Marvel Comics book and directed by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor, this Broadway show is…Not LP reviewed
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Rouge Tomate
Midtown East, home to the five-course business lunch, desperately needed a high-end place that's as easy on the budget as it is on the waistline: voilà Rouge Tomate. This sleek Belgian restaurant eschews french fries and waffles in favor of organic veggies and lean cuts of meat. All the meals – including the $72 prix-fixe with three courses plus dessert – come in at 550 calories or less, but with no sacrifice to flavor or presentation. The chef, formerly of Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro Moderne, works with a nutritionist to count calories (and cooks with olive oil and yogurt over butter and heavy cream), but you won't leave feeling hungry: portions are ample, as Americans…
reviewed
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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
Don’t miss your chance to run or walk around this 1.58-mile track, which draws a slew of joggers in the warmer months. The 106-acre body of water no longer distributes drinking water to residents, but serves as a gorgeous reflecting pool for the surrounding skyline and flowering trees. Take a turn around the reservoir’s perimeter and you may very well spot the elderly, white-haired Albert Arroyo, the friendly and self-appointed ‘Mayor of Central Park, ’ who used to run laps here and now makes his slow way around and around with the aid of a cane. The most beautiful time to be here is at sunset, when you can watch the sky turn from a brilliant shade of pink and orange to…
reviewed
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Marc by Marc Jacobs
With five small shops sprinkled around the West Village, Marc Jacobs has established a real presence in this well-heeled neighborhood. Large front windows allow easy peeking – assuming there’s not a sale, during which you’ll only see hordes of fawning shoppers. Here’s the layout: on Bleecker St, you’ll find the women’s line at No 403-405, women’s accessories (fun wallets, rubber boots and T-shirts) at No 385 and the children’s line (Little Marc) at No 382. Men should head one block over, where they’ll find the men’s collection at 301 W 4th St and men’s accessories at 298 W 4th. For men’s and women’s apparel from the Marc Jacobs Collection (the priciest stuff of all), head…
reviewed
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Balthazar
Retaining its long-held status as a superstar among the city’s glut of French bistros, this bustling (OK, loud) spot still pulls in the discriminating mobs. That’s all thanks to three winning details: the location, which makes it a convenient shopping-spree rest area; the uplifting ambience, shaped by big, mounted mirrors, cozy high-backed booths, airy high ceilings and wide windows; and, of course, the stellar something-for-everyone menu, which features an outstanding raw bar, steak frites, salade Niçoise, roasted beet salad and prawn risotto with sage and butternut squash. The kitchen stays open till 2am Thursday to Saturday, and weekend brunch here is a very crowded…
reviewed
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New York City Hop-on Hop-off Tour, Ellis Island Ferry Ticket and Top of the Rock or Empire State Building
3 days (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Everything you need to see New York with freedom and independence! Includes a ticket on the Ellis Island ferry (Statue of Liberty), and either Top of the Rock…Not LP reviewed
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Japan Society
Fresh, rotating exhibitions of Japanese art, textiles and design are the main draw at this cultural center. Its theater hosts a range of films and dance, music and theatrical performances, while those who want to dig deeper can browse through the 14,000 volumes of the research library or attend one of its myriad lectures.
Founded in 1907 by a group of NYC businesspeople with a deep admiration for Japan, this nonprofit society has played a large role in strengthening American–Japanese relations. Its expansion into a full arts and cultural center was thanks in no small part to philanthropist John D Rockefeller III, an ardent fan of the country.
reviewed
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Walking Tour of New York's Historic South Street Seaport
2 hours (Departs New York City, New York)
by Viator
Uncover the historic South Street Seaport district and hear gripping tales of the port's turbulent past on this historical walking tour of New York City. You…Not LP reviewed
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Aroma Espresso Bar
One of the latest, greatest Israeli imports to NYC has been this sleek cafe chain, where you’ll find soothing lighting, comfy and stylish seating and a menu bursting with fresh, tasty, affordable fare. For a morning protein jolt, go for the Power Breakfast – two eggs with mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese and bread and butter – paired with one of the well-made coffee beverages, like a nice, strong, foam-topped latte. Delicious sandwiches include grilled haloumi cheese with pickles and cream cheese or chicken with roasted peppers and mozzarella, and there’s a great selection of global baked goods, from sugar-dusted alfajores to chocolate croissants.…
reviewed
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Hispanic Society of America Museum & Library
This underrated museum is housed in the ornate beaux arts structure where naturalist John James Audubon once lived. Open since 1908, it contains the largest collection of 19th-century Spanish art and manuscripts outside of Spain – including a substantial selection of works by El Greco, Goya and Velázquez, as well as a library featuring 600,000 rare books and manuscripts.
Greeting visitors at the entrance is Goya’s alluring 1797 masterpiece ‘The Duchess of Alba,’ while a majestic sculpture of El Cid by Anna Hyatt Huntington dominates the exterior courtyard.
At the time of research, the Society was considering a name change to honor its founder, Archer Milton…
reviewed