Experience Van Gogh Art In A New Immersive Way
Have you ever dreamt of living inside a painting?;
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience;is an innovative art exhibition in NYC that displays the universe of Vincent van Gogh in a 360-degree digital composition.;
Explore Van Goghs work and his secrets in a unique experience, with virtual reality features and an unconventional light and sound atmosphere.
Ready for a spooky night? Go behind the scenes at the Basilica of St. Patricks Old Cathedral. Get access to the off-limits and hidden areas of the Basilica grounds, and step into the only active catacombs in New York City.
Chelsea Nyc Art Galleries
Speaking of Chelsea, if you happen to be in NYC on a Thursday night and love art, make your way down to the Chelsea Galleries!
This was one of my favorite things to do as a broke fashion college student! Enjoy free wine, bites, and awesome art around/after 6:30 PM! Youre welcome for this very local NYer gem of a spot!
Best Things To Do In New York City
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New York is so big and so diverse a place that you could live here four lifetimes and not experience all the amazing things the city has to offer. Even figuring out where to start your NYC trip is a daunting task. But we want to help you cut down the impossibly long list of ways to spend your day. Whether you’re a local realizing you’ve yet to fully explore the city’s parks and history, or an out-of-towner who doesn’t know the Met from the MoMA, these quintessential stops will help you catch a glimpse of the city’s beating heart.
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Culture And Contemporary Life
New York City has been described as the cultural capital of the world by New York’s Baruch College. A book containing a series of essays titled New York, Culture Capital of the World, 19401965 has also been published as showcased by the National Library of Australia. In describing New York, author Tom Wolfe said, “Culture just seems to be in the air, like part of the weather.”
Numerous major American cultural movements began in the city, such as the Harlem Renaissance, which established the African-American literary canon in the United States. The city became the center of stand-up comedy in the early 20th century, jazz in the 1940s, abstract expressionism in the 1950s, and the birthplace of hip hop in the 1970s. The city’s punk and hardcore scenes were influential in the 1970s and 1980s. New York has long had a flourishing scene for Jewish American literature.
Check Out A Speak Easy
Stay in NYC long enough and you may start to believe that prohibition is still alive and strong. Why? Because there are speakeasies all around the city which is part of the charm.
There is a myriad of different choices from La Esquina in Soho to Blind Barber in Alphabet City. Check out our list of this years top speak easies.
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Be Entertained On The Ride
Climb on board this interactive bus for a show-stopping evening of revelry and entertainment. Combine sightseeing with live shows as you tour the streets, and enjoy front row seats thanks to the panoramic windows.
Sit back and relax as comedians, dancers, and singers all vie for your attention. Want to show off your own talents? Then join in the onboard karaoke for a light-hearted sing-off.
Take A Spin On The Beast
Hold on to your hats as you blast across New York Bay on the ride of your life. The Beast is a luxury jet boat and a fun thing to do in NYC for adrenaline junkies.
Take in the panoramic sights of midtown and lower Manhattan and bounce along to live music on this watery roller coaster journey. Keep your cameras handy for the Statue of Liberty!
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Times Square At Night
Times Square is open 24 hours.;Many of the free activities listed above;are excellent night activities, like the;Midnight Moment;or people-watching.
Some of the top attractions listed above, like Madame Tussauds or Ripleys Believe it or Not! stay open until 10 pm or beyond!;;
Below are some more things to do at night. For more ideas, see our post about;things to do at night in NYC.;
Visit Famous Filming Locations
All the best movies and TV shows are filmed in New York, and this is your chance to visit some of the big screen sights. Hop on board a comfortable coach and cruise around Manhattan, stopping at iconic locations from Gossip Girl, Sex and the City, and The Sopranos.
Relive the glory days outside the Friends apartment and pose beside the iconic Ghostbusters Fire station.
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Spot Celebrities In Nyc
Where to find celebrities in NYC or which celebrities are living in NYC today are common questions by all, but celebrity sightings in NYC are way easier than you may think and happen all the time. You will, of course, see them on the subway, in Central Park, at the gym, in restaurants, at all the current hotspots, at shows and more. But here are some unique ways to see celebrities all over the city.
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Meet Your Heroes At Madame Tussauds
Rub shoulders with the Hulk and snap photos with George Washington as you explore this mind-boggling waxwork world. Nowhere else would politicians and popstars stand side by side with Spiderman and the Kardashians.
Stroll down the runway at fashion week and take center stage in a Broadway show just all in a days work at Madame Tussauds.
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New York City Helicopter Tours
The cold weather is a great time to take to the Manhattan skies for an exciting;New York City Helicopter Tour! Enjoy spectacular aerial views of Manhattan, including the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, 9-11 Memorial, World Trade Center and Ellis Island. If your tour heads uptown, Central Park and Yankee Stadium are must-sees!
I LOVED my tourcheck out some of my photos and review at New York City Helicopter Tour.
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Supporting Horse Carriage Rides In Central Park
Riding a horse-drawn carriage sounds like a fairy tale. But the reality is, carriage horses often live and work in inhumane conditions.
Horse-drawn carriages shouldnt share the same roadways as honking cars and cyclists as it puts both the animal and the public at risk. These horses work long hours and even when the weather is unbearably hot or freezing cold.
Paying for a horse-drawn carriage ride continues to support the industry. So while it might sound like a nice way to experience Central Park, youll want to pass on this idea.
DO THIS INSTEAD
There are many other great ways to explore NYC. Some of my favorite ways to get around the city include riding the metro, walking, , Hop-On Hop-Off Bus. And if you want to splurge, consider doing a NYC helicopter tour.
Ride the metro Besides walking, this is the fastest and most cost-effective way to get around New York City.
Walking Put on your walking shoes and explore the city. This is my favorite way to get around and sightsee. To make it more fun, consider joining a local walking tour. If youre using the New York Pass, there are several walking tours available for every interest.
Explore New York City by bike. Check out the citys urbans parks or ride along the dedicated greenways. If youre using the New York Pass, you can rent bikes for FREE in Central Park a $54.44 value!
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Hunt Ghosts At The Ghostbusters Firehouse
Are you a fan of the mythic Ghostbusters saga? You may want to check out the Ghostbusters HQ then. Hook and Ladder 8, the building used for the exterior shots, is a working firehouse that has been around for more than a century. The firehouse is located at 14 North Moore Street at its intersection with Varick Street in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan.
Wealth And Income Disparity
New York City, like other large cities, has a high degree of income disparity, as indicated by its Gini coefficient of 0.55 as of 2017. In the first quarter of 2014, the average weekly wage in New York County was $2,749, representing the highest total among large counties in the United States. As of 2017, New York City was home to the highest number of billionaires of any city in the world at 103, including former MayorMichael Bloomberg. New York also had the highest density of millionaires per capita among major U.S. cities in 2014, at 4.6% of residents. New York City is one of the relatively few American cities levying an income tax on its residents. As of 2018, there were 78,676 homeless people in New York City.
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The Top 18 Free And Totally Awesome Things To Do In Nyc From A Local
As a college kid in NYC, it was my goal to do as much as I could for free. Over 12 years later I can still say many of these free NYC attractions are my favorite places to visit! In this post, I am covering 18 totally awesome and free things to do NYC, especially for New York first-timers!
While visiting the Big Apple, also check out the many of which are free!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links where at NO additional charge to you I may receive a small commission.
See The Statue Of Liberty
Okay, technically not in Manhattan , the Statue of Liberty is a place youve got to see in the city.;
Probably the most famous symbol of the United States, visiting is one of the best things to do in Manhattan for sure.
Now, you can join one of the boat tours from the lower area of Manhattan. From here, youll take a tour that typically lasts around three to four hours and takes in Ellis Island, too.;
Though, be warned, you might have to queue quite considerably at peak times . Security is quite tight here and they do take a little time to process you through.;
If youre short on time, head here first thing in the morning. This way, youll avoid most of the crowds.;
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Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity
The New York metropolitan area is home to about 570,000 self-identifying gay and bisexual people, the largest in the United States and one of the world’s largest.Same-sex marriages in New York were legalized on June 24, 2011 and were authorized to take place on July 23, 2011. Charles Kaiser, author of The Gay Metropolis: The Landmark History of Gay Life in America, wrote that in the era after World War II, “New York City became the literal gay metropolis for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from within and without the United States: the place they chose to learn how to live openly, honestly and without shame.”
The annual New York City Pride March traverses southward down Fifth Avenue and ends at Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan; the parade rivals the Sao Paulo Gay Pride Parade as the largest pride parade in the world, attracting tens of thousands of participants and millions of sidewalk spectators each June. The annual Queens Pride Parade is held in Jackson Heights and is accompanied by the ensuing Multicultural Parade.
Primary And Secondary Education
The New York City Public Schools system, managed by the New York City Department of Education, is the largest public school system in the United States, serving about 1.1;million students in more than 1,700 separate primary and secondary schools. The city’s public school system includes nine specialized high schools to serve academically and artistically gifted students. The city government pays the Pelham Public Schools to educate a very small, detached section of the Bronx.
The New York City Charter School Center assists the setup of new charter schools. There are approximately 900 additional privately run secular and religious schools in the city.
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Remember Why You Love Nyc From Its Many Observation Decks
Throughout fallMultiple locationsOne silver lining of the pandemic: there has never been a better time to explore our citys wonderful collection of sky-high observation decks. What should be on your punch list? The Empire State Building, of course, but we also recommend One World Observatory , Edge , and Top of the Rock for Midtowns most spectacular views. Diehard view seekers might want to pick up a New York CityPASS C3, which offers access to all but One World Observatory on a single ticket.Cost: Varies
Throughout fallCitywideRemind yourself of NYCs supremacy with dough on a whirlwind tour of bagels. Eat your weight in lox, schmear, and poppy seeds with Tompkins Square Bagels, Russ & Daughters, and/or Black Seed Bagels. If you decide to eat em all in one day, just drink a lot of water, OK? Otherwise youll end up as salted as that gravlax you pounded.Cost: Varies
Throughout fallCitywideWhile the citys parks can sometimes be packed on weekends, head to the road less travelled for some more fresh air: an off-hours , hike. With plenty of green space in every borough, our lesser-known parks have miles and miles of hiking trails for some serenity from our city sidewalks. Pick a path in your local park, leave the headphones off for the chorus of nature, and get some fresh air in your lungs.Cost: Free
Take In Sweeping Skyline Views
In Manhattan, its all about those jaw-dropping skyline views. Get up to vertigo-inducing heights to gain perspective on the citys unique island terrain and skyscraping architecture. There are a trio of dedicated observatories that propose just such primo perches: The classic Empire State Building, of course, has indoor and outdoor observation decks on both the 86th and 102nd floors; the multilevel decks at Rockefeller Centers Top of the Rock; and the newest downtown addition at the;One World Observatory, which straddles the 100th, 101st, and 102nd stories atop the Western hemispheres tallest building.
You can nab a sweet view for free, too, by wandering out onto the 19th-century span of the Brooklyn Bridge or grab a drink at one of the citys high-altitude watering holes. Try The Roof at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, overlooking Central Park,;Bar 54, the citys highest rooftop bar, set in the heart of Times Square, or Bar SixtyFive, in classy Rockefeller Center.
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Things To Do In New York City Roosevelt Island Skytram
Whats on Roosevelt Island that is worth visiting? you might ask. Good question! Most New Yorkers have no idea. We dont either. As far as we can tell its just a collection of ugly brown apartment buildings, housing some 10,000 New Yorkers. However, what we DO know is that there is a SkyTram connecting Roosevelt Island to 59th street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. And we know that the SkyTram is totally worth getting on.
Taking this SkyTram costs just a single swipe of your MetroCard and you can get some really sweet views of Manhattan and Long Island City this way. Bring your camera and take the short trip.
Grand Central Terminal Station
Grand Central Station is probably one of the prettiest subway stations in NYC. Who knew a train station could be NYC must-do on your itinerary?!
Besides being the backdrop of more movies than I can count, the ceiling art is stunning, and its a great place to people watch. After hanging out at Grand Central, you can take the S line right into Time Square, win, win!
NYC Insider travel tip: If you plan to shoot with a Tripod, supposedly you are not allowed to use it at Grand Central Station.
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New York City What To Wear In Spring
Clothing for Spring in NYC
This period normally comes during the months of March, April, and May.
It can be cool or warm during these months, but nothing in the extremes. So the weather is pleasant enough for you to pack light clothes such as light slacks or skirts, and fashionable tops.
They should be somewhat warm, but not too heavy like your winter apparel. Long sleeves and layers will do. You will still need to pack a warm sweater to wear in the often-cool evenings.