New York NYC activities
November 20th, 2009 by admin
“Leonardo da Vinci’s Workshop” opened today in New York City. Marking its world premier, this one-of-a-kind exhibit features life-size, interactive models of Leonardo’s inventions and machines drawn directly from the pages of his notebooks.
Visitors will get to see dozens of Leonardo’s ideas brought to life from the iconic drawings he put down on paper at the height of the Renaissance. Highlights range from weapons of war to flying machines imagined centuries before the Wright brothers. Hundreds more of Leonardo’s ideas are presented through interactive touch-screens, giving a clear representation to the breadth and depth of the thinking of one of history’s most prolific geniuses.
Far from being a kitschy display, all of the physical replicas were built not just to look like the drawings and notes left by Leonardo, but actually have been built using authentic techniques from his day and using materials that were in use in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Workshop can be visited at Discovery TSX located at 226 West 44th Street in Manhattan. The exhibit will run from November 20, 2009 through March 2010. Tickets are available for $19.50 (adult), $17.50 (child 4-12), and $18.50 (senior over 65) – or get in free when selecting Leonardo da Vinci’s Workshop as one of your choices with a New York City Explorer Pass.
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October 6th, 2009 by admin
With the upcoming movie release of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, New York City is going Wild. October 12 to 16 has been declared “Wild Things Week” across the Big Apple’s five boroughs and there are a variety of activities parents and kids can participate in.
One of the highlights is the Morgan Library’s display of sketches and early drafts of Sendak’s classic children’s book (October 6 - November 1). While over at the Museum of Modern Art there is exposition on the work of Where the Wild Things Aredirector Spike Jonze (October 8-18). Most of the City’s children’s museums are participating in the fun as well with a variety Sendak themed events and readings.
The folks at NYC & Company has a great resource on their site to help you join in the fun, just go to http://www.nycgo.com/wildthingsweek for complete details on what’s happening where. This is a great excuse to get out with your kids and enjoy the early fall weather! To get in the mood, you can see the preview for the movie here.
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August 10th, 2009 by admin
The New York City Explorer Pass offers the ultimate in convenience, cost savings and flexibility for visitors and locals alike. Customers choose three, five, seven – and now ten — attractions at a low, pre-paid price. The pass serves as a ticket to any of the 45 participating NY attractions. Customers have the freedom to use the pass at anytime of the day or night and can take up to 30 days to use the admissions on the pass, making it an ideal way to see the city in a few days or over multiple weekends. The pass also provides discounts at popular restaurants and shops and the ability to skip the lines at many attractions. Each Explorer Pass also comes with a color-printed, pocket-sized guidebook full of maps, travel tips and itineraries for New York City.
“The New York Explorer Pass quickly became one of our most popular offerings,” said Cecilia Dahl, President and Co-Founder of Smart Destinations. “When we heard from our customers that they would like to have this additional option, the flexibility of our platform allowed us to quickly respond and add the new 10 choice Explorer Pass.”
Dahl went on to credit Smart Destinations’ growth in New York and for the company overall to the combination of a comprehensive and flexible offering along with economic conditions that favor Smart Destinations offerings. “Being able to help people save money is always popular,” explained Dahl, “And from the beginning we’ve focused on having all the best attractions and tours in our program, so the savings don’t come at a cost in customer’s flexibility to see what they want. Particularly in this market, people are looking for ways to stretch their money as far as possible and there’s no doubt that’s helped fuel our growth.”
Among the top attractions included in the NYC Explorer Pass are the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferry, the Brooklyn Museum – and 40 more.
The New York City Explorer Pass also includes transportation, such as the City Sights “hop-off” double-decker bus tour and other attractions including On Location’s Sex and the City Tour, NY TV and Movie Sites Tour, a Biking Tour of Central Park and a shopping tour of SOHO. The pass also offers a multilingual city tour given in Spanish, German, Italian and French. See the full list here.
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June 26th, 2009 by admin
Of course the perfect warm spring day or crisp November weather can make a great trip to New York City even better. But because so much of the city revolves around indoor activities, bad weather does not have to mean a bad time.
First piece of advice: try to stick to public transport, and ideally the Subway. Despite the fact public transport gets crowded in bad weather, it is still beats fighting for a cab. Many attractions are located near subway stops — and sometimes you can connect to your destination with out stepping out into the weather.
Second piece of advice: if you have kids along, try to go to places with plenty to do. Getting from point A to point B is going to be the worst part of coping with the bad weather, so try to mimimize that part of your day.
A great example of a kid friendly place with plenty to do is The American Museum of Natural History. Located on the West Side at 79th Street and Central Park West (there is a stop at 81st street right next to the museum and the 1 train stops two blocks away on 79th), the museum has a famous collection of stuffed animals grouped by their continent of origin. These animals are displayed in dioramas that have been a favorite for New Yorkers and visitors alike for decades. The dinosaur collection is another long time favorite that will delight any dinosaur fan.
Also at the Museum of Natural History is the Rose Center for Earth & Space and the Hayden Planetarium. These have been a top draw for the museum ever since they first opened in 2000. One word of caution: the Museum of Natural History is a favorite escape for local New Yorkers to let their kids get out of the apartment on rainy days – so go early if you want to get a jump on the crowds.
On the other side of Central Park is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. One of the top museums in the world, the Met has something for everyone — kids included. The museum covers 5,000 years of culture. At the Met, art is not just something that hangs on walls. For example, the collection of arms and armor is among the best in the world, with mounted knights on display giving a sense of what it would have been like to see one of these medieval tanks headed your way.
The Met’s Egyptian galleries not only have a wide range of artifacts — including a large number of mummies – but also boasts an entire temple: the The Temple of Dendur. Saved from the rising waters of the Nile’s Aswan Dam, the temple was taken apart and transported to its new home inside a dedicated space in the Met.
Even if armour or Egypt are not your things, the Met probably has something for you. American Painting, Medieval religious art, Asian art, Greek and Roman artifacts, Islamic Art, Byzantine artifacts – the list goes on. And the displays often use architectural elements from the period that give the visitor a sense of actually being there. Even though the Met is probably New York’s most visited attraction, it never feels quite as crowded as the Natural History Museum, but if you are with kids you will feel a need to keep a slightly tighter rein on them at the Met than at the NHM.
If you are looking for something a little less overwhelming than the Met, the Brooklyn Museum of Art is well worth the trip and it has it’s own subway stop. Like the Met, it covers a vast sweep of history with a great breadth and variety of exhibits. The Brooklyn Museum is ideal if you are in the mood for sampling a lot of things vs going deeply into a number of topics (something the Met is ideal for). That said, the BMA is still one of the largest museums in the U.S., so it passes the test of being able to keep you entertained and out of the weather for a while. And if the weather does clear, the adjoining Botanic Garden is a nice addition to your visit.
The New York Explorer Pass features all of these sights — and lets you skip the line at the Met — and many more options for both rain and shine. No matter what the weather does, you can save money on the best things to do in New York. See the full list of included attractions, as well as the dinning and shopping discounts that come with the pass.
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June 10th, 2009 by admin
Say “New York” to many people, and the images that come to mind are entirely from a relatively tiny slice of this sprawling and diverse city. But there is a lot more to New York than Manhattan. One area that a growing number of visitors are discovering is Brooklyn.
For sometime now native New Yorkers have been enjoying the continuing renaissance of this storied part of the city. Even Manhattanites are embracing what Brooklyn residents have known all along: Brooklyn has something for almost anyone. Increasingly out-of-town visitors are following along to experience the many wonderful sights (and tastes) of Manhattan’s most accessiable neighbor.
New York is nothing without its neighborhoods, and this is as true in Brooklyn as anywhere else. Featuring the picturesque row-houses of Brooklyn Heights, the vibrant DUMBO neighboorhood along the river with its fun and funky bars and restaurants (and some of the best pizza in the city), the posh Park Slope area, the Russian ambiance of Brighton Beach, Williamsburg’s art scene, not to mention Coney Island (hot dog anyone?), Brooklyn is — as Borough President Marty Markowitz says – ”a must-visit for tourists looking for a hip, historic, authentic and diverse experience.”
A personal favorite is the Brooklyn Museum. With a wonderful collection of art and artifacts from around the world and across eras, this museum lets the visitor sample a wide variety without overwhelming with any one theme. And the adjoining Botanic Garden is a beautiful spot to take a break from the hustle of the City. The museum has a number of good restaurants in the area and is just a short subway ride from Manhattan (and has its own stop) or on weekends grab the free shuttle from Manhattan.
Another thing worth checking out is a Chassidic Walking Tour in the Crown Heights neighborhood. You’ll get to experience a slice of New York that is both iconic and a bit off the beaten path (plus get a free deli lunch in the process). There is a great video available on the Chassidic Welcome Center’s site to give you a sense of what you’ll experience on the tour.
If you are going to New York, definitely add Brooklyn to your visit. It is easy to get to — just walk across the historic Brooklyn Bridge (with great views of the City and the River) or take your pick from many of the subway lines to get you into any and all of the neighborhoods. A New York Explorer Pass covers a number of the top things to do in Brooklyn, including those mentioned above, as well as a bike tour of the waterfront and key bridges or a City Sights bus tour of the Borough.
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March 3rd, 2009 by admin
The Great White Way is going pedestrian only — or at least parts of it are. In an effort to eliminate traffic snarls caused by Broadway’s diagonal bisection of midtown Manhattan’s grid layout, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is shutting down key sections of the street and turning it into a pedestrian zone.
The shut-down begins on Memorial Day and is planned to run through the end of 2009 — and perhaps become permanent thereafter if all goes well. For the heavily congested Time Square area, this will be a blessing for visitors on foot. Navigating over-crowded Broadway sidewalks in Times Square between 42nd and 47th streets will soon be a much easier proposition. Similarly, Herald Square further South (the area around 34th Street) will also be reserved for pedestrians.
The city is not stopping at simply shutting the streets and taking down the railings. It further plans to add benches and tables to allow people to enjoy their new found elbow room.
So starting the Memorial Day, enjoy the extra room and take your New York City Explorer Pass along for the walk as you visit a number of attractions that will be in or adjacent to the new pedestrian zone such as Madame Tussauds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and a tour of Madison Square Garden. To see the Department of Transportation’s graphics of what the changes will look like, go to their site for links to images for both Times Square and Herald Square.
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December 2nd, 2008 by admin
This December 3rd will see the traditional lighting of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. 2008 marks the 76th annual lighting of the famous tree which is hand selected to ensure the proper shape and quality of the 65 foot (or higher) tree. This year the ceremony will run from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm and typical involves appearances by celebrities and a variety of musical acts.
The setting is spectacular with Rockefeller Plaza all decked out for the Holidays, including the world famous skating Rink at Rockefeller Center. While the ice gets pretty banged up, its an amazing experience to skate in front of a crowd of onlookers with the tree in the background. If you miss the Tree Lighting Ceremony itself don’t worry, a tree that big tends to stick around for a while. This Holiday you will be able to see the tree until January 9th, 2009.
It is illuminated each day from dawn until well into the night (5:30 am until 11:30 pm), so there are plenty of opportunities to get just the right photo – although it does get crowded, so you may want to drop off any shopping bags at your hotel before you go. While you wait for it to get dark to see the tree lights at full effect, use your NY Explorer Pass to visit sights in the surrounding area like the Top of the Rock Observation Deck or take the Rockefeller Center Tour.
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April 18th, 2008 by susan j
Union Square Greenmarket photo uploaded by
Now that the weather finally is warming up, a visit to one of New York City’s greenmarkets is the perfect way to explore the city’s neighborhoods. You’ll find organic produce, farm fresh dairy, and homemade goods. Several of NYC’s outdoor markets, including Union Square Greenmarket, operate year-round, but others (like the Borough Hall Greenmarket and Sunnyside and Astoria Greenmarket) are open seasonally.
In celebration of National Garden Month, you can also stop by the 2008 NYC Grow Garden Festival in Union Square Park on April 27 for more on local produce and gardening.
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March 21st, 2008 by jamie a
Tulips in Washington Square Park Photo uploaded by
Now that Spring’s right around the corner, we’re pleased to announce the re-opening of seasonal attractions in the Big Apple! It’s a great time of year to get out and explore the city when the robins are just starting to hop around Central Park and riding on the outer deck of the Ellis Island Ferry isn’t too, too cold.
First off, check out the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from the ferry that leaves from Battery Park. The ride is a great way to see the city from a different angle and it takes you right to the Immigration Museum where you can trace your ancestors who may have come through the ports in New York.
There’s also the Central Park Movie Sights Tour, a two-hour walking tour that covers spots like the Boathouse Cafe from When Harry Met Sally, the Bandshell from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the Bethesda Fountain recently seen in Enchanted. Indulge in your girly side with the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour, where you can see over 40 locations used in the filming of the hit HBO show.
For the more active set, there’s Bike & Roll rentals, offering bicycles for rides all over the city. You can even take a Central Park or Brooklyn Bridge tour for a guided ride.
Happy Spring!
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March 14th, 2008 by jamie a
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Photo uploaded by
Celebrate the upcoming spring season and get out there for ! From the world’s largest parade to authentic pubs serving up the best Irish brews, everyone can have a for the holiday, Irish or not.
To experience the true meaning of Saint Patty’s day in the city, the parade is a must-see. The largest parade marches right up 5th Avenue and generally attracts more than 100,000 participants. If you’d like a smaller celebration, all five boroughs have parades, so there’s certainly more to see.
To learn about the Irish heritage of the city, be sure and book a tour with Big Onion Walking Tours’ Irish New York. Get to know “Little Ireland’ on the Lower East Side and appreciate the impact that Irish immigrants had in making the city what it is today. Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and the Irish Arts Center will also be offering themed concerts so you can get your fill of Irish tunes & entertainment.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to all our readers!
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