365 Things To Do In NYC

51. McSorley’s Old Ale House

2011-03-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

In the spirit of St. Patrick’s day I’ve chosen to write about an “old” old fashioned Irish pub. McSorley’s Old Ale House certainly fits the mold.

They are old!

They are Irish!

They are Pub?

McSorley’s Old Ale House was born in 1854, and it looks it. You can examine the history on the walls. They are plastered with it.

If you are curious about McSorley’s Old Ale House you can take a virtual tour on their website.

15 East 7th Street
New York, NY 10003
212.474.9148

50. The Met Opera House

2011-02-28T16:45:00.000-05:00

If music is on your palette for the evening, why not go to the opera? If you are a fan of opera, the Met is known as being one of the absolute best things to do in NYC. If you aren’t a fan of opera… well maybe it’s time you try something new.

History of the Met

The Metropolitan Opera House was formed a long time ago, 1880 in fact, but the first performances were not seen until 1883. That’s three years of preparation for the first show folks. I hope it was a good one. It must have been.

The Met ran relatively unopposed until the Manhattan showed up on the scene in 1906. This feud lasted only four years and it was back to being the premier opera house in New York.

During the great depression performances were as steady as ever, even though the population lacked the coin to go.

After Pearl Harbor, the Met dropped acts like Madame Butterfly in favor of the war effort.

Since then, the Metropolitan Opera has run relatively steadily until today.

You can find a schedule of shows on the Metropolitan Opera House’s website.

Photo Credit

49. Spiderman on Broadway

2011-01-26T10:26:00.000-05:00

If you are a comic book aficionado, have young boys, or just like the Spiderman movies you might be pleased to learn that Spiderman on Broadway is now playing at Foxwoods Theatre.

Since it has just started playing, there are not an abundance of critic reviews to hear from. But the ones that have seen it have been raving about it. Some have even said that it will be the next Phantom of the Opera. With such high praise, it might eventually even become a movie (joking of course).

Spiderman is said to have some of the most spectacular special effects ever to be seen on the stage. In fact, there is no stage. You, in the audience, are part of the set. You can witness Spiderman flying above you in pure acrobatic style. It’s truly a sight to behold.

This week’s show times are as follows:

Tuesday 8:00PM
Wednesday 2:00PM 8:00PM
Thursday 8:00PM
Friday 8:00PM
Saturday 2:00PM 8:00PM
Sunday 3:00PM

Foxwoods Theatre
213 West 42nd Street
New York, NY,

48. The U.S. Open

2010-08-30T18:40:00.000-04:00

If you are even mildly interested in professional tennis then you know that the U.S. Open is one of the biggest tennis tournaments throughout the year, and it’s held in New York City. Every year the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center is packed with addicted fans as the greatest tennis players battle for a place in history.

The U.S. Open is one the Grand Slam tournaments along with the French Open, Australian open, and of course Wimbledon. If you are in New York around the end of August or the beginning of September you should make it a point to pick up a couple of tickets to see some of the most aggressive tennis of the year.

This year’s tournament starts on August 30^th and ends on September 12^th. This leaves plenty of time to schedule in a tennis match into your schedule.

You can learn more about the US open by visiting the official website of the tournament.

Photo provided by Edwin Martinez

47. Ellis Island

2010-07-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

New York wouldn’t be New York without Ellis Island. Even though you may have to fight through the droves of tourists, it can be a great experience to learn exactly when your ancestors came to America and where they came from.

If you don’t want to take the time to visit the island, but are still interested in your heritage, you can learn about your ancestors through their website. You do need to sign up to view details about your great great grandparents, but it’s free. All you have to do is fill in some simple information and guesstimate when they were born and blammo, you get info about people who share your name. Check it out.

Photo provided by: kcdsTM

46. Catch a Brooklyn Cyclones Game

2010-07-13T08:35:00.001-04:00

Sometimes it’s best to forget about the worries of a major league game and drop in on the minors. As it turns out, a minor league game can turn into major fun (please excuse the pun). This can be a great way to get out with the family and relax.

Tickets generally run between $8.00 and $16.00 (depending on where you want to sit), but you can get discounts for buying group tickets. Oh, and kids under three years old get in free.

The Brooklyn Cyclones play all summer, starting on June 15^th, so check out their schedule.

The Cyclones play their home games at MCU Park, which is located on Coney Island for those who are unfamiliar.

Photo provided by: Duluos Cats

45. Sip and Sail at the South Street Seaport

2010-07-10T09:05:00.001-04:00

On select Thursday evenings throughout the summer, you can have the pleasure of taking part in the South Street Seaport Sip and Sail event. You probably get the idea from the title, but you are basically taking a leisurely sail while eating snacks and sipping wine.

This event requires a reservation, so don’t just show up thirsty.

It costs $55 for members and $65 for non-members

Dates:

Thursday June 3, 17 & 24
Thursday July 1, 8, 22 & 29
Thursday August 5, 12, 19 & 26
7-9pm

Location:

Schooner Pioneer, Pier 16

Photo Provided by: g-hat

44. Pick Your Favorite NY Beach

2010-07-06T10:02:00.001-04:00

There is an abundance of beaches near NYC. Choosing just one of them can be hard, but rather than limit this post to one beach I decided to make a list. So here it is.

Brighton Beach

It’s only a few steps away from Coney Island so you could mix you beach day with a Coney Island Day if you wish. It’s known for its clean, soft sand.

Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach is located in Queens and actually has a song named after it by the Ramones. If this doesn’t make you want to spend a day there… well that’s understandable.

Centerport Beach

You can go here, but it will cost you $15 to get in if you are not a Huntington resident.

Long Beach

This is a general favorite of most people. There is free parking around the beach, though it will cost you $6 to get in.

Cooper Beach

This beach is open to residents only.

Coney Island Beach

Maybe it’s just me, but I almost expect to see people dressed in black and white full body bathing suites from those old silent films about Coney Island here. Other than that while you are on this beach, make sure you check out The Original Nathan’s Hotdog Stand.

Jones Beach

Parking will cost you $7 a day, or $49 per season if you plan on going more than 7 times.

Manhattan Beach

You are only going to get here by car, so if you don’t have one, move on to the next beach. It’s a great beach for people watching.

Orchard Beach

It’s the only beach in the Bronx, and it’s a nude beach. Who cares about the sand, water, or anything else. It’s a nude beach people.

NYC beach photo provided by: Amanda M. Hatfield

43. Spend a Day in Chinatown

2010-07-05T11:48:00.001-04:00

Spend a day touring Canal Street and experiencing the far eastern culture. You can spend your day perusing the Chinese clothing, décor, and food. This is about as close to China as you are going to get in the United States.

When it comes to food, you are going to have the pick of the litter to choose from. In fact, 10best.com has compiled a list of the 10 best Chinatown restaurants to eat at. Here are the top two.

Number 1

Grand Sichuan
125 Canal St
At Chrystie St
New York, NY 10002

Number 2

Joe’s Shanghai
9 Pell St
New York, NY 10013

You can see the rest of the list here.

Of the many cultural things to do in NYC, Chinatown should be on the top of your list. You can get lost for a day, or weekend, in the streets of Chinatown. Enjoy!

Photo provided by: Anjci

42. NYC 4th of July Events

2010-06-30T13:53:00.001-04:00

Well, it’s that time of year again. You know; sparklers, American flags, alcohol, and bombs bursting in air. But where are you going to do all of that? NYC offers several different venues for your 4^th of July entertainment needs. Without further ado…

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks

This year’s theme will be the history of American music played by the New York Pops orchestra. You can listen to your musical ancestry while watching the display. The show starts about 9:15 and you will have a good view of the fireworks that are scheduled to be launched above the Hudson river.

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Why listen to beautifully played music and watch a dazzling display of pyrotechnics when you can gorge yourself on processed meat. That’s right, hotdogs. If you want to partake in the gluttony, you should plan to arrive at the contest on Coney Island at 11:00 AM. Maybe, if you are lucky, the food coma will wear off before the fireworks start.

Family Fireworks Lunch Cruise

Or you can take a relaxing lunch cruise for a mere 45.90. It’s all you can eat, so you better eat a lot for that price. Luckily they have alcohol so you can forget the price after a little while. You can learn more about the cruise here.

Photo provided by Magnifynet.

41. HBO Bryant Park Film Summer Film Festival

2010-06-29T09:48:00.002-04:00

If you are looking for something to do every Monday evening in the summer, and you are a movie fan, you should check out the Bryant Park Film Festival. Every Monday from June 21^st until August 23 there will be a showing of a different classic film. Some of these you have surely seen before and some of them you may not. Why not catch a movie after work?

The lawn opens up at 5:00 PM and the movies generally start showing between 8:00 and 9:00. It is best to get there early to insure that you are able to get a seat.

Here is the schedule:

Monday July 5:
The French Connection

Monday July 12
My Man Godfrey

Monday July 19
The China Syndrome

Monday July 26
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (my personal favorite)

The movies show through the rest of August as well. You can find the complete list of movies here.

The photo was provided by Cirofono.

40. Shakespeare in the Park

2010-06-27T11:00:00.001-04:00

We have already done a post on Central Park in general, but this deserves a mention of its own. Shakespeare in the park is an event that goes on throughout the summer in Central Park. This year the performers will be doing The Winter’s Tale and the Merchant of Venice. You might be surprised to learn that Al Pacino will be acting in The Merchant of Venice.

You can come down and see a free play (if you can get tickets). Since the tickets are free they are in fairly high demand. You will either have to get them by standing in line at Central Park, get them online (chosen randomly), or buy them. If you make a sizable donation to Shakespeare in the Park you can reserve some tickets.

If you can land the tickets, Shakespeare in the Park is one of the most highly regarded things to do in NYC. It’s free and you may walk away with a bit of culture when it is over.

39. The Bang on a Can Marathon

2010-06-26T10:01:00.001-04:00

The annual Bang on a Can Marathon is taking place this Sunday, June 27^th at Noon and is scheduled to last until midnight. If you care to stop by the World Financial Center Winter Garden you can partake in the twelve hour musical event.

The festival, beginning with John Hollenbeck and ending with Kambar Kalendarov & Kutman Sultanbekov (say that ten times fast), is a continuation of a 23 year tradition. The marathon started in 1987 and is still going strong today.

For those who are wondering about the price, it’s free. Not many things you can say that about these days. You can entertain the family (or a date) for no admission cost at all. If you decide to show, you will be witness to some of the world’s foremost composers debuting some of their latest works.

The Bang on the Can Marathon will be a nice way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon/evening/night.

Enjoy!

You can learn more about the marathon at this website.

38. The Old Homestead Steakhouse

2010-06-21T15:38:00.002-04:00

If you are in the mood for a bit of the country during your city travels, you may want to stop by The Old Homestead Steakhouse. The steakhouse will provide you with a country style atmosphere and drown your taste buds in some of the most mouth watering meals you will ever have.

Only good restaurants are afforded the convenience of longevity. This one has been around since 1868, just after the end of the civil war.

If you are in the mood for beef, this is the place to go. They mention on their website that they specialize in the four major food groups; Beef, Beef, Beef, and Beef.

The Old Homestead Steakhouse will also take care of you on your big day. Whether you are looking for a place for you bridal shower or bachelor party, you can celebrate in style.

You can learn more about your potential dining experience by visiting their website.

Location:
56 9th Avenue

Phone:
(212) 242-9040

37. Queens Botanical Garden

2010-06-06T13:55:00.000-04:00

If you are a friend of all things living, or just care to find beauty in nature, the Queens Botanical Garden might be a feast for your senses. The garden is stuffed in the center of a dense urban cement landscape which makes it look almost like a colorful picture on a bland wall. You can find the beauty of nature inside one of the most commercialized cities in the world.

You can visit this quiet and beautiful oasis for a small admission. It only costs $4 for adults and $2 for students and kids. Children under 3 get in for free.

The Queens Botanical Garden farmers’ market starts on July 2 if you are interested in supporting the local farmers. You won’t find more delectable items for better prices than you will at the market. It runs from July to November.

The botanical garden has extended summer hours:

Monday - Closed
Tuesday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm
Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 6 pm

You can learn more about the Queens Botanical Garden by visiting their website.

36. Pacha

2010-05-21T13:50:00.000-04:00

It’s the European crème de la crème of night clubs, and it has invaded New York. In just two years Pacha New York has become one of the premier night clubs in a city obsessed with the work hard and play hard concept. At Pacha, you sure can play hard.

You may need to surgically weld your mouth shut to avoid the inevitable slack jawed yokel effect if this is your first time. You will be blown away by the music, and more importantly, the eye candy. The clientele is nothing less than gorgeous. So gorgeous in fact, you may be tempted to “forget” to wear that wedding band.

Pacha is debauchery for your ears, eyes, and potentially elsewhere on your body. Cold showers are a definite after a night at Pacha. Whether you are alone in that shower is not definite.

There is an ongoing calendar of talent at the club, and you can pick your poison here.

35. Coney Island

2010-05-19T12:08:00.001-04:00

Coney Island is an amusement park, resort, museum, and sideshow rolled into one.

The history of the island is absolutely fascinating. Its beginnings date back to the late 17^th century, but we’ll skip ahead to when it became an amusement park in 1876 when the first carousel was built. Coney Island was the foremost resort and amusement park in the country from the time it was built until shortly after World War II. Due to loss of popularity, the island suffered years of disuse and neglect, making the resurgence of the island inspiring.

Today you can visit Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and enjoy the many rides and attractions that a modern amusement park offers.

There are many other things to do on Coney Island. The summer is filled with a string of events ranging in taste. Not everything is for everyone. You can find future events here.

Some of the upcoming events are:

You can partake in the Island’s burlesque scene dubbed “Burlesque at the Beach”. This occurs on Friday May 21.

On Saturday, May 22 you can take in a sideshow gawk at Donny Vomit and the gang.

There are plenty of different events throughout the summer that you can amuse yourself with.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonythemisfit/ / CC BY 2.0

34. Daniel’s Bagels

2010-05-13T14:05:00.001-04:00

So you wake up in the morning craving a doughy circular piece of bread, but that just won’t do it. It has to have a whole in it too. One of the quintessential American breakfast foods is the bagel. Let’s face it. Sometimes doughnuts are just too sweet. You need something with a little more substance and a little less flash. Naturally the only place to get a bagel would be from one of the best bagel shops in town. That statement brings us to Daniel’s Bagels.

If you want your bagels toasted, don’t go to Daniel’s. They won’t do it. There is much debate about whether a bagel should be toasted or not, and Daniel’s is under the belief that it should not. That being said, the bagels have no need of being toasted. Leave your toasting desires at home on the morning you wish to sample Daniel’s bagels and you will pleasantly surprised.

Don’t feel like getting out of bed today? You can just have the bagels delivered to you if you wish. There is a stipulation with this. You have to order $12 worth of bagels to warrant a delivery. It makes sense. The cost to the company of delivering just one bagel would be insane. Think about it this way. You can have a pretty good supply of bagels for the rest of the week, or rest of the day if gluttony is on your schedule.

Check out their website for more info.

Location

569 3rd Ave
(212) 972-9733

Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mccun934/ / CC BY 2.0

33. Ripley’s Believe It or Not

2010-05-10T15:32:00.001-04:00

Sadly, at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum of oddities in Times Square, you are not greeted by Dean Cain. If you are in the mood for some of the weirdest things in the world, you should check out the “odditorium”.

For those who don’t know anything about Ripley’s, it is a collection of some of the strangest things imaginable. The museum is a stationary international freak show. There are routine performers including sword swallowing and currently a guy who shoves nails into his nose. Told ya it was weird.

Good news for those who wish to visit the Odditorium, it’s open 365 days per year and is open from 9 AM to 1 AM.

Bring a camera to Ripley’s, they encourage it. You should capture all of these strange moments on film. You can show them off to your disgusted friends.

They even have a souvenir shop so you may be able to have your own collection of shrunken heads.

You can find out more at the official Ripley’s Believe it or not site.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaymonster/ / CC BY 2.0

32. Chelsea Piers

2010-05-07T16:16:00.000-04:00

So, what can you do at Chelsea Piers? What can’t you do at Chelsea Piers? Instead of the usual paragraph form for this post, I think a list is in order.

Chelsea Piers Sports - For most of the activities listed there are training for the kiddos and games for adults. Check out the official website for complete information on each activity.

Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Boxing
Dance
Fitness Classes
Gymnastics
Golf
Ice Hockey
Rock Climbing
Sailing
Ice Skating
Running
Soccer

I’m tired just from writing all those.

For those who don’t know, Chelsea Piers is 28 Acres of fun on the New York waterfront. You can join various clubs including a golf club and a health club.

Chelsea Piers also hosts events. The Swing into Spring – Charity Golf Extravaganza is actually being held next Friday May 14. Also next Friday is Fight for the Troops. You can watch some amateur boxing matches and the proceeds go to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes fund. It’s a day of charity all around at the Chelsea Piers.

Location:

Pier 62
Chelsea Piers, New York, NY
(212) 336-6500

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/ / CC BY 2.0

31. Cupcake Café

2010-05-06T15:00:00.001-04:00

In the mood for something sweet? Who isn’t? A cappuccino and a cupcake could be the perfect way to start a morning. Maybe you just want to stop in for a mid-day pick me up that is sure to brighten the darkest of days.

Having a cupcake is more fun than just grabbing a cookie. It brings a bit of festivity to the occasion, like remembering your 6^th birthday, your new bike, and the cupcakes your Aunt Sharon made. Except Aunt Sharon’s got nothing on these cupcakes. The range of flavors is bound to make you drool in anticipation. Nothing’s better to wash down these sweet and creamy treats than with a cup of cold milk, or coffee if that’s your poison.

Cupcake Café doesn’t only make cupcakes. They also serve donuts and can make full-sized cakes for your special occasion. Some of their designs are pretty off the wall. Check them out here.

Going to Cupcake café is truly one of the sweetest things to do in NYC.

Cupcake Café has two locations and both of those locations have different hours:

18 West 18th Street New York
(212) 465-1530
MONDAY - SATURDAY: 9 - 8
SUNDAY: 9 - 7

545 9th Avenue, New York
(212) 268-9975
MONDAY - SATURDAY: 8 - 7
SUNDAY: 9 – 7

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moriza/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

30. Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-05T15:07:00.002-04:00

Well it’s Cinco de Mayo and I thought that there should be a post specific to that. There are several things to do in NYC today, and I figured I would try and make a list of them.

Gonzalez Y Gonzalez

Gonzalez Y Gonzalez is having what they call the best Cinco De Mayo fiesta. You can listen to a Mariachi band and a Salsa band.

625 Broadway, New York, NY, 10012

Rosa Mexicano

You can take your kids to Rosa Mexicano to eat and participate in some kid-friendly activities including learning to make your own guacamole.

Cinco de Mayo Pub Crawl

You can still take part in the Cinco de Mayo pub crawl if lots and lots of cheap drinks are what you are looking for. Learn more about the crawl here.

Water Taxi Beach

We mentioned in our previous post about South Street Seaport that the Water taxi beach was open and you could get some cheap margaritas there on Cinco de Mayo.

Ride the Bull

You can ride the bull at Johnny Utah’s, or just watch other people do it. For some reason I think the latter might be more fun.

Dos Caminos

Maybe you are in the mood for some authentic Mexican dining. Check out Dos Caminos.

Check this site out for great deals on Restaurant Gift Cards.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylemay/ / CC BY 2.0

29. South Street Seaport

2010-05-03T17:14:00.001-04:00

South Street Seaport is known primarily for its shopping and dining, but it is more than that. The seaport was built in 1967 and designed to represent New York in the 1800s. The not-so-tall tall buildings and cobblestone roads will make you think you are in a time not so long ago, but only for a second.

There are many different things to do at South Street Seaport, but instead of listing the shops and restaurants, let’s focus on some of the extraordinary attractions and events.

Water Taxi Beach

The beach just opened up last week on April 30^th so it’s about time to get some sun. The beach offers recreation like miniature golf, volleyball, or a ride on The Shark or New York Water Taxi. After dark, you can listen to live music, DJs and drink.

Bodies

If you are in for a bit of the macabre, you can check out the bodies exhibit. These are real humans who have donated their bodies to science and have been dissected and put on show for you all to see. This can be a bit much for some. The sheer realization that it used to be a living person you are staring at. Check out the official Bodies Website if you are unsure.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

It’s only two days away, and you can celebrate Cinco de Mayo at South Street Seaport. What’s not to love about two dollar margaritas at Clipper City?

You can learn more about South Street Seaport here.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanggo/ / CC BY 2.0

28. Tribeca Film Festival

2010-04-30T14:15:00.001-04:00

There are only a few days left of the Tribeca Film Festival so you might want to head down to lower Manhattan and check it out.

The Tribeca Film Festival was created soon after the events of 9/11 as a way to rebound from the crisis.

There are over 150 films being showcased there and you are sure to find something that suits your interests. Whether you are into the big blockbuster movies, foreign films, or short documentaries, you will find them in all shapes and sizes at the festival.

The festival ends on Sunday so if you are interested you better get a move on.

Check this website out to see what movies are playing at the festival over the weekend.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuttlefish/ / CC BY 2.0

27. Jefferson Market Garden

2010-04-29T10:33:00.001-04:00

Within Greenwich village lies Jefferson Market Garden. Originally the garden, as you may have guessed, was a market. The market was then leveled, and a courthouse was built. When it came time to tear down the courthouse, there was such an uproar that they decided to convert it into a library and the surrounding area a garden. Now you can spend your day in botanical bliss at Jefferson Market Garden.

There are year round events in the garden. In May there is the festival of flowers which is popular with the kiddos. In the summer you can enjoy free music on Wednesday evenings. And in the fall you can take part in the October harvest festival which includes pumpkin painting and treats.

You can learn more about the events and festivals at the garden on their website.

The garden is open on afternoons, except for Monday, weather permitting between May and October.

The May Children’s Festival of Flowers is on May 15^th 11AM to 2PM.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/ / CC BY 2.0