The Paley Center Reopens
The Paley Center for Media is an NYC cultural icon, covering TV, radio, and emerging platforms. Closed since the onset of the pandemic, it has just cut the ribbon on reopening, decked out for the season with holiday tradition PaleyLand. Four floors of exhibits run from photo ops with Santa to a stunning seven-foot menorah, picking up sneak preview screenings, star appearances, video games, demos with a LEGOMasters contestant, and the winter wonderland that is The Paley Express. PaleyLand is open from noon-6pm WednesdayFriday and 11am6pm Saturdays and Sundays until January 6th.
Cool Things To Do At Night In Nyc Brooklyn
House of Yes
You want to dance it up? Then, the House of Yes is your next stop! A unique entertainment venue that invites artists, amateur dancers, and the curious to attend a night full of adventure.
Its not for the faint of heart since many nights easily become more and more scurrilous as the night draws on just a warning but its still a lot of fun .
Have a dine-in movie experience at Nitehawk
The Nitehawk, located in Williamsburg, is a wonderful place to combine two great loves: Food and movies. They show the rather unusual, as well as independent and classic movies, often in the horror genre.
Meanwhile, you can enjoy a juicy burger while sitting back and watching the big screen. They also host midnight screenings and their brunch seating often showcases movies from the 80s. Watch out for a screening of the hilarious cult film The Room.
Brooklyn Bridge Park walk
If youre lucky, on New Years Eve or 4th of July, you might spot some fireworks from just this vantage point! Otherwise, its just a great night walk, seeing the whole city in all of its glory, lit up brighter than the stars in the sky.
View The Stunning New York Skyline
Now there is the brand new “The Edge” at Hudson Yards.
Each has its own vantage point, as well as different prices of admission, varying wait times, and opening/closing hours.
Read our post which breaks down the pros and cons of each to help you choose which view is right for you.
You can still get incredible views of the city for free.
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This Week’s Behind The Experience Video
The tallest building in the hemisphere. The largest screen. A ride that goes straight up at 23 miles per hour. Behind The Experience learns the secrets of One World Observatory, as well as tips like the best time for a visit. The video joins our recent visits to New York icons the Museum of the City of New York, Madame Tussauds, SPYSCAPE, and Benjamin Steakhouse. CHECK THEM OUTits fun!
Walk Along The Brooklyn Bridge
A close-up view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Perhaps one of the most iconic free things to do in NYC is to take a beyond scenic walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
And that makes sense since this suspension bridge is a total icon that was first built in1869. Its also open twenty-four hours a day and offers visitors stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area.
Just do yourself a favor and go as early as possible since it quickly becomes packed with absent-minded tourists.
Also, watch out for bikers , wear comfy shoes, and start in Brooklyn and then work your way into Manhattan so that you can nab awesome shots of the NYC skyline.
And since youll be in the DUMBO area anyway , dont forget to experience everything this amazing neighborhood has to offer since its easily one of my all-time favorite places in NYC.
Address: Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY 10038
Hours: Open all day, every day.
How to Get There: Take the C train to High Street/Brooklyn Bridge station or the 2/3 train to High Street station and walk to the bridge from there.
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Things To Do In Nyc That Are Completely Free
Posted On Thu, August 23, 2018 By Devin Gannon In City Living, Features, NYC Guides
Despite being one of the most expensive cities to live in, New York City offers many free activities, events, and attractions all year round, letting you pinch pennies when the rent check is due. From free lectures at the Met to free group meditation classes, there are tons of activities that dont cost a dime. To help New York visitors and natives alike, weve put together a guide of the 100 best wallet-friendly things to do in the Big Apple.
Photo by Howard Brier on Flickr
Museums & Monuments
Whether its your first time in New York, or you have lived here all of your life, exploring one of the many museums is a must. However, its not cheap to visit these incredible institutions, with admission costing upwards of $25 at many of them. Thankfully, a lot of museums offer discounted or completely free days once per week or month. And, even better, some offer free admission every day.
17. New York AquariumSurf Avenue & West 8th Street, Coney Island, BrooklynWhat better location for an aquarium than beachfront in Brooklyn? The Coney Island icon, the oldest continually operating aquarium in the U.S., offers pay-what-you-wish on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to closing.
Art Installation & Galleries
A Hells Kitchen staple, Rudys offers free hot dogs with drink purchase. Photo by Alex Guerrero on Flickr
Food & Drink Deals
Photo via Wikimedia
Walking Tours
Outdoor Activities
The National Museum Of The American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian in the historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House.
This totally free museum in lower Manhattan is actually associated with the Smithsonian Museum of the same name in Washington DC.
Sure, its a hell of a lot smaller. But, it sits inside NYCs former customs house from 1907, which features stunning beaux-srt style architecture that is pretty impressive all on its own.
A building that is flanked by four exquisite female sculptures that were created by artist Daniel Chester French in the early 20th century and that represent the continents of Asia, North America, Europe, and Africa.
However. to fully appreciate the complexity and beauty of traditional Native American culture, step inside the buildings central rotunda and explore a wealth of modern galleries with exhibits on Native American culture, art, lifestyles, and traditions.
If you have time, you can also explore the museums incredible permanent collection, which displays a multitude of Native American technologies in the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and a ton of different decorative arts, textiles, and ceremonial objects throughout the remainder of the building.
You can also enjoy live dance and musical performances here, as well as various childrens book readings, craft seminars, film showings, and educational workshops.
Address: 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004
Hours: Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Thursdays until 8:00 pm.
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See The Skyline From The George Washington Bridge
This bridge connects from Upper Manhattan to New Jersey and is one of the main ways people enter New York City it is also the worlds busiest motor vehicle bridge for this reason!
You can access this wheelchair accessible bridge in Washington Heights at one of the several entrances: West 177th or 179th Street and Cabrini Boulevard or from Fort Washington Avenue to West 177th Street for
cyclists.
Because the GWB sits at the top of the city, you can get an amazing view of the rest of Manhattan, which is particularly spectacular to view at night.
The Return Of A Legend
New York restaurants come and go, but Patsys Italian Restaurant is forever. The famed eaterywhich only has one location, right in the heart of Midtown Manhattanturns 77 this year and is only getting better. After a pandemic hiatus, the restaurant is back and better than ever. Chef Sal Scognamillo, owner and operator of Patsys Italian restaurant, is the third generation of Scognamillos to sit at the helm. The Scognamillo recipes at Patsys have remained largely unchanged. Dishes like the stuffed artichoke appetizer, eggplant parmigiana, and spaghetti and meatballs are as rich and flavorful as ever. Ingredients like meats and cheeses are sourced from other family businesses who have worked with Patsys throughout the years so every bite remains true to tradition. Patsys maintains a strong community of repeat customers who know theyll get exceptional cuisine that remains note-perfect year after year. Hours have just expanded to Tuesday through Sunday, 1-9pm. Reservations are available at 212-247-3491 during operating hours or by email at . COVID safety protocols including an air purification system, social distancing, and partitions between tables will be in effect.
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Radio City Music Hall
From new to old, Radio City has been one of the best things to see in New York City at night for years. Its gorgeous purple color radiates out into the NYC night and provides a unique photography opportunity.
If you can catch a show, all the better.
Heres what you need to know:
- For general tickets and to see which comedians, opera singers and artists are playing, heres the official MSG site.
- The Radio City Rockettes perform a wildly popular Christmas Spectacular each year, find tickets here.
A New Immersive Art Experience
Head to the historic boiler room of Chelsea Market to experience the immersive art space ARTECHOUSE. Right now you can catch a reprise of the space’s first installation, Machine Hallucination by Refik Anadol. Anadol is a Turkish artist with a keen interest in using machines for innovative data sculptures and installations. Anadol has created Machine Hallucination with New York architecture in mind. The waves of imagery that envelop visitors are a machine-generated assemblage of 3 million different images of local architecture. The array of images is determined by artificial intelligence and meant to mimic the boundless, multidimensional world of machines. Together, as they roll across the space, these images create an entirely new architectural environment and not a little wonder. Youve never seen art like this before, as room-sized digital projections merge with sound design to create an almost cinematic experience. ARTECHOUSE is located in the 6,000-square-foot boiler room beneath Chelsea Market and is the first tenant in this unique space. The exposed brick walls and terracotta ceilings have been preserved to recall the 100-year-old history of the place while it houses this forward-thinking concept.
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Kayak With The Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse
This company offers free kayaking on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Though the trips are limited to 20 minutes, you can experience a great deal and have a fun time with your weekend, seeing the famous Brooklyn Bridge from a new perspective in your kayak. You will be kayaking near the bridge in the companys protected embayment while having free access to safety gear and everything you will need for your kayak trip.
Relax On A New York Bus Tour
If youve spent the whole day walking and need to take a little break, try a bus tour at night its a great way to get around and save on the walking if youre nearly ready to drop!
On this tour, you can sit back and relax on in between stops at Grand Central Station, Brooklyn Bridge, and more while your guide tells you every little detail you could ever want to know.
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See The Splendor Of Grand Central Station
From its massive celestial ceiling to its secret ‘whispering gallery’, there is no train station like it in the world.
Grand Central also has an amazing history and architectural details and quirks that you can read about in our guide to Grand Central Terminal.
We also cover this information in our audio tour with GPS, though not free, is just $1.99 to download.
Go Birdwatching In Central Park
There are about 230 different species of birds in Central Park, with many paying a visit to the Big Apple to rest and feed during the spring and fall migrations. Bird watching novices can also borrow a free, kid-friendly discovery kit with binoculars, a guidebook, maps, and sketching materials from a Central Park Conservancy visitor center.
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Have Dinner At One World Observatory
The One World Observatory comprises the 100th, 101st, and 102nd floors of One World Trade Center. These floors feature an observation deck and a restaurant. While seeing New York City at night from the observation deck is memorable, getting the same views while you enjoy a meal is even better!
Dining at One World Observatory is also one of the most romantic things to do in NYC. Dishes to order range from burgers and lobster rolls to filet mignon and NY strip steak. You can also choose from a range of craft beers, fine wines, and chic cocktails to accompany your dinner.
Experience Midnight In Paris At Lexpress
LExpress is a French restaurant that doesnt compromise quality no matter what time of day it is.
Whether youre on a date night that you dont want to end or feeling fancy after a night out dancing on a rooftop, LExpress will keep your going with their classic French dishes such as Baked Camembert, Croque Madame, and Steak Tartare.
Head to 259 Park Ave South to see for yourself.
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Map Of Best Things To Do In New York City
Explore the map to find exact locations of everything on this comprehensive list of things to do in NYC.
- Red Top attractions in New York City.
- Light Blue Best free things to do in New York City.
- Green Best things to do in New York City at night.
- Purple Most romantic things to do in New York City.
- Dark Blue Best neighborhoods to explore in New York City.
- Orange Foods to taste in New York City.
A Tall Ship In Brooklyn
The Statsraad Lehmkuhl is Norways oldest and largest square-rigged tall ship. Over the next few weeks, it’s paying a visit to Brooklyn at Brooklyn Bridge Park. There is an Open Ship day on December 27th, free to the public. Learn how this century-old vessel was converted to a state-of-the-art mobile research laboratory with plans to circumnavigate the globe.
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Ice Theatre Of New York
This troupe’s mission is to advance dance on ice as a performance art. See skating in a whole new way as the ITNY continues fall pop up performances. Neighborhood rink shows take place in the coming weeks, as will lunchtime pop up concerts at The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park.
Free Fun Things You Can Do At Night
No matter where you live, you can always find fun things to do for free at night. You may not have all of these options in your town. However, its safe to say you can do many of them.
Make a list of the free things you can do in your town, starting by taking suggestions off of this list. Then grow your list based on options offered in your city or town.
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Cuddle Up With A Good Book Inside An Iconic Building
MidtownThe Rose Main Reading Room, one of the largest and most beautiful interior spaces in NYC, is the perfect place to discover a new book on a rainy day — plus, this historical space is looking pristine as ever after its two-year renovation and reopening in 2016. If you want to learn more about the librarys history, free one-hour tours of the whole building are offered on a first come, first served basis Monday through Saturday at 11am and 2pm, and Sundays at 2pm.
African Burial Ground National Monument
In 1991, construction workers uncovered a burial ground filled more than 400 caskets containing the bodies of enslaved Africans from the 17th and 18th century an age when New York had more slaves than any American city outside Charleston, South Carolina. Today, visitors can tour the African Burial Ground National Monument site and visit the compact visitors center to learn about African-American history in the city.
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Play A Game Of Billiards
If at first you dont succeed try, try, try again.
WILLIAM HICKSON
That is my motto every time I attempt to play billiards.
One day Ill win on my first try, but until I do practice makes perfect.
My friends and I love playing on teams when we go out. Losers have to buy the group a round of shots.
Some of our favorite spots to play are:
A post shared by Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2020 at 9:00am PDT
When in doubt, live music is always a good decision for a night out. The city has tons of different music venues.
Ive seen some amazing concerts while living in the city.
From large venues to small ones The Big Apple offers plenty of options for some live music. Some of my go-to venues to keep an eye on are:
Company XIV in Brooklyn hosts epic baroque burlesque shows. Its a seriously unique NYC experience.
They are all based on either fairy tales or ballets and are nothing short of creative. The shows are popular with locals, and always sell out.
Let The Kids Loose In One Of The Citys Inventive Playgrounds
New York City has no shortage of playgrounds for kids to burn off extra energy, but some are simply cooler than others. At Ancient Playground, next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, kids can explore pyramid-shaped climbers and check out the obelisk and sundial, both inspired by The Mets collection of Egyptian Art. The Imagination Playground at Burling Slip, designed by architect David Rockwell, encourages kids to use their imagination with giant foam blocks, fabric, and crates. Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park features playgrounds like the Sandbox Village where kids can play in little wooden houses in the sand, and the Water Lab, guaranteed to leave them soaking wet and cool on hot summer days in the city.
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