We’re already planning on seeing at least one show while there, and neither of us drink or enjoy social dancing very much (unless it’s swing dancing - hmmm, there’s a thought). She’s been to NYC many times but it’s my first - woo hooo! As she usually goes to plays and musicals, she doesn’t really know of any other activities.
There must be something else to do there. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.
Tragically, there is NOTHING to do in New York after dark. Nothing. Real bedroom community – place just dies after 8:00. Best you can hope for is sitting on the curb in front of a 7-11 eating concealed nachos and a slurpee. Sad really…
It’s been a while, but how about a concert? Besides Lincoln Center, there are plenty of places where the music is more important than the drinks.
You could probably stretch out a good dinner farirly long. I don’t know for sure, but I suspect some art galleries would be open at night. Ditto some museums, at least some nights. Just walking around isn’t bad either.
When I was in college, a bunch of people from our floor came to visit me and someone else who lived in Astoria. We spent one night driving through all five boroughs, including taking the ferry.
If you can’t find something in the pages and pages of listings in the magazines, you might as well hang it up.
What about Times Square, surely there must be something interesting to see there. Can you still go to the top of the Empire State Building after dark? I don’t know but just throwing out some thoughts.
Just go down to Greenwich Village or the Upper West Side and walk, walk, walk. Absorb the atmosphere.
I know the Metropolitian Museum of Art has live classical music and a wine bar on its balcony on Friday and Saturday nights, that’s a classy thing to do. The new planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History has some great night laser shows.
Some off-Broadway shows have late showings on Friday and/or Saturday; MINISTRY OF PROGRESS was pretty good at the Jane Street Theater.
Bowlmor Lanes on 13th St. and University place has night bowling where they bring out the pins and balls that glow in the dark!!
When you get there, grab a copy of ‘Time Out NY’, a magazine that has comprehensive listings for all ages and money levels.
Drinking coffee, playing board games in E. Village cafes… walk down St. Mark’s… there are quite a few. Excellent people watching, try not to stare.
Also, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe… as the name suggests, live poetry every night: http://www.nuyorican.org/
Italian pastries at Veneiro’s, 11th street and First Ave. They have a sit down cafe as well as a take-out counter. I strongly suggest a slice of the Torta di Mandorle – a yellow layer cake with apricot jam and a thick layer of marzipan piped over it. Nummy with capuccino to cut the sweetness. Open till Midnight weekdays, 1am weekends. http://www.venierospastry.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?page=home.html&cart_id=
The ESB is open until 11 or 11:30 at night. Buy your tix before you go, and skip the lines.
The Staten Island ferry is a great way to see the Statue of Liberty, although I’ve never tried swinging by at night. I should wander down to Battery Park and see if they light up the lady.
Times square has a Ferris wheel-- in Toys R Us, which I’m sure is open late.
There’s a driving range at Chelsea Piers… Aim your tees at Hoboken and swing away!
You could enjoy the wackiness of eating dinner at a restaurant at 11:00 pm (or 2 am).
Grab a hot dog at Griff Dog’s on St Marks (and A I think). They’re open until 4am.
Oh, goodness gracious. One thing to look into: several of the museums are open late one night a week. The Met, for instance, is open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and often there’s music playing in the great hall, too - typically jazz or classical. If there’s a museum you’re especially interested in, check its website. Do bear in mind that some of the museum charge reduced/free admission for those late hours, so they can be a bit of a zoo. But a fun one.
Late April is a terrific time to come to New York, because you’ve got a good chance for decent weather. If it’s warm and dry, there are lots of outdoor activities that are perfectly safe - such as a walk along the Hudson River or, better still, up the Promenade in Brooklyn and over the Brooklyn Bridge, with its incomparable views of downtown. Or, hell’s bells, Central Park, although be sensible and stay where it’s lit.
If you’re interested in lectures or talks, take a look at the calendar for 92nd St. YM-YWHA, which on April 28 alone hosts a lecture on freedom by Fareed Zakaria, three distinguished law professors discussing the future of an independent judiciary, and a jazz concert. Grab a copy of the Village Voice (free in Manhattan and fresh on Tuesdays), whose listings include all sorts of events. Looking for cheaper arts events? Take a look at what Julliard has on offer. The New York City Opera is also a more-economical, if not outright cheap, alternative.
