Wondering where to go when class is dismissed? Amp up the curriculum by giving yourself a course in New York culture! Here's the scoop on the city's parks, museums, shopping, shows, and more. Or ask us on Facebook for more ideas on how to entertain yourself in NYC!
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7th Avenue and 27th Street
The Museum at FIT is the only museum in New York City dedicated solely to the art of fashion. With a collection of more than 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present, the truly unique wonder of the museum is Gallery FIT, dedicated to exhibitions of the FIT students. Go check out the competition of other potential up-and-coming designers!
Other must-see museums:
- The MET—be sure to check out the Costume Institute
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street - The MOMA—home of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night
11 W 53rd Street (between 5th and 6th Aves) - The Guggenheim—designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, an architectural landmark
1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street
The High Line
What was built in the 1930s as an elevated freight railroad has been transformed into an elevated park along the lower west side of Manhattan. Thirty-feet above the city, the High Line is unlike any other park. Be sure to check out the 10th Ave. Overlook - a mini-amphitheater with a glass-walled view of traffic below. Entry points along 10th Ave. at 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, and Gansevoort St.
Other must-see downtown stops:
- Chelsea Market - food, art and shopping concourse with excellent bakeries seafood and more
75 9th Ave. (between 15th and 16th St.) - Meatpacking District - sit outside with a bowl of chips and guacamole at Dos Caminos, or grab an old-fashioned milkshake Whitney Port and "The City" style at The Diner: Meatpacking District is full of great eats, and lots of celebrity (and designer) spotting W 14th St. to Gansevoort St., Hudson River E to Hudson St.
- Eataly - an upscale Italian market with the best wine and cheese in town
200 5th Ave
Shopping in SoHo
With a mixture of high-end boutiques and trendy, vintage shops, SoHo is a can't-miss neighborhood. Meander down Broadway and its side streets to splurge at Prada and Marc Jacobs, trend hunt at Topshop and H&M, and scour vintage at Legacy and Amarcord.
Other can't-miss shopping:
- Fifth Avenue - home of Bergdorf Goodman, Harry Winston, and FAO Schwarz
Between 49th and 59th St. - West Village - home of DVF, Cynthia Rowley, and Rag&Bone
Between 6th Ave. and Hudson - Lower Manhattan - Century 21: a huge designer-discount department store
22 Cortlandt at Wall St.
Sex and the City Tour
Take an on-location tour of memorable locations from the Sex and the City show and movies. See where Carrie and the girls ate their cupcakes, shopped and gossiped! Just be sure to register ahead of time...these tickets go fast!
Other on-location tours:
- Gossip Girl hotspots
- The Sopranos hotspots
- NY Movie and TV sites
TKTS Discount Booths
Times Square
Step under the red steps at Broadway and 47th St. to take advantage of the discount tickets the TKTS booth offers to Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays at up to 50% off. The line can get lengthy, but the discounts are worth the wait!
The must-see shows:
- Wicked - the wicked witch of the west's side of the infamous story of Oz
- Newsies - Disney's take on newspaper boys on strike
- The Book of Mormon - winner of 8 Tony Awards, including "Best Musical"!
Other Things to Do and See
- Central Park - leave some time in your trip to devote to hanging out in this NYC landmark where skyscrapers outline a tree-trimmed sky, a quintessential New York view
- Strand Bookstore - famous among New Yorkers for having the city's largest collection of art and photography books, be sure to check out the fashions section!
Broadway and 12th St. - Café Lalo - this charming café is famous for it's scene with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail, but it's pastries and decadent desserts are enough to prove stopping in is always well worth it
201 W 83rd St. - Lombardi's Pizza - though everyone has an opinion about who has the best pizza in the city, Lombardi's was the nation's first pizzeria, so we kind of think it has first dibs on the claim
32 Spring St.
