22+ Cultural Hangouts That Will Help NYC Feel Like Home

Brunch it up with the best at Jack’s Wife Freda.

One of the few things that will get New Yorkers out of bed early on a weekend is the promise of brunch and some breakfast-y cocktails.

Pack and picnic for The Hills on Governors Island.

Escape the city and get your nature fix. The 70-foot tall Outlook Hill offers breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York Harbor. Silde Hill boasts four slides for children and there is plenty of picnic space.

Visit the High Line.

The park is built atop an abandoned rail line that was originally constructed in the 1930s, the High Line was an urban eyesore from 1980 until 2009, when a 10-year-old dream of the Friends of the High Line was finally realized. Back in 1999, the city had slated the elevated rail for demolition. But some folks didn’t want to see this part of New York City history destroyed, and they effectively rallied to turn the space into an ambitious and unique urban park.

Order a Pickle Back at Bushwick Country Club.

The Pickle Back was first popularized at the Bushwick Country Club by bartender Reggie Cunningham in 2006. Originally, the idea was to use McClure’s pickle juice to eliminate the harshness of Old Crow whiskey (the cheapest shot available), but it only took a few years before hundreds of New York bars began combining different brines and whiskeys for more selective palettes.

Skip Times Square and enjoy the view at Main Street Park.

Find a spot on a bench and enjoy a concerto or two at Washington Square Park.

Get up early and jog Brooklyn Bridge.

Actually, to immerse yourself fully in NYC culture, I’d recommend walking or jogging over Brooklyn Bridge at a few different times of the day.

Get lost in the Guggenheim.

New York’s Guggenheim Museum is an architectural landmark in the city. It holds one of the nation’s finest collections of modern and contemporary art and a great place for a date.

Pack a book and enjoy a free afternoon in The Conservatory Garden.

New York City has more than 29,000 acres of parks, and many of them are just as beautiful — if not more so — than Central Park. Other than The Conservatory Garden, my favorites are Ft. Tryon (at the northern tip of Manhattan, with elevated views of the Hudson River, it was built by the son of the architect responsible for Central Park); The Hudson River Park (a long, narrow park that runs almost the entire length of Manhattan’s West Side and offers areas for picnicking, watching movies and live performances, bike riding, skate boarding, rollerblading, and kayaking, among other activities).

Visit one of the most spectacular Botanical Gardens in the world.

Being in nature isn’t just about the physical environment, it’s about being conscious of the environments we build and in which we live, work, and play. The Botanical Gardens, in The Bronx, offers classes about plants and gardening. Perfect if you are thinking about creating an urban garden of your own.

Book a tour at the United Nations Headquarters.

If you are visiting during September, pause and appreciate the lights from Brooklyn Bridge.

Enjoy some street art on Canal Street.

New York City is the birthplace of the graffiti “writing” movement of the 1960s, which evolved into the image-driven street art we have today. There are so many noteworthy, provocative, and eye-catching works currently on display in the city, but go now, before the authorities really hammer down on artists.

Also at The Bushwick Collective.

And the Lower East Side…

Truck into dumplings and handmade noodles at Chinatown in Manhatten.

Take a walk in the area south of Broome Street and east of Lafayette—a.k.a. Chinatown, NYC— and you’ll feel as though you’ve entered a different continent. Here you’ll find some of the best restaurants in NYC representing the cuisine of virtually every province of mainland China and Hong Kong, plus Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese eateries and shops.

Get out of your comfort zone at an interactive theater show.

New Yorkers are always looking for the next thing to keep them entertained. Immersive theater shows are very common and a great way to break into new circles. Drunk Shakespeare is perfect for anyone who likes to laugh and drink.

Support local art and culture at Angel Orensanz Foundation.

Take an afternoon and visit The World Trade Center.

Get lost on the subway.

If thought the New York subway would be similar to that of any other major city, the more you ride, the more you’ll realize the show Survivor could have dedicated a season to people trying to navigate the tunnels, stations, performers, and all the unspoken rules of the MTA subway system. Get lost and embrace it. It’s a great way to get to know the city.

If you’ve got a head for heights climb the skyline.