New Yorkers love Halloween!
We plan some of the biggest parades and bashes in the country every year. October is already a great time to visit to see the Fall foliage and enjoy less crowds compared to the madness of the summer and the winter holiday season but seeing all the great decorations, costumes, and events makes it even better! Here at Top Dog we have rounded up some of the best activities and special events to consider if you will be with us this month.
Best Spooky Decorations
Many NYC locations go all out with their Halloween decorations each October. While you are here you have to get some great pictures to send to relatives or post online. Check out some of our favorite places to snap a photo!
Chelsea Market
One of our most popular tours is our Chelsea, Highline, and Meatpacking District Tour. Chelsea Market is fun any time of year but our favorite time to visit has to be around Halloween. They have some decorations which can actually be a bit scary, especially because they utilize their ceiling space to hang scary things above your head! This year they seem to be focusing on skeletons, a few years ago they had some very scary scarecrows all over the place so come back annually to see what they do next! Chelsea Market offers some incredible local food, drink, and shopping while you check out their decor. This year they also offer trick or treating and pumpkin carving on Halloween, more details below.
chelseamarket.com/events-all/pumpkincarving-6ehr9-mxp37
topdogtours.com/tours/new-york-city/chelsea-market-high-line-meatpacking-district/
Lillie’s Victorian Bar and Restaurant
Halloween lovers have two great choices for a spooky place to eat and drink. Lillie’s Victorian has a space in Union Square and another right off Times Square, both very convenient locations. This bar and restaurant is packed to the gills with animatronic figures of Annabelle the doll and swinging clowns with cobwebs all over the place. They are going for a haunted Victorian mansion theme and they definitely deliver. If you like your decorations scary rather than simply spooky consider grabbing drinks or dinner here. They are not just a tourist trap either- they have incredible steak, cocktails, and some crowd-favorite french fries. After strutting your stuff in your Halloween costume, they are the perfect place to get some food and photos. Also keep in mind October 28th they are having a Halloween runway contest with awards for best costume!
Halloween House at the Oculus
Described as “no fear, just fun” this is an immersive Halloween experience for people with children (or adults) who may scare easily but still want to see some amazing decorations in a beautiful space. The Oculus is steps away from the 9/11 Memorial and is a bustling transportation hub and shopping mall. It is impressive and worth a visit any time of year but this Halloween event is a great addition to your visit. Running all month long this experience allows you to enter a Halloween world with different themed rooms such as the “trick or treat room” and the “vampires lair”, each offering many opportunities for photos. Get tickets below.
NYC Halloween Parades
We have no shortage of Halloween parades here in NYC, here are just a few!
Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
This is a big year for NYC’s most famous Halloween Parade- they are celebrating 50 years of bringing the creepy and creative to the streets of the Village. People plan all year and make amazing costumes, huge puppets, and elaborate group dance numbers and it really is a sight to see. Be prepared to get to the village early, space fills up fast and don’t even think about driving, we can guarantee there will be no parking! This event is Halloween night starting at 7 PM. Find out more below.
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog ParadeThe whole city was up in arms when organizers for the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade announced an indefinite halt to the beloved annual event due to skyrocketing permit costs. Fortunately after much outrage the mayor’s office dropped their permit fee from $50,000 to only $5,000 and a company called Getjoy partnered with the organizers to make sure the event could be held this year after all. Each year in the East Village thousands of dogs and dog lovers get together to see some adorable and creative costumes. Check out more info at the link below.
Park Slope Halloween Parade
Now in its fifth year, this event is perfect for the kids. They can show off their Halloween costume and get some candy. On Halloween this year the trick or treating runs from 3-6 PM and the parade begins at 6:30 PM. On the route you should also see some of the best Halloween decorations Brooklyn has to offer! This event is considered to be one of the biggest Halloween events for children in the area so don’t miss it!
parkslopeciviccouncil.org/events/halloween-parade/
NYC’s Best Haunted Happenings
For some people, Halloween is not just about costumes and candy but about ghosts and haunted locations too. Many people do not know how haunted NYC is, we are home to many ghostly sites. Check out some below if you dare.
The Morris-Jumel Mansion
The Morris-Jumel MansionThis place is a must-see for history buffs. The Morris-Jumel mansion is considered the oldest surviving house in Manhattan. It should be no surprise that it is considered to be one of the city’s most haunted buildings as well. The building dates to 1765 and was used by George Washington and later occupied by British and Hessian forces during the American Revolution. The building’s most prolific ghost is that of Eliza Jumel, who some say still interacts with people to this day and has been spotted both inside the house and on the grounds surrounding it. During the day they offer tours (both self-guided and docent led) but this month they also feature candle-lit after hours ghost tours some evenings. Check for availability, they are selling out fast!
morrisjumel.org/events/candlelight-ghost-tour-2/
The Merchant’s House Museum
Another one of the most haunted buildings in NYC is the Merchant’s House Museum in Greenwich Village. The Treadwell family lived here for generations and ever since its last resident passed away many strange paranormal phenomena have been reported. Many believe Gertrude Treadwell who was born in the house in the 1840s and lived there all her life is the spirit most likely behind all the strange activity but perhaps plan a visit to find out for yourself! The house is now home to a museum and is open year round but there are many extra activities for spooky season such as an evening of American Gothic stories and candlelight ghost tours. Check out more below.
merchantshouse.org/october2023/
Top Dog Tours Ghosts of Greenwich Village Tour
One of the few ghost tours that run year round, we really love ghosts at Top Dog Tours! Easily one of our most popular tours, we can show you the places that are truly haunted, not just the ones you can find online. From a former graveyard turned park to an unassuming apartment building called “The House of Murder” to a plethora of haunted bars and speakeasies we can turn the biggest skeptics into believers. Running every night from 8-10 PM our ghost tour is a great compliment to your visit whether you come during spooky season or not! More information and tickets are available below.
topdogtours.com/tours/new-york-city/ghosts-of-greenwich-village/
The address for the convention center is 429 11th Avenue. The best way to get to the convention is whatever way you feel comfortable. If you are staying at a hotel in midtown you may be able to walk, but those west side avenues are long and you will be walking all day at the convention, so consider your footwear carefully.
Let’s face it, no trip to Boston is complete without a visit to the Common! It was established in 1634 and is considered to be America’s oldest park. The Common is a 44 acre plot home to hundreds of trees and is a great place to watch the leaves in action. It has been the site to many historic events and marches over the years and is part of the Freedom Trail. You can stroll, bike, or visit the playgrounds. Not far away is the Public Garden, the first botanical garden in America. Both of these parks are part of the Emerald Necklace; nine linear parks and parkways running about seven miles connecting the Boston Common all the way to Franklin Park. If you are ambitious and wish to walk the entire trail you will also get to see our next favorite place for Fall colors.
A cemetery might seem an odd choice for leaf peeping but Mount Auburn Cemetery may be one of the best places in Boston to see the foliage. They have a diverse collection of trees and the colors are absolutely gorgeous. If you are planning a trip to Boston during spooky season, a visit to Mount Vernon will give you some bang for your buck. Dating to 1831, this is not just any cemetery—Mount Auburn changed how and where Bostonians were buried and attempted to change how they thought about death and the afterlife. By having such a beautiful place to visit their deceased loved ones, the creators of Mount Auburn offered solace to the living. Located between Cambridge and Watertown, this cemetery is a great place to visit not just for foliage but to also feel inspired and connected to the cycle of life and death.
Another great way to see some leaves while also getting on the water and enjoying the sites of Boston Harbor is to take a harbor cruise. The Classic Harbor Line offers a few different leaf peeping adventures from brunch boats to lunch cruises—even private chartered boats. It can be a bit windy on the water this time of year but never fear, they have blankets and hot cocoa on board. A lot of people don’t know that Boston’s waterfront also has amazing fall colors besides the parks and gardens which can become very touristy and crowded. If you want to see some colors in a different way and see famous Boston Harbor, the Classic Harbor Line may be perfect for you.
When you think of New York City, you probably imagine towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. But what if you could experience all that New York has to offer from a completely different perspective—one that lets you escape the hustle and bustle while enjoying the city’s beauty while relaxing from the water?
Caroline Astor was born Caroline Webster Schermerhorn in 1830 into a wealthy family in the family home at 1 Greenwich Street (way downtown near Bowling Green). Her father’s family had been in New York for 200 years and her mother was a Van Courtlandt, a family that had also been on New York since the 1630’s. In other words Lena as she was called, was the epitome of old New York. At the time of her birth her father was worth $500,000 (about $15 million today). She married William Backhouse Astor Jr. at Trinity Church in 1853. Despite the Astor’s having more money than her family,. She brought the Knickerbocker pedigree to the marriage.
Larry Russell, son of George and Bertha, seems to have a resemblance to yet another member of the Vanderbilt clan, Cornelius Vanderbilt III. Larry seems to see right through his mother and carries disdain for her social ambitions and follows his own path. Cornelius Vanderbilt III (Great-Grandson of the Commodore) was actually disinherited and shunned by his parents. When he was twenty-three, he married Grace Graham Wilson (of the “marrying Wilsons,” look them up, they were a very interesting family) against his parents wishes and was cut off financially and emotionally. He loved machinery and would go on to earn a Masters in Engineering from Yale. He patented more than thirty inventions relating to locomotives and freight cars which brought him substantial royalties. During World War I he served as a Brigadier General with the National Guard, receiving the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal. After the War he frequently visited Europe, becoming friends with European royalty like Kaiser Wilhelm II. He died on his yacht in 1942 at the age of 68.
As with the entire Russell Clan, Gladys Russell is very much based off of Consuelo Vanderbilt, Alva’s daughter. Of all the books and research I’ve read on the Vanderbilt Family, I’ve read the most about Consuelo, and Gladys is a dead ringer character wise. Consuelo had a very strict upbringing that was often borderline abusive. As an heiress, there were many men who pursued her, but her mother was determined for her daughter to marry into the British peerage and have a title. Her mother engineered a marriage between Consuelo and Charles Spencer-Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough. Consuelo had no interest in the Duke and became secretly engaged to Winthrop Rutherford. Her mother ordered and threatened her, even locking her in her room at one point. It wasn’t until Alva claimed Consuelo’s actions had given her a heart attack that the engagement with Rutherford was called off.
I had the pleasure of seeing this show in tryouts in Seattle in January of 2020 before Covid. I immediately fell in love with this re-imagined version of the 1993 classic which starred Robin Williams as a divorced Father dressing up as a Scottish nanny to spend time with his children. Directed by Broadway legend Jerry Zaks and starring Rob McClure (Chaplin, Beetlejuice, Honeymoon in Vegas) the show has been beautifully updated for a 2021 audience. I recently got the chance to see it in previews and loved it even more as the creative team made some great changes to the show. The music is fun, and the story of a man who goes to great lengths to be with his family is even more poignant to me than it was In 2019 as I’m now a Mother. Rob Mclure does a fantastic job of making the role of Daniel his own (not an easy task as Robin Williams was such a tour de force in the movie) and I’d be shocked if he doesn’t receive a Tony nomination for his performance.
Jerry Zaks helms his 2nd production of the season with what promises to be an amazing revival of the classic musical The Music Man. If this is half as good as his 2017 Hello Dolly, audiences are in for an evening of Broadway at its best. Choreographed by Warren Carlyle (who teamed with Zaks on Dolly and has choreographed other classics on Broadway like Kiss Me Kate and She Loves Me) the show stars Sutton Foster as everyone’s favorite librarian Marion Paroo and Hugh Jackman as conman/salesman/band leader Harold Hill. One thing that stands out to me right away is the size of the cast. In today’s world of scaled back budget shows, Music Man will have a large cast with a substantial sized ensemble, something that is very rare these days. I’m personally very excited for this production as Music Man is one of my favorite musicals and I’ve never had the chance to see a professional production before.
These days it seems that Broadway audiences are presented with several Jukebox musicals per season, and most recently the trend is biopic jukebox musicals (a term coned by my husband and fellow TopDogTours Guide Patrick Kelly). We’ve had the Cher Show, Tina, Summer, and Aint Too Proud on the Great White Way over the last few years. This season’s MJ the Musical seems to be fit into the mold these musicals all seem to follow. There is a young version of the music star and we watch them rise to fame and struggle with everything that means. What makes me excited about this production are a few things. Newcomer Myles Frost makes his Broadway Debut as Michael Jackson, and I am always about brand new talent leading a show as it is something that doesn’t not happen very much. I’m also a huge fan of Jackson’s much and you KNOW the dancing in the show is going to be insane.
John Wilkes Booth was beloved by all, especially women, as a strikingly handsome figure with a face audience members would drop money just to look at, regardless of what show was on the playbill. He was also a bigot who considered African-Americans less than human and was furious that Lincoln would grant freed slaves their citizenship. Can’t forget that part. Yet, while John’s name is rather well-known today and even immortalized by theatrical legend Stephen Sondheim in his musical Assassins, he found himself overshadowed in life by his brother Edwin.
Edwin Booth’s career would soldier on in Shakespearean classics like Romeo and Juliet as well as a career defining Hamlet. But Edwin Booth’s final years would be spent at the Player’s Club by Gramercy Park where Edwin would surround himself with greats like JP Morgan, General William Sherman, Mark Twain, and the like. His final years, as well as the Player’s Club and the saga of the Booths themselves can best be explored on 
Located at No. 16 Gramercy Park South sits a lovely Gothic Revival mansion with two large gas lights flanking the entrance. A large metal plaque of comedy and tragedy masks surrounded by bronze rays gives a clue to the people who call this club a home away from home. Built for actors, the Players Club gets its name from the once-common name for performers. Established New Years Eve 1888 by Edwin Booth, the most famous actor of his day. Booth elevated the status of the American actor.
An active restaurant for members to grab a bite and a chat with their fellow player, the grill also features a large pool table and cues on the wall. Up above the fireplace you can see original member Mark Twain’s personal pool cue. For artwork, typically you will find caricatures, many done by legendary Al Hirshfeld. There is even a Hirshfeld caricature of Booth, the only one he made for a person who was no longer alive. Also you can find the Players Bar and in the back, the ladies room is known as Lucile’s Loo for Lucille Lortel; known as the Queen of Off-Broadway! Head up the stairs to the impressive main hall for more artwork.
Six tells the story of Henry VIII six wives as if it were a pop concert. Each wife sings about their misfortune and abuse at the hands of the notorious monarch and whoever has suffered the most will be named the lead singer of the band. It is history retold as a reality TV singing competition with six powerful female leads. It premiered in 2017 at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest and has been running in the West End the last few years and is making its way to Broadway this Winter. Music, lyrics, and book are by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss.
Set at a town meeting in the fictional small city of Big Cherry, acclaimed American playwright Tracy Letts gives us this timely political piece. Letts also stars in this play alongside stage and screen mainstays Ian Barford, Blair Brown, and film star Armie Hammer. The Minutes is directed by Anna D. Shapiro. She and Letts were behind the smash hit August Osage County and this reunion is highly anticipated.
Another West End transfer getting a lot of buzz this season is Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen. Besides doing well across the pond, the show is coming straight off a sold out run at the Atlantic Theatre Company. Hangmen is about a professional hangman on the day hanging is abolished and the unforeseen events that stem from that groundbreaking decision. This show stars Dan Steves and opens mid-March but will be gone mid June so be sure to grab your tickets early!
Diana is a biographical musical about Princess Diana’s life and her relationships with the media, the royal family, and the public. Coming off a great run at the La Jolla Playhouse, Jeanna de Waal and Joe Hartampf will reprise the roles of Diana and Charles. The book, music, and lyrics are by Joe Dipietro and David Bryan and directed by Tony winner Christopher Ashley. Anglophiles will want to make sure to not miss this new musical.
Rob McClure has gigantic (ladies) shoes to fill, playing the role of Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire in this new musical based off the iconic Robin Williams film of the same name. Coming from a highly regarded run in Seattle, Mrs. Doubtfire is sure to draw a big crowd this winter. With music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirtzpatrick and John O’Farell, the show is also directed by Tony winner Jerry Zaks. It is sure to be a riotous good time.
It seems like the activity you would want to do least this season but winter is one of the best times to go to the Statue. It can be very cold but since there are way less people visiting each day, it is a breeze to get on and off Liberty Island. If you can find a clear winter morning during your trip, you will get some of the most amazing photos- with less people in the background too! It is always best to go in the morning, but most times of year you need to be there by 9:30 AM at the latest otherwise it turns into a zoo, but in the winter you could go a bit later and sleep in a little more. A few things to keep in mind for a smooth trip: the boats leave every forty minutes so try to be where you need to be a few minutes early, otherwise you run the risk of having to wait for the next one. Bundle up since it can be windy on the island but other than that you can have the place mostly to yourself. The Ellis Island Museum admission is included with your ticket and is indoors so it’s a great place to spend a chilly day. With much less people around the museum tends to be more impactful and you can see everything much faster.
Chinatown is a popular destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike. In the summer, wait times at popular Chinese restaurants like the Nam Wah Tea Parlor and Joe’s Shanghai can be very long. During the winter though, you can almost always get a table anywhere. The streets in Chinatown are old and very narrow in some spots, it fills up very quickly and it can be frustrating getting past all the people. In the winter it’s much easier to walk down the street. You will notice a lot less tourists and more locals. Also steaming hot noodles, egg drop soup, and dumplings just taste better when it’s cold out.
It seems obvious, but museums are a great place to spend a cold afternoon. If you have always wanted to see classic museums like the Museum and Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art it really is best to go in the off season. In the summer, people end up forfeiting tickets they purchased since the line to get in to redeem them is simply too long. It is still a good idea to avoid the weekends since many more people come out, especially the NYC families taking advantage of the slow season. Also consider going to one of NYC’s lesser known museums, there is one for every kind of person on your trip. The kids will love any of the 5 boroughs children’s museums (Staten Island has a really nice one if you feel like being really adventurous!). History buffs will love the New York Historical Society, NYC’s oldest museum. Of course there are plenty of art museums; consider the Guggenheim or the Museum of Modern Art if you have never been. Some other off-the-beaten-track options include the NY Transit Museum (for subway aficionados), The Morgan Library (great for art and architecture), or the Science Museum. No matter what you choose you will not be dissapointed!
If you notice a snowstorm in the middle of your trip, fear not. NYC gets snow frequently but we typically do not get many inches at once. While it can be messy to get around and it is probably not the best day to go to Times Square or to the Statue of Liberty, it’s the best time to go to Central Park! The park is amazing and worth a visit any time, but it is magical walking around in the snow. Even if it’s cold you will see a lot of people out, but while lots of people in one place can be a recipe for frustration anywhere else in the city, Central Park is big enough for them all and it’s so fun to people watch. You can see kids and cute dogs playing in the snow. It is the only place that is any fun to walk in the snow!
Visiting the library, a typical rainy day activity you can do at home turns into an adventure in NYC. Next to Bryant Park and very close to Times Square and Rockefeller Center the New York Public Library is easy to find. It is a massive building with two larger than life lions at the entrance. Inside you can find the real stuffed animals that inspired Winnie the Pooh. You can also find beautiful art and several rotating exhibits. You might even see some oddball artifacts like George Washington’s recipe for beer and Charles Dickens’s favorite letter opener! If you have never visited this amazing NYC landmark before, this winter could be the perfect time!
Indulge in the ultimate Canadian comfort food: poutine. What’s not to love? Double fried french fries layered with hot melted cheese curds and a meaty brown gravy. This is a decidedly decadent treat and Canada for sure loves its poutine. You’ll find poutine on menus all over Toronto and Canada, usually with these three staple ingredients; Fries, Cheese curds, and Gravy, but some places will jazz up this comfort food with different spins on the classic recipe.
You would think since Poutine has been around at least since the late 1950’s that Toronto would have been serving and celebrating it. But that’s not so! Long being associated with Quebec cuisine, it was perceived negatively and mocked, and even used by some to stigmatize Quebec society. Poutine later became celebrated as a symbol of Québécois cultural pride and it hasn’t been until recently that this culture has been celebrated, in a small way, across the boarder here in Ontario. This May 2020, the 3rd annual Toronto Poutine Fest will take place on May 22nd – 24th. The festival celebrates both Ontario & Quebec’s best food trucks. Yearly they return to the annual Toronto Poutine Fest to battle for the grand title of #1 Poutine in Toronto. The Poutine Fest is held in Yonge-Dundas Square over these fun filled 3 days! Featuring live music, a fun atmosphere and over 50 varieties of poutine! Get ready to stuff your face and have a good time!
I saw a play some time ago, the play was titled Red, and it was about Rothko, a famous painter whose work started in the 1920s. Rothko was most famous for layering coloured, geometric shapes on a canvas. They were also huge. Some of them measured eighty-five by sixty-five inches. He was also very, very particular about how these canvases were to be hung and displayed in the art galleries which produced his shows. Like, really particular, having instructions on how to light them, how high up they were to be displayed, and so forth.
My friend Amos saw the play Red at the same time as I did, and the show was wonderful, and it was the first time I learned about Rothko and his idiosyncratic behaviours, his temperamental nature, and his peculiar demands for displaying his work. Talking to Amos after the show, he told me that he never “got” Rothko, having seen pictures of his works in art books and so forth. But then Amos saw an exhibit of these works, and the exhibit showed off Rothko’s genius.
The exhibit features several works by Steyerl, and is about the Future. My personal favourite piece was called Liquidity, Inc., but I encourage you to get out and engage with this work. It’s something special and isn’t the kind of thing you normally think of when you think of an art gallery.
The exhibit has a lot going for it, and not everything involves infanticide. Go see the works of a venerable master and discover why he is revered. Discover the art that created “Rubenesque” and make sure that his work is no longer one-note in your mind. Let it arrest you and take you somewhere sobering, detailed, and fluid.
Chumley’s is a drinking establishment with a frankly brilliant history to it. It started it’s life in 1922 as a Speakeasy by Lee Stanford Chumley, where patrons could snag a drink away from the prying eyes of the law enforcement. It is said that Chumley’s is where the term to ’86 it’ comes from, as next door was 86 Bedford St and the police would call ahead before a raid, to tell their bartender to ’86’ his customers, meaning have them exit via the 86 Bedford St. door, as the Police would be coming to the Pamela Court entrance, so no-one would be caught. The facade of the building collapsed in 2007, which led to it being closed for just under 10 years, until it reopened in 2016 with a complete refurbishment. If you head in there today, they still have all the covers of books written by authors who once drank in the bar adorning the walls. These include Jack Kerouac, Ernest Hemingway, Edna St. Vincent Millay, William Faulkner, e.e. cummings, John Steinbeck, Willa Cather, Theodore Dreiser, Ring Lardner, Eugene O’Neill and John Dos Passos to name but a few. For most of it’s history Chumley’s was a rather dank, dark dive bar, but after it’s refurbishment, it has reopened as a more upmarket restaurant and cocktail bar, so if you come here expect to pay a pretty penny. Chumley’s is featured on our Ghost Tour, if you want to hear more about the building and a spooky story or two, too!
If you are looking for something more affordable with as much literary history to boot, you can’t really go wrong with the White Horse Tavern in the West Village. It has been run continuously since 1880 and so is vying for the title of the second-oldest bar in NYC. It is here where apparently in November 1953, after a massive bender, the poet Dylan Thomas stopped in to have his very last drinks on the way back to the Chelsea Hotel before passing away. It’s where the Beat poets liked to drink, and where locals mixed with the early folk music scene of the 1950s and 1960s. The likes of James Baldwin, Anaïs Nin, Bob Dylan, Norman Mailer and Hunter S. Thompson were often spotted drinking late into the night here. Jack Kerouac was famously chucked out of the bar on several occasions, and wrote that he spotted ‘Go home Jack’ written all over the urinals. Kerouac was, of course, the creator of the Beatnik movement and to find out more about them, the Bohemians and the folk scene which were all happening down in the Village, it’s worth checking out our Greenwich Village Tour.
Another bar with pressed-tin ceilings and a strong literary history but with a more ornate feel than the White Horse, is Pete’s Tavern, located near Gramercy Park. Dating back to 1864, Pete’s claims to be the oldest continuously operating bar/restaurant in the whole of New York City. And with a history that long, at some point a writer is going to have stumbled through its doors looking to quench their thirst. One such man was William Sydney Porter, also known as O. Henry, who is said to have written his well-known story ‘The Gift of the Magi’ here in the second booth from the front door. Pete’s Tavern actually appears in another of O. Henry’s, called ‘The Lost Blend’ under the name ‘Kenealy’s’, paying homage to it’s name at the time, which was Healy’s. Another writer was Ludwig Bemelmans who wrote the first Madeline book here, apparently on the back of a menu. Today, Pete’s Tavern offers a casual drinking spot with great Italian eats, and is a great place to stop off after you’ve taken our Gramercy Park Tour.
For a taste of something a little different, why not try the Alonquin Hotel? One of midtown’s grand old hotels and a world away from the cheaper, dive-y literary bars of the Village, the Algonquin offers a rich literary history and luxurious surroundings to match. To this day, you can sit at the Round Table where the 1920s writing/theatrical group, The Vicious Circle (composed of members such as Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott and Robert Benchley) used to meet with such frequency that their name changed to match the table they were sat at. The Round Table was comprised of playwrights, critics, columnists and authors. One being Harold Ross who won so much money from other members of the Vicious Circle in a game of poker that he used the proceeds to start the New Yorker magazine with Parker as a book reviewer and Benchley as the drama critic. The Hotel’s Blue Bar is a must-see for visiting literary historians and for a martini, and no trip to the Algonquin is complete without seeing the plush surroundings of the hotel’s lobby, including a mini-chaise lounge for the Hotel’s resident cat.
Last but not least has to be McSorley’s Old Ale House. Established in 1854, McSorley’s rivals Pete’s Tavern for the oldest bar in New York, because records seem to suggest it was closed for a spell in the 1860s, so Pete’s lays claim to the title. A great place for decent pub food, two types of ale (no literally – that’s all they serve here) and memorabilia that hasn’t been taken off the walls since at least 1910, McSorley’s generally rates in the top historic bars in New York to visit. It’s literary past is vast, in 1923 e.e. cummings penned ‘i was sitting in mcsorley’s’, it was the subject of Joseph Mitchell’s New Yorker collection of stories ‘McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon’ (1943) and its patrons ran the gamut of writers to presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant. Teddy Roosevelt, Peter Cooper, Boss Tweed, Woody Guthrie, Hunter S. Thompson, Brendan Behan, Paul Blackburn, LeRoi Jones, Christopher Morley, Gilbert Sorrentino, George Jean Nathan, Dave Van Ronk, Wavy Gravy and even Dustin Hoffman.
After fighting off the assassin at the library, John has to tend to his wounds with a Sbackalley doctor in Chinatown. Said clinic is Chinatown’s famous 
I’ve got three kids and there are a limited number of times I can plug them into the television to distract them and give me some breathing space before I cross over the bad parent line. I don’t want to cross that line. That means I am always on the lookout for wonderful, fun, distracting, educational (if possible) things to do with the family. Family time is very important. Family or not, I’ve got something that will scratch a lot of itches for you and yours, whether that means a family, friends, or just trying to find something wonderful to do with your afternoon.
My youngest loves her grandma and stayed with my wife’s mom the whole time. My son stayed with my wife. My oldest girl stuck with me. Not clingy, not afraid to explore, but just present with me. Talking to me about the fish, holding my hand, wanting “up” to see something better. I got a day with her in a way that I haven’t had in a year and a half. I’d tell you the price of the ticket, but for that day, who cares? What price wouldn’t I pay to spend that amount of bonding time with my daughter?
Home to five different performances spaces in its convenient midtown location, New World Stages is a superb option to see Off-Broadway shows! Numerous productions have found their second life at New World Stages, including the Off-Broadway productions of Avenue Q, Jersey Boys, and Rock of Ages. There are shows for every age group at New World, so if your family can’t decide what to see, you can all still head over to 50th and 8th to find a great variety package all under one roof.
For an experience like no other, don’t be afraid to venture downtown to the Orpheum Theatre. STOMP has been running at this East Village location for over
Many people have heard of Roundabout Theatre Company. Their famous revivals of Cabaret and She Loves Me are cherished pieces of theatre. But did you know that this non-profit theatre company actually has five spaces around the city? One of those spaces is their Off-Broadway complex, the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center. Located just off of Times Square at 46th and 6th, this venue houses both the Laura Pels Theatre and Roundabout’s Underground space, a playground for up and coming young playwrights. Adam Gwon’s legendary show Ordinary Days got its start in this underground space and his latest work, Scotland PA is finishing its run at the upstairs theatre, the Laura Pels. Who knows what new work you might get to experience with a visit to the Steinberg Center!
Famed launchpad of A Chorus Line and Hamilton, The Public is another downtown location to catch the hottest new shows. With five theatre spaces and a cabaret venue inside, The Public has a variety of options to choose from. It’s also home to The Library, a swanky spot for dinner and drinks before the show. Don’t forget to step outside the building and take a moment to enjoy the historic exterior before you go home.
The Campbell House
Let me also tell you about a man named Dave… David Brennan is a friend of mine who used to live around here (Hamilton), then moved to Ottawa. He’s a stand-up comic and a stand-up guy, and he’ll be in Toronto from the 5th of the December to the 8th, performing at 
I began my walk at Grand Army Plaza which was buzzing with activity from people meeting up to others trying to catch cabs. The biggest change I noticed was the horse and carriage stand being moved from off of 59th st to just inside the park. People seemed to have no trouble finding them and cars were not as close as they were before, they seemed to have a bit more space in general. I saw a few families hopping up into the carriages and trotting off into the park which is a classic Central Park activity. I continued on into the park past the beautiful pond. People were taking photos of some birds enjoying the water. From the pond, I encountered what was once known as the children’s area of the park. I walked through the former Dairy, past the chess and checkers house down the 65th street traverse to the grand Carousel.
Not for shopping, but originally for showing off, the term mall refers to a formal feature of a proper (European) park; a long promenade where people would gather to stroll. This was an important part of being considered a member of the American upper class; you would leave your carriage and walk amongst the common folk, which set this mall apart from the ones found across the pond. Today it is a still a place where people from all walks of life gather. The other day was no exception, I saw people from all over the world posing for pictures, looking at the amazing bronze statues scattered down the promenade, and browsing the photos and posters for sale on carts and tables set up throughout. The shade from the American Elms made it a little cooler than the rest of the park but it was still plenty warm from the sun peaking through the branches. Walking through the mall you cannot help but feel like you are in a movie, since so many have been shot here including Home Alone 2, Enchanted, and Spiderman 3. At the end of the mall, I stopped to admire Bethesda Fountain and the Lake.
I have been to most areas in the park at least once, but one area that I have not explored fully, and don’t know if I ever will is the wooded area known as The Ramble. This part of the park was designed to look as natural and rugged as possible, while still providing properly marked paths and trails. I decided to wander up a way I never had before and found myself seemingly in the middle of a forest. There were few people and the trail was a bit steep, but I got some incredible views of the Lake from above. There was also a small creek formed from the lake and some rocks. After about fifteen minutes I found myself back in the busy part of Central Park that is near the Museum of Natural History. The sounds of the city, traffic, and bikes came back all at once, and I noticed how nice it was to be tucked away in the middle of the quiet Ramble. After all that walking, especially in the hilly areas, I decided it was time to go.
Not far from Fraunces Tavern is a small park and public square aptly known as Bowling Green where people would play lawn bowling during colonial times. It was also a meeting place, and is still used for gatherings of all sorts today. A lot has changed around the area, but the park is still known by the same name and looks similar to how it does today. One big difference would have been a giant gilded statue of King James III on horseback that was in the middle of the park from 1765-1776. On July 9th 1776 after a reading of the Declaration of Independence in City Hall Park just a bit further uptown, some of the Sons of Liberty came down to Bowling Green to tear down the statue and get rid of all signs of British rule. They tore down the statue, cut it into pieces, and sent a bunch of the statue down to Connecticut to be melted down into musket balls to shoot at the British! That is some pretty good revenge! Historians also believe crowns were once adorning the top of the fence posts surrounding the park and the rioters sawed them all off, and if you run your hand over the tops of one these posts, you will find it to be rough. That fence has stood the test of time! Today there is a fountain and seasonal flowers to enjoy.
Built in 1698, if this building had not been burned down once (in 1776 during the Revolution) and was damaged by snowstorm in the 1800s, it would be the longest continuously used building in New York City history. Now it is under a major renovation once again, but it still is very impressive. The large spire made it larger than any other structure for many years, people even informed travelers if they were sailing into New York Harbor to look for Trinity to know they had arrived. Although the clergy was required to be Loyalist during the war, after the Revolution, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton as well as many other prominent New Yorkers worshipped at Trinity. Hamilton even advised the church on financial and legal matters, had five children baptized there, and of course is buried on the grounds. Hamilton and his wife Eliza are the most popular graves in the site and the biggest draw for Trinity today, although they are still an active church with services that can be attended by all.
The original Federal Hall was built in 1703 and saw a ton of incredible events within its walls including the drafting of a message of protest sent to King George III in response to the levying of the Stamp Act and the libel trial of John Zenger which led to the establishment of freedom of the press, later part of the Bill of Rights.After the war, this would be the first Capitol Building for the country before the capital moved from Philadelphia and then down to Washington DC.This was where George Washington’s inauguration as the first President was held. Although this was an incredibly historic building, when the capital moved out of New York, it was determined unnecessary and the original was torn down in the 1790s. About thirty years later, it was rebuilt and served as a Customs House and Sub Treasury with millions of dollars worth of gold and silver until the Federal Reserve Bank was established in 1920. Today it is a national monument and offers rotating exhibits as well as a permanent collection dedicated to George Washington including a replica of his desk, the Inaugural Bible, and a recovered piece of the balcony he was sworn in on, the only thing remaining from the original structure.
Walking back downtown, towards Fraunces Tavern but continuing as far south as you can go, Battery Park and New York Harbor sit at the tip of the island. Today known for its views of the Statue of Liberty and for leisure, battery park was originally meant for defense. The “battery” in the name refers to a battery of cannons that defended the colony since the days of the Dutch settlers. The Battery continued to be used throughout the American Revolution and was the center of Evacuation Day celebrations at the end of the war. Later on Castle Clinton was formed on an artificial spit of land in the harbor in 1811, meant to defend the city during the War of 1812, later a landfill encircled the fort, connecting it to the rest of Manhattan. It later became one of the cities most popular parks and still enjoyed by many to this day. During recent excavation in the park, a part of the original Battery Wall was uncovered and can be viewed inside Castle Clinton today. New York Harbor is just as breathtaking now as it was during colonial times. Although less shipping occurs in this harbor than in the past and the vessels sure are different than you would have seen in the 1700s it is not hard to understand the value of these waters. New York would not be nearly as important to the country without its advantageous harbor. Once teeming with sea life and beavers, later becoming the most important shipping port in the country, it makes sense the British did not want to give it up without a fight! Without the Sons of Liberty and the founding fathers, we might still have been British subjects to this day. Although New Englanders (especially Bostonians) might think they have the monopoly on Revolutionary War sites, New York offers as much history in a smaller area. Take a walk and see it for yourself!
Joe’s Shanghai is a legend in Chinatown for my favorite kind of dumplings: SOUP DUMPLINGS! If you have never had them before, you have to give them a try. Also known as xiao lao bao, they are a little messy, but seriously delicious! They offer two kinds of soup dumplings; crab and pork or just pork. I really love the crab and pork. Joe’s Shanghai and it’s sibling Joe’s Ginger are run a little differently than your average restaurant. You will most likely be sharing a table with other diners and they will probably assume you are their for the soup dumplings, you may even have to ask for a menu! But trust me, this is the perfect place to start off your night of dumpling hopping!
Another great spot known particularly for their dumplings is, of course, Tasty Dumpling. These guys offer a wide variety of dumplings, hence the name. You may want to try their classic chive and pork or one of their rotating specials. I opted for the chicken and mushroom this time, which I really enjoyed. The dough is on the thicker side and the filling was savory and surprisingly flavorful. This is definitely the place to go to please a lot of people since the also offer nearly every variety in both fried and steamed. They even have frozen dumplings you can take home and make yourself!
Wo Hop is one of the most famous Chinese restaurants in NYC. They even sell their own T-shirts! They are classic; to get inside you have to go down some stairs and all the waiters wear old fashioned jackets. Apparently not much has changed about the space since 1938, although they rotate their pictures of patrons and visiting celebrities often. Sharpie-signed dollar bills line the walls as well as graffiti! Wo Hop offers several styles of dumpling and is most famous for its wonton (aka dumpling) soup, but this time I wanted to try their pan fried pork dumplings. They were large, moon-shaped and were delicious with their sauce. Wo Hop is a legendary late night spot they are open till 7 am! These dumplings are sure to hit to spot after bar hopping in the Lower East Side!
If you or someone in your group is vegetarian, Chinese cuisine can sometimes be challenging depending on which restaurant you choose. But Vegetarian Dim Sum House lives up to its name. They offer a few different kinds of veggie dumplings, some fried and some steamed. I heard the steamed spinach dumplings were particularly good. They were huge! They come three to an order, but that’s all you need. You also can’t find a green dumpling a lot of places, even in Chinatown. If you are looking for one of the healthiest Chinese restaurants in they city, you cannot go wrong with Vegetarian Dim Sum House!
Every New Yorker has a favorite Chinese restaurant and this one is mine. There are a lot of great things to pick from on the menu. The thick udon noodle dishes are very popular, as well as their chicken dishes. But they also have amazing soup dumplings and I couldn’t help but include one more spot.These soup dumplings are a little smaller and thinner than Joe’s Shanghai, but I like these a little more. They have two kinds: pork and truffle. Truffle soup dumplings are hard to come by and if you are a fan, you should give them a try!
NYC offers so much for dog owners from great pet shops, the best parks, and even pet friendly bars! One of the best opportunities city pooches have to socialize would be at one of many dog runs. Dog runs give dogs a chance to run, sniff, and play with one another in a safe, fenced-off enclosure. Since most NYC owners do not have a yard and leash laws are strictly enforced, the city offers many of these dog runs and it is a gift not just for dog owners- but for the entire city alike. Giving walking tours all around NYC, we often visit parks and where there are parks, there are dogs! What could be better than exploring a beautiful park with a knowledgeable guide and getting the chance to see some local pups at play! Here are some of the best dog runs to bring your pooch or grab a bench nearby just to watch.
Let’s start off with a hidden gem. Some of the largest dog runs in the city are just 20 minutes away from Midtown Manhattan in historic Washington Heights. Here you can find several clean and spacious dog runs. J. Hood Wright Park is on the West side of 173rd st. It is a small park, but has a nicely sized dog run where both big and small dogs can play together. Many parks in the city have two areas- one for large and one for small dogs only. This is one of the best for dogs who love to socialize with dogs of all sizes. You can also find a nice playground for the kids, a recreation center, and a large grassy area with rocks to climb on. Our Top Dogs love it! The best part of this dog run though, is the scenic views of the George Washington Bridge. Here is our furry friend Meeko posing just outside the dog run!
Union Square is one of the city’s busiest parks but has so much to see! From interesting works of architecture like the Decker Building to statues of Presidents Washington and Lincoln- even the most expensive public art installation is city history can be found in compact Union Square! It also offers some of the best shopping, dining, and entertainment options around. This is a relatively small dog run, but you can’t beat the variety of dogs that visit here. People from all over the world and from around the corner come together in this little park. It is best for the dogs who always want to say hi to everyone, no matter where they come from. On our Gramercy tour, you can learn about the history of the area and all the local highlights, while checking out some cool pups. Take a look at all these pampered pooches!
Scenic Riverside Park is one of the best places to take your dog in the city. There are long walking trails and lots of grassy patches and not just one but THREE dog runs so you are sure to find the best one for your picky pooch. Our favorite is just outside 87th st. You can find some of the friendliest dogs in the city on the Upper West Side. This park also has off leash hours at 9 AM and 9 PM just like its big brother to the east, Central Park. Since many of the dogs and owners know each other, there is a sense of comfort and ease more so than some of the other, more crowded dog runs. After your fun romp in the dog run and nice stroll in the park, you may want to visit some of the other highlights of the park: The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is a beautiful stone tower honoring those who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. It was dedicated by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 and is still historically the location of Memorial Day ceremonies. Our friend’s Diesel and Ruby took a night time stroll to see the monument and Buddy is chilling in the grass!
Our guests always comment on how incredible the dog run is in Washington Square Park. Sometimes we take a short break to use the restrooms that are conveniently located just outside the dog run, and sometimes that break ends up being a little longer so our guests can admire the amazing dogs! This is also quite a large dog run, great for big dogs who need to run around. This park seems to have the widest variety of breeds and some very interesting owners too. Take our Greenwich Village historical tour or our Ghost tour if you prefer an after dark visit to the park. You can even hear about the spirit of a ghost dog! This is our fluffy pal Fritz getting to know some new buddies!
Odds are you’ve heard of Saturday Night Live. And if you’re looking for a hot ticket in comedy – and I mean hot ticket – this is right up your alley. In fact, tickets to SNL are such a hot commodity that scoring one is like winning the lottery. You have to literally win their lottery to get any sort of advanced ticket. How do you enter? Mark your calendars! Every August you have the chance to submit an email with your information explaining why you should be an audience member. There is, however, another option. You can try your hand at stand-by tickets. Each Saturday morning before taping you can line up outside of Rockefeller Center to take a swing at scoring a stand-by ticket to the 8pm Dress Rehearsal or the 11:30pm Live Show. The tickets are distributed one per person at 7:00am – so be sure to line up well before then!
The Comedy Cellar is a small, cramped comedy club in the basement of a building on Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village. Sounds great, right? But it’s so much more than that. It is an icon and staple in the comedy world and a place where many famous comedians – new and old – have honed – and continue to hone – their craft. It was founded in 1982 by writer and comedian Bill Grundfest with the goal of opening a sort of playground for comedians. It was to be a place where comics have the chance to explore and to fail – both necessities in the creation of good comedy. For example, Grundfest has mentioned that Jon Stewart “bombed for six months” when first performing at the Comedy Cellar. And look at Jon now. Jon Stewart isn’t the only person you might’ve heard of that has performed here. Excuse me while I name drop: Colin Quinn, Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, Mike Birbilgia, Nikki Glaser, Dave Attell, Marc Maron, Chris Rock, Judy Gold, Michelle Wolf, Sarah Silverman, and so on have graced the stage of the Comedy Cellar. They have multiple shows every night with 5-7 comics having around 20 minute sets – and don’t be surprised if one of your favorites drops in for a surprise set. Give them a call or 
If you’re visiting New York, odds are you’ll stop by Times Square. (Aren’t you loving this “odds are” motif?) And while you’re there, you should check out another one of New York’s best stand-up nightclubs – Caroline’s on Broadway. It’s literally on Broadway between 49th and 50th. This club also originally opened in 1982, but this time by Caroline Hirsch (we see where the name comes from). Some legendary comics have performed at this venue, including Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Billy Crystal, Rosie O’Donnell, Jay Leno, Tracy Morgan, Kathy Griffin, and so on. Having multiple shows seven nights a week, you’re sure to strike gold if you 
If you’re in the mood for a show where a couple of wacky people get a random suggestion and completely make up scenes right in front of you then improvisational comedy is the right option for you. And the best of best of improv comedy in NYC – or at least the most well known – is the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). UCB was originally an improv and sketch group born in Chicago in 1990 – they arrived in New York and opened a theater by 1999. Founders Amy Poehler (Queen), Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts probably didn’t know then, but their small theater would go on to flourish into a phenomena and powerhouse in the comedy scene. If you don’t believe me, go stand in line for one of their most popular shows or try to book a spot in one of their 101 classes without following their twitter to receive notifications at the exact moment when a class opens up. The institution now has three New York locations – and two in LA – giving you all the more opportunity to catch a hilarious show. My favorite is the trademark ASSSSCAT 3000 every Sunday 7:30pm and 9:30pm at UCB Hell’s Kitchen which often features a surprise celeb monologist – AND the 9:30pm show is FREE (!!!!) if you’re willing to wait in line a bit. 
Typically, what someone is really saying is that they have a free afternoon and want advice on places to check out that aren’t classic tourist attractions. They want to experience a few new, unique, only-in-New-York experiences that cater to locals but are still exciting for someone visiting the city. Almost every time, my recommendation is the same: if you want to go off the beaten path, spend a lazy afternoon in Greenwich Village and just try to blend in. While you’re there, take yourself on a mini food tour, hang out at one of the amazing cafés near Washington Square Park, and enjoy a much needed break in a vacation otherwise packed with visiting New York’s never-ending tourist attractions. So, whether you’re looking for that unique New York experience or just want to take an afternoon to slow down and let your feet recover, consider this guide to a lazy day in Greenwich Village as my gift to you.
In Greenwich Village, one of the artistic and cultural centers for New York City, those food options tend to come with a more unique and experimental twist. For example, one of my favorite options is 
If a full meal sounds like too much and you’re simply looking for a quick snack, check at Pommes Frites, a Belgian Fries restaurant that boasts more than 30 different dipping sauce options. Or you could stop by the Creperie NYC for arguably the best dessert crepes in America. Just don’t expect warm southern hospitality at either location, as you’re more likely to be served by someone resembling the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Embrace it. It’s all part of the experience. If your sweet tooth is somehow still not satisfied, check out the hugely popular Dō, a dessert spot that serves up scoops of delicious, safe-to-eat cookie dough. Seating in most of these locations is also limited, so plan to enjoy your food while strolling around the Village like the artistic Bohemian that you are. Bonus points if you link arms like you’re on the cover of a Bob Dylan album (yes, that photo was shot in this neighborhood).
Feeling more in the mood for a quirky, all-afternoon experience? Look no further than 
New York City gets a reputation for being noisy, crowded, and expensive. But there is one month of the year where that is not true. Although it may seem like a terrible time to travel to the North East, savvy tourists know February cannot be beat in terms of pricing and availability. If you want to have the place (almost) to yourself, you have to come visit this time of year.
There are so many rom-coms set in NYC for a reason: it is one of the most romantic cities in the world! You can take a walk across the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge which is breath-taking with a light coating of snow. Central Park is especially romantic this time of year and is also mercifully empty. Wander off the beaten track and you can find yourself a moment of solitude in the middle of the big city. You can take a night-time harbor cruise see the lights; many companies offer warm cabins where you can watch from indoors with a hot chocolate or delicious cocktail. Restaurants may be really busy and reservations hard to make but what is great about NYC is that even grabbing some dollar pizza in Times Square with someone you love can be just as romantic as a fancy dinner back home. Some other fun date ideas include visiting the Statue of Liberty, going to the observation deck of One World Trade, or museum wandering.
We get an average of 7 inches of snow here in New York City in February. Some years it is more, some is less but February usually brings us at least a little snow. You can get some amazing pictures on a snowy day, especially in the parks. Some people even plan trips to visit the day after the snow hits just to experience the winter wonderland-like atmosphere. Even if it doesn’t snow on your trip, you can enjoy another great winter activity: ice skating at one of the city’s public skating rinks! At least if you do not see snow on your trip, you can enjoy the ice all winter long!
Starting around 2008, the dollar slice phenomenon is said to be a result of local businesses listening to the college students, the cab drivers, and other New York locals who needed sustenance fast and cheap. As usual, everyone claims to have been the first to create this cheap eats concept, but with a little research you can trace the trend to two different businesses: Two Bros and 99cent Fresh Pizza. These two establishments have utilized small shops with cheap rents located on busy pedestrian areas to sustain their unique business models. To learn more about the man who has taken it upon himself to rate every dollar slice in town
Battery Park is full of history! It is the home of Castle Clinton, a former military installation, now the location of Statue of Liberty tickets. Visit this circular brick building if you want to connect with the many different lives of Battery Park. There is a small museum where you can see how Castle Clinton served many purposes to New York over the generations- it was even an aquarium! Castle Clinton is now a National Park site and is perfect for the history fans. One of my favorite statues in the park is just outside: a larger-than-life sculpture called “The Immigrants” which depicts the myriad of emotions and felt by immigrants as they arrived in a new land, which for many years was right here in Battery Park. Check out some of the other breathtaking monuments the park has to offer.
Battery Park runs along the iconic New York Harbor. While it was a bit windy while I was there, the breath-taking views make it more than worth a visit no matter when you choose to visit. If you don’t have time for a visit to the Statue of Liberty this trip, a photo with the island in the background is a necessity. During my visit I saw lots of people posing with their families and couples taking engagement photos, so a bench along the harbor is the perfect place to people watch. You can see lots of boats crossing the harbor on their way to Jersey City or Governors Island and of course you can’t forget about the Statue Cruises boats on their way to Liberty and Ellis Island! Battery Park offers lots of activities for people of all ages, but one attraction in particular is perfect for the children in your life.
Designed to replicate life under water, the Seaglass Carousel is a fun ride for you and your family. When redesigning the park, officials wanted to add light and came up with a creative idea: a colorful carousel celebrating aquatic life, harkening back to the aquarium days of Castle Clinton. It features thirty larger-than-life custom made fiberglass fish. Fun fact: it does not have the traditional center pole of many carousels; rather utilizing four turntables under the floorboards! This is a perfect photo op that kids of all ages-even the teens- seem to truly enjoy. The Seaglass Carousel can be the cherry on top of a perfect NYC outing, but before you go, I recommend taking a second to enjoy the lawns of Battery Park.
Even though it was chilly, I still saw many people enjoying the green space Battery Park offers. NYC can be so hectic. Grassy lawns are scarce downtown, and this park is an essential oasis for tourists and locals (and their dogs) alike! There are often blue chairs available to sit and relax. I decided to catch up on some reading and watch the line for the Statue of Liberty unfurl throughout the park. I hope you enjoy your visit to this legendary NYC park, you are sure to have a great time no matter how you choose to spend your afternoon!
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TKTS by TDF
Central Park
South Street Seaport
Bryant Park
BONUS: Ellis Island
Exploring Lower Manhattan
Celebrity chefs go into (and out of) business here and there’s no lack of the coveted 
Zabar’s is kind of a hybrid between take-out and eat-in. Technically, there is seating available at the bar that lines the back window, and also around the middle island encircled with stools, which really takes up much more room than it should for a café this size. If you dine in, it’s meant to be a quick eat-and-go kind of place. You’ll find if you linger too long, people will begin to hover over you in a quest for your coveted seat. It’s a great place for lunch: items include bagels, Panini’s, knishes, a variety of soups, and more. If you’re looking for a more leisurely meal, it’s best to take your Zabar’s goodies to nearby Central Park, or even find a city bench. Sometimes in New York, you have to improvise! Zabar’s accepts credit
Any good list of New York eateries must end with a discussion of desserts, and Café Lalo has some of the best in the city. With its exposed brick walls and old-fashioned French posters, the décor creates a European air. The floor-to-ceiling windows encourage customers to people-watch out on the brownstone-clad streets of the Upper West Side. And the dessert . They also serve a selection of Mediterranean-style dishes for those who need sustenance before sugar. A full bar is available, including alcohol-infused shakes if you want to combine dessert with drink. The whole affair is richly romantic, and if you’re wondering where you’ve seen the place before, a sign leading into the restaurant plainly reminds you that it’s the café from another Meg Ryan movie, You’ve Got Mail. (For the other Meg Ryan site, look for the sign hanging from the ceiling in Katz’s that indicates where Harry Met Sally). Café Lalo accepts credit cards.
We’re offering a special discount to all of our newsletter subscribers for all tours booked in November*.
The main attraction here is 
Spend the day exploring 42 acres of large-scale art installations set on the former site of the New Jersey Fairgrounds. There is a selection of rotating and permanent exhibits. Besides being an open-air sculpture museum, the grounds serve as an arboretum; you can stroll on tree-lined paths or around a lake ringed with weeping willows, mixed in with spectacular artwork dotting
Incredible Family-Friendly Experiences
Calling all true believers! Take an in-depth look into the superhero and comic world in a way that only New York City can deliver. Check out iconic superhero movie sites, see where the writers and artists created your favorite characters, stroll down publishers row and see some of the most recognizable sites in New York City. Learn the answer to the age old question: Is New York Gotham or Metropolis? Excelsior!
When Cronuts first appeared on the scene, rumor was you had to get in line by 6:00 a.m. and hope they didn’t sell out by the time you got to the front of the line. You could buy exactly two Cronuts, flaky pastries that are a cross between a croissant and a donut. The Cronut took New York by storm and Dominique Ansel shot to fame. Now, it’s the go-to bakery for unique takes on old favorites, like a shot of homemade vanilla milk in a chocolate chip cookie cup. You’ll also find desserts you never imagined possible, like the Kiwi Sorbet Bar made with fresh kiwi sorbet. Ansel has won the most prestigious culinary awards that exist, and he continues to create new, innovative desserts. The menu is a work of art, from the most basic Carrot Cake to the more exotic Matcha Passionfruit Mousse Cake.
Their Instagram account has more than half a million followers, which makes sense when yylearn that the co-founders (and sisters) Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne comey from a fashion background. Their cupcakes are dressed up in a rainbow of colors—usually achieved with colorful buttercream frosting —and there doesn’t seem to be a fondant decoration they can’t create.
The Gothic structure was designed by Calvert Vaux who, along with Frederick Law Olmsted, designed Central Park, which first opened to the public in 1858. Vaux didn’t intend for the castle to serve any real function except as an ornamental structure and eye-catching landmark.
When it was an army headquarters, enlisted men lived there with their families, and then the Coast Guard took over in the 1960s. The island has served many purposes—mostly military—but now it’s a 172-acre oasis that sits just 800 yards away from Lower Manhattan. It’s the ultimate urban escape. Pack a lunch and hop on the ferry to laze away an entire summer day, and be back in the city with plenty of time to make your evening plans.
There are seven miles of bike trails on Governors Island, uninterrupted by cars. Visitors can bring their own bikes on the ferry or rent one from Blazing Saddles, who also rents surreys, bike trailers for kids, and more. There’s a Citi Bike docking station on the island, too.
If you’ve ever wanted to camp in the sightline of the Statue of Liberty, the summer of 2018 is your chance. Governors Island recently announced that they’ll pair up with 
Few topics will cause more debate among New Yorkers than where to find the best pizza. Opinions are plentiful and to make matters even more complicated, new pizzerias open and close all the time. Here’s a list of the absolute best, and in many cases, longest standing pizzerias in New York.
Joe Pozzuoli hails from Naples—the city synonymous with mouth-watering pizza—and now well into in his seventies, he can still be found at his restaurant, making sure his namesake pizzeria stays true to its values: using simple but authentic ingredients, and only the best. Pozzuoli has a great love for the diversity of Greenwich Village, where he opened in 1975, and believes that he has a true understanding of what people want in a pizza. The people who work at Joe’s apparently appreciate Joe’s philosophy, too. His employees stay with him for decades, meaning there isn’t a constant staff turnover, which results in a consistently high-quality food.
Original owner John Sasso had to move locations once, and when he did, he dismantled his sacred coal- fired brick oven and moved it to his new restaurant on Bleecker Street. The pizzeria was bought by the Vesce brothers in the 1950s and remains in that family today, still using Sasso’s brick oven. The tin ceilings and original wooden booths lend it an old-world feeling. John’s is frequently included on 
In the late 19th century, Gennaro Lombardi opened a grocery store on Spring Street, north of Little Italy. In 1905, he was granted an official license to run a pizzeria, which earned him the 
But the 25-acre park on the southernmost tip of Manhattan is worth a second look. 
It’s one of many monuments in the park, but the storied history puts 
The spiral-shaped building was designed to look like a chambered nautilus, and inside is a collection of 30 shimmering fish which serve as the seats in this sea-themed merry-go-round. The light, movement, and music all combine to give riders a mystical, aquatic-like experience. The carousel opened in 2015 and honors the park as being the original location of the New York Aquarium, which eventually moved to Coney Island. Take note that the winter hours for riding the carousel are limited; check the