"Secret" NYC
 

I am taking my first trip to NYC; I will be there 8 days and 7 nights September 17-24. I like more "culture attractions" than "landmark attractions."

What are the best "off-the-beaten-path" things to do in NY?

I will be staying Midtown, but would like to spend a day in each major section of Manhattan (and maybe one day in Brooklyn.)

No offense, but if this is your first trip there why wouldn't you want to do the best things and the things New York is famous for. What would make you want to to only the minor attractions, that are off the beaten path?

I would certainly suggest things like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, its related Cloisters, Museum of Modern Art, even the Guggenheim as much for the building as the collections, the Frick. Set up a backstage tour of the Metropolitan Museum. See (hear) a concert with the New York Philharmonic or something at Carnegie Hall. In Brooklyn go to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and maybe the museum adjacent. (I haven't been there, but recently posed the question and got directions and suggestions for that day in Brooklyn -- do a search here for Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and check that information out.

You might also enjoy the Tenement Museum in the lower east side. Stroll the many galleries of Soho.

None of these things are the least bit off the beaten path, but I think they are much better ideas of what to see for a first trip than the things that are.

Patrick - this is the stuff I was talking about - all excellent ideas that I appreciate.

What I meant by off the beaten path was: I don't necessarily want to be packed like a sardine in the Empire State Building, etc.

I definitely am going to the Guggenheim, MoMA, etc., but I had not heard of the Tenement Museum.

I want to hit the cultural highlights, but mix in stuff that isn't necessarily "Top 20 things to do in NYC."

I hope that clarifies.

I think Patrick meant the backstage tour at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, not the museum. The tour is definitely worth your time.

I second the backstage tour at the Met. I was taken there for my birthday and it was wonderful. And then there's the great gift shop.

The Brooklyn Museum is very cool and currently has an amazing Basquiat exhibit. I just returned and am going to post my trip report; alas, we mostly were packed like sardines in places like the subway and Empire State Building. But the Brooklyn Museum was a real gem; right across from the subway stop too.

sfamylou, where else were packed like sardines? those are the places I would like to avoid. And which ones are worth it?

You might also want to make a brief stop at the newly reopened FAO Schwarz on 5th Avenue and 58th Street. Two talented young employees put on a delightful show at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour on the second floor, utilizing a step-on piano like the one used in the movie Big.

You should do the Immigration Museum at Ellis Island - yes a lot of tourists go - but NYCers too. It's truly unique and helps demonstrate how/why NYC esp is so diverse.

You night also want to try the Museum of the City of New York - and the exhibits at the main brnach of the Public Library - often fascinating - as is the reading room.

You might also want to check out St Patrick's and St. John the Divine (upper west side near Columbia). And take that as an opportunity to tour a typical residential neighborhood.

You should also do some of the galleries downtown and check out the lower east side - NYC at its trendiest.

Tifa, if you want to avoid crowded places, avoid Times Square. I live in NYC and I only go there when I have to. It is *always* crowded and hard to move around down there.

You can do both the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in a day, since one of the garden's entrances is right near the museum.

Another thing you can do is go wander around Brooklyn Heights. There's a promenade that overlooks the East River with great views of the city.

If you're feeling adventurous, go check out DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges). It's a neighborhood next to Brooklyn Heights. It's very trendy and has old cobblestoned streets, and it has a waterfront park with views of Manhattan.
http://www.dumbo-newyork.com/

Sardine situations: Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty (really mostly the ferry and security areas), the Met, Moma on Saturday morning, West 44th Street (really most of Times Square) on Saturday.

Not so Bad: Soho including firefighter museum, Ground Zero, Natural History, Brooklyn Museum, Central Park including zoo, Lower East Side.

A correction on sfamylou's sardine list. The Met and MoMA are most crowded on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, not mornings. If you have to go on a weekend, definitely pick the morning.

HowardR; we thought mornings would be better too; but at Moma on Saturday morning the ticket line wrapped around the building and I didn't see it change much over the day (we checked). I think it would be best to go to museums/attractions early on weekdays (watch out for closures) and leave Central Park and general wandering/shopping for the weekends.

sfamylou, how long ago was your crowded experience at MOMA?

If you're big on the museums, consider the citypass.com which gives you entry into MOMA, the Guggenheim, the Mus. of Natural History, the Intrepid and also a Circle Line Cruise and ESB. It's my understanding it also allows you to skip lines at all these places. MOMA is now $20 so I think doing 2-3 of things pays for itself.

There's a new exhibit called Ashes and Snow downtown

ashesandsnow.com

For theater, do you know about the discount codes on broadwaybox.com? Don't miss some off Broadway.

There are some other smaller museums that are worth a look. The Neue is Viennese and near the Met. The Forbes Museum is free on lower Fifth Ave. The Daheesh sometimes has a small gem of a show on Madison Ave.

Final thought for now ;) don't miss the Conservatory gardens in Central Park at Fifth Ave. & 104 st.

Tifa - I asked a similar sort of question last year - got loads of really helpful and offbeat replies. Search for "MagicRat" - the thread was called The Best of New York

Enjoy...

Alan

It's seeing posts like this that make me sooo thankful to be a New Yorker!! :D

You might also want to check out the Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum at 5th & 91st. http://ndm.si.edu