48 Cool Things To Do in NYC That Turn Visits Into Epic Stories

September 12, 2010

I’m always looking for incredible things to do in NYC, hidden gems and New York attractions that most people don’t know about unless you hear it from “the natives” that I can share with friends and guests of my shows.

So, I’ve made a list of some of the coolest, quirkiest things to do in New York that are guaranteed to not only keep you busy for years of visits to come, but leave you with stories to share for life.

Please enjoy and share these…

  1. Mile-high brioche French-toast breakfast at Norma’s  http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat1.php
  2. For yoga vampires – Friday night yoga at Laughing Lotus from 10pm to midnight http://nyc.laughinglotus.com
  3. 2am Dim-sum in Chinatown – Wo Hop 15 Mott Street (between Mosco St. & Chatham Sq.) 212 -566-3841
  4. Habana Outpost – Sustainable Cuban fare in a cool, eclectic, sustainable eatery and bar. Ride a stationary bike to power the blender for your frozen drinks and save $1 off the price. http://www.cafehabana.com/
  5. Cupcake Wars – Tour and rate cupcakes from 4 legendary cupcakeries, Billy’s Bakery http://www.billysbakerynyc.com, Cupcake Café http://www.cupcakecafe-nyc.com, Magnolia Bakery http://www.magnoliabakery.com, and Butter Lane http://www.butterlane.com/
  6. Have a chocolate orgasm at Max Brenners http://www.maxbrenner.com
  7. The Millionaires’ Magician – Share a suite in the exclusive Waldorf-Astoria for a private Chamber Magic show with legendary magician, Steve Cohen https://www.chambermagic.com (I hear this guy’s amazing, lol. C’mon, you know I had to throw my show “into the hat!”).
  8. Tour the unique NY food landscapes of NYC http://www.foodsofny.com/
  9. Hidden Tunnel in Brooklyn – Climb down a manhole and discover a world down-under on Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn http://www.brooklynrail.net/bhra_events.html
  10. Enjoy a night of master-storytelling at The Moth http://www.themoth.org
  11. Go Funderground – Laugh off a tough day at Upright Citizens Brigade http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com
  12. The NY Earth Room – 3,600 sq ft of pristine dirt on display at a Wooster St gallery –  http://www.diacenter.org/sites/main/earthroom
  13. World’s Coolest Map Room – Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division Of the New York Public Library – 7,000 sq ft map room, home of the largest map collection of any public library in the world in 1911 Beaux-Art glory. http://www.nypl.org/locations/schwarzman
  14. Accomplice The Show – Organize a group of friends and go on a unique NYC show, scavenger hunt, game tour with Accomplice (I loved this!) http://accomplicetheshow.com/
  15. Drink in the jazz on a floating barge in Brooklyn http://www.bargemusic.org/
  16. Frozen margaritas on the Roof Garden café at the Met http://www.metmuseum.org/visit/dining/
  17. Trapeze School – Fly through the air 23 feet above ground at http://newyork.trapezeschool.com/
  18. Tantalize and Educate – You don’t have to whisper the word sex when you visit The Museum of Sex http://www.museumofsex.com/ (18 and older a must)
  19. Kitchen Arts & Letters – Revel in out-of-print cookbooks to classic cookbooks and rare classics http://www.kitchenartsandletters.com/
  20. Harlem Gospel Walking Tour – Experience the wonderful sounds of gospel music and be part of a church service in Harlem. http://www.harlemheritage.com/category/tours/gospel-tours/
  21. The Mandarin Oriental Lobby Lounge  – Stop by for afternoon tea, lunch or evening cocktails and enjoy a stunning view of Central Park. (One of my favorite spots.) www.mandarinoriental.com/
  22. Nap it Up! – Tired after a long day of touring? Take a power nap at Yelo Spa http://www.yelonyc.com/spa/yelo-treatments/powernaps/
  23. Bathrooms For Exhibitionist – Yes, we are all inner voyeurs, take a peek from the bathroom at Peep restaurant http://www.peepsoho.net
  24. Sakagura Saki Lounge – Serving over 200 types of sake, Sakagura has become one of the top sake bars in the US http://www.sakagura.com
  25. Rock’s Best Pics – Check out legendary rock images at the http://www.morrisonhotelgallery.com
  26. Urasenke Chanoyu Center – Learn the art of tea at http://www.urasenkeny.org/pages/society.html
  27. Radiostar Karaoke – Belt out some tunes with friends, in a private room, at http://www.radiostarus.com/
  28. Kalustyans Spices – No matter what spice you are looking for you will find it here. http://kalustyans.com/
  29. Spa on Steroids – Wall to wall rooftop whirlpools in the outer borough at Spa Castle http://www.nyspacastle.com
  30. Where comics come alive – Explore the world of comics and cartoons at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art http://www.moccany.org/
  31. Kayaking NYC-style – http://licboathouse.org
  32. Drool over billions in gold – Billions of dollars in gold bars below ground in NYC, learn more about it at the Federal Reserve Bank (reservations required) http://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/ny_tours.html
  33. Make a shopping stop at an Asian Emporium of goods at Pearl River http://www.pearlriver.com
  34. Remember and honor 9/11 victims and visit Tiles of America http://www.tilesforamerica.com/
  35. Beer’s last stand – Grab a beer and visit the last remaining beer garden in NYC at Bohemian Hall Garden in Queens http://www.bohemianhall.com/
  36. The real Little Italy – Authentic Italian cooking and delicacies at Arthur Avenue, the Little Italy of the Bronx. Dine at Roberto Restaurant for dinner. It’s worth the wait http://www.roberto089.com/index_r.html
  37. Pet shop or freak show? – See rare viewings at your not so average pet shop at The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill http://thevillagepetstoreandcharcoalgrill.com
  38. Historic houses of NYC – Visit a historic NYC home http://www.historichousetrust.org/
  39. Explore the NYC skyline from the ground – American Skyscraper Museum http://www.skyscraper.org/home.htm
  40. Brooklyn Flea Market  http://www.brooklynflea.com/
  41. Visit the only medical library open to the public in NYC at the NY academy of Medicine library http://www.nyam.org (appt. necessary)
  42. Philharmonic Open rehearsals – Take a sneak peak and listen to masters at work at an open rehearsal at the New York Philharmonic http://nyphil.org/concertsticks/special_openRehearsals.cfm
  43. Studio Visits – P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, Queens http://ps1.org/
  44. Tibetan & Buddhist Art – Visit the only museum in the US that concentrates on Tibetan and Buddhist art at The Jaques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art  http://www.tibetanmuseum.org/
  45. Cake-baker’s heaven – Unleash your inner Martha at New York Cake & Baking Distributor http://www.nycake.com/
  46. Get out the binoculars and discover a unique world of birds at The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge http://www.nyharborparks.org/visit/jaba.html
  47. This ain’t your gramma’s ping-pong – SPiN New York, a 13,000 square foot table-tennis social club located off of Park Avenue in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. http://www.spinyc.com/
  48. 100 year old original City Hall subway station with arched tiles, chandeliers, leaded skylights, Guastavino ceilings and Heins & LaFarge. It’s been closed to the public since 1945, but it can be seen by staying on the #6 local after the end of the line riding southbound, and looping around to enter the Brooklyn Bridge station northbound, provided the conductor lets you stay on. The Transit Museum also runs sporadic tours.