Offbeat New York

All Around the Town

New York City's Terminal 5 (TWA) at JFK built by Eero Saarinen Maybe Finding New Life and Appreciation

Anyone growing up in NYC knew TWA, and the Eero Saarinen terminal that opened in 1962. The soaring wings made travelers feel they were about to take to the sky and soar themselves. In a city that regularly, even eagerly, tears down old buildings for the sake of change, the TWA terminal held on.

Hosteling in New York City

New York Hostels: Budget Accommodation in the Big Apple

Sponsored Feature

Halloween Happenings

Read about the Spooktacular Fun in New York City at: Halloween- New York City

Celebrate Romance: Valentine's Day in New York City

Horse-drawn carriages, dinner on the water, overlooking the water, high atop the city, New York can be a city of great romance.

New York City Trivia

Just for fun, see how much you know about the Big Apple.

New York City Winter Fun

When the weather turns a bit chilly, New York City turns up the heat with nonstop holidays fun.

Families Have Fun

All across town, New York City offers fun for families. In this special roundup, read some of the places where you and your kids can eat, explore, have a good time.

New York City Accessibility

Read about the resources available to visitors with physical challenges.

Explore NYC's history

For lovers of historical travel, and New York City history.

Manhattan

Manhattan Solstice -- Manhattan-Henge

by Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD. Move over Stonehenge, New York City has its own amazing solstice phenomenon. If you didn't know about our Manhattan Solstice, read on.

The Rickshaws of New York City

Story and photos by Antonio Graceffo. There was a loud hollow thud, as I was violently thrown out of the saddle. Tomer expertly rode his bicycle out of the huge freight elevator. "Remember," he said, "the pedi cab is much wider than a normal bicycle. So, so you have to allow more room when you're taking corners." I took my feet off the pedals, to get my composure back, and stepped right in a fresh pile of horse manure.

The Best Bargain in Town: The New York Times Travel Show

Story and photos by Denise Mattia. The New York Times Travel Show is not just an opportunity to learn about fascinating places. It's a chance to savor them as well.

Romance Is In the Air In New York City

by Sheree Bykofsky and Caroline Woods. When romance is in the air -- here are some places to celebrate.

Top of the Rock Observatory at Rockefeller Center

by Neala Schwartzberg After being closed for 20 years, the observatory at Rockefeller Center reopened in November, 2005, better than ever.

Historic Grand Central Terminal: The Grand Tour

by Neala Schwartzberg Seeing the Grand in Grand Central Terminal.

Rockefeller Center

by Neala Schwartzberg. We toured the art and architecture of New York's beloved Rockefeller Center.

New York City Weekend

by Suzanne Wright. If your dream weekend in the city is eating and shopping, with a bit of sight-seeing, Suzanne will tell you how to enjoy.

Want Dim Sum? It's a Chinatown Treat (But You Can Get it Elsewhere)

Think finger food -- but use your chopsticks! -- by way of Spanish tapas. Served directly from stacks of bamboo containers atop wheeled carts, and traditionally accompanied by tea, Dim Sum is a sampler's delight.

New York City Restaurants -- Eating All Around the Town

From a quick inexpensive meal to a fabulous cheese, and where to eat in Chinatown. New York is the food capital of the US.

On The Move In Manhattan: A Visit to Helen's

by Carla Rupp and Jason Rupp. New York City is full of great music, cabaret, dance and theater. If you want a really terrific offbeat cabaret, travel a little over twenty blocks from the Theater District to Helen's in the heart of the Chelsea area of Manhattan.

Free Tours and Attractions in New York City

by Neala Schwartzberg. These New York City landmarks and lesser known places offer art, history and fun -- and they're free.

Small Gems: Offbeat New York City Museums

by Victor Block. As wonderful as they are, New York City is more than the Met, MoMA, and the Museum of Natural History. New York City's diversity extends to its museums. Victor Block will help you find some of these wonderful treasures.

The Concierges of New York City

Do you need the impossible? Perhaps a concierge can help.

Cha, Chinese and Cake: CK Bar and Restaurant

by Denise Mattia Delicious food, excellent pastries, low prices -- Denise Mattia has found it, and now is telling us about it.

On The Move: In Manhattan: Dekk Restaurant and Bar

by Carla Rupp and Jason Rupp What could be more offbeat than jazz? After all, the best notes are on the offbeat. In Lower Manhattan’s Tribeca, the jazz scene on Sunday’s and Monday’s includes the sleek, comfortable Dekk: Restaurant + Bar and Special Screening Room.

Ephemeral Art -- The Gates at Central Park

February 12 - February 27, 2005
by Denise Mattia. The Gates, the largest artwork in our City's history, were removed in 16 days, an aesthetic decision made by Christo and Jeanne-Claude to give their work a feeling of urgency to be seen. "These feelings are usually reserved for other temporary things such as childhood and our own lives. . . valued because we know they will not last." What will be remembered is the vitality that they created.

Lower Manhattan On A Budget

by Maureen Hennessy. We have all heard how terribly expensive New York is, but there is quite a lot you can do for little or no cost at all.

Chocolate Brownies in New York's Chinatown? Forget that!

by Maxine Sommers. Planning a trip to New York City? This is one metropolis that does not sleep…things to see and places to go round-the-clock, never a dull moment! Chinatown is a fascinating part of the city. New York boasts it has the largest Chinatown in the United States. Located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan it covers a whopping big 2-square miles and has a population of 150,000 people.

Lower Eastside Tenement Museum

by Neala Schwartzberg. Although often described as a melting pot New York is more like a savory stew in which many different cultures contribute their unique flavors. Jews, Italians, Germans, Chinese, Irish, and more all took up residence in the area which came to be known as the Lower East Side. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum honors the experiences and stories of these families who came to the land where the streets were said to be paved with gold.

The Rise and Rise of Lower Manhattan

by Neala Schwartzberg. Without a doubt, parts of Manhattan have more cachet. But Lower Manhattan is where New York City started, and it’s reclaiming its place of vitality and importance. There are a dozen museums, the rebuilt Winter Garden hosts special events, Wall Street is lighting up building facades and luring visitors with art and food. The piers of the East River have become South Street Seaport.

The Parks of Battery Park City

by Neala Schwartzberg. A 32 acre fringe of greenery with skaters, strollers, and 20 installations of public art. Walk along the Hudson, and pause to watch the sailboats tacking their way up and down the river. Both residents and visitors can enjoy a full program of activities, bird walks, garden tours, performances, classes and more.

Brooklyn

Take a Stroll with a New York Big Apple Greeter Through Brooklyn

by Nancy & Steve Ross. Nancy and Steve have been to New York City many times before, but never have we experienced it quite like this.

Fort Greene Park: Home to a Glorious Yet Grim Reminder

by Maureen Littlejohn. Fort Greene Park is like a cat with nine lives. In 1864 it was unveiled as a Frederick Law Olmsted - Calvert Vaux (Central Park's famous design team) masterpiece. Prior to becoming a spot for leisurely strolling, it was a bastion of the Revolutionary War. In the 1970s it was known as crack central. Today, Fort Greene Park is a 33-acre emerald gem of flowering chestnut trees, 100-year-old elms, winding paths, tennis courts, children's playgrounds and gently rolling hills.

The Brooklyn Museum of Art: Treasures Galore

by Maureen Littlejohn. Brooklyn's grand dame of cult-cha hasn't been getting the same amount of press as the recently rehabbed MOMA, but the Brooklyn Museum of Art has just as much to be proud of. With a new $63 million glass and steel entrance (think of a see-through USS Enterprise starship sliced in half vertically), the 560,000-square-foot Beaux Arts is now firmly in the 21st century.

Queens

Little India in Jackson Heights: A Quick Tour of a South Asian Neighborhood

By John Roleke. Exit the Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Jackson Heights, dash across the street underneath the overhead train, and at first glance the area is like any polyglot immigrant crossroads in the great borough of Queens. The intersection is a hodgepodge of ethnic restaurants, cell phone outlets, and kiosks advertising money-grams to Colombia. There's a Korean stationery store and a cluster of Catholic schoolboys. But choose 74th Street and start walking north. The first sign of something different is a "sweets shop" whose window displays row upon row of neatly stacked balls and rectangles in pastel pinks, pistachio greens, caramel browns, and coconut whites. In a few more steps it becomes clear: chaos solidifies into a bustling Little India neighborhood where more South Asian immigrants—Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi—live than anywhere else in New York City.

Louis Armstrong House: Catch a glimpse of Satchmo's Life

by Neala Schwartzberg. Imagine for a moment that it's 1943. Louis Armstrong, famous jazz trumpeter, has just come back to New York from a road tour. He knows the address of the house his wife Lucille bought in his absence but has never seen it. The driver pulls up to the house, a modest two-story clapboard in an ethnically-mixed neighborhood. It looks pretty much like any of the houses on the block. It isn't until his wife greets him at the door that he sees the warm yet sophisticated place will become his refuge, his home.

Belmont Park Race Track...And They're Off!

by Neala Schwartzberg. The horses come thundering down the track, the jockeys urging them forward. The crowd roars on its collective feet. You stand, shouting with everyone else: "Go, GO, GO!" And in an instant you're either a happy winner counting your money, or sadly ripping up your tickets. But wait, there's another race in about 20 minutes. You're at Belmont Park Race Track, and the excitement continues.

Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum

by Neala Schwartzberg. The Noguchi Museum, in an austere building softened by vines, gives little hint of the beauty within, and the range of experience that awaits visitors. But now that it's expanded (and attracting visitors from all over the world) more and more New Yorkers will be making the trip. See why we found it extraordinary.


	All Around the Town New York City's Terminal 5 (TWA) at JFK built by Eero Saarinen Maybe Finding New Life and Appreciation Anyone growing up in NYC knew TWA, and the Eero Saarinen terminal that opened in 1962. The soaring wings made travelers feel they were about to take to the sky and soar themselves. In a city that regularly, even eagerly, tears down old buildings for the sake of change, the TWA terminal held on. Hosteling in New York City New York Hostels: Budget Accommodation in the Big Apple Sponsored Feature Halloween Happenings Read about the Spooktacular Fun in New York City at: Halloween- New York City Celebrate Romance: Valentine's Day in New York City Horse-drawn carriages, dinner on the water, overlooking the water, high atop the city, New York can be a city of great romance. New York City Trivia Just for fun, see how much you know about the Big Apple. New York City Winter Fun When the weather turns a bit chilly, New York City turns up the heat with nonstop holidays fun. Families Have Fun All across town, New York City offers fun for families. In this special roundup, read some of the places where you and your kids can eat, explore, have a good time. New York City Accessibility Read about the resources available to visitors with physical challenges. Explore NYC's history For lovers of historical travel, and New York City history. Manhattan Manhattan Solstice -- Manhattan-Henge by Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD. Move over Stonehenge, New York City has its own amazing solstice phenomenon. If you didn't know about our Manhattan Solstice, read on. The Rickshaws of New York City Story and photos by Antonio Graceffo. There was a loud hollow thud, as I was violently thrown out of the saddle. Tomer expertly rode his bicycle out of the huge freight elevator. "Remember," he said, "the pedi cab is much wider than a normal bicycle. So, so you have to allow more room when you're taking corners." I took my feet off the pedals, to get my composure back, and stepped right in a fresh pile of horse manure. The Best Bargain in Town: The New York Times Travel Show Story and photos by Denise Mattia. The New York Times Travel Show is not just an opportunity to learn about fascinating places. It's a chance to savor them as well. Romance Is In the Air In New York City by Sheree Bykofsky and Caroline Woods. When romance is in the air -- here are some places to celebrate. Top of the Rock Observatory at Rockefeller Center by Neala Schwartzberg After being closed for 20 years, the observatory at Rockefeller Center reopened in November, 2005, better than ever. Historic Grand Central Terminal: The Grand Tour by Neala Schwartzberg Seeing the Grand in Grand Central Terminal. Rockefeller Center by Neala Schwartzberg. We toured the art and architecture of New York's beloved Rockefeller Center. New York City Weekend by Suzanne Wright. If your dream weekend in the city is eating and shopping, with a bit of sight-seeing, Suzanne will tell you how to enjoy. Want Dim Sum? It's a Chinatown Treat (But You Can Get it Elsewhere) Think finger food -- but use your chopsticks! -- by way of Spanish tapas. Served directly from stacks of bamboo containers atop wheeled carts, and traditionally accompanied by tea, Dim Sum is a sampler's delight. New York City Restaurants -- Eating All Around the Town From a quick inexpensive meal to a fabulous cheese, and where to eat in Chinatown. New York is the food capital of the US. On The Move In Manhattan: A Visit to Helen's by Carla Rupp and Jason Rupp. New York City is full of great music, cabaret, dance and theater. If you want a really terrific offbeat cabaret, travel a little over twenty blocks from the Theater District to Helen's in the heart of the Chelsea area of Manhattan. Free Tours and Attractions in New York City by Neala Schwartzberg. These New York City landmarks and lesser known places offer art, history and fun -- and they're free. Small Gems: Offbeat New York City Museums by Victor Block. As wonderful as they are, New York City is more than the Met, MoMA, and the Museum of Natural History. New York City's diversity extends to its museums. Victor Block will help you find some of these wonderful treasures. The Concierges of New York City Do you need the impossible? Perhaps a concierge can help. Cha, Chinese and Cake: CK Bar and Restaurant by Denise Mattia Delicious food, excellent pastries, low prices -- Denise Mattia has found it, and now is telling us about it. On The Move: In Manhattan: Dekk Restaurant and Bar by Carla Rupp and Jason Rupp What could be more offbeat than jazz? After all, the best notes are on the offbeat. In Lower Manhattan’s Tribeca, the jazz scene on Sunday’s and Monday’s includes the sleek, comfortable Dekk: Restaurant + Bar and Special Screening Room. Ephemeral Art -- The Gates at Central Park February 12 - February 27, 2005 by Denise Mattia. The Gates, the largest artwork in our City's history, were removed in 16 days, an aesthetic decision made by Christo and Jeanne-Claude to give their work a feeling of urgency to be seen. "These feelings are usually reserved for other temporary things such as childhood and our own lives. . . valued because we know they will not last." What will be remembered is the vitality that they created. Lower Manhattan On A Budget by Maureen Hennessy. We have all heard how terribly expensive New York is, but there is quite a lot you can do for little or no cost at all. Chocolate Brownies in New York's Chinatown? Forget that! by Maxine Sommers. Planning a trip to New York City? This is one metropolis that does not sleep…things to see and places to go round-the-clock, never a dull moment! Chinatown is a fascinating part of the city. New York boasts it has the largest Chinatown in the United States. Located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan it covers a whopping big 2-square miles and has a population of 150,000 people. Lower Eastside Tenement Museum by Neala Schwartzberg. Although often described as a melting pot New York is more like a savory stew in which many different cultures contribute their unique flavors. Jews, Italians, Germans, Chinese, Irish, and more all took up residence in the area which came to be known as the Lower East Side. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum honors the experiences and stories of these families who came to the land where the streets were said to be paved with gold. The Rise and Rise of Lower Manhattan by Neala Schwartzberg. Without a doubt, parts of Manhattan have more cachet. But Lower Manhattan is where New York City started, and it’s reclaiming its place of vitality and importance. There are a dozen museums, the rebuilt Winter Garden hosts special events, Wall Street is lighting up building facades and luring visitors with art and food. The piers of the East River have become South Street Seaport. The Parks of Battery Park City by Neala Schwartzberg. A 32 acre fringe of greenery with skaters, strollers, and 20 installations of public art. Walk along the Hudson, and pause to watch the sailboats tacking their way up and down the river. Both residents and visitors can enjoy a full program of activities, bird walks, garden tours, performances, classes and more. Brooklyn Take a Stroll with a New York Big Apple Greeter Through Brooklyn by Nancy & Steve Ross. Nancy and Steve have been to New York City many times before, but never have we experienced it quite like this. Fort Greene Park: Home to a Glorious Yet Grim Reminder by Maureen Littlejohn. Fort Greene Park is like a cat with nine lives. In 1864 it was unveiled as a Frederick Law Olmsted - Calvert Vaux (Central Park's famous design team) masterpiece. Prior to becoming a spot for leisurely strolling, it was a bastion of the Revolutionary War. In the 1970s it was known as crack central. Today, Fort Greene Park is a 33-acre emerald gem of flowering chestnut trees, 100-year-old elms, winding paths, tennis courts, children's playgrounds and gently rolling hills. The Brooklyn Museum of Art: Treasures Galore by Maureen Littlejohn. Brooklyn's grand dame of cult-cha hasn't been getting the same amount of press as the recently rehabbed MOMA, but the Brooklyn Museum of Art has just as much to be proud of. With a new $63 million glass and steel entrance (think of a see-through USS Enterprise starship sliced in half vertically), the 560,000-square-foot Beaux Arts is now firmly in the 21st century. Queens Little India in Jackson Heights: A Quick Tour of a South Asian Neighborhood By John Roleke. Exit the Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Jackson Heights, dash across the street underneath the overhead train, and at first glance the area is like any polyglot immigrant crossroads in the great borough of Queens. The intersection is a hodgepodge of ethnic restaurants, cell phone outlets, and kiosks advertising money-grams to Colombia. There's a Korean stationery store and a cluster of Catholic schoolboys. But choose 74th Street and start walking north. The first sign of something different is a "sweets shop" whose window displays row upon row of neatly stacked balls and rectangles in pastel pinks, pistachio greens, caramel browns, and coconut whites. In a few more steps it becomes clear: chaos solidifies into a bustling *Little India* neighborhood where more South Asian immigrants—Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi—live than anywhere else in New York City. Louis Armstrong House: Catch a glimpse of Satchmo's Life by Neala Schwartzberg. Imagine for a moment that it's 1943. Louis Armstrong, famous jazz trumpeter, has just come back to New York from a road tour. He knows the address of the house his wife Lucille bought in his absence but has never seen it. The driver pulls up to the house, a modest two-story clapboard in an ethnically-mixed neighborhood. It looks pretty much like any of the houses on the block. It isn't until his wife greets him at the door that he sees the warm yet sophisticated place will become his refuge, his home. Belmont Park Race Track...And They're Off! by Neala Schwartzberg. The horses come thundering down the track, the jockeys urging them forward. The crowd roars on its collective feet. You stand, shouting with everyone else: "Go, GO, GO!" And in an instant you're either a happy winner counting your money, or sadly ripping up your tickets. But wait, there's another race in about 20 minutes. You're at Belmont Park Race Track, and the excitement continues. Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum by Neala Schwartzberg. The Noguchi Museum, in an austere building softened by vines, gives little hint of the beauty within, and the range of experience that awaits visitors. But now that it's expanded (and attracting visitors from all over the world) more and more New Yorkers will be making the trip. See why we found it extraordinary.
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