Metta's Guidebook
Parks & Squares
Union Square hosts artists merchant tables (Tu,Th,Su=days?), the farmer’s market (M,W,F,Sa approximate time 5am-5pm), the seasonal holiday market (black Friday- Christmas Eve), performing artists, and political rallies. It also is home to seven (4, 5, 6, L, N, R, and Q trains) subway lines. It is just two blocks from my home and surely it is as fun as it is useful. Go and people watch skateboarders, bmx riders, snake charmers, fire performers, or the variety of other locals who frequent the area! Hang out on the grass, benches, tables, visit the dog park, kid park, or just walk around the square!
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Union Square
Union Square hosts artists merchant tables (Tu,Th,Su=days?), the farmer’s market (M,W,F,Sa approximate time 5am-5pm), the seasonal holiday market (black Friday- Christmas Eve), performing artists, and political rallies. It also is home to seven (4, 5, 6, L, N, R, and Q trains) subway lines. It is just two blocks from my home and surely it is as fun as it is useful. Go and people watch skateboarders, bmx riders, snake charmers, fire performers, or the variety of other locals who frequent the area! Hang out on the grass, benches, tables, visit the dog park, kid park, or just walk around the square!
The best secret parks in the city are just one small city street away from our home! These well kept more hidden gems of the city are a great place to read, wonder, walk, and play. No kids parks here but the one between 1&2 Avenues has a great dog park. This park is split up by Second Avenue and is located from 15th Street to 17th street between 2nd & 3rd and 1st & 2nd avenues. Enjoy the circular design edged in benches, the gardens (you can volunteer to help too), the dog park (fun even without your own dog), the shady grass areas, and picnic tables. Events like yoga and intimate musical concerts are held there too so look up to see what is happening during your stay!
Stuyvesant Park
Stuyvesant ParkThe best secret parks in the city are just one small city street away from our home! These well kept more hidden gems of the city are a great place to read, wonder, walk, and play. No kids parks here but the one between 1&2 Avenues has a great dog park. This park is split up by Second Avenue and is located from 15th Street to 17th street between 2nd & 3rd and 1st & 2nd avenues. Enjoy the circular design edged in benches, the gardens (you can volunteer to help too), the dog park (fun even without your own dog), the shady grass areas, and picnic tables. Events like yoga and intimate musical concerts are held there too so look up to see what is happening during your stay!
The best dog park in the city in the best hidden gems of parks there are around! Even without a dog this place is fun to visit. Unlike Union Square and Tompkins dog runs this one is better designed and so it doesn’t have a sand/gravel base to hold that dog urine smell. Your nose will thank me plus it is the closest one- only 2 blocks from our home!
Stuyvesant Park Dog Run
The best dog park in the city in the best hidden gems of parks there are around! Even without a dog this place is fun to visit. Unlike Union Square and Tompkins dog runs this one is better designed and so it doesn’t have a sand/gravel base to hold that dog urine smell. Your nose will thank me plus it is the closest one- only 2 blocks from our home!
Tompkins Square Park is our stomping grounds! It is .6-.8 miles away situated between 7th and 10th Streets and Avenue A and B.
There are basketball courts, a skate park, dog park, 3 kid playgrounds, benches, a lawn, open square/circle area, and a host of happenings there.
Home to Howl Festival and where the amazingly fun Dance Parade finishes into a fair there is a assortment of formal and informal gatherings held here. Some of which you can only hear about (like the after Christmas- tree round up maze) from locals and others you can look up online.
Enjoy the picnic tables, seasonal pool, gardens, and benches! Go to where the first USA Krishna gathering ever occurred and adorn the tree with dry flowers that shaded such an historic event. Watch or join the skaters in the courts or have a party in the picnic area!
A homeless population lives near the 10th Street / Avenue A entrance (near the chess tables) for anyone who wants to give away any charitable donations such as food or clean warm clothes.
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Tompkins Square Park
East 10th StreetTompkins Square Park is our stomping grounds! It is .6-.8 miles away situated between 7th and 10th Streets and Avenue A and B.
There are basketball courts, a skate park, dog park, 3 kid playgrounds, benches, a lawn, open square/circle area, and a host of happenings there.
Home to Howl Festival and where the amazingly fun Dance Parade finishes into a fair there is a assortment of formal and informal gatherings held here. Some of which you can only hear about (like the after Christmas- tree round up maze) from locals and others you can look up online.
Enjoy the picnic tables, seasonal pool, gardens, and benches! Go to where the first USA Krishna gathering ever occurred and adorn the tree with dry flowers that shaded such an historic event. Watch or join the skaters in the courts or have a party in the picnic area!
A homeless population lives near the 10th Street / Avenue A entrance (near the chess tables) for anyone who wants to give away any charitable donations such as food or clean warm clothes.
Views of Brooklyn with an array of sporting fields, kids’ playgrounds, bbqs, sprinklers, lawns, benches, and fun activities.
The first cross over of the FDR to the park is at Tenth Street (1.1 miles away) and leads into what we call the ‘sun park’. The furthest cross over is 1.5 miles away and leads to the historic and epic amphitheater. A little walk but worth the views and paths.
Take a seat under the Williamsburg Bridge and enjoy the infrastructure or watch the boats in the East River on a sunshine afternoon! Look up events and/or go to an open field and play some sports! Have a picnic, sun bath, or bike the paths! One of my favorites in the city!
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John V. Lindsay East River Park
1234 East 6th StreetViews of Brooklyn with an array of sporting fields, kids’ playgrounds, bbqs, sprinklers, lawns, benches, and fun activities.
The first cross over of the FDR to the park is at Tenth Street (1.1 miles away) and leads into what we call the ‘sun park’. The furthest cross over is 1.5 miles away and leads to the historic and epic amphitheater. A little walk but worth the views and paths.
Take a seat under the Williamsburg Bridge and enjoy the infrastructure or watch the boats in the East River on a sunshine afternoon! Look up events and/or go to an open field and play some sports! Have a picnic, sun bath, or bike the paths! One of my favorites in the city!
Greenery, an array of parks, and sporting fields/courts span Manhattan from Inwood Hill all the way South to Battery Park connected mainly by walking and bike paths. The trails and parks go on beyond Manhattan but within there are serious sport venues. Chelsea piers, NYC Trapeze School, golf ranges, tennis courts, sporting fields, a major skate park, and more live on the Hudson shores. Enjoy the bike and walking paths, lawns, sun bathing, activities, sports, and events with a view of New Jersey that is truly mesmerizing! Battery Park even has a view of Lady Liberty and all along this river path are amazing piers and parks!
Closest cross over is 1.5 miles away (take M14 bus or L across town to get closer to such) at 17th Street but the greenery aside the Hudson River is expansive and goes on and on in either direction. Plan a trip to such and spend the day biking, walking, playing, or relaxing near the water!
Riverside Park
1820 Westside HighwayGreenery, an array of parks, and sporting fields/courts span Manhattan from Inwood Hill all the way South to Battery Park connected mainly by walking and bike paths. The trails and parks go on beyond Manhattan but within there are serious sport venues. Chelsea piers, NYC Trapeze School, golf ranges, tennis courts, sporting fields, a major skate park, and more live on the Hudson shores. Enjoy the bike and walking paths, lawns, sun bathing, activities, sports, and events with a view of New Jersey that is truly mesmerizing! Battery Park even has a view of Lady Liberty and all along this river path are amazing piers and parks!
Closest cross over is 1.5 miles away (take M14 bus or L across town to get closer to such) at 17th Street but the greenery aside the Hudson River is expansive and goes on and on in either direction. Plan a trip to such and spend the day biking, walking, playing, or relaxing near the water!
Only .7 miles easy walking distance away and with its epic arch and fountain this is a must see. Alongside the views are all the wondrous happenings that occur in this exciting park and the many artists who frequent there. Enjoy all types of performance art, drum circles, many different styles of dancing, political rallies, artist tables, lawns, benches, and a variety of other fun activities!
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Washington Square Park
Washington SquareOnly .7 miles easy walking distance away and with its epic arch and fountain this is a must see. Alongside the views are all the wondrous happenings that occur in this exciting park and the many artists who frequent there. Enjoy all types of performance art, drum circles, many different styles of dancing, political rallies, artist tables, lawns, benches, and a variety of other fun activities!
Bryant Park is a bit further away (1.7 miles) but it is worth the seasonal and free ice rink, the holiday market, the holiday decor, or just the general yearly scene. Look up events and happenings! This is our go to ice skate rink and an enjoyable park overall especially during the winter holiday!
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Bryant Park
Bryant Park is a bit further away (1.7 miles) but it is worth the seasonal and free ice rink, the holiday market, the holiday decor, or just the general yearly scene. Look up events and happenings! This is our go to ice skate rink and an enjoyable park overall especially during the winter holiday!
we were all stoked when we heard the old raised train tracks were going to turn into a park. It was an underground and secret effort at first and we are all 100% for the added greenery.
It seems to be a globally known attraction now but honestly it isn’t a high point of New York. I will walk it rather than the street and I am happy such exists but with so many better parks around this one is not hitting the high notes.
It has some events and exhibits and sure go see it if you really must but with limited time I would suggest other spots over this one. To each their own. I am definitely happy it exists but it seems silly as a tourist spot or a thing to do. It is more of a way to get from one place to another with a better view than the street and has some slight entertainment value. the hype is more than the actuality tho.
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The High Line Park
we were all stoked when we heard the old raised train tracks were going to turn into a park. It was an underground and secret effort at first and we are all 100% for the added greenery.
It seems to be a globally known attraction now but honestly it isn’t a high point of New York. I will walk it rather than the street and I am happy such exists but with so many better parks around this one is not hitting the high notes.
It has some events and exhibits and sure go see it if you really must but with limited time I would suggest other spots over this one. To each their own. I am definitely happy it exists but it seems silly as a tourist spot or a thing to do. It is more of a way to get from one place to another with a better view than the street and has some slight entertainment value. the hype is more than the actuality tho.
here is an article on the TOP KID PARKS IN ALL BOROUGHS IN NYC!
https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/25-best-playgrounds-in-new-york-city?fbclid=IwAR1ZoJkNPS1k_jpr92j5FN0W1k7H4NuZcp31PC_BCtvvySabWBib5MzIWiU
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
1234 5th Avenuehere is an article on the TOP KID PARKS IN ALL BOROUGHS IN NYC!
https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/25-best-playgrounds-in-new-york-city?fbclid=IwAR1ZoJkNPS1k_jpr92j5FN0W1k7H4NuZcp31PC_BCtvvySabWBib5MzIWiU
Museums
As of 2022 the Himalayan art exhibit (looks amazing and I am definitely going to such soon), Mandala Art Lab, and Shrine Room Projects are ongoing but other exhibits and events will come through from time to time. I got to see The Kiss and more of Klimt’s work there some years ago. It is such a sweet space. This small but exquisite museum is less known but a worthy day trip.
Located just .9 miles away on 17th Street between 6th & 7th Avenues. It is open Th, F, Sa, & Su 11am - 5pm and free on Fridays after 6pm with extended hours til 10pm! Bring a journal, a camera, and/or headphones or just yourself and get lost in the art!
Rubin Museum of Art
150 W 17th StI love this Museum and have visited it with friends and family as well as on a 3rd grade school trip with my daughter. It is a giant and has amazing exhibits and historical lessons.
Located 3.8 miles away on Central Park West between 77th and 81st Street across from Central Park it is an easy commute. Make a full day out of visiting this museum and picnic in the park across the way! NJ, CT, and NY residents pay what they wish for general admission with Id and not including certain aspects. Open 10am - 5:30pm Wed - Sun!
This is not a museum you can absorb in one day or even many days. It is extensive and has major permanent exhibit experiences as well as special exhibitions!
The Planetarium show and giant screen film are among some of the exhibits. Check for special events but go for the permanent content! This museum doesn’t need any additions it is amazing on it’s own! This place is worth visiting, not for the events, but for the permanent collection and visiting exhibits.
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Amerykańskie Muzeum Historii Naturalnej
200 Central Park WestI love this Museum and have visited it with friends and family as well as on a 3rd grade school trip with my daughter. It is a giant and has amazing exhibits and historical lessons.
Located 3.8 miles away on Central Park West between 77th and 81st Street across from Central Park it is an easy commute. Make a full day out of visiting this museum and picnic in the park across the way! NJ, CT, and NY residents pay what they wish for general admission with Id and not including certain aspects. Open 10am - 5:30pm Wed - Sun!
This is not a museum you can absorb in one day or even many days. It is extensive and has major permanent exhibit experiences as well as special exhibitions!
The Planetarium show and giant screen film are among some of the exhibits. Check for special events but go for the permanent content! This museum doesn’t need any additions it is amazing on it’s own! This place is worth visiting, not for the events, but for the permanent collection and visiting exhibits.
Not the best.
Located 3.7 miles away on Central Park East at 81st Street this museum is hit or miss with exhibits. Hours are Thursday- Tuesday 10am - 5pm with extended hours til 9pm on Saturday. I think it may be one of the only museums in the city without a free admission option. lame.
The Met houses some amazing exhibits but I have also seen totally unworthy visiting art here. Yes I know - so judgmental but when the fire exit is more appealing than an exhibit you just have to laugh at the spectacle. I am also not a fan of the Met Gala or other entitled events catering to spoiled aristocrats that are seemingly useless and not at all entertaining . Do what you want. I hate that is has no free options for those who are in financial hardships. classism is gross.
I would make sure the exhibits are up to par prior to planning a trip here. There are really good exhibits here but also not. so make sure you go when the good ones are on or skip it altogether and hit one of the more reliable and worthy museums in NYC.
https://www.nyc-arts.org/collections/35/free-museum-days-or-pay-what-you-wish
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Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th AveNot the best.
Located 3.7 miles away on Central Park East at 81st Street this museum is hit or miss with exhibits. Hours are Thursday- Tuesday 10am - 5pm with extended hours til 9pm on Saturday. I think it may be one of the only museums in the city without a free admission option. lame.
The Met houses some amazing exhibits but I have also seen totally unworthy visiting art here. Yes I know - so judgmental but when the fire exit is more appealing than an exhibit you just have to laugh at the spectacle. I am also not a fan of the Met Gala or other entitled events catering to spoiled aristocrats that are seemingly useless and not at all entertaining . Do what you want. I hate that is has no free options for those who are in financial hardships. classism is gross.
I would make sure the exhibits are up to par prior to planning a trip here. There are really good exhibits here but also not. so make sure you go when the good ones are on or skip it altogether and hit one of the more reliable and worthy museums in NYC.
https://www.nyc-arts.org/collections/35/free-museum-days-or-pay-what-you-wish
I was honored to perform for the reopening event of this museum after renovations in 2008 doubled it’s size and officially gained it the title as the first “green” museum. Historically it is also the first children’s museum in the USA.
It is an expansive multilevel underground gallery with plenty of learning exhibits and hands on activities for younger kids. I recommend such for families with small children! The Children’s Museum in Manhattan is a fun time too but this one has the size for many exhibits to make it more eventful.
Located 5.6 miles away and if using public transportation you need a connection but it is certainly worth the commute for very young people. Opened Th & F 2-5pm and Sa & Su 10am-1pm & 2-5pm. A great family half day trip.
They had an anaconda in 2008 when I visited and if you are lucky perhaps another snake will escape during your visit like when Fantasia, the 20 foot long python, did in 2013! All innocent creatures should live free so the captive critters is the only downside to this museum. Only the handler suffered a nip in the 2013 escape and everyone was safe including them. Exploiting animals is not good and I cannot blame the snake for escaping tho she was returned within the hour. She was later retired to the Staten Island Zoo where she died at 20 years old in 2014 having lived in a cage since at least age 4. RIP Fantasia- you are free now.
This unfair exploitation and caging of free creatures aside there are so many kids learning activities here and I definitely suggest such for families with young children!
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Muzeum dla dzieci w Brooklynie
145 Brooklyn AveI was honored to perform for the reopening event of this museum after renovations in 2008 doubled it’s size and officially gained it the title as the first “green” museum. Historically it is also the first children’s museum in the USA.
It is an expansive multilevel underground gallery with plenty of learning exhibits and hands on activities for younger kids. I recommend such for families with small children! The Children’s Museum in Manhattan is a fun time too but this one has the size for many exhibits to make it more eventful.
Located 5.6 miles away and if using public transportation you need a connection but it is certainly worth the commute for very young people. Opened Th & F 2-5pm and Sa & Su 10am-1pm & 2-5pm. A great family half day trip.
They had an anaconda in 2008 when I visited and if you are lucky perhaps another snake will escape during your visit like when Fantasia, the 20 foot long python, did in 2013! All innocent creatures should live free so the captive critters is the only downside to this museum. Only the handler suffered a nip in the 2013 escape and everyone was safe including them. Exploiting animals is not good and I cannot blame the snake for escaping tho she was returned within the hour. She was later retired to the Staten Island Zoo where she died at 20 years old in 2014 having lived in a cage since at least age 4. RIP Fantasia- you are free now.
This unfair exploitation and caging of free creatures aside there are so many kids learning activities here and I definitely suggest such for families with young children!
Entertainment
Who doesn’t like a good play?
I recently enjoyed To Kill a Mocking Bird (very different than the book but thought provoking all the same) and am intrigued to see the Little Prince with all the circus additions.
Currently as of 2/1/2022
the Broadway shows playing are:
Aladdin
The Book of Mormon
Chicago
Come from Away
Company
American Utopia
Dear Evan Hansen
Hadestown
Hamilton
Harry Potter & the Cursed Child
(haven’t seen but read the play and it is just alright.)
Lion King
MJ (can we NOT celebrate, honor, or otherwise promote never reformed pedophiles.)
Moulin Rouge!
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Music Man
The Phantom of the Opera
Plaza Suite
Six
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Wicked
The Minutes
obviously all plays availability are subject to change! Please look up shows for more options and current availability!
Enjoy a show in classic style!
Theater District
Food scene
There is no better way to food shop. Farmers are friendly, sights are colorful, food is fresh, some organic stands, and tastings! The farmer’s market slows us down and makes the “chore” of food shopping an adventure of smells, sights, and tastes.
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Union Square
There is no better way to food shop. Farmers are friendly, sights are colorful, food is fresh, some organic stands, and tastings! The farmer’s market slows us down and makes the “chore” of food shopping an adventure of smells, sights, and tastes.
Shopping
Open from black Friday to Christmas Eve this market is a winter wonderland with cute boutiques with artist made and/or global gifts! It is a wonderful place to shop for the holidays and to get original gifts! Some eateries but mainly holiday gift shopping! Bundle up tho it is an outside experience in winter.
Open from black Friday to Christmas Eve the holiday market is a great outdoor (so bundle up) market. The booths are filled with artists’ made and/or globally sourced unique gifts that are sure to appease any shopping needs. There are some eateries within but mainly this is holiday shopping bliss. Enjoy the festive decor, the happy vendors, and the special hand crafted merchandise!
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Union Square
Open from black Friday to Christmas Eve the holiday market is a great outdoor (so bundle up) market. The booths are filled with artists’ made and/or globally sourced unique gifts that are sure to appease any shopping needs. There are some eateries within but mainly this is holiday shopping bliss. Enjoy the festive decor, the happy vendors, and the special hand crafted merchandise!
Avoid
Go see it if you want but every New Yorker I know avoids 42nd Street and the surrounding area like a plague! “Only if we must” is the motto for Times Square and that goes double on New Years Eve. Luckily we don’t have to often or at all.
Do what makes you happy but the busy tourist trap has little quality things to do. There are some fun things to do like arcades or Ripley’s Believe it or not or perhaps a taping of a favorite TV show (get free tix online far in advance and show up early) but all in all the restaurants and venues near 42nd Street are lousy. The busy bustle makes it even less enjoyable. Go see the Naked Cowboy or Cowgirl (really in there underwear and playing guitar) if you really want to but it isn’t my thing.
Honestly it is just a big digitally screened advertisement area catering to the unimaginative. This area is all hype and little to no delivery on goods. New Yorkers prefer the real NYC which is less known but far more fun than 42nd Street/ Times Square. What a bore.
Even the comedy shows are better in Brooklyn and Downtown! Tho the Duck Tour was surprisingly fun for younger kids/ families and landed our street driving bus in the water as a boat! We do like Ripley’s and obviously some shows around there are worth seeing. I suggest eating elsewhere and only going there for planned events/adventures!
Times Square
Emergency Room
This hospital and emergency room is .2 miles or 3 blocks away. You can cut through Stuyvesant Park to reach the Emergency entrance at Nathan D Perlman Place (which is between 2nd & 1st Avenues) at 16th Street. Hopefully you do not need this but it is very close if you do.
There are also two urgent care facilities on the same block as where I live if that is more useful. Hopefully you don’t need any of this.
The covid test tents are also up on the block too for quick, free, and convenient rapid and pcr testing. Some are 24 hour results and some are within 15 minutes so make sure you go to the tent that fits your needs.
Mount Sinai Beth Israel
281 1st Ave.