Open House New York returns October 12 – 14, 2018!
During this city-wide event, over 140 sites are opened for free access, without reservations and many additional sites are available with a reservation. For the sites that do require a reservation, there is a $5 reservation fee.
Take a look at the list of available sites at Open House New York’s website. The list can be filtered by borough and type of site.
One October weekend each year, hundreds of New York City sites that are normally off-limits to the public open their doors for Open House New York.
The 2018 dates for Open House New York are October 12th through 14th.
Some of the sites provide free public access and can be visited at any time during their specified hours for the event. Some sites and tours require reservations. The sites and tours that require a reservation charge a $5 fee. Once the participating sites have been announced, you’ll be able to make your reservations online.
The list of participating sites is not usually listed until October. Check the Open House New York website for updates.
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Getting a room in New York City during the Thanksgiving Day weekend may seem like an impossibility, but it’s not. We’ve even found some available hotels that are affordable by NYC standards (in the $250/night range).
If you’re planning a NYC trip to see the Thanksgiving Day parade, you’ll want a hotel that’s located somewhere near the parade route.
The parade starts at W. 77th Street and Central Park West, travels south along Central Park West until it reaches Columbus Circle, where it turns east and travels along Central Park South until it reaches the intersection with 6th Avenue. The parade then turns south onto 6th Avenue and continue on to 34th Street, where it turns west and continues to the end point at Macy’s Herald Square.
It’s estimated that 3.5 million people attend the parade in New York City. Subways get jammed, sidewalks gets crowded, and the best viewing spots get snapped up early. So, if you stay in a hotel near the parade route, you’ll have a much easier time of getting to the parade and have a better shot at getting there early enough to snag a good viewing spot.
The hotels listed below are close to the parade route and have rooms available for under $300 a night. The rates listed are what we found quoted as of September 10,2018, based on a Wednesday, Nov. 21 – Sunday Nov 25, 2018 stay. Prices and availability are likely to change.[spacer height=”20px”]
La Quinta Inn & Suites New York City Central Park – This hotel is located west of Central Park, on W 71st Street, between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. That puts you just a 1/2 block from the parade route, plus you’ll be 7 short blocks south of the balloon inflation event that happens at the American Museum of Natural History on the night before the parade (entrance is at 79th and Columbus). From $263/night.
6 Columbus – A SIXTY Hotel – This hotel is located just southwest of Columbus Circle, at W 58th Street. Columbus Circle is the pivot point where the parade route leaves Central Park West and moves along the southern end of Central Park before heading south on 6th Avenue. From $272/night.
Club Quarters Hotel, Opposite Rockefeller Center – Located on 51st Street, between 5th & 6th Avenues. You’ll be just a half block from the parade route and also right across the street from Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center. From $256/night.
The Jewel Facing Rockefeller Center – Another 51st Street hotel across from Rockefeller Center. Just a half block from the parade route and very close to Rockefeller Center. From $275/night.
Hotel St. James – A West 45th Street hotel, between 6th Avenue and Broadway, in the heart of the theater district. A basic hotel with a great location. Located 1/2 block west of the parade route. From $215/night.
Hotel Mela – Another theater district option, located on 44th Street, between 6th Avenue and Broadway. Just a 1/2 block west of the parade route. From $253/night.
Executive Hotel LeSoleil – This looks like a good deal on a very well-located hotel with very good reviews . It’s on W 36th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues, near the end of the parade route (the parade ends on 34th Street at Herald Square). From $275/night.
If money isn’t an issue and you’d like to stay in high-style at a really prime location, rooms at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park are available for just $1,220 a night! The Ritz is located right on the parade route, at Central Park South & 6th Avenue.
There are many more hotels available for dates around Thanksgiving Day. Many have rates in the $300 to $350 a night range, some much higher. See all NYC hotels.
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The U.S. Open tennis tournament and Fan Week events take place at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. The following events are all free of charge. The main tournament matches require tickets.
Visit the US Open website for details.
August 21 – 24, 2018 – U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament – Watch as 128 men and women players try to play their way into the tournament.
August 21 – 26, 2018 – Practices – You can watch players practice at the tennis center, free of charge. The U.S. Open website posts the daily practice schedules.
August 22. 2018 – Queens Day – Including a dedication ceremony for the new Armstrong Stadium, a performance by Wynton Marsalis, and an honorary first match on the Armstrong Stadium court, featuring John and Patrick McEnroe versus James Blake and Michael Chang.
August 24, 2018 – Media Day – The public can attend Media Day from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium on Friday to hear top players field questions from reporters.
August 24 & 26, 2018 – Legends Matches – These exhibition matches between tennis greats are free to attend this year. On Friday, Aug. 24, former US Open champions Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova will be joined by Michael Chang and Jan Michael-Gambill, while on Sunday, Aug. 26, four US Open winners – Davenport, Navratilova, Tracy Austin and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario – will face off in the Grandstand.
September 6, 2018 – Community Day – Free admission to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Visitors can watch men’s and women’s doubles action and the mixed doubles competition. You can also see future stars in action in the singles and doubles junior events, as well as the quads and doubles divisions of the wheelchair competition. You’ll be able to walk around the grounds and get access to all of the field courts plus the unreserved sections of Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium. In the evening, you can relax by the South Plaza Fountains outside Arthur Ashe Stadium to watch the two women’s singles semifinals back-to-back, all while enjoying a refreshing drink or a bite to eat.
The US Open Tournament is held at the USTA Bille Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in Queens.
If you’re staying in Manhattan, you can take the subway to Flushing Meadow.
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Discount tickets for the New York Coffee Festival (at the Metropolitan Pavilion October 12 – 14) are available for $19 – $65 (regular full-price is $29 – $110). Saturday and Sunday Single-day tickets are available for $19 for standard timed admission and $29 for VIP all-day admission. A multi-day Super VIP ticket is available for $65. See the ticket offer details.
The discounted tickets are sold by Goldstar, a national provider of reduced price entertainment tickets.
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The 2018 New York Coffee Festival takes place October 12 – 14.
This year’s festival will be held at Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues.
The Coffee Festival feature live experiences from over 85 coffee, food, and equipment suppliers. Attendees can enjoy endless free coffee tastings, interactive workshops, demonstrations from world-class baristas, delicious street food, intoxicating coffee cocktails, live music, art, and more.
The event is broken down into several three-hour sessions. Saturday: Morning session: 9:30am-12:30pm; Afternoon session: 12:30pm-3:30pm; Late session: 3:30pm-6:30pm. Sunday: Morning session: 9:30am-1:00pm;
Afternoon session: 1:00pm-4:30pm.
Get your reduced-price Coffee Festival tickets at Goldstar.
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Summer Streets 2018 happens August 4th, 11th, & 18th from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. During that time, about seven miles of New York City streets will be closed to traffic and open for public recreation!
The Summer Streets route runs along Park Avenue and connection streets from Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park.
There are five “Rest Stops” along the route where special activities are planned. See a list of rest stop locations and activities.
Special activities taking place during the event include walking tours, arts & cultural workshops, free bike rentals, a bouldering wall and obstacle course, a bubble garden, dog park and agility course, zip line, and more.
Everything at Summer Streets is free!
Visit the Summer Streets website for details.
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Each year around Memorial Day, US Navy ships dock at New York City’s harbors and the streets of the city fill with thousands of visiting Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen.
New York City’s annual Fleet Week is held in celebration of the sea services and features ship visitations and special military performances, demonstrations, and events throughout the week.
The dates for the 2018 NYC Fleet Week are May 23 – 29.
Check the Fleet Week website for a schedule of activities and events, including free performances by military bands and drill teams. The Fleet Week Facebook page is also good source of information.
The visiting ships are open for free tours throughout the week. Ships dock in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. A list of visiting ships is provided at the Fleet Week website.
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum hosts special events during Fleet Week, including Military demonstrations, special displays, and entertainment. Activities on the ship require an admission fee (all U.S. active military and veterans receive free admission). Events on the pier are free and open to the public.
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Goldstar has Sunday, March 11th NYC Coffee & Tea Festival tickets for just $8.
Goldstar is running one of their “Comp Train” specials, with tickets to select events available for $0. All you pay is the processing fee, which in this case is $8.
See the Goldstar ticket offer.
The $8 Comp Train tickets probably won’t last long, but Goldstar also has Saturday and Sunday NYC Coffee & Tea Festival tickets available for $17 ($12 + $5 service fee).
Regular full-price single day general admission tickets sold at the Coffee & Tea Festival website are $25 + $5.05 fees & taxes, for a total of $30.05 each.
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The Coffee & Tea Festival takes place March 10 – 11, 2018 at the Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble St, Brooklyn, NY).
Hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.
The event features over 100 exhibitors and more than 100 tastings to try.
The festival should be fun for anyone who enjoys coffee and tea. Exhibitors from around the world we be on hand to provide tastings of their products. Sweet and savory foods to compliment the beverages will also be available.
This event sells out every year, so don’t wait too long to get your tickets.
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Halloween Pumpkin FlotillaEach year, Central Park hosts a Pumpkin Flotilla as part of their Halloween Celebrations.
Participants bring carved pumpkins to the Dana Discovery Center at the northern end of Central Park. The first 50 pumpkins received are set afloat on the waters of Harlem Meer.
The 2017 event takes place Sunday, October 29th. The lit pumpkin flotilla will be launched at twilight (around 6:30 p.m.)
In addition to the Pumpkin Flotilla, there will be Halloween stories and crafts from 4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and a Halloween costume parade from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Visit the Central Park event page for details.
The Dana Discovery Center and Harlem Meer are located at the northeast corner of Central Park, at 110th Street, between Fifth and Lenox Avenues.
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The event features Urban Park Ranger educational presentations, visits to the lighthouse interior, readings of The Little Red Lighthouse children’s book, fishing clinics, live music, food vendors, and fun family activities.
The event is free and open to the public.
The Little Red Lighthouse is located in Fort Washington Park at West 181 Street and Plaza Lafayette.
Enter the park at 158th or 181st Street and follow the pathways to the waterfront. Walk towards the George Washington Bridge, where the Lighthouse is located.
The 2017 Little Red Lighthouse Festival is Saturday, October 7th from noon to 4:00 p.m.
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