nyccheaptravel.com

Category: Free

  • Times Square Midnight Moment

    11:57 p.m. to Midnight at Times Square

    Every night, from 11:57 p.m. to midnight, the electronic billboards at Times Square switch over from advertisements to a synchronized digital art installation.

    Times Square Arts curates the Midnight Moment displays, selecting a different artist to feature each month. You can read about the current display as well as see images and descriptions of past displays at the Times Square Arts website.

     

    Location

    The Midnight Moment electronic billboards are at Times Square, 7th Avenue and Broadway, from 46th Street to 47th Street.

     

     

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  • Free Exhibits at the Onassis Cultural Center

    The Onassis Cultural Center New York

    The Onassis Foundation USA is committed to the promotion of Greek Culture. The Onassis Cultural Center in New York City furthers that mission by offering programs and exhibits to the public free of charge.

    The Art Wall in the Cultural Center atrium displays specially commissioned pieces by contemporary international artists. Also on display in the atrium are a collection of Parthenon  Marble Casts, on loan from the City College of New York where they were used in art classes for more than 100 years. The Onassis Foundation funded the restoration of the casts.

    The gallery at the Onassis Cultural Center features art exhibitions with works ranging from the ancient to the contemporary. See images from past and upcoming exhibitions at the Onassis Foundation’s website.

    Events at the Cultural Center include concerts, readings, lectures, films, and theatrical performances. All events are free but some require registration in advance. See a list of upcoming events.

    View comments from visitors to the Onassis Cultural Center.

     

    Hours of Operation & Location

    The atrium is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m..  Gallery hours vary by exhibition. Please visit the Onassis Cultural Center website for details regarding hours of operation.

    The Onassis Cultural Center New York is located in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue, between 51st and 52nd Streets (there are entrances on both streets).

    The street address is 645 5th Avenue.

     

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  • The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

    Performances and Exhibits at the New York Library for the Performing Arts

    The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Photo by Kosboot (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
    This isn’t your standard library. In addition to the books and documents you’d expect to find in a library, the Library for the Performing Arts also has three exhibition spaces, an auditorium, and a café (with also sometimes serves as a performance space).

    The library serves professionals within the performing arts and those with a more casual interest in the arts.

    Special exhibitions on display at the library change frequently and often highlight a portion of the library’s collection or a new acquisition.

    The library’s exhibits and performances are free and open to the public.

    Events at the library are varied and include concerts, talks, films, and theatrical performances. Check the online list of upcoming performances and events to see what’s scheduled for the next few months. All events are free. For some popular events, tickets are distributed ahead of time. See the individual event entries on the schedule page for details.

    Visit the library’s website for information about current exhibitions and upcoming performances.

    The Amy’s Bread Café at the library offers pastries, sweets, salads, sandwiches, coffee, and other beverages.

    See comments and tips from people who have visited the Library for the Performing Arts.

     

    Library Collections

    The library’s extensive research library and circulating collection includes video and sound recordings of performances, sheet music, and archival material such as manuscripts and artist’s archives.

    There’s an excellent article about the library and its collections in the February 10, 2016 edition of The New Yorker.

     

    Location

    The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts is located at Lincoln Center, adjacent to the Metropolitan Opera.

    The street address is 40 Lincoln Plaza.

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  • Federal Hall National Memorial

    Federal Hall

    Federal Hall National Memorial. Photo by MusikAnimal (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
    The Federal Hall National Memorial marks the site which served as the first capital of the United States and where George Washington was inaugurated as President of the United States.

    The monument is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday (closed on the weekends).

    Admission is free.

    This site is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

     

    History of Federal Hall

    George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City. That structure served as the nation’s first capitol building and was where the Bill of Rights was introduced to congress. Unfortunately, that original building was demolished in 1812.

    A chunk of the original Federal Hall building – a piece of the balcony on which George Washington stood for his first inauguration – was preserved and is on display in the National Memorial.

    The structure which now operates at the Federal Hall National Memorial was constructed on the same site as the original Federal Hall. It was originally constructed as the United States Customs House for the Port of New York in 1842. It served as the Customs House until 1862, then as a United States Sub-Treasury location, before being established as the Federal Hall Memorial National Historic Site in 1939.

    A bronze statue of George Washington has stood on the steps of the structure since 1883, marking the approximate location where he stood when first inaugurated as President of the United States.[spacer height=”20px”]

    Exhibits

    The monument’s galleries feature exhibits about George Washington and the early days of the United States of America. Items on display include the bible used when George Washington took his oath of office as President.

    The monument’s visitor center is located near the Pine Street entrance, on the main floor. You’ll find a park ranger there to answer questions, plus the center is operated in cooperation with NYC’s tourism organization, so there’s lots of information about other New York City attractions.[spacer height=”20px”]

    Location

    The Federal Hall National Memorial is located on Wall Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.

    The street address is 26 Wall Street.

     

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  • Free First Fridays at the Neue Galerie

    Free Neue Galerie Admission on the First Friday of Each Month

    The Neue Galerie. Photo by Razr (from) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
    Admission to the Neue Galerie is free on the first Friday of each month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m..

    The museum shop stays open until 8:00 p.m. and Cafe Sabarsky stays open until 9:00 p.m. on first Fridays.

     

    The Neue Gallerie

    The Neue Gallerie (German for “New Gallery”) displays a collection of German and Austrian expressionist art and design. There are two floors of gallery space, with early 1990s art from Vienna on the second floor and early 20th century German art on the third floor. Special exhibitions are also displayed on a changing basis. Visit the museum website for information on current exhibitions.

    A free audio tour guide can be downloaded prior to your visit.

    The Neue Galerie has two cafe spaces. The museum’s Cafe Sabarsky serves a menu inspired by Viennese cafes in a setting decorated with period objects and furniture. Lunch reservations there are only for museum members. Diner reservations are available to the public. The more casual Cafe Fledermaus is located on the lower level of the Neue Galerie and serves the same menu as Cafe Sabarsky.

    The Neue Galerie has a bookshop and Design Shop with items appropriate to the museum’s collection.

    Read reviews from museum visitors.[spacer height=”20px”]

    Hours and Admission

    The museum is open Thursday – Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

    On the first Friday of each month, extended hours from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. are offered with free admission.

    Regular admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors (65+), and $10 for students and educators with ID. The museum does not admit children under the age of 12 (except that infants may be brought into the galleries, provided they are carried in a harness or sling on the front of the adult. See the museum’s policy on children). [spacer height=”20px”]

    Location

    The museum is located in an old Upper West Side mansion known as the William Starr Miller House on Fifth Avenue, between 85th and 86th Streets.

    The street address is 1048 5th Avenue.

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  • First Fridays Free at the Noguchi Museum

    Free Admission on the First Friday of Each Month

    Naguchi Museum Interior. Photo by Elizabeth Beller (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
    Admission to the Noguhci Museum on Long Island City is free on the first Friday of each month, year round.

    From May through September, first Friday hours are extended from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and there’s a cash bar available.

     

    The Noguchi Museum

    The Noguchi Museum was founded and designed by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. The museum includes two floors of galleries, plus an outdoor sculpture garden.

    Noguchi (1904 – 1988) is known for his work in contemporary sculpture, public art, stage sets, and modern furniture designs. There are several Noguchi public art pieces on display in NYC, including the Red Cube sculpture in Lower Manhattan.

    Free gallery talks are given at 2:00 p.m..

    There’s a shop and cafe on site, where you can get a snack and browse Noguchi-designed items available for sale.

    Read reviews from museum visitors. [spacer height=”20px”]

    Hours and Admission

    The Noguchi Museum is open Wednesday – Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (with extended hours until 8:00 p.m. on the first Friday of the month May through September); and Saturday & Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. The museum is closed on Mondays & Tuesdays.

    The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

    Regular general admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students (with valid ID) and seniors (65+). NYC public high school students with a valid ID, and children under the age of 12 are admitted free.

    Admission is free on the first Friday of each month.

    NOTE: Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Please visit the museum website to verify.[spacer height=”20px”]

    Location

    The museum is located in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens.

    The address is 9-01 33rd Rd, Long Island City. The building is at the intersection of 33rd Road and Vernon Boulevard.

    Visit the museum website for detailed directions on how to get to the museum. [spacer height=”20px”]

     

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  • New York Distilling Company Tours

    Saturday Tours at The New York Distilling Company[spacer height=”20px”]

    The New York Distilling Company, in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn offers free distillery tours on Saturdays at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m..

    On the tour, you’ll get to see how the company produces several different varieties of gin, rye whisky, and a blend of rye whiskey and rock candy sugar called rock & rye.

    After the tour, you can pay a visit to The Shanty, the distillery’s full-service cocktail bar, which features their own spirits as well as a selection of other spirits and beers. It’s connected to the distillery and provides a cozy place to enjoy a beverage.

    Yelp has lots of visitor reviews for The Shanty and the The New York Distilling Company tour. Greenpoint.com has a good December 2016 article about a visit to the Distillery.

    Note: Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Please check the New York Distilling Company’s website to confirm details.[spacer height=”30px”]

    Location[spacer height=”20px”]

    The distillery is located in Brooklyn, at 79 Richardson Street, between Lenard and Lorimer Streets.

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  • First Friday Evenings Free at the Frick Collection

    First Fridays at the Frick Collection

    Admission to the Frick Collection is free from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the first Friday of each month (except January).

    Another discount admission option is Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., when admission is pay-as-you-wish.

    The regular admission fee is $22 for adults, $17 for seniors, and $12 for students.

    Please check the Frick Collection website to verify admission information. [spacer height=”20px”]

    The Frick Collection

    This art museum is located in the Henry Clay Frick House on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The museum displays his private collection, which includes old master paintings, sculpture, 18th century French furnishing, and oriental rugs, displayed in six galleries within the mansion.

    See reviews from museum visitors.

    You can take a look inside the museum with Google’s interior map view below. Drag with your mouse or use the arrows to navigate.

    Location

    The museum’s address is 1 E 70th Street. It’s on the Upper East Side, between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue.

  • Take the Staten Island Ferry

    The Staten Island Ferry

    The Staten Island Ferry carries commuters from Staten Island to Manhattan, but it also carries tourists who want to see the view of the city and the Statue of Liberty. The ferry is free and departs about every half hour, depending on the time of day.

    The trip between Staten Island and Manhattan takes about 25 minutes each way. Along the way, you’ll have nice views of the Statue of Liberty and the skylines of New Jersey, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Lower Manhattan.

    Concessions on the ferry sell food and beverages, including beer.

    Read ferry passenger reviews.

    Scheduling and other information provided here is accurate to the best of our knowledge at time of publication. Please visit the ferry’s website to confirm details.

     

    Schedule

    The ferry runs around the clock most days of the year. Departures are about every 15 minutes during week day rush hours and every 30 minutes to an hour the rest of the time. Evening hours provide some great opportunities to view the illuminated Statue of Liberty and the lights of the Manhattan skyline.

    Bad weather and reduced visibility may cause schedule changes.

    On specific holidays (New Year’s Day, President’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) the ferry operates from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on a 30 minute schedule.

    See the official Staten Island Ferry schedule.

     

    Location


    Street View. Drag mouse or use arrows and compass to scroll.

    The ferry runs between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island

    The Whitehall Terminal is located at 4 South Street in Lower Manhattan, near Battery Park.

     

    Things to Do in Staten Island

    Many people just ride the ferry for the view and then turn around and ride right back. If you can spare the time, though, there are some interesting things to see in Staten Island.

    Note: To make the round trip, you’ll need to disembark on one side and enter back trough the terminal building for the return trip.

    The St. George Esplanade provides great views of Manhattan and is where you’ll find Staten Island’s 9/11 Memorial. The Staten Island Museum is a great place for families to visit, and WPA murals in the Borough Hall provide an interesting look at Staten Island history.

    During the summertime, you can attend a Staten Island Yankees minor league baseball game. The ball park is within easy walking distance of the ferry terminal.

    See list of things to do in Staten Island for details.

     

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  • FDNY Fire Zone at Rockefeller Center

    FDNY Education and Merchandise at FDNY Fire Zone

    Firefighting gear. Photo copyright: dandoherty / 123RF Stock Photo

    Learn about fire safety and shop for FDNY clothing and gift items at the FDNY Fire Zone at Rockefeller Center.

    The center advertises itself as being kid-friendly, but it should also be of enjoyable for adults with an interest in fire protection and fire fighting. You’ll meet active and retired members of the FDNY, and there’s plenty of opportunity for hands-on exploration of firefighting equipment and gear. A cutaway fire engine gives a closeup look of how fire trucks work, and you can try on gear to see how it feels to suit up for a fire.

    Admission to the Fire Zone is free. If you want to do the fire simulator experience, there is a fee of $6 for adults and children and $2 for seniors.

    The fire experience guides visitors through an interactive fire simulator experience with special effects and multimedia presentations that teach you what to do in case of a fire.

    There’s an onsite shop with FDNY toys, books, collectibles, t-shirts, and other apparel. The gift shop is an official store of the FDNY and sells licensed Fire Department merchandise.

    See visitor reviews.

     

    Admission and Hours of Operation


    FDNY Fire Zone Street View. Drag mouse or use arrows and compass to scroll.

    General admission to FDNY Fire Zone is free. There is a fee for the fire simulator experience ($6 for adults and children, $2.00 for seniors).

    FDNY Fire Zone is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

    Note: Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. Please visit the FDNY Fire Zone website to confirm hours and fees.

     

    Location

    FDNY Fire Zone is located at Rockefeller Center, on 51st Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. It’s adjacent to Radio City Music Hall.

    The address is 34 West 51st Street.

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