Sarah WallockThings to Do in NYC
Brooke’s move to New York inspired me to pull together my own list of the best activities to do in this global city, based on my time living there in college. Here is my personal NYC: the spots and neighborhoods I loved and think are a good use of your time, weekend wanderings or weeknight hangs.
Greenwich Village & Washington Square Park
If you want New York energy, come over here. Washington Square Park is a great hangout — street musicians, chess hustlers, random performers, students, dog walkers… you get it all. Wander the surrounding streets, grab coffee at Grey Dog (cozy and so good). This area you can stroll aimlessly for hours.
Midtown
This is where you’ll find the New York Public Library (Bryant Park). The Rose Main Reading Room is straight out of a movie — one of the most magical places in the city. Get a library card! It’s free, and it becomes your excuse to explore all over NYC because there are branches everywhere.
Also in Midtown: Grand Central Market above and behind the station. And yeah, Penn Station is a mess — but if you’re there, stop for a minute to listen to the underground musicians. Look out for subway pole dancers here!
I used to attend school a block or so from Times Square, so spent a fair bit of time around here. Never try to grab lunch without ordering in advance, or you’ll get caught in an angry hoard of working professionals fighting for their Sweetgreen.
Chinatown
Incredible food and great for wandering and discovering new spots. Head to a concert at Bowery Ballroom and grab some authentic soup dumplings in route!
Uptown
This is where I lived in my dorm at the 92Y, uptown girl! This is a wonderful establishment for smaller speaker series and events.
Head up to The Met — great art and even better people-watching… If you have time, go even further uptown to The Cloisters. It’s peaceful, surrounded by gardens, and feels like you’re upstate, not even in Manhattan.
Central Park
Skip the super touristy areas and explore the hidden trails, little gardens, and quiet benches. I used to run the Reservoir loop and it had great people-watching and changed with the seasons. Play soccer in Sheep’s Meadow in summer. Perhaps have a snowball fight under the iconic bridges or Bethesda Fountain in winter when the city is silent and subways flood.
SoHo
SoHo is great for walking around — cobblestone streets, beautiful old buildings, and the kind of shopping that’s fun to browse even if you’re not buying. Brunch here can be good, but a lot of the hyped spots are packed with tourists. Find a tucked-away café instead of waiting an hour at a “must try” place. I would recommend a weekday or off-peak time. Do not go here on a Saturday morning in summer. Or head straight to Little Cupcake Bakeshop for a major sugar rush!
Brooklyn, Long Island City & Beyond!
Each borough has an entirely different personality. Don’t get trapped in a Manhattan bubble. My top tip is to leave the island and explore beyond it. Hop on a ferry. Get on a subway. Take a bus. Take a train or rent a car. Spending the day in outside your borough is one of the best activities in New York.
