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New York City Nightlife

by mystery

New York City NightlifeNew York City is the place to be if you are seeking around the clock entertainment because it has some of the richest nightlife you will find on the East Coast. There is truly something for everyone in this sleepless city from the Rooftop and Waterfront bars, to nightclubs and open mic attractions. With such a wide variety of nightlife, you can never get bored or run out of things to do in New York City.

Many night time attractions, such as the Chelsea Brewing Company near 18th street, offer a little something for everyone; from an indoor bar that attracts nearby golfers, to an outdoor area that attracts socialites from the nearby marina. If a cigar lounge is more your style, just head upstairs where you will find captivating views of the river. Don't forget to try one of the 20 different brews made on site at the brewery while you are here.

If comedy is more your style, one can always find a good laugh at the many comedy clubs, like Pianos on the Lower East Side, or Rififi/Cinema Classics in the East Village. Depending on the night of the week, you can find a free horror movie, comedy entertainers, or burlesque acts. If you are in the West Village, you may want to check out Pisces, which offers karaoke, live music, a DJ, or guest performances depending on when you visit.

For a more romantic night out there are hundreds of gathering spots, such as Punch and Judy on the Lower east side. If you have not found that special someone, there are several meeting places such as the funky Bar Below in Brooklyn. Best of all, with dozens of after hour's attractions, the party does not have to stop even after most other places close.

New York City has something for everyone. It does not matter what your interests, location, age, preference of atmosphere or scene are, you will never be bored in this city. With so much to chose from, you can experience a new environment any time you chose to go out.

Dating In New York City

by mystery

Dating in New York CityWith a population of over 8.2 million people, New York City is one of the best places to find a date. However, many people are intimidated by the number of people and the impersonal nature of the city and can feel more alone in a city of millions than they would in a small town. But if you are willing to make a little effort, New York can be a single’s dream destination.

It does not matter what type of person you are looking for, there is bound to be someone in the city of New York that meets your description. Despite its relatively small size, New York City is very densely populated and there are literally people everywhere that could serve as potential partners.

New York City has a very active personals scene. There are hundreds of websites that carry personal ads as well as most of the city’s many newspapers. Speed dating events happen many times a week. Several of these speed dating events cater to certain groups of people, such as Jewish singles or gay men.

New York City also is very ethnically diverse which is beneficial if you are seeking a mate that matches your own background. There is an active gay and lesbian community in New York which often hosts events designed to bring singles together.

Dating in New York can be fun and easy if you take the time to meet new people. The large number of planned social events makes this easy. In a city of over eight million people, chances are you can find someone who is right for you.

New York City Info

by mystery

Information about New York CityThere is perhaps no other city in the United States as beloved as New York City. It has served as the nation's capital and continues to serve as the center of commerce, entertainment and nightlife.

New York City is the largest city in the United States. It is only 321 square miles, but it is has a population of over 8.2 million. New York is nicknamed ”The Big Apple" and also referred to as "The City That Never Sleeps" because no matter what time it is, you can always find people out and about enjoying themselves.

New York City is made up of five boroughs, although there are many smaller neighborhoods within the boroughs. Manhattan is the borough that most people think of when they think of New York City. It is where all the large skyscrapers are located and contains famous landmarks such as Time Square. Manhattan, which is actually an island, serves as the business area in New York.

The Bronx is known for its hip-hop influences. It is the only borough that is actually part of the mainland United States. More people live in Brooklyn than any other borough. Coney Island, one of the earliest amusement parks, is located in Brooklyn. Queens is the most ethnically diverse county in the entire United States and is the largest of the five boroughs. Staten Island has traditionally been more suburban, but has become more urban over time.

New York is a great place to visit and to live as there is never a shortage of things to do and people to meet.

Things to do in New York

by mystery

Things to do in New YorkWhen it comes to finding things to do in New York City, the possibilities are endless. In addition to boasting one of the best nightlife scenes in the country, there is also a plethora of activities to do in New York during the day.

New York is home to some of the most well-known skyscrapers in the world. Visitors can take a ride to the observation deck of the Empire State Building for a magnificent view of the city.

Times Square

One of the most popular places to visit in New York City is Times Square. Home to the yearly New Year's Eve celebration, Time Square is filled with shops, restaurants, and neon lights. While visiting Times Square, be sure to check out the Toys R' Us store. It has a working Ferris wheel inside of the store as well as almost every toy you can imagine.

The large Virgin Records store is located nearby. Not only does it include an impressive collection of CDs, but many celebrity meet and greets take place here. Also in Times Square is the ABC television studio where Good Morning America is filmed each morning. For theater lovers, there is no better place than Broadway to quench your thirst for the performing arts.

Rockefeller Plaza

Rockefeller Plaza is another great place to visit in New York. This is the location of NBC's The Today Show and a popular place for tourists to go to wave hello to their friends back home. In the winter, Rockefeller plaza is the place to be. It is the location of the huge Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree as well as the famous ice skating rink. The largest indoor theater, Radio City Music Hall, is also located in the Rockefeller Complex.

The Wax Museum

Another popular place to visit is Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Known for its strikingly accurate portrayals of celebrities and notable figures, this is a fascinating place to visit as well as a great place to take photographs with your family and friends. New exhibits are added all the time, so it is someplace you can visit again and again.

New York Restaurants & Dining

by mystery

New York DiningIt's a fact of life: if you live in Manhattan, chances are you either have no kitchen, have a very small kitchen or quite possibly you have a bathtub IN your kitchen. But the city more than makes up for its lack of residential cooking square footage by giving you everything you could ever hope to cook just outside of your front door.

One of the best ways to approach dining out in Manhattan is to think of something that you could never dream of preparing for yourself; something that would surely leave your kitchen in too big of a mess or take too much time to prepare. Chances are there is a restaurant specializing in that. A sorted look by cuisine type on any of the popular restaurant sites is a great way to get a feel for some new or unusual exotic tastes: from A (Afghan) to V (Vietnamese).

Perhaps one of the most satisfying ways to cure your hunger in the Big Apple is to follow your nose. It is common to find restaurants in clusters and near public transportation stops. Close your eyes and you can hitch a ride on the aroma of street vendors selling roasted nuts, the garlic bouquet of a nearby Italian hideaway, or maybe the essence of fresh baked bread lulls you down the to a quaint neighborhood bakery.

The Bronx Zoo

by mystery

The Bronx ZooThe Bronx Zoo is one of the largest metropolitan zoos in the country. Often referred to as one of the greatest zoos, the animals can’t be given all of the credit; this award winning zoo has been on the cutting edge in its efforts to preserve wildlife around the world.

With over 4,000 animals on display, the Bronx Zoo offers its visitors the chance to see some of the most endangered species from around the world – as well as some of the more popular. All of the animals are housed in a natural and beneficial environment; in fact, some make you forget that you’re in a zoo all together. For instance, you can view the gorillas frolicking in their Congo Forest, or walk through an acre of land in an indoor Asian Rain Forest.

The Sea Lion Pool is always a popular attraction at the Bronx Zoo. The exhibit is very natural looking with rocky beaches, tidal pools, and islands that remind you of a California coastline. The Sea Lions are fed daily at 11:00am and 3:00pm…so make sure to check it out. After you’re all played out with the sea lions you should make a stop at the Big Bear exhibit. Three of the most famous grizzly bears are housed here; Archie, Betty, and Veronica. They have two swimming holes that they love to splash around in and you’ll have a great opportunity to get a close up look at them.

For the smaller guests there’s a children’s zoo that costs just $3.00 more to visit. It is a big adventure for them with more hands on experiences. The zoo also has a carousel for the kid that’s open all year round. If you need a little rest, take a ride on the monorail where you can relax while enjoying a visual tour of the Bronx Zoo

Getting There

If you choose to drive to the zoo, there is a daily $10 fee for parking. Alternatively, you could take the #2 or #5 train that will bring you within 2 ½ blocks of the zoo. There are also local buses as well as a free trolley that brings you right to the Bronx Zoo on the weekends.

Admission
Adults: $14.00
Seniors (65 +): $12.00
Children (Ages 3-12): $10.00

Ellis Island

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Ellis IslandOften times, you’ll pass by thousands of people on a busy Manhattan day and never even notice them. You’re so busy working and living your life that you rarely have time to think about where they came from, or what brought them to New York City. Chances are half of the people you passed that day have some sort of roots to someone who came over to Ellis Island. Often regarded as a tourist spot, Ellis Island is a special place that literally allows you take a step back in time.

Located just minutes off of the Southern Tip of Manhattan, many of the cities residents have yet to take the quick ferry ride over to Ellis Island. If you’re one of these residents, then it is about time to go over there. It is a beautiful 27.5 acre site that takes you back to your family roots and quite possibly to ancestors that you might not know anything about. It’s believed that almost half of all the Americans living in the country have someone in their family tree that arrived via Ellis Island. That is quite an astounding number of people and you should really take the time to see if you were one of those people.

The museum itself is located in the main building of what used to be the immigration station. This is where the people coming into New York City were processed in from other countries. The museum offers self guided tours to show you where they stood and what took place. It explains how last names were changed because they couldn’t be understood, and how people left their old lives behind to start a new one here in the United States.

The wall of honor overlooks the Statue of Liberty and on that wall are the over 700,000 people that have come through those doors in search of a better life. It’s definitely worth the ferry ride to just glance at all the names, or possibly see a name that you might recognize.

Getting There

The Circle Line-Statue of Liberty ferry leaves from Battery Park everyday from 9am to 5pm. They offer extended hours in the summer to accommodate all the tourists as well. Your best bet is to plan the trip ahead of time to make sure you don’t have to wait in those long lines. Off season periods, such as winter and fall, are probably the best times to go to Ellis Island without running into hoards of tourists, although it’s still pretty busy year round. Taking a later ferry will also do wonders in alleviating some of the hassles you’ll encounter with early morning visits.

Bryant Park

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Bryant Park in ManhattanYou may recognize the name from Good Morning America, and you may even pass by Bryant Park on the way to work, but have you really taken the time to enjoy this beautiful park? If the answer is no, then you must give it a try and soon.

You’ll find a wide range of people in Bryant Park – from business executives enjoying their lunches to sports enthusiasts looking to exercise or play a game of baseball. Bryant Park offers the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life in Manhattan and there is much to be taken advantage of in this striking location.

For you art and history buffs, there are dozens of statues and monuments set throughout Bryant Park to enjoy. Some of the more notable pieces include the lions created by sculptor Edward Clark Potter, the pediment statuary by Paul Wayland Bartlett, the fountains sitting on either side of the library’s main entrance, not to mention the statue of William Dodge – a businessman in NYC. There are many more set throughout the lawn and on the different terraces that adorn the park. Spend the day walking through the park while learning about the many New Yorkers that brought so much life and history to the city.

If you’re looking for a quiet place to get some work done, the park offers free wireless internet access as well as 2000 movable chairs.

Whether you’re here on a date, for work, or to just think things over, you’ll find a plethora of opportunities at the park. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Bryant Park.

Getting There

Located behind the New York Public Library in midtown Manhattan, Bryant Park is easily accessible to all of the residents of New York City. The park sits between 40th and 42nd streets and only a block from Times Square. You can either walk if you live nearby or you can take the F, V, B, or D train to the Bryant Park/42nd Street station.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The Metropolitan Museum of ArtOften referred to as The Met by the locals, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the largest and finest art museums in the world. It’s hard to even refer to The Met as just a museum because it is so much more. Besides offering you looks at the some of the most amazing pieces of art from around the world, there’s quite an experience to be had here. From the classes they teach for adults, to the lectures, you can come to The Met and never have the same experience twice.

The art that lines the walls and rooms of The Metropolitan Museum of Art are really breathtaking….to say the least. There are both permanent and moving collections at the museum – including Impressionist Art, Sculptures, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Ritual Objects, and Islamic Art. That’s just a few of the many exhibits and/or artifacts on display at the museum.

Take advantage of one of the free guided tours offered by the museum. They’re available in many different languages so everyone can listen in. After your guided tour is over, you’re free to roam around the museum for hours. In fact, many people choose to just plop down and study the skillful art around them. Also available with museum admission are gallery talks. This is when some of the museum curators, advanced students of art, or independent scholars discus different aspects of the collections or special exhibits. If your love for art supersedes your love for anything else, then you definitely shouldn’t miss these comprehensive and informative talks.

If you have a passion for the arts but don’t quite know where to begin, you may want to consider taking an adult art class at The Met. It’s more than just a classroom; it is a classroom in the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art where you get hands on experience in learning and absorbing art. You’re taught by master instructors and it’ll allow you to see art in a whole new way. Some of the programs have fees, but there are quite a few that are free and only require registration.

Museum Fees:

Adults: $20
Seniors (65+): $15
Students: $10
Children (12 & Under): Free

Prospect Park In Brooklyn

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Prospect Lake At Prospect Park - BrooklynWhen you think of Brooklyn you don’t often think of a large sprawling park, but that’s exactly what you get. Prospect Park is huge at 585 acres and is right in the heart of Brooklyn. The landscape is stunning…designed by the same person who designed Central Park in Manhattan.

The park is right in the middle of very diverse neighborhoods and is a local hangout for many of the residents that live in this populous borough. There are an incredible amount of activities to enjoy in this large park, but you can also enjoy just laying around on a sunny day – soaking in the rays and reading a book. There are loads of places that you can go and sit quietly by yourself, or you could enjoy the company of friends, family, or a date.

Once you get there, you can start off with the Prospect Park Audubon Center – the nation’s first Audubon Center. This is where you will find all the boat tours, bird watching walks, the park’s visitor center, as well as the interactive exhibits that children love. You can even grab a sandwich at the café on your way to see more of the beautifully landscaped Long Meadow area.

The Long Meadow is a 1 mile long unbroken meadow in the middle of this urban park filled with rolling hills and trees that are scattered about. This is the perfect place to take your time to enjoy the nature and peace and quiet that you will find. You can also find a great game of football being played here at any given time. Enjoy your time as you make your way to the Grand Army Plaza which holds many of the historic monuments in the park such as the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Memorial Arch. It is also where you will find Bailey Fountain as well as a collection of statues. The Green Market is open seasonally there for your enjoyment.

For the kids, you have the Prospect Park Zoo as well as Wollman Rink. They have pedal boating which is a really popular activity on the 60 acre lake. The outdoor skating rink is tons of fun and a fantastic date activity.

With all the beauty, quiet sitting spots, bird watching, and boating all in one place, you’ll be hard pressed to ever find another place like it.

Getting Here

The park is easily accessible to the people who live here, as well as people coming from other neighborhoods. You can take the F, Q, S, or B train or the 2 or 3 train all leading to Prospect Park station. If you drive to the park, there is even free parking year round located at the Wollman Rink.