1654 Society
Offering tours of the oldest Jewish congregation in America (settled in 1654, hence the name), the tours explore the landmark Tiffany-designed 1897 neoclassical structure as well as America’s oldest Jewish cemetery (consecrated in 1656). The 1654 Society is committed to making knowledge of the Jewish-American experience available in order to “understand the past, celebrate the present, and build the future.” Walk through the Synagogue, ancient cemeteries, archives and exhibits while learning the history of the Jewish people in America that is not taught in textbooks.
American Girl Place
This mecca for young girls and the adults who love them is one of the flagship stores of the hugely popular doll franchise, the wholesome alternative to Barbie and Bratz. Beyond shopping, AG Place offers a kid-friendly café (reservations recommended!), a photo studio, a salon where dolls get new ‘dos and a doll hospital, where faulty “Girls” are dressed in patient gowns from a doll doctor’s office, fixed up and sent back to their happy owners good as new.
Apollo Theater
Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater is important not only because it honors and promotes the contributions of black American performers, but also because it is a living example of progress: The building was originally a burlesque theater that did not allow black patrons. Visit the Apollo for an Amateur Night, which started the careers of so many legends—including Ella Fitzgerald—or take a historical tour of the building.
Bodies…The Exhibition
Gross or engrossing? That’s for you to decide at Bodies at the South Street Seaport. This innovative display of real human specimens, preserved according to mortuary science and arranged in a series of athletic poses, show off the complex structure of the human organism and promote healthy living.
Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo of the Wildlife Conservation Society is the premiere place to study and appreciate the world's many creatures. Home to more than 6,000 animals, the zoo spans 265 acres that re-create the diverse natural habitats of its numerous residents, from the gorillas of the Congo to the snow leopards of the Himalayas.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is as committed to education and conservation as it is to inspiration. Whether you’re looking to learn something or just want to soak up 52 acres of natural beauty, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has more than 10,000 kinds of plants from all over the world. The garden is open year-round and has plants for every season, plus indoor tropical gardens and bonsai trees.
Brooklyn Brewery
The Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg is responsible for the popular Brooklyn Lager that you’ll see in bars throughout New York City and beyond. Brewery tours are offered Saturdays from 1–4pm (every hour on the hour), or stop by on Friday and Saturday nights for the Brewery’s various happy hours and tasting events.
Brooklyn Cyclones
The Brooklyn Cyclones, the New York Mets' Class A minor league club, play in picturesque KeySpan Park—about an hour's subway ride from Midtown Manhattan. Situated in Coney Island, close to the ocean and local attractions like Deno's Wonder Wheel and Lola Staar's Dreamland Roller Rink, the smell of salt air permeates the stadium. During night games, neon-colored fluorescent rings circling the ballpark's stadium lights lend a carnivalesque atmosphere to the setting. In the distance beyond the left field wall, fans can see the Cyclone roller coaster (the team's namesake) slowly rise and suddenly plunge on its first terrifying drop. The on-field competition of scrappy, hardworking ballplayers hearkens back to the good ol' days of Brooklyn baseball—as does the intimate setting, where the team can hear what fans yell out from the stands.
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a music lover's paradise, presenting the best of the best in symphonies, orchestras, recitals, jazz, folk and more. Whether you prefer vocals or instrumentals, breakthrough performers or veterans, Carnegie Hall has something for you. Don't have time for a show? During the concert season, you can also take a tour of the building and learn about its long history.
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, but its majestic doors are open for all visitors, whether to attend a service or simply enjoy the tranquility. This Gothic Revival landmark regularly hosts concerts and choral performances, and music will fill these halls even more once the Great Organ, silent for many years, plays again beginning November 30.
