By Michele Alperin
Getting the feel of
New York City is a multi-sensory experience. It means people watching, whether sitting in a coffee shop or walking down the street. It means imbibing the culture in theaters, galleries, museums and concert halls. But mostly it means getting intimate with the neighborhoods, each one a world of its own.
Going to the Theater
A Broadway show is New York at its best. One of the best ways to get a great deal on a play is to stop at the TKTS discount booth in Father Duffy Square at Broadway and 47th. It opens at 10:00 a.m. for matinees and 3:00 p.m. for evening performances.
Exploring World-Class Art Museums
Deciding which museum to go to and how much time to spend is the quintessential decision for New York tourists. For "all the art that's fit to see," go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other city museums include the Asia Society, the Museum of Modern Art, the Frick Museum and the Whitney Museum.
Indulging in the Neighborhoods
New York is a city of neighborhoods, each one distinctive, whether for ethnicity, the arts or outdoor cafes. Spend time at jazz clubs in Greenwich Village or galleries in Chelsea, wander through fancy neighborhoods on the Upper East Side, experience African-American history in revitalized Harlem or enjoy the food and ethnic flavors in Chinatown and Little Italy.
Learning About Animals
Go to the American Museum of Natural History to get the long view, starting with fossils, as well as a sense of animals in their native environments. The museum is home to several permanent exhibits and a selection of traveling exhibits. Visit the living, breathing specimens at one of New York's zoos and the New York Aquarium.
Exploring Central Park
Start in the Metropolitan Museum's Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden for an overview of the park, a vision of green surrounded by substantial buildings. Then wander through the paths, taking in fountains, an outdoor theater, a castle, an obelisk, a zoo, a lake and unending trees.
Don't Forget Lower Manhattan
A world of its own, this area is home to Wall Street, the Fulton Fish Market, the South Street Seaport and the delightful promenade in Battery Park City along the Hudson River.
Resources
About the Author:
Michele Alperin is a freelance writer with more than 10 years' experience. She specializes in business, arts and Judaism, and her work has appeared in a variety of print and online publications, including MyJewishLearning.com, "U.S.1," "Princeton Packet," "Jewish State" and "Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles." She has master's degrees in business and Jewish education.
