| | Often regarded as America’s premier destination for culture, nightlife and entertainment, New York City has the capacity to inspire the mind, stir the soul and excite the spirit. With world-renowned museums, theaters, nightclubs, sporting teams and restaurants, the City can satisfy every age and every taste. |  |
| OVERVIEW | |
The city that never sleeps is a familiar moniker for New York City that is well-earned. Morning birds, night owls and everyone in between find many ways to fill their calendars with distinctive NYC activities.
With nearly 100 museums and 39 Broadway theaters, New York City offers a virtually endless variety of opportunities for culture, nightlife and entertainment seekers. And for those who consider themselves “foodies,” the City’s roughly 6,400 restaurants and 1,200 bars can satisfy any culinary cravings. Sports fans can experience many different levels of competition with the City’s locally and nationally ranked teams, four major sports arenas and nine franchises.
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| CULTURE | |
Cultural Diversity
With over 8 million residents, New York City is the largest city in the United States and among the most diverse. People from all walks of life can feel comfortable here. Roughly 36% of the City’s population are foreign born, maintaining the rich melting pot reputation for which the City is famous. With this diversity comes an exceptional collection of cultural influences. The best and brightest artists and performers are drawn to the City from all over the world – producing award-winning, critically acclaimed art, theater, opera, dance, music and film.
A Destination for Music and Dance
Many people know Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center as destinations where the classics can be seen and heard. The City also offers a wide variety of other venues like downtown’s Amato Opera House and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Lovers of dance can experience the Alvin Ailey and Joyce Theaters, among many others.
Museums for Every Interest
Museum-goers have an exciting collection of options, ranging from the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim, to Staten Island’s National Lighthouse Museum, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and even Satchmo’s House in Queens. Furthermore, the New York Transit Museum offers a fascinating look at the development of the City’s transportation network.
Movie-Lovers Paradise
Movie buffs have access to rare films at art houses like the Film Forum, the Angelika Film Center, IFC Theater and The Screening Room. And with 67 movie theaters throughout the five boroughs, the next big feature or independent film will likely be playing nearby. In fact, many New Yorkers also find themselves stumbling across live movie sets, with films of all budgets being shot throughout the city year-round.
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| CULTURE RESOURCES | | |
NYC Arts Culture Calendar
Explore a detailed NYC guide to museums, performance halls, theatres, zoos and gardens.
Alliance for the Arts
Learn more about how the Alliance serves the cultural community through research and advocacy. The Alliance is a resource for children, parents, teachers, general public, visitors to NY, NY Cultural community, government and civic leaders, artists, curators and historians.
Department of Cultural Affairs
Find out how this organization supports and strengthens NYC’s vibrant cultural life by ensuring adequate public funding, technical support and advocacy for non-profit cultural organizations.
Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
Learn about the latest film shoots and other productions happening throughout New York City.
NYC.com Museum Listing
View information on locations, phone numbers, hours and admission fees for New York City Museums.
Lincoln Center
Visit the world’s leading performance art center and learn about upcoming performances and exhibitions.
Carnegie Hall
Read up on the history of the halls, buy tickets, or introduce your family to music at the “Family Concerts” program.
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| ENTERTAINMENT | |
From Broadway shows and television show tapings to performance art and comedy acts, every borough offers exciting ways to experience world-class entertainment. Let New York City entertain you.
Venues Large and Small
New York City has venues that offer both mainstream and underground performances. To see big-name stars in one of the City’s largest venues, take in a show at Madison Square Garden or experience the world-famous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. For smaller, more intimate performance experiences, explore local favorites like the Knitting Factory or Mercury Lounge.
Theater Shines in New York City
The lights of Broadway attract many New Yorkers who are passionate about live theater. The City’s 39 Broadway theaters offer the largest selection of musical comedies, plays and other dramatic works of any major city. For newer and more experimental works, take in a cutting edge performance at the NY International Fringe Festival. Many Broadway shows have gotten their start at the Fringe and certainly more are on the horizon.
Parades, Outdoor Festivals and Events
New York City parades, outdoor festivals and events provide a firsthand experience of the City’s unique spirit. From the tree lighting in Rockefeller Center and the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, to the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade, International Cultures Parade and the Gay Pride Parade, New Yorkers create many opportunities to participate in the City’s diversity. In nearly any given month, in any part of the City, people here have a reason to get together and celebrate.
Outdoor Summer Events
Summertime ushers in a wide variety of outdoor events across the City, many of them free to the public. Among its many options, Central Park offers Shakespeare in the Park and Opera in the Park. Bryant Park presents a schedule of weekly movies shown on a huge outdoor screen, and Coney Island offers both the Siren Music Festival and the Mermaid Parade. Parks and open spaces all over the City offer similar events for residents and visitors alike.
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| ENTERTAINMENT RESOURCES | | |
New York City Tourism (NYC & Co)
Find special offers during your NYC stay with New York City’s official tourism web site. Browse all that NYC has to offer.
Broadway.com
Read the most complete editorial coverage of theater on the web including latest news, interviews, opening-night coverage and theater reviews. The site also offers online theater ticketing for every Broadway show and most off-Broadway shows.
Playbill
Find the latest news, features, performance listings and discounts for Broadway, Off-Broadway, London and Regional theatre.
Off Broadway
Look for Off Broadway shows by ticket price, performance style or content.
Time Out NY Theatre Pages
Read theatre reviews from the Time Out NY weekly publication.
Madison Square Garden
See big-name bands and comedy acts, favorite sports teams, or even the annual dog or cat show at this world-famous arena.
Radio City Music Hall
Bring the family to the “Christmas Spectacular,” or meet up with friends for a night of music at the “American People’s Palace” in Midtown.
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| SPORTS | |
Every Sport Imaginable in NYC
Competitive athletes, amateurs and spectators alike have plenty of sporting events and activities to choose from in the City. Whether it’s running in the NYC Marathon or catching a Subway Series game at historic Yankee Stadium, the sports world here is exciting and accessible. We’ve got it all, including baseball, basketball, football and hockey. There are also soccer games and track meets on Baker Field at Columbia University, international tennis competitions at the U.S. Open and even cricket tournaments in Flushing Meadow, Queens.
Professional Teams in New York City:
- Baseball: Yankees, Mets
- Basketball: Knicks, Nets, Liberty
- Football: Jets, Giants
- Hockey: Rangers, Islanders
- Soccer: Red Bulls, NY Magic
Activities For All Seasons
During spring and summer, softball leagues descend on many of the City’s parks and kayakers take to the Hudson River. Central Park offers opportunities for rock climbing, biking and more. As the weather turns colder, cross-country skiers and snowshoers take to the streets (literally) once the first layer of snow appears, and ice skaters glide for free in Bryant Park. Alpine skiing, hiking and skydiving are also within an hour of the City.
Keeping Fit in the City
While New Yorkers get plenty of exercise bustling around, they can also squeeze in a workout at any one of the many fitness clubs in the City. Beyond traditional gyms, the City is home to a wide variety of yoga, martial arts and boxing studios and other places to stay active.
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| SPORTS RESOURCES | | |
New York Sports Teams and Arenas
Find websites for NY baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer teams, and the arenas where they play.
New York Road Runners
Read about upcoming races (including the NYC Marathon), sign up for a running class or lecture and get training and exercise tips.
New York City Swimming
Scan the list of City pools and beaches, and plan your next workout or escape from work.
Gym Search
Search for a fitness studio near you, find a trainer, get a free online evaluation and read health and fitness news.
Bryant Park
Check the calendar for events and activities happening year-round in Bryant Park.
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| DINING | |
New York City is THE Restaurant Town
Dining in New York is big business. In 2007, City restaurants employed over 106,000 people and brought in nearly $6 billion in sales/receipts. With over 6,400 restaurants, New York City has it all: world-class restaurants; small, family-run neighborhood spots; top-ranked street food vendors and cozy cafés. The City is also home to many famous chefs, including Bobby Flay, Mario Batali and Danny Meyer.
Authentic Cuisine Across the Boroughs
Whether you are in the mood to dress up and celebrate a special occasion or stay in your sweats and have a quick bite, New York City has authentic regional foods across the five boroughs. There is dim sum in City’s famous Chinatown district or in Flushing, Queens; Middle Eastern fare on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn or Italian on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. The East Village offers the enclave known as Little India, and Brighton Beach is home to a wide selection of Russian food. With so many choices, the hardest part can be deciding where to go.
Iconic New York City Food
New York City favorites are written about in magazines, discussed on the Food Network, and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The City offers both old favorites and new temptations that are uniquely New York. Whether it’s Lombardi’s or Ray’s Original pizza, Nathan’s or Gray’s Papaya hot dogs, Peter Luger’s or Sparks’ steaks, H&H’s or Murray’s bagels, Katz’s or Carnegie’s sandwiches – people come from all over to satisfy their cravings.
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| DINING RESOURCES | | |
Opentable.com
Book a reservation online at your favorite New York restaurant with Opentable.com. Search through available tables that meet desired criteria for cuisine, price and location at a specified time.
Restaurants & Food by New York Metro
Search New York City restaurants by name, type, neighborhood, price range, and special features. Read through restaurant reviews, or find a restaurant according to the food critics top choices or recently opened restaurants.
CitySearch Restaurant Listings
Search for New York’s best restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, shopping, spas or events.
Zagat
Look up restaurants and find their ratings based on a 30-point rating system covering food, décor, service and cost. Zagat also reviews hotels, nightlife, shopping, music, movies, theater and golf.
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| | | | EXPLORE NYC | New York City Map
Explore our interactive map of the 5 boroughs to find project locations, incentive areas and zoning. |
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