Iconic suspension bridge has an upper level promenade for pedestrians and cyclists. The views are second-to-none, and are best observed early morning or after midnight, when you can have a little peace and quiet. The bridge empties out at City Hall on the Manhattan side and Dumbo on the Brooklyn side. Stroll down to Empire Fulton-Ferry State Park, a wide and grassy knoll level with the East River.
Brooklyn Bridge
entrance at Cadman Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Between the lions exists a Beaux-Arts oasis of quiet calm where you can catch up on e-mails, marvel at the original Guttenberg Bible, and peruse literary exhibitions. Take a breather or a quick cat nap in the Rose Reading Room. A free one-hour tour happens Thursdays at 2 p.m. (meet at reception).
476 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10018
+1-917-275-6975
Wildly influential house of modern and contemporary art. Go on Friday evening, when admission is free (4-8 p.m.). Follow up with cocktails and dinner at the design-minded (award-winning) restaurant, The Modern.
11 W. 53rd St.
New York, NY 10019
+1-212-708-9400
A bounty of food, flower, and provision stalls from local purveyors. Chef sightings are highly probable. Happens Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
16th St., at Broadway
New York, NY 10003
+1-212-788-7476
A longtime gathering spot for all things counter-cultural, today's park benches and giant fountain are filled with NYU students, chess players, street performers, folk singers, skateboarders, and downtown locals looking to hang out, make friends, and people watch.
Fifth Ave., at Waverly Pl.
New York, NY 10003