Things to do near the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Founded in 1897 by the Hewitt sisters, granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper, the only museum in the U.S. solely dedicated to design (both historic and modern) has been part of the Smithsonian since the 1960s. The museum hosts periodic interactive family programs that allow children to experiment with design.

The 92nd Street Y is proud to offer an incredible range of programs and services to New Yorkers of all ages. They offer early childhood support, parenting classes, summer camps, and after-school activities. There are also multiple classes available for older adults, including exercise classes, sign language classes, and writing workshops. Additionally, 92NY provides a robust variety of continuing education programs on topics ranging from world politics to how to publish your own memoir. Many of their courses are geared toward beginner students, like the Acrylic Painting for Absolute Beginners and the Drawing for Beginners workshops. Both of these courses last only a few hours but provide a robust introduction to these creative skills. Expert teachers will share their tips and tricks to achieve high-quality results. Supplies are not included, but a list of required materials will be sent to students prior to the start of class.  92NY is one of New York City’s premiere nonprofit agencies and cultural centers. Originally founded to serve the Jewish community, it has since expanded its programming to provide quality services to people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds. In nearly 150 years, 92NY has never wavered from its primary mission of improving the physical and mental health of the individuals they serve. 92NY is a registered four-star charity through Charity Navigator. They provide arts education for students K-12, including dance, music, and writing programs. The...

Through innovative programs and classes, guests are invited to explore the diversity that is Jewish culture and tradition. Find live music, book recommendations, political conversations and theater all under one roof at the Streicker Cultural Center. Find a full calendar of events on its website and follow along on Instagram for the latest updates! STREICKER CENTER OUTREACHSTREICKER CULTURAL CENTER

While Temple Emanu-El is best known as a synagogue, it's also a destination for variety of socially engaging events open to all. The progressive, multicultural and multigenerational community space offers classes for new parents (and grandparents), enrichment programs for babies and toddlers, social events for young professionals. The temple has also expanded to open a new Downtown campus in Chelsea, so keep an eye on its social calendar for upcoming concerts, book readings, films, art and more. FAMILY PROGRAMS20s/30s PROGRAMS

Collina Italiana serves as the leading Italian language and cultural center on the Upper East Side. Both adults and kids can learn Italian in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. You’ll get a well-rounded schooling in the language, including pronunciation, reading, writing and speaking. Conversation classes and speaking practice are available too. A little nervous about jumping into a new language? Grab an espresso or prosecco during class and you’ll feel right at home. Kids’ classes include arts & crafts, singing, dancing, games and more tools to help them learn the language (weekend workshops, school holiday camps and summer camps are available too). Dive deeper into the culture with courses covering Italian art, literature, music and… mmm… cuisine. Wine tastings, book clubs and lectures are available too. Prepare for your next trip to Italy or just feel like you’re there for a while — browse Colina Italiana’s full calendar of events and sign up for classes on their website below.

Bringing its gaming adventures to the East Side, Hex & Co. has a full-service kitchen and cocktail bar, making it a great option to hang out any time, day or night.  With board game play starting at $15 per person, Hex & Co. is an easy choice when you want to hang out on the east side of Manhattan. Better yet, there’s a $5 discount during the week (Monday-Thursday) for students. While you munch on a panino, a cheddar and parm melt, tater tots or fried chicken strips, you can play a number of board games from its inventory of hundreds of games, or you can opt into a trading card competition (Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana or Star Wars: Unlimited, for instance) learn how to play Dungeons & Dragons or play with new friends at its weekly Dungeons & Dragons sessions on Wednesday nights.

Named after French bibliophile Jean Grolier de Servières, this institution is a library and an exhibit space.

The New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) was founded in 1916 by architect Sherrill Whiton, whose Elements of Interior Decoration is still being taught in design schools nationwide. NYSID is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and it has been nationally ranked in the top five interior design programs for the last several years. The guiding philosophy of NYSID has always been that “the successful design of an interior space improves human welfare.” The school also emphasizes the importance of being environmentally conscious throughout its programming, recognizing the importance of designers working cohesively with architects to create spaces that are as safe and sustainable as they are beautiful. NYSID offers a wide range of design classes. One popular choice is their Introduction to Interior Design program, which is ideal for beginners looking to start their careers. Other classes at NYSID are more targeted to specific design concepts, like fixtures and other accessories, choosing the best paint color for a particular space, or planning the layout of a room. For example, the Residential Bathroom Design Planning and Layout program discusses how to maximize the space in a bathroom, often the smallest room in any house and the one people are most picky about. This course also teaches how to ensure bathrooms are up to code. The school also provides plenty of instruction in commonly used software programs for interior design, like the SketchUp...

This New York City landmark houses a series of 16 period rooms from the late 19th century, designed by such luminaries as Louis Comfort Tiffany and the Herter Brothers. The Armory has been transformed into one of the city's premier alternative spaces for showing art; the beauty of this historical setting allows for interesting visual contrast with the series of contemporary projects commissioned by the nonprofit arts organization.

If you've always wanted to play your favorite songs on the piano, but have little or no training in music theory, then fear not: Chris Swan is at hand. You might not be aware that there are techniques you can learn (used by professionals!) that allow you to learn songs quickly by ear—and that's exactly what Chris can teach you. Either in virtual classes or in-person lessons in Manhattan*, you can learn to play the piano by ear, get lessons in beat production, studio recording, songwriting, reading chord charts... the list goes on. You can see the full suite of offerings here. Prices start from $200 for 30 minutes online or at Chris’ studio. Get started now!