New York may be a playground to some, but to you it’s a treasure trove of pleasingly highbrow entertainment. Let the hipsters have their ironic dance parties—you’re on a mission to see some of the world’s finest art, experience some thought-provoking foreign cinema, explore beautiful architecture and catch some exquisite dance performances. You’ll find all that and more when you check out your personalized itinerary below.
The pastry chef at chic Bosie Tea Parlor boasts a killer resume (Pierre Hermé, Bouley Bakery), while co-owner Kiley Holliday is certified through the International Tea Masters Association. Sip from a selection of more than 80 loose-leaf teas while you nibble éclairs, Earl Grey crepes and more.
Kick off your culture fix early: This museum opens at 9am daily, an hour ahead of most Manhattan museums. Enjoy free entrance to galleries devoted to exhibitions like Built by Women, focusing on female-headed architectural projects throughout the city.
Browse about 200 magazines and 22 newspapers from around the world under the gorgeous high ceilings of DeWitt Wallace Periodical Room, at the main branch of the NYPL. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Request more titles from storage.
Operating since 1972, this West Village venue is a dying breed: a tiny art-house cinema that plays a lovely variety of indie, foreign and documentary films, along with some second-runs.
Curators at this Long Island City museum, housed in a former trolley repair shop, have an eye for midcareer artists. The institution also stretches the definition of sculpture; one current exhibition shows off a retrospective of poetry booklets by Buenos Aires-based literature collective Belleza y Felicidad.
It’s not cheap, but $63 per person is well worth it for after-hours access to a world-famous modern art museum. Guided tours (your only option) run from 5:30-6:30pm and must be arranged in advance. Right now, special exhibitions include a Bjork retrospective, featuring three floors of sounds, video, costumes and more.
An intimate setting for ballet and contemporary dance, the Joyce hosts top-notch troupes from around the world, including Ballet Hispanico. With just 472 seats, there’s no such thing as a bad view.
Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane and Mel Brooks are all investors in this Theater District restaurant, so you’ll often see them and other hot performers dining here after shows. Play it cool!
Late-night jazz is a hallmark of the New York nightlife scene, and this unmarked spot (look for the blue light and smokers outside) is the place to see it. Be prepared to pack into a tiny space, which spills out into a backyard garden on warm nights.
The trek to and from this deep-Brooklyn beach will take at least an hour each way from Midtown on the B or Q train, but watching the sun rise over the ocean is the most inspiring thing you’ll do all year.
The High Line—an elevated freight train line stretching over Manhattan, now converted to a bucolic walking path—is one of the premier examples of similar projects throughout the country converting rails to trails. Learn about it on placards near the Gansevoort St. entrance, then walk the path to 34th St.
Discover Time Out original video
