Gone are the days of lounging in Washington Square Park and getting your tan on. With sweater weather in full effect, it might be hard to find things to do. As tempting as it is to stay in your dorm and binge shows on Netflix, you’re in New York! Check out these awesome activities that you can do while still staying warm:
1. Museums
The Museum of Moving Image in Astoria, Queens
New York has some of the greatest museums in the world. Luckily, as NYU students, we can get into tons of them for free. Check out this list for all the ones that offer free entry. Maybe you’ve already been to MoMA and the Whitney, but what about The Studio Museum or El Museo del Barrio? It’s definitely worth going to as many as possible!
2. Chelsea Piers
You could easily spend an entire day here. There’s ice skating, rock climbing, batting cages, courts for soccer and basketball and more! You can sign up for interesting classes, register for a gym membership, or just drop-in for a day a fun.
3. Bowling
Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
You might think bowling is lame, but not in New York. Bowling Alleys here are classy, high-end, and have great food, drinks and music. Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg is one of the best, but Lucky Strike in Midtown and Bowlmor at Chelsea Piers are also great spots.
4. Rock Climbing
Try something really unique while also getting a great workout! Brooklyn Boulders offers a day pass for $28. Plus, if you’re a first-timer, they’ll give you a free 15-minute crash course. Check out this list for other place you can go.
5. Live music
Brooklyn Night Bazaar
There are tons of place where you can see live music for less than a movie! Brooklyn Night Bazaar has live bands every weekend as well as food stands, ping pong tables and karaoke. Jazz bars like West Village’s Fat Cat and smaller venues like Shea Stadium and Brooklyn Knitting Factory also offer live music at pretty inexpensive rates.
6. Bookstores and libraries
The New York Public Library
Staying inside with a good book is a great way to use your time on a cold day, but you don’t have to stay stuck in your room! There are so many great bookstores and libraries where you can hang out instead. Check out my list of New York’s best independent bookstores to get some ideas of where to go.
7. Get active
Another way to stay active and get your heartbeat up is by trying fitness classes around the city. ClassPass gives you a monthly membership to select classes from over 8,000 studios. On a budget? NYU also offers classes like spinning, pilates and zumba. Check out the NYU Athletics website for more details.
8. See a movie
Movies in New York are expensive, but luckily there are lots of really interesting movie theaters that can make the cost worthwhile. Movie theaters like Angelika Film Center, IFC Theater, and the Anthology Film Archives are all close to NYU and have unique screenings of independent and foreign films.
9. Tea
You could explore some of the thousands of coffeeshops in the city, but having tea is a unique twist that’s perfect for cold days. Tea & Sympathy in West Village is an English restaurant and store and is perfect if you want the full, authentic experience. Bosie Tea Parlor, also in West Village, has an afternoon tea that’s pricey but definitely worth the cost. If you’re on a budget, T Shop and Harney & Sons have high-quality teas that won’t hurt your wallet.
10. Get crafty
Try painting your own pottery for a fun experience that you can take home! These are some of the best places around to decorate a coffee mug that will impress all your friends.