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Lower Manhattan | East Village and Lower East Side | Greenwich Village and West Village | Chelsea | Midtown West | Upper East Side | Upper West Side | Harlem | Brooklyn | Queens
Lower Manhattan
Financial District
Readings and Lectures
Poets House.
Situated in a bright and airy building in the residential area of Battery Park City and near the Hudson River, this reading room is an open resource for all ages, with a 60,000-volume library, readings, and other poetry-centric events. | Battery Park City, 10 River Terr., at Murray St.
,
Financial District
| 212/431–7920
|
www.poetshouse.org
| Station:
1, 2, 3, A, C to Chambers St.
TriBeCa
Music
Tribeca Performing Arts Center.
This center celebrates theater (with a clever children’s series) and dance but is primarily known for jazz. Highlights in Jazz and Lost Jazz Shrines are two of its special series. | 199 Chambers St., between Greenwich and West Sts.
,
TriBeCa
| 212/220–1460
for tickets
|
www.tribecapac.org
| Station:
1, 2, 3, A, C to Chambers St.
SoHo
Readings and Lectures
Fodor’s Choice |
The Greene Space
(Jerome L. Greene Performance Space
).
The local public radio stations WNYC and WQXR invite the public into their intimate (125 seats) studio for live shows featuring classical, rock, jazz, and new music; audio theater; conversation; and interviews. It’s a great place to get up-close with writers and newsmakers, as well as musicians and actors who might be playing Carnegie Hall, Broadway, or the Met Opera a few days later. | 44 Charlton St., at Varick St.
,
SoHo
| 646/829–4000
|
www.thegreenespace.org
| Station:
C, E to Spring St.; 1 to Houston St.
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe.
Amid roughly 25,000 books and CDs for sale, Housing Works hosts a wide range of literary and cultural events, including quirky readings, sometimes with unannounced surprise guests; journal and book launches; and storytelling or music nights. This cozy store is staffed largely by volunteers, and all profits go toward fighting homelessness and HIV/AIDS. | 126 Crosby St., between Houston and Prince Sts.
,
SoHo
| 212/334–3324
|
www.housingworks.org/bookstore
| Station:
N, R to Prince St.; B, D, F, M to Broadway–Lafayette St.
Fodor’s Choice |
The Moth.
Dedicated to first-person storytelling, this roving series has spread far beyond just New York, where it was founded in 1997 by the writer George Dawes Green. But it’s still going strong here: the Mainstage shows bring together luminaries to tell their stories and maybe dish a little, too. At the much looser open-mike StorySLAMs, competitors are randomly selected and given just five minutes to tell their story, which must tie in with the night’s theme. These tales get told at Housing Works and other venues downtown and in Brooklyn. | Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby St., between Houston and Prince Sts.
,
SoHo
| 212/742–0551
|
themoth.org/events
| Station:
N, R to Prince St.; B, D, F, M to Broadway–Lafayette St.
Theater
HERE.
Celebrating all manner of contemporary, genre-bending productions, the original home of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues
and Basil Twist’s Symphonie Fantastique
also houses art exhibitions and a café. | 145 6th Ave., between Spring and Dominick Sts.
,
SoHo
| 212/647–0202
, 212/352–3101
for tickets
|
www.here.org
| Station:
C, E to Spring St.
East Village and Lower East Side
East Village
Dance
Danspace Project.
Founded to foster the work of independent choreographers such as Lucinda Childs and David Gordon, Danspace Project sponsors performances that are as fresh—and idiosyncratic—as the historic church space they occupy. Performance series curated by guest artists are also a regular part of the calendar. | St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, 131 E. 10th St., at 2nd Ave.
,
East Village
| 212/674–8112
, 866/811–4111
for tickets
|
www.danspaceproject.org
| Station:
6 to Astor Pl.; N, R to 8th St.–NYU; L to 3rd Ave.
Film
Fodor’s Choice |
Anthology Film Archives.
Dedicated to preserving and exhibiting independent and avant-garde film, Anthology Film Archives is made up of two screening rooms that seat 187 and 75 as well as a film repository, all inside a renovated redbrick courthouse. Cofounded in the 1960s by the downtown legend and filmmaker Jonas Mekas, Anthology remains a major destination for adventurous and unusual movies, new as well as old. The Essential Cinema series delves into the works of canonized, groundbreaking directors; the frequent festivals are more eclectic and may cover under-recognized auteurs, such as a series devoted to the director Edgar G. Ulmer, as well as hard-to-see films of all types. This is an experience for film lovers, not casual moviegoers, so don’t expect the amenities you’d find at a multiplex. | 32 2nd Ave., at 2nd St.
,
East Village
| 212/505–5181
|
www.anthologyfilmarchives.org
| Station:
F to 2nd Ave.
Music
SubCulture.
With its exposed brick, structural pillars, theater-style seating, and industrial-chic bar, this intimate subterranean concert hall could just as easily be a cool lounge as a venue for classical (especially chamber), jazz, and new music. Series here have included in-the-round performances of all of Beethoven’s string quartets; an annual PianoFest, which brings in some of the most exciting pianists from across many genres; and concerts from Tony Award–winning composer Jason Robert Brown, featuring guest appearances from various Broadway stars. The calendar also finds room for singer-songwriters, comedians, and performers of world music. | 45 Bleecker St., between the Bowery and Lafayette St.
,
East Village
| 212/533–5470
|
www.subculturenewyork.com
| Station:
6 to Bleecker St.; B, D, F, M to Broadway–Lafayette St.
Readings and Lectures
KGB Bar.
A nexus of the downtown literary scene, KGB keeps a busy calendar of readings and discussions: start with Sunday Night Fiction or KGB Poetry on Monday night. The name and the Soviet kitsch are a nod to the bar’s history as a speakeasy for leftist Ukrainians. | 85 E. 4th St., between the Bowery and 2nd Ave.
,
East Village
| 212/505–3360
|
www.kgbbar.com
| Station:
F to 2nd Ave.; 6 to Bleecker St.
Nuyorican Poets Cafe.
The reigning arbiter of poetry slams, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe hosts open-mike events and the influential granddaddy (b. 1989) of the spoken-word scene, the Friday Night Poetry Slam. Other performances, including hip-hop open mikes, jazz acts, and theatrical performances, round out the schedule. Although tickets for many of the popular shows like the Friday Night Poetry Slam and the Monday-night open mikes can be purchased in advance online, it’s still a good idea to line up early; the small venue can get packed to the point of standing-room only. | 236 E. 3rd St., between Aves. B and C
,
East Village
| 212/780–9386
|
www.nuyorican.org
| Station:
F to 2nd Ave.; J, M, Z to Essex St.
The Poetry Project.
Launched in 1966, the Poetry Project has been a source of sustenance for poets (and their audiences) ever since. This place has seen performances by Allen Ginsberg, Amiri Baraka, Sam Shepard, Patti Smith, Anne Waldman, and many others. At current readings you might find artists of the same caliber. Prime times are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. | St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, 131 E. 10th St., at 2nd Ave.
,
East Village
| 212/674–0910
|
www.poetryproject.org
| Station:
N, R to 8th St.–NYU; 6 to Astor Pl.; L to 3rd Ave.
Theater
Classic Stage Company.
At the CSC’s cozy 199-seat theater you can see excellent revivals—such as Chekhov’s Three Sisters,
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet,
or several plays of Euripides—often with a modern spin, reigning theatrical stars, and new scores. | 136 E. 13th St., between 3rd and 4th Aves.
,
East Village
| 212/677–4210
|
www.classicstage.org
| Station:
4, 5, 6, N, Q, R to 14th St.–Union Sq.; L to 3rd Ave.
La MaMa E.T.C.
Ellen Stewart (1919–2011) founded La MaMa E.T.C. in 1961 in a small Manhattan basement. Since that time, the Experimental Theatre Club has grown continuously, all the while taking risks on unknown works that cross cultures and performance disciplines (of note, Blue Man Group got its start here). In an effort to keep theater accessible, tickets are a bargain across the theater’s four venues, ranging from just $10 to $25. | 66 and 74A E. 4th St., between the Bowery and 2nd Ave.
,
East Village
| 646/430–5374
|
www.lamama.org
| Station:
F to 2nd Ave.; 6 to Bleecker St.
New York Theatre Workshop.
Works by new and established playwrights anchor this theater’s repertoire. Jonathan Larson’s Rent
got its start here before going to Broadway, as did the hit musical Once
. Works by Tony Kushner (Homebody/Kabul
), Caryl Churchill, Amy Herzog, and Paul Rudnick have also been staged here. Hit the box office for day-of CheapTix rush tickets; those seats are $25—in cash—as available, and are only on offer to young people (under 25), seniors (over 65), artists, and residents of the Lower East Side, with proper ID. | 79 E. 4th St., between the Bowery and 2nd Ave.
,
East Village
| 212/460–5475
|
www.nytw.org
| Station:
F to 2nd Ave.; 6 to Astor Pl.
Fodor’s Choice |
The Public Theater.
Fresh theater, such as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s current Broadway sensation Hamilton,
and Here Lies Love,
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s “poperetta” about Imelda Marcos, keep people talking about the Public Theater. Many more noted productions that began here (Hair,
A Chorus Line
) went on to Broadway and beyond. Some shows release limited-availability $20 rush standby tickets at the box office (two tickets max; cash only). Check online for available performances. | 425 Lafayette St., south of Astor Pl.
,
East Village
| 212/539–8500
, 212/967–7555
for tickets
|
www.publictheater.org
| Station:
6 to Astor Pl.; N, R to 8th St.–NYU
.
Theater for the New City.
This four-theater cultural complex stages three- or four-week-long runs of new shows by emerging and mid-career American playwrights. The socially conscious group also runs a free summer program of street theater, performed in all five boroughs. | 155 1st Ave., between 9th and 10th Sts.
,
East Village
| 212/254–1109
|
www.theaterforthenewcity.net
| Station:
6 to Astor Pl.; L to 1st Ave.
Lower East Side
Film
Sunshine Cinema.
Talk about busy: according to a Village Voice
article, this storied building, which reportedly dates back to 1844, has served as “a church, an immigrant meeting hall, a boxing venue, a nickelodeon, a Yiddish vaudeville house, a hardware warehouse, a graffiti showcase, and an indie-rock playroom.” Since 2001, it’s been a great neighborhood theater showing a mix of art-house and smaller-release mainstream-independent films on five decent-size screens. Great midnight movies play, too. | 143 E. Houston St., between 1st and 2nd Aves.
,
Lower East Side
| 212/260–7289
|
www.landmarktheatres.com
| Station:
F to 2nd Ave.; J, Z to Bowery
.
Theater
Dixon Place.
Founded back in the 1980s, this small, nonprofit theater continues to host worthy, and frequently unconventional and hilarious, performances of theater, music, dance, and more, with a focus on new works. Its popular HOT! Festival of Queer Performance, held in July, is the longest-running LGBTQ festival in the world. Whatever you’re seeing of the some 1,000 shows held here each year, the Lounge, Dixon Place’s cheerful bar, is a great place to meet up before the show and connect with artists after. | 161A Chrystie St., between Rivington and Delancey Sts.
,
Lower East Side
| 212/219–0736
|
www.dixonplace.org
| Station:
J, Z to Bowery; B, D to Grand St.
Greenwich Village and West Village
Greenwich Village
Film
Angelika Film Center.
Foreign, independent, and specialty films are screened here. Despite its (six) tunnel-like theaters, small screens, and the occasionally audible subway rumble below, it’s usually packed with cinephiles; get a snack at the café while you wait for your movie to be called. | 18 W. Houston St., between Mercer St. and Broadway
,
Greenwich Village
| 212/995–2570
|
www.angelikafilmcenter.com/nyc
| Station:
B, D, F, M to Broadway–Lafayette St.; 6 to Bleecker St.; N, R to Prince St.
IFC Center.
The IFC Center shows a mix of repertory and first-run independent, art-house, shorts (including cartoons), and foreign movies. Despite the modern wire-mesh facade, there are still clues that this was once the much-beloved Waverly Theater. | 323 6th Ave., at 3rd St.
,
Greenwich Village
| 212/924–7771
|
www.ifccenter.com
| Station:
A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W. 4th St.–Washington Sq.
Readings and Lectures
Center for Architecture.
This contemporary glass-faced gallery near Washington Square hosts lively discussions (which may be accompanied by films or other visuals) on topics like radical architecture in Mexico City or what to expect when you renovate an apartment. | 536 LaGuardia Pl., between 3rd and Bleecker Sts.
,
Greenwich Village
| 212/683–0023
|
cfa.aiany.org
| Station:
A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W. 4th St.
New York Studio School.
The venerable New York Studio School hosts two—always free, almost always on Tuesday and Wednesday—evening lecture series on contemporary issues in art. Hear from both emerging and established artists and curators, as well as some of the biggest names in art history and criticism. The school building served as the original location of the Whitney Museum. | 8 W. 8th St., between 5th Ave. and Macdougal St.
,
Greenwich Village
| 212/673–6466
|
www.nyss.org
| Station:
A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W. 4th St.
Theater
Fodor’s Choice |
Monday Night Magic.
Since 1997, Michael Chaut and three other magician producers have been running these weekly performances in and around Greenwich Village (they’ve been a permanent fixture at the Players Theatre since 2011). The acts, usually four per night on stage, come from all over the world and often include performers you’d see in much bigger theaters and clubs on other nights. The mind-reading and sleight-of-hand with birds, cards, balls, and handkerchiefs come at a fast pace. The magic continues even during intermission, when at least two additional magicians mingle with guests in the lobby and in the theater to perform card tricks and other “close-up magic.” Although the acts are tailored for an adult audience, they’re also suitable for younger viewers, ages 12 and older, especially on special family nights. | Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., between 3rd and Bleecker Sts.
,
Greenwich Village
| 212/615–6432
, 800/838–3006
for tickets
|
www.mondaynightmagic.com
| Station:
A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W. 4th St.
Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.
This pristine, wood-lined theater on the NYU campus supports emerging artists, with interesting dance, music, and theater events, often in collaboration with international companies. Conferences and even a circus or two round out the calendar, which also includes many family-friendly events. | 566 LaGuardia Pl., at Washington Sq. S
,
Greenwich Village
| 212/992–8484
, 888/611–8183
for tickets
|
www.nyuskirball.org
| Station:
A, B, C, D, E, F, M to W. 4th St.; N, R to 8th St.–NYU
.
NYC Film Series and Revivals
Although many of the screens listed here show first-run releases, old favorites and rarities are the heart of their programing. These gems—which include just about every kind of film, from silent and noir to the most au courant experimental work—are frequently screened at museums, cultural societies, and other institutions, such as the French Institute Alliance Française (212/355–6100 | www.fiaf.org ), Scandinavia House (212/779–3587 | www.scandinaviahouse.org ), and major branches of the New York Public Library (917/275–6975 | www.nypl.org ). A reliably creative range of repertory screenings can always be found at Anthology Film Archives (212/505–5181 | www.anthologyfilmarchives.org ), Film Forum (212/727–8110 | www.filmforum.org ), the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) (212/708–9400 | www.moma.org ), the Museum of the Moving Image (718/777–6888 | www.movingimage.us ), the Brooklyn Academy of Music (718/636–4100 | www.bam.org ), and the Film Society of Lincoln Center (212/875–5610 | www.filmlinc.com ).
West Village
Film
Fodor’s Choice |
Film Forum.
In addition to premiering new international features and documentaries that are otherwise hard to catch on the big screen, this nonprofit theater with three theaters hosts movies by canonized directors such as Hitchcock, Godard, and Bertolucci; in-depth film series devoted to particular actors or genres; and newly restored prints of classic works. The small café in the lobby serves tasty cakes and freshly popped popcorn. This is no megaplex; be prepared for small seats and screens and a cash-only box office (credit cards can be used to buy tickets online in advance). | 209 W. Houston St., between 6th Ave. and Varick St.
,
West Village
| 212/727–8110
|
www.filmforum.org
| Station:
1 to Houston St.; C, E to Spring St.
Chelsea
Dance
Fodor’s Choice |
Joyce Theater.
Set within a former Art Deco movie house in Chelsea, the 472-seat Joyce Theater has superb sight lines and presents a wide range of classical and contemporary dance during its 48-week season that includes a rotating roster of diverse international, national, and New York–based companies. | 175 8th Ave., at 19th St.
,
Chelsea
| 212/691–9740
, 212/242–0800
for tickets
|
www.joyce.org
| Station:
A, C, E to 14th St.; L to 8th Ave.; 1 to 18th St.
New York Live Arts.
This Chelsea space serves as the home stage for the innovative Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. It’s also a laboratory for new choreographers and artists in residence, and hosts non-choreographed events such as panel discussions. | 219 W. 19th St., between 7th and 8th Aves.
,
Chelsea
| 212/691–6500
, 212/924–0077
for tickets
|
www.newyorklivearts.org
| Station:
1 to 18th St.; A, C, E, to 23rd St.
Theater
TADA! Vibrant original musicals for family audiences are performed by a cast of talented kids (ages 8 to 18). Most shows are on weekends, and children’s tickets start at $10. | 15 W. 28th St., 2nd fl. , between Broadway and 5th Ave. , Chelsea | 212/252–1619 | www.tadatheater.com | Station: 1, 6, N, R to 28th St.
Midtown West
Film
Fodor’s Choice |
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) films.
You’ll find some of the most engaging international film repertory around at Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters 1 and 2, in MoMA’s lower level. Sometimes the films tie in with current art exhibitions; the Contenders series, which starts each fall, is a chance to catch up on the past year’s releases that are likely to win awards, or at least stand the test of time. Movie tickets are available at the museum for same-day screenings (a limited number are released up to one week in advance). They’re free if you have purchased museum admission ($25); otherwise they cost $12. | 11 W. 53rd St., between 5th and 6th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 212/708–9400
|
www.moma.org/calendar/film
| Station:
E, M to 5th Ave./53rd St.; B, D, F, M to 47th–50th Sts./Rockefeller Center
.
The Paris Theatre.
Across from the Plaza Hotel stands The Paris Theatre—a rare, stately remnant of the single-screen era. Opened in 1948, it retains its wide screen (and balcony) and is a fine showcase for new movies, often foreign and with a limited release. | 4 W. 58th St., between 5th and 6th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 212/593–4872
, 212/688–3800
for tickets
|
www.theparistheatre.com
| Station:
N, Q, R to 5th Ave./59th St.; F to 57th St.
Music
Fodor’s Choice |
Carnegie Hall.
Carnegie Hall is, of course, one of the world’s most famous concert halls. Its incomparable acoustics make it one of the best venues in the world to hear classical music, but it’s also strong in jazz, pop, cabaret, and folk music. Since the opening-night concert on May 5, 1891, which Tchaikovsky conducted, virtually every important musician the world has known has performed in this Italian Renaissance–style building. Leonard Bernstein had his debut here; Vladimir Horowitz made his historic return to the concert stage here. The world’s top orchestras perform in the grand and fabulously steep 2,804-seat Isaac Stern Auditorium
; the 268-seat Weill Recital Hall
often features young talents making their New York debuts; and the subterranean 599-seat Judy and Arthur Zankel Hall
attracts big-name artists such as the Kronos Quartet and Milton Nascimento to its modern and stylish space. A noted roster of family concerts is also part of Carnegie’s programming. The Carnegie box office releases $10 rush tickets for some shows on the day of performance, or you may buy partial-view seating in advance at 50% off the full ticket price. | 881 7th Ave., at 57th St.
,
Midtown West
| 212/247–7800
|
www.carnegiehall.org
| Station:
N, Q, R to 57th St.–7th Ave.; B, D, E to 7th Ave.; F to 57th St.
The Town Hall.
Founded by suffragists and built in 1921 by famed architects McKim, Mead & White, The Town Hall has been part of NYC’s cultural fabric for 95 years. Notable Town Hall claims include: Strauss, Stravinsky, and Isaac Stern’s U.S. debuts; Marian Anderson’s first NYC recital; Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker’s introduction of bebop to the world; and Bob Dylan’s first major concert. More recently, their stage has welcomed musicians like Gilberto Gil, Joan Baez, Patti Smith, and Ray LaMontagne; comedians like Stephen Colbert and Larry David; live radio broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion
with Garrison Keillor; TED Talks Live; and more. | 123 W. 43rd St., between 6th Ave. and Broadway
,
Midtown West
| 212/997–6661
, 800/982–2787
for tickets
|
www.thetownhall.org
| Station:
1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S to Times Sq.–42nd St.; B, D, F, M to 42nd St.–Bryant Park
.
New York’s Film Festivals
New York’s extreme diversity is what makes it a cinephile’s heaven: you’ll find dozens of festivals for niche interests and those just wanting to be at the front end of what’s out there. New releases and premieres dominate the festival scene, but the city has its share of retrospective events, especially in summer.
The city’s preeminent film event is the annual New York Film Festival ( www.filmlinc.com ), presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, from late September into October. The lineup is announced about a month in advance, and screenings often sell out quickly (though standby tickets are available for most events). Film venues include Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Walter Reade Theater, and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center. In January, the Film Society join forces with the Jewish Museum to produce the New York Jewish Film Festival ( www.nyjff.org ); in March it joins MoMA to present New Directors/New Films ( www.newdirectors.org ), and June brings their collaboration on the Human Rights Watch Film Festival ( ff.hrw.org ), among other festivals and repertory programming throughout the year.
The Tribeca Film Festival ( www.tribecafilm.com/festival ) takes place in mostly downtown venues for about two weeks starting mid-April and shows mainstream premieres along with indie flicks, television debuts, a conversation series, and more.
Fans also flock to other noteworthy annuals like the New York Asian Film Festival ( www.asiancinevision.org ) from late June to early July; and the Margaret Mead Film Festival ( www.amnh.org/explore/margaret-mead-film-festival ) in October or November and DOC NYC ( www.docnyc.net ) in November, two fall festivals that focus on documentaries from all over.
For kids, the year-round programs of the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF | www.gkids.com ) peak in March with an extravaganza of about 100 new films for ages 3–18.
Summer in New York sees a bonanza of alfresco film; screenings are usually free (but arrive early to secure a space; screenings begin at dusk). The HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival ( www.bryantpark.org ) shows classic films at sundown on Mondays, June–August. The Hudson RiverFlicks ( www.riverflicks.org ) series in July and August has movies for grown-ups on Wednesday evening on Pier 63; Hudson RiverFlicks, Family Fridays for kids are at Pier 46. The Upper West Side has Summer on the Hudson ( www.nycgovparks.org ) with Wednesday-night screenings on Pier 1, near West 70th Street. Rooftop Films’ ( www.rooftopfilms.com ) Underground Movies Outdoors is more eclectic than most other film series, with shows outdoors in summer on rooftops in all five boroughs. Check the schedule for off-season screenings as well. On Thursday evenings in July and August, check out Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park ( www.brooklynbridgepark.org ).
Performance Centers
Baryshnikov Arts Center.
Famed dancer and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov’s longtime vision came to fruition in this modern performing arts venue for contemporary dance, theater, music, and film. The center, set within the Hudson Yards neighborhood, hosts a range of resident artists, including dancers and musical groups, as well as productions by boundary-breaking international choreographers, playwrights, filmmakers, and musicians. The vibrant programming is presented in the center’s 238-seat Jerome Robbins Theater and the 136-seat Howard Gilman Performance Space. | 450 W. 37 St., between 9th and 10th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 646/731–3200
|
www.bacnyc.org
| Station:
A, C, E to 34th St.–Penn Station; 7 to 34th St.–Hudson Yards
.
Fodor’s Choice |
New York City Center.
Pause as you enter this neo-Moorish building, built in 1923 for the Shriners (cousins of the Freemasons), and admire the ornate decorative details in the recently restored lobby and theater. City Center’s 2,200-seat main stage is perfectly suited for dance and special theatrical events. The Tony Award–honored Encores! series, generally held in spring, revisits musicals of the past in a concert format—an event that has led to shows returning to Broadway, with the long-running Chicago
among them. Tickets for City Center’s annual Fall for Dance festival sell out quickly. | 131 W. 55th St., between 6th and 7th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 212/581–1212
for tickets
|
www.nycitycenter.org
| Station:
N, Q, R to 57th St.–7th Ave.; F to 57th St.
Fodor’s Choice |
Radio City Music Hall.
This landmark was built shortly after the stock market crash of 1929; John D. Rockefeller wanted to create a symbol of hope in what was a sad, broke city. When it opened, some said Radio City Music Hall was so grand that there was no need for performances, because people would get more than their money’s worth simply by sitting there and enjoying the space. Despite being the largest indoor theater in the world with its city-block-long marquee, it feels warm and intimate. Seventy-five-minute “Stage Door” walking tours run year-round, but access is limited during show times. Day-of-tour tickets are sold at the Radio City Avenue Store; advance tickets are available by phone or through the website.
Although there are concerts and other events here year-round, the biggest draw is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular: more than a million visitors every year come to see the iconic Rockettes. Make reservations as early as possible, especially if you want to attend near Christmas or on a weekend. Certain dates and times tend to sell out, but you can usually find tickets for all shows until mid-October. Tickets start at $46 per person for the 90-minute show, although there are often promotions and deals available, especially for nonpeak times. | 1260 6th Ave., between 50th and 51st Sts. , Midtown West | 212/247–4777 , 866/858–0007 for tickets | www.radiocity.com | Station: B, D, F, M to 47th–50th Sts./Rockefeller Center; N, Q, R to 49th St.
Readings and Lectures
LIVE from the NYPL.
The New York Public Library’s discussion series includes a rich program of lectures and reading events from the biggest names in books and culture in general. Most programs are held at the famous main library. | Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 5th Ave. at 42nd St.
,
Midtown West
| 917/275–6975
for tickets
, 888/718–4253
for tickets
|
www.nypl.org/live
| Station:
B, D, F, M to 42nd St.–Bryant Park; 7 to 5th Ave.
Theater
New Amsterdam Theatre.
In 1997 Disney refurbished the elaborate 1903 Art Nouveau New Amsterdam Theatre, where Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Fred Astaire, and the Ziegfeld Follies
once drew crowds. The Lion King
ruled here for the first nine years of its run, followed by Mary Poppins
and then Aladdin
starting in 2014. | 214 W. 42nd St., between 7th and 8th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 866/870–2717
for tickets
|
www.disneyonbroadway.com
| Station:
1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S to Times Sq.–42nd St.; A, C, E to 42nd St.–Port Authority
.
Fodor’s Choice |
The New Victory Theater.
In a magnificently restored space from 1900, The New Victory Theater presents an international roster of supremely kid-pleasing plays, music, dance, opera, puppetry, and circus performances. Through the organization’s workshops and exhibits, children and their parents can also learn more about other parts of theater (writing, for instance) and kinds of performance, such as break dancing. Count on reasonable ticket prices, high-energy and high-class productions, and the opportunity for kids to chat with the artists after many performances. | 209 W. 42nd St., between 7th and 8th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 646/223–3010
|
www.newvictory.org
| Station:
1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S to Times Sq.–42nd St.; A, C, E to 42nd St.–Port Authority
.
Playwrights Horizons.
Known for its support of new work by American playwrights, this Off-Broadway theater was the first home for eventual Broadway hits such as Grey Gardens
and Wendy Wasserstein’s Heidi Chronicles
. | 416 W. 42nd St., between 9th and 10th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 212/564–1235
, 212/279–4200
for tickets
|
www.phnyc.org
| Station:
A, C, E to 42nd St.–Port Authority
.
Roundabout Theatre Company.
This nonprofit theatrical company is known for its revivals of classic musicals and plays, including Anything Goes
and The Importance of Being Earnest
. Its main stage, the American Airlines Theatre, is the former Selwyn—the venerable home to the works of Coward, Kaufman, and Porter in their heyday. The Roundabout’s other Broadway venues are Studio 54, which was the longtime home of its successful Cabaret
revival, and the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The two Off-Broadway stages at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre show a mix of classics and works from up-and-coming playwrights. | American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., between 7th and 8th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 212/719–1300
|
www.roundabouttheatre.org
| Station:
1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, S to Times Sq.–42nd St.; A, C, E to 42nd St.–Port Authority
.
Signature Theatre Company.
Designed by the architect Frank Gehry, the company’s Pershing Square Signature Center houses three theater spaces. The Tony Award–winning theater company provides a platform for both New York and world premieres, as well as revivals. All tickets are $25 for a show’s initially announced run. A central space with a café and bookstore connects the theaters, so come early, or stay late; the café is open until midnight Tuesday through Sunday. | Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 W. 42nd St., between 9th and 10th Aves.
,
Midtown West
| 212/967–1913
, 212/244–7529
for tickets
|
www.signaturetheatre.org
| Station:
A, C, E to 42nd St.–Port Authority
.
Upper East Side
Performance Centers
92nd Street Y.
Well-known soloists, jazz musicians, show-tune stylists, and chamber music groups perform in 92Y’s 905-seat Kaufmann Concert Hall.
But the programming is hardly limited to music—its online calendar bristles with popular lectures and readings series featuring big-name film and TV stars, authors, poets, playwrights, political pundits, and media bigwigs (many events are live streamed or archived online). Also worth the Upper East Side trek are the Harkness Dance Festival, film programs, and many family-friendly events. | 1395 Lexington Ave., at 92nd St.
,
Upper East Side
| 212/415–5500
for tickets
|
www.92y.org
| Station:
6 to 96th St.; 4, 5, 6 to 86th St.
Fodor’s Choice |
Park Avenue Armory.
Completed in 1881 and occupying an entire city block, this handsome Gothic-style brick building was used as the headquarters, drill hall, and social club for the Seventh Regiment, a National Guard unit called the “Silk Stocking” regiment because its members were mainly drawn from wealthy Gilded Age families. The sumptuous reception rooms on the first floor and Company Rooms on the second floor were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Stanford White, and other fashionable designers of the time. The armory eventually fell into disrepair, and its opulent rooms were in danger of ruin. In 2007, help came in the form of a major restoration that is ongoing, and the armory was put back into service, but this time in the service of art. The huge installations, plays, and immersive concerts here take advantage of the massive space its 55,000-square-foot drill hall provides. A couple of standouts: the Royal Shakespeare Company summerlong series of plays, performed inside a replica of its theater in Stratford-upon-Avon, and a collaboration between artist Douglas Gordon and pianist Hélène Grimaud that turned the hall into a massive reflecting pool. | 643 Park Ave., between 66th and 67th Sts.
,
Upper East Side
| 212/616–3930
, 212/933–5812
for tickets
|
www.armoryonpark.org
| Station:
6 to 68th St.–Hunter College, F to Lexington Ave./63rd St.
Readings and Lectures
Works & Process.
Insight into the creative process is what the Works & Process program at the Guggenheim is all about. Often drawing on dance and theater works-in-progress, the live performances are complemented by illuminating discussions with their choreographers, playwrights, and directors. There are very popular holiday concerts, too. | Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave., between 88th and 89th Sts.
,
Upper East Side
| 212/423–3575
|
www.worksandprocess.org
| Station:
4, 5, 6 to 86th St.
Upper West Side
Music
Great Music in a Great Space.
This aptly named series of public concerts is inspired by a wide range of musical traditions and performed in St. John the Divine’s massive, atmospheric, Gothic-style space. The program showcases composers and performers of choral and instrumental music, often to sold-out crowds. | The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., at 112th St.
,
Morningside Heights
| 212/316–7540
|
www.stjohndivine.org
| Station:
1, B, C to Cathedral Pkwy.–110th St.
Jazz at Lincoln Center.
A few blocks south of Lincoln Center itself, this Columbus Circle venue is almost completely devoted to jazz, with a sprinkling of other genres mixed in. Stages in Rafael Viñoly’s crisply modern Frederick P. Rose Hall
include the 1,200-seat Rose Theater,
where a worthy Jazz for Young People series joins buoyant adult programming a few times each year. Also here is The Appel Room,
an elegant theater with a glass wall overlooking Columbus Circle, and the smaller Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola,
where there are two sets nightly, and often more that go late into the night. All are accompanied by a full bar and restaurant. | Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, 5th fl., Broadway at 60th St.
,
Upper West Side
| 212/258–9800
, 212/721–6500
for tickets
|
www.jazz.org
| Station:
1, A, B, C, D to 59th St.–Columbus Circle
.
Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center.
A destination for both old-school and cutting-edge musical performances, this concert hall around the corner from Lincoln Center is a lovely, acoustically advanced 450-seater that presents chamber pieces. It’s also known for jazz, world, new music, and especially its Ecstatic Music Festival (from January through March), when an eclectic group of indie-classical artists more than lives up to its billing. | 129 W. 67th St., between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave.
,
Upper West Side
| 212/501–3300
|
www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch
| Station:
1 to 66th St.–Lincoln Center
.
Miller Theatre.
Adventurous programming of jazz, classical, early and modern music, and dance makes up the calendar at this Columbia University theater, founded in 1988. A well-designed 688-seater, this is a hall that rewards serious listeners. | Columbia University, 2960 Broadway, at 116th St.
,
Morningside Heights
| 212/854–1633
, 212/854–7799
for tickets
|
www.millertheatre.com
| Station:
1 to 116th St.–Columbia University
.
Performance Centers
Fodor’s Choice |
Lincoln Center.
A major cultural destination, attracting more than 5 million visitors annually, the Lincoln Center complex is one of the most concentrated places for the performing arts in the nation, as home to 11 resident organizations, including: the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Juilliard School, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Theater, Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and the School of American Ballet.
This massive white travertine-clad complex contains 23 theaters in all, part of a 16-acre campus that was planned by master architect Philip Johnson, and built as part of an urban-renewal effort that arose over the course of several years from 1962 to 1969; some 40 years later, it was given a thorough remodeling to better integrate it into the neighborhood. Visitors today can enjoy more recent improvements like expanded public and green spaces, free Wi-Fi, and various dining options.
To get oriented, start across the street, on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd Streets, at the David Rubenstein Atrium. There you’ll find free Wi-Fi, tables, a café, and that rarest of NYC commodities: a public restroom. In addition to free concerts on Thursdays (at 7:30 pm), a new schedule of free musical and dance performances, as well as discussions and spoken-word programs, has been added throughout the week. Day-of-show discounted tickets for many Lincoln Center venues may be purchased in person here; there is a limit of four tickets per customer, and the amount of discount depends on the performance. Because the box office is closed on Monday, any available tickets for Monday performances are sold on Sunday.
The acoustics in Alice Tully Hall are top-notch; the hall’s home to the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center ( www.chambermusicsociety.org ). David Geffen Hall is the residence of the New York Philharmonic ( www.nyphil.org ); its season is September to June. Orchestra rehearsals are open to the public on selected weekday mornings ($20, plus fees; usually Wednesday or Thursday). A popular Young People’s Concert series takes place Saturday afternoon, four times throughout the season. Lincoln Center presents its well-attended Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, Mostly Mozart Festival, and White Light Festival in these halls, too.
The largest hall, the Metropolitan Opera House is notable for its dramatic arched entrance, as well as its lobby’s immense Swarovski crystal chandeliers and Marc Chagall paintings. The titan of American opera companies and an institution since its founding in 1883, the Metropolitan Opera ( www.metopera.org ) brings the world’s leading singers to the vast stage here from September to May. All performances, including those sung in English, are subtitled on small screens on the back of the seat in front of you. A frequent resident of the Met (and sometimes, of the David H. Koch Theater) is the American Ballet Theatre ( www.abt.org ), renowned for its gorgeous full-program renditions of the 19th-century classics (Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty ) with choreography re-envisioned by 20th-century or contemporary masters. A limited number of same-day $20 rush orchestra seats are available at the Met’s website. These tickets go on sale for Sunday through Friday evening performances at noon, for matinees four hours before curtain, and for Saturday evenings at 2 pm.
The David H. Koch Theater, considered of the world’s top theaters for dance, is the home of the formidable New York City Ballet ( www.nycballet.com ), which has a roster of more than 90 dancers, a 62-piece orchestra, and an unmatched repertory of modern masterpieces, including landmark works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. NYCB performs at the theater for 21 weeks each year, including fall, winter, and spring repertory seasons, with Thanksgiving through New Year’s devoted to the beloved annual production of Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. The theater also hosts a mix of other internationally famous dance troupes throughout the year, as well as Lincoln Center Festival and White Light Festival performances.
The Lincoln Center Theater complex houses the Vivian Beaumont Theater, the smaller Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, and the rooftop Claire Tow Theater, which has 131 seats and a small outdoor terrace.
The auditorium of the Walter Reade Theater ( www.filmlinc.com ) shows film series devoted to “the best in world cinema,” including silents, documentaries, retrospectives, and recent releases, often on the same theme or from the same country. The Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center has two small screening rooms, a café, and an amphitheater that hosts lectures and panel discussions.
In addition to extensive musical and theatrical holdings, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts mounts periodic exhibitions related to major artists and composers. At the library’s free year-round Silent Clowns series ( www.silentclowns.com ), held Saturday afternoons each month in its auditorium, rarely seen prints of the silent era’s comedy masters are paired with live piano music.
Tours of Lincoln Center, including the Met, take place daily and leave from the atrium; reservations are recommended and can be made from the website (atrium.lincolncenter.org ) or in person. Tours do not include backstage areas, but sometimes do visit parts of the auditoriums. Backstage tours of the Met ($22) are held during the performance season. | From 62nd to 66th St., between Broadway/Columbus and Amsterdam Aves. , Upper West Side | 212/875–5000 for main switchboard , 212/721–6500 for tickets | www.lincolncenter.org | Station: 1 to 66th St.–Lincoln Center .
Symphony Space.
Although Symphony Space runs an energetic roster of classical, jazz, international, and other kinds of music, it also excels with many other kinds of art programming. On the literary front, its two halls—the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre
and the Leonard Nimoy Thalia
—host a celebrated roster of literary events, including Bloomsday on Broadway, the Thalia Book Club, and the famed Selected Shorts series: stories read by prominent actors and broadcast live on National Public Radio. There’s also a popular comedy series, Uptown Showdown, as well as Performance in HD screenings from the National Theatre Live, Royal Shakespeare Company, and Royal Opera House. Plays, films, and “Thalia Docs” on Sunday (usually true-to-their-roots art-house screenings) round out the adult programming. For the family, turn to the hugely popular Just Kidding
lineup for a nonstop parade of zany plays, sing-alongs, midday Saturday (and sometimes Sunday) movies, and animation. | 2537 Broadway, at 95th St.
,
Upper West Side
| 212/864–5400
|
www.symphonyspace.org
| Station:
1, 2, 3 to 96th St.
Theater
Fodor’s Choice |
Shakespeare in the Park.
Some of the best things in New York are, indeed, free—including this summer festival presented by the Public Theater and performed at an open-air stage in Central Park. Many notable performers have appeared here, including Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Helen Hunt, Morgan Freeman, Al Pacino, Anne Hathaway, and Kevin Kline. The tickets are given out (limit two per person) starting at noon on the day of each show, and always sell out. What you save in money, you make up for in time and tedium—lines are usually long.
Plan to line up by midmorning or earlier if there have been good reviews. The easiest way to score these scarce tickets is to register via an online lottery between midnight and noon on the day you’d like to attend; an email response after noon confirms (or denies) success. Making a donation to the Public Theater is one way to avoid the lines and be sure you get a ticket. | Delacorte Theater, Central Park, Midpark, use 81st St. entrance at Central Park W
,
Upper West Side
| 212/967–7555
|
www.publictheater.org
| Free
| Station:
B, C to 81st St.–Museum of Natural History
.
Harlem
Music
Apollo Theater.
Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, and James Brown are just a few of the world-class performers who have appeared on this equally famed stage, which first opened back in 1934. If the Apollo’s Amateur Night doesn’t get you up to 125th Street on Wednesdays, consider the theater’s intimate late-night music series, Apollo Music Café, events on select Friday and Saturday nights, featuring a variety of jazz, pop, hip-hop, and rock performers. | 253 W. 125th St., between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvds.
,
Harlem
| 212/531–5300
, 800/745–3000
for tickets
|
www.apollotheater.org
| Station:
2, 3, A, B, C, D to 125th St.
Harlem Stage.
Set in a perfectly restored 1890 Croton Aqueduct facility, Harlem Stage is a cozy 192-seat uptown venue for jazz, world music, and dance. | The Gatehouse, 150 Convent Ave., at 135th St.
,
Harlem
| 212/281–9240
|
www.harlemstage.org
| Station:
B, C to 135th St.; 1 to 137th St.–City College
.
Brooklyn
Williamsburg
Theater
Spectacle Theater.
The movies are 16 mm or digitally projected and there is absolutely no popcorn machine at this tiny storefront theater, which with just 30 seats would fit inside many living rooms. The crazy variety is the draw here, and the programs curated by its all-volunteer staff always have lots to offer the adventurous, especially if your tastes run to obscure Italian horror, kung-fu (mystery screenings every other Sunday!), little-seen documentaries, and the utterly unclassifiable. And with tickets so cheap, it’s easy to take a chance. | 124 S. 3rd St., at Bedford Ave.
,
Williamsburg
|
www.spectacletheater.com
| $5
| Station:
L to Bedford Ave.; J, M, Z to Marcy Ave.
Fort Greene
Performance Centers
Fodor’s Choice |
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM).
Founded in 1861, BAM is a multiuse performing arts center spanning three Instagram-worthy edifices, including the Beaux Arts, seven-story Peter Jay Sharp building. Facilities include an unadorned “black box” theater, dance venues, a four-screen movie theater, an opera house, a ballroom, and a café. Cyclists park in style at the David Byrne–designed bike rack on Lafayette Avenue between St. Felix Street and Ashland Place. | Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave., between St. Felix St. and Ashland Pl.
,
Fort Greene
| 718/636–4100
|
www.bam.org
| Station:
2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, N, Q, R at Atlantic Ave.–Barclays Center; G to Fulton St.; C to Lafayette Ave.
Park Slope
Theater
Puppetworks.
Finely detailed wooden marionettes and hand puppets are on the bill at Puppetworks. Kid-friendly performances like Alice in Wonderland
or Cinderella
come to life on weekends in this 75-seat neighborhood theater. Reservations are required; credit cards are not accepted. | 338 6th Ave., at 4th St.
,
Park Slope
| 718/965–3391
|
www.puppetworks.org
| Station:
F, G to 7th Ave.; R to 9th St.
DUMBO
Theater
Fodor’s Choice |
St. Ann’s Warehouse.
This veritable performing arts arena has commissioned cutting-edge theater, music, and a surprising amount of high-art puppeteering since 1980. The venue recently relocated to a stunningly refurbished, 1860 tobacco warehouse in the waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park (in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge). The inaugural season at the new venue saw an all-female production of Henry IV,
produced by London’s Donmar Warehouse, and the American premiere of Irish playwright Enda Walsh’s first opera, The Last Hotel
. Previous productions at former locations were put on by the National Theatre of Scotland, Globe Theatre of London, Kneehigh Theatre, and more; the organization has also hosted musicians and comedians like Daniel Kitson, Marianne Faithfull, and the late David Bowie. | Tobacco Warehouse, 45 Water St., between Dock and Old Fulton Sts.
,
DUMBO
| 718/254–8779
|
stannswarehouse.org
| Station:
A, C to High St.; F to York St.
Brooklyn Heights
Music
Bargemusic.
This “cozy floating concert hall moored just south of the Brooklyn Bridge,” as the New York Times
once described it, keeps chamber music groups busy year-round on a renovated harbor barge that has a fabulous view of the Manhattan skyline. It even hosts free, family-friendly afternoon concerts on select Saturday afternoons. Note that the venue really is on the water, so you might want to skip it if you’re susceptible to seasickness. | Fulton Ferry Landing, Old Fulton and Furman Sts.
,
Brooklyn Heights
| 718/624–4924
|
www.bargemusic.org
| Station:
A, C to High St.; F to York St.
Queens
Astoria
Film
Museum of the Moving Image films.
This museum touts two theaters, including both a show palace and an intimate screening room, where classic Hollywood and foreign titles share the screen with experimental works, new films from the international festival circuit, live musical collaborations, and in-person appearances by moviemaker luminaries. Daily short films are screened in Tut’s Fever Movie Palace, a fab Red Grooms and Lysiane Luong–designed installation. | 36–01 35th Ave., between 36th and 37th Sts.
,
Astoria
| 718/777–6888
|
www.movingimage.us/films
| Station:
M, R to Steinway St.; N, Q to 36th Ave.