THE SECRET SIDE OF ELLIS ISLAND
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the unrestored Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital Complex. This gateway to America for millions of people is accessible again via Statue Cruises—the only ride to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. (If you opt for the Hard Hat Tour Ticket and its 90-minute guided tour of the hidden part of Ellis Island you'll also get round-trip ferry service and audio Tours of Liberty and Ellis Islands.) The art exhibition "Unframed—Ellis Island," by renowned French artist JR, is on display throughout the hospital complex. Tours run on Saturdays and Sundays.
ASIA SOCIETY'S FIRST TRIENNIAL
The inaugural Asia Society Triennial, a first-of-its-kind installation, is now open. In addition to the art on display at the Upper East Side's Asia Society and Museum, other venues and multi-media performances are included in the mix. You'll find work by more than 40 artists representing 20 countries sharing work that reflects Asian nations and the Asian diasporas. We Do Not Dream Alone is slated to run in two parts through June 27, 2021. Entry to the Triennial is by timed tickets.
ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY RETURNS
At 1,776 feet, One World Trade is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere; with over 44,000 tons of steel and a unique concrete core, it’s the strongest building in the world. After a COVID-19 hiatus, the top of One World is once again welcoming guests to explore the One World Observatory.
With new safety protocols in place, you'll enjoy stunning views of Manhattan, the boroughs, the rivers, and all the way out to Jersey with plenty of acreage to yourself. While you're there, take advantage of hand-crafted cocktails, small batch wines, local brews, and a brand-new Illycaffè & Gelateria.
NOW OPEN! FASHION ACROSS TIME
Spanning 1870 to the present, About Time: Fashion and Duration traces fashion history on a disrupted timeline. After a COVID-19 delay, the exhibition is at last open at The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Inspiration is drawn from philosopher Henri Bergson's concept of la durée, which understands time as feeling more flexible to the individual—like when time seems to speed up or slow down—than the straightforward, linear conception used by science. Following this idea, About Time will explore how fashion gets associated with time and can meld the past, present, and future, with the help of 160 pieces of women’s clothing. "This exhibition will consider the ephemeral nature of fashion, employing flashbacks and fast-forwards to reveal how it can be both linear and cyclical," Max Hollein, Director of The Met, said in a statement. "As such, the show will present a nuanced continuum of fashion over the Museum's 150-year history."
MANHATTAN'S ONLY PRODUCTION BREWERY OPENS
SoHo is newly home to the city's first legit brewery in who knows how many decades. Torch & Crown Brewing Company’s long-awaited brewery and restaurant has opened up in a massive, tri-level space outfitted with state-of-the-art brewing equipment, subterranean fermenters, and a gleaming full-service kitchen. The menu is kicking off with 10 brews, New York wines and ciders, an all-New York spirits cocktail menu, and a very shareable mix of large and small plate savories.NOW OPEN! WINTER VILLAGE. It's getting to be that time of year. The Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, which has the city's only free-admission skating rink, is back open in midtown. In addition to the rink, you'll find a 19th season of holiday market shopping and some cozy food options. (In keeping with 2020 themes, face coverings are required.)
LIVE MUSIC, TACOS, AND BEER
Out in Long Island City, Queens, close to the East River, you'll find The Plaxall Gallery. This multidisciplinary art center is run by Culture Lab LIC and provides a home for fine art, theater, dance, and more. Their successful weekend programs are ongoing, bringing culture to the big open parking lot alongside the gallery building. On Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5pm through November you can groove to some live music, plus enjoy the ever-popular combination of tacos and beer.
SATURDAY: HISTORIC WALKING TOUR
Built in 1799 as a carriage house and later converted to an inn, the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum is one of the oldest buildings in Manhattan. This Saturday you can take an "in real life" visit to the Upper East Side neighborhood that surrounds it. All ages are welcome on an afternoon tour that will bring to life the people and places of the 19th century version of the neighborhood, then mostly countryside. Through stories, maps, and images, be transported back in time. Tour stops will also explain what led to the rural-to-urban evolution here, as the city's transportation and immigration patterns shifted.