Things to do in New York on Labor Day Weekend

By Adam Fraiel

Labor Day, the first Monday of September, the end of summer, and a national holiday celebrating America’s workers. With the festivities spread across the entire weekend, how will you celebrate yours?

Luckily, there’s no shortage of things to do in The Big Apple on Labor Day weekend. Whether you’re a history buff looking for culture, a wild child looking to party the nights away, or just want a weekend getaway for a special family event, NYC is the place to be.

Join the Parade

If you’re playing Word Association, the next word that comes after Labor Day is... Parade!

Cheer on the workers and union members as they parade down Fifth Avenue, or add a dash of spice as you soak in the party atmosphere watching the West Indian Day Parade in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Catch some live sports

There are plenty of sporting events happening over the Labor Day weekend, with 2 of the biggest on your very doorstep.

The US Open is a highlight of the Tennis calendar, where superstars from around the world compete in the world-class Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

New York and baseball are the perfect Labor Day combo. See what all the hype’s about by catching a Yankees or Mets home game. A baseball game can last anywhere from 1 to 8 hours, with an average of around 3, so block out at least half a day when making plans.

If you’re there outside of game time, consider getting a behind-the-scenes look with a Yankee Stadium Guided Tour.

If you can’t get to a live game, NYC is jam-packed with sports bars where you can watch many sports with a lively NY atmosphere. Check out Timeout’s list of the 16 best sports bars in NYC.

Tick off an iconic museum or two

There are so many incredible museums in New York City (approximately 100) that it can be a little overwhelming to choose where to go. Fear not, as we’ve listed some of the very best below.

The American Museum of Natural History

Made up of 26 interconnected buildings, and housing an expansive collection of over 34 million specimens of plants, fossils, and meteorites, this is the closest you’ll ever come to a time machine.

Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

Named one of the most influential modern art museums in the world, lay eyes on some of the most iconic pieces by artists such as Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dali, and Monet.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Detailing the tragic events of September 11, 2001, this moving tribute ensures we never forget the lives lost, nor the resilience and indelible spirit of New York to endure, rebuild and flourish once again.

Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum

With 30 restored aircraft, a submarine, and a British Airways Concorde Jet alongside the USS Intrepid, history truly comes to life. From high-tech simulators to the torpedo rooms, a trip to the USS Intrepid will ensure it’s a Labor Day you’ll never forget.

Enjoy NYC’s natural beauty

If you don’t want to be stuck indoors this Labor Day, how about stretching your legs and exploring the more beautiful corners of the city?

NYC has 14 miles of beaches, but some are prettier than others.

Coney Island

The most iconic would probably be Coney Island in Brooklyn, with the amusement park providing the perfect backdrop. Enjoy the adrenaline rush of the rides or just chill on the white sands. Both are great options.

Manhattan Beach

Also in Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach is perfect if you get bored just lying around. With basketball, tennis, volleyball, and handball courts, it’s fun for all the family.

Main Beach

Head to East Hampton for a little slice of heaven. Enjoy the last days of summer in style, lazing on the white sands in perfect harmony. There are no fairgrounds or sports nuts here... just beautiful tranquility.

Other outdoor attractions

If you’re no fan of sand, there are plenty of other options to get your nature fix.

Central Park

A trip to NYC wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the iconic Central Park. Only the fifth-largest park in the city, yet the most visited urban park in the whole United States. Take a two-hour guided bike tour before finding the perfect picnic spot to relax away your Labor Day.

Governor’s Island

Formerly a top-secret US Army base, Governor’s Island is now the perfect day-trip destination. Catching the ferry before noon ensures a free ride, and then spend the day cycling around, exploring the special events, and taking incredible shots of the iconic New York skyline.

Kayak on the Hudson River

Cycling too pedestrian for you? How about spending your Labor Day on the water, kayaking up the Hudson River? If you want an adventure holiday weekend, add some standup paddle boarding or sailing to complete the perfect trip.

Finish your day with fireworks

The fireworks show is a superb end to the Labor Day weekend, but New York can get crowded. You need to know the best spots to get a magnificent view of the light show.

A rooftop bar near the Hudson River or Brooklyn Bridge would be our first choice. Elevated for a panoramic view, a great party atmosphere, and you continue your celebrations without changing seats. Before you travel, do a quick search for ‘labor day rooftop party’ to find the hottest locations.

Coney Island gets another mention on this list, but this time as a prime location for viewing the show. On a clear night, you’ll get breathtaking views of the fireworks over the NY skyline.

However you choose to spend your Labor Day weekend, New York is the dream location.

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Halloween in New York 2020

When many of us were little, Halloween meant wearing a sheet out of which your mom had hastily cut eyeholes, or perhaps that long black cloak that someone—no one really knows who—bought one year and could interchangeably be a witch or Darth Vader. But not anymore. Halloween is huge, especially in New York. But if you're wondering how Halloween may have changed this year, you're not alone. We've got the lowdown on virtual events and phu [caption id="attachment_2799" align="alignnone" width="700"] Get your spooky on with eerie pumpkins this Halloween.[/caption] Village Halloween Parade The Village Halloween Parade is the main attraction in New York—On Halloween itself, literally thousands of New Yorkers will dress up, let loose, and carry on—all while dressed as...well, just about everything. The parade starts at 7 PM on Sixth Avenue between Canal and Spring Streets, and marches uptown. This year’s Grand Marshall: Zohra, the giant spider. (You’ll just have to see it in person.) Pumpkin Flotilla If you prefer Halloween to come with a side of pumpkins, check out the Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla in the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center in Central Park. On Oct. 30 from 4-7 PM, families (really, everyone) can enjoy pumpkin carving, crafts, a costume parade, spooky stories, and more. The main event? The Pumpkin flotilla, which is exactly what it sounds like: Pumpkins are set free to float across the Harlem Meer at twilight. (Best part: it’s free, and tickets aren’t required.) [caption id="attachment_2794" align="alignnone" width="700"] Pick a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch![/caption] Latin Halloween Party Halloween comes with a Latin twist at the Latin Halloween Party NYC Skyline on Infinity on Oct. 31. Latin music, DJs, costumes, performers, dance floors, and many bars are the draw here. The Cauldron Nothing says Halloween like a bar that offers "an immersive potions experience”; Harry Potter and Halloween vibes are both on display here. Partake of the molecular cocktail bar and gastropub, or buy a ticket for Potions Class. (You get to use a magic wand!) Either way, you can have your Halloween and drink it too. [caption id="attachment_2828" align="alignnone" width="700"] Bottoms up at bars around the city this Halloween![/caption] The Great Pumpkin Blaze Though it’s not in the city itself (it’s in Croton-on-Harmon), this one is worth the trip. Why? Well, is it worth it to see 7,000 (yes, you read that correctly) carved glowing pumpkins? (The answer is yes, it most definitely is.) You’ll also find the Pumpkin Planetarium and an appearance by Sleepy Hollow’s own Headless Horseman. Something for everyone! Boo at the Zoo Where can you go to experience bands, beer, and a bird meet and greet? Plus magic shows, a corn maze, and a costume parade? Why, it’s Boo at the (Bronx) Zoo, of course! For a walk on the spookier side, mind reading, a skeleton and bones activity, and even an extinct animal graveyard also make an appearance. Weekends through Nov. 3. [caption id="attachment_2797" align="alignnone" width="700"] Zoos are just one of the places that pull out the stops for Halloween[/caption] Blood Manor We like an event that tells it like it is. If you love being scared, Blood Manor is out to do its very best to scare the living daylights out of you. It’s got 10,000 square feet of freaky corridors, endless passageways, and things that go bump in the night. This one is not for the faint of heart; it’s designed to “maximize your fear,” so if that’s your cup, of, um blood, may the ghouls be with you. [caption id="attachment_2827" align="alignnone" width="700"] Halloween vibes are everywhere![/caption] Looking for more fun activities in New York? Check out our tips for great fall activities in New York!
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A Local's Guide to Hipster Brooklyn

What exactly does a local's guide to Brooklyn look like in 2019? For the better part of the last century, Manhattan was the place to be. The creative center of the world, the borough was culturally (and perhaps emotionally) landlocked. Manhattan residents used to balk at the idea of venturing beyond the island's 10-mile radius. Brooklyn used to have all the cool-factor of New Jersey. To put the local sentiment into perspective, the term "Bridge and tunnel crowd" was a label given to outer borough folks who tried to infiltrate Manhattan's exclusive club. Today things are different. The perfect storm of economics, housing politics, and gentrification have shifted the cultural paradigm. Manhattan is out, Brooklyn is in. While it may surprise you to discover that America's creative class now resides across the East River, Brooklyn is the new home of what's hip. In fact, sometimes Brooklynites' adherence to trends has earned them "hipster" labels. Encompassing nearly 100 square miles with 2.5 million residents, it can be difficult to know where to start and everyone will have their own opinions of the best places to visit in Brooklyn. Luckily for you - we are part time investigative journalists. We bleached our hair and shaved ourselves mustaches to dive deep undercover within the Hipster ranks. After our extensive reporting, we've compiled a list of local musts, offering you insight to Brooklyn's up and coming culture. Flowers for All Occasions (Bedstuy) Coffee is the Brooklynite/Hipster life fuel. They need it to survive, and it doesn't get more trendy than Flowers for All Occasions. The coffee shop sits on the border of Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant (famously the birthplace of American rapper Notorious B.I.G.). It also doubles as a bar. They offer an eclectic, vegetarian menu of snacks, and once the sun goes down, the space converts into a bar where they serve soju cocktails. Filled with lush greenery, makeshift furniture, and usually with a DJ spinning some techno tunes - it is a quintessential Hipster spot. For other lesser-known gourmet coffee houses, click here. Rough Trade (Williamsburg) Nothing makes a Hipster salivate like the mention of something "vintage." So it figures that vinyl records have enjoyed a huge resurgence in Brooklyn. Rough Trade is the largest shop of its kind in the borough. Funk, alternative, reggae pop, soul, rock, salsa - you name it, they have it. Since Rough Trade opened in 2013, it has become somewhat of a local landmark, hosting record signings by some of the world's top artists. Additionally, they have a small stage in the back where local bands can often be found rocking out. Located on the Williamsburg waterfront, after you buy a record or two, walk a few blocks down to catch a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline. The Living Gallery (Bushwick) The Living Gallery is a DIY artists space that typifies the scene. Hosting an endless rotation of exhibitions, performances, anything really - the venue is a culmination of all that's good about Hipster culture. A personal favorite is their Drunk Drawing Wednesdays, a BYOB event in which you supply the booze, and they'll supply the art tools. A more cultural alternative to your Hump Day! They've been around for years, but they haven't lost their edge. The space is well known in the neighborhood because of its ever-changing mural. Every three months they enlist a local artist to redesign the gallery's exterior. Their events are almost always free, and the crowd is always dressed well and friendly. A must for anyone trying to understand what Brooklyn is all about. The Cardi Lisa (Williamsburg) Somewhat of an internet sensation (probably because it earned its famous subject's approval via Instagram), the Cardi Lisa is a local must. The walls of Brooklyn are covered in street art, but few are as memorable as the Cardi Lisa. Funny, relevant, and just pretty darn cool, the wall size mural is a modern revision of Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" but with New York rapper Cardi B's face superimposed on the classic figure. It stands a several-foot high testament to the neighborhood's boundless creativity. Photo courtesy of mural artist Lexi Bella. Wonderville (Buskwick) Hipsters, like all 20-somethings, love to drink. But a simple, straightforward bar is too obvious for them. Enter Wonderville - a bar arcade featuring one-of-kind games designed by Brooklyn locals. Inhabiting the building that used to be legendary punk rock venue Secret Project Robot (a pivotal player in the late aughts American rock resurgence that gave us the Strokes and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs), the bar-cade just opened and is peak Hipster vibes. They have a deadly house margarita and a spacious backyard patio. So grab a drink and pick a game, you're in for a good time! Image courtesy of Carl Raw. Book Row (Bushwick) Located within the Broadway Flea - a series of metal sheds which house different stores under the J train railway; a Mad Max take on a flea market - Book Row is a helplessly trendy bookstore. Despite most copies that are sold being used, the collection is surprisingly expansive, covering all kinds of genres ranging from nonfiction to current best sellers. Barnes & Nobles is too obvious for Hipster locals, Book Row is classic Bushwick. Image courtesy of author. Prospect Park (South Brooklyn) If being a Hipster is predicated on the idea of being counterculture, then they will always lean towards New York City's "other park." Prospect dominates roughly 525 acres of South Brooklyn, bordering several of the borough prime neighborhood. A less obvious choice than Manhattan's Central Park, Prospect is where Brooklynites go to unwind. During the summer, their bandshell hosts the popular "Celebrate Brooklyn" concert series which is free to the community. If the greenery isn't enough for you, it's conveniently located besides the Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Museum. For more things to do in and around New York, check out the other posts in our blog.
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Manhattan's skyline with both the Empire State Building and One Vanderbilt in view.
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SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Vs. Empire State Building Comparison

Selecting the best observation platform to visit when in New York is a very tall order indeed (pun intended), with five titanic towers to choose from. These, for the uninitiated, are the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Edge, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and the One World Observatory. Each of these has its own unique quirks and views, but perhaps the greatest contrast in experience is to be found between hit-tech newbie SUMMIT and Art Deco OG the Empire State Building. We pitched these two skyscraping icons against one another to find out which one should top your Big Apple bucket list. Dive into our SUMMIT vs Empire State Building comparison to find out... Empire State Building Name: This one requires no introduction... the Empire State Building is up there with the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal and Sagrada Familia as one of the planet’s most famous structures. Age: Construction of the Empire State Building began in March 1930 and was, quite remarkably, completed just 14 months later in April 1931. Empire State Building in a Nutshell: Surely the most iconic Art Deco edifice on the planet, the Empire State Building was the world’s tallest building for over four decades, until topped by the World Trade Center’s North Tower in 1970. This monolithic Manhattan masterpiece has starred in hundreds of movies and TV shows over the last century, including King Kong (obvs), plus Tom and Jerry, Independence Day, Friends, The Smurfs and, well, the list goes on and on. Its observation platform on the 102nd floor is still one of the highest (and most visited) in the city, nearly a century after that monster gorilla first took the al fresco route to the SUMMIT. Empire State Building: Vital Statistics  Height: 1,454 feet (443 meters) to the tip of the tower on the roof. The top-floor observation platform is 1,224 feet (373 meters) up. Number of floors: 102. Elevators: 73. What’s the Empire State Building Experience Like? You’ll get some of the best views of the Chrysler and Flatiron buildings from up here. In fact, arguably the only downside is that the awesome views don’t include... the Empire State Building itself. Console yourself by papping some of the Big Apple’s other landmarks, including Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge and the One World Trade Center (to name just a few). The 86th floor is where you’ll likely want to spend the most time, thanks to its open-air platform and unparalleled photo opportunities, but it would be remiss not to go all the way to the top while you’re here. Be aware though that the platform on the 102nd floor is fully enclosed, a bit smaller, and has a tendency to get quite busy. Fascinating Empire State Building Fact of the Day The narrow tower that rises a further 200 feet above the Empire State Building’s roof was originally designed as a mooring point for zeppelin airships, once considered the future of international air travel. Empire State Building Fast Facts Opening hours: 9AM-10PM Monday-Thursday; 9AM-midnight Friday-Sunday. The last elevator ascends 50 minutes before closing. Check out our blog on the best times to visit the Empire State Building here. Tickets: general admission to the Empire State Building's 86th-floor observatory is included with a New York Pass. Alternatively, you’ll find various ticket options, including premium champagne packages and access to the 102nd floor, on the Empire State Building website. Closest transport links: the nearest metro stations are Herald Square and Penn Station, or arrive in style at the awesome Grand Central and make the 10-minute walk from there. But how does the Empire State Building compare to SUMMIT One Vanderbilt? Let’s find out... SUMMIT Name: Officially SUMMIT One Vanderbilt to hammer home that the platform is at the very top of the One Vanderbilt building in Midtown.  Age: SUMMIT opened in October 2021, making it (at time of writing) the newest observation platform in town. Fittingly, the building that hosts the immersive, space-age SUMMIT experience is a soaring futuristic wedge of steel, glass and terracotta tiles. SUMMIT in a Nutshell: It’s testament to SUMMIT’s desire to add something new and unique to the observation platform scene that the resulting experience is somewhat tricky to summarize. There are the views of course: great, sweeping panoramas over Manhattan’s iconic skyline and beyond. But what makes SUMMIT really stand out are the dreamlike immersive experiences and cool art installations within; all clouds, mirrors and optical illusions that will – if the PR blurb is to be believed – help you ‘escape the boundaries of perception’. SUMMIT: Vital Statistics  Height: One Vanderbilt is the fourth tallest building in New York (disclaimer: at time of writing), standing 1,401 feet (427 meters) high. SUMMIT’s observation platforms hover a knee-weakening 1,100 feet (336 meters) above Madison Avenue. Number of floors: 93. Elevators: 42. Visitors: SUMMIT welcomed a whopping 1.4 million visitors in its first year. What’s the SUMMIT Experience Like? This one isn’t just about the views. A standard ticket also includes access to SUMMIT’s trippy journey through mirrored rooms, floating silver orbs and clouds bearing your own face. Transcendence sets the scene with reflective surfaces that repeat the Manhattan skyline, the clouds and, well, you, to infinity. Enter a dreamlike state as you pass through Unity and Affinity before experiencing the ultimate thrill in Levitation, a series of perspex boxes that protrude from the building and seem to float above the city streets, affording heart-stopping views of Madison Avenue 1,063 feet below. You’ll also bag some of the best snaps of the Empire State Building and Lower Manhattan from up here in the clouds. Requiring an additional ticket, Ascent takes thrill seekers higher still aboard (and we can’t stress this terrifying detail enough) glass-bottomed elevators that rise a further 120 feet into the sky. Fascinating SUMMIT Fact of the Day Ok, it’s hardly a crowded field, but the great glass elevators that rise 120 feet above the SUMMIT terrace are the largest of their kind in the world. SUMMIT Fast Facts Opening hours: 9AM-midnight, year round. Last entry is at 10PM. Tickets: there are several booking options available on the SUMMIT website. Closest transport links: the entrance to SUMMIT is located on the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal. SUMMIT One Vanderbilt vs Empire State Building: Which Should You Visit? Apart from the fact that these both boast observation platforms some 1,000 feet (and then some) up in the sky. SUMMIT and the Empire State Building are really quite different prospects. Visitors who crave old school New Yoik vibes should definitely plump for the Empire State Building’s selfie-tastic Art Deco lines and angles. Indeed, this century-old stalwart is worth visiting for the bragging rights alone. If, however, you fancy something a little different, it has to be the hypnotic futurism of SUMMIT’s immersive zones and its gravity defying glass platforms that permit fearless visitors to gaze straight down to the street far below. Save on New York Activities and Attractions Save on admission to dozens of New York attractions, including the Empire State Building, with The New York Pass. Check out @NewYorkPass on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
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