689 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in New York City - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in New York City

New York, New York

City Hall Station

A beautiful and abandoned New York subway station from 1904, complete with chandelier.

New York, New York

The Evolution Store

A terrific purveyor of natural history objects and curios.

New York, New York

Dream House

La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela's "Dream House" will immerse you in an ever changing world of sound and light.

New York, New York

Roosevelt Island Smallpox Hospital Ruins

A crumbling hospital from the 1850s on Roosevelt Island.

New York, New York

Mmuseumm

A tiny museum housed in a New York freight elevator specializes in the "overlooked, dismissed, or ignored."

New York, New York

Explorers Club Headquarters

A treasure trove of artifacts, books, and artwork from the "golden age" of exploration.

New York, New York

The Elevated Acre

Amid the bustle and noise of the Financial District hides a secluded garden oasis above the city streets.

New York, New York

5 Beekman Street

This beautiful building in the heart of Manhattan's Financial District was empty for decades.

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Unique Food & Drink in New York City

Egg Cream

A fizzy, chocolate drink that harkens back to the days of Brooklyn soda fountains.

Brooklyn Blackout Cake

A cake as dark as a city hiding from enemy bombers.

Pickle Soft Serve

The briny, refreshing ice cream acts as a cooling chaser to spicy meals.

Tom and Jerry

A small industry of themed glassware was launched solely for the enjoyment of this hot winter punch.

See all 14 things to eat in New York City See all 14 things to eat in New York City

Atlas Obscura Trips

Afloat the Erie Canal: A Self-Led Houseboat Adventure

Be the captain of your own ship as you steer along this historic waterway, experiencing its hidden wonders and two centuries of history.

Community Forums / United States / US: Northeast

Top Discussions in the US: Northeast Travel Forum

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Map of New England Oddities	15 March 29, 2020	8493	March 29, 2020
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Recent New York City Activity

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Stories About New York City

An abandoned corridor between buildings on Ellis Island.

Capturing Ellis Island's Lost Period

The famous gateway to the United States lay abandoned for years before it was restored.

September 18, 2020

The Notorious B.I.G. as the "King of New York."

For Sale: Biggie's Crown, and Other Icons of Hip-Hop History

There's lots to intrigue West Coasters, too.

by Matthew Taub

September 9, 2020

Elizabeth Jennings in 1855.

The Story of the Teacher Who Desegregated New York Transit

In 1854, Elizabeth Jennings was forcibly kicked off a horsecar. Her fight changed the city.

by Jerry Mikorenda

September 7, 2020

The shore of Dead Horse Bay, photographed in 2015, is known for its trash.

New York's Favorite Trash-Strewn Beach Is a Wee Bit Radioactive

The National Park Service has closed a portion of Dead Horse Bay.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

August 20, 2020

Why Do Tennis Crowds Have to Be So Quiet?

The game's long, weird, elitist history provides some clues.

by Dan Nosowitz

August 11, 2020

A plan for the controversial World War II exhibition known as <em>Exhibition X</em>.

Plumbing the Secrets of the Archives of the Museum of Modern Art

From an Avenue of Fascism, to turtle soup, to a phantom photo of three important women having tea.

by Andrew Russeth

An artist rendering of the Open Orchard on Governor's Island.

A Franken-Forest of Fruit Trees Is Growing on Governors Island

The project will rescue forgotten peaches, plums, and apricots.

New Yorkers are hearing the ubiquitous ice cream truck jingle emanating from police cruisers across several boroughs.

Why Are NYPD Cruisers Playing the Ice Cream Truck Jingle?

The melody occupies a niche space at the intersection of ice cream, entertainment, and Black history.

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