Tag Archives: Museum

There is nothing better than exploring unusual spots around New York. So, we decided to share with you 6 under the radar museums in Manhattan! Have fun!

Curiosities Our Bucket Lisits 6 Under The Radar Museums Manhattan Spyscape Main — Photo: Courtesy of Spyscape

Yes, we know that New York City’s world-famous museums are definitely places to visit, but they aren’t the only ones around. There are some quite amazing under the radar museums in Manhattan.

Indeed, it’s now estimated there are about 100 first-rate museums spread throughout the Big Apple’s five boroughs.

If you have just checked out of your Airbnb, you’re not ready to check out some of New York’s hidden gems before heading out. So, be sure to read our guide.

Below, we share six under the radar museums in Manhattan with amazing experiences but that you can easily find.

So, fire up your Google Maps, store your luggage, and go explore!

1. Travel Back in Time at the Tenement Museum

Curiosities Our Bucket Lisits 6 Under The Radar Museums Manhattan Tenement Museum — Photo: Courtesy of The Tenement Museum

To get a feel for New York’s gritty past, definitely stop by the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, at 103 Orchard Street.

In addition to touring an authentic 19th century tenement house, this museum hosts highly interactive neighborhood tours with guides dressed in period costume.

All of the Tenement Museum’s exhibits are designed to illuminate the realities of American immigration from the 1800s onwards.

Oh! And before visiting the Tenement Museum, feel free to drop your heavy bags at one of the convenient Stasher locations in nearby SoHo or Chinatown.

Location: 103 Orchard Street

https://www.tenement.org

2. Tour the Teensy-Tiny Mmuseumm

Curiosities Our Bucket Lisits 6 Under The Radar Museums Manhattan Mmuseumm — Photo: Courtesy of Mmuseumm

Only large enough for three people, Lower Manhattan’s Mmuseumm won’t win any accolades for its extensive collection.

Despite the Mmuseumm’s amusingly small size, visitors rave about the constantly rotating selection of newsworthy artifacts.

We can’t promise you’ll feel overwhelmed by the Mmuseumm’s offerings, but you certainly won’t forget your visit.

The Mmuseumm’s is located close to the Canal Street Metro.

Location: 4 Cortlandt Alley

http://www.mmuseumm.com

3. See the Original “Winnie The Pooh” Plush

Curiosities Our Bucket Lisits 6 Under The Radar Museums Manhattan New York Public Library — Photo: Courtesy of New York Public Library

Despite protestations from British leaders, the stuffed animals that inspired A. A. Milne’s “Winnie The Pooh” remains in the New York Public Library.

In addition to Pooh Bear, visitors will get to see the original Kanga, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet dolls that Christopher Robin once played with.

Note: the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is the library branch that holds these treasured toys.

You can easily find this building near the 5th Avenue/Bryant Park Metro.

Location: 476 5th Avenue

https://www.nypl.org/schwarzman

4. Explore the Himalayas at the Rubin Museum of Art

Curiosities Our Bucket Lisits 6 Under The Radar Museums Manhattan Rubin Museum — Photo: Courtesy of Rubin Museum of Art

Looking for some Buddhist serenity in the Big Apple? Consider visiting the underrated Chelsea’s Rubin Museum of Art. We truly love exploring it!

This easy-to-miss museum houses thousands of ornate art objects from the mystifying Himalayas.

From Tibet and India to Nepal and Pakistan, you’ll need a few reincarnations to appreciate all the art on display here.

The Rubin Museum of Art is less than a mile’s walk south of Penn Station near the 18th Street Metro. Bag storage is limited, so be sure to check out Stasher’s convenient luggage storage options in Penn Station before your visit.

Location: 150 West 17th Street

http://rubinmuseum.org

5. Get Your James Bond on at SPYSCAPE

Curiosities Our Bucket Lisits 6 Under The Radar Museums Manhattan Spyscape — Photo: Courtesy of Spyscape

Get ready to live out your own James Bond adventure in the SPYSCAPE museum, launched back in 2018. It’s a pretty new addition to New York’s list of attractions.

After viewing dozens of espionage-related artifacts, visitors can test their spy skills through a series of highly immersive challenges, like solving encrypted codes and walking through laser sensors.

You might even be able to talk with resident hackers about the importance of Internet Privacy.

You can find this exhilarating museum on 8th Avenue, which is less than a mile from Carnegie Hall.

Location: 928 8th Avenue

https://spyscape.com

6. Soar to New Heights at the Skyscraper Museum

Curiosities Our Bucket Lisits 6 Under The Radar Museums Manhattan Skyscraper Museum — Photo: Courtesy of Skyscraper Museum

Honestly, what other city is more deserving of having a Skyscraper Museum?

Sure, the art of skyscrapers has now gone global, but New York City’s skyline will always remain the world’s most iconic.

Inside Battery Park’s Skyscraper Museum, you can learn the engineering behind all of New York’s famous buildings.

This museum also works hard to present the stories of the countless engineers and investors who made New York City what it is today.

Oh, a while back we experienced an amazing 2-day tour with Siemens where they showed us how their technology also helped build NYC! You might find this pretty cool as well!

You can easily reach the Skyscraper Museum on foot from the Wall Street Metro. Before visiting, please take a peek at Stasher’s convenient storage destinations in the Financial District.

Location: 39 Battery Place

https://skyscraper.org

If you enjoyed reading this post about the under the radar museums in Manhattan, you might want to see a few more hidden museums around the city!

Check out the 5 Offbeat Museums In NYC You Should Visit or read about the Most Different Museum In New York Of All Times.

If you’re looking for custom tours or need to put together a corporate experience, let our experts help you out!

Photo Credits: Courtesy of all the Museums
#Sponsored
*Last Update on March/2020.*

16 Things NO ONE EVER Tells You About NYC [PART 2/4]

June 28, 2019

BTSNYC

City Secrets Curiosities No Comments

New York is a great city to visit and there is so much you can do! But, if you’ve never been, it can be a bit overwhelming. So, I decided to share 16 things NO ONE EVER tells you about NYC.

16 Things No One Ever Tells You About NYC Part 2 — Photo Credit: Courtesy of Andre Benz

Yes, believe it or not, there are a few rules and tips to make your NYC experience seamless and memorable. This fast paced city certainly has its particularities. But, I can guarantee, that it’s what make this city so unique! You just need to learn a few tips and tricks, to survive in NYC!

We split this topic into 4 different posts, so see below Part 2!

And if you haven’t seen Part 1, go check it out!

#5 Why don’t yellow cabs just STOP when you signal!? And what are these green cabs?

16 Things No One Ever Tells You About NYC Part 2 Taxi — Photo Credit: Courtesy

Many tourists don’t know that the light on top of the cab helps identify if they are free or with a passenger. When the light is ON, they are free for you to try and stop them. So, when the light is off, they are in the middle of a trip and will pass straight by.

Ah! Have you ever seen the green cabs in Manhattan before!?

Well, these cabs will never stop to pick you up in Manhattan, even if they are free. They are only allowed to get passengers in the other boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island), but they can commute anywhere, of course. So, you’ll only be able to grab a yellow cab, while in Manhattan.

#6 This is for the art lovers!

16 Things No One Ever Tells You About NYC Part 2 Free Museums — ©Behind the Scenes NYC

Even though the city is known for being a very expensive one, there are several ways to save money.

Some museums can have pretty high fees, but most have free entrances a few specific days a week, or a few free hours. And still, others might be “pay what you wish”.

NYC residents: If you have that City ID or another document proving you live in NYC, be sure to tell them. Many paid museums are free for us! WUHU!

The NYC Arts website has a detailed list of all of them to help you out!

And the art galleries? They are all free to enter and see the current art works!

New York also offers countless free events, by the way. You just need to stay tuned to our IG Page or other pretty great accounts too like FomoFeed! We love them!

#7 Always have money on you!

16 Things No One Ever Tells You About NYC Part 2 Have Money Photo Jack Harner — Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jack Harner

Why? Well, believe it or not there are countless places around New York that are “cash only” spots and will not accept any other payment method. For example, one of my all time favorite spots in Williamsburg, Brooklyn called Beco Bar, is a cash only bar/restaurant. Well, they JUST recently added Amex credit card machine, but many others, have no other option.

Regardless, having a bit of money in your pocket, is always advisable during a trip. You never know what might happen, so you might as well be prepared. But, if you do forget, most of the “cash only” spots or have an ATM inside or they are close to one that you can run to.

Now, don’t come with a $100 bill. You’ll have a pretty hard time exchanging them or getting change if you’re purchasing something cheap. Plus, banks aren’t allowed to give you change for them. Bummer! I guess everyone is just skeptic it might be a fake.

#8 Tipping is CRUCIAL!!!

16 Things No One Ever Tells You About NYC Part 2 Photo Sam Truong Dan — Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sam Truong Dan

This is something not all visitors agree with or feel comfortable, but it’s a reality! New York is a city where you tip for absolutely everything! You need to breathe? Tip! Just joking….but not joking.

So, let me give you the basics on how this goes. And of course, just be reasonable guys!!! I know many people are traveling on a budget, and that’s totally fine too, so just be mindful when you are at different places.

In general, restaurants vary with tips from 18% – 22%. I always end up tipping 20%, but you can feel free and pick what suits you best. For bigger groups, some restaurants will automatically include 25% in the bill, so be sure to see that.

At bars, I also just usually tip 20% to make it easier, but you can just consider at least $1 a drink, and for the pricier cocktails, at least $2. Guys, the tireless barmen and bar-women are working their asses off all-night-long to be sure you have a great time, so help them out too!

By the way, when the bar is super full, nicer tips might give you an extra attention when getting future drinks at the bar.

Now, as I mentioned, tipping is not limited to only restaurants and bars. If you’re getting an Uber/Lyft/Via/Juno, you can always tip the driver at the end of the ride through the APP, but yellow cabs also expect tips. Yes, even the lousy, dirty, smelly ones… You can tip 15% – 20% and if you’re paying with a card, you just pick the tipping amount on the screen.

Tipping at the hotel is also important. It’s always nice to tip the bellboy that helps bringing your luggage into the hotel and up to your room. Generally, it’s $1 per bag, but if you’re at a nicer hotel, be nicer too! Lol! When your leaving the hotel, and a staff grabs a taxi for you, yes, tip him like $1-$2. Oh, and most people most often forget: the cleaning lady! She was the one that kept your room super neat and clean during all these unforgettable days in New York. You might want to leave around $2/day for her at the end for your stay. I always also customize the tip with a smiley note!

So, as you can see….tipping is crucial and this is also one of the reasons you have to have cash on you!!! But, as I said, be mindful and reasonable within the budget you have too!

If you enjoyed our Part 2 of the 16 things NO ONE EVER tells you about NYC, be sure to check our Part 3 coming up next! There is still so much more to learn!

For any questions regarding travel or event planning for Corporate Groups, contact our experts to help you out!

Photo Credit: ©Behind the Scenes NYC, Courtesy of Jack Harner, Sam Truong Dan and Andre Benz
*Last Update on March/2020.*

Most Different Museum in New York Of All Times: Museum of Illusions

December 3, 2018

Fê Paronetto

Culture & Music Entertainment No Comments

I recently visited maybe the most different museum in New York of all times, the Museum of Illusions! The eye-tricking illusions were super fun and extremely curious!

When we think about museums, most people immediately think about the big, famous ones like the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), MoMA, the Whitney and so many others. If you’ve been with us for a while, some other off-the-beaten-track museums might also come to your mind!

But, a few weeks back, I found one maybe the most different museum in New York of all times: the Museum of Illusions.

Originally from Zagreb, Croatia, they are quite famous is other corners of the world, like in Austria and Slovenia. On September 20^th, they finally landed in town and are creating quite a buzz, after all, optical illusions are quite fun to experience, don’t you agree?

That same week, I met with René Gjoni, the CEO of the museum, that was super kind to walk me through the all the installments and illusions. After that, I just HAD to go back and get it on camera for your guys to see!

“Visitors can learn a lot about vision, perception, the human brain and science through our attractive and fun exhibits. In that way, they also learn why our eyes see things that our brain does not understand.”

This fantastic interactive museum, located one of 14^th Street’s busy corners, offers over 70 different activities visitors can experience. They are all based on science, math, biology and phycology, but in real life, they are extremely fun and curious! Many are quite simple after we find how they work but, I have to agree that creating them can be certainly challenging.

I passed through absolutely all the illusion and love them all, but the ones that I probably enjoyed the most were:

Rotated Room – Are you ready to radically change your view of the world? How about for 90 degrees? In this room you can walk on the ceiling. Your imagination is the limit!
Tricky Stick – This exhibit plays with your sense of space. The human brain will automatically suppose that the stick will not fit through the hole;
Moving Picture – As you move, the image seems to swivel and follow you. Three-dimensional paintings when viewed from the front initially give the impression of viewing a painted flat surface that shows a perspective view;
Swap Noses – You can switch different parts of your faces if both of you, at the same me, move up and down;
True Mirror – We might think we see ourselves in traditional mirrors, but although they appear to show us how we look, in fact they reflect images that are sign significantly altered by being backwards. Step towards the True Mirror, which enables us to see ourselves as others see us!
Tilted Room – Try to walk slowly in the ‘Tilted Room’. Can you do it well? It may feel wobbly and diﬃcult to walk in here.

In addition, there are a few exclusive illusions that are only seen in New York City:

Thermal Grill – The thermal grill illusion is a sensory illusion. When someone presses a hand against the grill, he or she experiences the illusion of burning heat;
Following Eyes – The following eyes are an optical illusion in which the perception of hollow concave eyes look like normal convex eyes. If you stare at them and walk left and right – they seem to follow you around;
Zoetrope – A zoetrope is a device that produces the illusion of motion from a rapid succession of static pictures. This variation uses a rapidly flashing strobe light to illuminate the models, producing an illusion of motion.

So, I can say it’s a place to visit with kids, friends of all ages, family! It’s really entertaining, fun and that will give you countless reasons to laugh! And, you’ll be able to take some of the coolest pictures, and share them on all your Social Channels for your friends to see! I guarantee, it’s will go viral!

Have fun in the Museum of Illusions and share your experience with us: #BehindTheScenesNYC and #MuseumOfIllusionsNewYork!

Oh! And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel, like the video and help spread the love for our gorgeous New York City!

Tickets:
$19 Adults
$17 Students with valid ID (age 14-22), Senior citizens (age 62+) with valid ID, Military Personnel
$15 Children (6-13 age)
$53 Family Ticket Package (two adults & two children)
Children under age of 6 are free
*Group Rates Available*

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9am – 10pm

Location: 77 8th Avenue – located on the corner of 8th Avenue and 14th Street

https://museumofillusions.us

Videography: Black3 Agency
Photography: Black3 Agency & Courtesy of Kenroy Lumsden
Beauty: Leila Soldeira
Styling: Camilla Adão
*Last Update March/2020.*

Fê Paronetto

Fê is our Founder & CEO! She’s Brazilian (Yup! Not a New Yorker!), but her indescribable passion and curiosity for NY makes her a New Yorker by heart. Fê worked in companies like Kimberly Clark, Quintessentially, Vogue Brazil and Iguatemi Group, and after 12 years of working for these fantastic companies, she decided to go solo and move to NYC!
She lives in Brooklyn since April of ’15 and has been tirelessly working on BTSNYC, working with huge companies on corporate projects, practicing her Arhatic Yoga meditations, finding time for gym and friends! Phiuf!

The Met Cloisters: A Medieval Experience in NYC

October 25, 2018

Fê Paronetto

Culture & Music Entertainment No Comments

Are you ready to explore the The Met Cloisters and have a medieval experience in NYC? Located inside the beautiful Fort Tyron Park, this museum will keep you breathless all the way!

Culture Music The Met Cloisters Fort Tyron Park View

Culture Music The Met Cloisters Fort Tyron Park Trees

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I have to confess that I had never been to The Cloisters, until this past weekend when a good friend from my meditation group invited me to go! It had been on my must-see list since forever, but because it’s location is a bit distant, I was always postponing the visit.

So, this time I had agreed to go with her and there no way I would cancel it. So, after the Feeding Program we help coordinate o Saturday morning at Tompkins Square Park, I grabbed the subway and started heading North.

The best option to get up to Fort George, is to get the A Express train (blue line), up to Dyckman Street. It will be just steps from the entrance of Fort Tyron Park, where The Met Cloisters is located.

In addition, the 1 train (red line), also passes through there, but it’s a local train, so it stops many more times along the way.

A bit of History:

To start, many people don’t know that The Cloister is actually part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum opened to the public in May of 1938 and is focused on art and architecture of medieval Europe.

It’s located at Fort Tyron Park with a priceless view of the Hudson River – and I have the say, the sunset there is amazing!

The museum has obviously medieval structures and might look as if it’s quite old, but during construction, the architects behind this project simply gathered beautiful inspirations and elements of medieval cloisters.

“Approximately 2,000 works of art from medieval Europe, largely dating from the 12th through the 15th century and including exquisite illuminated manuscripts, stained glass, metalwork, enamels, ivories, and tapestries, are exhibited in this unique context.”

But wait! What is a “cloister”?

“A covered walk in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral, typically with a wall on one side and a colonnade open to a quadrangle on the other.”

See the video above for a great footage of The Met Cloisters during it’s construction!

What NOT to miss when going there:

It’s hard to even start listing what you can’t miss, since the entire collection is breathtaking, but I’ve listed below the main ones that people are always asking about.

Plus, they have beautiful gardens that you can enjoy with no rush and just take your time!

Culture Music The Met Cloisters Tapestry

Culture Music The Met Cloisters Glass Windows Ebreichsdorf

Culture Music The Met Cloisters Sarcophagus Room

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Culture Music The Met Cloisters The Treasury Ivory

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During a few months a year, you can actually enjoy a super nice café with outdoor seating! The Trie Café is open seasonally from April to October and offers light fare in a super nice outdoor setting.

Lastly, if you want to go home with a few gifts for your loved ones and yourself, the Met Store is located just off the Main Hall. You’ll be able to find jewelry, home gifts, publications, stationery, and more inspired by the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe.

Oh, and don’t get lost! Be sure do download their Museum Map!

For visitors from outside New York State:
Adults: $25
Seniors (65 and over): $17
Students: $12
Members and Patrons: Free
Children (under 12): Free
For NY residents: Pay as you wish

General admission tickets include exhibitions. It’s valid for three consecutive days at The Met Fifth Avenue, The Met Breuer, and The Met Cloisters.

If you want us to help you organize your visit, or for corporate requests, contact our experts.

Lastly, did you know The MET has a great store with some of the most unique products and gadgets?

The physical location is in SoHo, but thankfully you can find everything online as well! You can find anything from Prints & Posters, Books, Stationery & Art Supplies, Clothing & Accessories and even Home Decor. Have fun shopping!

Hours:
Open 7 Days a Week
March – October: 10am – 5:15pm
November – February: 10am – 4:45pm
Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25^th and January 1^st

Location: 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tyron Park

www.metmuseum.org

Photo Credit: ©Behind the Scenes NYC
*Last Upload on Feb/2020.*

Fê Paronetto

Justin Teodoro: Statue Of Liberty Illustration Gone Viral

August 5, 2018

BTSNYC

Curiosities Insider Interviews No Comments

Justin Teodoro is the powerful and creative name behind the Statue of Liberty’s illustration that went viral a few weeks back! We talked to him about his breathtaking career, his inspirations and discovered his 7 secret spots in NYC.

A few weeks back, the social media universe went wild with a beautiful illustration created by the NY-based illustrator, Justin Teodoro.

In a powerful response to the first lady, Melania Trump’s Zara jacket, which had “I really don’t care. Do you?”, written on the back, Justin’s creative, powerful and positive reply, moved the world.

The outrageous act that has been moving people to stand up against the zero tolerance policy of family separations at the boarder, led by President Trump, was spread through out the internet.

Even those that chose to be isolated for the political scene, were touched.

Like us, countless other media platforms and Instagram users, reposted Justin’s illustration, supporting the cause.

Our interview below, will show you more about Justin’s story, career, conquests, inspirations, finishing off with 7 of his secret spots in NYC!

Curiosities Insider Interviews Justin Teodoro Kevin Lamarque Reuters — Photo Credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

1. Can you tell me a bit about your background? Where you’re from? What you studied? Where you’ve worked?

I’m from Vancouver, BC Canada – born and raised there. I did my undergrad at University of Toronto and after I graduated in 2003 I moved back to Vancouver to figure out what to do for a career.

I’ve always drawn and loved art, but never knew how to make that happen as a “job”. I was always into fashion but, that seemed so far away to me as a career.

I then found about the Associates Fashion program at Parsons and with the support of my family applied and got in. So, I moved to NYC in 2005 to pursue a career in fashion.

I worked as a womenswear designer for 8 years for brands as Tuleh, Cynthia Steffe and Kenneth Cole, before I made a career change to focus on my own illustrations and art.

2. Was the Barney’s window in NY your first major fashion project? Tell us a bit about this project! Or, tell us about your first major project that boosted your career.

My first big project as an illustrator was probably working with Lorenzo Martone and his brand Martone Cycling – we met through mutual friends and I began doing illustrations for him.

That led to us working together on a small capsule range of illustrated tees for Martone Cycling, then a pop up in NYC and finally an artwork for a window display when Martone Cycling was sold at Colette in Paris. That was a major first for me.

I’ve worked with Barneys NY a few times – first on their website doing a few illustrations stories. Those projects led me to working with Barneys New York Japan in 2015 for their holiday campaign. Another major milestone in my career – I created artwork for their holiday campaign and was invited to Tokyo for the holiday launch.

3. You’ve done so many amazing works around the world like Colette in Paris, the subways in Tokyo! I believe you obviously enjoyed them all, but is there one that you’re exceptionally proud of and would love to relive it? Why?

I’ve been lucky to have worked on some pretty amazing projects with really great brands, so it is hard to choose.

I guess though I would always cherish the projects that allowed not only my work to travel internationally but me as well!

So, my project with Barneys in Tokyo and recently doing artwork for Six Senses in Kaplankaya, Turkey was amazing. It’s been great to expose yourself and your eyes to what is out there.

4. The entire Social Media universe saw your latest illustration of the Statue of Liberty with the child. We were one of the hundreds of accounts that share it. Can you give us a taste of how the idea can about and how the creation process was? Did you expect this amazing repercussion?

It really came about from me just reacting to all the news that week – I remember it being so hard to hear all the stories of these families being separated and then seeing all those images in the news.

It was hard not to react.

I think I tried to do something that felt true to what I wanted to say, but also to my art and I think I just wanted to put something out there that was perhaps positive, a sense of hope in all of this sadness, anger and messiness.

So, it kind of just came naturally – I don’t remember exactly what the process was but putting the jacket with what I think we all wanted it to say on the statue of Liberty seemed to be my creative reply.

The reaction was pretty amazing to see – definitely all the viral attention was amazing.

But, it was much more amazing to me to have people email/message me to say thank you for doing this artwork, that it gave them a sense of hope and light in all this darkness.

That really touched me and made me realize that the work had taken on a more powerful meaning that I ever anticipated.

5. Is there any exciting upcoming project you can share with us first hand?!

A few projects in work, so stay tuned!

6. Can people find your work in NY and also to purchase online?

I have a few t-shirts/prints available on my website. Below an image of the gorgeous Jane’s Carousel.

7. What are you +7 top secret spots in NY you love to go with friends, or for work inspiration?

Communitea Café – A neighborhood coffee spot in LIC;
FIT Museum – For fashion inspiration;
Lucky Strike – A classic NYC happy hour in SoHo;
Tuffet – A great bar in Brooklyn for cocktails and drinks;
McNally Jackson – A great local bookstore/magazines and coffee spot in SoHo;
Strand Bookstore – A classic and has an amazing vintage book collection;
Blick Arts – I’m a sucker for an art store and I’m always here getting more paint or pens.

Take a look at a few cultural activities in New York, if you’re into arts, music, museums, etc!

Thank you Justin, for the amazing work, your strong voice and talent, and for sharing with us a bit of your life!

Keep up the amazing work!

Photo Credits: Justin Teodoro and Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
*Last Update on April/2020.*

10 Lifesaving Hacks to Travel Around NYC

April 20, 2018

BTSNYC

Curiosities Our Bucket Lists No Comments

There is just so much we want to do and explore when we come to New York, right? Check out these 10 lifesaving hacks to travel around NYC!

These 10 lifesaving hacks to travel around NYC will help you better navigate the city and make your visit memorable!

Check them out below and keep them in mind when you get here!

#1 Drop your luggage off, so you can focus on having fun

Curiosities Our Bucket List 10 Life Saving Hacks To Travel Around NYC Steven Meisel Vogue 1999 — Photo Credit: Winona Ryder by Steven Meisel, Vogue 1999.

For only $6/day you can drop off your bags at over 50+ locations in the city so you can free your arms and not worry about dragging your luggage around during the day.

Book here for a 10% discount or use code “BEHINDTHESCENES”.

https://usebounce.com

#2 Screenshot the subway map before you get onto the subway

Curiosities Our Bucket List 10 Life Saving Hacks To Travel Around NYC Subway APP Joshua Newton — Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joshua Newton

Some subway cars aren’t yet updated to show the next upcoming stops/transfers so use your phone to navigate where to get off.

You can catch a cellphone signal in between some stops, but play it safe with having it already on your phone. This way, you don’t get lost or have to hover over someone to check the subway car map.

And still, if you’re more into tech-hacks, just download an APP called “New York Subway MTA MAP”. It’s works with no wifi too!

#3 Bring a selfie stick

It may seem like such a tourist thing to do, but if you don’t want to bother a busy New Yorker to take your picture, then this is the best way to snap a quick pic!

Which one we recommend? Try the one from DJI, named Osmo Mobile 2.

Also, for inspiration, follow Fomofeed to find all the cool free NYC instagram-worthy shots.

#4 Pack comfortable walking shoes

With so many great walking spots in NYC, you will need a good pair of shoes that won’t hurt your feet after a few miles.

Some favorite (and free) walking spots include Fort Tyron Park, FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island, and the gorgeous pink Williamsburg Bridge, that has been featured in countless movies!

If you’re into adventure, you might want to explore the beauty of an upstate New York day trip or our NYC’s Maritime History Tour. So scary and curious!

#5 Use travel APPs to make your life easier and save some cash

Curiosities Our Bucket List 10 Life Saving Hacks To Travel Around NYC Bike Chris Barbalis — Photo Credit: Courtesy of Chris Barbalis

Here’s a list that may come in handy when traveling around NYC.

Check out Yelp for check in discounts to restaurants around the city and Open Table to make a quick reservation.
Use Lyft or Uber to share rides and get around the city, or the Citibike APP if you prefer biking around.
Download Splitwise to make it easier to track and split expenses amongst your travel party.
Check out the HotelTonight APP for exclusive hotel deals.

#6 Carry a portable phone charger

This is crucial, especially because with pictures and social media, your battery will drain in no time. You’ll be out and about all day in New York, so be sure you buy a phone charger so you stay plugged in all day – most will be under $30 and well worth it!

But we love the Mophie products, even though they are a bit more expensive. They have a (RED) Collection where “a portion of the proceeds from every (PRODUCT)RED™ purchase will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa”.

#7 Beware of street food

10 Life Saving Hacks To Travel Around NYC The Halal Guys — Photo Credit: Courtesy of The Halal Guys

NYC is well-known for their delicious hot dog stands and roasted peanuts, but be careful with where you choose to eat! You might have a bad time during your trip if you pick the wrong one!

Find a food cart that has a long line or keep an eye out for the most trusted food cart, like the traditional “The Halal Guys”. We love them, and so does every other New Yorker in town.

You can find them at West 53rd Street corner with 6^th Avenue, and a few other spots in the city!

#8 Save money on Broadway tickets

If you have time to spare, you can find steeply discounted Broadway show tickets the day of at the big red TKTS booth in Times Square, South Street Seaport, Lincoln Center and Downtown Brooklyn. Check their website for queue hours.

Want another secret to the currently most coveted show on Broadway: Hamilton!? They have an APP called “Hamilton – The Official App” where, twice a day, they have a lottery giving out tickets for $10/each and you can buy up to 2! Note: Tickets for the show starts at $199, and skyrocket to over $800 for the premium seats.

Oh! And if you want the true “behind the scenes experience”, you might want to have dinner with 2 cast members from Hamilton before the show, watch the show from the best seats, then go back stage to meet the entire cast! How? Contact us!

Not a fan of Hamilton? Don’t worry! We have this experience for all Broadway show!

#9 – Don’t fall for street scammers/hustlers

NYC will always have people hustling outside on the streets so beware of the scam! You may wind up with fake tickets, blank DVDS or something else counterfeit that you just paid for.

Just go straight to the official website or authorized resellers to purchase and be safe.

#10 Research pay what you wish museum days

Some of the major museums in NYC have donation based nights that can save you some serious cash!

The 9/11 Museum, Bronx Zoo, New Museum, and the Frick Collection all have weekly donation based entrance fee hours to name a few.

Plus, many have specific days/hours with FREE entrance.

The list can go on, but these are probably the top 10 lifesaving hacks to travel around NYC!

If you are looking for any type of help during your travel, let us help you out. But, if you’re a company looking for assistance for your team or your valuable clients, contact our experts.

Have fun and welcome to our Behind the Scenes NYC world!

Text Credit: In collaboration with UseBounce
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Joan Marcus, © flickr user Gorbould. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, Pexels, Joshua Newton, Chris Barbalis and Matteo Catanese.
*Last Update on March/2020.*

The Current 7 Best Art Exhibitions In New York

February 21, 2018

BTSNYC

Culture & Music Entertainment No Comments

Come explore the current 7 best art exhibitions in New York, curated exclusively for Behind the Scenes NYC by the art expert, Gisela Gueiros!

Our friend, contributor and art expert, Gisela Gueiros, sent us a list of the current 7 best art exhibitions in New York!

Take a look below to see what you love best, or…just go explore them all!

Tarsila do Amaral – MoMA

“Tarsila is one of the most important figures for Latin American modern art history. The show at MoMA is her first in the US and features her work from the 20s and 30s. Pay special attention to the painting ‘Abaporu’, 1928.”

Tarsila was born in 1886, in São Paulo, Brazil. In her early 20’s she moved to Paris to study at the renowned art school, Académie Julian. During these years she has to opportunity with working with important names like Fernand Léger, a renowned French painter, sculptor, and filmmaker.

The exhibition is named “Tarsila do Amaral: Inventing Modern Art in Brazil” and…

“…focuses on her pivotal production from the 1920s, when she navigated the art worlds of both São Paulo and Paris, and charts her involvement with an increasingly international artistic community, as well as her critical role in the emergence of modernism in Brazil.”

The exhibition unites over 100 paintings, photographs, drawing, sketches and historical documents.

Tarsila painted “Abaporu” in 1928 for her husband and famous Brazilian poet, Oswald de Andrade. It’s explained that:

“This landmark painting inspired the Manifesto of Anthropophagy, and became the banner for a transformative artistic movement, which imagined a specifically Brazilian culture arising from the symbolic digestion—or artistic “cannibalism”—of outside influences.”

Live through: June 3^rd, 2018

Location: 11 West 53^rd Street

www.moma.org

Gordon Matta-Clark – Bronx Museum

“Totally worth the trip to the Bronx, ‘Gordon Matta-Clark: Anarchitect’ examines the artist’s pioneering interventions in urban spaces. It features more than 100 works including rarely seen materials from his archive.”

This New York-born artist was born in 1943 and became well known for his site-specific art works in the 1970’s. He passed away at a very early age of pancreatic cancer, in 1978 (35-years old), but left a remarkable legacy.

Gordon went to Cornell University to study architecture, spent a year at Sorbonne in Paris, studying French literature and documented his work through videos and photography.

He’s best known for his unique series ‘building cuts’ (1972 – 1978), where he removed entire structures, carving them out and eventually naming these transformations “Anarchitecture”.

Live through: April 8^th, 2018

Location: 1040 Grand Concourse

www.bronxmuseum.org

Dan Flavin – David Zwirner Gallery

“From 1963 on, Flavin would only use fluorescent light to create installations – or “situations,” as he preferred to call them – of light and color until his passing in 1996. The show examines his production during the 60s.”

The exhibition is named “Dan Flavin: in daylight or cool white”. Flavin was born in 1933, in Jamaica, New York City.

His minimalistic aesthetics was recognized and celebrated throughout his career and his work with fluorescent lighting truly shaped it.

Live through: April 14^th, 2018

Location: 537 West 20^th Street

www.davidzwirner.com

Ellsworth Kelly – Flag Art Foundation

“Curated by his widow, photographer Jack Shear, the exhibition focuses on Kelly’s works in black and white, including drawings, paintings, photographs, and sculptures made in the first and last decade of the artist’s career.”

Ellsworth Kelly was born in Newburgh, New York in the year of 1923.

He served during World War II and when he returned to the US, he concluded his studies at Boston Museum School, then headed to École des Beaux-Arts, in Paris.

Jack Shear is currently the President of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation and continues his photography work, while living in Spencertown, New York.

Live from: February 23^rd – May 19^th, 2018

Location: 545 West 25^th Street, 9^th Floor

http://flagartfoundation.org

Zoe Leonard – Whitney Museum

“Opening soon, this show will be a must see! Zoe Leonard is one of the most remarkable artists of her generation. The exhibition looks across Leonard’s engagement with the history of photography, gender and sexuality, loss and mourning, migration, displacement, and the urban landscape.”

“Zoe Leonard: Survey is the first large-scale overview of the artist’s work in an American museum. The exhibition looks across Leonard’s career to highlight her engagement with a range of themes. More than it focuses on any particular subject, however, Leonard’s work slowly and reflectively calibrates vision and form.”

Leonard was born in Liberty, New York, in 1961. Her work primarily focuses on photography and sculptures.

She dropped out of school at an early age and moved to New York City to start shooting. It was the perfect place for her to shoot graffiti, apartment buildings, street, sidewalks and other details that captured her attention and her keen eye.

Leonard is known for her work as an activist in AIDS advocacy and Queer politics in New York.

Leonard’s Speech at the Highline, starts with “I want a dike for President…” Definitely worth reading!

Live from: March 2^nd – June 10^th, 2018

Location: 99 Gansevoort Street

https://whitney.org

Thomas Demand – Matthew Marks Gallery

“It is hard to believe that all that you see in Thomas Demand’s work are sculptures made of paper, he then photographs. Each Daily depicts an everyday scene originally captured by the artist on his cell phone re-created in paper and cardboard.”

“On a pair of separate video monitors suspended from the ceiling, two short films play on continuous loop. The films were created through a similar process, starting out as paper models before being photographed and animated in stop motion.”

In this upcoming exhibition, divided into two different rooms, you’ll be able to witness 7 new photographs and 2 new films, that Demand creatively presents as an installation.

Live through: April 7^th, 2018

Location: 523 West 24^th Street

www.matthewmarks.com

Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud – Acquavella Galleries

“This beautiful show features twenty landscapes by California painters Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud who were also close friends. Themes explored include their use of vibrant color, painterly texture, sense of light, and aerial perspective.”

“Richard Diebenkorn & Wayne Thiebaud: California Landscapes”, is the first joint exhibition with these two artists, that we also pretty close friends.

“Themes explored in the show will include their use of vibrant color, painterly texture, sense of light, and aerial perspective.”

Diebenkorn was born in Portland, Oregon back in 1922, while Thiebaud was born in Meza, Arizona in 1920. Diebenkorn is well-known for his work of abstract expressionism and the Bay Area Figurative Movement.

Thiebaud, on the other hand, is associated primarily with Pop Art, but also New Realism and, as Diebenkorn, the Bay Area Figurative Movement.

This exhibition is a beautiful collaboration, offering a hardcover catalogue with a critical essay by John Ya, a distinguished curator and art historian.

In addition, it also includes an interview between Museum Director Philippe de Montebello and artist Wayne Thiebaud.

Live through: March 16^th, 2018

Location: 18 East 79^th Street

www.acquavellagalleries.com

So, if you enjoyed Gisela Gueiros’ 7 best art exhibitions in New York, she will be presenting her own curated show with opening night on March 8^th!

It will happen at Bird Williamsburg, with art work from great names like: Alice Quaresma, Lisa Schilling, Polly Shindler, Talita Zaragoza, Bia Monteiro, Julia Brandão, Sandra Jávera, Cela Luz, Maíra Senise & Ana Bial.

More details to follow, so stay tuned!

www.giselagueiros.com

For the art lover that loves exploring the endless NY art scene, you’ll certainly enjoy our exclusive art tour. Guests uncover the best off-the-beaten-path contemporary art galleries in the city.

Or even, book private art tours to explore a few open air museums upstate, during a priceless day trip. For Corporate Experience with your team, or to “wow” your clients, let our experts cater it all for you!

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Collection MALBA, Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires. © Tarsila do Amaral Licenciamentos; Installation View, Gordon Matta-Clark: Anarchitect, 2017. © 2017 Stefan Hagen; Dan Flavin; Ellsworth Kelly, Broad Street Studio, New York, 1956.© Onni Saari, courtesy Ellsworth Kelly Studio; Zoe Leonard – CC BY-SA 4.0; Matthew Marks Gallery – Thomas Demand; Wayne Thiebaud, Green River Lands, 1998, Collection of Matthew Bult Art, © Wayne Thiebaud, Licenced by VAGA, New York, NY and Gisela Gueiros.
*Last Update on Feb/2020.*

Exclusive Art Tours in New York City

February 21, 2018

BTSNYC

Culture & Music Entertainment Ongoing Experiences Tours & Experiences No Comments

Come explore our exclusive Art Tours in New York City! The city that never sleeps had endless option for the art connoisseurs and aspiring artists and fans!

BOOK NOW!

We know that New York City is considered one of the best places in the planet for the art lovers! There is just so much to see that it can get quite overwhelming, especially when you have so little time in the city.

We offer some exclusive art tours in New York City that will blow your mind!

BOOK NOW!

Having a Masters degree at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, in addition to being an art historian and educator, our partner and art expert offers guided tours through the best contemporary art galleries in Chelsea.

But wait! This is not all!

Why we love it? Many of the places explored are completely off-the-beaten-path and unknown by the touristy crowd! Just how we like it!

The tours have the duration of 2 hours and usually covers from 6 – 7 exhibitions during the walk.

At each exhibition, our expert gives an in depth presentation on the artists and their work, using an iPad for additional visual references.

In case you can’t attend the scheduled tours, private tours are also available on the day and time of your choice. Our clients and readers have greatly enjoyed them, so contact us to book your experience.

In addition, our art expert can be booked for guided tours of specific museums, as well as for visits to the gorgeous outdoor museums upstate for an exclusive and super fun day trip!

TOUR DETAILS:

Price: Scheduled tours are US$100/person
Duration: 2 hours
Payment Method: You can pay on the day of the tour with cash, credit card or via Venmo or PayPal, directly to our partner.

BOOK NOW!

Are you a company looking for Corporate experiences for your team? Or do you need to put together a priceless and memorable experience for your clients? Our team of experts can cater to your needs and create customized experiences!

If you’re in other tours, take a look at our BTSNYC Experiences!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of our partner
*Last Update on Feb/2020.*

7 Best Places In Long Island City For Art Lovers

September 25, 2017

BTSNYC

Curiosities Our Bucket Lists No Comments

You’ve done Museum Mile, hit up the Chelsea galleries on a Thursday, and perused the sidewalk art in SoHo. So, for your next art fix, head to Queens’ Long Island City for a less touristy roster of artsy offerings. See the 7 best places in Long Island City for art lovers.

We are huge fans of Queens and we love exploring this beautiful Borough. It’s the largest Borough in size, but loses to Brooklyn regarding the total population. Yes, Brooklyn wins! Almost 50% of the neighborhood are foreigners which is an astounding number right?

We just love this diversity and everything that comes with it! Different cultures, styles, fashion, accents, languages, points of view, music, art. It’s all so inspiring!

Diane Pham and Dana Schutz, from 6sqft have put together the 7 best places in Long Island City for art lovers. The neighborhood is also know as LIC – short and intimate.

And, just because you’re crossing into Queens, don’t think you’ll be sacrificing any creativity or imprimatur.

From world-famous contemporary art collections to smaller spots like a workspace dedicated to figurative drawing.

Noguchi Museum

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It’s not uncommon for a museum to be dedicated to a specific artist, but it is rare for it to be designed and established by the artist himself, in this case Japanese American artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi.

In 1985, his Noguchi Museum opened, displaying what he considered the most representative examples of his life’s work and becoming the catalyst for change in the neighborhood.

In addition, a decade earlier, the artist had purchased a small photogravure plant and gas station across from his studio and filled it with his sculptures, architectural models, stage designs, drawings, and furniture designs.

After a major 2004 renovation, the museum now features two floors of indoor exhibition space, indoor-outdoor galleries, and an outdoor sculpture garden. So, temporary exhibits are now part of the programming, and these explore Noguchi’s influence on contemporary culture.

Hours:
Wednesday – Friday: 10am – 5pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am – 6pm
Closed Mondays & Tuesday

Location: 9-01 33rd Road

http://www.noguchi.org

Socrates Sculpture Park

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A block away from the Noguchi Museum is the Socrates Sculpture Park, a waterfront park and public art museum.

The location was previously an abandoned landfill and illegal dumpsite, but in 1986 a group of local artists and residents, headed up by artist Mark di Suvero, transformed the four-acre site into a public sculpture museum.

Guests have the option of a self-guided tour or a guided tour, and the organization also offers a farmers market, seasonal outdoor film screenings, and activities such as yoga, capoeira, tai chi, and kayaking and canoeing.

And, throughout the year there are plenty of performances, ranging from dance to theater to opera. Plus, it’s free and open every day of the year.

Hours: 365 days a year from 9am to sunset

Location: 32-01 Vernon Blvd

http://socratessculpturepark.org

Sculpture Center

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NYC has plenty places to see contemporary art, but this is the only such museum dedicated to contemporary sculpture.

The Sculpture Center moved to its current location in a former trolley repair shop in 2002, and today this building serves as a sculptural piece in itself.

Artist and designer Maya Lin handled the initial redesign and just a few years ago, Andrew Berman Architects expanded and renovated the building, adding an enclosed courtyard for outdoor exhibitions and events.

Furthermore, unlike many institutions, the Sculpture Center is a non-collecting museum, meaning every year you’ll get to see a fresh batch of experimental, innovative exhibits.

They commission new work, as well as present exhibits by emerging and established artists and also have a series of free public programs and events such as artist talks, open studio days, and film screenings.

Hours:
Thursday – Monday: 11am – 6pm
Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Location: 44-19 Purves Street

www.sculpture-center.org

Fisher Landau Center for Art

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Adaptive reuse is a theme when it comes to the locations of LIC arts institutions and the Fisher Landau Center for Art is no exception, housed in a former parachute harness factory.

Designed by the late English architect Max Gordon, the modern museum (which offers free admission) houses the 1,500-work contemporary art collection of Emily Fisher Landau.

Moreover, these includes the work of some of the past 50 years’ most influential artists, like Andy Warhol, Kiki Smith, Glenn Ligon, Cy Twombly, Jasper Johns, Jenny Holzer, and Robert Mapplethorpe, many of whom she supported early in their careers.

Also, on display is Ms. Landau’s 150-piece collection of mid-century furniture designer Warren McArthur, as well as a rotating exhibit series.

Hours:
Thursday – Monday, 12pm – 5pm
Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Location: 38-27 30th Street

www.flcart.org

Eleventh Street Arts

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Eleventh Street Arts veers from the modern to the traditional, presenting new works of drawings, paintings, and sculptures that invoke, challenge, and celebrate classical tradition.

Also unique is the fact that its exhibitions are curated by artists who lend their own interpretation to a specific style or theme such as still life, nudes, or architecture.

In addition, Eleventh Street Arts offers a chamber music series, from Chiaroscuro to Bach, and sponsors a resident chamber music artist.

Hours: Monday – Saturday: By appointment only.

Location: 46-06 11th Street

www.eleventhstreetarts.com

Grand Central Atelier

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Adjacent to Eleventh Street Arts is the Grand Central Atelier, a collaborative workspace dedicated to figurative drawing, painting, and sculpture.

In addition to exhibitions, concerts, lectures, concerts related to this study, the organization provides rigorous training and open sketch nights, as well as artistic competitions and fellowships.

So, those interested in more formal study of the traditional art form can enroll in a full-time program that lasts up to four years.

In addition, the shorter, one-day workshops and classes, ranges in topic from self-portrait and foundations of figure drawing, to still life to the classical architecture methods of the École des Beaux-Arts.

Hours: By appointment only.
Wednesday evenings – 5:30pm
Friday afternoons – 12:30pm

Location: 46-06 11th Street

http://grandcentralatelier.org

MoMA PS1

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MoMA PS1 became an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art in 2000. But, it’s actually one of the oldest and largest nonprofit contemporary art institutions in the nation.

They’re located in an abandoned 19th-century public school building, which they often transform into site-specific works. The most well-known of which, may be their annual summer Warm Up. There, a winning entrant turns the open-air courtyard into a temporary, environmentally focused installation that accompanies a music series.

Satisfying their commitment to displaying the world’s most experimental art, past retrospectives have included Mike Kelley, Franz West, and Gordon Matta-Clark.

So, be sure to see light artist James Turrell’s permanent installation “Meeting,” one of his famed skyspaces. Plus, other long-term installations by Sol LeWitt, Cecily Brown, Alan Saret, and Richard Serra.

Hours:
Thursday – Monday: 12pm – 6pm
Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Location: 22-25 Jackson Avenue

www.moma.org/ps1

Lastly, if you are loving the idea of heading out into Long Island City, in Queens to explore these 7 best places in Long Island City for art lovers, but prefer going with a fantastic tour guide, contact us! Our experts can provide art specialists to help you around.

Plus, we work a lot with Corporate groups of all sizes, so let our experts cater a fantastic experience for your team or your clients.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Scott Hoffmann for MoMa PS1; Nicholas Knight/©The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, NY/ARS; Kyle Knodell for Sculpture Center, Kelly Akashi for Sculpture Center; Mariana Hernandez-Rivera for Grande Central Atelier; and all museums & galleries.
*Last Update on March/2020.*

5 Offbeat Museums In NYC You Should Visit

September 23, 2017

BTSNYC

Curiosities Our Bucket Lists No Comments

You could visit the MoMA and take in the museum’s world-class modern art; or you could enjoy the medieval armor and Egyptian artifacts of The Met. But, you can also see 5 offbeat museums in NYC!

Curiosities Our Bucket Lists 5 Offbeat Museums NYC Transit Museum Photo Credit Black Paw Photo — Photo Credit: Black Paw Photo.

So, how about skipping those rudimentary Lonely Planet recommendations altogether and really jumping off the beaten path?

If you’re looking for a more unconventional approach to museum-hopping – or are simply fed up with long lines and $25-plus admission fees – Diane Pham, from 6sqft, has rounded up five unexpected experiences that only New York City insiders are keen to.

See below the 5 offbeat museums in NYC!

Harry Houdini Museum

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This tiny treasure hidden on the third floor of a Midtown building celebrates the world’s most important and influential magician, Harry Houdini.

In addition to housing a collection of several hundred of Houdini’s most important implements, including his straight jacket, a collection of handcuffs, and his escape coffin, the museum also hosts magic lectures and shows for the public.

When visiting, don’t be surprised if you run into your favorite magician or celebrity, according to the museum’s site, “famous magicians hang out here every day.”

Admission: Free

Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: 10am – 5pm

Location: 421 7th Avenue, 3rd floor, Midtown

www.houdinimuseumny.com

New York Transit Museum

Curiosities Our Bucket Lists 5 Offbeat Museums NYC Transit Museum Secret Subway Station

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Most don’t think of the NYC subway as much more that a means to get from point A to point B, but the city’s mass transit history is both rich and fascinating.

Housed in an authentic 1936 subway station beneath Downtown Brooklyn, this underground treasure covers every bit of NYC transit history – from the men who dug the subway tunnels more than 100 years ago to the technology that keeps trains running today.

Here, you can also jump behind the wheel of a city bus, sit in a vintage subway car, or take in the turnstiles of yore.

Admission:
Adults – $10
Children (2-17) – $5
Seniors 62+ – $5, Seniors are free on Wednesdays (excludes senior group visits)
Museum Members free

Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am – 5pm
Closed Mondays and major holidays

Location: Boerum Place & Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn

www.nytransitmuseum.org

Mmuseumm

Located in a freight elevator just a few blocks south of Canal Street is a museum specializing in the “overlooked, dismissed, or ignored.”

Open every Saturday and Sunday, Mmuseumm introduces curious onlookers to everyday, unexpected, and unusual objects from around the world; recent exhibitions have included “ISIS Currency,” “Embalming Accessories,” and “The Fake U.S Fast Food Franchises of Iran.”

Permanent pieces meanwhile include a shoe thrown at George W. Bush at the Minister’s Palace in Baghdad. Just note: only three can squeeze into the museum at once.

Admission: Pay as you wish with a $5 suggested donation for regular admission.

Hours:
Saturdays & Sundays: 12pm – 6pm
Mmuseumm is visible 24/7 through the viewing windows and by calling into the audio guide 1(888) 763 8839 from your mobile phone.

Location: 4 Cortlandt Alley

www.mmuseumm.com

Museum of the American Gangster

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This diminutive, two-room museum dedicated to the history of the American gangster is very appropriately situated upstairs from a former speakeasy found along the St. Mark’s Place, in the East Village.

Beyond “newspapers, photographs and other original documents from the Prohibition Era,” the museum also keeps some incredible mob relics including John Dillinger’s death masks and bullets from the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre investigation.

And still, one of the bullets that brought down bank robber Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd.

This museum is not for the faint of heart!

Admission: *Includes guided tour.*
Adult – $20
Students & Seniors – $12
Groups of 10 and over should contact museum.

Hours: Monday – Sunday: 1pm – 6pm

Location: 80 St. Marks Place

http://museumoftheamericangangster.org

Explorer’s Club

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In theme with this list, we’d be remiss not to mention the Explorer’s Club Headquarters of New York.

Founded in 1904, the Explorers Club was created as a gathering place and a means to promote the work of those involved in the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space. The club is today housed in an 1910 Jacobean revival mansion on the Upper East Side.

It features a spectacular collection of 13,000 books, 1,000 museum objects, 5,000 maps, and 500 films. You’ll also find a trove of taxidermied animals on the top floor of the storied structure, most of which date back to the early days of the Club when taxidermy was used to preserve animals for study and education.

Back then, traveling anywhere required incredible effort, and the use of photography had not yet spread.

Admission: Free

Hours:
September through June: The Club is open to members and their guests from 9am-9pm Monday – Friday. Certain designated rooms of the Club are open to the general public from 9am-6pm.
Summer Hours (July and August): Monday – Friday: 9am – 6pm
The Club is closed on Saturdays & Sundays

Location: 46 East 70th Street

https://explorers.org

We have no doubt that you enjoyed these 5 offbeat museums in NYC. So, if you want to organize a private tour or experience for you and your family, or you want a specific type of tour catered to you, contact our experts. We are able to cater any type of tour in New York.

Plus, we’ve worked with big Corporate groups, so if you are looking for assistance for your team, or your clients, we can assist you all the way.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of the Museusms and Black Paw Photo
*Last Update on March/2020.*

There is nothing better than exploring unusual spots around New York. So, we decided to share with you 6 under the radar museums in Manhattan! Have fun!

1. Travel Back in Time at the Tenement Museum

2. Tour the Teensy-Tiny Mmuseumm

3. See the Original “Winnie The Pooh” Plush

4. Explore the Himalayas at the Rubin Museum of Art

5. Get Your James Bond on at SPYSCAPE

6. Soar to New Heights at the Skyscraper Museum

New York is a great city to visit and there is so much you can do! But, if you’ve never been, it can be a bit overwhelming. So, I decided to share 16 things NO ONE EVER tells you about NYC.

#5 Why don’t yellow cabs just STOP when you signal!? And what are these green cabs?

#6 This is for the art lovers!

#7 Always have money on you!

#8 Tipping is CRUCIAL!!!

By the way, when the bar is super full, nicer tips might give you an extra attention when getting future drinks at the bar.

I recently visited maybe the most different museum in New York of all times, the Museum of Illusions! The eye-tricking illusions were super fun and extremely curious!

I passed through absolutely all the illusion and love them all, but the ones that I probably enjoyed the most were:

In addition, there are a few exclusive illusions that are only seen in New York City:

Are you ready to explore the The Met Cloisters and have a medieval experience in NYC? Located inside the beautiful Fort Tyron Park, this museum will keep you breathless all the way!

A bit of History:

What NOT to miss when going there:

Justin Teodoro is the powerful and creative name behind the Statue of Liberty’s illustration that went viral a few weeks back! We talked to him about his breathtaking career, his inspirations and discovered his 7 secret spots in NYC.

1. Can you tell me a bit about your background? Where you’re from? What you studied? Where you’ve worked?

2. Was the Barney’s window in NY your first major fashion project? Tell us a bit about this project! Or, tell us about your first major project that boosted your career.

4. The entire Social Media universe saw your latest illustration of the Statue of Liberty with the child. We were one of the hundreds of accounts that share it. Can you give us a taste of how the idea can about and how the creation process was? Did you expect this amazing repercussion?

5. Is there any exciting upcoming project you can share with us first hand?!

6. Can people find your work in NY and also to purchase online?

7. What are you +7 top secret spots in NY you love to go with friends, or for work inspiration?

There is just so much we want to do and explore when we come to New York, right? Check out these 10 lifesaving hacks to travel around NYC!

#1 Drop your luggage off, so you can focus on having fun

#2 Screenshot the subway map before you get onto the subway

#3 Bring a selfie stick

#4 Pack comfortable walking shoes

#5 Use travel APPs to make your life easier and save some cash

#6 Carry a portable phone charger

#7 Beware of street food

#8 Save money on Broadway tickets

#9 – Don’t fall for street scammers/hustlers

#10 Research pay what you wish museum days

Come explore the current 7 best art exhibitions in New York, curated exclusively for Behind the Scenes NYC by the art expert, Gisela Gueiros!

Tarsila do Amaral – MoMA

Gordon Matta-Clark – Bronx Museum

Dan Flavin – David Zwirner Gallery

Ellsworth Kelly – Flag Art Foundation

Zoe Leonard – Whitney Museum

Thomas Demand – Matthew Marks Gallery

Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud – Acquavella Galleries

So, if you enjoyed Gisela Gueiros’ 7 best art exhibitions in New York, she will be presenting her own curated show with opening night on March 8th!

Come explore our exclusive Art Tours in New York City! The city that never sleeps had endless option for the art connoisseurs and aspiring artists and fans!

You’ve done Museum Mile, hit up the Chelsea galleries on a Thursday, and perused the sidewalk art in SoHo. So, for your next art fix, head to Queens’ Long Island City for a less touristy roster of artsy offerings. See the 7 best places in Long Island City for art lovers.

Noguchi Museum

Socrates Sculpture Park

Sculpture Center

Fisher Landau Center for Art

Eleventh Street Arts

Grand Central Atelier

MoMA PS1

You could visit the MoMA and take in the museum’s world-class modern art; or you could enjoy the medieval armor and Egyptian artifacts of The Met. But, you can also see 5 offbeat museums in NYC!

Harry Houdini Museum

New York Transit Museum

Mmuseumm

Museum of the American Gangster

Explorer’s Club

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So, if you enjoyed Gisela Gueiros’ 7 best art exhibitions in New York, she will be presenting her own curated show with opening night on March 8^th!