For those who already know the Big Apple or for the curious, here is a selection of activities to do during a stay in this city in perpetual motion.
New York, new activities, new restaurants, new projects. After cycling in Central Park, strolling through Times Square and discovering an exhibition at Moma, here is a selection of offbeat addresses, between culture and nature.
1 – The One World Observatory to dominate the buidlings
Built following the 9/11 attacks, this huge tower located in Lower Manhattan has been accessible to the public since last May. Once the security gate has passed, a gigantic planisphere shows in real time which countries visitors come from. Since its opening, more than 2 million people have crossed this area. The show begins as soon as you enter the elevator, with the three sides transforming, in the space of 47 seconds, into a floor-to-ceiling screen to show the evolution of the city from the year 1500 to our days. Once on the 102nd floor of the building, large bay windows allow you to discover New York from the sky, with the Statue of Liberty to the south and the Empire State Building to the north.
Tip: it is better to arrive in the middle of the afternoon to enjoy both the view during the day and when night falls to have both atmospheres.
One World Observatory – 285 Fulton Street, New York Tel: (844) OWO-1776 | (844) 696-1776 https://oneworldobservatory.com M° Chambers Street.
Rates: $ 32 for adults, $ 26 for children 6 to 12, free for children under 5, $ 30 for seniors. Open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
2 The “yoga cat” to relax with felines
Who says yoga says relaxation of the body and the spirit. The Meow Parlor offers a plus, with the presence of a dozen cats (allergic to abstain). For about thirty minutes, a group of 6 to 8 people is invited to get acquainted with the tomcats, named Bobby, Milo and Stovetop. Then, the room is transformed into a yoga room, with mats lent for the occasion by the establishment (it is possible to bring your own but the animals can scratch on them). The 45-minute class begins, combining breathing and stretching exercises at a pace relatively suited to the people present. The cats walk between the different mats, play with each other and also settle on each other’s mats, making the class both fun and requiring a little waiting to perform the movements correctly. The session ends with a quarter of an hour to say goodbye to the felines, take one last photos and tidy up the carpets.
Meow Parlour 46 Hester St, New York http://www.meowparlour.com/conceptM° Delancey St ou East Broadway.
Price: $ 22 per person. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Yoga classes every Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and one Sunday per month from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
3 – Visit a neighborhood like a New Yorker
The New York Off Road start-up, launched three years ago by the Frenchwoman Élise Goujon, offers to discover different districts of the Big Apple according to various affinities, with French guides who have been living in New York for many years: for foodies in the Lower East Side, for sports fans of the NBA. The dozen thematic tours evolve and adapt to the clientele. Fans of the series Sex and The City will thus be able to follow in the footsteps of the famous Carrie Bradshaw, with a program combining manicures and shopping in particular. (Private visit, from $ 199 for a 2 hour visit for 5 people).
Some tours are grouped (starting at $ 35 per person for a 2 hour tour). To see other themes and prices: www.newyorkoffroad.com
4 – Enjoy Brighton Beach
New York is certainly known for its very tall buildings in Manhattan and its houses in the Brooklyn neighborhood. But for those who are nostalgic for the beach or want to discover another side of this city, head to Brighton Beach subway station in Brooklyn (lines B or Q). A long walk facing the Atlantic Ocean, watching the seagulls come and go on the fine yellow sand will allow you to take a break in this place which lives at 100 miles an hour.
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5- Stroll in a Japanese garden
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a haven of nature in the heart of Brooklyn offers, on 1.2 hectares, a Japanese-style garden, built at the beginning of the 20th century, by the landscape designer Takeo Shiota, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden. In addition to a zen and serene atmosphere along a small pond, the place also hosts a hundred Sakura-type cherry trees, which bloom towards the end of March or at the beginning of April, offering a magnificent spectacle to visitors. . During a weekend, the Sakura Matsuri festival celebrates this annual flowering and the culture of the land of the Rising Sun (this year, it will take place on April 30 and May 1 www.bbg.org/visit/event/sakura_matsuri_2016).
Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden 990 Washington Avenue Brooklyn www.bbg.org M° Botanic Garden.
Rates: $ 12 for adults, $ 6 for seniors and teens, free for children under 12.
To read:
Louis Vuitton City Guide New York – 2016 Edition, € 30.
Guide Lonely Planet 50 cartes – New York, 14,95€.
New York Routard Guide – 2016 Edition, € 12.90.
To watch: The Empire State Building in blue, white, red:
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