Ice Skating in New York City

ice skating in Central Park

Manhattan Locations to Lace Up Your Skates Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers Location: 61 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212-336-6100 Website: www.chelseapiers.com/sr/general-skating The Rink at Bryant Park Location: Midtown Manhattan, between 40th and 42nd Streets and Fifth and Sixth Avenues Contact: Bryant Park Corporation, 1065 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2400, NY, NY […]

Strawberry Fields Forever

Strawberry-Fields-Forever-Imagine-Plaque

Central Park Conservancy guided tour It’s been almost forty years since John Lennon left us. (Can you believe it?) Gone, but, to use an old cliché, not forgotten. His music is just as relevant today and, as far as we’re concerned, will live forever. The Strawberry Fields Imagine plaque The often-visited marker is dedicated to […]

Look Ma, No Pants!

Woman wearing no pants at No-Pants-Subway-Ride

About The Annual No Pants Subway Ride “Offeth with thy pantaloons,” Shakespeare would say if he were around today for a New York City tradition. The 18th Annual No Pants Subway Ride will take place this Sunday, January 13th. The title pretty much says it all. People jump on various trains around the city wearing […]

Cher on Broadway

Cher on Broadway Stage

Which Cher is your favorite Cher? The naive, wide-eyed teenager who came to our attention as one-half of Sonny & Cher, of I Got You Babe fame? Or her next incarnation as a solo artist (Half-Breed, Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves) thriving in her own musical variety show while suffering in a doomed marriage to Gregg […]

Exploring Greenwich Village: Winter Edition

Exploring Greenwich-Village-Snowy Street

Summer is a notoriously popular time to visit New York City, and for good reason. Outdoor fun abounds, from music festivals to strolls through verdant parks. But in a neighborhood as vibrant as Greenwich Village, the goings-on never slow down, even as winter settles over the city. In fact, the window of time after the […]

Snow Day!

People on skis in Central Park.

Nobody, but nobody comes to New York City expecting to engage in winter sports. But what if we told you that for one day a year, Central Park turns into a winter wonderland where participants can ski, sled, ice skate and more? Yes, the snow is courtesy of a snow machine, but the cold weather […]

Broadway on the Cheap!

Carole King at the piano Broadway Cheap

We all know that one of the main reasons people visit us here in New York City is for our fabulous Broadway shows. And the restaurants. And the museums. And the….okay, there are a lot of reasons folks travel here, but catching a Broadway show is surely in the Top 5. Enter Broadway Week! A […]

Happy New Year!

Champagne-Toast-Happy New-Years

No folks, we were not there. We were toasty and cozy at North Square. Happy New Year to all of our guests around the world. Love, Your Friends at the Washington Square Hotel Image via Facebook Featured image via Marco Verch/Flickr

10 Best Photo Opps With Santa Claus When He Comes to Town

Best Photo Opps with Santa in NYC

Now that the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade is over, Santa Claus has officially landed in New York City. As far as we’re concerned, our town is his base for the holiday season. How else can you explain why there’s more than one place where you can meet the great gift-giving, sleigh riding, cookie-chomping icon, whether you’ve […]

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade: Tips on How to See It

Kermit the Frog at Macys Thanksgiving Parade

The annual spectacular will turn 92 this year! Here’s everything you need to know about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and how to see it: WHO:  Macy’s does it again! They host this favorite annual NYC tradition and make it the most spectacular Thanksgiving parade in the world. The Parade is hosted by various NBC reporters who seem […]

5 Reasons to Go to The Amazing Holiday Train Show

Holiday Train Show Botanical Gardens

All aboard for the Holiday Train Show! Imagine miniature trains humming through a landscape of New York’s most iconic landmarks with their thousands of lights twinkling! And the most amazing thing is that everything (except the trains!) is made of twigs, bark and other natural materials. The Holiday Train Show is one of NYC’s favorite holiday […]

Autumn Leaves!

Autumn-Leaves-New-York

We think that the Fall months are probably the most beautiful time to visit our city and enjoy the autumn leaves. Exploring Central Park when the giant Maples turn blazing red and the Linden trees glow yellow and orange is breathtaking. Take a trip to the Botanical gardens in Brooklyn or the Bronx for a glorious day […]

NYC Marathon Sunday

NYC Marathon Sunday Starting line at Verrazano Bridge

Yep, it’s that time of year. Tomorrow night, you will see thousands of extremely fit (and we mean zero-%-body fat fit) men and women carb-loading to prepare for the NYC Marathon. Here’s what you want to know about NYC Marathon Sunday: How the NYC Marathon got it’s start The first New York City Marathon was […]

NYC Rooftop Gardens: An Enchanting Oasis Above the Clouds

Washington Square Hotel NYC Rooftop Gardens

History of NYC Rooftop Gardens Rooftop garden theaters in the Gilded Age had elaborate decorations and its owners enjoyed indulgent entertainment. With the recent implementation of electricity, it was an exciting time for New Yorker’s to peer down into the streets. The NYC rooftop garden has been rediscovered as valuable real estate. Its entertainment past […]

You’re Invited to The Village Trip

The Village Trip Festival Graphic

We may be biased, but we think our bohemian, artistic neighborhood, Greenwich Village, is amazing in so many ways. From the folk scene of the 1960s to the fountains in Washington Square Park, our neighborhood offers visitors and locals offbeat activities, rich culture, top-notch restaurants, and excellent shopping. We’re honored to support a new festival […]

Your Perfect Fourth of July

Perfect Fourth of July Hot dog eating contest

Are you looking to celebrate Independence Day the New York way? Here’s how to spend a perfect 4th of July. First things first, grab breakfast downstairs in the lounge. (Get the blueberry whole wheat pancakes. Don’t ask us why…just try it.) Take a trip to Coney Island When you’re properly stuffed, take the D or F […]

Looking for a Laugh? The Best Comedy Clubs in Greenwich Village

Exterior of Comedy Cellar Best Comedy Clubs in Greenwich Village

Greenwich Village grew its cultural reputation as a home base for the performance arts since before the 1950s when it was the site of famous cafes and clubs such as The Gaslight, Gerde’s Folk City, and The Bitter End. But there’s more. Today, you can have a few laughs at the best comedy clubs in […]

Philharmonic Concerts in the Park

Philharmonic Concerts in the Park

If you’re a regular visitor to this blog, you know that a constantly recurring theme is the opportunity to experience the culture of our beautiful city for free! So if you’re a fan of classical music, check this out. The free Philharmonic Concerts in the Park series begins this week! It’s truly an only-in-New-York experience, […]

How to Stay Cool in Greenwich Village This Summer

May is here and that means the mercury is starting to creep up. New York City’s summer heat is enough to make a top chef sweat, so where can you find refuge? In and around Greenwich Village. Here’s how to stay cool in Greenwich Village this summer. From sweet ice cream to refreshingly crisp rooftop cocktails, […]

Shakespeare In the Park

Shakespeare in the Park View of Central park

Aside from speeding yellow taxis, dirty water dogs, and standing-room-only subway cars, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more quintessentially New York City than Shakespeare in the Park. Welcome to the 2018 season! First up is Othello (May 29th through June 24th). Tony winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Jitney, Piano Lesson) will direct this classic drama about […]

3 Bars Where You Can Still Experience The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Greenwich Village

Mrs. Maisel’s Greenwich Village is still here, almost all of it. With two Golden Globes and two Critics’ Choice Television Awards for ‘Best Comedy Series’ and ‘Best Actress in a Comedy Series,’ you’ve likely heard of ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’. If you haven’t, don’t worry – this article doesn’t contain any spoilers. Amazon’s hit comedy series is about […]

Where To Lift a Pint On St. Patrick’s Day

Where to lift a pint on St Patrick's Day Mc Sorleys

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and we don’t know a soul who doesn’t crave a Guinness or a bite or two of bangers and mash on March the 17th. Lucky for us, there are some authentic, decades-old Irish pubs right here that will bring you back to the old country. Here’s where […]

5 Family-Friendly Winter Activities in New York City

Family-Friendly Winter Activities NYC Frozen Hot Chocolate

New York City is a very family-friendly winter vacation destination. The city offers endless activities for kids including ferry rides to the Statue of Liberty, elevators to the top of the Empire State Building, and an abundance of kid-friendly restaurants. NYC also checks off the boxes for what parents are looking for in a family […]

Taste Harlem! Walking Tours

Taste Harlem Tours Apollo Theater

It’s Black History Month! What better way to celebrate it than to take a Taste Harlem tour Celebrate African-American culture by taking a Taste Harlem Food and Culture Tour. There are 3 walking tours that give visitors a feel of the rich history and present culture of one of our oldest and culturally rich neighborhoods […]

I Do (Again) Times Square Art Exhibit

I Do Again Times Square Art Exhibit

Want an unusual, way for you and your partner to say “I do” (again) on Valentine’s Day? Head over to Times Square at 6 p.m. on February 14th for a group vow renewal ceremony! If you have ever wanted to declare your love in front of thousands of people, this will be the place to do […]

LOVE!

Love Soul Jam-Flyer

I’m Stone in Love With You, Betcha By Golly Wow, Best of My Love, Natural High, Reunited, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, You Make Me Feel Brand New, I’m Stone In Love With You. What do all these song titles have in common? Of course, they’re all about L-O-V-E. But they’re also the […]

5 of the Best Winter Activities for a Romantic NYC Weekend Getaway

Romantic NYC Weekend

New York City in winter is one of the most romantic places on earth. One can easily picture a couple, strolling hand in hand, as a soft snowfall blankets Central Park. While often quite chilly, there are few cities with as cheerful an atmosphere or as wonderful winter goings-on. We compiled a short list of […]

Tree Lighting!

Washington Square Park Tree Lighting

This tree has our heart So the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting was this past week. And while we do admire that 75-foot tall Norway spruce, giant Swarovski star and the huge crowd it attracts, we have to admit that another tree has our heart. True, you won’t see Gwen Stefani or Seal in the crowd at […]

3 Famous Greenwich Village Bars for Book Lovers

Greenwich Village Bars for Book Lovers

Greenwich Village has been the place to hang out for decades. It’s been a place for inspiration for writers, poets, and playwrights for years. But where did these famous minds unwind and mingle? Hangout with their fellow creative minds or watch for inspiration? From Edward Albee finding the inspiration for the title of one of […]

4 Events to Get the Most Out of Washington Square Park as Summer is Ending

Events Washington Square Park

School might’ve already started and summer might be ending, but Washington Square Park still has a lot to offer this September. Get the most out of Washington Square Park and the end of summer by making plans to attend one of these special park events. Washington Square Park Folk Festival The folk festival will be […]

Come Have a Taste of our Village

Taste of the Village Event Chef

Tickets are on sale for this year’s Taste of the Village, which will take place on September 19th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. You’ll have an hour and a half to stuff your face with goodies from our wonderful local restaurants. The Cornelia Café, Agata & Valentina, Aunt Jake’s, the Spotted Pig, Rosemary’s, Swig & […]

WSH’s NYC Planning Guide: The Extravagant Celebration Weekend

NYC Weekend Planning Guide Alice Prin at lunch 1920s

What Kind of Weekend are you celebrating? Planning the perfect weekend for an extravagant celebration? Maybe it’s your 20th wedding anniversary, a big job promotion, or a 21st birthday party. This isn’t your everyday weekend, you’ll be splurging for the best. Think charming city views, drinks by master mixologists, delicate desserts, delectable bakeries, snazzy jazz […]

June is Unofficially THE Month for Visiting NYC Museums

Visiting NYC Museums Guggenheim during Museum Mile Festival

New York City is home to many of the world’s grandest museums, and June is unofficially the month for visiting NYC museums. The offerings of June make it easier than any other time of year to get a glimpse of the sublime, with many of the city’s top museums offering special events, extended hours and […]

Manhattanhenge

Manhattanhenge NYC

What exactly is Manhattanhenge? It’s a twice-yearly event during which the setting sun is aligned with the east-west streets of the main street grids in Manhattan. This perfectly-aligned event creates a solar display precisely framed by concrete buildings and steel skyscrapers. The view is rather spectacular! We New Yorkers love to celebrate unusual happenings and Manhattanhenge […]

Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo Guitarist

May 5th is Cinco de Mayo! We love our Mexican friends and want to celebrate the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. That, and we love a good margarita. Here are a few cool things to do on Cinco de Mayo in NYC: Toloache is a renowned Mexican eatery […]

A Night At The Museum

Night at the Museum

Remember that movie? In the 2006 film, Ben Stiller played a night watchman at our American Museum of Natural History who discovers that the exhibits, animated by a magical Egyptian artifact, come to life at night. We’re not so sure about the coming to life part, but wouldn’t it be cool to spend the night […]

A Brief History of St. Patrick’s Day

History of St. Patrick's day at St. Patrick's Cathedral

It may as well be a New York City-citywide holiday the way we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But do you know the scoop behind St. Patty’s and why it’s so special? Why do we in NYC, especially, make such a fuss about March 17th? Let’s take a look at a brief history of St. Patrick’s […]

Walk in Bob Dylan’s Footsteps

Bob Dylan Walking Tour on Phone

Take a self-guided Dylan tour using an app We were just kicking around on the internet when we happened upon this cool freebie.  An interactive Bob Dylan self-guided Greenwich Village Walking Tour for your smartphone! Highlights include: The club he played in The Bitter End, a music club on Bleecker Street where Dylan often played in […]

3 Places to Visit With a Spooky History in Greenwich Village

Spooky History Greenwich Village Seabury Tredwell Home

When it comes to a city that has been established as long as New York City, we can expect to hear stories of the past. The history of New York City shows a city that is inventive, adaptive, and pioneering—a place that draws people in from all over the world for an endless variety of […]

5 Blogs That Will Help You Discover NYC Like a Local

Discover NYC Like a Local with 5 Blogs

Whether you’re in for a visit, or locals like us, just looking for some new things to do or see around the City, you must know: there’s always plenty to be enjoyed on this beautiful Island of ours. And this short list of blogs in the know, focusing on different NYC neighborhoods, has got you […]

Take A Tour Of Central Park!

Bow Bridge on Central Park Tour

While we love our own Washington Square Park to bits, we have to admit that Central Park is also stunning…and chock-full of history. New York would be a very different city without the foresight of building a central park for its residents and visitors. Taking a Tour of Central Park opens its secrets The City Parks […]

10 NYU Welcome Week Activities For You And Yours

NYU Welcome Week Activities NYU Campus

The school year is just around the corner. I know—we can’t believe it either. But with the buying of backpacks and books also comes New York University’s well known Welcome Week! 5 days of new, eager students and excited, albeit likely nervous, parents, all coming together in the heart of this great city. What more […]

LinkNYC: What You Need To Know

LinkNYC Guide

In April 2014, the New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications had the idea to convert over 7,000 obsolete payphones in NYC into something modern and effective. This system is now operational, so here’s LinkNYC: what you need to know. Fast-forward two years and voila: LinkNYC. LinkNYC is designed to cover New York City […]

7 Unique Museums to Visit in Manhattan

Unique Museums Manhattan

New York, New York. With the number of people and sheer size of this city, there’s bound to be a special amount of uniqueness to it. Sometimes, with all the hustle and bustle of a city as big as New York, the spots that make it so different can be easily overlooked. That’s why we’ve […]

5 Stores to Visit for the Ultimate New York City Shopping Experience

Ultimate NYC Shopping Experience Unique Places to Shop in NYC

Television series like Sex and the City or Gossip Girl have introduced us – the unfortunate who didn’t grow up in the city – to shopping opportunities that provide the unique New York City experience. For many visitors, shopping is an essential point on the To-Do list. We have put together a list of 5 […]

Our Favorite Must-Visit NYC Movie Theaters

Our-Favorite-NYC-Movie Theaters Woman in seat

These movie theaters all offer something a little different—not the usual action hero films. Offbeat, Indie documentaries and films are a specialty in these theaters. Here’s a list of our 5 favorite NYC movie theaters nearby. Sunshine Cinema 143 E Houston Street, New York, NY 10002 Sunshine is one of the more modern you’ll find […]

5 Record Stores in Lower Manhattan to Celebrate Record Store Day

5 Record Stores in Lower Manhattan

There was a brief time between the 1980s and early 2000s during which one might have argued, “Record stores are dying.” Lucky for people who appreciate the experience of listening to an album, new or old, on vinyl, record stores still exist! Here are 5 record stores in lower Manhattan where vinyl still reigns supreme. […]

What Are You Up To This Weekend, Ronnie?

Ronnie Jenkins in Hotel Lobby

What the locals are doing this weekend There’s one thing that everyone’s favorite Washington Square employee, Ronnie Jenkins, is not going to do tonight, and that’s going to the Bernie and Hilary debate in Brooklyn, about seven blocks from his home.”Too crowded!” Smart man. Ronnie will be seeing family. “My niece is about to graduate […]

Take A Bite Out Of The Lower East Side

Taste of Lower East Side New York Logo

Every year, North Square and Chef Yoel Cruz participate in Taste of the Village, an event which gathers chefs from the finest restaurants the Village has to offer. (And there are many, And yes, they are fine. Very fine.) This year, Taste of the Lower East Side showcases the yummy grub that our neighbors to […]

Manhattan Jazz Clubs and the Washington Square Hotel

Jazz Clubs Manhattan Musicians playing

New York, 1920s, was the beginning of a revolution in music, and Jazz clubs in Manhattan were beginning to spring up. The boys were coming home from the First World War, the skyline was rising, and midtown Manhattan was quickly turning into an economic epicenter. New York was experiencing expansion—not only in terms of buildings […]