Sunday, June 21, 2015

Rainy Day Activities in New York

It’s been raining A LOT lately. And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, rain is good, we need the rain. But it’s June, and sun and warm weather is expected, which is not what we’ve been having. So I thought it would be good to put together a list of things to do on a rainy day in the city for anyone who, like me, is looking for something to do outside of the house but not get drenched.



1.
Go to the Movies

Now the first thing on this list might seem very obvious, because well, let’s face it, the answer to anything really is to watch a movie. However, the reason that going to the movies is top on my list is that going out to the movies is a much different experience than staying in a watching on from our sofa. It’s exciting and brings people together. Just the act of sitting in the movie theater as the light dims, patting your friends arm with excitement as the movie’s about the start, and the feeling you get when the credits roll and your sitting there with a big smile on your face listening to the perfect end song. That feeling of “I can do anything” and “that was amazing” lasts the rest of the day, or at least it does for me.

Plus, if you’re going to go to the movies you might as well make it special, which is why I would recommend going to the Ziegfeld Theater (on 141 West 54th Street). The Ziegfeld is an iconic destination; you just gave to see the inside for yourselves. The red velvet seats and intricate column designs, there’s real nothing else like it.

Lastly, the reason movies are at the top of my list is because life lessons are always learned from the movies (you’ve go to learn something new everyday right?) And it’s always good to add to your mental store of movie quotes to use at a later date.

2.
Museums

Keeping with the “you learn something new everyday” theme my next stop would be the many museums of NYC! As you may have noticed from some of my previous posts, I really like museums. I love how you can step inside and instantly enter another world, time, or place.

My favorite museums would have to be the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET) and the Museum of Modern Art (the MOMA). My favorite place at the MET is either the hall of European paintings and sculptures and the Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian Wing.
Although I haven’t been to the Museum of Natural History in years I’ve recently had an urge to go back! I remember when I was little the butterfly room was my favorite (although it’s only open at certain times of the year) and the Native American Wing.

3.
The Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle

Stop #3: The Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. Now this may seem boring at first, but bear with me. The Time Warner Center has a bunch of shops! Plus huge glass windows to look out at the rain (a must) and people/traffic watch. The shops include Sephora (believe me, you could spend a good couple of hours in there, hehe), BeBe, Coach, H & M, J. Crew, Jamba Juice and Whole Foods, and so much more that can be found on their website. In addition, a little extra treat is that there is also a Bouchon Bakery & Café! Cases stocked with macaroons, croissants, tarts and sandwiches, my favorite purchase from there has to be the hot chocolate! What’s better than hot chocolate on a rainy day!

4.
The New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Lastly, or last on this list (but there really is so much more you can do!) would be to go to the New York Public Library on 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. Also known as the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, it is the biggest and most magnificent of all the branches, the head library you may call it, has two lions statues guarding the entrance, a full staircase leading up to the entrance and a ceiling in the reading room that you could stare up at for hours on end.

I remember in High School I had just seen the movie the Young Victoria and was obsessed with everything Queen Victoria and Victorian England. My mom and I went to this library and looked at some wonderful books about her. The special thing about this library is that they have books that you cannot check out, so if you want to read them you do it there in the magnificent reading room. As well, the use the old fashion way of retrieving the book for you, such tat you have to fill out a calling card, they send down from the book, and it comes up in a little elevator behind the librarians desk. It’s the kind of thing you have to do once.

Hope this list is useful! Let me know what your favorite rainy day activities in the city are?


~ Monique ~

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