Neglect Broadway and pizza, if you wish to see the quirky aspect of the Massive Apple, then this checklist of bizarre points of interest in New York needs to be in your radar…
Begin With a Nice Place to Keep
Amid all of the quirk you’re about to see, you’ll want a comfortable spot to relaxation your head (or at the very least stash your newly acquired oddities). With so many lodging choices, it’s price testing Midtown East inns if you wish to keep central and nonetheless have simple subway entry to those offbeat gems. In spite of everything, comfort issues whenever you’re hauling round a creepy vintage doll at 2 a.m.
1. The Dream Home: Sound and Gentle Present for Your Mind
Tucked away in a nondescript SoHo loft is a trippy, multi-sensory expertise referred to as the Dream Home. Image neon lights merging with cosmic-sounding drones that vibrate by your bones. It’s like stepping right into a Pink Floyd album cowl—minus the precise band. Depart your skepticism on the door, as a result of when you stand in that mesmerizing wash of colour and sound, you’ll both obtain enlightenment or query the whole lot you’ve ever identified.
2. Metropolis Reliquary: Random Artifacts Galore
Need to see previous subway tokens, a bit of the Statue of Liberty’s nostril, and a set of classic seltzer bottles multi function place? The Metropolis Reliquary in Williamsburg is a tiny museum devoted to the random odds and ends that piece collectively New York’s historical past. Half cupboard of curiosities, half love letter to town, it’ll make you understand there’s extra to NYC than vacationer traps and chain espresso retailers. Plus, you’ll depart with dialog starters for the subsequent awkward feast.
3. The Elevated Acre: A Hidden Park within the Sky
Skyscrapers aren’t the one towering buildings downtown. For those who wander across the Monetary District, you would possibly come upon the Elevated Acre—a secret rooftop park that sits above road degree. It’s not large, however it presents a little bit of greenery and killer views of the East River. Seize lunch, lounge on the grass, and marvel how one thing so peaceable may exist mere steps away from Wall Avenue’s cutthroat chaos.
4. Deserted Metropolis Corridor Subway Station (If You Can Sneak a Peek)
For historical past buffs, there’s an underground gem beneath Metropolis Corridor: a long-abandoned subway station that appears like a medieval chamber with vaulted ceilings and ornate chandeliers. Formally, you’ll be able to solely see it by reserving a particular tour by the Transit Museum—however hey, should you occur to remain on the 6 prepare previous its ultimate cease (not that we’re advocating rule-breaking or something…), you would possibly simply catch a glimpse of this architectural masterpiece by the prepare home windows.
5. Mmuseumm: Closet-Sized Curiosities
Situated in a transformed elevator shaft in Tribeca, Mmuseumm is sort of presumably the tiniest museum you’ll ever encounter. Displays embody the whole lot from bootleg motion figures to fast-food chain errors (like misprinted cups or oddly formed french fries). This place takes the time period “micro-museum” to a complete new degree, proving that the weirdest displays typically come within the smallest packages.
Picture by Murillo Molissani
6. Obscura Antiques and Oddities
For those who’ve ever dreamed of proudly owning a two-headed taxidermy duck or a Victorian demise masks, look no additional than Obscura Antiques and Oddities within the East Village. It’s a treasure trove of medical curios, classic circus memorabilia, and different random artifacts you didn’t know you wanted. Searching right here looks like stepping right into a Tim Burton film set—simply strive to not let your creativeness run too wild.
New York’s most uncommon points of interest are like a hidden, twisted carnival ready to be explored. So ditch the strange, open your thoughts to the unusual, and bear in mind—typically it’s the bizarre experiences that make for the very best journey tales. Benefit from the journey, and simply strive to not query your sanity an excessive amount of alongside the way in which!