TOP 15 RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES NYC EDITION

 

They say it rains quite a bit in Seattle, but sometimes I wonder how different it is in New York City? So it would be great to know a couple of rainy day activities NYC offers.

 

 

Part of adjusting to the weather changes like Fall to Winter; or dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can depend heavily on spending time outdoors. The more you isolate yourself at home, the less you are likely to adjust and perhaps develop SAD, if you are predisposed to it of course.

When you live in a city with four seasons, your wardrobe needs those variations too. Because the right clothes will have a big influence on your perception of ‘how bad it is outside’. But sometimes it rains and it rains non-stop for days in New York, making it really hard to do anything fun no matter how hard you try to adjust. Let’s face it though, it is equally hard to sit at home for a long period of time, no?

Whether you have errands to run or want to enjoy yourself. Let me tell you the top rainy day activities NYC offers. We’re going to start from the least important to the top 1.

 

This blog post is all about the Top 15 Rainy Day Activities NYC offers. Please let me know about your favorites!

 

 

#15 THE BARCADE

The Barcade is a bar with retro video games you can play. It can be really fun with friends. They also offer bar food, of course. So, this could easily mean spending several hours indoors having fun.

6 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

 

#14 THE UNCOMMONS

Located in Greenwich Village, it is the only one of its kind, a board game café. You can reserve a table for $10 per person, pick a board from a wall full of options, and play for up to three hours. It is fun, but it can get crowded. Try to go a on a weekday if you can. They serve coffee and light snacks.

230 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

 

#13 POTTERY CLASS

I have visited Pottery Studio One and I’ve heard directly from friends who have tried it. You can take a two-hour long beginner’s class for $90, where you will make your own product and take it home with you. Or you can choose a slightly more interesting class, which is also two-hour long, for $120, where you create your own product, paint it and take it home with you. You can also reserve a class for a group, it can make a great team building activity.

136 Bowery, New York, NY, 10013

 

#12 INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATER

New York City has so many independent movie theaters, that sometimes show independent, non-mainstream, classic or old movies. I can’t not talk about IFC in this category, historically known as Waverly Theater, located in Greenwich Village. It’s a historical New York gem. Tickets are only $18, seats are comfortable, great popcorn.

323 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014

 

#11 LINCOLN CENTER SHOW

This is a landmark location. I hope you’re in luck for a New York Philharmonic performance. If you are, what a treat. I would go any day to sit and enjoy the sound of classical music being played. You don’t need to spend too much on your ticket, wherever you end up sitting, you will hear and see very well. This is a must.

Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

 

#10 BROADWAY SHOW

This needs no introduction. The options are endless. Whether you watch a classic show like Lion King, Aladdin (RIP Phantom of the Opera), or one that is running for a set weeks or months, you are going to enjoy it. I have rarely seen a Broadway performance that didn’t blow me away. It’s a great way to spend hours outside of home without getting stuck in the rain.

 

#9 COOKING CLASS

I’m sure there are many options out there, but I’m very intrigued to try for myself the classes offered by the Institute of Culinary Education at the Brookfield Place in downtown New York. They are usually around $150 for a class, over a span of three hours. They have a variety of cooking and baking classes you can sign up for online.

If you have a cooking class scheduled here, you may want to come down a little earlier to enjoy yourself at the Brookfield Place where there are great shopping options as well as The District with plenty of food options from baked goods to salads & sandwiches to full meals. Together with your class you can easily spend more than six hours here.

230 Vesey St, New York, NY 10281

 

#8 CHELSEA MARKET

An indoor market in the heart of Chelsea, the meatpacking district. I can’t think of a better place to spend two to three hours. The Market has many great food options you can enjoy, and a selection of food items you can buy, as well as boutique stores you can shop at. It’s honestly a very iconically New York thing to do. Try Los Tacos, it is the best tacos in the city – that’s one thing I think all New Yorkers can agree on.

75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011

 

#7 EATALY

Eataly as you may already know, is a chain Italian marketplace comprising many restaurants, a marketplace that sells imported Italian goods, baked goods, and a gelato place. Ever so often I like to visit to buy some Italian staple items, and see what’s new. Over the years, I’ve had pasta and pizza with a glass of wine several times and never left unsatisfied. It’s a good one stop shop (and eat) place, especially on a rainy day.

200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

 

#6 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CLASS

My personal favorite. I’m sure there are more options in this category too, but no one does it quite like the Flower School. Because they are a school, they have access to the structure to be able to teach classes like this. I personally would not like an online class where I purchase a kit and follow instructions. The introductory classes at the Flower School are 90 minutes long, cost $160 per person. You will have your station ready for you with flowers and a vase, that you can take both home with you at the end of class.

253 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001

 

#5 STRAND BOOKSTORE

Calling the Strand a bookstore is a bit like calling St Peter’s Basilica, a church. It is a massive independent bookstore in East Village founded in 1927, that runs over three and a half floors. Their moto is 18 miles of books. You can spend hours in here looking through many different categories, that perhaps you didn’t even think about. My favorite part about the Strand is that it sells used books at half price, some of these are untouched. The first time I visited, I left with eighteen books.

828 Broadway at 12th Street, New York, NY 10003

 

#4 NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAIN LOCATION

The first time I visited this library I didn’t want to leave. The New York Public Library has many branches across the city, its main library is in midtown, within Bryant Park. There is quite a bit to see in the building itself, but once you get to the Rose Main Reading Room, it feels a lot like going back in time to a historic location. I love books, libraries and anything that has to do with history. You can go in, grab a seat and get work done. I’ve written quite a few papers in this inspiring atmosphere.

476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018

 

#3 BERGDORF GOODMAN

I’m not a big fan of department stores, but this is the exception, I’ll go any day. Bergdorf Goodman was founded in 1899, it has some of the largest collection of designer clothes, shoes and bags in the city, over the span of eight floors. It is nice to have it all together in one place, you can also learn about new brands you had never heard of before. You can easily spend half a day here. Their luxury items are well stocked. If you haven’t tried their restaurant yet, I highly recommend it, it’s on the seventh floor with the view of Central Park.

754 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10019

 

#2 MUSEUM VISIT

There is really no shortage of museums in New York City, whether it’s the ones that are well known like The Met or MoMa, to smaller ones you want to see for the first time. I know I want to go to the Museum of Moving Image. You can also choose to go to several museums on a rainy day, if you’re a museum enthusiast; you can go to the Upper East Side Museum Mile and check a bunch of museums off your list. If you prefer to pick one and stay there, I think nothing compares to the Met. I reviewed the top 10 museums in NYC, if this topic interests you.

1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

 

#1 BATHHOUSE

I love being somewhere indoors, cozy and super warm on a wet rainy day. Who doesn’t love to go into a sauna, hot pool, and get a full body massage when it’s gross outside? I’m smiling just writing about this experience. You can go to any bathhouse in the city or New Jersey (that is if you like crossing state lines, hah). I’d say try the Bathhouse in Williamsburg where I’ve tried and reviewed for you, but I would recommend their new location in Flatiron, which I will try and write about soon. It is much bigger in size and will probably feel less crowded.

103 N 10th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

 

 

This blog post is all about the Top 15 Rainy Day Activities NYC offers. Do you have other favorites? Please share.

 

 

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading.

See you next week,

Girl on the Upper East Side

Xx

 

If you enjoyed reading this, you might enjoy reading about My Nice Itinerary, or maybe you just want to stay indoors all day and clean out your closet, I can help.