Get ready to explore the hidden gems of New York City!
The much-anticipated Open House New York festival is set to return from October 17-19, offering the public exclusive access to over 300 normally restricted locations.
“New York opens its doors like never before during Open House New York Weekend, with 1,400 volunteers guiding tens of thousands of visitors through their favorite spots in the city,” said Kristin LaBuz, the event’s executive director.
During this three-day celebration, visitors can tour a variety of fascinating sites, including the MTA’s sign-making facility in Maspeth, Queens, and the long-closed Bronx General Post Office, showcasing an array of murals created during the New Deal era.
According to organizers, the artworks within the 1937 building depict working-class New Yorkers, drawing inspiration from the poetry of Walt Whitman.
Additional highlights include a Bronx soundstage with a life-sized city street replica, a canoe expedition on the Gowanus Canal, and a set of tranquil rooftop gardens situated in Midtown Manhattan.
The three gardens—located at Rockefeller Plaza and along Fifth Avenue—feature beautifully landscaped areas, delightful walking paths, artistic plant arrangements, and even a serene reflective pool, all with views of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
From this elevated perspective, visitors can enjoy a striking contrast of one of the city’s most recognized urban landscapes, with “the neo-Gothic spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral directly across Fifth Avenue against the modern skyline of Manhattan,” as described in the festival’s details regarding Rockefeller Center’s 610 Loft & Garden.
Other guided tours will allow for an exclusive look at dormant business signage at the New York Sign Museum and a chance to view Manhattan’s original grid map displayed at the office of the Manhattan Borough President.
<pVisitors can also head to Governor’s Island to explore the Billion Oysters Project, an initiative aiming to replenish New York’s waters with these valuable mollusks.
<p“Step inside to discover interactive displays, a live oyster touch tank, engaging activities for children, and an art showcase that emphasizes the relationship between oysters, people, and the harbor,” notes the event's website.
While advance tickets for some tours, including those for the Advance Masonic Temple in Astoria and Con Edison’s East River Generating Station, have already sold out, New Yorkers can still “drop-in” at 160 different sites.
This festival, now in its two-decade run and embracing more than 50,000 visitors last year, was inspired by a similar event in London and originated following the September 11 attacks to foster community in New York.
<p“Open House New York Weekend is based on the simple yet profound idea of sharing the city,” LaBuz emphasized. “This festival offers inquisitive New Yorkers a unique opportunity to explore the people, projects, and places that make this the most remarkable city in the world.”
For details on tickets and specific tour timings, visit the Open House NY Weekend website. Most tours are free of charge.
