All articles by Rebecca Fishbein

The 11 best Irish bars in New York City

Photo of McSorley’s © James and Karla Murray

March 14, 2023

The 11 best Irish bars in New York City

By Rebecca Fishbein

Irish Americans have been a part of the New York ecosystem since the colonial era, but they cemented their stamp on this city during a period of mass migration in the 19th century. We owe a lot to the Irish—some of the city’s most beautiful buildings and cathedrals were designed and built by Irish immigrants, for instance. One of the tastier hand-me-downs was the Irish bar, replete with cheap pints, hearty grub, dark lighting, and a slate of bartenders who’ll inspire you to earn their respect. Ahead we've rounded up 11 of the best pubs, from old standbys like McSorley's and Peter McManus Cafe to some lesser-known gems like Sunset Park's Irish Haven (the bar in The Departed) and Hartley's in Clinton Hill.
Sláinte!

10 best apple & pumpkin picking spots near NYC

Photo by Marius Ciocirlan on Unsplash

September 28, 2022

10 best apple & pumpkin picking spots near NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

With autumn in New York City officially here, you can take in the changing leaves and crisp air, and there are few places better to do that than a local farm. Some of the best spots near town offer apple and pumpkin picking, in addition to a slew of other fall-ready activities, making it easy to bring some of the season home with you. Ahead, we've rounded up our 10 favorite spots to check out.
Check 'em out!

Events & Things To Do

11 best college hangouts in New York City

August 22, 2022

11 best college hangouts in New York City

By Rebecca Fishbein

New York is too big to feel like a college town. But, in many ways, it is one, serving as home to New York University, the New School, the CUNY schools, Columbia University, Fordham University, and Manhattan College, to name a few. These students can be found all over the city, but they throng thicker in some spots—ones that sit closer to their respective campuses and also charge way less for drinks than some of this city’s definitively non-student-friendly expensive cocktail bars. Here are some of our favorites.
The full list ahead

Events & Things To Do

The 10 best places in NYC to get your fill of Irish culture

March 8, 2022

The 10 best places in NYC to get your fill of Irish culture

By Rebecca Fishbein

St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and though its modern iteration seems to have devolved into a daylong drinking activity, it’s still a good time to reflect on New York’s Irish heritage. Irish immigrants have been coming to New York since the colonial era, but in the 19th century, they were one of the biggest groups in the city, making up about a quarter of the population. Their cultural influence is everywhere, but there are some spots in town where it shines through the most. Here are our favorites.
Check 'em out

The 10 most romantic spots in NYC

February 10, 2022

The 10 most romantic spots in NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

It’s sometimes hard to see New York’s romantic potential, considering the city’s sheer quantity of subway rats and mysterious street sludge. But despite some of New York’s less love-inspiring qualities, there are a lot of beautiful, heart-stopping spots that set the right tone for romance, even if you have to contend with yellow snow on your way home. Just in time for Valentine's Day, we've rounded up our 10 favorites, from a medieval monastery to a cozy restaurant haunted by Aaron Burr to tried-and-true favorites like the top of the Empire State Building.
Love is in the air

The 7 best places to see fall foliage outside NYC

October 1, 2021

The 7 best places to see fall foliage outside NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

A downside to living in a thriving city is that air pollution makes for poor fall foliage, though some spots in town—Wave Hill, Pelham Bay Park—still boast colorful leaves at the end of October. But if you take a short trip outside the city limits, you can see some beautiful autumn colors, all within a day’s drive. Ahead, we've rounded up our seven favorites, from Mohonk Mountain House to Bear Mountain to the Storm King Art Center.
Check out all the spots

Events & Things To Do

The best beach day trips from NYC

Asbury Park beach, photo via Wikimedia

June 2, 2021

The best beach day trips from NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

New York City has some great local beaches, like the Rockaways, Coney Island, and Brighton and Orchard Beaches. But when you need a short break from all the spots you can hit via the subway, it’s worth remembering that there are some great beaches just a quick drive, NJ Transit, or Long Island Railroad ride away. Here are some of our favorite day beach trips from the city, from up-and-comer Asbury Park and Long Branch in NJ to long-time favorites like Fire and Shelter Islands.
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The 7 best beaches in NYC

May 27, 2021

The 7 best beaches in NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

Want to hit the beach? Most New Yorkers have two options--sit in endless hours of traffic trying to get to the beaches on the Hamptons or down the Jersey Shore, or have a staycation in the city. And while the latter may sound boring (and hot!) there are plenty of beaches to hit up within the boroughs. From the Rockaways to Fort Tilden, we've rounded up the seven best sandy spots in New York City.
Check out the list

The best boat bars in New York City

April 23, 2021

The best boat bars in New York City

By Rebecca Fishbein

There are few spring and summer pleasures more sublime than drinking aboard a boat, though, in New York City, those are hard to come by unless you’re buddies with a yacht owner. The good news is, there are a handful of bars actually located onboard barges and boats, where you can sip wine and watch the sunset as the waves bob below. Here are our favorites; and do note the Staten Island Ferry is an unofficial boat bar, too.
All aboard!

The 10 best plant shops in NYC

Lead image, clockwise from top left: © Sprout Home; © The Sill; © Chelsea Garden Center; © The Sill

March 24, 2021

The 10 best plant shops in NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

At long last, it appears springtime’s on its way to New York, transforming streets of sad, wilted grey and brown into, er, slightly less sad-looking grey and brown. If the little buds starting to sprout on tree branches in the parks and on the streets aren’t enough green for you, there are plenty of plant shops in the city that’ll help introduce some oxygenating goodness into your own apartment, no matter how small, dark, or pet-filled it may be. Note that for the sake of this list, we’ve stuck with plant shops, not florists, though you’ll find arrangements at some of these shops—this one, though, is for home gardeners and lovers of succulents, which it turns out you do need to water from time to time, a lesson some of us first-time plant parents learned the hard way.
Check out the list

Events & Things To Do

Popular Articles

7 best hikes near New York City

July 20, 2020

7 best hikes near New York City

By Rebecca Fishbein

Getting out of the city during the hot summer months has never felt so necessary, with the usual ways of staying cool by exploring an air-conditioned museum or taking a dip at a city pool. For those looking to reconnect with nature (while maintaining social distance), there are a number of escapes just outside of the city offering hikes and treks ranging in levels of difficulty. Some of these are easily accessible by Metro-North; some might require a car, and some happen to be in the city itself, provided you consider Staten Island within its borders. All of them feature great views, exercise, fresh air, and the occasional tree, how novel! Ahead, discover our favorites.
See our favorites here

The 10 best places in NYC to propose

Photo of The Strand Rare Book Room (top left) by Aaron and Whitney Photography; all others cited below

February 3, 2020

The 10 best places in NYC to propose

By Rebecca Fishbein

Some people think Valentine’s Day is a good day for a proposal, but those people are wrong. Valentine’s Day is a holiday that belongs to Hallmark, but the day you propose is one that belongs to you, without any intrusion on the part of a greeting card company. Still, if you’re going to pop the question, you’re best off doing it before February 14, so the pressure’s off and no one’s sitting at dinner stressing out over whether or not they’re going to accidentally swallow a ring in their champagne. Luckily, this city’s full of romantic spots ripe for love and impending marriage. Here are a few of our favorites, from a bookstore and a movie theater to parks and restaurants.
Get the full list

10 best places to work remotely in NYC

Photo by Caleb Minear on Unsplash

January 16, 2020

10 best places to work remotely in NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

One of the best things about freelancing in New York City is not having to fight with the subway to get to my desk on time, something I did almost daily when I had an office job. One of the worst things, though, is feeling permanently stuck in my cramped apartment. Luckily, this city has lots of great, airy spaces that lend themselves well to remote work, whether you do it full time or are just looking to spend the day free of fluorescent lighting and Gary from HR. Ahead, discover 10 of our favorites.
See the full list

City Living

What to do in NYC on Christmas Day

December 11, 2019

What to do in NYC on Christmas Day

By Rebecca Fishbein

Despite being the City That Never Sleeps, New York does close down a bit on Christmas Day, with all sorts of museums, shops, restaurants, and other businesses giving their staff a break for the holiday. But for those of us who do not celebrate or won't be spending all of Christmas at home squabbling over politics with family, there’s still plenty to do in town, especially if you get a little creative. Here are seven great options.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC’s 11 most festive bars and restaurants

December 4, 2019

NYC’s 11 most festive bars and restaurants

By Rebecca Fishbein

With its lit-up streets and sidewalk tree-sellers, New York is at its best during the holidays, especially if you can avoid tourist-clogged areas like Rockefeller Center and Times Square. There are lots of lovely festive spots to celebrate seasonal cheer, including local bars and restaurants that transform their spaces into holiday wonderlands, complete with themed drinks, bites, and lots of Christmas lights. Here are some of our favorites.
11 spots to get festive

The 8 best neighborhoods in NYC for holiday shopping

Photo by Josh Wilburne on Unsplash

November 26, 2019

The 8 best neighborhoods in NYC for holiday shopping

By Rebecca Fishbein

New York is a prime spot for holiday shopping, in large part because of big department stores like Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, designer flagships that line the Upper East Side, and whatever hell awaits you in the Disney Store in Times Square. But true New Yorkers should avoid the major shopping hubs, and instead seek gifts and other goods in some of the city’s slightly less crowded and infinitely more interesting ‘hoods, including the many holiday markets and pop-up shops found across the five boroughs. Find our favorite neighborhoods for holiday shopping this season, ahead.
See the full list

Events & Things To Do

The 10 best spots for plant classes in NYC

April 2, 2019

The 10 best spots for plant classes in NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

Even if you've never managed to keep a succulent alive for more than a month, there's no denying that apartment greenery is having a moment. Luckily, New York is full of plant shops and other great spots offering classes and workshops to locals looking to shore up their green thumbs and maybe not kill a plant the second it crosses their threshold. Ahead, we've rounded up the 10 best, from terrarium and flower-crown making to botanical mixology to the principles of hydroponics.
Check out the list

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s 10 best offbeat and hidden museums

January 9, 2019

NYC’s 10 best offbeat and hidden museums

By Rebecca Fishbein

New York is home to world-class institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim, and MoMA. But this city’s museum scene has more to offer than just the Temple of Dendur—in fact, it’s full of smaller, way funkier spots serving up found art, oddities, and history, including the history of this ever-odd city itself. Here are 10 of our favorites.
Start exploring

Events & Things To Do

The 8 best wildlife activities in and around NYC

August 13, 2018

The 8 best wildlife activities in and around NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

You may have thought NYC’s wildlife predominantly consisted of subway rats and the giant cockroaches that find their way into your apartment each summer, but it appears there’s more to this city’s animals than pests. Indeed, New York is actually full of unique birds, mammals, and insects that help contribute each day to our shared ecosystem. It’s also full of walking tours, boat tours, driving tours, and other activities that’ll give you an opportunity to get a good look at the wildlife around us, both in the city and just outside of it. Here are some of our favorites.
The top 8 wildlife activities in and around NYC

The 8 best places in Times Square that don’t suck

Photo via Richard BURGER/Flickr

February 20, 2018

The 8 best places in Times Square that don’t suck

By Rebecca Fishbein

One of the true marks of a New Yorker is an aversion to Times Square, where slow-walking out-of-towners clog sidewalks, costumed characters try to hug you for tips, and overpriced suburban chains like Olive Garden and Applebees abound. But a few bright spots exist amid the touristy madness and Broadway shows, and they’re worth a visit if you happen to be in the area, if not a specific trip (seriously, avoid Times Square at all costs if you can).
Here are a few of our favorites

Events & Things To Do

The 12 best specialty bookshops in NYC

Albertine book store, via Wiki Commons

January 9, 2018

The 12 best specialty bookshops in NYC

By Rebecca Fishbein

Independent bookstores are still going strong in NYC, with standouts like BookCulture, WORD Bookstore, McNally Jackson, and, of course, The Strand Bookstore, continuing to provide literary New Yorkers with the written word despite the specter of Amazon. But while the aforementioned shops are great places to find new and used literature, if you’re looking for a more curated collection, look no further than some of the city’s finest specialty bookstores, where mystery fiends, activists, artists, Francophiles, and others can find works tailored to their interests, as well as rub shoulders with like-minded readers. Here are some of our favorites.
NYC's 12 best specialty bookshops