This article is from 2006's Fall Weekends package. To see 2007's package, click here.
1. Broadway on Broadway, Times Square; broadwayonbroadway.com. On Sunday, September 10, at 11:30 am, Broadway’s brightest stars will glitter at a free outdoor concert, belting out favorite songs and offering sneak peeks of new show tunes. In Times Square on a giant stage, the event features a grand finale with a rain of confetti. You’ll need to arrive early for a good spot.
2. Big Apple Greeter, 212-669-8159; bigapplegreeter.org. This free program matches visitors with native New Yorkers who spend two to four hours pointing out NYC’s lesser-known aspects, including neighborhoods you never knew existed. Greeters come across more like friends than tour guides. There’s also a program for disabled visitors. Reserve well in advance.
3. “Wildman” Steve Brill, 914-835-2153; wildmanstevebrill.com. Despite its towering buildings and paved sidewalks, NYC also has parks that harbor wild foods ripe for the picking, and naturalist Brill offers twice-weekly foraging tours. On September 4, sample wild apples, chicken mushrooms, wild spinach, and other delicacies in Central Park. Call for reservations. Suggested donation: $12 adults, $6 under age 12.
4. Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave.; 212-685-0008; themorgan.org. Reopened in April after a three-year renovation, the Morgan once again has its cultural treasures on view, including original scores by Mozart, drawings by Rembrandt and Rubens, Mark Twain manuscripts, and Gutenberg Bibles. The building features two new cafes and a glass-enclosed court fashioned like an Italian piazza. Admission is $12 for adults; $8 for seniors, students, and under age 17.
5. Top of the Rock, 30 Rockefeller Center; 212-698-2000; topoftherocknyc.com. Opened last November, this spot’s three-level observation deck starting at Rockefeller Center’s 67th floor affords dramatic 360-degree views of the city. Admission is $17.50 for adults, $11.25 ages 6 to 12. The Rock Pass, a combination ticket for the Rock, NBC Studio tour, and Museum of Modern Art, costs $45, or 20 percent savings off individual ticket prices.
Linda Tagliaferro (Linda5997@aol.com) is a New York writer who has written 34 books, including a Complete Idiot’s Guide and an A&E Biography.
