Most Underrated Musuem in NYC? The Big Adventure votes for the New York Transit Museum

New York Transit Museum (The Subway Museum)

Visited on The Letter C Big Adventure

The Met? MoMa? The Guggenheim? They’ve got nothing on The Subway Museum.

Housed in a 1936 decommissioned, but still operational, subway station in downtown Brooklyn, the New York Transit Museum is perfect for visitors of all ages. Upon shelling out the nominal entrance fee of $6, you can enjoy the permanent collection and temporary exhibits all dedicated to the buses, roads, bridges and, of course, the 106-year-old Subway System. We personally love the collection of turnstiles through the years (man, those things used to be easy to jump) and old subway tokens. 

By far the best part is the Subway cars from the last century that live on two working subway tracks on the lower level. You can meander through every car; each reflects a different era and each is in immaculate condition. To complete the experience, the cars even have print ads and subway maps relevant to the years the car ran. For as much time as most New Yorkers spend on our respective subway lines, this place is a must visit.

Located at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights (below ground)

 

http://www.mta.info/mta/museum/

The NYC Big Adventure is exactly one month from today! (Saturday, October 15th.)

The time has come once again! We’re pleased to announce that we’re hosting another exciting, adventurous NYC Big Adventure exactly one month from today on Saturday, October 15th.

Just in time for fall, join us as we transverse The Big Apple with a day of events that will be extraordinary, very social, inexpensive and unique to New York City. While we’re keeping some of the details under wraps until we get closer to the date, rest assured that we're planning on toasting the onset of Fall and visiting some spots from Astoria to Murray Hill that you may never have known existed.

Oh, and Muppets. Ah, yes. There will be Muppets at this Big Adventure.

We’ll get started around 1:00 PM on 10/15 and continue late into the evening at a series of stops. Join for just one location and come for the whole day. All are welcome so bring whomever and prepare to make some new friends. We'll explore and enjoy some of the most memorable, unique, social and free things that NYC has to offer. Plus, as always, we have some surprises along the way.

We encourage you to RSVP on our Facebook Event Page and join us for the Fall weather doings! We'll have the full itinerary posted and ready for consumption the first week in October once we finalize some last details Let us know if we can expect you so we can get a tentative head count. Hope that you'll join us on October 15th!

This Weekend's New York City Dumpling Festival is an event in Tastiness

Need some delicious plans for the weekend:? How about the 2011 New York City Dumpling Festival this Saturday afternoon down on Houston Street. Yes please. We'll take 86 Dumplings.

From Noon to 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 17th, this festival will shatter your notions of the traditional dumpling by offering everything from pierogis to potstickers from Poland to China. The event is free, but there will likely be big crowds and long waits for tickets and booths ($20 typically can fill your belly of dumplings). Donations are even being made to the Food Bank for New York City. 

If you need a sneak preview, the website even has a mouth-watering gallery of what you can expect.

Ah, and don't forget the obligatory and slightly disgusting Dumpling Eating Contest in which an attempt will be made to shatter the Guinness World Record of 66 dumplings in a mere two minutes. Astonishing.


 All Information on Saturday's Dumpling Delight can be found here: http://www.dumplingfestival.com/  and http://www.facebook.com/nycdumplingfestival

The NYC Hidden Gems Big Adventure onSaturday, October 15th!

The next NYC Big Adventure is coming-

Announcing: Hidden Gems NYC Big Adventure!

Below are all of the details from our NYC Hidden Gems Big Adventure in which we explored the best of undiscovered locales and hidden hideouts on Saturday, October 15th. New York City has so many incredible hidden gems, many of which we tend to walk past every day.  This helped make planning this Big Adventure easy. Some of these hidden bars we've discovered are nothing short of sensational –they have no signs and no discernable way in; they require some savvy stealth to enter. We will go to places like St. John the Diving, Angel’s Share, Back Room and more. It’s a shame we can't visit them all in one day. 

 

As per usual, everyone was encouraged to join for only part of the day or from beginning to end for an event that was unique, affordable, social, and distinctly NYC. 

Cathedral of St. John The Divine – 11:00 AM -Within the Walls Tour: Spotlight on Hidden Spaces

112^th and Amsterdam Avenue, Morningside Heights

 www.stjohndivine.org  -(212) 932-7347 

As part of Open House New York, we’ve gained access to an exclusive tour that they offer only once a year. We explores some of the most hidden walkways, crypts (yikes), stairways and balconies in the already divine St. John The Divine. 

 

Sunswick 35/35 Bar - 1:30 PM

 35^th Street & 35^th Avenue,  Astoria, Queens

http://sunswick3535bar.com/ - (718) 752-0620 

Next, we’ll head over to Astoria for the perfect midday stop on a Big Adventure: Comfortable atmosphere, lots of space, solid menu and the friendliest bartenders that side of the East River. And of course, they have a constantly rotating selection of 25 craft and seasonable beers on tap, many of which start at a mouth watering $5 per pint. Bonus: Sunswick is in the middle of their Oktoberfest celebration with a custom food and beer menu.  

Museum of The Moving Image - Jim Henson's Fantastic World (The Muppet Exhibit!) – 3:00 PM

36^th Street and 35^th Avenue,  Astoria, Queens 

http://www.movingimage.us/  -(718) 784-0077

Conveniently located two blocks from Sunswick, The Museum of the Moving image recently underwent a giant multi-million dollar renovation that is dedicated to all things film and television. We’ve always thought this is a criminally underrated world-class museum. And now, the icing on the cake, an entire exhibit dedicated to Muppets. Guided Tour, Sound studio and more. Admission is $12, but many large companies offer discounts, so bring your IDs and love for Piggy, Gonzo, Animal and the gang.

Angel’s Share – 5:30 PM

Meet at Solas Pub-

232 E 9th St (between Stuyvesant St & 2nd Ave) , East Village.  

(917) 402-5217. 

Angel’s Share is such a unique, classy, hidden Gem that we have to meet at a separate bar just so we can guide everyone there. Swanky, but not elite. Classy, but not stuffy, Angel’s Share may be the best tucked away saloon in the city. No sign on the door but amazing cocktails and atmosphere inside.  We will meet at Solas Pub down the street before we go in.

Puck Fair and Big Adventure NYC Hidden Gem Trivia -8:00 PM

 298 Lafayette Street just south of Houston

 http://www.puckfairbar.com/ -(212) 431-1200

Time to rest our feet with a familiar joint. We get some dinner and down time at Puck Fair – The Best Irish Pub you’ve never been to.  We’ll get cozy, make some new friends and embark on a round or two of custom NYC Hidden Gem Big Adventure trivia.

The Back Room -11:00 PM

Or should we call it the Lower East Side Toy Company? This is the ultimate back room speakeasy complete with all the touches from beer in brown bags to dark, wood decor that make you think that you’re dodging Johnny Law in the 1920’s. How to get in? Well, ya gotta be with us. Text us at the number below or meet us at Puck Far to get the password to get inside.

Coming on Saturday, October 15th, The Big Adventure is going to visit the best secret haunts, hidden locales and unseen spots throughout New York City. More info coming day by day, but you can count on stops listed below and many bars and locales that are literally underground! Hope you can join us for another day to play in New York that is going to be social, inexpensive, fun and 100% uniquely NYC. 

Some of these hidden bars we've discovered are nothing short of sensational. Places like Angel Share, Back Room and more. Shame we can't visit them all in one day. If you're interested in being a part of the day or have any questions, e-mail us at Info@NYCBigadventure.com or sign up on our Facebook Event Page Here.  

1st Announced Stop - Museum of The Moving Image and Muppet Exhibit  

2nd Announced Stop - Rare Within The Walls Tour at St. John The Divine
3rd Announced Stop - A trip to the sensational Sunswick bar in Astoria 
4th Announced Stop - A visit to the secret Angel's Share bar

Mark your calendars, tell a buddy and scream the news from the highest skyscraper. Everyone is invited and you're welcome to join for just part of the day or from beginning to end. As always, this Big Adventure is designed to be social, inexpensive, unique to the Big Apple and two boatloads of fun. 

Thrilled that the next NYC Big Adventure is set for Saturday, October 15th. We'll start around 1:00 PM and Adventure late into the evening/early morning. .

Feel free to sign up on the event page on Facebook and we hope you can join us for the next NYC Big Adventure on 10/15!

The Big Adventure Guide of Things to See & Do in NYC - A few more of our favorite bars

The Big Adventure recently hosted an event in NYC that brought scores of people to town. We had gathered some recommendations of various places to see and go for first time visitors and seasoned travelers alike. In the end, we had a list of restaurants, bars, activities, and museums  that are unique to New York City,relatively inexpensive and eye-opening. In short, A Big Adventure "Best Of" list. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some of our suggestions here…

A few more of The Big Adventure's most beloved bars throughout Manhattan... 

  

Parkside Lounge

317 E. Houston Street (between Attorney Street and Avenue B)

www.parksidelounge.net

Ah, we love this place. It is a quality dive bar and we’ve never had a bad time. If you’re feeling adventurous, we guarantee you’ll meet some characters. Easy going staff, incredibly reasonable prices (Parkside Ale will run you $3 and tastes like it) and old school pac-man table game and pool table make this place straight up fun. But, beware, the quality of the bathrooms is indicative of the bar.

Blind Tiger Ale House

281 Bleecker Street (between Jones and Commerce Streets)

www.blindtigeralehouse.com    

 

This world famous West Village pub is interesting and unique.  It’s all beer here – not a drop of liquor to be found. They specialize in craft beer while regulars join a club that challenges them to drink every beer offered over the course of the year.  Great open air bar, nice summer spot on Bleecker, but often not much seating in the evening –prepare to stand.  Great afternoon spot, though!

Crocodile Lounge

325 E 14^th Street (between 1^st and 2^nd Avenues)

www.yelp.com/biz/crocodile-lounge-new-york

Who would have thought of the concept? We didn’t believe when we first went: For every beer that you buy, you get a free pizza. Seriously. Carnival like atmosphere means everyone is always smiling. And, really, who doesn’t love a free pizza with their beer?

Pine Tree Lodge

326 E. 35^th Street (between the tunnel entrance and 1^st Avenue)

www.pinetreelodgeny.com

Missing your trip to Canada this summer because you came to NYC? The Pine Tree Lodge is full of Great White North ambience without being to kitschy. Upon entering, you feel like you should be shaking off the cold and hanging up your skis and parka. Grab a drink, smile at the mounted elk head wearing a life jacket and relax in the parlor complete with Bear Skin Rug and, of course, Big Buck Hunter. 

Coming this weekend - Just a few more bars to share (because there is much drinking to be done in NYC)