OK, if you do the research on the LES/ East Village Community Gardens, you can't help but be…read moretouched. This one, in particular, was started by an apparent Superwoman named Francoise Cachalin, who defended this Safe-Haven from Ye Ole gentrification and didn't live to see the fruits of her labor. I'm so glad she fought for it. *Especially* during COVID/ post-lockdown era, I and other New Yorkers I've observed have come to appreciate the sacred outdoors. In the NE, we don't have good weather often, so Summer is the *best* time to take advantage of the lil free NYC perks like these. Anyway: I stumbled upon this place during my recent exploratory strolls through the East Village. What a cute gem. Ample seating for such a small space, mild greenery (we're not talking a jungle and that's OK). Some lil trinkets and garden art throughout. Totally serene, I don't see any justification for negative reviews. IF I lived down here I would *definitely* be in a place like this every. single. morning. PS: They have great deals for membership if you have a green-thumb and want to literally cultivate this atmosphere. Also, you can have group gatherings here for a *very* reasonable price, which I think is a great resource during these dark days of anti-socialization.

I wish I had one of these little gardens nearby right now because today has been one big bucket of…read morestress. But if you *do* live (or travel) near Creative Little Garden, you're in for a treat. This place is adorable and oh-so tranquil in the middle of a concrete heaven. I'm not sure who maintains this sweet little place, but it's charming, well-groomed, and the perfect spot to hide out in for an hour or two and shed all your worries. Check it out! I'm sure the set-up is ever-evolving.

Perhaps the high point of our exploration of Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Gardens was the…read moreChinese Scholars Garden. It did an excellent job capturing the essence of a Zen country home, with beautiful elevation, walls, coi ponds, temples moon window, bridges and large stands of tall bamboo. It was a meditative space that welcomed you to sit next to flowing water and contemplate life. The $5 charge for entry was well worth the price, as these acres were the best maintained in the park. This day, with several weddings going on, it seemed every party came here for the best photographic opportunities. A cup of Jasmine Tea would have made for the most complete experience, but why quibble with a most beautiful cultural artifact? Five Zazen Stars

What a gem. $5 admission to a place that is relaxing and beautiful with the bamboo, ponds, rivers,…read moretemple, and more. It's nice to just take it all in. It could use a little freshening up, but highly recommended!l for peacefulness.

What a treat to be Brooklyn just in time to see the Cherry blossoms explode across the grove…read more The garden is quite expansive and it took a bit of a stroll to get in far enough to the tree promenade that completely overwhelmed you with bursting color. After drinking in all the color, we meandered to the Koi and Japanese garden, rounded about the see tulips in their full glory and snuck out a side door. A stunning garden, beautifully maintained by staff and volunteers. I'll certainly be back when I visit again.

Honestly, it was okay, but I went in expecting more. Maybe it was because I visited toward the end…read moreof the summer season, but it didn't feel as magical as I expected. There were plenty of exhibits and plants in bloom, but some areas felt cluttered, making it difficult to clearly see and appreciate the flowers and plants. At times, it felt more like a large park or a mini Central Park than a botanical garden. The lily pad area was one of the coolest parts, although there was unfortunately a dead rat floating in the water, which definitely took away from the experience. I also enjoyed the bonsai collection and the warm-weather plant areas. Seeing the different fruits and vegetables growing was really interesting and one of my favorite parts of the visit. I think the experience could be improved by adding more interactive and educational activities. A butterfly exhibit would be beautiful, along with information about which flowers attract different butterflies and pollinators. A short virtual movie explaining where the plants came from and how they arrived at the garden would also make the visit more engaging. Hands-on activities, such as painting or planting something small, would be a fun addition, especially for families and visitors who want a more memorable experience.

I just love botanical gardens! This one is located in the Bronx, about an hour via subway from…read moreManhatten, and then about a 20 min walk from subway to garden. This garden was absolutely huge. There's a tram near the library that you can hop on and its route stops throughout the entire park. Unfortunately, due to the cold, bulbs and cherry blossom trees weren't quite blooming yet. Most, like tulips were trying to emerge. So, on our tram ride, we never stopped and got off along the route, because most sections were not in bloom. Note: April would be the best time to visit in the spring. By the end of the month, all should be in full bloom action. But, one attraction that did stand out was the orchid exhibit at the Haupt conservatory. This area was a must visit. It was absolutely amazing and gorgeous! I felt like I was submerged in a totally different world- a jungle where every variety of orchid - common and rare were on full display and living. Even had to remove a few layers of clothing as it was warm and humid inside which helped to create a tropical environment. Various tropical plants were dispersed among all the orchids and water was an important element that was shown as well as you'll see small waterfalls. Lots of beautiful photo opportunities and selfies galore lol Continuing on past the orchids, you'll come across a succulent and cacti section. Very interesting. The entire conservatory was fabulous, you can easily spend up to 2 hours here. Visited their gift store- they sell cool items , for example a glass container especially made to accommodate a growing avocado seed. Kinda expensive, but gave me inspiration to create my own. Bought an orchid exhibition poster, orchid tea mug with infuser, and biodegradable cards that contain flower seeds! Probably could have spent all day here if things were in bloom. Definitely worth the visit, till next time!

An excellent display of Japanese chrysanthemums! The Kiku has guided tours this Saturday & Sunday…read moreat 1pm. The flowers are a combination of trained and structured or free flowing arrangements. Beautiful and unusual colors and shapes of petals filled the glass enclosure. If you're interested in seeing this special feature, the tram has a stop between the Roosevelt rose garden and the Nolen Green house. It was worth it!

Came here to see Holy Ghost and New Order....not a bad venue. Standing room only but its a giant…read morespace. Its a "park"...an industrial park, so don't go looking for any shrubbery.

Great place to see a show. I was here for 2012 Mad Decent Block Party. The stage itself is pretty…read morebig. I had a great view right in the middle of the stage right near the first actual section. There is still a great deal of the stage you can see if you are in the second complete section. I agree this place is a huge open lot and not really a giant park. The day was great, venue was perfect but then this crazy storm hit and they shut the place down early. Look forward to come back here though. -The Mad Decent party itself was just that MAD DECENT. I did get a bit shocked that the damn storm came and ruined my chance to see MAJOR LAZER. Loved some of the food sponsors that were here as well, and Free Vitamin Water, how can you complain about that. By the time I got there, everyone was inside I guess, no hassles at the gate and no massive list that they had to search for every name.

I try to come every year to celebrate my heritage but in the past years its not the same as it use…read moreto be. In the early 2000s to 2019 it would be fun and very entertaining. It would have lots of music artists and many Puerto Rican celebrates like Jlo, Rosie Perez, Tito Bambino, Ricky Martin, etc. They would actually perform as they are cruising through the streets. There should be more cooling stations as it gets very hot. There are vendors or people who walk in the parade that hoard merch...instead of giving the merch to the people watching the parade at times they are seen to hold on to the merch to give to their friends instead of the crowd. I hope they improve it.

First time attending, as we happened to be in town during this year's parade. Our hotel was half a…read moreblock from the parade route. Amazing energy and very organized with great music, colorful displays, and lots of dignitaries and celebrities. Family friendly and very safe experience...lots of police in and around the parade. Daddy Yankee was this year's Grand Marshall. Fun for all ages. I highly recommend checking it out next year.

I've been meaning to come here for a while…read more It's kind of out-of-the-way from where you start seeing the signs for it on Bay Street. The young men who works the counter is extremely knowledgeable and helped contextualize light houses. The place itself is small but very informative. When you leave here you definitely feel that you had nearly all your questions on lighthouses answered.

This is an amazing museum, my brother and I came here to visit Staten Island and it was amazing the…read morelady was nice gave a private tour and showed her passion for lighthouses! Amazing experience

Note: Schedules/locations are updated at https://www.japanfes.com/newyork/2026…read more Always on weekends, and always on a handful of blocks, this is a very popular and very crowded Japanese food festival. From previous years, the space was very cramped, but at least this year, on the Upper East Side earlier today, it wasn't as bad as usual, as it seems some stuff was actually spread out for once. There are a couple of vendors who are commonly there, such as Karl's Balls, a takoyaki/octopus ball stand, among others. New for me this year was Mochi Mochi Sisters, which had various types of mochi, as per the name. This included fruit-filled ones (mango/peach/pineapple) for $3, larger daifuku for $5 to $6, depending on type and filling, or a single skewer of Mitarashi Dango for $5. I got the latter one, and I regretted it a bit even outside of the price, as it lacked any char, though at least the sugar/soy sauce syrup wasn't super sweet. Another newcomer was Chotto Matcha, which unfortunately only made matcha lattes, so I wasn't interested. I thought of getting some $5 broth from Menya Jiro, but in hindsight, I'm happy I didn't based on reviews. It's a fun thing to check out, but the prices are laughable.

I had so much fun at Japan Fes and ate so much good food. I enjoyed learning about Japanese…read moreculture. The festival did not only have food, but they had music, games, and art. There were a lot of vendors there. I was able to try Japanese dishes like onigiri, inari zushi, yakitori, gyoza, karaage, and the katsu sando. I had sweet treats like mochi, tanghulu fruit candies, and the delicious ube soufflé pancake. They also had refreshing drinks and different matcha vendors. I plan to go to Japan Fes every year. The festival is throughout the year in different boroughs in NYC and ends in December 5th.