The Village 52nd Annual Halloween Parade is a uniquely magical NYC Halloween experience. This is a…read moremust see Spooktacular celebration! Featuring a testament to the creativity and spirit of New Yorkers. This is a family friendly parade, but be prepared for the loud music, and noise. I have personally enjoyed the most incredible time watching the parade for many years which is a spooky jamboree, and it's an experience I can't recommend enough. Truly unlike any other parade. The vibe is fun, and electric, expect a massive crowd to be lined up along Sixth Avenue. Seeing the sheer number of people with wild, creative, and inventive costumes, from giant puppets to intricate monster makeup, was exciting. The highlight will be seeing the dedicated group of "Thriller" dancers performing the iconic moves. The energy from both the marchers and the cheering crowds on the sidelines will be fun. While it will be crowded. The police always do a great job managing the flow, and everyone was in high spirits. For anyone considering it, I highly suggest marching in costume over just watching. Being inside the parade, surrounded by music, artists, and fellow revelers, is an unforgettable feeling. This is a must-do event for anyone who loves Halloween and wants to experience a truly magical night in NYC. NYPD will have barricades in place, along the parade route on Sixth Avenue. The date and time will be Halloween night (October 31), from 7pm to 11pm How to get to the parade. Mass transportation is the best way and the following are trains that will get you to the start of the parade route; Take the C or E to Spring St.; A, B, C, D, E, F or M to West 4th St.; 1 to Houston St. or Christopher St.; or 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, F or M to 14th St, walk to Sixth Avenue and you will be along the parade route. If you wish to participate in the Halloween parade you need to be in costume, to take part. There is no registration or fee. The coolest part of the parade and one of many big highlights is the Thriller Dance, performed by a dedicated group who duplicate all the moves from the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video. Tip: Check out my next review of all the Halloween Spooktacular after party's in Manhattan, and Brooklyn!

GRUMPY OLD MAN REVIEW - PLENTY OF OTHERS HAD FUN BUT HERE ARE MY IMPRESSIONS…read more I thought the storm and rain had passed and it would just be windy and warm. I thought right. Bonus. I thought I'd see oodles of creative costumes and experience something special. Thought wrong. West Village Halloween Parade 2025. First of all, it's not a parade but an exercise in crowd control. The cops will make damn sure they block off any route on foot or by wheels to that Sixth Avenue path from Canal to 23rd or wherever. They're thinking of our safety. Oh yeah? What if something bad happens? Forget about escape as you're crushed with your fellow young liberal non-white fun-seekers against the steel barricades. And Jill Sobule who was killed a house fire May 1, 2025 when her friends didn't even try to save her, lived on during the night in my mind. She wrote a song about girls simply dressing slutty isn't actually a costume. Got that right. In the Village, that rule applies to everyone. Streets crowded and teeming with drunks all in the thick miasma of the stench of weed made me wake up to the fact that I wasn't there to see the Parade per se but parked near the Holland Tunnel and was walking to the Blue Note to see Robert Glasper and had to find a way to cross Sixth. Took forever. And the dingy, trashy atmosphere didn't help. Watched vids of a Michael Jackson Thriller dance routine as the pinnacle act of the parade and it was sad. Guess anything in the public eye is forgivable if you help drunks dance. Maybe I'll go next year dressed as the Ghost of Free Talking.

**7/25/26** I just…read moretook the tour of his home... and it was surreal to be in the actual surroundings where this iconic star shared his rare moments of rest and privacy. It was truly amazing in such an understated way. It felt like stepping back into the 1960s--stretching over to see your neighbor for a quick hello--only to be instantly reminded of whose living room you were actually standing in. The kitchen and bathrooms were a real time-capsule blast! And the office, in particular, was extra special for me. Seeing Louie's many reel-to-reels and his demo library, where so much of his world-loved magic came to life, was incredible. My father was an opera singer during that same era, even a bit earlier, and Pop's equipment and effects were an exact replica! And God bless Lucille Wilson, Louie's last wife. Talk about being ahead of her time! Ms. Wilson singlehandedly loved this man enough to recognize the enormous impact Louie had made--and how vital it was to preserve his home, his music, and his legacy. She fought to have it recognized for its landmark and historical significance. She was a dynamo in her own right, with a deep understanding of "things to come." She was also a community activist--and an absolute "wallpaper" junkie... You'll see exactly what I mean the moment you cross the doorway into this unique, beautifully preserved bygone era. God bless Satchmo and Lucille. And most of all, God bless the hardworking individuals at the Louis Armstrong Center and the historic home who meticulously care for and preserve the world of one of America's greatest citizens and most beloved icons.

Our visit was absolutely delightful. This house is so beautiful, and seeing it gave us a…read morefascinating insight into the life and legacy of an icon. The museum is wonderfully curated, the house is lovingly preserved, and the staff are so kind. Our tour was illuminating, led by the very passionate and knowledgeable Sam. This was such a cool experience, highly recommend for anyone interested in jazz or local history! It was a fantastic way to celebrate Valentine's Day.

check out my review of the statue of liberty for info on the trip here. This review will focus on…read morethe museum itself. As a direct descendent of European immigrants who actually set foot in this iconic building it actually gave me chills walking in. They offer a self guided audio tour of the place which gives you a wonderful description of how the place functioned. You have to use your imagination a bit when you stand in the main hall as there is nothing there but an empty hall. the audio tour helps you picture what it was like to be in that room. Then they take you through all the various routs an immigrant might go depending on their situation. Again you have to use your imagination a bit as none of the rooms are furnished with actual stuff. Instead each room contains artifacts which help paint a picture. This is a really important part of American history and people should come to visit this place but I can understand if you have kids with you this place would not be very exciting to them. So do keep all of that in mind. This can certainly be a boring place for someone who doesn't understand or appreciate the part of American history it represents.

2 of 2 Yelp Reviews. Photos in other review…read more Make sure you buy your tickets from Statue Cruises, NOT street vendors. Be safe. Quality/Quantity - What an amazing, fun, historical, and educational experience. Also, it gives some insight into how my family (many generations ago) came to this country. Tourist attraction, an amazing # of people visiting. Crazy long lines initially boarding the ferry, but it moves fast. Very organized and experienced. See all my excessive pictures. Ambiance - 12 million immigrants came through here. Service - Self service. Cut and pasted from their website: "In 2001, the Foundation opened the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island, which contains a searchable database of passenger manifests for Ellis Island and the Port of New York between 1820 and 1954. The database is also available online." Price - Part of the Statue of Liberty ferry tour ride. $30 per person; inexpensive in my opinion. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 1900. 1971 - New Jersey register of historic places. 1982 - President Reagan with Lee Iacocca raised funds for restoration and preservation of Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. 1990 - Restoration and re-opening. 1993 - NY City Landmark. 2016 - Statue of Liberty Museum.

fun, free event annually in coney island to celebrate the summer! I highly recommend coming in…read moreadvance and trying to view the parade from the boardwalk side, which is less crowded. bring water as it's usually sweltering and the parade runs several hours long. once you're there, you're also right by the amusement parks and the carnival games are fun and plentiful. I also recommend packing a bathing suit so you can hit the beach after the parade :)

Good times and good vibes at the Mermaid Parade! Had a great time with great friends at the peak of…read moresummer in the city. It was a fun prequel to Pride weekend festivities.

Ended up really liking the Morris-Jumel mansion! So many famous people lived or stayed in this…read moremansion from George Washington, Eliza Jummel, W.E.B Dubois, Solomon (writer of 12 Years A Slave). I especially really liked Eliza's story, she came from humble beginnings and from Rhode Island, and ended up becoming one of the most wealthiest women of Manhattan due to her getting into real estate. The rooms are really nice and have cool facts or information in them. One room had facts about how the Morrises ate turtles that weighed 100 pounds, it also detailed their seafood diet. You can tour the entire house from the basement, kitchen, rooms and living room. I liked how it had Bloomberg connect which tells you stories about the rooms and information about the people who stayed at the house. Many of the rooms had French design in them, since the tenants were inspired by the French. You can easily spend around 2 hours in here, if you go through each of the rooms. The tickets were $10, which isn't bad. The staff were also really friendly and nice, and mentioned to us upcoming events at the mansion. The museum also wasn't crowded.

Such a cool place uptown. Tons of history, George Washington lived there for a little bit, if you…read moreknow anything about this place it's at least that. But a lot more before and after. There's also a park outside and Sylvan Terrace, which is part of the whole experience. They have tons of activities there too, tours, art shows, music, they show movies sometimes outside. If you want to just go there to walk your dog you can that as well, just in some place where George Washington used to walk around and now you're dog is sniffing around it. It's always well kept, everything always feels calm and peaceful in there, a little oasis in the city.

Had a lot of fun running Summer Streets with my run club on Saturday. Was nice that they extended…read moreit a mile into East Harlem at 109th Street. Terrific way to experience Park Avenue with no vehicular traffic 7am to 1pm all the way down to Brooklyn Bridge. It's great that there are water stations, entertainment, water sprinklers, and hydration sample area set up. Was an awesome training run for 14 miles and we ran across Brooklyn Bridge over to Manhattan Bridge then back on to Summer Streets. The only thing that would make this better would be to have porta potties set up along the course as there are no bathrooms along the way unless you find a Starbucks to jump into. Still, it's a fun way to spend a Saturday morning with a run, bicycle ride, or walk in fresh air.

If I had it my way Manhattan wouldn't have cars and very few trucks. Leave the supplies at the…read moreborder. In the mean time I enjoy Saturdays in the month of August. I head out early and go as far as I like down Park Avenue. When it gets crowded I head East and find an Avenue to walk home. My favorite part of the trip is around Grand Central. I love the view of the historic building up close. I have the best photos! If you live here, or you are visiting, experience the streets. So much fun, free events and interesting sights. I highly recommend!

1 of 2 Yelp Reviews…read more Make sure you buy your tickets from Statue Cruises, NOT street vendors. Be safe. Quality/Quantity - What an amazing, fun, historical, and educational experience. Also, it gives some insight into how my family (many generations ago) came to this country. Tourist attraction, an amazing # of people visiting. Crazy long lines initially boarding the ferry, but it moves fast. Very organized and experienced. See all my excessive pictures. Ambiance - 12 million immigrants came through here. Service - Self service. Cut and pasted from their website: "In 2001, the Foundation opened the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island, which contains a searchable database of passenger manifests for Ellis Island and the Port of New York between 1820 and 1954. The database is also available online." Price - Part of the Statue of Liberty ferry tour ride. $30 per person; inexpensive in my opinion. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 1900. 1971 - New Jersey register of historic places. 1982 - President Reagan with Lee Iacocca raised funds for restoration and preservation of Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. 1990 - Restoration and re-opening. 1993 - NY City Landmark. 2016 - Statue of Liberty Museum.

An amazing place to witness and tour…read more You can even trace your ancestry and print documents of family members who passed through Ellis Island. I loved the park rangers who gave out great information. Fantastic!

I've attended the French Films shown in Washington Square, but didn't realize that the Films on the…read moreGreen series stretches across multiple boroughs and parks! I love the activation of public space for communal peaceful gathering and introduction of foreign and lesser known films for public audiences. Also, how can you resist free cultural films on beautiful NYC summer nights?! Many of the venues are on cement or concrete- so bring something padded to sit on (folded yoga mat?) or a low seating chair and just be courteous of the height of your chair relative to the people around you (in other words- put those higher chairs toward the back please!) Some venues offer grass that make a blanket more appealing or easier to work with. Bring your own picnic basket boo boo, or grab some take out on your way to the park!