Spring is number one on our list for best season of the year.
Sure, sometimes it seems uncertain that the warmth will ever stick around long enough to properly enjoy it, but on beautiful days like this past Saturday it would be blasphemous to not do some exploring. If you’re looking for plans during this magical time of year, here’s an alphabetical list of 26 things to see and do in the spring!
A– Art
New York is known for its vibrant art culture and spring is one of the best times to experience it. Check out one of the multiple museums (for free with your NYPL card) or get lost wandering around looking for street art!
B– Brunch
What more is there to say? Brunch is amazing during any season. Here are some of our recommendations.
C– Cherry Blossoms
You can spend a beautiful day at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden walking through the trees and taking totally instagramable pictures with the pink and white blooms. They’re not in peak bloom just yet, but you can keep track of the flowers through the BBG tracker. Here are 7 other places you can see the cherry blossoms in NYC.
D– Dive Bar Tours
If you’re someone who misses the good old days of dive bars, punk rock music, and that perfect lively-but-not-too-crowded sweet spot, you’re not alone. New York City might be perpetually changing and developing but that doesn’t mean there’s no time to head back to the dive bars of the past. This series of dive bar tours promises to do just that: Over the course of an evening, experience three different dive bars in NYC’s East Village with a tasting, sponsored by Seagram’s 7, in the first bar. Your tours will be led by Jesse Rifkin, a New Yorker who knows his stuff when it comes to exploring the city. We can’t share all of the details, but you’ll find some more information here. ⭐️Sponsored⭐️
E– Eataly
The Flatiron eatery is a destination year-round, but they’ve just reopened their rooftop for the spring and it’s a flowery oasis. Head over for a spritz, burrata, and sunshine.
F– Food Trucks
When it’s nice out, no one wants to be locked up inside. So swing by a food truck, bring your book and park yourself on a bench or in a park. Check out this food truck fest that’s coming to the UWS.
G– Governor’s Ball
This is the festival of all NYC festivals, check out the line up for 2019!
H– Hudson Yards
They opened just a few weeks ago, but Hudson Yards is already shaping up to be the go-to destination for the spring and summer months. Enjoy some shopping, amazing dining, and climb the Vessel on a gorgeous day!
I– IKEA
Out with the old and in with the new! What would spring time be without a spring cleaning? IKEA has finally opened their very first Manhattan store and what better time to give your apartment a fresh redesign than spring?
J– Jazz
Head up to Harlem to check out some of the original jazz hot spots or, if you get lucky you might just stumble upon some jazz in the park.
K– Kentucky Derby NYC style
Ok, so this one isn’t necessarily a plan made for the city but it is the season and it’s a totally acceptable excuse to day drink while dressed in your fanciest outfit.
L– Luna Park
Head down to Luna Park on Coney Island to enjoy the rides and the Boardwalk. You’ll even find some new additions this year!
M– Met
So we already covered museums, but the Metropolitan Museum of Art gets a special shout out this spring for its Game of Thrones-inspired tour! Given that the final season of the series will air soon, it seems only fitting to dedicate a place on this list for the epic-ness that lie ahead.
N– New York’s Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival
Put on your best bonnet and head over to Fifth Avenue on Easter Sunday (April 21) for a colorful spring festival. According to the festival organizers: “Immortalized by Irving Berlin (with some help from Judy Garland and Fred Astaire), the pageant is a New York City tradition that stretches back to the 1870s.”
O– Orchid Show
The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden takes place through the end of April. Stop by to smell the… orchids!
P– Picnics
On sunny spring days there’s nothing better than a good picnic in the park. A little bit of wine (or a lot, we’re not judging), some cheese, crackers, maybe a sandwich, all under the sun at Sheep Meadow. Sounds like a lovely day to us!
Q– Queens Night Market
The Queens International Night Market is an open-air market that features up to 100 unique vendors. It’s returning for its fifth season at Flushing Meadows Corona Park beginning on Saturday, April 20.
R– Rooftop Bars
Rooftop bars and warm, sunny days go hand in hand. Check out this list of some of our recommendations that’ll keep you busy until next winter.
S– Smorgasburg
Spring time basically means “it’s finally nice enough to eat outside.” And of course this includes the weekly Brooklyn Smorgasburg. Smorgasburg is back and they’re even opening another location in FiDi!
T– Tribeca Film Festival
This festival gives movie lovers the chance to chase movies all over Manhattan in theaters from Tribeca up to Chelsea and goes on for two weeks in April.
U– Union Square Greenmarket
Although the Union Square Greenmarket takes place all year long, what better time to take a walk through and get some fresh produce or artisan breads and cheeses than spring?
V– Vintage Shopping
After you’ve finished your obligatory spring cleaning, head over to thrift stores and vintage shops to either trade your items for new pieces, or replenish your closet with new goodies for the season. These are some of our favorite shops that won’t break the bank.
W– Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is one of the most beautiful places to spend a few hours once the weather warms up. This weekend, bring your pillow for the NYC pillow fight.
X– XXX Check out the Museum of Sex
This radical museum is a hysterical and fun way to bring in the season of love.
Y– Yankee Game
Spring marks the official baseball season! We all know the Bronx Bombers are the real city favorite so make sure you have a game marked somewhere on your calendar. Yankee stadium is really upping its game with their drink and food options they upgraded last year.
Z– Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is the largest urban zoo in the country. With over 265 acres of land and 4,000 animals, taking a stroll through this beautiful park is a great way to spend the day. They’ll also be opening a new dinosaur safari experience soon!
Featured image: istockphoto
Also published on Medium.
