Things to do near the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

On a recent visit to Sushi Noz, I discovered that most conversations at the counter were about other omakases in the city. It felt a bit gauche, almost like speaking about an upcoming date in front of another lover, as my seatmates gleefully rattled through their counter conquests right in front of the chef we came to see. But perhaps I suppose this line of talk is par for the course here: No one happens upon a seat at chef Noz's counter by accident—you're booking reservations far in advance and dropping $550 per head. Yes, Sushi Noz is one of the more expensive counters in the city and has certainly attracted the rich and those who amass omakase experiences like infinity stones. But the flurry around it is founded in a certain kind of truth. You see, every step at Sushi Noz curated by chef Nozomu Abe is careful and deliberate, one that aims to transport you out of New York—even if just for a few hours—and gently guide you through Edo-era Japan. Kimono-clad waitstaff usher you past the blue curtain outside and into an inner sanctuary designed in the spirit of a Kyoto temple, with wooden sliding doors, bamboo slats and pale blond counters carved from 200-year-old hinoki wood sourced from Hokkaido, Noz’s hometown.Chef Noz’s affection for seafood is displayed like theater, with opening players of otsumami, or seasonal small plates, consisting of steamed rock fish paired with a wonderfully gelatinous monk liver that jiggles like silken tofu, and a clam chowder–like take with a...

While the Guggenheim’s collection of modern art works is certainly impressive, it is impossible to separate the museum’s contents from its form with architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s brilliant and controversial design. Opened in 1959 on Fifth Ave across from Central Park, just months after Wright’s death, the concrete inverted ziggernaut (a Babylonian step pyramid), stomped on the expectations and tradition of clean square galleries exemplified and cherished by the neighboring Upper East Side museums, like the nearby Metropolitan Museum. Instead Wright combined his use of geometric shapes and nature, to create a gallery space that presented art along a flowing, winding spiral, much like a nautilus shell, with little in the way of walls to separate artists, ideas or time periods. Best experienced as Wright intended by taking the elevator to the top of the museum and following the gentle slope down, the art is revealed at different angles along the descent and across the open circular rotunda in a way that even the most well known Monet landscape might seem like a revelation. Make sure to take a break from the captivating main exhibit of the season and visit the small rooms off the rotunda to see the permanent collection, which includes works by Picasso, Cezanne, Manet and the largest selection of Kandinsky paintings to be permanently shown in America.

Back in 1916, Abraham Orwasher opened up a pint-sized bakery in the Upper East Side. It bore his name and was planted in an area once coined as "Little Hungary." There, Orwasher supplied the neighborhood with kosher goods, baking loaves out of coal ovens tucked away in the basement. The bakery became a neighborhood institution, carried forward by three generations. But in 2007, the family sold the bakery to Keith Cohen, who comes from a line of bakers. Fears of changing the bakery for good were quickly assuaged as Cohen continues the legacy of the Orwasher family while introducing artisan breads for the modern-day era. Now three locations sit under the Orwashers umbrella, with the 109-year-old bakery standing strong in the UES. The Orwashers of today continue to sell goods made popular by the founder, including loaves of pumpernickel and rye bread and sourdough bagels. Cohen's influence is clear, as baguettes and whole wheat loaves line the walls behind the counter at the original shop. The pastry window gleams with a mix of worlds as rugelach and black-and-white cookies sit next to sugar-dusted morning buns and croissants that burst open with crunchy pistachio phyllo. 

The 92nd Street Y is proud to offer an incredible range of programs and services to New Yorkers of all ages. They offer early childhood support, parenting classes, summer camps, and after-school activities. There are also multiple classes available for older adults, including exercise classes, sign language classes, and writing workshops. Additionally, 92NY provides a robust variety of continuing education programs on topics ranging from world politics to how to publish your own memoir. Many of their courses are geared toward beginner students, like the Acrylic Painting for Absolute Beginners and the Drawing for Beginners workshops. Both of these courses last only a few hours but provide a robust introduction to these creative skills. Expert teachers will share their tips and tricks to achieve high-quality results. Supplies are not included, but a list of required materials will be sent to students prior to the start of class.  92NY is one of New York City’s premiere nonprofit agencies and cultural centers. Originally founded to serve the Jewish community, it has since expanded its programming to provide quality services to people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds. In nearly 150 years, 92NY has never wavered from its primary mission of improving the physical and mental health of the individuals they serve. 92NY is a registered four-star charity through Charity Navigator. They provide arts education for students K-12, including dance, music, and writing programs. The...

The large black awning nearly extending to the edge of the Park Avenue sidewalk between 61st and 62nd Streets feels very Upper East Side, and that tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the Loews Regency New York.  Guests swan into the lobby an air of confidence distinctive to this side of Central Park. The high ceilings are grand, but stacks of New York’s two major print newspapers hint at this hotels’ popularity among business travelers. However, the location, with Bloomingdales to the east and Central Park to the west, make this an ideal base from which to explore the Upper East Side’s famous high-end shopping, all with the comfort of a luxe and spacious room to rejuvenate you afterwards.  Why stay at the Loews Regency New York? Here, you’ll have the five-star experience in a charming older hotel, which has been hosting guests since it opened way back in 1963. While it’s recently been renovated, the old-timey details bleed through: hallways of all 21 floors are adorned with framed black and white photos of old New York, and strolling along them does evoke the sense that you’ve slipped back into a different era.  As for the contemporary touches, those are most present in the facilities, such as the Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa or the adjacent Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar, which serves desserts you've probably never heard of but need to try. What are the rooms like at the Loews Regency New York? The smallest rooms are the 250-square-foot Superior King,...

Founded in 1897 by the Hewitt sisters, granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper, the only museum in the U.S. solely dedicated to design (both historic and modern) has been part of the Smithsonian since the 1960s. The museum hosts periodic interactive family programs that allow children to experiment with design.

This elegant addition to the city’s museum scene is devoted entirely to late-19th- and early-20th-century German and Austrian fine and decorative arts. Located in a renovated brick-and-limestone mansion that was built by the architects of the New York Public Library, this brainchild of the late art dealer Serge Sabarsky and cosmetics mogul Ronald S. Lauder has the largest concentration of works by Gustav Klimt (including his iconic Adele Bloch-Bauer I) and Egon Schiele outside Vienna. You’ll also find a bookstore, a chic (and expensive) design shop and the Old World–inspired Café Sabarsky, serving updated Austrian cuisine and ravishing Viennese pastries.

The Upper East Side has its share of low-key gems (Torishin) and crown-jewel restaurants (Daniel), but verifiable hot spots? There are few. The idea of a hobnobbing scene in Manhattan’s stuffiest zip code seemed laughable a few years ago—as likely as an electrodisco party in Greenwich, Connecticut. But the Penrose—named for a neighborhood in Cork, Ireland, where two of the owners grew up—is finally bringing a bit of the indie-chic East Village to Gossip Girl territory. Operated by the gastropub specialists behind the Wren and Wilfie & Nell, the joint would be run-of-the-mill farther downtown, where the trifecta of reclaimed wood, craft pours and pedigreed pub grub long ago joined the ranks of food-world clichés. But it’s a welcome change up here, where the only other option in a ten-block radius is Jones Wood Foundry, and locals have responded in droves. Step inside and it’s easy to see why the handsome joint was an insta-hit—antique lights cast a golden glow over a long, curving bar in the front room, while elegant patterned wallpaper and aristocratic framed portraits decorate nooks in the back.   The vibe: A place for millennials who’ve grown up and made good, and don’t feel like riding the subway for a whiff of the Brooklyn vibes that defined their 20s.  The food: There’s plenty of your gastropub favorites but the Chorizo Crunch Wrap Supreme is exactly what you think it is and available until 2am. The drink: 11 tap beers, an extensive NA cocktail selection, and...

Dangling chandeliers, pressed-tin ceilings and a fireplace decorate this Victorian-inspired spot. On weekends, a 25-and-up policy keeps out the young'uns; cozy up with a date on the red velvet couches or chat with pals over rounds of draft beers (Harpoon IPA, Coney Island Lager) and mixed drinks. The vibe: This is the kind of place that feels frozen in time in the best way; red velvet queen anne chairs, fine art hung salon-style, gilded mirrors–it’s like drinking in one of The Met’s period rooms.  The food: House made comfort food; pescatarian and vegetarian friendly.  The drink: There’s beer and wine, but cocktails are the main attraction. Feel fancy and match the decor with a Ruby Slipper: grapefruit vodka, St. Germain, and Prosecco. Time Out tip: There’s no storefront, so it may take you a minute to locate the entrance but trust us: it’s there. There’s no dress code, but keep it classy. Cash only.

The Pierre, a Taj Hotel, is everything you want in a classic New York City stay, from sweeping views of Central Park to top-notch service that makes you feel special. This classic, five-star hotel sits right on the southeastern edge of Central Park at Fifth Avenue and 61st Street and is by far the best hotel stay I’ve had in the city. Its understated elegance is felt as soon as you walk into the lobby, which plays host to myriad lavish events throughout the year. Opened in 1930, the 41-story hotel with 189 small dog-friendly rooms and 76 apartments was modeled after Versailles by famed architects Schultze and Weaver (who also designed the Waldorf-Astoria) and boasts neo-Georgian accents, checkered marble floors, incredible ballroom spaces with grand staircases and a rotunda with murals hand-painted by American artist Edward Melcarth in 1976—one of the most romantic rooms I’ve seen in NYC. After my stay here, I can see why it’s been featured in films like First Wives Club, Meet Joe Black and Oceans 8. It’s also hosted luminaries like Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol, Hubert de Givenchy, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Yves Saint Laurent, Barbra Streisand, Joan Collins (and many UN delegations) over the many decades and you can see them represented in the hotel’s incredible candid photos by Ron Galella that line its main hallway. But where The Pierre really shines is in the details, which make it feel like home. Check-in was a breeze with staff who welcomed me...